This home was the first cottage built by the Old Colonists' Association, and was the gift of Mr and Mrs F.J. Williams. It was completed in 1925.

From the minute books:
"Mr and Mrs F.J. Williams, both natives of Ballarat, offered to build a cottage on the Association's ground at Perry Park [now known as Charles Anderson Grove] something after a style of the Hassell Homes. That offer was immediately followed by another from Mr S.W.J. Clark, a member of the Council. Both offers were promptly and gratefully accepted."

One of the first objectives of the Association was "to provide the shelter of a hose for those Pioneers of the Goldfields whom the reverses of fortune have deprived of the means of procuring the comforts of life in their declining years." The first home at Charles Anderson Grove was built in 1925. Before that time the Association provided relief for needy pioneers. Relief included monthly monetary payments, loads of firewood, medical assistance and distribution of Christmas bosed of groceries to deserving pensioners, and in some cases payment of burial costs.

::a) The dominant purpose of the Association is to give public benevolent relief as a charity, but providing independent living accommodation in our Retirement Village for person in need who are over 65.
::b) To raise funds by membership subscription, commercial and residential rents, donations, gifts and voluntary work, for the purpose of providing direct relief of poverty, distress, misfortune or helplessness.
::c) To maintain the important heritage and ongoing viability of the Old Colonists' Association. (Revised Rules of the Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat Inc., 2016) Mr and Mrs Fred John and Matilda Anne Williams of Melbourne made a generous donation to enable this cottage to be built. It was opened in their presence in 1925. Fred John Williams was the son of John Williams and Thomassina Whilley. Together with his brother Frank Williams, Fred Williams was the proprietor of J. Williams and Sons. The brothers took over the business when their father, John Williams, retired in January 1893. In 1918 Fred Williams left Ballarat for Melbourne, at which time he was described as someone who had ‘tried to benefit the whole of Ballarat’. He was highly involved with the Forward Ballarat Movement At the time of his death in February 1926 at Lorne F.J. Williams was a partner in the firm Williams Shoemen Pty. Ltd. By 2021 the cottage had numerous cracks and required work. These photographs are a record of the condition of the cottage at that time.

Colour photograph of the interior views of Williams Cottage at The Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat Inc retirement village at 3 Charles Anderson Grove, Ballarat.

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This home was the first cottage built by the Old Colonists' Association, and was the gift of Mr and Mrs F.J. Williams. It was completed in 1925.

From the minute books:
"Mr and Mrs F.J. Williams, both natives of Ballarat, offered to build a cottage on the Association's ground at Perry Park [now known as Charles Anderson Grove] something after a style of the Hassell Homes. That offer was immediately followed by another from Mr S.W.J. Clark, a member of the Council. Both offers were promptly and gratefully accepted."

One of the first objectives of the Association was "to provide the shelter of a hose for those Pioneers of the Goldfields whom the reverses of fortune have deprived of the means of procuring the comforts of life in their declining years." The first home at Charles Anderson Grove was built in 1925. Before that time the Association provided relief for needy pioneers. Relief included monthly monetary payments, loads of firewood, medical assistance and distribution of Christmas bosed of groceries to deserving pensioners, and in some cases payment of burial costs.

::a) The dominant purpose of the Association is to give public benevolent relief as a charity, but providing independent living accommodation in our Retirement Village for person in need who are over 65.
::b) To raise funds by membership subscription, commercial and residential rents, donations, gifts and voluntary work, for the purpose of providing direct relief of poverty, distress, misfortune or helplessness.
::c) To maintain the important heritage and ongoing viability of the Old Colonists' Association. (Revised Rules of the Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat Inc., 2016) Mr and Mrs Fred John and Matilda Anne Williams of Melbourne made a generous donation to enable this cottage to be built. It was opened in their presence in 1925. Fred John Williams was the son of John Williams and Thomassina Whilley. Together with his brother Frank Williams, Fred Williams was the proprietor of J. Williams and Sons. The brothers took over the business when their father, John Williams, retired in January 1893. In 1918 Fred Williams left Ballarat for Melbourne, at which time he was described as someone who had ‘tried to benefit the whole of Ballarat’. He was highly involved with the Forward Ballarat Movement At the time of his death in February 1926 at Lorne F.J. Williams was a partner in the firm Williams Shoemen Pty. Ltd. By 2021 the cottage had numerous cracks and required work. These photographs are a record of the condition of the cottage at that time.

