Historical information
Photo was taken in front of the front door of 'Camelford', 7 Norris Street. The presence of the red cross suggests that it was taken during the First World War. Two of the couples' surviving sons served in the war - Frederic George Bate (SERN 1945); Richard Alfred Bate (SERN 695); the third was rejected because he had lost a finger in an accident.
Richard Bate came to Australia in 1868 from Cornwall - the house was named after the town there. He was a cabinetmaker and settled in Angaston, SA for a year before coming to Melbourne where he worked as a builder. He built ‘Avondale’, 176 Union Road (dem.) circa 1883 as a display home for the Davies family, subdividers of the first land auction in Surrey Hills. He built many houses including his retirement home at 7 Norris Street (demolished after 2000). In the 1880s Richard also built the Shire Hall in Station Street Box Hill, replaced in 1934 by the Box Hill Town Hall. Two of his sons were also carpenters.
Richard died in 1937 aged 93 and his wife Annie Matilda died in 1935 aged 83; both are buried in Burwood Cemetery.
House was rented out until probate was settled. Occupied in 2000 by Julie Ellis.
REF: Letter to Julie Ellis from Jack Bate of Mildura, grandson of Richard and Annie Bate, dated 29/2/2000.
Physical description
A black and white photocopy of a photograph of a man dressed in a suit, standing beside a lady, seated, wearing a long sleeved, light coloured blouse and a long ankle length skirt. They are in front of a front door with lead light windows.
