Historical information

Hilary Bennet Mason (born 25/12/1911 in North Melbourne; died 16/3/2008) married Olive Marjory Muridge (B 20/7/1915; D 26/9/2001) on 30 September 1940. They has one daughter, born in 1947.
Hilary had a number of occupations in his lifetime. His daughter referred to him as a tram conductor. The family lived at 7 Charles Street, Surrey Hills from c1960, having purchased it from William Stanton (Stan) Philp, a baker, and his wife Eileen. The title originally extended over 2 plots. The Philps sub-divided the land and built a new house for themselves at No 9.
No 7 Charles Street had a well under the kitchen window; the house was extended in 1971/72; it was sold after Hilary Mason died in 2011.
[REF: Personal communication from the donor; Alan Holt property register and online research.]
The handwritten timeline refers to the area having been "called Irish Town as Catholic's were in the majority."
Most of the writing is that of Hilary Mason, although some blanks have been filled in by another (unknown) hand. There is also an entry by John Whitford, who moved into a new home on the corner of Charles and Arthur Streets in 1982.
The last entry is dated June 1996, when Hilary Mason would have been c 85 years old.

Significance

This is a unique piece of social history reflecting the closeness of this small suburban street.

Physical description

A standard lined exercise book, brand is HEADLINE, which contains a mixture of handwritten entries and pasted in and loose ephemeral items. These include house advertising flyers, newspaper clippings of a general nature and death notices, tickets, etc. The handwritten notes mostly pertain to a timeline of residents and their comings and goings to and from Charles Street in Surrey Hills, but also include some reflections on social history. Memories of other residents of the street are recorded. There are also some personal diary notes.

Inscriptions & markings

Front cover: "begun october 1987 / History of / Charles street / Surrey Hills / History of Charles st. 1989 / 1996 / 1995 / 1993 1991 1990 / History 1987" in biro and marking pen in blue, red, brown and green.
Back cover: "History / of / Surrey / Hills [1987 /1990 /1993 / 1995 / 1996] / History of / Charles street / Surrey Hills 1991" handwritten in black, blue, green, red and pink biro and marking pen.

Subjects