Historical information

Elizabeth Avis- Box 1835-1913 was born in Sussex, married William Box in 1854 and arrived in Melbourne in 1855. William’s parents George and Mary Box and his siblings sailed with them. William & Mary at first leased land in the area of the ‘Dendy Special Survey Brighton 1841’ and then purchased the property with the pioneer cottage 1868 & 1869. William & Elizabeth established a market garden and raised 13 children. 1888 they built a larger 2nd house in front of the original cottage. William died in 1902 and Mary sold 9 acres in 1908 to W. .Snowden Anderson – it later became Joyce Park where the reconstructed Box Cottage Museum now stands.
After Elizabeth died her daughters Ada and Violet lived on the 1 acre property until 1917 when August Reitman, a potter and monumental mason, leased the house and land. He established his pottery business and purchased the property in 1935. The business moved in 1953 but continued to use the cottage as a workshop/ storeroom until it was sold to Lewis Timber P/L in 1970.

Significance

Elizabeth & William Box settled in the pioneer Cottage in Jasper Road East Brighton 1868 and established a market garden whilst raising their 13 children. This Cottage was reconstructed in Joyce Park, Ormond 1984 and is the home of City of Moorabbin Historical Society. In 1960 many local residents responded to a call for the donation of historical artefacts and the Box Cottage Museum now preserves this eclectic collection for the community.

Physical description

The original Last Will & Testament of Elizabeth Avis Box September 1914

Inscriptions & markings

In the Supreme Court / of Victoria / In the Probate Jurisdiction / In the Will of Elizabeth Box late of / Jasper Road Bentleigh in the State of / Victoria Widow deceased.
Be it known ............. Given at Melbourne this ( 21st September 1914)
Signed A Carter / Registrar
top left corner 79637 / Snowball ( X232) Bottom left corner 10/9/...