This lifebuoy bears the name of the ship, its origin, the shipping company and the red ensign. These details mean that the lifebuoy was part of the lifesaving equipment on the sailing ship the Loch Ness, part of the Glasgow Shipping Company’s Loch Line (G.S.C. on the red pennant) and a British-registered ship (the red flag with the Union Jack on it). Lifebuoys were part of the emergency lifesaving equipment carried on vessels in the late 19th and early 20th century. The ring was made of strips of cork wood joined together to make the ring shape then covered in canvas and sealed usually with white paint. Four evenly spaced canvas reinforcing bands would be added for strength and for a place to thread a rope or line. A lifebuoy, or life-preserver, is used as a buoyancy device often thrown to an endangered or distressed person in the water to keep them afloat while they receive help. It is usually connected by a rope to a person in a safe area such a nearby vessel or on shore. Lifebuoys is a made from a buoyant materials such as cork or foam and ae usually covered with canvas for protection and to make it easy to grip. The first use of life saving devices in recent centuries was by the Nordic people, who used light weight wood or cork blocks to keep afloat. Cork lifebuoys were used from the late 19th to early 20th century. Kapok fibre was then used as a filling for buoys but wasn’t entirely successful. Light weight balsa wood was used as a filler after WW1. In 1928 Peter Markus invented and patented the first inflatable life-preserver. By WW2 foam was combined with Kapok. Laws were passed over time that has required aeroplanes and water going-vessels to carry life-preservers on board. The ship LOCH NESS 1869-1922 … The ship Loch Ness, of Glasgow, was the same ship what William Carmichael sailed on to Australia when he laid the commemoration stone on behalf of his sister Eva and himself, dedicated to their parents, brothers and sisters. The family members lost their lives on June 1, 1878, when their ship, the Loch Ard, was wrecked at Mutton Bird Island in south west Victoria. Eva Carmichael was one of the two survivors from that shipwreck, the other 52 tragically lost their lives. The ship Loch Ness was a three-masted sailing ship built in 1869 for the Loch Line owned by the Glasgow Shipping Company. The line transported cargo and passengers from Glasgow, Scotland, to Australian ports. The Loch Ness was sold in 1908 to Stevedore & Shipping Co, Sydney for use as a coal hulk. In 1914 the Australian Government took over the ship for naval defence purposeless. In 1926 the ship was sunk during gunfire practice by the 1922 built, light cruiser HMAS Melbourne, near Fremantle, Western Australia. The lifebuoy is an example of equipment carried on vessels in the late 19th and early 20th century to help preserve life. There were many lives lost in Australia’s colonial period, particularly along the coast of South West Victoria. The lifebuoy is significant for its connection to the ship Loch Ness on which William Carmichael, brother of Eva Carmichael, travelled to lay a memorial to their parents and all of their other siblings who lost their lives in the Loch Ard disaster of 1878 near Peterborough, Victoria. Lifebuoy, round, cork filling inside canvas cover, painted white, with rope attached. Lifebuoy has printed name of vessel Loch Ness, Glasgow. Symbols of red flag with white initials G S Co. There is also a red ensign."LOCH NESS", "GLASGOW" "G S Co"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, loch ness, loch ard, william carmichael, eva carmichael, lifebuoy, glasgow sailing ship, loch ness of glasgow, life rings, safety ring, life-saving buoy, ring buoy, life preserver, personal floating device, floatation device, safety equipment, g s c, glasgow shipping company, hmas melbourne, cruiser melbourne

This Bible is kindly on loan from Parks Victoria. It was presented to Tom (Thomas) Pearce in August 1878 by a friend of the Loyal Orange Institution of Victoria, in recognition of invaluable service rendered in saving the life of Eva (Evelyn) Carmichael when the Loch Ard was wrecked off the coast of Victoria, near Port Campbell. Tom’s granddaughter, Angela Elizabeth Pearce, has written her name inside the front cover. She was born in England in 1925 and died at Woollahra, NSW, in 1944; she was only 19 years old. