Number 11 Newsletter January - February 2013 Number 11 Newsletter BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE January – February 2013 Patron: remains theFounded same in 1974 to promote interest in the history of Prahran and to foster appreciation of ’s national heritage of history, the environment, architecture and the arts. President: Gabriel Hermes) Secretary: Rose Sciardis) all three positioned on left side under Patron Treasurer: Andrew Turner)Patron Member of the Mr P. S. Isaacson AM DFC AFC DFM Royal Historical Society of Inc. Reg. No: A0021770T –positioned directly under the logo (centre) in small print-no longer under the PO Box address President: Gabriel Hermes PO Box 8649 H Secretary: Rose Sciardis I S . Armadale VIC 3143 T Treasurer: Andrew Turner O C R IN Australia Telephone – put under the PO Box address on rightI side of page CA TY Telephone: 9529 7442 L a CIE nd ARTS SO SPRING INTO GARDENING A0021770T

Email: [email protected] Website: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~phas

Spring into Gardening was SPRING INTO GARDENING held at the Victoria Gardens in October. The Prahran Historical & Arts Society Inc. organised a presentation Spring into Gardening waswhich held was at manned the Victoria by Gardens in October. The Prahran Historicalmembers who& Arts fielded Society Inc. organised a presentation which wasinquiries manned by by the members public. It who was fielded inquiries by the public. a It beautiful was a beautiful day and attendanceday and attendance by the community was excellent.by the community Many community was groups excellent. Many community were represented including the Malvern Historical Society groups were represented who had a first-rate displayincluding of historical the Malvern pictures. It was very pleasing to see ourHistorical wonderful Society Parks whobeing had used a for such first-rate display of historical pictures. It was very pleasinga well toattended see our publicwonderful event. Parks During being theused course for such of athe day Mr.well Hicks attended donated public a event. McLellan During & Cothe –course The Big of the Store day (303 Mr. HicksChapel donated St Prahran a McLellan Circ 1903 & Co – –1968) The Big Shoe Horn and documentationStore (303 Chapel relating St Prahran to “Eastleigh Circ 1903 College” – 1968) Shanoe educational Horn and documentation institution located relating in Williamsto “Eastleigh Rd. Prahran in 1933. ThankCollege” you an to educational Mr. Hicks! institution These are located great initems Williams and will Rd. be Prahran used inin future1933. displays.Thank you If to you Mr. have Hicks! any old photos or memorabiliaThese are great you items would and like will to be donate used in to future our Societydisplays. it Ifwould you have be very any wellold photos received. or memorabilia you would like to donate to our Society it would be very well received. PAT RAYSON 29.8.1922 – 9.12.2012 PatPAT Rayson, RAYSON a valued 29.8.1922 member – of9.12.2012 the Prahran & Historical Arts Society passed on PatDecember Rayson, 9 a in valued palliative member care of at the Cabrini Prahran in & Prahran, Historical after Arts being Society diagnosed passed onwith incurable Decemberlung cancer 9 ina monthpalliative ago. care Pat at established Cabrini in Prahran, the Toorak/South after being Yarra diagnosed Anti withHigh-Rise Group incurablewhich she lung presided cancer over a month for manyago. Pat years established opposing the inappropriate Toorak/South development. Yarra Anti Pat High-Rise Group which she presided over for many years opposing inappropriate development.also served a termPat also as aserved Prahran a term Councillor as a Prahran from Councillor 1976 – 1979 from and 1976 continued – 1979 to attend andCouncil continued meetings to attend until Council recently. meetings Both Pat until and recently. her late Both husband Pat and Rusty her werelate long husbandstanding Rusty members were of long the standing PHAS. members Mr. Chris of Gahan the PHAS. OAM. Mr. JP. Chris and memberGahan of the PHAS OAM.Committee JP. and attended member the of funeralthe PHAS and Committee burial. attended the funeral and burial. The PHASPHAS extends extends their their sympathies sympathies to tothe the family family of Patof PatRayson. Rayson.

BENDIGO BANK Thank you to Windsor Branch of LOGO & Details LOGO Bendigo Bank for their sponsorshipWe of would the printing like to of thank this the Stonnington Community Financial Services Ltd Newsletter.Windsor Branch of the Bendigo Bank Branch No: 9194 for their Sponsorship of the printing of 111 Chapel Street, Windsor VIC 3181 +61 3 9521 1732 / 0414 240 953 this newsletter. [email protected]

Annual General Meeting The PHAS Annual General Meeting was held at the Community Centre, Grattan Gardens on 24th October 2012. There was a good turn out of members. The President presented his Annual Report and all positions were opened for election. The outcome of the voting is as follows: President: Gabriel Hermes. Vice President: Chris Michalopoulos. Secretary: Rose Sciardis. Treasurer: Andrew Turner. Committee: Beverly Whipp, Keith Wilson, Nobby Seymour, Dr. Roger Wilson and Chris Gahan OAM JP. The next AGM will be held on 23rd October 2013.

