The Orford family, a pioneer family remained continuously living and working in Eltham for 170 years from 1854 to 2024. James and Sarah Orford arrived in Sydney in 1839 aboard the ship “Orestes”; they had several children there before settling in Eltham in 1854. Three children, James Mathias, Sarah Amelia and Thomas Henry initially remained in the Eltham area. James eventually moved to Brunswick. Sarah married Arthur Butler Young and finally lived in Bunyip. Thomas who was six years old when the family arrived in 1854 remained in Eltham, married Helen Logan who died, leaving a large family. They lived in a slab hut by the Yarra at Laughing Waters and Thomas managed the Panton Park Estate, a selection owned by Magistrate Thomas Panton. Thomas’s son, Ernest Orford was born 1892 at Pitt Street, Eltham and also lived his entire life in Eltham working as a labourer, orchardist and later as a gardener and grounds keeper for Sir William Irvine, a former Chief Justice and Premier of Victoria. Ernest married Kate Thomas; their two sons Ron and Doug stayed in the area. Another of Thomas' sons, Arthur, also lived in Eltham. Four Orford generations attended Eltham schools. Doug Orford was born on the kitchen table (reference, son Ted Orford) of the family home at the corner of Reynolds Road and Mount Pleasant Road. Doug married Gwen and they established a family however Gwen died at a young age from cancer. Doug eventually remarried another Gwen and they lived for several decades in Napoleon Street, Eltham. Doug was actively involved in EDHS over many years, including serving as a committee member and vice president. Contributions by Doug and Gwen (Treasurer/Membership Secretary), his wife, assisted EDHS to continue to develop as a not-for-profit group intent on promoting and preserving our local history. Both Doug and Gwen were made Life Members of EDHS. They also acted as EDHS delegates to the Eastern Region of Historical Societies. His significant work with assisting to establish our valued Local History Centre helped develop our home base and supported the continued growth of our society. Doug’s local knowledge, suggestions and family connections were highly valued, Until recent times, he continued to regularly attend our Collections Team workshops providing his insights and historical information about photographs and society records. Doug died peacefully July 8, 2024, and represents the last link in the Orford Eltham chain which spanned 170 years. His funeral was held Thursday, July 18, 2024, at Le Pine Funerals, 848 Main Road, Eltham. Contents: Typed notes, no date: Memories of Ernest Orford [taped 1979] about his school days. Handwritten notes, no date: History of Ernie Orford Typed notes, no date: History of Thomas Henry Orford and family. Photocopy: Shire of Eltham General Rate Receipts. Received from D Orford 7 June 1923 and Received from E F Orford, 4 August 1924. Letter, no date: Nillumbik Shire to Russell Yeoman, Gwen Orford to receive Volunteer Recognition Award. Newsletter article: "The Orford Family, Eltham", Shire of Eltham Historical Society, No.80 September 1991. History of Orford family. Handwritten notes: 21 March 2011, genealogy of George Orford. On reverse Melways map makred with Orford and other land ownerships. Newspaper advertisement, 21 March 2011: "264 Reynolds Road, South Eltham", property for sale [land in ownership of Orford family]. Letter: St Margaret's Anglican Church Eltham to Doug Orford, 17 November 2011, Extracts from church records relative to Orford family. Newspaper article: "Timely facelift at war memorials', Diamond Valley Leader, 30 April 2024, Nillumbik war memorial will have some work and a bronze plaque will be installed at the Eltham Avenue of Honour, Wingrove Park; photograph of Doug Orford Newsletter item: "Welcome home medal", Eltham District Historical Society newsletter no.216 May 2014, World War I two 'Welcome Home Medals' in ownership of local men, being Harry Gilham and Doug Orford. Order of Service, Le Pine Funerals (Eltham), In Loving Memory of Douglas Frederick Orford 22nd August 1929 - 8th July 2024 Doug Orford Reminiscences (2002) in conjunction with Jock Read and Peter Bassett Smith; 4 pages - 3 typed, 1 handwritten possibly transcribed from an audio tape recording (location unknown). New word file and associated pdf created [\Dropbox\EDHS DATA\DOCUMENTS\COLLECTION CATALOGUE DOCUMENTS AND PDFs\2-2 Family Folders\EDHS_06110-2 Doug Orford reminiscences 2002.docx - 1 April 2025] Doug Orford Eulogy by daughter Kathryn Whiteside 2024 and associated PDF [D:\Dropbox\EDHS DATA\DOCUMENTS\COLLECTION CATALOGUE DOCUMENTS AND PDFs\EDHS_06110 Doug Orford Obituary 