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ‘LOCH ARD’ (1873-1878): - The sailing ship Loch Ard was one of the famous Loch Line ships that sailed from England to Australia. Barclay, Curdle and Co. built the three-masted iron vessel in Glasgow in 1873. It had sailed three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its fateful voyage. Loch Ard left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of recently married, 29-year-old Captain Gibbs. It was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. Onboard were straw hats, umbrellas, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionery, linen and candles, and a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. Other cargo included items intended for display at the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880, the most famous of which was the life-size Minton Majolica peacock. After three months at sea, the Loch Ard was close to its destination. On June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs couldn’t see any signs of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse due to poor visibility. When the fog lifted at 4 am, the sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast were much closer to them than Captain Gibbs expected. He failed to manage the vessel, and the ship struck a reef at the base of what is now named Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. The passengers and crew were thrown overboard on impact. The lifeboat was launched by Tom Pearce but crashed into the side of Loch Ard and capsized. He clung to its overturned hull and sheltered under it as it drifted out to sea. The tide brought him back to what is now called Loch Ard Gorge. He swam to shore and found a cave for shelter. A passenger, Eva Carmichael, had raced onto the deck and was confronted by towering cliffs above the ship. A huge wave swept her off into the cold sea. She saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He swam out and dragged her to the shelter of the cave. He revived her with a bottle of brandy from a case that had washed up on the beach. Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He came across two men from Glenample Station, three and a half miles away. He told the men of the tragedy and then returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland by steamship. Sadly, Tom and Eva were the only survivors of the 54 people on board the Loch Ard. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. His rewards for his bravery included the Gold Medal of the Royal Humane Society, a gold watch and £1000 from the Victorian Government, a set of nautical instruments, including binoculars, from the people of Sydney and £60 from the people of Warrnambool. In August 1878, he was also presented with a Bible by a friend of the Loyal Orange Institution of Victoria, also known as the Orange Order. The Bible is significant for its connection with Tom (Thomas) Pearce, as it was awarded to him for his rescue of the shipwrecked Eva Carmichael when the Loch Ard was wrecked. It has kindly been loaned to Flagstaff Hill, which holds one of the largest collections of items from the Loch Ard in Victoria. The Loch Ard is now a historic shipwreck. It was one of the worst disasters and is the most well-known wreck on the Victorian Heritage Register. Together, the artefacts have a high potential to help interpret the story of the Loch Ard. The vessel is archaeologically significant as it is the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The Loch Ard collection is important to Victoria’s history. It includes uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history. Book: The Holy Bible. A black leather-bound book with red edges on the pages, and a metal clasp at the middle front of the book. Brown paper pages are pasted inside the covers, and gold detailing is around the edges of the inside covers. Coloured lithograph pictures are on separate pages throughout the book. A child-like, handwritten pencil script inscription is on the left front endpaper. The facing right endpaper has lines of italic, black pen and ink script, with some lines underlined in red, and ruled red borders on three sides. The Bible was presented to Thomas Pearce in 1878 for saving life at the Loch Ard wreck in 1878. The Bible is kindly on loan from Parks, Victoria. Pencil: “This bible belongs to / Angela E. Pearce.” Ink: “Presented to / Mr Thomas Pearce / In recognition of invaluable / service rendered in saving / life when the Loch Ard / was wrecked of the coast / of Australia. / by / A friend of the Loyal / Orange Institution of Victoria / Protestant Hall / Melbourne / August 1878” flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, 1878, tom pearce, thomas pearce, evelyn carmichael, eva carmichael, eva townsend, angela pearce, thomas townsend, shipwreck rescue, hero, shipwreck survivor, port campbell, loch ard, loch ard gorge, mutton bird island, glenample homestead, glenample station, bible, religious book, award, loyal orange institution victoria, orange order, august 1878, royal humane society

