Dr Michele Matthews has been a local and social historian for nearly three decades since she first used correspondence held by the then Bendigo City Council for her Honours thesis. She is an ardent advocate for the use of local history records to tell Victorian and Australian history from a grassroots perspective. Michele’s MA thesis, ‘A forgotten “Father” of Federation: Sir John Quick 1852‑1911’ (2003), and her PhD thesis, ‘Survivors, schemes, Samaritans and shareholders: the impact of the Great Depression on Bendigo and District 1925‑1935’ (2007), both drew heavily on Bendigo and district records. Michele Matthews Collection: PHD Research - Relief during the great depression This item includes the following documents: 8672.45a The document contains a handwritten letter dated 15 March 1933 from Mrs. C. Cowling of Neale & Osborne Street, Bendigo, addressed to the Mayoress, Mrs. Bennett. In the letter, Mrs. Cowling appeals for assistance in obtaining clothing for herself and her children. She explains that her family is living on sustenance payments and that her husband's unemployment has continued into its third year, leaving them unable to afford adequate clothing. She describes their financial hardship, noting that "everything seems to be wearing at once," and asks if any new or second-hand clothing could be provided. Mrs. Cowling states that she has five daughters aged between three and nine years old and a two-year-old son, expressing sincere gratitude for any assistance that could be offered. The second page is a typed reply dated 29 March 1934 from the Town Clerk. The response acknowledges Mrs. Cowling's letter to the Mayoress and directs her to Mr. Betteridge at the Benevolent Asylum, where she is advised to apply for clothing assistance. Rather than providing clothing directly, the Town Clerk refers her to the appropriate charitable organisation for support, indicating the council's role in connecting people experiencing hardship with available welfare services.bendigo, michele matthews collection, letters seeking support in bendigo during the great depression 1932 to 1934

This file contains seven items about the significance of this building and how this was established : 1/ Photocopies of a handwritten application (in duplicate) by Walter Kay of Elsternwick dated 13/10/1985 and Rodney H Bush’s dated 16/10/1985 to the Historic Buildings Council to register the former Elsternwick Post Office building, and an original typewritten letter dated 17/10/1985 from the Historic Buildings Council to Caulfield and Historic Society advising them of an application and inviting them to submit relevant information about the building with a copy of application attached. 2/ Six pieces of correspondence between various interested parties (Caulfield Council , Caulfield Historical Society, National Trust, of Australia and Ministry for Planning and Environment on behalf of Historic Buildings Council, Victoria) about the significance of the former Elsternwick Post Office building and the progress of efforts to include it on the Register of Historic buildings. Dated between November 1985 and May 1986. 3/ Two pieces of correspondence between the Caulfield Progress Association and the Caulfield Historical Society dated April and May 1986, regarding the efforts of the Historical Society to save the former Elsternwick Post Office building. 4/ Two pieces of ephemera by the Caulfield Progress Association, one original undated and one photocopy undated in 1986. Both appealing to the public for support to help the former Elsternwick Post Office building and to protest a proposal to demolish it, by Caulfield Council. 5/Original newspaper article dated 07/06/1989 from the Malvern-Caulfield Progress newspaper written by Robert Carmody. The article talks about the approval by the Historic Buildings Council of Caulfield Council’s restoration program of the former Elsternwick Post Office building worth approximately $850,000. The refurbishment would consist of a shop and office space which would then be rented out. Mayor Emil Braun outlines the progress to implement the plans. 6/ Caulfield Conservation Study by Andrew Ward dated September 1994 of former Elsternwick Post Office Building. The building plans for the Elizabethan Style building were approved in 1891. The original timber verandahs were replaced by the present brickworks in circa 1918 rear extensions in 1941-42. Similar Post Offices were built at Kew, Queenscliff and Portarlington. 7/ Computer printout dated 19/03/2010 of Statement of Significance held by the Victorian Heritage database of the former Elsternwick Post Office Building. It was built in 1891 in the ‘Queen Anne’ style. The substantial two story red brick building was set on a bluestone plinth with an ornate façade incorporating cement dressings. There is a brief summary of the settlement and development of the Elsternwick area with mention of how important the building is to the Elsternwick Community. Original date and author is unknown.elsternwick post office, glenhuntly road, elsternwick, riddell parade, office buildings, postal services, caulfield city council, kay walter, regent street, caulfield, bush rodney h, gisborne street, city of caulfield, braun emil councillor, mayors, aylen doug, aylen douglas r, historic buildings council, caulfield historical society, ministry for planning and environment, head stephen, historic buildings act 1981, anderson p, national trust of australia (victoria), public works department, architectural styles, calder g.k. councillor, wills cathie, lyall kerry, marsden john hudson, town clerk, hill douglas, caulfield progress association, caulfield south, glen eira road, hawthorn road, mac neil j.r., neville street, glenhuntly, marten veronika, ballantyne richard, royal historical society of victoria, dunstan don, alfada street south, hardy joan, baird rob, snowball betty, ward andrew, hoddle robert, foot henry, ebden charles hodson, elster, oldham mary kate, english ‘queen anne’ revival style, rifle club, coulson herbert h., fick p.g., railway, city manager, austin g.b. h., architects, builders, architectural features, australia post, register of historical buildings, grey karen, planning appeal board, heritage overlay no h029, victorian government gazette no. 60 dated 16/07/1986, historic building no640, certificate of title volume 5817, kennan james harley, nelson ivor, blake alison, neale anne, telegraph offices, wardell, ward andrew

One page of Caulfield Council’s E.S. and P. Committee agenda, item and minutes dated 14/05/1971 concerning permit application from St. John’s Uniting Church for the Victorian Music Theatre Pty Ltd to Conduct singing lessons in the church building. Typed letter dated 08/12/1987 from National Trust to St. John’s Parish noting the Trust’s classification of the church building and the accompanying citation. Typed letter dated 20/07/1988 from the historic buildings council to Caulfield Historical Society concerning the hearing to discuss inclusion of the church building on the register to be held on 24/08/1988. Copy of historic building council’s agenda item undated describing the significance of the former Union Church. Thirteen page assessment of the architectural significance of the former Union Church dated 24/08/1988 by Anne Neale. Includes sketch of the exterior and references. Handwritten notations by Jim O’Loghlin dated 24/08/1988. Photocopy of the page from the Victoria Government Gazette dated 05/10/1988 advertising the amendment of the register of historic buildings to include the former Union Church building. A twelve page document produced by the Historic Buildings Council Victoria, date unknown, which describes the council’s operations and activities.st. john’s parish of the uniting church, e.s. and p. committee, congregational church, orrong road, victorian music theatre pty ltd, king street, glen huntly road, melbourne neon ltd, balaclava road, whiteway neon p.l., n. and d. panagiotou, nepean highway, h.c. sleigh ltd., poath road, carden w. j., warren r.p., talbot avenue, new l. mrs., elsternwick, zoning, st. georges road, architectural features, caulfield union church, towers, de lacy evans george, mcmurtie mcnaughton and stewart, glen eira road, neale anne i., mcloghlin jim, architectural styles, gothic style, caulfield, caulfield historical society, gregson w. rev., st. aloysius caulfield, brick