Physical description

Digitised video (5.02GB).
Duration: 65 minutes.
Recorded June, 2018.
(Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)

Inscriptions & markings

Sue Thompson is a well-known historian associated with Lilydale and Dame Nellie Melba and has held positions on the Lilydale & District Historical Society Committee and RHSV. Sue presents this talk about Melba's father, David Mitchell, who was born in Scotland in 1829. After completing a stonemasonry apprenticeship, he arrived in Melbourne in 1852. Rather than join the gold rushes, he set up business in Richmond as a building contractor. His first major contract was for the masonry for St. Patricks Cathedral in 1856, and from then on his busines thrived as Melbourne building boomed as a result of the gold. By 1878, Mitchell had established his estate near Lilydale and opened the limestone quarry. Introduction by Russ Haines, President, Ringwood and District Historical Society.