The ship’s telegraph section was once part of the navigational equipment of the famous paddle steamer, PS Hygeia, and was later installed on Flagstaff Hill’s exhibit, the steamer Rowitta. This is the Bridge Section of a ship’s telegraph, a Duplex Gong model, made by Chadburn & Son of Liverpool. The gong sounded two signals whenever the navigational commands to change the speed or direction were given by the ship’s pilot. Communication between the ship’s pilot and the engine room in the late 19th to the mid-20th centuries was made with a system called an Engine Order Telegraph (E.O.T.) or ship’s telegraph. The equipment has two parts, the Bridge Section and the Engine Room Section. The Bridge Section was usually mounted onto a pedestal, and the Engine Room Section was attached to a vertical surface. The standard marine commands were printed or stamped around the face of the dial and indicated by a pointer or arrow that was usually moved by a rotating brass section or handle. The ship’s pilot stationed on the Bridge of a vessel sends his Orders for speed and direction to the Engine Room with the E.O.T. He moves the lever or levers, depending on the number of engines the ship has, to change the indicator on the Bridge Section’s dial to point in the new direction and speed of travel. This change causes the Orders to be duplicated on the Engine Room Section’s dial and a bell or bells to signal the change at the same time. The engineer then adjusts the ship’s engines and steering equipment to follow the pilot’s Order. CHADBURN & SON, Liverpool- Chadburn Brothers, William and C.H., were joint inventors and well-established makers of optical and scientific instruments and marine gauges. The firm was granted the Prince Albert Royal Warrant in the late 19th century. In 1870, William Chadburn applied for a patent for his navigational communication device for use on ships. By 1875, Chadburn & Son was producing the brass Engine Order Telegraph in its plant at 71 Lord Street, Liverpool. In 1911, the ship, RMS Titanic, was launched, fitted with Chadburn & Sons E.O.T. The Chadburn Ship Telegraph Company Limited was registered in 1898 to take over Chadburn & Sons. In 1903, a large factory at Bootle, near Liverpool, and its products were being sold overseas. In 1920, electric-powered telegraphs were developed. In 1944, the name changed to Chadburn’s (Liverpool) Limited. In 1968, the company became Chadburn Bloctube Ltd. In 2000, the company, now Bloctube Marine Limited, was still manufacturing ship telegraphs. The P.S. HYGEIA 1890-1932: - This ship’s telegraph was installed on the new paddle steamer, PS Hygeia, one of three iconic pleasure steamers famous for providing regular services in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, to thousands of passengers between the ports of Queenscliff, Sorrento, Portsea, Dromana, Rosebud, Rye, and Mornington. It joined the Ozone and the Weeroona, all three described as being glamorous, powerful and fast. Its ticket office was on the pier itself. The P.S. Hygeia was built in Yorker, Scotland, in 1890, by Napier, Sharks & Bell. It was registered in Melbourne, Australia, by Hubbart, Parker & Co. in 1891. The steel ship was 92 metres long, able to travel at 22 knots, and licensed to carry over 1600 passengers in luxury, with even a barber shop on board. The regular service between the ports in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, continued for over 40 years. With the decline in passenger demand, the service wound down. The Hygeia was sold to H.M. Morris in 1931 for demolition and breaking up. Equipment, fittings, and even lifebuoys were sold, with many items purchased by people who had some connection to the Hygeia. On August 25th, 1931, what was left of the vessel departed Port Melbourne and eventually, in June 1932, it was laid to rest at the ships’ graveyard outside Port Phillip Heads. The SS ROWITTA 1909-2015: - The ship’s telegraph was originally installed on the PS Hygeia. It was purchased when the Hygeia was broken up in 1931 and later installed, in 1975, on Flagstaff Hill’s SS Rowitta, an exhibit greatly enjoyed by the public until it was demolished in 2015. The ferry “SS Rowitta” was built in 1909 in Hobart, Tasmania. The timber steam ferry was built using planks of Huon and Karri wood. It was a favourite with sightseeing passengers steaming along Tasmania’s Tamar and Derwent rivers for 30 years. Rowitta was also known as Tarkarri and Sorrento and had worked as a coastal trading vessel between Devonport and Melbourne, and Melbourne, Queenscliff and Sorrento. The vessel had given over 100 years of service and pleasure. This Bridge section of a ship’s Engine Order Telegraph, used with an Engine Room section, represents late-19th-century change and progress in communication and navigation at sea. This type of equipment was still in use in the mid-20th century. It is significant for its association with