The original small, pioneer cottage was built in the late 1840s to early1850s, by an unknown pioneer. It was located on part of a 30 Acre allotment that was originally part of Henry Dendy’s Special Survey granted in 1841. The doors and window sashes, (made of red deal joinery timber), as well as the brass locks and fittings, are from the original cottage, and were imported from England.The fire-place bricks are from the original cottage, and are sun-dried, (not kiln fired), and are hand-made. Convict marks can be seen on two bricks.There is a small display of external cladding shingles from the original pioneer cottage. These shingles were hand-split, and most likely made from locally collected timber The nails included in this display were used to fasten the shingles on the original cottage, and are also hand-made. The enamel nameplate, “Colonial”, on the wall of the cottage, was the name chosen for the original pioneer cottage when a later owner, Mr August Rietman and wife Frieda leased the property in around 1917. August purchased the property 1935 for 1200 Pounds approximately and resided there until 1953. In 1974 Mr Lewis, a timber specialist, found the dilapidated building on property he had recently purchased in Jasper Rd and suggested it be reconstructed and relocated. Moorabbin Council agreed and the Cottage was rebuilt just about 250 metres from its original site. The cost of the rebuild was met by 'Victoria's 150th Committee, plus a small grant from the City of Moorabbin, and Mr Laurie Lewis donated much of the timber for the reconstruction. Although 'Box Cottage' is a re-construction, it is an unique museum that, being located in the midst of a modern community in Ormond Victoria, can educate and demonstrate many aspects of the early settler’s way of life in Victoria. As such, it is an invaluable resource for students and all kinds of visitors. The original small, pioneer cottage was built in the late 1840s to1850s, by an unknown pioneer. It was located on part of a 30 Acre allotment that was originally part of Dendy’s Special Survey granted in 1841. The re-constructed pioneer cottage, named ‘Box Cottage’, is located only a matter of metres from the original pioneer cottage site, in Joyce Park, Jasper Road, Ormond, Victoria. The museum has copies of interesting Land Titles associated with the surrounding land, including the site of the original pioneer cottage, from Dendy’s time, and into the 1900s. ‘Box Cottage’ is named after the pioneers, William and Elizabeth Box, who resided in the original cottage from approximately 1865, until Elizabeth’s death in 1914.The re-constructed cottage plan has followed faithfully the original dimensions, and plan of the original pioneer cottage, and as many original items from that cottage’s long occupation have been incorporated. Convict marks on sun -dried, fire-place chimney bricks. Enamel nameplate 'Colonial' circa1915brighton, moorabbin, cottages, pioneers, ormond, colonial, mckinnon, dendy henry, box william, box elizabeth, convicts, rietman august, rietman frieda, rietman stefanie

A Map drawn in 1852 that shows the 5,120 acres that formed Dendy's Special Survey of 1841. In 1840 Henry Dendy, a farmer in Surrey, England acquired a "Special Survey" from the Commissioners for Land and Emigration which gave Dendy the right to choose land in Port Phillip for the "bargain basement" price of only £1 per acre for 5120 acres, (an area of 8 square miles). The Special Survey also included the right to "the shipment of a worker for every £20 spent on land, whose free passage was paid by the Crown, equalling a total of 100 workers ". Accordingly Dendy sold his English holdings and paid the required £5120 and arrived in Melbourne in February 1841. However by this time land in the new colony was selling for £5 - £40 per acre. Because Henry Dendy possessed the order from the Colonial Office in London he was able to successfully oppose Governor LaTrobe's attempts to alter the price of the land. Dendy appointed Jonathan Were, (an entrepreneur, who had arrived in 1839), as his Manager and who later became a partner. Together, Dendy and Were decided on an area 5 miles south from Melbourne, bounded by North Road, East Boundary Road, South Road and to the west by Port Phillip Bay. Were and Dendy pitched their tents in the area now known as ' Park St, Brighton' and sank a well near the corner of 'St Andrew's St and Wells St'. By 1845 J.B Were and Company had bought almost half of Dendy's land and Were built himself "Moorabbin House" in Were St Brighton made from stone, quarried from local cliffs. It was still standing in 1924. Legend records Moorabbin is named after the Aboriginal word for ' Mother's Milk ' The soil is very fertile and well supplied with water especially in the area called 'East Brighton' - now known as Bentleigh and East Bentleigh - By 1850 the area had developed with numerous market gardens, dairy farms, fruit gardens and vineyards supplying food for the growing population of Melbourne.This Map shows the birth of the Brighton and Moorabbin area. On 18th January1859 Brighton was proclaimed a Municipality and a Borough by October 1863. Meanwhile, following a Petition, the area of East and South Brighton, incorporating Mordialloc, Cheltenham, Mentone, Sandringham and Oakleigh separated from Brighton to form the Moorabbin District Roads Board becoming the first Local Government Authority. Col. William Mair was elected as the first Chairman of the Moorabbin Roads Board. Moorabbin Shire 1871 developed further and was declared a City in1934. The City of Moorabbin was the largest Municipality in Melbourne before the Amalgamation of Councils in 1994 when it was divided in the south to City of Kingston and in the north to City of Glen Eira A Photo-lithographed 1852 Map showing the 5,120 acres that formed Dendy's Special Survey of 1841. Henry Dendy & Jonathan Were chose an area 5 miles south from Melbourne, bounded by North Road, East Boundary Road, South Road and to the west by Port Phillip Bay. Moorabbin County of Bourke / Photo-Lithographed at the department of Lands and Survey. /Melbourne. / Price 1/- brighton, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, dendy henry, bent thomas, were jonathan, special survey

This is a Certificate of Title for an acre of land in 'Tucker's Road' purchased by Jabez Gurr in 1881, in the area that was part of the Crown Block known as Henry Dendy's Special Survey 1841, in the Parish of Moorabbin, County of Bourke, Victoria. Following the 'Transfer of Land Statute' allotments in the area of Henry Dendy's Special Survey of 1841 were sold to early settlers. This Certificate of Title shows the passage of history in Moorabbin Shire . Jabez Gurr, a wheelwright, of East Brighton, now Bentleigh East, purchased an acre of land in 'Tucker's Road' , near Centre Road, in 1881. In 1889 he sold to a produce merchant, Robert Smith, and in April 1916 this block was purchased by William Henry George Box, a market gardener and relative of William and Elizabeth Box, who owned the land until 1926. The land was then purchased by Charles John Greenlaw Coates and remained with this family until 1971. All these Family names appear on Councils and Community Boards during the foundation and development of City of Moorabbin3 photocopied pages of the Certificate of Title for approximately 1 acre of land near the corner of Centre Road and Tucker Road, Parish of Moorabbin, County of Bourke, Victoria that was part of the 5,120 acre Henry Dendy Special Survey in Brighton in 1841 and purchased in 1881 by Jabez Gurr. It records subsequent proprietors up to 1971Stamped CANCELLED 12 OCT 1994 (top Right) / Entered in the Register Book / Vol.1245 Fol. 248877/ signed Henry Crowe / Assistant Registrar of Titles / Coat of Arms / VICTORIA / Certificate of Title / UNDER THE ' TRANSFER OF AND STATUTE' /dated ' eleventh day of April one thousand eight / hundred and eighty one' / signed 'Henry Crowe' / Assistant Registrar of Titles/ ENCUMBRANCES REFERRED TO / circular Stamp 'OFFICE OF TITLES VICTORIA' / Drawn and shaded on the left side is the area of land in "Tucker's" Road 3331/3 links fro Centre Road, 150 links x 6662/3 links / The measurements are in linksdendy henry, dendy's special survey 1841, brighton, moorabbin, bentleigh, market gardeners, early settlers, pioneers, wheelwrights, merchants, fruit gardens, markets, smith robert, box william henry george, gurr jabez, county of bourke, victoria, melbourne, land statutes, tucker road, centre road, box william, box elizabeth, box cottage museum

