30 page booklet. Great Australians Series. The life of Alfred Felton by John Poynter. Felton made his money in the drug/pharmacy industry in partnership with Frederick Grimwade. He died in 1904 with an estate valued at half a million pounds. The Felton Bequest benefitted the National Gallery of Victoria. Published by Oxford Uni. Press and printed by Brown, Prior, Anderson P/L.John Poynterbiography, alfred felton, frederick grimwade, john poynter, national gallery victoria

Alfred Felton (8 November 1831 – 8 January 1904) lived at the Esplanade Hotel, St Kilda, from 1892 and died there in 1904. He was born in England and came to Australia in 1853 intending to search for gold. In 1867, having worked as a commission agent and dealer in merchandise, an importer and general dealer and a wholesale druggist, he went into partnership with Frederick Sheppard Grimwade and founded Felton Grimwade and Company, "wholesale druggists and manufacturing chemists". He was a keen collector of books and art. He never married, had no direct descendants and gave away considerable amounts to charity. When Felton died, he left the bulk of his fortune to the creation of a charitable foundation known as the Felton Bequest to support culture and the community, with half the funding benefiting Victorian charities (particularly those that support women and children) and the other half used to acquire and donate art works to the National Gallery of Victoria. The Felton Bequest has been responsible for 15,000 artworks in the National Gallery of Victoria and they are the core of the collection. colour photograph unmountedCity of St Kilda. Alfred Felton (1831-1904) Philanthropist, Industrialist, lived here 1892 - 1904, sponsored by ACI International Ltdfelton, alfred felton, the esplanade, hotel esplanade, espy, st kilda, plaques

Annual report of the Association for the Advancement of the Blind outlined activities and events over the year, including withdrawal of the Country Concert Party due to the influenza epidemic, efforts being made to develop a Sewing Guild, continuation of Bark Plaiting to make small baskets, introduction of a French Polishing and Boot Repairing classes, the need for a separate building at Brighton to house the ill and the establishment of fund towards this with a 100 pound donation from the Felton Bequest, and the unfortunate increase in deaths amongst members due to the epidemic including past President T. Lowe, Country Concert Party singer Miss N Gray, and the return from active service of Dr Grey.1 volume of printed material with some illustrationsassociation for the advancement of the blind, annual reports

The AFB were aware that accommodation options for blind people were limited and sought to open a hostel to assist with this.The first hostel opened in Lara Street, South Yarra but could not meet demand. In 1926, a suitable property 'Egremont' at 54 The Avenue, Windsor, came on the market. The price was £2650. Lack of funds to purchase seemed an insurmountable barrier. With assistance from the Trustees of the Edward Wilson Estate and the Felton Bequest a deposit of £650 was raised. In a huge step of faith the Committee took out a mortgage of £2000. The interest on the mortgage and its repayments weighed heavily on the Committee. The Avenue, as 'Egremont' was commonly termed, was also a seven roomed house. Mr Paterson and the Architect, Mr Parkes of Oakley and Parkes, immediately began planning an extension, fourteen single bedrooms were added. They were filled from the Waiting List. A Windsor Auxiliary was formed and worked to reduce the mortgage of £2000. An active programme of dances, card evenings, theatre nights and the like took place under the leadership of Mrs. Robertson. The Auxiliary also took an interest in the boarders, arranging entertainment and social activity. £1500. was still owed in 1930. Living side by side is no easy task for a group of people, and the Hostel meeting minute books are filled with stories of disputes over wireless sets, telephones, hot water bottles and wardrobes. In 1958, with rising costs and the growth of aged care centres, the Hostel was closed and the house sold to a succession of private buyers. In 2016 it still stands and has been refurbished as a guest house.B/W copy of newspaper photographThe hostel for blind women at 54 The Avenue, Windsor was established in 1926 to provide a place where sightless women may live together to their mutual advantage under proper and sympathetic supervision. The Windsor Hostel was sold in 1958. This building still stands today and has been refurbished.egremont, blind womens hostel, tilly aston