its maker, Chadburn & Son, of Liverpool, a well-known marine instrument maker whose work was recognised by English Royalty, and whose products were selected to supply similar equipment for use on the RMS Titanic. The ship’s telegraph is also significant for its association with the paddle steamer PS Hygeia, one of three iconic steamers that transported thousands of passengers from port to port within Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, for over 40 years from the 1890s to the 1930s. Queenscliff Borough remembers the Hygeia by naming a road near the pier Hygeia Drive. The Hygeia is registered on the Victorian Heritage Database as a vessel of significance, VHR S329. In 1901, Hygeia had the privilege of carrying their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of York, from Mornington to St Kilda Pier, Melbourne, during their Royal visit celebrating the Federation of Australia. The ship’s telegraph is also important for its connection with the Rowitta, a large exhibit on display at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, aiding maritime education for over 40 years. It represented the importance of coastal traders to transport, trade and communication along the coast of Victoria, and before the availability of rail and motor vehicles, serving many roles. Bridge section of a Ship’s Telegraph or Engine Order Telegraph (E.O.T.). The round, double-sided, painted glass dial is inside a brass case behind glass. It is fitted onto an outward tapering brass pedestal with a round base. The brass indicator arrows between the handles point simultaneously to both sides of the dial when moved. An oval brass maker’s plate is attached to the top of the case. The dial’s faces have inscriptions that indicate speed and direction, and the front face and plate include the maker’s details. A serial number is stamped on the collar where the dial is fitted to the pedestal. The ship’s telegraph is a Duplex Gong model, made by Chadburn & Son of Liverpool. It was originally part of the navigational fittings on the paddle steamer, PS Hygeia.Dial, maker’s details: “PATENT “DUPLEX GONG” TELEGRAPH / CHADBURN & SON / TELEGRAPH WORKS / PATENTEES & MANUFACTURERS / 11 WATERLOO ROAD / LIVERPOOL” LONDON / 105 FENCHURCH STREET” “NEWCASTLE / 85 QUAY + SIDE” “GLASGOW / 69 ANDERSON QUAY” “PATENT” Dial instructions: “FULL / HALF/ SLOW / FINISHED WITH ENGINES / STOP STAND BY / SLOW / HALF / FULL / ASTERN / AHEAD” Maker’s plate: “CHADBURN / & SON / PATENT / LIVERPOOL” Serial number: “22073”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, engine order telegraph, e.o.t., navigational instrument, communication device, ship’s telegraph, engine room section, bridge section, rms titanic, chadburn & son, chadburn brothers, william chadburn, chadburn ship telegraph company, chadburns, duplex gong, liverpool, ss rowitta, navigation, marine technology, pilot’s orders, steam power, hobart, tasmania, devonport, tasmanian-built, ferry, steam ferry, steamer, 1909, early 20th century vessel, passenger vessel, tamar trading company, launceston, george town, sorrento, tarkarri, speculant, peter mcgennan, p j mcgennan & co. port phillip ferries pty ltd, melbourne, coastal trader, timber steamer, huon, karri, freighter, supply ship, charter ferry, floating restaurant, prawn boat, lakes entrance, ps hygeia, paddle steamer, pleasure steamer, port phillip bay, queenscliff, portsea, dromana, rosebud, rye, mornington, hubbart parker & co, 1890, 1903, h.m. morris, hygeia

Sign on trail - what is a wetland Newsletter No., 234, June 2017 Heritage Excursion - Saturday 1st July - Eltham Lower Park - Walk and Talk Eltham Lower Park has played an important part in the history of our area since the early days of European settlement when it was used by local residents as an informal racecourse. Prior to that its location at the junction of the Diamond Creek and the Yarra River made it an important meeting place for the Wurundjeri people. The park combines formal elements and sporting facilities with remnant bushland that is of environmental significance. It is home to sporting and horse riding clubs, popular play spaces and the Diamond Valley Miniature Railway, which attracts large numbers of visitors. The park will be the venue for our July excursion which will comprise a walk of about 3.5 km around the park and adjacent areas. Along the way we will discuss the history and natural history of the area. The path along the creek and the river provides a pleasant and scenic walk. This walk on Saturday 1st July is about 3.5 km in length and will take 2 to 2.5 hours. It will start at 2pm at the Main Road car park at the front of the park. (Melway ref 21 H 10). Born Digitalheritage excursion, activities, eltham district historical society, eltham lower park, sign