2024.docx] Gwen Orford (nee Best) Eulogy 2025 and associated PDF [D:\Dropbox\EDHS DATA\DOCUMENTS\COLLECTION CATALOGUE DOCUMENTS AND PDFs\EDHS_06110 Gwen Orford (nee Best) Eulogy 2025.PDF]Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcdoug orford, harry gilham, welcome home medal, eltham avenue of honour, nillumbik war memorial, wingrove park, henry dendy, alfred armstrong, james orford, 264 reynolds road south eltham, george orford, george joseph orford, maryanne george joseph, thomas henry orford, ernest orford, e f orford, eltham cemetery, helen orford, joseph panton, panton park, gordon lyon, banyule estate heidelberg, james matthias orford, wurundjeri, constable peter lawlor, george hill, franklin street eltham, ronald orford, eltham primary school, john brown, robert gamble school inspector, sarah orford, mary ann orford, james mathias orford, sarah amelia orford, james peet, arthur butler young, watsons creek victoria, kangaroo ground victoria, helen logan, william orford, jane orford, arthur orford, frederick orford, florrie orford, victor orford, chem orford, sunnymede eltham, panton hill estate, sir william irvine, gordon lyons, kate thomas, north eltham gospel church, harold clapp, eltham cricket club, research primary school, dalton street school eltham, keith banks, betty banks, benjamine boyd, laughing waters road eltham, freddie gilsinen, douglas frederick orford, eltham district historical society, funeral service, le pine funeral home, life member, order of service, 1934 flood, 1939 bushfires, alcock & pierce, ansell, associated schools sports, blacksmith shop, boakes, bridge street, bryce family, bullock track, butcher, catholic church, cliff lester, cliffy green, daisy smith, dave lyon, diamond creek, diana bassett smith, dick tooth, dr. frank may, eltham higher elementary school, ernie andrew, fire station, flower stall, fodder business, fruit shop, furniture store, gahan family, garni burges, greensborough, harold norman, harry hawker, hat factory, hawker & owen, hay and com store, henry hawker, henry street, j .harry butherway, jack burgoyne, jack ryan, jock read, john lyon, junk yard, kevin gahan, kilpatricks, len parsons, lyon family, machine factory, mc leans, memorial, metery road, miss reynolds, monteith 's bus, mr. gadd, mrs. bird, mrs. morrison, napoleon street, peter bassett smith, peter's gahan, plenty river, plumridge, produce store, public hall, rechabite hall, reynolds road, roger bird, rutter family, ryan family, shoe factory., staffs produce store, studley cairn gahan, sweeneys lane, swimming pool, taylor street, tennis court, warren family, wooden bridge, yarra brae road

1. News clipping: Author recalls Eltham's early days; story by Linley Hartley, photo by Ron Grant; Diamond Valley News, Thursday, May 24, 1983, p26 (On reverse side, p25, "A pot for every purpose" about potter Joan Armfield with references to artis Davd Armfield) 2. Three pages typed copy of John Handfield's original letter to Blanche Shallard (of the Shire of Eltham Historical Society), 16 May 1989 detailing the Handfield family's life in Eltham and various personalities between their arrival in 1919 and departure in 1928. With a postscript that John Handfield returned in 1961 to a house designed by friend Robin Boyd and built 1961. At the time of the letter John and Esta Handfield had been the only owners. 3. Note from John Handfield to Ron Smith about a proposed talk (to the Historical Society?) to tell the story about the writing of Friends and Brothers. Proposed title of talk "You Never Know What's Around The Corner" plus several copies of book reviews • Photocopy of news clipping; The rector who created a vision; Review by Bishop Holland; Newcastle Morning Herald, c.1980 - Book review of FRIENDS AND BROTHERS, The Life of Father Tucker, Founder of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Community Aid Abroad, by John Handfield, Hyland House Publishing Pty Ltd • Photocopy of news clipping; The clergyman whose monuments continue to do good; Review by Geoffrey Hutton; Publication unknown, c.1980 - Book review of FRIENDS AND BROTHERS, The Life of Father Tucker, Founder of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Community Aid Abroad, by John Handfield, Hyland House Publishing Pty Ltd • Photocopy of news clipping; Helper of the defeated; Review by Sandy Murray; Publication unknown, c.1980 - Book review of FRIENDS AND BROTHERS, The Life of Father Tucker, Founder of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Community Aid Abroad, by John Handfield, Hyland House Publishing Pty Ltd • Photocopy of news clipping; Friends and Brothers by John Handfield; Review by Bishop James