William Dower took up 10 acres at Mt Dandenong in 1898. He secured a property known as Cambridge Gardens which was located between the present Mt Dandenong Tourist Road and Yarrabee Road. William and his wife Elizabeth had seven sons (Will, Harry, Bert, Walter, Joe, Edgar and Robert) and four daughters (Emmy, May, Ada and Ruby). There was a two room slab hut on the property when they took possession and they added another five rooms using trees from the property. The Pig and Whistle Tea Rooms referred to in the inscription is now Tatra Hut. Sepia coloured photograph (copy of an original) showing a cottage in the centre of a cleared area with a fence at the front and a significant dead tree left of centre. There is an inscription typed below the photograph.1911 Cambridge gardens, Mt Dandenong (Opposite Pig and Whistle Tea Rooms showing the original Main Road)dower, william dower, elizabeth dower, will dower, harry dower, bert dower, walter dower, joe dower, edgar dower, robert dower, emmy dower, ada dower, ruby dower, may dower, tatra hut, pig and whistle, cambridge gardens, yarrabee road

William Dower brought his family to the Dandenongs in 1898, taking up 10 acres. His property was Cambridge Gardens located between the present Mt Dandenng Tourist Road and Yarrabee Road. William and his wife Elizabeth had seven boys (Will, Harry, Bert, Walter, Joe, Edgar, Robert) and four girls (Emmy, may, Ada and Ruby). This photograph shows raspberry picking at Cambridge Gardens c1907. The Dower Homestead is visible. The boys in the floppy felt hats are from Burwood Boys Home. Ruby Dower is centre front. Will Dower right of picture and Walter Dower left of picture.Ada, Carrie, Elizabeth, May and Emmy are also in the photo.Black and white photograph showing raspberry pickers at the Dower property Cambridge Gardens at Mt Dandenong. Printed from an image supplied on a CD.dower, william dower, ruby dower, raspberry, raspberry crop, cambridge gardens, walter dower, mt dandenong

William Dower came with his family to the Mt Dandenong in 1898, taking up a 10 acre allotment. William and hs wife Elizabeth had seven boys (Will, Harry, Bert, Walter, Joe, Edgar, Robert) and four girls (Emmy, May, Ada, Ruby). The property secured by William Dower was known as ‘Cambridge Gardens’ and had a two room slab hut. William and his sons added another five rooms using trees from the property. The family established extensive crops and worked hard for their success. The acreage extended to 30 when the family bought up neighbouring properties.Black and white photograph showing rows of berry crops. Reverse of photograph has handwritten description by John Lundy-Clarke.LOT 10 section 2 of the Village Settlement owned as registered by Dobson, then Bert Dower, then Edgar Dower. Property was named "Bonnie View" and photo was taken from near where the Channel O tower stands looking south east towards corner of Ridge Road and Selwyn Lane taken 1920.bert dower, edgar dower, bonnie view, channel o, dobson, selwyn lane

William Dower came with his family to the Mt Dandenong in 1898, taking up a 10 acre allotment. William and his wife Elizabeth had seven boys (Will, Harry, Bert, Walter, Joe, Edgar, Robert) and four girls (Emmy, May, Ada, Ruby). The property secured by William Dower was known as ‘Cambridge Gardens’ and had a two room slab hut. William and his sons added another five rooms using trees from the property. The family established extensive crops and worked hard for their success. The acreage extended to 30 when the family bought up neighbouring properties. Standing on William Dower's land this mighty tree was 286 feet high to its broken top with a 66 feet girth. It took Wally and Bert Dower a week to grub out the tree and then another week for the wind to blow it down.Black and white photograph with a very tall dead tree in the centre. A group of people visible in the foregrounddower, william dower, tree, wally dower, bert dower