Alexander Robert Edgar, President of the Victoria and Tasmania Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church by Certificate of Consent of Sale dated 28 November 1901, declared that the Conference of the Church held in Melbourne, 27 February 1894, agreed to the sale by the Trustees of Lot 20 Henry Street. Indenture dated 15 November 1901 between Revd. Barnabas Shaw Walker, Minister of the Pentridge Circuit, Joseph Cooper, Gardener of Keelbundora, Samuel Jeffrey, Farmer of Jika Jika, John Brown, State School Teacher, Robert David Taylor, Gardener and Isaac Hill, Dealer, all of Eltham, the Trustees conveyed the land to William John Taylor the Younger, Gardener, George Knapman, Blacksmith and Isaac Hill junior, Carrier, all of Eltham and Trustees at the time for a Friendly Society known as the Hope of Eltham Tent No. 195 Victoria District Independent Order of Rechabites for the sum of £40. The conveyance was received into the Office of the Registrar General, State of Victoria, 12 December 1901. Originally purchased in 1856 from Thomas Roberts, Yeoman of Little Eltham, for £10 for use by the Wesleyan Chapel, represented by indentured Trustees, Rev. Barnabas Shaw Walker, Minister of the Pentridge Circuit, Francis Thomas, Farmer of Keelbundora, William Harriman, Blacksmith of Nillumbik, Nicholas Rodda, Farmer of Nillumbik, Aaron Grimshaw, Farmer of Greensborough, Joseph Cooper, Gardener of Keelbundora, Peter Dredge, Scholmaster of Jika Jika and Samuel Jeffrey, Farmer of Jika Jika. Lot 20 of Subdivision of Portion 13, Section 4 of the Parish of Nillumbik in the County of Evelyn was located on the southern side of Henry street in Little Eltham North, where the current Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church is situated. It became the location of the Eltham Rechabite Hall. In 1893 a new hall was built and further enlarged in 1919. At the commencement of 1922, the property was purchased from the Independent Order of Rechabites with publicly subscribed funds and a new hall built at a cost of £750 and improved road access constructed to reduce the grade, running from Dudley Street to Henry Street. This hall was eventually replaced with the new Shire Offices and Hall built on the corner of Arthur Street and Main Road, which was opened in 1941. Traces the earliest history of the Eltham Public Hall in Henry Street and the various names, occupations and abodes of the Trustees associated with the propertyaaron grimshaw, blacksmith, edmond perry, eltham public hall, eltham rechabite hall, eltham wesleyan chapel, francis thomas, george knapman, george smith, henry street, hope of eltham tent no. 195, i.w. lucas, isaac hill, james blanch, james chapman, james william brown, john brown, john jenkins peacock, john jones, john neale, john van mangerhoussen weiss, joseph cooper, joseph morris holloway, josiah atwool, keelbundora, lancelot iredale, little eltham, little eltham north, lizar elliott, mark blanchard, methodist church, nicholas rodda, p. mather, peter dredge, rev barnabas shaw walker, robert david taylor, samuel jeffrey, samuel moor munce, thomas roberts, thomas wheaten bowden, trustee, victoria district independent order of rechabites, wesleyan methodist church, william harriman, william hebblewhite, william john munce, william john taylor, william matthews, william rose