July Excursion July 6, 2019 - Exploring Lower Plenty The predominant feature of this walk in the Bonds Road area, Lower Plenty is the large number of magnificent old River Red Gums that line the route. These trees are of the spreading woodland form of this species indicating that they must have been originally growing in a reasonably open setting. The walk also includes parts of the historic Cleveland Estate and the homestead “Rosehill” established by pioneer farmer Henry Stooke. This area was the site of the first recorded European settlement in what was to become the Shire of Eltham when the Willis brothers arrived in the late 1830s. From the southern part of Cleveland Avenue there are extensive views across and along the Yarra Valley. An article on the history of this area was contained in Newsletter edition 201, November 2011. The walk will start at the at the corner of Bonds and Stawell Roads, Lower Plenty - EDHS Newsletter No. 246 June 2019fay bridge collection, 2019-07-06, blackburn bricks, eltham district historical society, heritage excursion, rosehill homestead, lower plenty

House was rented by Kim Tarpey between October 1983 and June 1985. It was one of the buildings originally part of Birds Orchard. Harold Bird was her landlord, a retired primary school teacher who, when she knew him was driving the mobile library bus. Her partner had him as a teacher at Montmorency Primary in grade 4. The house was next door to what is now a bushland reserve near the Pauline Toner Reserve. It was on the corner of Pitt and Arthur St - the driveway was near the roundabout and went off to the right of the driveway that now belongings to 220 Pitt street and which was bushland at the time. It was sold in 1985 and consequently demolished, a large house has replaced it. It was situated approximately where the front door of No. 218 is nowadays with the facade roughly in line with the now garage wall to the left of this front door.Digital file only - scanned from personal photo album on loan (27 images) List of images EDHS_04644-1.tif Kitchen window looking towards Eucalyptus Road, 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-2.tif 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-3.tif 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-4.tif Kitchen looking towards Pitt Street Reserve, 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-5.tif 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-6.tif Bathroom walkway/laundry, 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-7.tif 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-8.tif 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-9.tif 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-10.tif 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-11.tif 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-12.tif 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-13.tif 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-14.tif 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-15.tif 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-16.tif 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-17.tif Lounge window looking towards Mount Pleasant Road, 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-18.tif Fire place in lounge, 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-19.tif Fire place in lounge, 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-20.tif View from lounge room window looking towards corner of Eucalyptus and Mount Pleasant roads, 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-21.tif View from lounge room window looking towards corner of Eucalyptus and Mount Pleasant roads, 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-22.tif View from lounge room looking towards Pitt Street and Wattle Grove, 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-23.tif View from lounge room looking towards Pitt Street and Wattle Grove, 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-24.tif 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-25.tif Back garden showing previous tank stumps. There was a hole in the wall where a possum got through, 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-26.tif View from back fence looking towards Pitt Street and Wattle Grove, 218 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985 EDHS_04644-27.tif View from back fence on to Eucalyptus Road. Pitt Street Reserve to the right, 18 Pitt Street, Eltham, c.1985218 pitt street, eltham, houses, birds orchard, harold bird, kim tarpey, eucalyptus road

