Wounded7/5/1915 Gallipoli Died of Wounds at sea in transit to hospital The 1914 Star This bronze medal award was authorized by King George V in April 1917 for those who had served in France or Belgium between 5th August 1914 to midnight on 22nd November 1914 inclusive. The reverse is plain with the recipient's service number, rank, name and unit impressed on it. It should be remembered that recipients of this medal were responsible for assisting the French to hold back the German army while new recruits could be trained and equipped. Collectively, they fully deserve a great deal of honour for their part in the first sixteen weeks of the Great War. There were approximately 378,000 1914 Stars issued. The British War Medal, 1914-18 The silver or bronze medal was awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive Approximately 6.5 million British War Medals were issued. Approximately 6.4 million of these were the silver versions of this medal. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim. SN 1053 14Btn AIF

St Martin's Anglican Church Armstrong St Charlton c. 1901, built in 1889. The weatherboard church was used until the early 1960s when it was replaced by the current brick building. The cataloguing sheet lists Mr John Gidley King in the photo.Mounted, unframed black & white photographst martin's anglican church, armstrong st charlton, pastoral care, church, angllican

The train is headed towards Surrey Hills station. In the background are the Hamilton Street shops with advertising posters on their rear walls. The donor George Lister Coop was about 27 years of age when he took this photo. It is one of a small series of photos donated by him that relate to Mont Albert and Surrey Hills stations. He has always had an interest in railways and there are other examples of his documentation of railway history in other collections contributing to this database. A black & white photo of a Harris train destined for Flinders Street that has passed through Mont Albert station, which can just be seen in the background. Behind the train on the rear walls of buildings are advertising for Haydn Real Estate and K&M Murray selling Toppa Ice Cream.advertising signs, george l coop, mont albert station, trains, haydn real estate, toppa ice cream, k & m murray, hamilton street shops

Trains with electric swing doors were often referred to as "dog boxes" or "doggies". They were manufactured at the Newport Workshops for the Victorian Railways. Swing Door cars had outward-opening doors. They were reasonably narrow, to ensure that two passing trains would not foul each other if doors were accidentally left open. The donor George Lister Coop was about 21 years of age when he took this photo. He advised that in order to access this point he had to scramble through a bit of rough undergrowth and beginnings of a car park. All near an open drain of some kind. It is one of a small series of photos donated by him that relate to Mont Albert and Surrey Hills stations. George has always had an interest in railways and there are other examples of his documentation of railway history in other collections contributing to this database. A black & white photo of a swing door train destined for Flinders Street that is within the platforms at Surrey Hills. The photo is taken from the western end of Surrey Hills Station. There is a man near the end of the platform on the north side. He is probably a railway worker heading towards his work shed just seen on extreme left. george l coop, railway stations, swing door trains, trains

The donor George Lister Coop was about 21 years of age when he took this photo. It is one of a small series of photos donated by him that relate to Mont Albert and Surrey Hills stations. He has always had an interest in railways and there are other examples of his documentation of railway history in other collections contributing to this database. R J Mercer was the butcher at 112 Union Road. This property has a long history of being a butcher's shop beginning from c1904. He took over from Edward Lloyd in 1951. Spotless Dry Cleaners were at 104 Union Road.This is an important photo as there are few known colour images of the station prior to the installation of the third line in the early 1970s, which resulted in the demolition of the station built in 1883. It is also significant as a record of the housing along the south side of Stirling Crescent which was later replaced by light industry.A digital colour photo of Surrey Hills railway station taken from the overhead pedestrian footbridge looking towards Canterbury. Both tracks and the verandas on either side of the line can be seen, as can the railway gates in the open position and the signal box, beside which is a large palm tree. A section of red goods vans are positioned in the adjacent goods yard. Some of the businesses and advertising hoardings in Union Road can be seen in the background. These include A Doubleday (real estate agents), R J Mer..., grocer, baker, Spotless Dry Cleaning, Robur tea and Lipton tea (part of only). A number of the Edwardian houses along the south side of Stirling Crescent are also seen.george l coop, surrey hills railway station, goods yard, real estate agent, a doubleday, grocer, baker, union road, stirling crescent, spotless dry cleaning, r j mercer, butcher