Frank Box was descendant of the Box family who migrated from Sussex England c 1850 and established market gardens in the area of Henry Dendy's Special Survey 1841 Brighton', Parish of Moorabbin, County of Bourke. Frank married Adelaide Bleazby in 1873 and they are shown here with their daughter, Daisy , at Kilgour Street Geelong Victoria c1900The Box family were pioneer settlers in the Parish of Moorabbin, County of Bourke c 1850 in the area of Henry Dendy's 'Special Survey Brighton 1841'. They established market gardens and raised their children.Faded Black & White photograph of Adelaide Bleazby, Frank Box and daughter Daisy at Geelong c1900Back handwritten information unsignedbox george, box william, box elizabeth, box francis, box cottage museum ormond, city of moorabbin historical society, bleazby adelaide 1873, box frank smith j l; smith mary ann, stanley helen, smith vic, chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, mckinnon, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

Date unknown: Mrs Caroll and children. In 'Moorabbin A Pictorial History 1862 - 1994 ' by John Cribbin, The Carroll family migrated from Ireland and purchased land in the East Brighton ( now Bentleigh ) area of Henry Dendy's Special Survey 1841. Edward, J.W. & Daniel are shown in the Rate Book 1862 as owner occupiers and owner of property in Tuckers Road, Bryants Road and Centre Road.Photograph is black and white. There are three women in this photograph, a mother and her two children. The mother is sitting down on a chair to the left and her daughter sitting next to her, on the right (they are both holding hands), and her other daughter (child) right in between her mother and sister, with he arm around the mother's shoulder. All three of them are wearing their best dresses that have lace collars. As the clothes are similar to MAV Cat No. 00519 the photo may have been taken c 1910Front of Mount : Yeoman Co 287 Chapel St. Prahran, Victoria.children, chapel st, 287, prahran, carroll edward, carroll, j.w., carroll daniel, ireland, brighton, henry dendy's special survey 1841, market gardeners, pioneers, early settlers, dairy farmers, poultry farmers, bentleigh, mckinnon, ormond, prahran, yeoman photographers co.

Alonzo Sheldrake Box 1851- 1958 was the nephew of William and Elizabeth Box who migrated from Sussex England 1850 and established a market garden in the area of Henry Dendy's 'Special Survey 1841 Brighton, in the Parish of Moorabbin County of Bourke. Alonzo was a pavier, who laid blue stone for drains, and enlisted in 1914 to serve in Gallipoli, and France . He returned to Bentleigh 1917 and married Mary Louisa Closter 1918 . Alonzo Box was a member of the pioneering Box family who emigrated from Sussex England 1850 and established market gardens in the the Parish of Moorabbin, County of Bourke. Alonzo Box enlisted in the 1st AIF in 1914 and served in Gallipoli and France. Document, Certificate of Discharge No. 1054 Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force 1917, Alonzo Sheldrake Box Sergeant as Printed by Government Printer box george b 1808, box william, box elizabeth avis, box alonzo sheldrake, closter mary louisa, wedding dress box cottage museum, paviers, road building, world war 1 1914-1918, gallipoli, somme battles, smith j l; smith mary ann, stanley helen, smith vic, chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, early settlers, bentleigh, mckinnon, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

Early settlers established market gardens, farms and business in the East Brighton ( East Bentleigh) area of Henry Dendy's Special Survey 1841 Brighton. The small communities established Churches and Schools. Stephen Charman, 1821-1906 a market gardener, donated land for the first Methodist Chapel, Cemetery and School in Charman Rd Cheltenham 1855. The East Bentleigh settlers built a Methodist Church in Tucker Road and established the Sunday School and Youth group which organised social and sporting events and picnics.Early settlers established market gardens, farms and business in the East Brighton ( East Bentleigh) area of Henry Dendy's Special Survey 1841 Brighton. The small communities established Churches and Schools. Black and White photograph showing the Bentleigh Methodist Youth Group on Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday c1910 in front of R.Smith's shed in Tucker Road East Bentleigh re-digitised by H.Stanley CMHS 2005Back Handwritten Names on Original photograph Front row Irene Pederson, Ella Marriott, Bessie Long, Jessie Box, Lucy Hosking, Middle row Hilda Sheppard, Emma Marriott, Bertha Sheppard, ? , Edna Box, Annie McNeil Back row Rev. George Wong, John Marriott, Arthur Marriott, Vic Pederson, Eddie Long, ? Marriott,, Tom Marriott, Mr Long methodist youth group bentleigh c1910, marriott emma, marriott ella, hosking lucy, marriott john, box jessie, pederson vic, long bessie, wong george, shephard hilda, mcneil annie, smith j l; smith mary ann, stanley helen, smith vic, smith harry redvers, chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, mckinnon, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

William Box was born in 1834 in Withyham , Sussex England and married Elizabeth Avis Box in 185. They sailed to Australia in1855 aboard the SS Omega. At first they rented and then purchased land on Jasper Road East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841. An early settlers’ Cottage on the site became their home and they farmed the land while raising 13 children. The Cottage was extended as required. In 1984 that early settler cottage was found in a dilapidated state by Laurie Lewis, in his Timber Yard in Jasper Rd Ormond.. The Moorabbin City Council, Federal Government, Mr Lewis and CMHS members reconstructed the Cottage in 1985 . Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . William Box who with his wife Elizabeth Avis and 13 children lived and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841 Inscribed in Album “ The early photos in this album were found by Mr (Laurie) Lewis when he was demolishing the Old Box Cottage. He gave them to Mrs Avis Box Eldridge who in turn gave them to me. They were not identified. I believe they rightly belong in the Cottage. I have attempted to identify them and present them in a way they can be preserved as a historical record of the era.” A B Leigh A black and white photograph of William and Elizabeth Avis Box standing outside their Cottage in East Brighton c 1880nilbox george, box mary, box william, box elizabeth honor, box alonzo, box mary louisa, dendy henry, were j b, dendy's special survey 1841, brighton, moorabbin, bentleigh, mckinnon, ormond, market gardeners, dairy farms, early settlers, pioneers, jasper road, gurr jabez, gurr eliza, pay henry, pay anna, ward willam, box henry, ward elizabeth emma, box john, sheldrake martha, rushall eleanor, box caroline, box elizabeth avis,