PHAS Christmas Dinner was held at the Prahran Mission Chapel Street, Prahran on Friday 23rd November 2012. The food was delicious and a good time was had by all. This event is becoming an Annual Event so look out for details and come along this year.

New and Renewed Members A warm welcome to the following new and renewed members: Simon Davies, Nathan Black, Patrick Galvin, Jason Minator, Carol Taylor, Z Bryce, Frank Van Straten, J Campbell, Carmel & Phil Wymant, H Proctor, R Mercer, Alan Kirsner, Louise Baker, M. McDonald

Membership Fees Individual $13 Family $20 Pensioners $5 Student $9 Life $100 Donations……..

FUTURE EVENT

The Prahran Historical & Arts Society Inc. & The Malvern Historical Society Inc. invite you to the following presentation:

ReConnections and Recollections – Charting the history of Connections UnitingCare Rhiannon Wapling, Resources Administration Officer, Connections UnitingCare

Join us in unearthing Connections UnitingCare’s 80 year history. In 2010, Connections marked its 10th anniversary as Connections and 80 years of providing care and support to disadvantaged people in . During this time, Connections uncovered images and artifacts from Melbourne’s inner city and Connections’ founding organisations, which were used to form a historical booklet and visual display. These founding organisations include: Methodist Babies Home, South Yarra, Presbyterian Babies Home, Camberwell, Copelen Family Services, Canterbury Family Centre, Wheelers Hill Family Centre, and Grassmere Youth Services.

The presentation will be followed by viewing of Connections Flickr online photo catalogue and hardcopy photo catalogues.

The Methodist Babies Home, South Yarra established in 1929. In 1974 it became the Copelen Street Family Centre, moving into the provision of foster care and preventive family services in the inner suburbs of Melbourne.

DATE: Wednesday 6th February, 2013 TIME: 7 p.m. VENUE: Foyer of Malvern Town Hall – cnr Glenferrie Road and High Street, Malvern COST: Nil RSVP: Gabriel - Ph: 03 95297442 A light supper will be served.

COMING SOON- revamped PHAS Website The PHAS Website has been updated and is in the process of being introduced to the public. We are hoping that this will take place shortly and will keep you advised of the progress. Once it is introduced we will list upcoming events and current news.

City of Stonnington – Grant In 2012 the Prahran Historical & Arts Society applied to the City of Stonnington for a Grant of $1,000 to assist with the digitalization of The Prahran Telegraph by TROVE. The Grant was approved and has been forwarded to TROVE. Thank you to the City of Stonnington for their support for this project and ongoing support for the Prahran Historical & Arts Society Inc. A Brief History of the Establishment of the Victoria Gardens, Prahran Michael Fleming Ph.D PART 2 Although the loan had been approved, the change in the numbers in the council gave the ‘opposition’ the ability to demand details of purchases made to date. It was revealed that at an auction on 22nd July 1884 four acres of land had been purchased on High-street east for £5,660. The land had previously belonged to a non-resident and had been used for many years by a farmer to graze his cows rent-free! It was also revealed that the mayor had bid personally and had, in fact, exceeded the council reserve by £500 in order to secure the loan.(Cooper, op. cit. p.287 has the date as 22nd June, but the auction was held on 22nd July according to The Chronicle. Cooper’s date precedes the loan!)

A year later, on 7th August 1885, the Governor and his wife ceremonially entered the city of Prahran. Lady Loch declared open ‘the lands of the City of Prahran known as the Toorak Gardens, the Victoria Gardens and the Prahran Reserve, dedicated to public use and enjoyment as pleasure grounds and places of recreation.’ The Victoria Gardens were the four acres of land in High-street purchased so secretly. The mayor of Prahran at this time was CR. G. W. Taylor, Esq. and the gardens were named for his wife Victoria, not the reigning monarch (Prahran Chronicle, 14 August 1885). That is the last of the Victoria Gardens in the official history of Prahran for it is concerned with people and events rather than things.

