Historical information

The tape has not been played from the label it is Legatee Grat Grattan talking about Legacy House. Legatee Grattan was very important member of Legacy for many years.
He was well placed to tell the story of the donation towards Dureau House as L/ Grattan was pivotal in it's story.
BG Corporation of New York used 'Brown and Dureau' as agents in Melbourne for their spark plug manufacturing (for the American aircraft based in Australia during the war). A royalty of two shillings and sixpence was agreed. The entrepreneur President of BG Corporation was Richard Goldsmith. L/ Grat Grattan had a friend Mr Edwards who was managing director at Brown and Dureau and heard of the desire by Goldsmith to leave a permanent memorial to ex-servicemen in Australia (Children's Hospital was considered). Grat took Edwards to Market St and showed him the inadequacy of the building. It was agreed if Melbourne Legacy could come up with a purchased building in 10 days they would get the money needed. The property purchased was 'Storey Hall' in Swanston St (also called Hibernian Hall in other documents). After the war it turned out not to be suitable and a new building was required.
Contents TBC
'Perhaps his most lasting monument is Melbourne Legacy House. Through his friendship with one of the principals of the firm, Brown and Dureau, Legacy was given a donation of 30,000 pounds in 1944.
A condition of the donation was that Legacy had only eight days in which to buy a building. A building across the road from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology was bought for 18,000 pounds and the balance invested.
The building was sold in the early '50s and the proceeds plus the invested money enabled Legacy to buy its headquarters, Dureau House, in Swanston Street in 1955."

Significance

It may be confirmed when played but it is likely a significant recording of the history of the acquisition of Dureau House.

Physical description

Clear plastic cassette tape in a cardboard box.

Inscriptions & markings

Cardboard box, rainbow, C20, Tape a letter.
Cassette, side 1 - Legacy Week by Legatee Grat Grattan, 1, Rainbow, Tape a Letter. 10 minutes per side. side 2 - as above.