Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 9th February 1977 Report of the Town Clerk Subsidies Rainbow Workshop Proposed Community Health Regional Planning Western Region Commission Proposal Co-Ordination Committee Proposed Regional Library Service Payment of Allowances to Councillors Employment of Unemployed Proposed Closure of Roads Railway Land Alexandra Avenue and Service Street Request for Inquiry into M.M.B.W. Operations Turkish Disaster Appeal Request for Financial Assistance Proposed Assignment of Lease The Hub Lease of land Scout Hall Lowe Crescent Loan Funds Financial Reports Castley Hall Financial Statement Transfer of Loan Funds not now Required for the Purpose for which they were borrowed either in part or full Future of Australian Assistance Plan Proposed Name Railway Station Deer Park Land Transfers for Sealing Proposed purchase of Garbage Tip Sunshine Tip Agreement with Councils Associated Matters Development of School Grounds Agrrements Use of Facilities by Ratepayers Proposed Liquor Licence Albion Rovers Soccer Club Subsidies for Welfare Officers and Elderly Citizens Clubs Proposed Name Part of St. Albans by City of Keilor St. Albans West North of the Albanvale Estate to Kurung Acquisition of Tip Site Sunshine Tip from Albion Reid Pty Ltd Sale of land Laurel Street to Education Department Proposed Indoor Heated Swimming Pool Report of Chief Health Inspector Ant Spray Authorisation of Doctor for Immunisation / Vaccination Procedures Application for Septic Tanks Application for Installation of Gas Fired Dry Septic Tank Units Prosecution Proceedings Sunshine Magistrate Court Food Sampling Apex Project City of Sunshine Nuisance Conditions Arising from the Continued Use of Vancant Land at Lot 272 Beela Court Sunshine West as a Trucking Depot Removal of Dwelling Outside of the Municipality Commonwealth Property Ashley Street to Port Arlington Proposed Disposal of Refuse By-Law Report of the Medical Officer of Health Holiday Activities in the Children's Section of the Library Report of the Federal Government's Committee of Inquiry into Public Libraries March 1976 Report of the City Engineer Certificate of Completion Private Street Scheme Right of Way Between Princess Street & Main Road East St. Albans Flat Development Control Vehicle Fleet Compound at Municipal Offices Tool Kits for Apprentice Mechanics Security Compound at Garbage Tip Sunshine Tip Purchase Four-Wheel Drive Tractor Parks & Recreation Land Use Permit Application Greyhound Training Establishment 5 Vule Street Land Use Permit Application Flats 15 Bardsley Street Land Use Permit Application Service Premises Caretaker's Dwelling Lot 80 Porter Road Deer Park Land Use Permit Application Community Health Centre Andrea Street Land Use Permit Application Subdivision and Detached House Lot 2 Main Road East, Sunshine Avenue & McIntyre Road Land Use Permit Application Detached House Lot 376 Doherty Street Land Use Permit Application Extension Existing Shop and Dwelling 82 Glengala Road Land Use Permit Application Subdivision & Detached Houses Glenmaggie Drive Land Use Permit Application Temporary Storage of Equipment and Machinery Lot 493 Fairbairn Road Land Use Permit Flats 17 St. Albans Road Land Use Permit Application Regional Depot Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works St. Albans Road Re-Zoning 843 Ballarat Road Deer Park Land Use Permit Application Presbytery and Church Addition to Existing Church and School St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church & St. Peter Chanel Primary School Lot 59 Ballarat Road Deer Park Land Use Permit Application Garden Shed & Car Port Addition to Flats 9 Yarmouth Avenue Land Use Permit Application Holy Eucharist Primary School Oleander Drive Plan of Subdivision St. Albans Road Orama Street Child Care Centre Preparations of Plans Alteration to Bus Stop Route 416 McIntyre Road Sunshine North Land Use Permit Application Factory Lot 63 Munro Street Land Use Permit Application Extension to Existing Hall Sunshine United Cricket Club Selwyn Park Land Use Permit Application Factory & Storage Area Lots 101 & 102 Davies Avenue Land Use Permit Application Factory Lot 50 