Historical information

Photos of Legatee Grat Grattan being presented with a 50 years of service certificate from President Chas Wilks in 1989.
L/ Grattan was a long serving legatee, an article written when he turned 100 says that as a Legatee he was widely respected, he was 'something of a father figure - many of the girls were given away at their weddings by this kindly Legatee'. The article says Oriel John Grattan was born in WA and enlisted in the First AIF in 1916. He served in France and Belgium before he was wounded near Menin Gate.
It continues with an interesting piece on the acquisition of Legacy house. It says: '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 (amount was 27,059 pounds according to Dureau Act).'
A condition of the donation was that Legacy had only eight days in which to buy a building. A building in Swanston St was purchased for 18,000 pounds and the balance invested. But vacant possession was not possible and the building was sold in the early '50s and became part of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. The proceeds plus the invested money enabled Legacy to buy its headquarters, Dureau House, in Swanston Street in 1955.

Significance

A record of a Legatee Grattan's long service at Legacy being commemorated with a 50 years service certificate in 1989.

Physical description

Colour photo x 2 of Legatee Grat Grattan receiving a 50 year service certificate and a yellow paper label.