William Box was born in 1834 in Withyham , Sussex England and married Elizabeth Avis Box in 1854. They sailed to Australia in 1855 aboard the SS Omega. At first they rented and then purchased land on Jasper Road East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841. An early settlers’ Cottage on the site became their home and they farmed the land while raising 13 children. The Cottage was extended as required. In 1984 that early settler cottage was found in a dilapidated state by Laurie Lewis, in his Timber Yard in Jasper Rd Ormond.. The Moorabbin City Council, Federal Government, Mr Lewis and CMHS members reconstructed the Cottage in 1985 . Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . William Box who with his wife Elizabeth and 13 children lived and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841 Inscribed in Album : “ The early photos in this album were found by Mr (Laurie) Lewis when he was demolishing the Old Box Cottage. He gave them to Mrs Avis Box Eldridge who in turn gave them to me. They were not identified. I believe they rightly belong in the Cottage. I have attempted to identify them and present them in a way they can be preserved as a historical record of the era.” A B Leigh A black and white photograph of descendants of the William Box Family who lived at Box Cottage.box george, box mary, box william, box – tippett elizabeth honor, box alonzo, box mary louisa, dendy henry, were j b, dendy's special survey 1841, brighton, moorabbin, bentleigh, mckinnon, ormond, market gardeners, dairy farms, early settlers, pioneers, jasper road, gurr jabez, gurr eliza, pay henry, pay anna, ward willam, box henry, ward elizabeth emma, box john, sheldrake martha, rushall eleanor, box caroline, box elizabeth avis, box harold, box olive camera, box fredrick, eagle keith, box –cumming, ida, cumming william, box – jackson dorothy, eagle nancy, box – eagle thelma, cumming william, box maude, jackson margaret , box- eldrige avis,

Early settlers in the Parish of Moorabbin, County of Bourke, established market gardens and farms in the area of Henry Dendy's Special Survey 1841 Brighton. Small communities grew near Churches & Schools and shops and businesses were established. Following the opening of the Railway line from Caulfield to Mordialloc 1881 the shops and business moved from the Tucker Road /Centre Road ( East Brighton ) East Bentleigh area to be close to the transport. Shops, businesses and housing developed along Centre Road between Thomas Street and Jasper Road. Mr Arthur Moore established his 1st shop in 395 Centre Road c1930 and later moved along the road to a site next to Coles Variety Store.Following the opening of the Railway line from Caulfield to Mordialloc 1881 the shops and business moved from the Tucker Road /Centre Road East Bentleigh area to be close to the transport. Shops, businesses and housing developed along Centre Road between Thomas Street and Jasper Road. Mr Moore established his 1st shop in 395 Centre Road c1930 and later moved along the road to a site next to Coles Variety Store.Black & White photograph of Mr Arthur Moore's 1st Chemist Shop, 384 Centre Road Bentleigh c 1930 back Handwritten information unsignedbentleigh shopping centre c1930, east brighton, railway line caulfield -mordialloc 1881, chemists, pharmacy, moore's moorabbin shire, smith j l, smith mary ann, stanley helen, smith vic, smith harry redvers, chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, mckinnon, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b., bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

William Box, was born in Withyham, Sussex England in 1834 and married Elizabeth Avis Box in 1855 . They sailed to Australia in the same year aboard the SS Omega. At first they rented a block of land on Jasper Road East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841. An early settlers’ Cottage on the site became their home and they farmed the land and were soon able to purchase the block. William & Elizabeth raised 13 children and the Cottage was extended as required. In 1984 that early settler cottage was found in a dilapidated state by Laurie Lewis, in his Timber Yard in Jasper Rd Ormond. The Moorabbin City Council, Federal Government, Mr Lewis and CMHS members reconstructed the Cottage in 1985 . Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . William Box with his wife Elizabeth Avis and 13 children lived and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841. Inscribed in Album : “ The early photos in this album were found by Mr (Laurie) Lewis when he was demolishing the Old Box Cottage. He gave them to Mrs Avis Box Eldridge who in turn gave them to me. They were not identified. I believe they rightly belong in the Cottage. I have attempted to identify them and present them in a way they can be preserved as a historical record of the era.” A B Leigh Album with portrait photos of Box Familybox george, box mary, box william, box elizabeth honor, box alonzo, box mary louisa, dendy henry, were j b, dendy's special survey 1841, brighton, moorabbin, bentleigh, mckinnon, ormond, market gardeners, dairy farms, early settlers, pioneers, jasper road, gurr jabez, gurr eliza, pay henry, pay anna, ward willam, box henry, ward elizabeth emma, box john, sheldrake martha, rushall eleanor, box caroline, box elizabeth avis, cancel

William Box was born in 1834 in Withyham , Sussex England and married Elizabeth Avis 13th November 1854 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent England. Elizabeth Avis was the daughter of Thomas and Eleanor aka Ellen Avis nee Robinson . In 1855 they sailed to Australia aboard the SS Omega. At first they rented a block of land on Jasper Road East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond). that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841. An early settlers’ hut on the site became their home and they farmed the land and were soon able to purchase the block. They raised 13 children and the Cottage was extended as required. In 1984 that early settler cottage was found in a dilapidated state by Laurie Lewis, in his Timber Yard in Jasper Rd Ormond.. The Moorabbin City Council, Federal Government, Mr Lewis and CMHS members reconstructed the Cottage in 1985 . Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . The William Box and Elizabeth Avis Box raised 13 children and lived in the early settler cottage and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841 Inscribed in Album “ The early photos in this album were found by Mr (Laurie) Lewis when he was demolishing the Old Box Cottage. He gave them to Mrs Avis Box Eldridge who in turn gave them to me. They were not identified. I believe they rightly belong in the Cottage. I have attempted to identify them and present them in a way they can be preserved as a historical record of the era.” A B Leigh A black and white photograph of Elizabeth Avis Box who married William Box 1854 ALBUM "Australian Coat of Arms" PORTRAITbox george, box mary, box william, box elizabeth honor, box alonzo, box mary louisa, dendy henry, were j b, dendy's special survey 1841, brighton, moorabbin, bentleigh, mckinnon, ormond, market gardeners, dairy farms, early settlers, pioneers, jasper road, gurr jabez, gurr eliza, pay henry, pay anna, ward willam, box henry, ward elizabeth emma, box john, sheldrake martha, rushall eleanor, box caroline, box elizabeth avis,

