B OX C OTTAGE M USEUM HOME OF CITY OF MOORABBIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY CMHS was established by a group of When Sir Stanley Argyle, 32nd local residents to preserve the history Premier of Victoria, proclaimed and heritage of the (now former) City of Moorabbin a City on 10 October 1934, MoorabbinMoorabbin Moorabbin in 1960. At the time the he noted that Moorabbin [Mooroobin in municipality began at North Rd & Bunurrung, various spelling] Thomas St and stretched south along indicated “a resting place”. He then MM irror Nepean Hwy to include Cheltenham went on to say:- “it must not be irror Newsletter City of Moorabbin Historical Society (CMHS) with Clarinda & Heatherton to the east. thought that Moorabbin is by any The City of Moorabbin was dissolved in means quiet”. Visit CMHS at the Box 1994 and integrated into the new cities Cottage Museum on Open Days or our ISSUE ONE NOVEMBER 2014 MOORABBIN MIRROR of Bayside, Glen Eira, Kingston and website and find out why he made that The Moorabbin Mirror reflects the Monash. comment. history and heritage of the former City of Moorabbin — derived from Open Days: 2‒4pm last Sunday of each month Feb‒Nov Mooroobin, ‘a resting place’ in the Address Box Cottage Museum, Joyce Park, Ormond, 3204 Bunurrung spoken language. Website http://home.vicnet.net.gov.au/~cmhsbcm In 1994, the City of Moorabbin was Email [email protected] integrated into the Cities of Bayside, Glen Eira, Kingston and Monash.

If undelivered please return to CMHS Box Cottage Museum, Joyce Park, Ormond 3204 WELCOME

OX OTTAGE USEUM Welcome to the first issue of The B C M Moorabbin Mirror published on an Home of CMHS Joyce Park , Jasper Rd, Ormond, VIC occasional basis. The editors aim postage to make it as relevant as possible to OPEN DAYS 2015, 2-4PM CMHS members. So it’s up to Last Sun ea month Feb‒Nov each one of us to let the editors know what we would like to 22 February see in future issues as well as

29 March contribute articles and items. E:[email protected] Name 26 April 31 May LOCAL GOVERNMENT Moorabbin Mirror congratulates our Address 28 June local government representatives 26 July who were recently elected as 30 August Mayors. Cr Jim Magee was elected unopposed as Mayor of Glen Eira 27 September for 2014‒2015. Cr Geoff Gledhill was elected as Mayor of Kingston. 25 October The Moorabbin Mirror is photocopied in the Office of the Hon Andrew Robb AO MP, Minister 29 November Cr Felicity Frederico was appointed for Trade & Investment, Federal Member for Goldstein under community printing entitlements . Bayside City Council’s new Mayor. http://home.vicnet.net.gov.au/mhsbcm: email [email protected] 8

CMHS COMMITTEE CMHS OPERATIONS K G PUTT MEMORIAL CENTRE BENTLEIGH SENIOR CITIZENS’ CLUB

OF MANAGEMENT 2014‒2015 City of Moorabbin Historical The club was named after

historical research Society congratulates the KG local realtor and Iceberger, 2014–2015 heritage discovery Putt Bentleigh Senior Citizens’ Clr KG Putt, J.P., Mayor of E: [email protected] promotion/publicity Club in Arthur Street, who the (former) City of Moorab- Chair flyers, publications recently celebrated the 60th bin from 1954‒1955. Frank Thatcher leaflets, newsletters anniversary of their foundation Deputy Chair membership on 27 October 2014. (The club During the luncheon, KG’s Valma Sharp hospitality was officially opened by Sir Cr Putt 1955 nephew David Jane (also a Interim Secretary museum portrait in realtor) spoke of his uncle, Henry Bolte in 1957.) Club KG Putt Seniors’Club Bill Richardson displays, open days Secretary, Cheryl organised a and donated a cheque for Minutes Secretary library & files gala luncheon for the $1000 to the club in KG’s Daniella Rodrigues collection occasion and, with her team of help- memory. David went on to reminisce Treasurer acquisition, catalogue ers, transformed the club hall into a that back in 1954 hardly anyone had Bill Richardson digitisation, archive festive setting for the event. television sets. Robert Menzies was