Robert David Taylor of Eltham declared he was the Secretary of a certain Friendly Society known as the Hope of Eltham Tent No. 195 Victoria District of the Independent Order of Rechabites; that William John Taylor the Younger, George Knapman and Isaac Hill junior the Purchasers mentioned and described in a certain Indenture of Conveyance from Barnabas Shaw Walker and others also therein described registered in the office of the Registrar General were at the time of the registration of the said Conveyance the trustees of the said Friendly Society and purchased the land and hereditaments described in the Conveyance as such Trustees; and that Edward Samuel McColl, Jack Alfred Harrison and William Wilson were on 31 December 1926 the trustees of the said Friendly Society and as such were entitled to grant and convey the land and hereditaments described in the said Indenture of Conveyance. Originally purchased in 1856 from Thomas Roberts, Yeoman of Little Eltham, for £10 for use by the Wesleyan Chapel, represented by indentured Trustees, Rev. Barnabas Shaw Walker, Minister of the Pentridge Circuit, Francis Thomas, Farmer of Keelbundora, William Harriman, Blacksmith of Nillumbik, Nicholas Rodda, Farmer of Nillumbik, Aaron Grimshaw, Farmer of Greensborough, Joseph Cooper, Gardener of Keelbundora, Peter Dredge, Scholmaster of Jika Jika and Samuel Jeffrey, Farmer of Jika Jika. Lot 20 of Subdivision of Portion 13, Section 4 of the Parish of Nillumbik in the County of Evelyn was located on the southern side of Henry street in Little Eltham North, where the current Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church is situated. It became the location of the Eltham Rechabite Hall. In 1893 a new hall was built and further enlarged in 1919. At the commencement of 1922, the property was purchased from the Independent Order of Rechabites with publicly subscribed funds and a new hall built at a cost of £750 and improved road access constructed to reduce the grade, running from Dudley Street to Henry Street. This hall was eventually replaced with the new Shire Offices and Hall built on the corner of Arthur Street and Main Road, which was opened in 1941. Traces the earliest history of the Eltham Public Hall in Henry Street and the various names, occupations and abodes of the Trustees associated with the propertyedward samuel mccoll, eltham public hall, eltham rechabite hall, eltham wesleyan chapel, george knapman, henry street, hope of eltham tent no. 195, isaac hill junior, jack alfred harrison, trustee, victoria district independent order of rechabites, william john taylor the younger, william wilson

Minute Book. Victoria District Independent Order Of Rechabites. Special notice for Tents and tent Secretaries dated 16 December 1897. Re Availability of female brethen and able to attenda a specialistoculist aand Aurist.

Sixteen page green covered book titled 'Victoria District 'Independent Order of Rechabites [Salford Unity] General Bye-Laws, Juvenile Branch. Handwritten name Bro E Lethlean on cover. Inside page certifies that Brother E Lethlean on the 22nd Day of September 1896 was initiated a Member of 'Laurel' Juvenile tent No 80 at Golden Square. D Davidson, JH Williams, H Laity Superintendents, E Leggo Chief Ruler, Robt Hargreaves Secretary signatures authorise investiture.bendigo, institutions, independent order of rechabites

Robert David Taylor was a farmer who lived in Eltham all his life and died in 1934 at the age of 76. Mr and Mrs Bowman lived in York Street; Taylor was their neighbour. In 1933 he subdivided his land, the plan showing a proposed Grey Street flanked by residential blocks for sale. Mrs Bowman bought one: her family would be able to walk through it and along Grey Street to Henry Street, thus providing quicker access to the railway station. But Taylor retained ownership of Grey Street itself. He fenced it off at each end and charged the Bowmans with trespass when they used it. The matter went to Court. The ruling was that Mrs Bowman could use Grey Street, as she owned land in it, but her husband could not. (Taylor also accused the Bowmans of having broken the fences, but could not prove it.) Taylor had wanted to subdivide his land in 1914. Plans were submitted to Council and were approved, but the subdivision did not proceed. In 1919, Taylor doctored the plans to make it appear that a totally different subdivisional arrangement had been approved. The Titles Office immediately detected fraud, and the Crown charged Taylor with forgery and counterfeiting. But charges were later dropped (reason not recorded). He was an Eltham Shire Councillor between 1911 and 1920. In 1920, Council charged him with illegally felling 91 eucalyptus trees in Eltham Park (60% of them in a healthy condition), presumably to be sold as firewood. He was imprisoned pending trial. Taylor claimed that he had acquired from another man the right to remove timber and sued the Council for wrongful prosecution. The case eventually went to the State Full Court, with judgement given in favour of Council, on the grounds that any right acquired by Taylor covered only the removal of logs and refuse, not sound green timber. And his position as Councillor precluded him from acquiring the right anyway. Robert David Taylor was also a Trustee of the Wesleyan Church owned land at Lot 20 Henry Street, originally purchased in January 1855 for a chapel and from which David and Catherine Clark first ran their private school, the forerunner of the Eltham Primary School. The land was sold in November 1901 to the Hope of Eltham Tent No. 195 Victoria District Independent Order of Rechabites, for which his brother William John Taylor was a Trustee and became the home of the Eltham Rechabite Hall. In December 1921 it was again sold, this time to the community for use as the Eltham Public Hall, Robert David Taylor being a member of the Committee.Born Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, charlotte amelia taylor, eltham district historical society, heritage excursion, lillian jane taylor, richard pinn, robert david taylor