Cromer Avenue Land Use Permit Application Garage Extension 64 - 66 Monash Street Land Use Permit Application Recreation Buildings Additon to Existing Factory Australian Tube Mills Pty Ltd Hawthorn Avenue Land Use Permit Application Display of Goods in Conjunction with Petrol Filling Station 359 Ballarat Road Braybrook Land Use Permit Application 359 Ballarat Road General Engineering Lot 262 and Part Lots 258, 259 & 260 Rothray Avenue Land Use Permit Application Indoor Training Centre Lot 7 Mullenger Street Land Use Permit Application Extension to Existing Factory Ayton Street Land Use Permit Application Extension to Existing Factory Lots 49. 50 & 51 Marshall Street Land Use Permit Application Office & Amenities Addition to Existing Complex Lot 1 Burke Street Plan of Transfer of Land Old Geelong Road Land Use Permit Application Retail Timber Yard & Hardware Sales Lot 78 Sunshine Road Land Use Permit Application Underground Tank Additon to Existing Service Station Lot 2 Sunshine Road Land Use Permit Application Nursery & Garden Supply Depot 11 Norman Street Land Use Permit Application Office Finance Company 16A Watt Street Land Use Permit Application Service Industry and Shop 557B Geelong Road Proposed Widening of Easement Drain Monsanto Australia Limited Plan of Subdivision Market Road Hampton Avenue Private Street Scheme Strata Subdivision Lot 26 Belvedere Close Land Use Permit Application Flats Chifley Drive Land Use Permit Application Extension to Existing Factory Lot 6 Van Nes Avenue Statcon Intersection Signalisation Programme Churchill Avenue & Ashley Street Land Use Permit Application Warehouse, Office & Commercial Display Area 159 & 161 Rosamond Road and 3 White Street Land Use Permit Application Warehouse & Office Lot 4 Mitchell Street Land Use Permit Application Flats Van Ness Avenue Construction of Cranwell Street Extraordinary Business Report of the Town Clerk Amended Hours of Opening of Swimming Pools Castley Hall Committee of Management Loan Schedules Levels Possible Compensation McIntyre Road Bridge Railway Crossing Bunnett Street Land Transfer Loan National Bank Savings Bank Traffic Lights Anderson Road & Durham Road city of sunshine, alexander "alex" george gillon, the hub, sun crescent, sunshine, lowe crescent, castley hall, simmie street, deer park railway station, deer park, albion rovers soccer club, selwyn park, albion, laurel street, st. albans, beela court, sunshine west, alexandra avenue, service street, sunshine tip, albion reid, princess street, main road east, vule street, bardsley street, porter court, andrea street, sunshine avenue, mcintyre road, doherty street, glengala road, glenmaggie drive, fairbairn road, st. albans road, ballarat road, st. peter chanel catholic church, st. peter chanel primary school, yarmouth avenue, holy eucharist primary school, oleander drive, munro street, sunshine united cricket club, davies avenue, cromer avenue, monash street, hawthorn avenue, braybrook, rothray avenue, mullenger street, ayton street, marshall street, burke street, old geelong road, brooklyn, sunshine road, tottenham, norman street, watt street, market road, hampton avenue, belvedere close, chifley drive, van nes avenue, maribyrnong, churchill avenue, ashley street, rosamond road, white street, mitchell street, maidstone, cranwell street, mcintyre road bridge, anderson road, durham road

Notice of Ordinary Meeting of the Council of the City of Sunshine to be held on 9th February 1977 Report of the Town Clerk Subsidies Rainbow Workshop Proposed Community Health Regional Planning Western Region Commission Proposal Co-Ordination Committee Proposed Regional Library Service Payment of Allowances to Councillors Employment of Unemployed Proposed Closure of Roads Railway Land Alexandra Avenue and Service Street Request for Inquiry into M.M.B.W. Operations Turkish Disaster Appeal Request for Financial Assistance Proposed Assignment of Lease The Hub Lease of land Scout Hall Lowe Crescent Loan Funds Financial Reports Castley Hall Financial Statement Transfer of Loan Funds not now Required for the Purpose for which they were borrowed either in part or full Future of Australian Assistance Plan