William and Elizabeth Box migrated from Sussex England c1850 and established a market garden in the area of Henry Dendy's 'Special Survey Brighton 1841' in the Parish of Moorabbin, County of Bourke. William's parents, George & Mary Box followed in 1856 bringing 6 of their 10 children and joined William in East Brighton ( Bentleigh) Gertrude Emma Box is a descendant of this family.The Box family were pioneer settlers in the area of 'Henry Dendy's Special Survey 1841' Brighton and established market gardens .Black & White photograph of Alfred Amos and Emma Gertrude Box c1941box william, box mary nee cripps, box elizabeth avis, box george b 1808, box gertrude emma, amos alfred, smith j l; smith mary ann, stanley helen, smith vic, s horse drawn carts,, early settlers, bentleigh, mckinnon, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

Ada Pearling Pickering was a descendant of George Box family who migrated c 1850 and established market gardens in the Brighton area of Dendy's Special Survey 1841. Stephen Charman, 1821-1906 a market gardener, donated land for the first Methodist Chapel, Cemetery and School in Charman Rd Cheltenham 1855. The enrolment was 36 pupils with Mr Frederick Meeres as Teacher. 1863 the school is called Beaumaris Common School No 84 with 70 pupils and Walter Meeres as Teacher. 1869 another 2 acres in Charman Road were granted by the Education Board and brick building built . 1872 State School 84 Beaumaris was increasing enrollments and 1878 a new brick school was built to accommodate 174 pupils and the name changed to Cheltenham State School No.84 1894 Mentone State School No.2950 amalgamated with Cheltenham SS No.84. 1910 the buildings were in disrepair, overcrowding was increasing and renovations were made 1912 with further additions in 1925 and 1937. Post WW11 extra prefabricated Classrooms were added as enrollment increased to 1038 in 1955.. Cheltenham East State School 4754 was opened as housing development spread over the City of Moorabbin . (J.Larson Sandringham HS) 1855 Stephen Charman donated land to the Methodist Church so that a School could be established to educate the children of the early settler market gardeners and farmers in the Cheltenham area . Education was valued by the general community and as well as schools they established mechanics Institutes and Libraries in Moorabbin Shire. Cheltenham State School No. 84 was among the first schools in Melbourne. Ada Pickering was descendant of the early settler Box family who migrated c 1850Black & White Photograph of pupils at Cheltenham State School No 84 c 1915 in Prep Course A with Ada Pickeringback Ada Pearling Pickering box george, box william, box elizabeth, pickering ada, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, parish of moorabbin, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, cheltenham state school no.84, methodist chapel cheltenham, methodist school cheltenham, beaumaris west state school, meeres frederick, meeres walter, education, early settlers,

Early settlers established market gardens, farms and business in the East Brighton ( East Bentleigh) area of Henry Dendy's Special Survey 1841 Brighton. The small communities established Churches and Schools. The Church of England opened St Stephen's Common School c 1850 in Tucker Road with 26 pupils. When the Government School opened 1878 the pupils were transferred to the new Centre Road building and it served the developing East Bentleigh Community until 1990. East Bentleigh State School no. 2083, Centre Road 1878 was closed c1990 due to the dwindling number of pupils enrolling following development of Valkstone SS East Bentleigh, Ormond East SS ( now McKinnon SS) and Tucker Road SS East Bentleigh Names of Pupils inscribed on back of original photograph show the children of the early settler families in Moorabbin Shire Back Row -Bessie long, Ruby Marriott, Irene Peterson, Jessie Gebuer, Grace Reid, Ella Marriott, Daisy Arnold, Lucy Hosking 2nd standing - Edie Roberts, Daisy Marriott, Elsie Strack, Ida Gouruly, Ephanie Bruce, Emma Thompson, Evelyn Marriott, Sarah Jackson, Lola G. 3rd kneeling - Lily Moore, Lizzie Sharman, Mag. Scotland, Em Ray, Elsie Claydon, Lily Marriott, ?? Day, ,Bessie Brewster, Eva Lindberg Front- Florrie D......ieson, Florrie ...i....ade, Ruth Goodrich, Lily Boles, Ettie Arnold, Bessie Marriott, Amie Jackson, Eileen Hosking The Government School opened 1878 in the new Centre Road building near Tucker Road, and it served the developing East Bentleigh Community until 1990. East Bentleigh State School no. 2083, Centre Road 1878 was closed c1990 due to dwindling number of pupils following development of Valkstone SS East Bentleigh, Ormond East SS ( now McKinnon SS) and Tucker Road SS East Bentleigh all situated along or near Tucker Road. Black & White photograph, reproduced c2005., of girl pupils at East Bentleigh State School 2083 c 1900east bentleigh state school no.2083c1900, marriott john, box jessie, pederson vic, long bessie, wong george, shephard hilda, mcneil annie, smith j l; smith mary ann, stanley helen, smith vic, smith harry redvers, chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, mckinnon, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

Henry Dendy , a farmer from Sussex England, purchased 5,120 acres of land in the area of a 'Special Survey 1841' that extended from Brighton bayside North Road, East Boundary Rd to South Road. This area became known as Dendy's Brighton and as part of the sale 139 emigrant workers arrived in 1842 however Dendy was unable to find work and lodgings for these people. J.B.Were, financier took over the management of the 'Special Survey 1841' area and began to sell and lease allotments. 1850 the Squatter King brothers sold land south of Dendy's 'Special Survey 1841' to Josiah Holloway who sectioned it into 2 acre lots @ £10 each for market gardens - 'Two Acre Village' and Charles Whorral opened a small hotel - 'The Cheltenham Inn' on the main Road - Arthur's Seat Rd, later Point Nepean Rd, now Nepean Highway. Notable settlers who moved into the area were Keys, Charman, Bruton, Le Page, Fairlam, Meeres and 1862 saw the separation from Brighton and the formation of the Mooorabbin Roads Board District. .By 1879 1000settlers were living in 'Cheltenham' serviced by a Post Office with Bank, Mechanics Institute, State School No 84,Keys Hotel, Meeres Store, Sir Thomas Bent ensured the new Railway Line from Caulfield to Mordialloc went through his constituency of Cheltenham 1881 and this changed the development to the bayside area of Cheltenham away from the 'Two Acre Village ' side causing some dissention, However Cheltenham as whole prospered and this house in Pine St is typical of the cottages built c 1890- 1900 in the area. This weatherboard house c 1890-1900 in Pine St Cheltenham is typical of those built for early settler families. Photo taken 1981 by CMHS member 3 x Colour photographs of an early c 1900 weatherboard house in Pine St Cheltenham taken by CMHS member 1981Kodak Aug. 81 / Handwritten Pine St Cheltenhamkeys robert, holloway josiah, king brothers, smith j l; smith mary ann, stanley helen, chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