Colour photograph of the exterior views of Williams Cottage at The Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat Inc retirement village at 3 Charles Anderson Grove, Ballarat.

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Colour photograph of a double storey building in Lydiard Street South known as the Ballarat Old Colonists' Club. It was taken during the Covid 19 Pandemic lockdown.

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William Irwin was a member of the Old Colonists' Association.

Photographic portrait of a bearded man, Robery Sim.

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William Irwin was a member of the Old Colonists' Association.

Photographic portrait of a bearded man, John Taylor

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Framed copy of a plan of the Ballarat School of Mines Administration Building.

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A number of images of Catherine Freeman receiving a University Honorary Doctorate.

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Marble Honour Boards listing benefactors to the Ballarat Old Colonists' Associations. The name was added to the boards the year of the donors death. 1912 G.F. Tippett H. Ben Jahn C.E. Grainger F.A. Ham Sir W.A. Zeal Joseph Curthoys J. Latimer J.L. Harvey C.C, Shoppee A. Dickman Andrew McIntyre J. O'Shea Matilda Bruce C.E. Davies J.S. Trethowan h.J. Thwaites M.L. Matthews J.W. Nicholls C. Robinson W.H. Barrow J.R. Elsworth W.D. McKee Christina Hull H.B. Chalmers James Darby Sir Matthew Davies W. Symonds

g.f. tippett, h. ben jahn, c.e. grainger, f.a. ham, sir w.a. zeal, joseph curthoys, j. latimer, j.l. harvey, c.c, shoppee, a. dickman, andrew mcintyre, j. o'shea, matilda bruce, c.e. davies, j.s. trethowan, h.j. thwaites, m.l. matthews, j.w. nicholls, c. robinson, w.h. barrow, j.r. elsworth, w.d. mckee, christina hull, h.b. chalmers, james darby, sir matthew davies, w. symonds, old colonists' association, marbles

Marble Honour Boards listing benefactors to the Ballarat Old Colonists' Associations. The name was added to the boards the year of the donors death. 1911 W.H. Uren John Paterson H.J. Summerscales James Oddie W.H. Malyon T.E. Gill Agnes D. McIntosh John Wright Andrew Byrne Thomas Greenwood H.W. Morrow James Lambert E.E. Eberhard John Reid T.W. Purdue H.J. Symons John Lynch

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Portrait of William Irwin, Treasurer of the Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat.

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Portrait of R.U. Nicholls, President of the Old Colonists' Association in 1907

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The Old Colonists' Hall is built on the site of the former Mining Registrar's Office, and the bluestone was reused in the foundations. This image was reproduced in the 1887 edition of W.B. Withers 'History of Ballarat'.

Drawn image of the Ballarat Mining Redistrar's Office in Lydiard Street.

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Colour photograph of one of the three full size billiard tables at the Old Colonists' Hall.

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White night was held on 03 October 2019 and an event was held at the hall for members.

Colour photograph of a night view of the Old Colonists' Hall in Lydiard Street North, on White Night 2019

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Members of the Old Colonists' Association Council attend an online meeting during the Covid-19 pandemic

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Members of the Old Colonists' Association Council attend an online meeting during the Covid-19 pandemic

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Blue hard covered 35 page book with an address, a reponse from Prince Alfred, and a number of signatures.