Proposed Name Railway Station Deer Park Land Transfers for Sealing Proposed purchase of Garbage Tip Sunshine Tip Agreement with Councils Associated Matters Development of School Grounds Agrrements Use of Facilities by Ratepayers Proposed Liquor Licence Albion Rovers Soccer Club Subsidies for Welfare Officers and Elderly Citizens Clubs Proposed Name Part of St. Albans by City of Keilor St. Albans West North of the Albanvale Estate to Kurung Acquisition of Tip Site Sunshine Tip from Albion Reid Pty Ltd Sale of land Laurel Street to Education Department Proposed Indoor Heated Swimming Pool Report of Chief Health Inspector Ant Spray Authorisation of Doctor for Immunisation / Vaccination Procedures Application for Septic Tanks Application for Installation of Gas Fired Dry Septic Tank Units Prosecution Proceedings Sunshine Magistrate Court Food Sampling Apex Project City of Sunshine Nuisance Conditions Arising from the Continued Use of Vancant Land at Lot 272 Beela Court Sunshine West as a Trucking Depot Removal of Dwelling Outside of the Municipality Commonwealth Property Ashley Street to Port Arlington Proposed Disposal of Refuse By-Law Report of the Medical Officer of Health Holiday Activities in the Children's Section of the Library Report of the Federal Government's Committee of Inquiry into Public Libraries March 1976 Report of the City Engineer Certificate of Completion Private Street Scheme Right of Way Between Princess Street & Main Road East St. Albans Flat Development Control Vehicle Fleet Compound at Municipal Offices Tool Kits for Apprentice Mechanics Security Compound at Garbage Tip Sunshine Tip Purchase Four-Wheel Drive Tractor Parks & Recreation Land Use Permit Application Greyhound Training Establishment 5 Vule Street Land Use Permit Application Flats 15 Bardsley Street Land Use Permit Application Service Premises Caretaker's Dwelling Lot 80 Porter Court Deer Park Land Use Permit Application Community Health Centre Andrea Street Land Use Permit Application Subdivision and Detached House Lot 2 Main Road East, Sunshine Avenue & McIntyre Road Land Use Permit Application Detached House Lot 376 Doherty Street Land Use Permit Application Extension Existing Shop and Dwelling 82 Glengala Road Land Use Permit Application Subdivision & Detached Houses Glenmaggie Drive Land Use Permit Application Temporary Storage of Equipment and Machinery Lot 493 Fairbairn Road Land Use Permit Flats 17 St. Albans Road Land Use Permit Application Regional Depot Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works St. Albans Road Re-Zoning 843 Ballarat Road Deer Park Land Use Permit Application Presbytery and Church Addition to Existing Church and School St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church & St. Peter Chanel Primary School Lot 59 Ballarat Road Deer Park Land Use Permit Application Garden Shed & Car Port Addition to Flats 9 Yarmouth Avenue Land Use Permit Application Holy Eucharist Primary School Oleander Drive Plan of Subdivision St. Albans Road Orama Street Child Care Centre Preparations of Plans Alteration to Bus Stop Route 416 McIntyre Road Sunshine North Land Use Permit Application Factory Lot 63 Munro Street Land Use Permit Application Extension to Existing Hall Sunshine United Cricket Club Selwyn Park Land Use Permit Application Factory & Storage Area Lots 101 & 102 Davies Avenue Land Use Permit Application Factory Lot 50 Cromer Avenue Land Use Permit Application Garage Extension 64 - 66 Monash Street Land Use Permit Application Recreation Buildings Additon to Existing Factory Australian Tube Mills Pty Ltd Hawthorn Avenue Land Use Permit Application Display of Goods in Conjunction with Petrol Filling Station 359 Ballarat Road Braybrook Land Use Permit Application 359 Ballarat Road General Engineering Lot 262 and Part Lots 258, 259 & 260 Rothray Avenue Land Use Permit Application Indoor Training Centre Lot 7 Mullenger Street Land Use Permit Application Extension to Existing Factory Ayton Street Land Use Permit Application Extension to Existing Factory Lots 49. 