The gardens are a living thing and have continued on. The history of the gardens can be divided into four distinct periods. The first period, 1885-1918, was the heyday of the gardens as the epitome of Victorian era recreational use. The second period, 1919-1945, was the time when the gardens were changed from their original design and entered into a state of decline and neglect. The third period, 1946-1987, began with the commission of a pan from celebrated landscape designer Edna Walling. After this promising post-war start the gardens once again entered into a period of decline. Even the centenary of the gardens passed unnoticed by Council.

However there were sufficient remnants of the charm of the original gardens that in early July 1987, several new residents to the area formed a group to support the gardens and work towards their restoration. This led to the establishment of the Friends of the Victoria Gardens, and a subsequent period of renewal and restoration.

The story of Victoria Gardens and its Friends illustrates the cyclical nature of inner suburban living in Melbourne. It can be seen that such a public facility reflects the fortunes of the community in which it is located. From the boom time of the 1880s through wars and depressions the gardens had slowly been allowed to deteriorate. With the advent of new, professional residents, the gardens were restored to their full Victorian splendour.

In 1880 the fountain, statue and vases, all in terracotta were The High Street Iron Gates were donated by Mr John Paton in 1927. presented to the City of Prahran by Cr. George Taylor. Imported at They subsequently suffered from severe corrosion. In 2006 extensive a cost of over 300 pounds. By the 1980’s the urns and statue had repairs were undertaken to bring them to their former glory. been vandalised. In 1990 copies were cast in bronze and placed in Photo reproduced with assistance of Judith Knott and was taken in the gardens. Photo reproduced with assistance of Judith Knott and September 2006 was taken in September 2006.

The Debutante Ball

Simone Sharp – Stonnington History Centre

Debutante balls originated in Europe, and were traditionally a formal ‘rite of passage’ for elite women of marriageable age to be introduced within their society. In Australia, municipal councils, churches, schools and other organisations included debutante balls in their social calendars, and it is a practice that still continues in some quarters to this day. Malvern and Prahran Councils used to hold debutante balls as part of their annual Mayoral Balls, and professional photographs of these events were often published in Council Annual Reports. Most show the debutantes with the Mayoress – and occasionally the Mayor – at either Malvern or Prahran Town Hall. Sometimes the debutantes’ names, and even those of their partners, were also published. Invitees included local residents and businessmen, mayors of other councils, and Members of Parliament. Parents or guardians, or the young ladies themselves, wrote to the Council to request an invitation.. It was traditional for the debutante to invite a young man to partner her. Always very formal, the ball may also have included flower girls and page boys. The debutantes’ gowns were often identical in cut or colour, with slight variations. Gloves were almost always worn. Participants attended dance classes, often over many months, so as to perform a dance set during the main ball. The Leggetts, who ran a popular dance school in Greville Street in Prahran from 1910 to 1970, taught hundreds if not thousands of debutantes and their partners free of charge over the years. The Leggetts also arranged the programme and dance cards for the Prahran Mayoral Balls. These cards, with silk strings and pencil attached, were given to all who entered the hall. The below photographs are from the Stonnington History Centre’s collection.

Debutantes and flower girls with the Mayoress Mrs. Presentation of Debutantes at the Prahran City Council Nola Thomas at Prahran City Council Mayoral Ball Mayoral Ball held on 28 April 1954. 26th June 1951

Armadale Primary School Inquiry – School Records or photos 1918 – 1928

A request has been received for any information or photos of Kathleen Barclay (1912 – 1938) who lived at 637 Malvern Road Toorak in 1924. She may have attended Armadale Primary School as a child. This request was forwarded to the History Centre Stonnington. Photos of Kathleen at 4 yrs, 7 yrs and 26yrs were located but her granddaughter is seeking any information that our readers may have of Kathleen Barclay, including any old school photos from Armadale Primary School during the relevant time or information of any higher educational facility (High School) she may have gone onto. If you can assist please contact the PHAS on E Mail: [email protected] Ferguson & Urie Stained Glass, St Matthew’s Church, Prahran, Victoria

Courtesy of Ray Brown Great, Great, Great Grandson of James Ferguson of Ferguson & Urie Stained Glass

The present St Matthews Anglican Church was built in 1878 to the designs of architects Terry & Oakden and was opened by the Bishop of Melbourne (James Moorehouse) on Friday evening, 28th June 1878. In May 1982 a fire destroyed the majority of the centre section of the Nave. Rather than rebuild to its original state, the burnt out centre section was converted to an open court yard, the front section, facing the street, was converted to office accommodation and the rear of the church comprising the original chancel remains as the congregations portion of the church. Each section, either side of the central court yard is separated by modern glass walls. Many of the original stained glass windows in the nave were destroyed by the fire but some of the original Ferguson and Urie stained glass survived, including the main five light west window with rose window facing the street, some of the simple stained glass bordered windows, and the William Harrison window in the north wall near the chancel. Other surviving stained glass are by the artists/studios of, Christian Waller (Penitence, Pardon, & Peace) and the five light chancel window to the memory of "Arthur Granger Langmore“ which is possibly the work of Lyon & Cottier of Sydney (J.L. Lyon being a former partner in Ferguson & Urie circa 1866‐1873).