The Friendly Societies Carnival at Mentone on Easter Monday, 1916 during WW1 was arranged to showcase the local activities and raise funds for the 'Discharged Wounded Soldiers Fund' = £140 was raised. As elsewhere in Australia most of the local young men had enlisted in the AIF and some were coming home wounded - many were killed on overseas battlefields. This Parade was led by the Cheltenham Brass Band, followed by the Friendly Societies AOF, IOR, HACBS, PAFS, and ANA. The PAFS - Protestant Alliance Friendly Society - had 2 entries 'Fruit & Vegetable Display' and 'The Murder of Nurse Edith Cavell' both floats won their category. Ella Allnutt portrayed Nurse Cavell. The Carnival gave prizes for sports events on the Mentone Oval and a concert was held at night at the Mentone Ice Skating Rink. "The Cheltenham P.A.F.S. had, as their tableaux, the murder of Nurse Cavell, in which Miss E. Allnutt took the roll of the nurse and other participants were Miss V. Rose and Messrs. A. Clark, F. Robinson, E. Hutchins, S. Butler and A. Biehl." 1916 'MOORABBIN'S PATRIOTIC CARNIVAL.', Brighton Southern Cross, 29 April, p. 2. World War 1 1914-1918 had a devastating impact on many early settler families whose sons had volunteered to serve in AIF. 1916 many of these young men were returning injured or had been killed overseas The Community rallied around to support these men and their families by holding fund raising events like the CarnivalBlack & White photograph of a decorated float with a Tableau ' The Murder of Nurse Edith Cavell' in the Friendly Societies Carnival Cheltenham 1916Front Handwritten ; Procession ( part of ) to honour Sister Edith Cavell an English nurse executed by the Germans in Brussels (BELG.) in 1914 (1st World War)cheltenham brass band 1916, ww1 1914-1918, cavell edith, friendly societies, protestant alliance friendly society, moorabbin, cheltenham, dendy henry, dendy's special survey 1841, assisted emigrants early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, marigold flowers, pharmacy, charman stephen, gettens mary, charman harriet, methodist church, primitive methodists, box william, box elizabeth, state schools, education, moorabbin shire, moorabbin roads board, city of moorabbin, kingston city council, cheltenham brass band 1916, ww1 1914-1918, cavell edith, friendly societies, protestant alliance friendly society, moorabbin, cheltenham, dendy henry, dendy's special survey 1841, assisted emigrants early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, marigold flowers, pharmacy, charman stephen, gettens mary, charman harriet, methodist church, primitive methodists, box william, box elizabeth, state schools, education, moorabbin shire, moorabbin roads board, city of moorabbin, kingston city council

The City of Moorabbin existed from 1934 until 1994. Henry Dendy's Special Survey in 1841 of 5,120 acres in the Parish of Moorabbin , extended from Port Phillip Bay , then East to Boundary Road, South to South Road and North to North Road and became known as Brighton. 1859 Brighton became a Borough with its boundary Thomas Street ,and Bluff Road. In 1862 The Moorabbin Roads Board was formed and the extended area now included Cheltenham, Hampton, Sandringham, Black Rock, Beaumaris, Mentone and Mordialloc .and Little Brighton became known as Bentleigh. In 1871 the area became known as The Shire of Moorabbin. Gradually the area was separated into The Borough of Sandringham 1917, ( Black Rock, Beaumaris , Sandringham and Hampton ) Borough of Mentone and Mordialloc 1920, ( Parkdale ). In 1934 The City of Moorabbin was established for the area from South East corner of Thomas Street and North Road , East to Warrigal Road, Clayton Road, Kingston Road , Lower Dandenong Road, then South along Nepean Highway to Balcombe Road and along Bluff Road, Cummins Road, Nepean Highway, Thomas Street to North Road In the 1994 Amalgamation of Councils the City of Moorabbin was divided between the new City of Kingston in the South ( from South Road) and the new City of Glen Eira to the North . It was the largest Municipality in Victoria with a population of 118,865 in 1974This tie c 1960 is a memento of the City of Moorabbin 1934 - 1994Maroon colour, polyester, man's tie with the crest of City of Moorabbin woven on front.around circle enclosing Coat of Arms ; CITY OF MOORABBIN city of moorabbin, moorabbin roads board, moorabbin, brighton, dendy's special survey 1841, early settlers, pioneers, market gardners, dendy henry, were jonathan b, cheltenham, bentleigh, mentone, sandringham, mair william, bent thomas

This list shows the names of the Pioneer settlers with the amount of Acres, the date purchased from The Crown and the Lot or Portion Number in the Land of the Henry Dendy Special Survey of Brighton 1841, in the County of Bourke , Victoria. The Squatters ,who arrived in the area first, used the land for grazing sheep and cattle. The Squatters had the right to graze unoccupied Crown land for ₤10 per year rental and a per capita payment for animals grazed. They could develop , improve and clear the land for the purpose of the tenancy but ownership was not permitted. When the land became useful The Crown put it on the market and the developers took over whilst the Squatters lost the improved land, dwellings and out buildings, there being no compensation paid. Squatters named John and Thomas Martin 1840-41; Richard and John King 1840- 1854 ; M.N.M.Moysey and M.J.Bickford 1841-1852 ; James McMahon 1846-1853 ; Daniel MacKinnon 1839- 1840. The 5120 Acres of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841were divided into approx. 83 Portions / Lots with varying acreage . Josiah Holloway, a speculator purchased 625 acres of the King Brothers run and re-sectioned the land into 2 acre Lots for Sale as market gardens. It was called The Two Acre Village later known as Cheltenham. A List of the names of The Pioneers in County of Burke Victoria c1841-1887 compiled by Lesley A. Schumer in 1985 A 3 Laminated display on wall in room 2 THE PIONEERS, Signed L.A. Schumer moorabbin, brighton, cheltenham, bentleigh, market gardeners, pioneers, early settlers, dendy henry, henry dendy's special survey 1841, squatters, king john, martin john, mcmahon james, two acre village, holloway josiah, were jonathan binn, grazing, cattle, sheep, market gardens,

