The law court buildings on the corner of Russell and La Trobe Streets (Melbourne) were later to house the Supreme Court of Victoria. The law courts were built in 1842. The inscription by Dorothy Rogers [sic] incorrectly describes the builders as Swanson Bros., who instead were the builders of the later Magistrates Court on the same site. Matchbox containing architectural fragments from the old law courts [Supreme Court] in Russell Street. The matchbox has a label on the front and more detailed information included in a note inside the box. The item is believed to have belonged to the historian Dorothy Rogers.Exterior "Chips from the old law courts Russell St." Inside: "Court House built by Swanson Bros in 1842 of Moorabool Stone & opened 1st time [sic] in 1843. Stone composed of tiny shells".dorothy rogers collection, supreme court - melbourne (vic), supreme court of victoria - russell street - melbourne (vic)

Family research queries John and Sarah Watts William and Mary Watts Both families were shoemakers. John and Sarah Watts arrived in Eltham circa 1850. John Watts was recorded in the initial 1858 Eltham Roads District Board rates book living in Little Eltham, also 1859 and 1860. The property then appears to be in the name of Thomas Watts from 1861 to 1863 at least. Thomas was married to Ann. According to a Facebook contact from family researcher Rosie Watts in Queensland, the children of John and Sara were Betsy aka Elizabeth, Ann, Maria, Robert and Sarah (later Jones). Sarah was born 1850, the only child born in Australia. Sarah Watts remained in Eltham and married a man by the name Meadows. On 24 January 1860 John Watts was asaulted by a beligerant drunk (John Castle) whilst sitting at the bar of the Fountain Hotel that evening. Castle without warning grabbed Watts by the throat, pushed him over and kicked him in the head with his heavy boots. Constable Lalor was called and Castle attempted to assault him as well. Watts was helped up, was sick and was taken home by his son and a Mr Wallace. He went to bed. Watts died April 11 and his wfe Sarah advised the Coroner's inquest held April 11 that he had never left his bed from that time. Castle was charged with manslaughter. He was found guilty by jury and sentenced to 18 months hard labour on the roads. John Watts is buried in Eltham Cemetery in an unmarked grave before records were kept. His wife, Sarah later Sarah Meadows (previously Watts, nee Tew) is buried there also along with her daughter Ann Southerly Head (nee Meadows). john watts, william watts, mary watts, john castle, manslaughter, fountain hotel, constable peter lalor, shoemaker, sarah meadows, sarah watts (nee tew)

Two A3 page photocopy of official document with handwritten description of 640 acres of land in Ringwood purchased as Section 23 on 16th November 1954 by Charles Heape of Melbourne for the sum of £640. Summary of Section 23 land (transcribed as written without punctuation): "Bounded on the North by Section 20 bearing East eighty chains on the East by a line bearing South sixty one chains on the South East by the Mullum Mullum Creek on the South by Section twenty eight bearing West sixty seven chains and on the West by part of Section twenty seven and Section twenty four bearing North eighty chains seventy links reserving and road one chain fifty links wide passing through this section being the land put up to sale by auction as lot no.72 in pursuance of the Proclamation of the twenty ninth day of April 1854 and subsequently selected by the said Charles Heape under the Regulation of the first day of March 1843." (Research Note, July 2026: "... Block 23 (is) bounded by present-day Oban, Warrandyte, Plymouth and Kalinda Roads. This block and the one adjoining on the west, each of 640 acres, were purchased by Charles Heape in August 1854." - Page 20, Ringwood, Place of Many Eagles - Hugh Anderson.) Signature of witness - Sir Charles Hotham, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Lieutenant Governor of Our said Colony and its Dependencies, at Melbourne, Victoria, 15th November 1854. Entered on Record in the Register of Land Purchases, No.33 page 148, 4th December 1854. (Signed by Colonial Secretary and Registrar). Page 2: "Enrolled in the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria in Register No. 27 of Land Purchases, Victoria, Folio 212 this twenty second day of January 1857. (Signed by Registrar).