50 & 51 Marshall Street Land Use Permit Application Office & Amenities Addition to Existing Complex Lot 1 Burke Street Plan of Transfer of Land Old Geelong Road Land Use Permit Application Retail Timber Yard & Hardware Sales Lot 78 Sunshine Road Land Use Permit Application Underground Tank Additon to Existing Service Station Lot 2 Sunshine Road Land Use Permit Application Nursery & Garden Supply Depot 11 Norman Street Land Use Permit Application Office Finance Company 16A Watt Street Land Use Permit Application Service Industry and Shop 557B Geelong Road Proposed Widening of Easement Drain Monsanto Australia Limited Plan of Subdivision Market Road Hampton Avenue Private Street Scheme Strata Subdivision Lot 26 Belvedere Close Land Use Permit Application Flats Chifley Drive Land Use Permit Application Extension to Existing Factory Lot 6 Van Nes Avenue Statcon Intersection Signalisation Programme Churchill Avenue & Ashley Street Land Use Permit Application Warehouse, Office & Commercial Display Area 159 & 161 Rosamond Road and 3 White Street Land Use Permit Application Warehouse & Office Lot 4 Mitchell Street Land Use Permit Application Flats Van Ness Avenue Construction of Cranwell Street Extraordinary Business Report of the Town Clerk Amended Hours of Opening of Swimming Pools Castley Hall Committee of Management Loan Schedules Levels Possible Compensation McIntyre Road Bridge Railway Crossing Bunnett Street Land Transfer city of sunshine, alexander "alex" george gillon, the hub, sun crescent, sunshine, lowe crescent, castley hall, simmie street, deer park railway station, deer park, albion rovers soccer club, selwyn park, albion, laurel street, st. albans, beela court, sunshine west, alexandra avenue, service street, sunshine tip, albion reid, princess street, main road east, bardsley street, porter court, andrea street, sunshine avenue, mcintyre road, doherty street, glengala road, glenmaggie drive, fairbairn road, ballarat road, st. peter chanel catholic church, st. peter chanel primary school, yarmouth avenue, holy eucharist primary school, oleander drive, munro street, sunshine united cricket club, st. albans road, davies avenue, cromer avenue, monash street, hawthorn avenue, braybrook, rothray avenue, mullenger street, ayton street, marshall street, burke street, old geelong road, brooklyn, sunshine road, tottenham, norman street, watt street, geelong road, monsanto, somerville road, footscray west, hampton avenue, belvedere close, chifley drive, van nes avenue, maribyrnong, churchill avenue, ashley street, rosamond road, white street, mitchell street, maidstone, cranwell street, castley hall committee of management, bunnett street, mcintyre road bridge

This photograph is part of the Caulfield Historical Album 1972. This album was created in approximately 1972 as part of a project by the Caulfield Historical Society to assist in identifying buildings worthy of preservation. The album is related to a Survey the Caulfield Historical Society developed in collaboration with the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and Caulfield City Council to identify historic buildings within the City of Caulfield that warranted the protection of a National Trust Classification. Principal photographer thought to be Trevor Hart, member of Caulfield Historical Society. Most photographs were taken between 1966-1972 with a small number of photographs being older and from unknown sources. All photographs are black and white except where stated, with 386 photographs over 198 pages. From Victorian Heritage Database citation for HO137 32 Queens Ave, Caulfield East https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/35536 as at (30/10/2020) The house at no. 32 Queens Avenue, Carnegie, was built in 1888 and formed one of an identical pair since demolished. It was built for and formed part of a land development scheme undertaken by one of Sir Matthew Davies group of speculative companies known as the Freehold Investment and Banking Company of Australia Ltd. It is historically and aesthetically important. It is aesthetically important (Criterion E) as an unusual terraced building form in Glen Eira that stands apart from its neighbours which were built predominantly after the tum of the twentieth century and which is further distinguished