The donor George Lister Coop was about 21 years of age when he took this photo in 1958 before Whitehorse Road was widened. It was taken from adjacent to the Coop family home at No.688. Greythorn Caravans factory / showroom / yard was established c1953 at 731 Whitehorse Road. F R Horwood Wrought Iron at 733 Whitehorse Road was established in the 1940s.A digital copy of a colour photograph of Whitehorse Road, Mont Albert looking towards Box Hill. The Box Hill Gasworks can be seen in the middle distance. A caravan retailer can just be seen in the foreground on the northern side of Whitehorse Road.george l coop, whitehorse road, box hill gas works, mont albert, greythorn caravans, f r horwood wrought iron

The donor George Lister Coop was about 21 years of age when he took this photo in 1958 as Whitehorse Road was being widened. This was done in sections. It was taken from adjacent to the Coop family home at No.688. The house on the corner of High Street and Whitehorse Road (39 High Street) can be seen in the middle distance. A digital copy of a colour photograph of Whitehorse Road, Mont Albert looking towards Box Hill. The chimneys of Box Hill Gasworks can be seen in the distance. It was taken from adjacent to No 688.george l coop, whitehorse road, box hill gas works, mont albert, 39 high street, road works

The donor George Lister Coop was about 21 years of age when he took this photo in 1958. This photo is of Annesley Home for the Aged at 692-694 Whitehorse Road. It was originally a Methodist, later a Uniting Church facility. The new section in the photo was part of an extension built in 1958. The Queen Anne / Edwardian brick attic home was built in c1908 for William Pilkington, a manufacturer and was called 'St Martins'. Ownership stayed in this family until c1950. A new brick veneer 2 storey building sits adjacent to a red brick Edwardian home. Elderly-looking people can be seen sitting behind the window of the new section.george l coop, whitehorse road, mont albert, annesley home for the aged, uniting church, st martins, pilkington family

The donor George Lister Coop was about 21 years of age when he took this photo in 1958. This photo is of Annesley Home for the Aged at 692-694 Whitehorse Road. It was originally a Methodist, later a Uniting Church facility. The new sections in the photo was part of an extension built in 1958. A further extension encompassing 21 beds occurred in 1971. A Queen Anne / Edwardian brick attic home was built on No 694 in 1908 for William Pilkington, a manufacturer and was called 'St Martins'. Ownership stayed in this family until c1950. It was retained as part of the facility. Alan Holt's register of 3127 properties list 34 residents in 1980, of which all but 3 were female. The property was replaced by apartments in c2018 but had ceased function as a nursing home quite a number of years prior to this and in the interim appeared to be used for temporary accommodation. A street view of new brick veneer 2 storey extensions to Annesley Home for the Aged. It does not show the original home 'St Martin's' that the facility was built around. In the foreground the pile of soil relates to the excavation works undertaken in widening Whitehorse Road.george l coop, whitehorse road, mont albert, annesley home for the aged, uniting church, st martins, pilkington family

The donor George Lister Coop was about 21 years of age when he took this photo in 1958 from the Coop family home at 688 Whitehorse Road. Ralph Walton, a bricklayer, and his wife Maria lived at 690 Whitehorse Road from c1931 (when it was numbered 447) until their deaths. Maria died in 1944 aged 77 years and Ralph died in 1959 aged 85 years. Whitehorse Road was renumbered in 1936.A view from the adjacent front garden of 690 Whitehorse Road, Mont Albert which includes some garden details of 688. A wire fence divides the 2 properties. No 690 is a red brick Californian bungalow style home with a tiled roof and a veranda offset to the eastern side.george l coop, whitehorse road, mont albert, ralph walton, maria walton, californian bungalow

The donor George Lister Coop was about 21 years of age when he took this photo in 1958 of his family home. His parents were George Burton Coop (b c1906 Williamstown; died aged 54 years at Mont Albert) and Winsome Alice (MS: Trewartha) who married in 1936. They are first listed at this address in the electoral roll in 1937. They had 2 children: George Lister Coop - born St Georges Hospital, 8/10/1937 and Alison - born c1945. However the donor informed that he initially attended Chatham State School because his first home was the Spanish Mission style flats at 346 Whitehorse Road, opposite Brenbeal Street, Balwyn. When his grandparents died, the family moved to 688 Whitehorse Road and he then attended Mont Albert Central School. Alison being younger did not go to Chatham Primary. A digital copy of a colour photo showing detail of the front veranda of 688 Whitehorse Road. The house is white weatherboard in a modified Californian bungalow style with a tiled roof and the carport built within the roofline. The balustrades and finials of the veranda are simple with occasional feature planks with a tulip detail. A bird cage hangs from the veranda. The veranda is supported by rough-cast sturdy pillars.george l coop, whitehorse road, mont albert, uniting church, californian bungalow