George Knapman was born c.1851 in Ashburton, Devon, England, the son of George Knapman and Elizabeth Grant nee Wyatt. George, his mother and three sisters arrived in the Port of Melbourne, 28 Jul 1857 aboard the ship, Mindoro from Plymouth, his father having preceded them some eighteen months earlier. George married Mary Jane Williams in 1877 and they settled in Eltham where they had five children; Percival George (1878), Florence Maud (1880), Laura Blanche (1882), Alfred Edgar (1886) and Gladys Victoria (1897). In 1879 George was elected a vestryman for St Margaret’s Church, a position he would be re-elected to for many years. Both he and Mary were active members of the church and social activities. In 1884 George was also engaged in collecting funds for the renovation of the St Helena church George was also a member of the Eltham Cricket Club. In May 1884 following completion of the cricket season, several players banded together to form a group holding fortnightly meetings for the purpose of giving readings, recitations, etc to relieve the dullness of the long winter evenings. Charles Wingrove was elected President, Rev. J.B. Gason Treasurer and George along with Messrs Evans, Bourke, D. McColl, C. Jarrold, George Hill and William Brown, members of the Committee. In 1885, George advertised two horses had strayed from his premises (reward £2) and in 1891 he had a cultivator for sale (price £7/10/-). In 1902 he was treasurer of the Eltham Rifle Club. His children attended Eltham Primary School. In 1904 he was a member of the school's Board of Advice and addressed children at an Arbor Day planting activity. In 1907 he was elected president of the Eltham Progressive League, calling for public toilets to be erected at a local picnic spot. George along with William John Taylor and Isaac Hill was also appointed a Trustee of the Eltham Rechabite Hall in Henry Street on behalf of the Hope of Eltham Tent No. 195 Victoria District Independent Order of Rechabites from December 1901 until its sale to the community in December 1921 for use as a public hall. George ‘Snowy’ Knapman was a blacksmith by trade. He owned and operated a shoeing forge and wheelwright workshop, known as Snowy Knapman’s Forge, in Main Road Eltham, next door to the Eltham Court House. The location was well chosen. Mail coaches from Melbourne passed through Eltham enroute to Christmas Hills and Yarra Glen, with another heading to Kingstown (now Panton Hill). It was common practice for horses to be changed at Eltham. Two photos taken June 4, 1907, captioned ‘Election Day Eltham’, show a large crowd of men assembled in Main Road outside Knapman's premises. They are waiting to vote at the Court House. There are no women in the crowd; they were not empowered to vote. George's brothers William and John were also blacksmiths at Heidelberg, continuing the business established by their father George, who had died in 1900. After William died in 1909, George moved to Heidelberg to take over from him. George died at his residence, ‘Devon’, Yarra Street, Heidelberg on March 16, 1923, and is buried in Eltham Cemetery with his wife Mary who died July 16, 1935, at Kew. Their former house at Eltham was located near where the WW1 Monument was erected in 1919, after they had moved to Heidelberg, at the corner of Bridge Street and Main Road and occupied by Mr. R. Trevena at the time of Mary’s death. Mary was sister to E.J. Williams, W. Williams and Mrs Fawkner, all residents of Eltham. In Loving Memory of George Knapman Died 15th March 1923 Also his wife Mary Jane Died 16th July 1935 Sadly Missed Born Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, george knapman, mary jane knapman (nee williams)

Information on William Anderson http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/anderson-william-2885william anderson, rosemount, independent order of rechabites, rechabites, sash, koroit

koroit, sash, independent order of rechabites, rechabites

Independent Order of Rechabites Salford Unity symbolic designs on yellow background with gold border certifying Mary H. McLennan having passed the 1933 Temperance Physiology Examination.