by the cast cement ornamentation applied to the central porch.Page 168 of Photograph Album with one photograph of a house on Queen's Avenue. Handwritten: 32 Queen's Avenue [top right] / 168 [bottom right]trevor hart, cast iron lacework, decorative brackets, chimneys, verandah, porch, cast iron columns, queens avenue, 1880's, sir matthew davies, matthew davies, freehold investment and banking company of australia ltd, cast cement ornamentation, arches, caulfield racecourse, portico, stone columns, full length french windows, fanlight, caulfield, race course, queen's avenue, caulfield east, land subdivision, victorian style, cast iron work, rendered mansions, lead lights, terraced buildings

Six small black and white postcards depicting views of Ballarat. .1) Sturt Street Gardens Ballarat, c1920 .2) Gong Gong Reservoir, Ballarat, c1920 .3) Sturt Street, Ballarat, c1920 .4) Sturt Street, Ballarat, c1920 .5) Sturt Street Looking Towards Mount Warrenheip, Ballarat, c1920 .6) Ballarat Arch of Victory, Ballarat, c1920. This view shows newly planted trees in the Ballarat Avenue of Hunour. ballarat, sturt street, sturt street gardens, mt warrenheip, trams, gong gong reservoir, ballarat arch of victory, gallaway memorial, galloway fountain, ballarat avenue of honour, harry davies, arch of victory, harry davies and co, ballaarat mechanics' institute, st andrew's kirk

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

This record is the Parent Record for researching the subdivision of Reaghill, 139 Bedford Road, Ringwood, compiled by Richard Carter. "Reaghill" is part of an older larger holding of sixty acres which came to comprise Vista Avenue, Vista Court, Homebush Court, Rawson Court and Wombalano ParkTranscript: Researching “Reaghill" The property “Reaghill” originally stood at 139 Bedford Road, Ringwood East before the property was subdivided in the 1950s and took a new address and frontage to Vista Avenue, Ringwood East. The purpose of these notes is to trace the origins of the property from the year 1900 to the present day. Information in the notes is sourced from the archives of Carter Real Estate, from Land Titles Office records and from the book of the history of Ringwood, “Ringwood, Place of Many Eagles” by Hugh Anderson. “Reaghill” is part of an older larger holding of sixty acres. It Is the story of those 60 acres, which now comprise Vista Avenue, Vista Court, Homebush Court, Rawson Court and Wombalano Park, which Is the subject of these notes. Earlier Times A convenient starting point for these notes Is the year 1900. On 11th June 1900 Wallace Bruce of 68 High Street, Windsor became registered as the proprietor of “sixty acres or thereabouts” (24.28 hectares) being part of Crown Allotment 43 Parish of Ringwood County of Mornington. That title. Volume 2773 Folio 485 did not name the streets to which the property abutted but clearly they were Canterbury Road at its intersection with Bedford Road. Title records a lease of the property from Wallace Bruce to Thomas Oates, with the lease endorsed on title on 22 July 1903 and removed 16 June 1908. Wallace Bruce subsequently subdivided the land Into three parcels, two of which he sold to Dora Stanisforth Davies during 1909 and the balance he sold to Frank Leslie Walker in 1914. The Era of the Davies Wallace Bruce firstly sold the western portion of the property, containing twenty four acres three roods and 20 perches (24.875 acres or 10.0667 hectares) on 6 October 1909. The new title, Volume 3381 Folio 021, records the new proprietor as “Dora Stanisforth Davies, wife of Seymour George Pilkington Davies of Burwood Road, Hawthorn, Bank Manager”. Shortly thereafter, Wallace Bruce sold a further parcel of “ten acres or thereabouts” (4 hectares) being the north eastern portion of his original holding. That title, Volume 3384 Folio 795, showed the purchaser once again as “Dora Stanisforth Davies, wife of Seymour George Pilkington Davies of Burwood Road Hawthorn, Bank Manager”. It is noteable that the second, title which is dated 8 December 1909, had no abuttal to any road, nor was it at any time (even when subdivided in the 1950s) consolidated with Davies' adjoining