Committee PM. The NZ horse, Rising Fast won the Frances Bader, James Dale CMHS PROJECTS There was a big turn-up of current Caulfield Cup, the Cox Plate plus the Joan Moore, Carol Poole Members members of the many interest and Cup, and Footscray won the history & heritage inquiries activity groups supported by the club VFL Grand Final. COMMITTEE MEETINGS museum management as well as past members, including Mr A current club member, who was a During 2014-2015 the Committee of garden maintenance Keith Duckmanton. Neil Pilling, then child in 1954, recalled the excitement Management will hold dedicated barn upkeep Mayor of Glen Eira, said some words. over the visit to Melbourne by Queen meetings to:- Clr Oscar Lobo spoke briefly, and local Carol, Joan Elizabeth 11 and Prince Phillip ... how  deal with the day to day Liberal MLA, Ms Elizabeth Miller create a glossy leaflet donated $200 towards the club. The the streets from Essendon Airport to administration and legalities promoting the museum the city were so tightly packed that of our society glittering Aurora (of Morning Melodies Dennis, Fran fame) channelling Shirley Bassey and hundreds fainted. She added, ‘ back  make decisions regarding the compile a booklet with an Liza Minnelli, provided the entertain- then many women still wore hats, society’s operations updated history of the Box ment. And, everyone commented on gloves and seamed nylons. Men  set strategic directions that Cottage Museum how much they enjoyed the occasion wore suits, ties, chesty bonds and... advance the aims and thanks to Cheryl and her team. could dance.’ objectives of CMHS CMHS is grateful to GECC for

giving us a Community Grant to OCAL VIATOR CMHS MEETING TIMES print the leaflet & booklet. L A —Committee of Management Aviation pioneer Harry George Hawker, 1889-1921, who was born in meetings as arranged Holger South Brighton (renamed Moorabbin), was inducted into the Austra- —General Members’ Meetings print CMHS network cards lian Aviation Hall of Fame at Wagga Wagga, on 8 Nov 2014. Sir 1‒2pm last Sundays Feb‒Nov Reginald Ansett and four others “who have made outstanding contri- Bill, Fran, CMHS members —Cottage Openings 2‒4pm last butions to the development of aviation and the fabric of Australian life” produce occasional newsletters Sundays Feb‒Nov & by appt were inducted along with Harry Hawker.