William Harrison memorial window (Ferguson & Urie Stained Glass) - detail of the centre panel - St. Mathews Church 157A High Street, Prahran, Prahran in the Early Days Many specimens of his skill can still be seen in this district. Then came the Prentices, Pitts, Greens, (No 5) By “Squint” and old Sam Orton, one of the best of the old pioneer brick makers who, for many years, had one Squint was a “non de plume” of a gentleman who of the brickyards near Orrong Road. lived in that period. We don’t know who he was or what profession he practised. He seemed to be Where the corporation tip now is, on the opposite able to move around in the social circles. His side of the street, lived a family commonly known essay captured the life style and events, not only as the Royal family – why, no one knew, for they were they accurate but also fascinating to read. all had a pugilistic tendency. Joe, the pride of the This is part of the 5th production. crowd, was considered a champion. One evening he was bossing all and sundry in Chapel Street, In writing about the Baptist Church, I should have when a coloured man came along. Joe began to mentioned a few of its oldest and strongest make sport of the man, and finally tipped him on adherents. These were the Wilsons, a large and the nose with his hands. That was enough. In but respected family; the old gentleman preached the a second or two Joe saw stars by the thousands. sermons and led the services generally. Others He had struck no less a personage than gold old were the Hands and the Drews, Mr and Mrs Harry Sallars, who subsequently became champion Francis Williams, Mr and Mrs Tarry and their son boxer of Victoria. The glory and fame of the John, who used to play the harmonium and lead Royal family waned and died out, and they quitted the choir; Mr and Mrs Thorn , and the Allchins, the district. Harry Sallars, though a coloured man, the Cliffs, and the Willis family, together with had a heart as true and as white as any Australian. very many more, whose names just now escape Old grumpy James Webb lived close by. He was my memory. Some few years later, Mrs Wilson notorious for cutting down clotheslines on washing and family removed to Yering, and the pastorate days when opportunity offered. Some of us young of the church was taken up by the Rev David ones caught him red-handed one day, and we Rees, who preached there for many years. His nearly drowned him in a water-hole close by. The eldest son, Dr William Carey Rees, was the first women folk did their washing without hindrance resident medical officer of the Alfred Hospital, in after that. Old Tom Pickering lived at the top of Commercial Road. All the Rees family and the street; he was the general sweep for the district. Professor Kernot took an active interest in the Tough he was, but generous and kind. Poor old management of the church and school. Tom! He had his faults, but he loved his brother William. The block of land extending from James Place to what is now known as Gray Street, and from In this street there were only four houses that Chapel Street to the gully at the foot of Pine contained more than two rooms, and several of Street, contained one continuous deposit of them were only huts. Sly-grog-selling was ironstone rubble and gravel, and many thousands rampant in the locality, and many Government of loads were taken out by and for the council and men were the best customers. Seaton’s house was used to metal the streets of the town. I will just just round the corner of Chapel Street, and beyond take a look down Pine Street, as many of the old him, Miles Simmons and his family lived in their identities well remember some of those who once one-room and worked their gravel pits. Then came lived there. For instance, old John Duncan and Edwards’ Dairy. On the next block of land there his wife, who were always friends in need. Others was a timber yard, kept by Mr George Wragg, were Alexander Mc Lean and his wife, and Dr which subsequently became the property of Mr Edward Hall, a man beloved, whose services and John Linay, and is now known as Linay’s timber money were always given to the poor. He stood yard. Robert Lovejoy lived nearby in a small about 6 feet 3 inches high in his stockings, and tenement. He was subsequently pound-keeper for carried his head always a little inclined to the the council and died whilst in their employ. right. He left one daughter, who subsequently married Mr Alfred Gowenlock. The doctor’s residence contained one room and a surgery.

Next door to him lived Mr John Redfern, who was AUGHTERSONS INSURANCE the only taxidermist in the district. He was a BROKERS tailor by trade, but he was such an expert at stuffing birds, animals and snakes, and arranging For all your insurance requirements contact and tabulating insects that he had little time for Mr. D. Collins Tel: 9879 7699 following up his own business.