The gentleman in the photo is George Burton Coop, an architect / draughtsman. The donor, his son George Lister Coop was about 21 years of age when he took this photo in 1958 of his family home. His parents were: George Burton Coop (b c1906 Williamstown; died aged 54 years at Mont Albert) and Winsome Alice (MS: Trewartha) who married in 1936. They are first listed at this address in the electoral roll in 1937. They had 2 children: George Lister Coop - born St Georges Hospital, 8/10/1937 and Alison - born c1945. However the donor informed that he initially attended Chatham State School because his first home was the Spanish Mission style flats at 346 Whitehorse Road, opposite Brenbeal Street, Balwyn. When his grandparents died, the family moved to 688 Whitehorse Road and he then attended Mont Albert Central School. Alison being younger did not go to Chatham Primary. A digital copy of a colour photo showing detail of the front view of 688 Whitehorse Road. The house is white weatherboard in a Californian bungalow style with a tiled roof and shingles detail in a dark brown stain. The balustrades and finials of the veranda are simple with occasional feature planks with a tulip detail. A bird cage hangs from the veranda. The veranda is supported by rough-cast sturdy pillars. The house sits behind a cypress hedge. The photo was taken in winter as deciduous shrubs are bare. A gentleman astride a ladder is pruning the hedge. george l coop, whitehorse road, mont albert, californian bungalow, cypress hedge, gardening, george burton coop

Ballarat School of Mines is a predecessor of Federation UniversityBlack and white formal photograph of School of Mines Ballarat Hockey Team 1940. Names L. George, H. Patterson, U. Chisholm, B. Robertson, A. Howard, L. McPherson, J. McCarthy, M. Kerr, L. Stephens, L. Halliday, J. Martin, A. Janetski, J. Daniel, J. Horsey.on back in pencil "1940"ballarat school of mines students' magazine committee, ballarat school of mines hockey team 1940, school of mines hockey team 1940, l. george, h. patterson, u. chisholm, b. robertson, a. howard, l. mcpherson, l. stephens, l. halliday, j. martin, a. janetski, j. daniel, j. horsey

In a frame Formal Medal Display Featuring: Three black and white Photograph of L/CPL Cocks in jungle greens. Signal Squadron cap badge Three Medal cluster Plaque with L/CPL Cocks detailsMedal Inscriptionsframed medals, photograph, badge, l/cpl cocks, 103 signal squadron, 1st australian task force

Prize awarded to James Cleeland Shaw (BD 15/10/1862) for excellence in conduct and general proficiency. James entered Ballarat College 1870. Son of Mr. W.H.Shaw the Managing Director of the celebrated Phoenix Foundry which played such an important part in the early industrial history of Ballarat and who lived all his Ballarat life in a house in Armstrong Street South not far from Dana Street. Born in Ballarat on 15th October 1862 and attended Ballarat College 1870-1877. Was articled to Hardy and Madden of Ballarat Solicitors. Practised as a Solicitor in Ballarat for some years. Went to Western Australia in 1897 and acted for a time as Deputy Master of Western Australia Supreme Court. Was for some time partner with Drake Brockman now a judge but latterly practised as Shaw and Shaw in partnership with his brother Frank as Solicitors at 81 St. Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia. Example of prize ordered from London where they were specially bound and embossed with the College crest. Awarded by F J Thomas B A, principal under unusual circumstances 1874 - 1876.Preface dated 1859. A clean crisp book of 222 clean unmarked pages . 22 chapters, each dealing with a separate subject including; Berthollet - chemist; James Brindley - originator of canal navigation; Graham & Breguet - watch & clock makers; & Vaucanson - automata. Firmly bound in light brown calf with six compartments between raised bands and gilt title & decorations on the spine ; gilt school crest on the front; marbled end pages and edges.Book plate inside front cover: Ballarat College crest / PRIZE / FOR / Good Conduct and General Proficiency / Awarded to / Master J Shaw / Fifith Class / Christmas 1975 / F J Thomas B A Principalf-j-thomas, ballarat-college, james-shaw, 1875, book-prize