GENERAL MEMBERS’ MEETINGS From 1913 onwards Hawker worked as a designer and test pilot with the Sopwith Company (UK) and he later founded the Hawker Siddeley Engineering Company. The focus of general members’ meetings, held 1‒2pm on the last However, apart from a plaque at Moorabbin (Harry Hawker) Airport and in primary Sundays of Feb‒Nov, is on the exchange of local heritage informa- schools he attended — his accomplishments during WW1 and afterwards are not tion, historical research, and building community links. widely known or prominently memorialised here in his place of birth. 2 7 Left CMHS The two tiered CMHS BUSINESS PROMOTE CMHS Wedding wedding cake, At the CMHS committee meeting was donated by held 1‒2pm, Sun 23 November, Members willing to help with Dress Robina. Jim’s proposal (suggested by managing a stand/table Project Thanks to Mr and Dennis) that CMHS consider promoting CMHS at fairs, fes- Mrs Kingsford who installing a plaque commemorat- tivals, fêtes, sporting 2014 (ctd) iced and decorated ing aviator Harry Hawker was and community events, sau- the cake. seconded and unanimously sage sizzles, or other, do approved by the 2014‒2015 contact a committee member committee of management. or e: [email protected] Left: CMHS thanks A proposal by Valma that CMHS develop a collection of vintage Ross, the undergarments was seconded MANNEQUIN manager of and approved by all members of On 7 August 2014, CMHS were “ Grapevine the committee. fortunate that curator, Ms Lindie Liquor Store “ Ward, Powerhouse Museum, , personally delivered the Centre Rd for FACADE-LIFT new mesh mannequin for Mary donating the The Box Cottage Museum has had a recent facade-lift thanks to Louisa Closter’s wedding dress. champagne Glen Eira City Council. Come and lending In addition, Ms Ward, a specialist in Above: and see for yourself how the textiles, showed us how to best CMHS the Above L‒R Daniela setting up the Dennis and David museum’s weathered walls have arrange and display the garment. “wedding breakfast“ . glassware. been transformed by their new (See pics over page). She also sug- coat of charcoal paint. gested we place the wedding dress on the Australian Dress Register. BENTLEIGH GREENS MCKINNON The Register is a collaborative Some CMHS members got very ECONDARY OLLEGE online project that documents excited when the Bentleigh Greens S C dresses with Australian provenance amateur Soccer Club became the McKinnon S.C. celebrated their 60th pre-1975. The Register has devel- only non professional club left in the birthday on 31 August 2014. Their oped a wide range of web resources inaugural 2014 FFA Cup. milestone was marked with the launch of a pictorial book, The Tradi- to assist those working in regional On 11 November 2014, around 3000 tion of Excellence, written by Mr To Dennis and local galleries and museums, fans packed Kingston Heath Soccer Andrew Newton ‘a stalwart of the IG IRTHDAY ISHES advising how to assess significance, Reserve for the Greens semi-final school’. B B W care for, photograph and display garments in collections. clash with A-Leaguers Glory The book, with over 500 hundred from all at CMHS who won by 3 goals. images and documents, traces the EFLECTIONS The Bentleigh Greens, who have college from its beginnings in 1954 R Greek Cypriot Victorian links, through to the present day. The pho- So we may scan and return, CMHS Committee asks that you let us know if adopted their name after they tographs, both black and white and you have any documented (with dates) photographs or slides depicting past moved from Greensborough to more recent colour shots, reveal (and present) public events and life in the former city of Moorabbin, Victory Park in Bentleigh during the much about each decade and the e.g. images of the former racecourse in Hodgson Reserve. 1980s. history of the local area. email: [email protected] 6 3 WEDDING DRESS UNVEILING OF NEW DISPLAY CABINET PROJECT 2014 The unveiling of our new display cabinet containing Mary Louisa Clos- ter’s wedding dress arranged on its new mesh mannequin was a happy occasion for CMHS members. A Local History Community Grant from PROV (Public Records Office Vic) helped make it all happen, and the unveiling event was organised by Joan for Wednesday,10 Sept 2014.

Special guests included CMHS members, the Hon Ms Miller MLA and Ms Triarico, GECC Heritage Co-ordinator who formally unveiled the cabinet and cut the ribbon.

The ceremony was followed by wedding cake and a champagne toast (see over page) to the memory of Above & Right Aug 2014 Ms Lindie Ward, returned ANZAC, Alonzo Box and his bride Mary Louisa Powerhouse Museum textile Closter. Alonzo was the nephew of pioneers, William and specialist , inspects the dress Elizabeth Box, owners of Box Cottage from 1869‒1914. material Above: Below right: Valma welcomes Left & Right (below) Ms Miller MLA & Ms Triarico the special guests The hand embroidered silk material for the dress was sent over from China by the groom’s sister for Alonzo Box’s wedding to Mary Louisa Closter, 12 June 1918

Above: CMHS member, Holger unfurls the Australian flag NEW CABINET Tashco Showcase and Hard- ware Co, Corio, Victoria, designed, manufactured and delivered our new glass dis- play cabinet. Tashco clients include major Museums, Gal- leries, Libraries and now, Box Cottage Museum. CMHS thanks PROV for pro- viding the grant for the cabinet and mannequin. members involved in the project Special Guests 4 5