Certificate issued by the Independent Order of Rechabites Temperance Friendly Society to Victorian state school children who had passed the temperance physiology examination. The Independent Order of Rechabites began in Salford, England in 1835. It was named after Rechab, a leader in the Old Testament, who instructed his tribe to refrain from drinking alcohol. During the Industrial Revolution the idea of temperance became popular as damage was caused to families by alcohol. In Australia it was first established in Tasmania in the mid 1800s. In 1847 a branch was created in Victoria, and it then spread to other States. Members were provided with assistance during times of sickness, death and hardship. The Victoria District of Rechabites (District No. 82) was established in the 28th January 1861 In its heyday the Victoria Rechabites’ membership numbers grew and grew to the extent that there were at one stage in excess of 36,000 members associated with the Victorian Rechabites in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s covering approximately 250 operating Tents. The certificate was issued to Helen Marion Blackman in 1949. Helen was a resident in the City of Moorabbin.Certificate issued by the Independent Order of Rechabites Temperance Friendly Society to Victorian state school children who had passed the temperance physiology examination. Independent Order of Rechabites - Salford Unityindependent order of rechabites, blackman, city of moorabbin, school children

Pink paper, brown text, 4 page folded program for the 'Public Demonstration in celebration of the Jubilee of the Victoria District. Visit of the High Officers from England.' Held at the Masonic Hall Bendigo Tuesday March 14th at 8 p.m., no year given but probably 1911. The Bendigo tents are listed: Star of Bendigo Tent No. 5., meets Temperance Hall Refuge Tent No 14, meets M.U. Hall, Eaglehawk Coben Tent No. 39, Tent Rom, California Gully Olive Branch Tent No. 42, Temperance Hall, kangaroo Flat Laurel Tent No. 137, Methodist School, Golden Square Sutton Tent No. 166, Methodist Hall, McIntyre St Long Gully Pride of the Hills Tent No. 427, Methodist Building, White Hills A program of entertainers is provided: 'Programme Masonic Hall' Bro W.J. Campbell Mr. J. Brown, Bro. J. Philipson Miss Muriel Hyett Bro C.W. Churchill Mr. E.H. Collett Bro. A.E. J. Quick Mr. J. Brown and Miss Muriel Hyett Bro. J.G. Membrey.bendigo, clubs, independent order of rechabites

Cobden Tent number 39 was established 1865 at California Gully.Rarity: Local High Significance.Large framed presentation to Brother John Snell for holding the office of Chief Ruler of Cobden Tent Victoria district as a member of the Independent Order of Rechabites Salford Unity, with ten photographs of Bros, John Snell, W. Knight, P.C.R., T.Trewartha (Duty Sec), J.Shaw,M.S., E.Batten, W.S., C.Jinks (Guardian), J.C.McCoy (Sec), L.Sutton (Levite), one unknown with no name, signed by A.Penaluna C.R. & J.C.McCoy. Sec, 30th June 1905, Lodge established August 25 1835. Registered March 27 1854. Under glass in a large wooden frame with illuminated address in centre. Backed with white painted masonite attached by 24 screws.presentation, salford unity, independent order of rechabites, snell

Inaugural address, 1 photocopied page, delivered by Bro J.E. Jenkins at the annual meeting of the Victoria District, IOR, Portland February 20 1900. Contains information regarding the origin of the IOR in England and the first temperance pledge being signed in 1832 by John King and James Livesey.bendigo, clubs, independent order of rechabites

The Victoria District of Rechabites (District No. 82) was established in the 28th January 1861 with the transfer of Star of Australia Felix Tent No. 4 of the Tasmania District (which was established in Melbourne on the 25th January 1847) and Mount Alexander Tent No. 9 of the Tasmania District (began in Castlemaine on the 26th January 1860).In its heyday the Victoria Rechabites’ membership numbers grew and grew to the extent that there were at one stage in excess of 36,000 members associated with the Victorian Rechabites in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s covering approximately 250 operating Tents. Reference: Victoria RechabitesThis work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers, that was donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son John Rogers in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand. The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian in the 1960s and 1970s. Together it forms the largest privately-donated collection within the archives of the Kew Historical Society. Illuminated certificate testifying that Brother William Richardson was enrolled as a member the Independent Order of Rechabites on the fourth day of September 1882. [William Richardson was the father of the historian, Dorothy Rogers]. The Star of Kew Tent No. 260 had been formed in 1882 as a branch of the Independent Order of Rechabites. W. H. Richardson was a founding member.rechabites, independent order of rechabites, star of australia felix tent no. 4, richardson family