Grant; Publication unknown, c.1980 - Book review of FRIENDS AND BROTHERS, The Life of Father Tucker, Founder of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Community Aid Abroad, by John Handfield, Hyland House Publishing Pty Ltd • Photocopy of news clipping; Off and running on his third career by Stuart Sayers; Writers & Readers, The Age, Saturday 17 January 1981 • Photocopy of news clipping; Determined to succeed; Review by Roy Cassin; The West Australian, n.d. - Book review of FRIENDS AND BROTHERS, The Life of Father Tucker, Founder of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Community Aid Abroad, by John Handfield, Hyland House Publishing Pty LtdFolder of information on John Handfield, author, Elthamjohn handfield, joan armfield, david armfield, handfield family, eltham, 16 homestead road, handfield house, anne hunniford, dave lyon, esta handfield, mechanics insitute, mr bond, rechabite hall, robin boyd, rutter family, bishop reginald stephen, clem christesen, desmond annear, dr kent hughes, ethel boake, handfield street, john harcourt, kooringoorama, lady longstaff, nina christesen, peter street, shillinglaw farm, sir john longstaff, stanhope, yarra braes, a. copeland, alf baker, baker's cottage, ballakian, belackian, beulah alice rutter, bill withers, bird brothers cash grocer and fruiterer, blacksmith, burgoyne grocery store, butcher, david rutter, donald rutter, e. copeland, edward gadd, ernest james andrew, fanny withers (nee flinn), hubert rutter, jack baker, jack ryan, june rutter, margery withers, newsagency, oakley, ronnie baker, silver street bridge, tessie baker, walter withers, burke and wills, father g k tucker, frederick oliver handfield, friends and brothers (book), muriel elizabeth handfield (nee cochran), ss victoria, st laurence and community aid abroad, stanhope house, theodore louis hopton handfield, book review

Weatherboard house with cast ironwork decoration on the verandah. Three women, two men and four children with rocking horse stand for a photograph. Family unknown. Yarra Brae Park was situated on Yarra Brae Road, off Sweeneys Lane, Eltham. Research in historical newspapers reveals that the Hautrive family lived there 1904-1906, followed by the Bindoon family in 1907. In the 1930s it was occupied by Hubert Rutter, his wife Beulah and four children. Hubert was an Eltham Shire Councillor. On 13 January 1939, the house burned down in the Black Friday bushfires. After the fire, the family relocated to Toorak. Reproduced on p91 of 'Pioneers & Painters'This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Neg Sepia postcard and B&W printsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, yarra brae park, verandah, cast iron work, hautrive family, bindoon family, rutter family, pioneers and painters, houses, groups

Daniel Rutter Long was born in England, after training as a pharmacist he, his wife and family emigrated to Port Phillip, Victoria in 1840. By 1843 he had his own chemist shop in Bourke Street, later erecting a well known pharmacy on the corner of Bourke and Exhibition streets. During the gold rush of the 1850s he purchased gold at the shop for shipment to a Quaker syndicate in London. Retiring from the business in 1857 Long took up painting, sometimes returning to his original profession. He painted hundreds of landscapes in other colonies as well as in Victoria. Long participated in local affairs and was one of the earliest members of the municipal council. Later he was elected mayor and instrumental in the in the erection of Prahran Town Hall. He was also a member of the Police Court Bench for many years. Daniel Long died at the age of eighty-three in 1886. (State Library of Victoria)This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 35mm B&W negativeshire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, bridge, daniel rutter long, diamond creek (creek), eltham, sepp

Linda Begg nee Clarke was the 4th daughter of Alfred Edward Clarke (1843-1913) and his wife Caroline Long (1844-1884), and sister of Alfred Rutter Clarke. Her father married Margaret Helen Gowan in 1886. Margaret was the daughter of John Denovan Gowan and the niece of Reverend Kerr Johnston and his wife Eliza Denovan Gowan. The family property, Heatherbrae, Neerim Road, Caulfield, held a picnic on Easter Monday 1909 (12 April). In August 1916 she was honorary secretary of the East Malvern Branch and organised a concert in aid of the St Peter Chapel funds: "A Grand Concert is being arranged by the East Malvern Branch of the Ladies' Harbour Lights Guild, in aid of the Building Fund of the new Seaman's Chapel on the Australian Wharf. The concert will take place in the