The invention of the Coolgardie Safe is credited to Arthur Patrick McCormick, a contractor in Coolgardie, and later the Mayor of Narrogin. Coolgardie is in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia. Gold was first discovered there in 1892; the townsite became a municipality in 1894, and by 1898 its population of 15,000 made it the third largest town in Western Australia after Perth and Fremantle. In the last decade of the 19th century, Coolgardie was the capital of the West Australian goldfields. Being 180 kilometres from the nearest civilisation, food supplies were initially scarce and expensive. As fresh food was a valuable commodity there was incentive to preserve it, and keep it out of reach of scavengers such as birds, dingos, dogs, ants, and flies. It was in an effort to do this, in the extreme heat of the Australian Interior, that McCormick came up with his design for the Coolgardie Safe. McCormick noticed that a wet bag placed over a bottle cooled its contents. He further noted that if this bottle was placed in a breeze, the bag would dry out more quickly, but the bottle would get colder. What McCormick had discovered was the principle of evaporation: ‘to change any liquid into a gaseous state requires energy. This energy is taken in the form of heat from its surroundings.’ Employing this principle, McCormick made a box for his provisions which he covered with a wet hessian bag. He then placed a tray on top, into which he poured water twice daily. He hung strips of flannel from the tray so that water would drip down onto the hessian bag, keeping it damp. As the water evaporated, the heat dissipated, keeping the food stored inside cool and fresh. The success of McCormick’s invention would not have worked without a steady supply of water. Fresh water was scarce in the eastern goldfields at this time but the demand for water from a steadily growing population encouraged innovation. The solution was to condense salt water. Heating salt water in tanks produced steam that was condensed in tall cylinders, cooled and then collected in catchment trays. By 1898 there were six companies supplying condensed water to the goldfields, the largest company producing 100,000 gallons of water a day. In the early 20th century, Coolgardie Safes were also manufactured commercially. These safes incorporated shelving and a door, had metal or wooden frames and hessian bodies. The feet of the safe were usually placed in a tray of water to keep ants away. (MAV website) The early settlers of Moorabbin Shire depended on this type of Food Safe to protect their food from flies and vermin as they established market gardens in the fertile area around the notorious Elster Creek A metal framed, 4 sided structure standing on 4 legs with 2 hinged doors on one side, a metal tray at base of food safe and a metal cover over top. Ridges on which to rest trays carrying food are inside safe. The Safe is enclosed by fly-wire mesh.'...IN.....GEELONG' A manufacturer's oval metal plate is embossed on one side of Safe but it is illegible.elster creek, moorabbin, brighton, dendy's special survey 1841, market gardens, infant mortality, disease, cemeteries, fruit, vegetables, pioneers, coolgardie safe, mccormick arthur patrick, dendy henry, vaccination, jones martha, jones ethel may

Common soap was made from mixing animal fat with potash a form of the potassium based alkali present in plant and wood material. Early settlers, made their own soap from the waste fats and ashes they saved from their daily work. They did not then have to rely on waiting for soap to be shipped from England and waste their goods or money in trade for soap. In making soap the first ingredient required was a liquid solution of potash commonly called lye. Animal fat, when removed from the animals during butchering, must be rendered to remove all meat tissues and cooking residue before soap of any satisfactory quality can be made from it. To render, fats and waste cooking grease were placed in a large kettle with an equal amount of water. Then the kettle was placed over the open fire outdoors, because the smell from rendering the fats was too strong to wish in anyone's house. The mixture of fats and water were boiled until all the fats had melted. After a longer period of boiling to insure completion of melting the fats, the fire was stopped and into the kettle was placed another amount of water about equal to the first amount of water. The solution was allowed to cool down and left over night. By the next day the fats had solidified and floated to the top forming a layer of clean fat. All the impurities being not as light as the fat remained in water underneath the fat. In another large kettle or pot the fat was placed with an amount of lye solution ( known by experience ). This mixture was boiled until the soap was formed - 6-8 hours - a thick frothy mass, and a small amount placed on the tongue caused no noticeable "bite". The next day a brown jelly like slippery substance was in the kettle and this was 'soft soap' . To make hard soap, common salt was thrown in at the end of the boiling and a hard cake of soap formed in a layer at the top of the pot. But as salt was expensive most settlers used 'soft soap',. The soap could be scented with oils such as lavender for personal use. These 3 cakes of home-made soap are examples of the self sufficiency of the early settlers as they had to be self reliant ,growing food and making and mending their own farm equipment, tools and clothes while establishing their market gardens in Moorabbin Shire3 cakes of home-made, white hard household soap. 1 cake of soap eaten by a brush tailed possum when he entered the Cottage via the chimney 27/4/2014soap making, market gardeners, pioneers, early settlers, moorabbin, brighton, dendy's special survey 1841. kitchen equipment, laundry equipment, bentleigh

George Box 1808-1867 an 'agricultural labourer', of Sussex England, married Mary Cripps in 1831 and with 3 three of their 4 four sons and 3 three of their 4 four daughters left Liverpool in the Sailing Ship 'Atlanta' in March 1856 to begin a new life in Melbourne, Victoria , Australia. George and son Henry paid their own fares while sons , Francis and John, were 'assisted passengers'. Their baby daughter Cecilia Lydia died a few days into the voyage.. Caroline Box, the eldest daughter, remained in England working as a cook until she joined the family in Australia in 1863. William Box 1834-1902, the eldest son of George Box, married Elizabeth Avis 1833- 1914 and they resided in Box Cottage 1865 -1914 where they established a market garden and raised 13 children. William and Elizabeth had emigrated in 1854 so George and sons probably worked on their market garden before setting up in Tucker Road and Patterson Road. Sadly Mary drowned in a water hole only 4 months after their arrival in Brighton. Mary suffered from headaches and had occasional fits and the coroner found she passed out and died while trying to ease the pain with cold water from a waterhole. It is supposed that Elizabeth helped him raise the children while he established his market garden. George died from Tetanus following an infected broken leg caused by falling from his dray in 1867. George and Mary were both buried in the Brighton Cemetery. Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . George Box was the father of William Box who with his wife Elizabeth Avis Box and 13 children lived and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841 Inscribed in Album : “ The early photos in this album were found by Mr (Laurie) Lewis when he was demolishing the Old Box Cottage. He gave them to Mrs Avis Box Eldridge who in turn gave them to me. They were not identified. I believe they rightly belong in the Cottage. I have attempted to identify them and present them in a way they can be preserved as a historical record of the era.” A B Leigh A black and white photograph of George Box taken in Tunbridge Wells, England c1855Photo at base ; TUNBRIDGE WELLS Album inside cover ; Donated to / Moorabbin / Historical Society / by / Avis Box Leigh box george, box mary, box william, box elizabeth, box alonzo, box mary louisa, dendy henry, were j b, dendy's special survey 1841, brighton, moorabbin, bentleigh, mckinnon, ormond, market gardeners, dairy farms, early settlers, pioneers, jasper road, gurr jabez, gurr eliza, pay henry, pay anna, ward willam, box henry, ward elizabeth emma, box john, sheldrake martha, rushall eleanor, box caroline, tetanus