title. Both titles then recorded that Dora Stanisforth Davies died on 19 February 1945 with probate of her will being granted to John Seymour Davies of 69 Grantham Street West Brunswick, Medical Practitioner, and Hugh Percival Hall of 339 Collins Street Melbourne, Solicitor. Almost two years later, on 6th December 1946, both parcels of land were transferred by the Executors to Geoffrey Francis Seymour Davies of 20 Albert Road Strathfield N.S.W, Medical Practitioner. From this chronology it could be surmised that one of Dora Davies’ executors, John Seymour Davies, was probably her son. Was Geoffrey Francis Seymour Davies another son, or was he her grandson? In any event Geoffrey Francis Seymour Davies set about subdividing what was then the property “Reaghill” and its 34.875 acres (14.11 hectares). The Subdivision of “Reaghill The subdivision of “Reaghill” was made more viable by the subdivision in 1931 of the property to the north and the creation of Scenic Avenue, Vista Avenue and Grandview Avenue, all of which abutted “Reaghill’s” northern boundary. In fact Geoffrey Francis Seymour Davies bought the freehold to Grandview Avenue, Scenic Avenue and Vista Avenue in July 1955 for £84-9-0 to give him legal rights over those roads. Title to those roads and the newly created Vista Avenue, Vista Court and Homebush Court remain in his name to this day. It is particularly interesting to note that whilst those streets had typical allotments of about 1000 square metres, the subdivision of Reaghill was into blocks of one to two acres or more (4000 square metres to about one hectare) except for the blocks fronting Bedford Road. That speaks volumes about Davies’ attitude to the land, its natural beauty, its topography and vegetation. “Reaghill” was subdivided into twenty two lots by Plan of Subdivision LP 41463. The first eleven lots came off Vista Avenue and formed an extension of Vista Avenue and a newly created Vista Court. Lot sizes ranged from 1 acre 1 rood 1½ perches (5097 square metres) to 2 acres 3 roods 21½ perches (1.167 hectares). A further four lots came off Homebush Court, a newly created court off Bedford Road. Those lots ranged from 1 acre 1 rood 29 perches (5792 square metres) to 2 acres 1 rood 39 ®/io perches (1.01 hectares). Seven further lots, parallelogram in configuration, fronted Bedford Road and had a typical area of 1518 square metres. The names of the streets (“Vista” Avenue/Court and “Homebush” Court) give an insight into the elevation of the land, the views it offered and the bushland it featured. The Covenant As evidence of Davies’ desire to maintain the bush setting of the property, covenants were imposed on the transfers of Lots 1 to 15 (the acreage lots). That covenant allowed for only one dwelling house to be erected on each of those lots for a period of 15 years from sale. Effectively it froze subdivision for 15 years. But 15 years came around quickly. The Sales “Reaghill” 139 Bedford Road, Ringwood was offered for Private Sale as “22 Excellent Residential Allotments” by estate agents Anderson & Hickling of 239 Collins Street Melbourne (telephone Central 25!), with a “protective covenant” of one dwelling house only on lots 1-15 for a period of 15 years. Solicitors for the vendor were Messrs Meares, Duigan & Hall of 139 Collins Street Melbourne. Sales commenced in 1955 and went through to 1967. Prices were typically from £1350, the price paid for Lot 13 in 1957. The Role of Frank Leslie Walker These notes have so far recorded that of the sixty acres originally owned by Wallace Bruce in 1900, some 34.875 acres were sold to Dora Davies in 1909 and subdivided and sold by her descendants. The balance of Wallace Bruce’s land was sold on 6th April 1914 to Frank Leslie Walker. This is the land at the south east corner of Bruce’s holding fronting Canterbury Road and which now comprises Rawson Court and Wombalano Park. Frank Leslie Walker “of Albany Chambers, Collins Street Melbourne” was described as an Art Decorator. In “Ringwood - Place of Many Eagles” he is shown as living on his land “in a house which was surrounded by a four foot high brick wall and the long drive of rough cream-coloured