St. John's Parish Hall, Finch-street, East Malvern, on Monday even in, 4th September. Admission will be 1/. and tickets can be obtained from the hon. sec., Miss Linda Clarke, Heather-Brae, Caulfield." (see Punch article) She was responsible for the Needlework: knitting was a way to support seafarers (see pattern books). Linda, aged 49, married John William Begg in April 1928. He died in 1935.Linda Begg was a longstanding member of the Guild.Rectangular memorial plaque dedicated to Linda Begg who died in 1954 after many years of service. Her husband was J.W. Begg.In loving memory of Linda Begg a member of the Harbour Lights Guild from 1909, secretary for East Malvern 1919-1920, and first secretary for Gardenvale. Died 17th October 1954. I know that my redeemer liveth. plaque, memorial, east malvern, secretary, gardenvale, lhlg, alfred edward clarke, caroline clarke nee long 1844-1884, john william begg, linda begg nee clarke 1877-1954, heatherbrae, caulfield, eliza johnston nee denovan gowan, john denovan gowan, needlework, knitting

Hubert and Beulah Alice (Simpson) Rutter had five children: Hubert Jnr. (Joe) in 1913, David in 1915, June in 1917, Donald in 1922 and Samuel in 1926. Samuel died as an infant aged 17 days. Hubert was a notable figure in Eltham and beyond, with a career as a mining manager in Australia and Malaya. He served in the AIF in the First World War. While the children were growing up at ‘Yarra Braes’, Eltham, their father was an Eltham Shire Councillor in the 1920s, shire president in 1928 and a leading figure in establishing the Shire of Eltham War Memorial League, which was responsible for building the Shire of Eltham War Memorial tower at Kangaroo Ground, near where the Shire Offices were located until the 1930s. The Rutter name was commemorated after the war at Eltham High School with one of the schoolhouses named ‘Rutter House’ and at Geelong Grammar School until the 1960s where a ‘Rutter Badge’ was awarded to junior boys for leadership. The family home, ‘Yarra Braes’ was destroyed in the devasting Black Friday bushfire, 13 January 1939 and Beulah relocated to Toorak, Hubert working in Western Australia. Tragedy struck the family again December 19, 1940 when daughter June was killed after falling from the Heidelberg train on to an adjacent track into the path of a Reservoir train at Victoria Park station. Sons David and Donald both served in the R.A.A.F. during the Second World War and were killed in action, David in Libya in 1941 and Donald in Germany in 1945. The wreck of his plane and his body were not recovered at the time and Hubert never ceased to chase down leads as to his whereabouts. Beulah never gave up hope that Donald was still alive. Hubert had received several reports shortly after the war that his son was still alive but these were ultimately accepted as misidentification. Such was the anguish of the grieving parents, their son’s plane not found to confirm the fact for certain. Hubert wrote to the Air Force in frustration, failing to understand how the plane could disappear when it crashed in a relatively populated area. Unfortunately the answers came too late for Beulah who died in 1946 and was buried in Eltham Cemetery along with her daughter June and baby Samuel. Donald’s plane was eventually located and his body recovered in 1949. He is buried in the Hanover War Cemetery, Germany. David is commemorated on Column 245, Alamein Memorial, Egypt. Both David and Donald are commemorated on Eltham’s Roll of Honour Board, commissioned by the Eltham War Memorial Trust to be hung in the Baby Health Centre, part of the Eltham War Memorial building precinct. Hubert Senior and Hubert Junior both continued to work in the mining industry in Western Australia. Hubert senior died 1957 at Plantagenet Western Australia and Hubert junior in 1979 at Gascoyne, Western Australia. Sacred to the memory of Beulah AliceBeloved wife of Hubert Rutter Died August 21st 1946 also June Beloved daughter of Beulah and Hubert Rutter Died 19th December 1940 aged 23 years Also her baby brother Samuel Died 7th October 1926, aged 17 daysBorn Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, beulah alice rutter, hubert rutter, june rutter, samuel rutter