Author George Kehl was an instructor in Metallurgy at Lehigh University.Brown cloth covered hardcover book of 359 pages with photographs and diagrams.Signed on title page "R. Allsop"metallographic, laboratory, george kehl, bookplate, associated mines, broken hill, seller's plate, tait book co., broken hill associated mines, r. allsop

This book was part of a large group of books referred to as the Pattison Collection, which belonged to the Warrnambool Public Library, part of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute. About RALPH ERIC PATTISON and the ‘PATTISON COLLECTION’ The ‘Pattison Collection’ is a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the WMI was led to ask the City Council to take it over in 1911 due to lack of financial support. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Public Library as it was then called. Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 when Pattison accepted the position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council his huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower areas of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave from 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However, he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. THE NEW WARRNAMBOOL LIBRARY When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Pattison. Eventually, the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE Warrnambool's Mechanics' Institute (or Institution as it was sometimes called) was one of the earliest in Victoria. On 17th October 1853, a meeting was held where it was resolved to request the Lieutenant Governor of the Colony to grant land for the erection of a Mechanics' Institutes building. A committee was formed at the meeting and Richard Osburne chaired the first meeting of this committee. The land on the North West corner of Banyan and Merri Streets was granted but there were no funds to erect the building. The Formal Rights of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute's encompassed its aims and these were officially adopted in1859; "This Institution has for its object the diffusion of literary, scientific, and other useful knowledge amongst its members, excluding all controversial subjects, religious or political. These objects are sought to be obtained by means of a circulating library, a reading room, the establishment of classes, debates, and the occasional delivery of lectures on natural and experimental philosophy, mechanics, astronomy, chemistry, natural history, literature, and the useful and ornamental arts, particularly those which have a more immediate reference to the colony." The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute opened its first reading room in November 1884 in the National School building at the corner of Banyan and Timor Streets. The Institute was funded by member subscription, payable on a quarterly, half-yearly or yearly basis. Samuel Hannaford, the Manager of the Warrnambool Bank of Australasia, was the first Honorary Secretary of the Mechanics' Institutes, and an early President and Vice-President. He also gave several of the early lectures in the Reading Room. Another early Secretary, Librarian and lecturer was Marmaduke Fisher, the teacher at the National School. Lecture topics included The Poets and Poetry of Ireland', 'The Birth and Development of the Earth', 'The Vertebrae - with Remarks on the pleasures resulting from the study of Natural History' and 'Architecture'. In 1856 the Reading Room was moved to James Hider's shop in Timor Street, and by 1864 it was located in the bookshop of Davies and Read. In the 1860's the Mechanics' Institute struggled as membership waned but in 1866, after a series of fundraising efforts, the committee was able to purchase land in Liebig Street, on a site then called Market Square, between the weighbridge and the fire station. A Mechanics' Institute building was opened at this site in August 1871. The following year four more rooms were added to the main Reading Room and in 1873 the Artisan School of Design was incorporated into the Institute. The same year Joseph Archibald established a Museum; however, it deteriorated when he was transferred to Bendigo in 1877. In 1880, with Archibald's return to Warrnambool, the Museum was re-established, and in 1885 a new building was built at the back of the Institute to accommodate the re-created School of Design, the Art Gallery and the Museum. In 1887 the Museum section was moved to the former courthouse in Timor Street (for some time the walls of the building formed part of the TAFE cafeteria but all is now demolished)). In 1911 the Museum was transferred back to the original building and the management of the Mechanics' Institute was handed over to the Warrnambool City Council. The Museum and Art Gallery became one and housed many fine works of art, and the Library continued to grow. The building was well patronised, with records showing that at the beginning of the 20th century there were between 500 and 800 visitors. During World War One the monthly figures were in the thousands, with 3,400 people visiting in January 1915. The Museum was a much loved Institution in Warrnambool until the contents of the Museum and Art Gallery were removed to make room for the Warrnambool City Council Engineers' Department. The contents were stored but many of the items were scattered or lost. When the original building was demolished the site became occupied by the Civic Centre, which included the new City Library. (The library was temporarily located in the old Palais building in Koroit Street.) In the process of reorganisation the Collection was distributed amongst the community groups: -The new City Library took some of the historical books and some important documents, historic photographs and newspapers. -The Art Gallery kept the 19th Century art collection and some of the artefacts from the museum. -The Historical Society has some items -The State Museum has some items -Some items were destroyed -Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village has old newspapers, Government Gazettes, most of the Mechanics' Institute Library, ledgers and documents connected to the Mechanics' Institute Library, some framed and unframed artworks and some photographs. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Library book collection is deemed to be of great importance because it is one of the few collections in an almost intact state, and many of the books are now very rare and of great value. The Pattison Collection, along with other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, was originally part of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance. The English of Shakespeare Edited by George L Craik Publisher: Chapman & Hall Ltd Date: 1857 The label on spine cover with typed text PAT 822.3 SHA Pastedown front endpaper has a sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Serviceflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, the english of shakespeare, george l craik