House was rented by Kim Tarpey between October 1983 and June 1985. It was one of the buildings originally part of Birds Orchard. Harold Bird was her landlord, a retired primary school teacher who, when she knew him was driving the mobile library bus. Her partner had him as a teacher at Montmorency Primary in grade 4. The house was next door to what is now a bushland reserve near the Pauline Toner Reserve. It was on the corner of Pitt and Arthur St - the driveway was near the roundabout and went off to the right of the driveway that now belongings to 220 Pitt street and which was bushland at the time. It was sold in 1985 and consequently demolished, a large house has replaced it. It was situated approximately where the front door of No. 218 is nowadays with the facade roughly in line with the now garage wall to the left of this front door.Digital file only - scanned from personal photo album on loan218 pitt street, eltham, houses, birds orchard, harold bird, kim tarpey, eucalyptus road

House was rented by Kim Tarpey between October 1983 and June 1985. It was one of the buildings originally part of Birds Orchard. Harold Bird was her landlord, a retired primary school teacher who, when she knew him was driving the mobile library bus. Her partner had him as a teacher at Montmorency Primary in grade 4. The house was next door to what is now a bushland reserve near the Pauline Toner Reserve. It was on the corner of Pitt and Arthur St - the driveway was near the roundabout and went off to the right of the driveway that now belongings to 220 Pitt street and which was bushland at the time. It was sold in 1985 and consequently demolished, a large house has replaced it. It was situated approximately where the front door of No. 218 is nowadays with the facade roughly in line with the now garage wall to the left of this front door.Digital file only - scanned from personal photo album on loan218 pitt street, eltham, houses, birds orchard, harold bird, kim tarpey, eucalyptus road

House was rented by Kim Tarpey between October 1983 and June 1985. It was one of the buildings originally part of Birds Orchard. Harold Bird was her landlord, a retired primary school teacher who, when she knew him was driving the mobile library bus. Her partner had him as a teacher at Montmorency Primary in grade 4. The house was next door to what is now a bushland reserve near the Pauline Toner Reserve. It was on the corner of Pitt and Arthur St - the driveway was near the roundabout and went off to the right of the driveway that now belongings to 220 Pitt street and which was bushland at the time. It was sold in 1985 and consequently demolished, a large house has replaced it. It was situated approximately where the front door of No. 218 is nowadays with the facade roughly in line with the now garage wall to the left of this front door.Digital file only - scanned from personal photo album on loan218 pitt street, eltham, houses, birds orchard, harold bird, kim tarpey, eucalyptus road

The old weatherboard building, possibly dating from the 1860s, comprised a dwelling with a shop in the front room opening off a timber verandah deck which directly fronted the Main Road footpath. At the rear was a brick building of much later date which was for many years used for the bakery. The buildings were demolished in 1979 for construction of flats. The old bakery was one of the earliest stores in Eltham. It was once run by Luther Haley who was evicted when Mrs Burgoyne bought the shop in 1902. Luther built the first shop in the new business district next to the railway station in 1902 (later Staffs general store). It was also the scene of a suspected murder when the baker's wife was found dead at the bottom of the well but that was more urban myth. The unfortunate woman suffered a medical episode resulting in her death and she consequently fell in to the well, so no murder after all. The incident happened in 1898 and the owner and baker was Mr Clement Brown. It was his wife Martha that met her unfortunate demise. A description of her struggle is in the link below. J.N. Burgoyne bought the bakery in 1902 (Mrs Burgoyne was the owner but it seems a lot of men back in those days put their businesses in the names of their wives). The subject of murder first came to light in a newspaper story in 1954 when their son J.J. (Jack) Burgoyne was speaking about the business after it had changed hands to Mr Jim Arnett and family. It was again referenced by Harry Burgoyne (grandson) in 1979 when the bakery was demolished. Seems like what may have been an embellished yarn of old became urban folklore but was simply not true. DEATH IN AN UNDERGROUND TANK. (1898, March 4). Evelyn Observer, and South and East Bourke Record (Vic. : 1882 - 1902), p. 2 (MORNING.). Retrieved June 16, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60698063 The bakery and shop was run by the Parkes family in the 1940s.35 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Kodak Kodachrome CardProcessed Jul 1974bakery, eltham, main road, york street