Written by Michael Anderson on RDHS Facebook on March 2016 CITY ROAD, RINGWOOD 1959 My family moved to City Road in 1959. At that time, it was a narrow rutted dirt road, with a large drain running on the northern side, and a wide nature strip complete with big wattle trees on the southern side, ideal for playing cricket and other games. There was no Salvation Army Citadel, nor was there a Lutheran Church. As you proceed from Wantirna Road towards Jubilee Park, there were no houses on the right hand side at all until you reached our house, 14 City Road, which at the time was Lot 51. On the corner where the Lutheran Church now stands, there was an old rusty farm gate, attached to a very weathered wooden post. This indicated that at some stage, City Road had been a private road. This rusty old gate was never closed, but it was a remnant of bygone days. Ireland St, Regina St, and Greenwood Avenue south of Haig Street were all narrow dirt roads as well. Jubilee Park Oval was fairly new, and there was no grandstand. The players and staff had to make do with a small wooden building that looked like a garden shed. Just beyond the southern end of the oval were growing many wild pumpkins, and I understand that the land had been a rubbish tip in the not so distant past. The park also had a couple of tennis courts. There was no road from Jubilee Park to Reilly St, and Reilly St didn't go all the way through from Wantirna Road to Great Ryrie St. It was broken by a creek. Aquinas College was an orchard. As you proceed up City Road from Wantirna Road, The Salvation Army church is on the left corner. The Hobbs family lived on that corner, in an old house on a block which was bordered by a huge hedge. The house next door in Wantirna Road, which is also Salvation Army land now, was owned by the Bayliss family. Mrs Bayliss was a teacher at Ringwood High. The first house in City Rd proper was at no. 1 to 5. The Roberts family lived there in an old weatherboard house on an acre of land. Mr Roberts was a carpenter who had built our house at No. 14, and he lived there with his wife and two sons, Graeme and Max. Eventually, they wanted more space, so they moved to the acre. Next door to the Roberts was Ted O'Regan at no. 7 to no. 9. He appears to have been a widower, and he lived by himself in an old wooden house which was surrounded by a large veranda on about 2/3 acre. Next door to Ted O'Regan lived his brother Jack O'Regan at no. 11 on about 1/2 acre, with his wife Edna, his son Alan, and his Daughter Judith. Barney Meadows lived on about 1/2 acre at no. 13. Barney was an old widower, and his front garden had a huge palm tree in it. Next to Barney lived the Reeves at no. 15, and finally there was the McDonald family at no. 17, which is on the corner of Regina St. From then on, City Rd, was a bush block down to Greenwood Ave, and the bush continued up Greenwood Ave to the Williams house, one house block from Haig St. On the right hand side of City Road it was all paddock to Ireland St, and another paddock which ended at our house was over the other side of Ireland St. Both paddocks were developed in about 1961/62, and there are about 12 houses there now, plus the Lutheran Church. When we first moved there, there was a horse and a cow grazing in the paddock beside our house. For the first couple of years, there was a huge bonfire in "our" paddock to mark Guy Fawkes day. It was a lot of fun, although I concede that it might have been a tad dangerous, with 3d. bungers and all that! Next door to us at no. 16 was the Goessling family. From now on the house blocks were normal sized. The Goesslings had one baby girl who was about 9 months old when we first moved in, but they ended up with 4 kids, all of whom would be middle aged now. They were observant Lutherans, but they were there before the church. Next door to the Goesslings at no. 18 was the Weir family on the corner of Regina St. On the other side of Regina St. at no. 20 was the Gowland family, and the last house in the street at no. 22 was owned by Arthur Johnston and his family. Arthur was an Ambulance Driver. Of course, many other people moved in and moved out in all those years. There was one particularly bad week for the street in June 1969. My brother Peter was killed in a work accident on Saturday 7th June. The next Wednesday 11th June Ted O'Regan, who lived diagonally opposite us died. Then on the next Saturday the 14th June, Ted Bell, who lived next door to us at no. 12 died from a heart attack at the age of 47. Three deaths in one week was a bit too much. It was eerie! Our old house is still standing, but I doubt for much longer. It was bought by people who wanted to develop it. Their plans were knocked back, so they sold it again. I would bet that in the not too distant future the house will be a piece of history. City Road was a paradise for kids when we moved in. We had lived in the inner suburbs, so the space and freedom were amazing for us "city slickers." I don't know where you could move to now if you wanted to bring up your children in a similar environment. Somehow, I don't think it would be possible.