Belonging to Rev George L Dyson of Carlton Methodist Mission.Taupe coloured leather book mark with gold lettering, fringed ends and a hole punched pattern running down its length."THE NATIONAL CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR CONVENTION BRISBANE 1935"carlton methodist mission, dyson, george l. rev.

Light brown coloured leather-bound spine and cover corners. Paper-covered board covers with greens red and ochre marbling. Gold lettering and gold graphics on spine.

This is a valuation and report on the property at the south east corner of Tiller Street and Burwood Road, East Burwood, as part of the estate of Mrs Edith Boyd, the mother of Robin Boyd. This was commissioned by John Penleigh (Pat) Boyd, Robin Boyd's brother. Edith Boyd died on 31 March 1961.Two page document plus a small black and white photograph in a thick paper folder.

This was the home of 3 generations of the Coop family: 1. Josephine and George Frank Coop (noted in Box Hill Rate Books for 1947-1954). 2. George Burton Coop (1906-1960) and his family. He was Assistant Chief Architect of Victoria in the Public Works Department (P.W.D.) George Burton Coop was born in c1906 in Williamstown, the son of Josephine Vistarini and George Frank Coop. He married Winifred Alice Trewartha in 1936 and they are listed in the electoral rolls at 688 Whitehorse Road in 1937. George died 3/4/1960, aged 54 years at Mont Albert. 3. George Burton and Alice Coop had 2 children: George Lister Coop - born St Georges Hospital, 8/10/1937 Alison - born c1945. The donor George Lister Coop informed that he initially attended Chatham State School because his first home was the Spanish Mission style flats at 346 Whitehorse Road, opposite Brenbeal Street, Balwyn. When his grandparents died, the family moved to 688 Whitehorse Road and he then attended Mont Albert Central School. The California bungalow style of housing was the dominant style of housing built in the interwar period through the northern parts of Surrey Hills and Mont Albert as formerly semi-rural land was subdivided for new housing. It was relatively inexpensive and affordable. In Australia the Californian bungalow drew upon elements that were popular across the United States from around 1910 to 1939. In Australia the style became popular from 1913. In Melbourne both timber and red brick were used as the main building material. Typically they are one or one and a half story houses and feature sloping roofs and eaves with unenclosed rafters and often a feature a dormer window (or an attic vent designed to look like one) over the main portion of the house. Decorative elements include wood shingles, part stucco rendered exteriors, brick, stone, rendered or a combination of these treatments to exterior chimneys and front porches supported by heavy timber, brick or stucco columns.A black & white photo taken at an angle of a Californian bungalow.californian bungalow, whitehorse road, george frank coop, (miss) josephine vistarini, (mrs) josephine coop, george burton coop, (miss) winifred trewartha, (mrs) winifred coop, george lister coop, alison coop

This is a photo of the backyard of the property adjacent to the Coop's home. At the time the neighbours were Mrs Daisy McKernan (a widow) and her son Alexander Colin McKernan. The clothes line prop was a forerunner of the clothes hoist. Clothes line props were standard purchase items at many local hardware stores and the donor poetically described them as holding "long lines of drying washing above the dusty democracy of many a rough back yard." Whilst the Coop home is still extant in 2019 and used as professional rooms for Dr Peter Chau, an eye surgeon, 686 Whitehorse Road has been replaced by units. This captures the utilitarian nature of the 'typical' back yard before the advent of rampant consumerism. Large areas of open lawn were a desirable central feature, often edged with neatly contained garden beds. Better lawnmowers, plus the promotion of new chemicals and fertilisers to help home gardeners grow the perfect lawn. Missing is the rotary hoist and the vegetable garden.A black & white photo on a sunny day of a backyard with the following features: a timber shed, an additional shed / hen house, a hand lawn mower leaning against a tree, several hens and a metal drum (perhaps used as bonfire container). A sloping pole/prop may be seen on the left. backyards, (mrs) daisy mckernan, alexander colin mckernan