Historical information

In 1977, artist Annette Meikle undertook a commission to illustrate a book recording stories of places and people in the Bayside area. It was published in 1978 as Sandringham Sketchbook, with text by Elizabeth Waters. The sketches were intended to record remaining examples of Bayside’s early architecture and environment, as well as reflect newer architectural changes. Meikle went on to donate 22 of these sketches to Bayside City Council in 2003.
The William Almeida Memorial is a drinking fountain located in the Triangle Gardens, Hampton, which commemorates William Almeida who was killed in an armed robbery at the Commercial Bank, Hampton, on 28 November 1914.
Twenty-two year old Almeida was working alone at the bank when two armed robbers entered the premises. After refusing to hand over the bank’s money, Almeida was shot by one of the assailants before they fled. Despite the gunshot wounds, Almeida managed to chase one of the robbers down, dragging him back to the bank and handing him over to a bystander before collapsing. Almeida later died at the local hospital and this fountain was erected in his memory by the Bank Official’s Association and Almeida’s colleagues.