The Peterson family were early settlers in Moorabbin Shire and established a market garden in East Boundary Road East Bentleigh. Horse drawn wagons traveled along Plateways to take their crops to the Melbourne Markets . With the advent of the motorcar the market gardeners gradually purchased trucks to transport their crops. Roads were being surfaced but ruts and flooding caused upsets and bogging of these trucks. The journey was quicker but unlike the Horses, these trucks could not drive themselves back to the farm.The early settlers like the Petersons and Marriotts, in the Parish of Moorabbin County of Bourke after Henry Dendy's Special Survey Brighton 1841, established market gardens, fruit & flower gardens, poultry & dairy farms, vineyards as well as shop businesses, blacksmiths, chemists, nursing homes and schools & Churches.Black & White photograph of a Vulcan truck driven by Vic Peterson, loaded with Cauliflowers from his market garden in East boundary Road East Bentleigh c 1929.Back Handwritten information unsgnedwagons, vulcan trucks, draught horses,, peterson vic, marriott dick, cauliflower crops, vegetable crops, poliomyelitis epidemics 20thc , elster creek, plateways moorabbin shire, smith j l; smith mary ann, stanley helen, smith vic chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, mckinnon, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

This Plateway Wagon was built by Pengelly's Carriage Works, North Brighton 1883. The wagon was owned by the Corrigan family, market gardeners in Noble Park. It is an original, timber horse-drawn wagon that used the the Plateway or Wheelway from 1890. These heavily laden market gardener’s carts could travel relatively smoothly and safely, along the steel rails on the main roads of Moorabbin Parish to Melbourne and St Kilda markets to sell their produce, at a time when the road surfaces were rutted and hazardous.After the Henry Dendy Special Survey of the Parish of Moorabbin in 1841, land was sold to pioneer settlers who developed market gardens, vineyards and fruit gardens ( orchards ). These market gardeners took their produce in heavily laden horse-drawn Wagons along the steel Plateway to the markets in St Kilda and Melbourne. An original, timber horse-drawn wagon of a type that used the Plateway or Wheelway. The steel rails of the Plateway played such an important role from the 1890’s in the transportation of produce along the City of Moorabbin’s major roads, (including Centre Road, Bentleigh), to reach the markets in St Kilda and Melbourne. Heavily laden market gardener’s carts , drawn by a horse, could travel relatively smoothly and safely, along the steel rails to city markets, at a time when the road surfaces were rutted and hazardous. horse, melbourne, brighton, moorabbin, steel, henry, dendy, fruit, gardens, roads, plateway, wheelway, bentleigh, vineyards, orchards, draught, markets, st kilda, wagons

Written by Michael Anderson on RDHS Facebook on March 2016 CITY ROAD, RINGWOOD 1959 My family moved to City Road in 1959. At that time, it was a narrow rutted dirt road, with a large drain running on the northern side, and a wide nature strip complete with big wattle trees on the southern side, ideal for playing cricket and other games. There was no Salvation Army Citadel, nor was there a Lutheran Church. As you proceed from Wantirna Road towards Jubilee Park, there were no houses on the right hand side at all until you reached our house, 14 City Road, which at the time was Lot 51. On the corner where the Lutheran Church now stands, there was an old rusty farm gate, attached to a very weathered wooden post. This indicated that at some stage, City Road had been a private road. This rusty old gate was never closed, but it was a remnant of bygone days. Ireland St, Regina St, and Greenwood Avenue south of Haig Street were all narrow dirt roads as well. Jubilee Park Oval was fairly new, and there was no grandstand. The players and staff had to make do with a small wooden building that looked like a garden shed. Just beyond the southern end of the oval were growing