To his Rotal highness Prince Alfred Ernest Albert Duke of Edinburgh K.G. &c &c &c May it please Your Royal Highness. We the undersigned, being Colonists of Victoria wirh expressions of a Century and upwards venture to approach you Royal Highness with expressions of unaltered loyalty to Her Majesty's throne and person, and our very sincere and heart congratulations to your Royal Highnedd on your auspicious visit to his distant dependency of the British Empire. We can confiently assure your Royal Highness that however attractive Republicans Institutions may be to many young communitites generally Victoria is in the main free from the taint of any such prediliction. The loyalty and attachment to Monarchial Government of those numbered amonst her older Colonists have been strenghtened bu their enlarged and by the deep connection ever increasing with their ripening years that their material interests will be best protected by the perpetuation of the intimate connexion with the Great Empire over which Her Majesty rules - an Empire the Language, Laws, Customs and Institutions of which it is their privelige to inherit. We may be allowed to esteem the visit of your Royal Highness to these shores as of teh utmost importance, regarded from the Imperial as well as from a Colonial point of view. Your Royal Highness has now had an opportunity of satisfying yourself, and may bear testimony on your return to Europe that the Colonists of Victoria, although they have left their Mother COuntry, have not lost the spirit of enterprise, the energy, the self-reliance, the love of law and order which distinguish the British Race - and that in common with their fellow countrymen at home they possess qualities, the possessoin of which by her peple has made England great and glorious amongst the nations - while your presence here proves to the Colony at large, be especially to our Colonial born youth that Her Majesty 's solicitude for our welfare is unabted. Wish a sincere hope that the visit of your Royal Highness to the other COlonies of the Australian Group may be gratifying to you, and your ultimate return to the Royal Circle safe and attended with every happiness. We beg leave to remain, With the greatest respect, Your Royal Highness' Most humble and most obedient servants, Signature Date of arrival in the Colony. Edward Henty Novr 19th 1834 Francis Henty Decr 9th 1834 John Pascoe Fawkner Oct 9th 1835 Many ignatures follow including John Wilson Novr 1841 Joseph Bickett 27 September 1842 Theophilis Dredge January 1839 Archibald Fisken August 1839 Samuel Legge April 1841 David Coghill March 1838 Joseph L'Estrange 1849 December Thomas W. Wills Dec 1839 James Cuthbert November 1840 John Lamb May 1838 John Hogan November 1839 William Higgenbotham Born Oct 19th 1840 Richard Winter January 1840 Alexander Aitken Born Melbourne June 30 1842 William Cross Yuille February 1837 George Black Decr 1840 Peter Scott Sept 1840 Robert Hoddle March 1837 Henry Darlot September 1839 W. Bacchus 1837 C.B. Hutton Feby 17th 1842 H. Gerrard Feby 1839 Thomas P. Scott 10 August 1838 William Rutledge 19th Decr 1829 in Sydney, at Melbourne in July 1838 Rodk Urquhart March 1842 Thomas Black Septr 1842 J.B. Were November 1839 Thomas Anderson 1839 John Bull June 1842

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Colour photographs of the high facade of the Ballarat Old Colonists' Hall, featuring the heraldic device.

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Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat This plaque was unveiled by Cr. J.E. Reeves, Mayor of the City of Ballaarat, on 21st June, 1987, to comemorate the centenary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Old Colonists' Hall B.R. Drennan J.E. Crocker President Secretary

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Although the portrait of Graham is still in existence, the rest of the memorbilia on the wall is no longer in the hands of the Association.

Members of the Old Colonists' Association in the Old Colonists' Hall. Front Row (left to Right): Messrs. S. Walker, J. T. Sleep, W. H. Stokeld, J. A. Blight (Trustees), R.U. Nicholls (Vice-President), Wm. Robertson (Vice-President). E. E. Llewellyn (Councillor). Mrs. R. Smith, Messrs, A. Sheppard, J. T. Clarke. Second Row: Messrs. J. Lamb, T. W. Scott, S. Walmsley, C. Robinson, G. R. Coutts, J. Lammin, A. W. Crowe, J. Don, W, G. Chalmers, J, Jones, C. Simpson, A. M. Palmer, H. Fields, W. Trahar, H. C. Handford. Third Row: Messrs. S. Walsh, A. Cant, J. Nicholls, J. Longstaff, A. Robertson, J. Welham, J. King, C. E. Wright, J. Pounder, C. R. Anderson, G. Merz, and D. M. Paterson.

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A group of members of the Old Colonists' Association, Ballarat during the annual bowls challenge against the Melbourne Old Colonists' Club.

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Photograph of the two storey Old Colonists' Hall in Ballarat.

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Photograph of The Hon. E.G. Whitlam addressing guests at the Old Colonists' Club.

The Eureka Stockade Memorial Trust 2nd Annual Eurela Luncheon - 30 Nov 1997 Pictured: Key note speaker, The Hon. E.G. Whitlam, AC, QC Addressing guests at the Old Colonists' Club

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The clock has been electrified

Photograph of a wall clock featuring the name J.T. Sleep on the face.

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