George Box, of Sussex England, his wife Mary Cripps Box and 3 three of their 4 four sons and 3 three of their 4 four daughters left Liverpool in the Sailing Ship 'Atlanta' in March 1856 to begin a new life in Melbourne, Victoria , Australia Their baby daughter Cecilia Lydia died a few days later. Caroline Box, the eldest daughter, remained in England . working as a cook until she joined the family in Australia in 1863 Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . George Box was the father of William Box who with his wife Elizabeth Avis Box and 13 children lived and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841 Black and white photograph of Caroline Box taken in Tunbridge Wells England c 1855Album inside cover ; Donated to / Moorabbin / Historical Society / by / Avis Box Leighbox george, box mary, box william, box elizabeth, box alonzo, box mary louisa, dendy henry, were j b, dendy's special survey 1841, brighton, moorabbin, bentleigh, mckinnon, ormond, market gardeners, dairy farms, early settlers, pioneers, jasper road, gurr jabez, gurr eliza, pay henry, pay anna, ward willam, box henry, ward elizabeth emma, box john, sheldrake martha, rushall eleanor, box caroline

Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . George William Box 1870 -1933 was a son, and twin brother of Cecilia Eliza, of William and Elizabeth Avis Box who lived in Box Cottage and farmed the land 1865 - 1913 . George William Box married Elizabeth Honor Tippett 1902 and they had 8 children. Elizabeth Avis Box gave them a shop with a dwelling in Jasper Road where Elizabeth Honor sold groceries and vegetables while George obtained various jobs. Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . George Box was the father of William Box who with his wife Elizabeth Avis Box and 13 children lived and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841 Inscribed inside Album : “ The early photos in this album were found by Mr (Laurie) Lewis when he was demolishing the Old Box Cottage. He gave them to Mrs Avis Box Eldridge who in turn gave them to me. They were not identified. I believe they rightly belong in the Cottage. I have attempted to identify them and present them in a way they can be preserved as a historical record of the era.” A B Leigh A black & white Wedding photograph 1902 of George William Box 1870-1933 and Elizabeth Honor Tippet Box d1953TALMA 119 Swanston Street / Melbourne / and at Sydneybox george, box mary, box william, box elizabeth, box alonzo, box mary louisa, dendy henry, were j b, dendy's special survey 1841, brighton, moorabbin, bentleigh, mckinnon, ormond, market gardeners, dairy farms, early settlers, pioneers, jasper road, gurr jabez, gurr eliza, pay henry, pay anna, ward willam, box henry, ward elizabeth emma, box john, sheldrake martha, rushall eleanor, box caroline, box william, box elizabeth avis

Francis Box was born in Withyham, Sussex and came to Australia with his parents George and Mary Box and siblings in 1856. He was assigned to work in Beaufort and had various jobs including ‘gold miner’ at Heathcoat where he married Eliza Jane Thompson. Francis decided to return to market gardening after the death of his 1st child Francis George Box in 1875 aged 13months. The child was buried in Brighton Cemetery and Francis then rent/leased the land on the corner of Tucker Road and Elizabeth Street East Brighton ( now Bentleigh) owned by his brother Henry who with another brother John helped Francis clear the land, and establish a market garden. They had 4 children and began to prosper until in 1882 their 2year old child Lena Caroline Box was killed in a fire that destroyed their house. Francis was burned trying to rescue the child. The local community raised money to assist the family. The land boom brought prosperity again and Francis bought more land around Tucker Road which was bequeathed to his children. Francis and Eliza Jane had four more children but one died in infancy and another aged 2 years. Only 5 of their 9 children survived. Francis and Eliza Jane, who died in 1922, are also buried in Brighton CemeteryBox Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . William Box who with his wife Elizabeth Avis Box and 13 children lived and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841 Francis Box was born in Withyham, Sussex 1836 and came to Australia with his parents George and Mary Box and siblings in 1856. Francis, a brother of William Box, and his wife Eliza Jane Thompson had 9 children and established market gardens in Tucker Road, BentleighA black and white photograph of Francis Box 1836-1912FERRY ... Elizabeth St Melbournebox george, box mary, box william, box elizabeth honor, box alonzo, box mary louisa, dendy henry, were j b, dendy's special survey 1841, brighton, moorabbin, bentleigh, mckinnon, ormond, market gardeners, dairy farms, early settlers, pioneers, tucker road, box francis , thompson eliza jane, box william henry george, box charles francis, box-hembrow mable alma, box jessie melinda, box edith florence

Francis Box was born in Withyham, Sussex and came to Australia with his parents George and Mary Box and siblings in 1856. He was assigned to work in Beaufort and had various jobs including ‘gold miner’ at Heathcoat where he married Eliza Jane Thompson. Francis decided to return to market gardening after the death of his 1st child Francis George Box in 1875 aged 13months. The child was buried in Brighton Cemetery and Francis then rent/leased the land on the corner of Tucker Road and Elizabeth Street East Brighton ( now Bentleigh) owned by his brother Henry who with another brother John helped Francis clear the land, and establish a market garden. They had 4 children and began to prosper until in 1882 their 2year old child Lena Caroline Box was killed in a fire that destroyed their house. Francis was burned trying to rescue the child. The local community raised money to assist the family. The land boom brought prosperity again and Francis bought more land around Tucker Road which was bequeathed to his children. Francis and Eliza Jane had four more children but one died in infancy and another aged 2 years. Only 5 of their 9 children survived. Francis and Eliza Jane, who died in 1922, are also buried in Brighton Cemetery Mable ‘May’Alma Box, who was born in Brighton, married Earnest Hembrow in 1899 and they had a daughter Doreen May Hembrow 1900. After Earnest died early 1900’s , May married John Amos Wright Batchelor 1912, a widower with 3 children, and then together had 2 children. Amos died in 1958 and May in 1969 in Cowra, NSW Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . William Box who with his wife Elizabeth Avis Box and 13 children lived and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841 . Francis Box, a brother of William Box, was born in Withyham, Sussex and came to Australia with his parents George and Mary Box and siblings in 1856. Francis established market gardens in Tucker Road Bentleigh. . Mable ‘May’ Alma Box was the 3rd child of Francis Box Inscribed in Album “ The early photos in this album were found by Mr (Laurie) Lewis when he was demolishing the Old Box Cottage. He gave them to Mrs Avis Box Eldridge who in turn gave them to me. They were not identified. I believe they rightly belong in the Cottage. I have attempted to identify them and present them in a way they can be preserved as a historical record of the era.” A B Leigh A black and white photograph of Mable (May) Alma Box daughter of Francis Box c1879YEOMAN & Co 47 CHAPEL STREET / PRAHRANbox george, box mary, box william, box elizabeth honor, box alonzo, box mary louisa, dendy henry, were j b, dendy's special survey 1841, brighton, moorabbin, bentleigh, mckinnon, ormond, market gardeners, dairy farms, early settlers, pioneers, tucker road, box francis , thompson eliza jane, box william henry george, box charles francis, box-hembrow mable alma, box jessie melinda, box edith florence , hembrow earnest, batcheldor john amos wright, hembrow doreen may,