many wild pumpkins, and I understand that the land had been a rubbish tip in the not so distant past. The park also had a couple of tennis courts. There was no road from Jubilee Park to Reilly St, and Reilly St didn't go all the way through from Wantirna Road to Great Ryrie St. It was broken by a creek. Aquinas College was an orchard. As you proceed up City Road from Wantirna Road, The Salvation Army church is on the left corner. The Hobbs family lived on that corner, in an old house on a block which was bordered by a huge hedge. The house next door in Wantirna Road, which is also Salvation Army land now, was owned by the Bayliss family. Mrs Bayliss was a teacher at Ringwood High. The first house in City Rd proper was at no. 1 to 5. The Roberts family lived there in an old weatherboard house on an acre of land. Mr Roberts was a carpenter who had built our house at No. 14, and he lived there with his wife and two sons, Graeme and Max. Eventually, they wanted more space, so they moved to the acre. Next door to the Roberts was Ted O'Regan at no. 7 to no. 9. He appears to have been a widower, and he lived by himself in an old wooden house which was surrounded by a large veranda on about 2/3 acre. Next door to Ted O'Regan lived his brother Jack O'Regan at no. 11 on about 1/2 acre, with his wife Edna, his son Alan, and his Daughter Judith. Barney Meadows lived on about 1/2 acre at no. 13. Barney was an old widower, and his front garden had a huge palm tree in it. Next to Barney lived the Reeves at no. 15, and finally there was the McDonald family at no. 17, which is on the corner of Regina St. From then on, City Rd, was a bush block down to Greenwood Ave, and the bush continued up Greenwood Ave to the Williams house, one house block from Haig St. On the right hand side of City Road it was all paddock to Ireland St, and another paddock which ended at our house was over the other side of Ireland St. Both paddocks were developed in about 1961/62, and there are about 12 houses there now, plus the Lutheran Church. When we first moved there, there was a horse and a cow grazing in the paddock beside our house. For the first couple of years, there was a huge bonfire in "our" paddock to mark Guy Fawkes day. It was a lot of fun, although I concede that it might have been a tad dangerous, with 3d. bungers and all that! Next door to us at no. 16 was the Goessling family. From now on the house blocks were normal sized. The Goesslings had one baby girl who was about 9 months old when we first moved in, but they ended up with 4 kids, all of whom would be middle aged now. They were observant Lutherans, but they were there before the church. Next door to the Goesslings at no. 18 was the Weir family on the corner of Regina St. On the other side of Regina St. at no. 20 was the Gowland family, and the last house in the street at no. 22 was owned by Arthur Johnston and his family. Arthur was an Ambulance Driver. Of course, many other people moved in and moved out in all those years. There was one particularly bad week for the street in June 1969. My brother Peter was killed in a work accident on Saturday 7th June. The next Wednesday 11th June Ted O'Regan, who lived diagonally opposite us died. Then on the next Saturday the 14th June, Ted Bell, who lived next door to us at no. 12 died from a heart attack at the age of 47. Three deaths in one week was a bit too much. It was eerie! Our old house is still standing, but I doubt for much longer. It was bought by people who wanted to develop it. Their plans were knocked back, so they sold it again. I would bet that in the not too distant future the house will be a piece of history. City Road was a paradise for kids when we moved in. We had lived in the inner suburbs, so the space and freedom were amazing for us "city slickers." I don't know where you could move to now if you wanted to bring up your children in a similar environment. Somehow, I don't think it would be possible.

287 p.; 23 cmnon-fictionThe life and work of Pietro Baracchi, Carlo Catani, Ettore Checchicarlo catani, pietro baracchi, ettore checchi