Date is approximate. William and May Palstra were married in 1920; 60 Guildford Road was their first and only home. William was with the university when he joined the Australian Flying Corps in WW1. He went back to university on his return from the war but in 1926 when the RAAF was formed he joined it as he had enjoyed flying. He took his family to England while he did 2 years training at the Imperial College in London under Air Vice-Marshall Jones. He was chosen as the Australian representative on a special flight of an experimental airship designed to fly over long distances. The test flight was destined for India, then on to Australia. Its passengers were high level British officials including the UK Secretary of State. It struck bad weather after crossing the Channel, clipped a hill and crashed in France. Some of the crew survived but William Palstra was killed. Mrs Palstra did not receive any compensation; only a small allowance, then cut during the Depression. She was given some support from the Returned Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen's association. Donor, Margaret Thornton was a daughter of William and May Palstra; one of her daughters, Julia Thornton still lives in the house in 2009. Donation form signed by Julia Thornton. Margaret and Jocelyn had a brother, also William. The house remains in 2009 with extensions to the rear and side.Black and white photo of William and May Palstra and 2 of their children in the garden of their home. William is in the uniform of the RAAF. He is holding Margaret's hand; Jocelyn is in her mother's arms.guildford road, raaf, australian flying corps, uniforms, william palstra, may palstra, margaret palstra, margaret thornton, jocelyn palstra, julia thornton

Date is approximate. Donor, Margaret Thornton was a daughter of William and May Palstra; one of her daughters, Julia Thornton still lives in the house in 2024. Donation form signed by Julia Thornton. The house remains in 2009 with extensions to the rear and side.Black and white photo of Margaret, Jocelyn and William Palstra wading in the shallows at an unidentified beach; bathing boxes in the background. sports and recreations, swimming, clothing and dress, bathing costumes, william palstra, margaret palstra, jocelyn palstra, margaret thornton

Date is approximate. Donor, Margaret Thornton was a daughter of William and May Palstra; one of her daughters, Julia Thornton still lives in the house in 2024. Donation form signed by Julia Thornton. The house remains in 2024 with extensions to the rear and side.Black and white photo of one of the Palstra children, possibly William, as a baby in a cane pusher outside the Palstra home at 60 Guildford Road, Surrey Hills.children, margaret palstra, margaret thornton, william palstra

Date is approximate. Most babies in Surrey Hills were born at home until c1922 and mothers were attended by local midwives. By 1924-1926 two private hospitals has been established in Surrey Hills and most births then occurred at either Mosgiel or Nethercourt Hospital. Donor, Margaret Thornton was a daughter of William and May Palstra; one of her daughters, Julia Thornton still lives in the house in 2024. Donation form signed by Julia Thornton. The house remains in 2024 with extensions to the rear and side.Black and white photo of one of the Palstra children, possibly William, as a baby nursed by a midwife seated on the brick balustrade of the verandah at the Palstra home at 60 Guildford Road, Surrey Hills.nursing, nurses, midwives, margaret palstra, margaret thornton, 1920-1930

Date is that given by descendant Julia Thornton. William Ernest Palstra married May Aurunui Holdaway (1885-1964) in 1920; this was their first and only home. They had 3 children, Margaret, Jocelyn and William. The family were connected with the Canterbury Salvation Army Corps. William's father was a Salvation Army officer; he spent his early life in South Africa. Prior to marriage he lived in Middlesex Road, Surrey Hills. He was an air force officer. He joined the RAAF in 1925. The family was in London when William was killed on the maiden flight of the Airship R101 to Karachi. It crashed near Beauvais in France. His widow and children returned to live at 60 Guildford Road, Surrey Hills. The donor Margaret Thornton was a daughter of William and May Palstra; one of her daughters, Julia Thornton still lives in the house in 2023. The houses across the road were demolished in the 1970s to build the Surrey Hills Salvation Army Church.This home is one of very few in the area which has been continuously owned by the same family over 3 generations. It is the only known image of the homes purchased and demolished by the Surrey Hills Salvation Army Church.Black and white photo of May Palstra with a baby, identified as Margaret, in a cane pram and with her fox terrier dog on the nature strip in front of her home. In the background can be seen the houses across the road. The road is unmade and the gutters are of bluestone construction.may palstra, margaret palstra, margaret thornton, julia thornton, may aurunui holdaway, guildford road, surrey hills, canterbury salvation army corps, demolished houses, babies, childhood

Date is the one given by descendant Julia Thornton. William and May Palstra were married in 1920; this was their first and only home. They had 3 children, Margaret, Jocelyn and William. Margaret Thornton was a daughter of William and May Palstra; one of her daughters, Julia Thornton still lives in the house in 2023. For a time 3 generations of the family lived in the house - Margaret Thornton, Julia Thornton, her then-husband and their 2 children. The house remains in 2023 with extensions to the rear and side. Donation form signed by Julia Thornton. This is one of very few homes in the area which has been held continuously by the same family. It is typical of the Californian bungalow style built after World War 1 but modified for expanded family needs. This was achieved in a reasonably sympathetic manner before a heritage overlay was approved for a large part of Guildford Road and without a 2-storey extension.Black and white photo of William and May Palstra standing in the gateway of their Californian bungalow home in 1921. It is painted or stained in a dark colour and has 3 chimneys and a brick verandah. The fence is of wire-mesh construction. There is a house nameplate over the verandah.palstra, californian bungalows, guildford road, william palstra, may palstra, julia thornton