Francis Box was born in Withyham, Sussex and came to Australia with his parents George and Mary Box and siblings in 1856. He was assigned to work in Beaufort and had various jobs including ‘gold miner’ at Heathcoat where he married Eliza Jane Thompson. Francis decided to return to market gardening after the death of his 1st child Francis George Box in 1875 aged 13months. The child was buried in Brighton Cemetery and Francis then rent/leased the land on the corner of Tucker Road and Elizabeth Street East Brighton ( now Bentleigh) owned by his brother Henry who with another brother John helped Francis clear the land, and establish a market garden. They had 4 children and began to prosper until in 1882 their 2year old child Lena Caroline Box was killed in a fire that destroyed their house. Francis was burned trying to rescue the child. The local community raised money to assist the family. The land boom brought prosperity again and Francis bought more land around Tucker Road which was bequeathed to his children. Francis and Eliza Jane had four more children but one died in infancy and another aged 2 years. Only 5 of their 9 children survived. Francis and Eliza Jane, who died in 1922, are also buried in Brighton Cemetery Jessie Melinda Box 1888- 1975 was born in East Brighton ( Bentleigh) the 8th child of Francis and Eliza Jane Box. She was a teacher in Eskdale, Victoria and married William Robinson d 1983, a farmer at Mitta in 1921. The family later moved to Tucker Road, Bentleigh where they ran a market garden until in 1950 they established "The Hilandale Poll Hereford Stud" at Notting Hill and Rowville. They moved to Mornington c 1960 where they continued their stud farming and enjoyed success at Melbourne, Sydney and local Shows. They had 2 children Jack Francis Robinson b1921, William James Robinson b1925. Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . William Box who with his wife Elizabeth Avis Box and 13 children lived and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841 . Francis Box, a brother of William Box, was born in Withyham, Sussex and came to Australia with his parents George and Mary Box and siblings in 1856. Francis established market gardens in Tucker Road Bentleigh. Jessie melinda Box was the 8th child of Francis Box Inscribed in Album “ The early photos in this album were found by Mr (Laurie) Lewis when he was demolishing the Old Box Cottage. He gave them to Mrs Avis Box Eldridge who in turn gave them to me. They were not identified. I believe they rightly belong in the Cottage. I have attempted to identify them and present them in a way they can be preserved as a historical record of the era.” A B Leigh A black and white photograph of Jessie Melinda Box a daughter of Francis Box and Elizabeth Jane Thompson Box c 1889YEOMAN & Co 47 Chapel Street, / Prahran* box george, box mary, box william, box elizabeth honor, box alonzo, box mary louisa, dendy henry, were j b, dendy's special survey 1841, brighton, moorabbin, bentleigh, mckinnon, ormond, market gardeners, dairy farms, early settlers, pioneers, tucker road, box francis , thompson eliza jane, box william henry george, box charles francis, , box mabel alma. box jessie melinda, robinson william, robinson jack francis, robinson william james, poll hereford stud farming, rowville, mornington, notting hill victoria, royal melbourne agricultural show, royal sydney agricultural show. cattle breeding,

Francis Box was born in Withyham, Sussex and came to Australia with his parents George and Mary Box and siblings in 1856. He was assigned to work in Beaufort and had various jobs including ‘gold miner’ at Heathcoat where he married Eliza Jane Thompson. Francis decided to return to market gardening after the death of his 1st child Francis George Box in 1875 aged 13months. The child was buried in Brighton Cemetery and Francis then rent/leased the land on the corner of Tucker Road and Elizabeth Street East Brighton ( now Bentleigh) owned by his brother Henry who with another brother John helped Francis clear the land, and establish a market garden. They had 4 children and began to prosper until in 1882 their 2year old child Lena Caroline Box was killed in a fire that destroyed their house. Francis was burned trying to rescue the child. The local community raised money to assist the family. The land boom brought prosperity again and Francis bought more land around Tucker Road which was bequeathed to his children. Francis and Eliza Jane had four more children but one died in infancy and another aged 2 years. Only 5 of their 9 children survived Two boys William Henry George Box 1876 -1957, Charles Francis Box 1882 – 1947. Three girls Mable (May) Alma Box 1878 – 1969, Jessie Melinda Box 1888 – 1975, Edith ( Eadie ) Florence Box 1890 - 1976 .Francis and Eliza Jane, who died in 1922, are also buried in Brighton Cemetery Box Cottage Museum, a reconstruction of an early settler hut, is named after the Box family who resided there 1865 -1913 . William Box who with his wife Elizabeth Avis Box and 13 children lived and farmed on the block of land in Jasper Road, East Brighton ( now McKinnon / Ormond) that was part of the Henry Dendy Special Survey 1841 . Francis Box, a brother of William Box, was born in Withyham, Sussex and came to Australia with his parents George and Mary Box and siblings in 1856. Francis and his wife Eliza jane Thompson box had 9 children but only 5 survived. They established market gardens in Tucker Road Bentleigh. Inscribed in Album “ The early photos in this album were found by Mr (Laurie) Lewis when he was demolishing the Old Box Cottage. He gave them to Mrs Avis Box Eldridge who in turn gave them to me. They were not identified. I believe they rightly belong in the Cottage. I have attempted to identify them and present them in a way they can be preserved as a historical record of the era.” A B Leigh A black and white photograph of a) Francis Box 1836-1912 and his wife Eliza Jane Thompson Box 1852 - 1922 Two black and white photos b) Francis Box ,Eliza and grandchildren Dorothy, Francis baby George - children of Francis and Emily Jane Thompson c1900 c) William Henry Box and Emily Jane McCurry with children Dorothy, Francis, George and Joan c1900 a) YEOMAN & Co 47 Chapel Street PRAHRAN b) Kodak Film Handwritten - Francis Box / Ellizabeth Jane Thompson / children of William Henry Box & Emily Jane McCurry / Girl standing Dorothy / Boy Francis / Baby George. c) William Henry Box m Emily Jane McCurry with children, Dorothy, Francis, George and baby Joanbox george, box mary, box william, box elizabeth, box alonzo, box mary louisa, dendy henry, were j b, dendy's special survey 1841, brighton, moorabbin, bentleigh, mckinnon, ormond, market gardeners, dairy farms, early settlers, pioneers, jasper road, gurr jabez, gurr eliza, pay henry, pay anna, ward willam, box henry, ward elizabeth emma, box john, sheldrake martha, rushall eleanor, box caroline, box william henry, mccurry emily jane,