Lilydale gravel was entered through handsome wrought iron gates obtained from some building wrecker”. The “old rambling house" had been extended and renovated using secondhand doors, windows and timber. “Every inch of wall space seemed to be crammed from floor to ceiling with oils, watercolours, etchings and drawings of all sorts by well known artists”. On 13th August 1954 Frank Leslie Walker transferred an area of 12 acres 3 rood 21 perches (5.213 hectares) to The Mayor Councillors and Burgesses of the Borough of Ringwood for no consideration as a Gift “for the providing of pleasure grounds on places of public resort or public recreation”. That is now Wombalano Park. The balance of his property, containing 6 acres 1 rood 5 perches (2.54 hectares) and including the original homestead (named Wombalano?) was gifted by Frank Leslie Walker to his nephew on 25 November 1955. It was later subdivided as Rawson Court in 1956. The house no longer survives. The “Reaghill” Homestead The original homestead on Wallace Bruce’s holding, as has just been described fronted Canterbury Road in the area which is now Rawson Court. The age of the house is unknown but is described in 1914 as being “old and rambling”. The “Reaghill” homestead is likely to have been built by the Davies and was retained on Lot 11 of their subdivision. Its date of construction is not known but might have been soon after the Davies bought the land in 1909. Lot 11, with “Reaghill” was not sold in the 1950s as part of the land subdivision and sale. It remained as the family home of Dr. Davies until its sale in 1968 (without the 15 year covenant) to James Hamilton Kelly of New York, USA for $15,000. In time, Lot 11 was resubdivided. The house today remains on a reduced site of 7112 square metres, still on the highest point in the locality with fine views. Further Subdivisions Once the 15 year time frame of the covenant expired, the various owners of the lots, having built homes, proceeded to subdivide their surplus land. Lot 1 was first, followed by Lot 7. Only four of the original 15 acreage lots have not been subdivided. Some subdivisions were less respectful of their environment and neighbourhood than others. Maroondah City Council's planning scheme provides for a minimum lot size of 864 square metres in the locality. But the horse has already bolted. Summary “Reaghill” in its heyday, and the acreage properties which later surrounded it, contributed some of the finest and most exclusive properties in Ringwood East. Notably, the locality was home to a significant number of local medicos over the years. Its location dose to the newly relocated Tintern CEGGS gave it added exclusivity. Subdivision over the years has impinged on the beauty and the environment. However it is still a most important part of Ringwood East, with a rich history. R.A Carter January 2005

Title documents for 20 acres, 0 roods, 3 perches immediately to the north of "Reaghill" subdivided in 1931 into Alexander Road, Wood Street, Scenic Avenue,Vista Avenue and Grandview Avenue.Certificate of Title Vol 1201 Fol 240055 dated 9th September 1880 - William Blood of Ringwood, Farmer, is now the proprietor. Transfers include Bruce Anthony Langfield to Geoffrey Francis Seymour Davies of 139 Bedford Road, 20th July, 1955.

Collection could be WW1 but only one is dated 19th Jul '05. May be a mixed collection. Part of the collection of William (Bill) Thomason. Refer Cat No. 4136P.Various Tourist photos of; 1. Colour Portrait photo at Port Said - Monument to Lesseps. No writing on back. 2. Landscape painting in colour, Palm Avenue Botanical Gardens, Calcutta. Address on back crossed out and re done. 3. Landscape picture of Statue of De Lesseps and The Lighthouse. Nothing on back. 4. Portrait picture of Egyptian woman standing with a pot balanced on her head, No message. 5. Picture of KASR-D-NILE Barracks - LL Cairo. 6. Picture of Column of Pompei, Alexandra. No Message. 7. Image of Sphinx De Pithon, Ismalia, Egypt. No message,2. Is stamped and date is "19 Ju 05". Address crossed out and replaced. 5. Stamp on back saying "Sydney Davies".postcard, photographic, collection of william (bill) thomason