Historical information
Date is that given by descendant Julia Thornton.
William Ernest Palstra married May Aurunui Holdaway (1885-1964) in 1920; this was their first and only home. They had 3 children, Margaret, Jocelyn and William.
The family were connected with the Canterbury Salvation Army Corps. William's father was a Salvation Army officer; he spent his early life in South Africa. Prior to marriage he lived in Middlesex Road, Surrey Hills. He was an air force officer. He joined the RAAF in 1925. The family was in London when William was killed on the maiden flight of the Airship R101 to Karachi. It crashed near Beauvais in France. His widow and children returned to live at 60 Guildford Road, Surrey Hills.
The donor Margaret Thornton was a daughter of William and May Palstra; one of her daughters, Julia Thornton still lives in the house in 2023.
The houses across the road were demolished in the 1970s to build the Surrey Hills Salvation Army Church.
Significance
This home is one of very few in the area which has been continuously owned by the same family over 3 generations. It is the only known image of the homes purchased and demolished by the Surrey Hills Salvation Army Church.
Physical description
Black and white photo of May Palstra with a baby, identified as Margaret, in a cane pram and with her fox terrier dog on the nature strip in front of her home. In the background can be seen the houses across the road. The road is unmade and the gutters are of bluestone construction.
