William Dower took up 10 acres at Mt Dandenong in 1898. He secured a property known as Cambridge Gardens which was located between the present Mt Dandenong Tourist Road and Yarrabee Road. William and his wife Elizabeth had seven sons (Will, Harry, Bert, Walter, Joe, Edgar and Robert) and four daughters (Emmy, May, Ada and Ruby). There was a two room slab hut on the property when they took possession and they added another five rooms using trees from the property. The Pig and Whistle Tea Rooms referred to in the inscription is now Tatra Hut. Sepia coloured photograph (copy of an original) showing a cottage in the centre of a cleared area with a fence at the front and a significant dead tree left of centre. There is an inscription typed below the photograph.1911 Cambridge gardens, Mt Dandenong (Opposite Pig and Whistle Tea Rooms showing the original Main Road)dower, william dower, elizabeth dower, will dower, harry dower, bert dower, walter dower, joe dower, edgar dower, robert dower, emmy dower, ada dower, ruby dower, may dower, tatra hut, pig and whistle, cambridge gardens, yarrabee road

William Dower brought his family to the Dandenongs in 1898, taking up 10 acres. His property was Cambridge Gardens located between the present Mt Dandenng Tourist Road and Yarrabee Road. William and his wife Elizabeth had seven boys (Will, Harry, Bert, Walter, Joe, Edgar, Robert) and four girls (Emmy, may, Ada and Ruby). This photograph shows raspberry picking at Cambridge Gardens c1907. The Dower Homestead is visible. The boys in the floppy felt hats are from Burwood Boys Home. Ruby Dower is centre front. Will Dower right of picture and Walter Dower left of picture.Ada, Carrie, Elizabeth, May and Emmy are also in the photo.Black and white photograph showing raspberry pickers at the Dower property Cambridge Gardens at Mt Dandenong. Printed from an image supplied on a CD.dower, william dower, ruby dower, raspberry, raspberry crop, cambridge gardens, walter dower, mt dandenong