Glen Eira Historical Society Newsletter

Number 11, November 2016 ISSN 2201-5647 one. If you have doubts about Editorial the history of a tree, on private or GEHS Future Dates In these rapidly changing times, Details are sent to members and it is important to remember that public land, please contact us and we can investigate. are available from the Society nothing stays the same forever. website or office. Unfortunately, many of us are We must preserve and record our experiencing change overload in natural and built heritage. We Friday 16 December 2016 some areas of Glen Eira. This can need your help. With your eyes and Last day rooms are open for 2016 be difficult to process. camera, plus any stories you may Saturday 17 December 2016 to Monday 30 January 2017 With this in mind, we appeal have of an area which is changing, Society rooms closed to you and your friends to help we can create a picture which the heritage of our area and the might otherwise be lost. Thursday 19 January 2017 Historical Society expand their files Carol Stals Visit to Islamic Museum and information. Geoffrey Paterson Tuesday 31 January 2017 We can all be Citizen Historians First day rooms are open in 2017 by keeping our eyes open when Then and Now Wednesday 1 February 2017 we move around our suburbs. If St John's Elsternwick Deadline for Newsletter Issue 12 you carry a smart phone you can Wednesday 22 March 2017 capture change in all sorts of ways, at 7.30pm and the things you would like to Boyd Room, Carnegie Library retain. Speaker to be advised GEHS has been active in campaigning for a higher level GEHS Past Events of heritage awareness and Tuesday 16 August appreciation by Council. We hope Glen Eira Councillors visit GEHS the dark days of the senseless loss Thursday 18 August of Frogmore will not be forgotten. Glenfern visit It was the last mansion of its type Thursday 25 August in Murrumbeena. Like shooting the last Dodo, it too was powerless, Truman film night although GEHS did fight hard for Wednesday 28 September the house’s retention. Heritage Caulfield Grammar Archives visit communities around were Thursday 29 September shocked by this act. The land still Salvation Army Heritage visit lies vacant one year on. Sunday 16 October At present, we are trying to save History Week and GEHS Book Sale the former World War 1 Red Cross The brick church at St John's Rest Home at Caulfield Hospital Presbyterian Church was 3–20 November and will be attending a Heritage dedicated on 20 February 1916. Glen Eira Gallery Exhibition Council hearing on 25 November Between 1888 and 1916, the Sunday 13 November 2016. wooden hall in Foster Street had World War 1 Bus Drive served as the church. These two We suggest you move about with Wednesday 30 November cultural awareness and look at buildings remain at the now St General Meeting anything of interest which will John's Uniting Church. one day be of heritage concern. Top photo courtesy of St John's. Speaker John Maidment Check out gardens and trees. Glen Pipe Organs in the Glen Eira Area Eira Council no longer has a tree Issue 12: March 2017 register but we could establish Theme: sport and recreation We acknowledge that the including scouts and guides Boonwurrung People are the We thank David Southwick MP Deadline 1 February 2017. traditional owners of the area for kindly donating the printing Please send contributions to known as Glen Eira. of this Newsletter. [email protected] The Glen Eira Historical Society Inc is proudly sponsored by Glen Eira City Council Community Grants and Bendigo Bank Murrumbeena 2 President’s Column Contributors GEHS meetings and events seemed a good idea. in this edition History of the Salvation clearly show Army in Australia In those days, women did a six one of the major week course to become an officer. conclusions of the Wednesday 28 September 2016 The Salvationists had a threefold book reviewed Talk by Yasmin Van Gaalen- idea, love of God, obedience on page 12: local historical Prentice and work. Lady cadets became societies play a significant role The story began in involved in slum ministry, social in connecting people to history England in 1865 services and were best known for through their community and when William their Christianity, with sleeves locale, especially where they Booth took on the rolled up at the ready. They have grown up. role of preaching formed slum brigades, going the Gospel to the poor, into the opium dens, cooking It is wonderful to see our underprivileged and outcasts of and cleaning for the needy. The Newsletter being a strong, society and the Church. Army set up shelters for country positive example of this – a tree girls who fell on hard times. can resonate as strongly as a The various ministries that Commandant Cornelius Booth set child’s bonfire, a tiny newspaper evolved were a result of the idea up midnight banquets for women kiosk or a grand old home. of practical Christianity. from the brothels and opium dens The Significance Assessment There was little point in of the city, a safe place where Report we commissioned preaching about God’s love to their needs could be identified for our Collection has also someone with an empty stomach, and met. reinforced the value of items dirty house, or no job! That’s why Catherine’s daughter-in-law we hold as custodians for the the Salvation Army often says Florence encouraged women to local community. Of particular their motto is Heart to God, Hand join the fellowship, called the note are historic photographs, to Man. Home League, where they were research notes from key local By 1867, the Army had developed educated in budgeting, opening historians and items from the into a ministry, offering schooling, social clubs and by these means old Caulfield City Council. soup kitchens and relief aid to they hoped to alleviate the The Report provides clear the destitute. Catherine, whom depressive situations in which direction for conservation and William married in 1855, was found themselves. future planning too. Thanks to known as the Army Mother, as Bendigo Bank Murrumbeena for well as the co-founder. She was Nursing brigades (on bicycles) funding this. a fearless preacher, a gifted were set up, Bethesda Hospital was part of this, The Army sent By the time you read this, we teacher, and was the person that female cadets to the goldfields, will have attended the Heritage held her family and the Army and they assisted by healing Council of ’s hearing together. As early as 1855, and tending the sick. They held on 25 November about the Red Catherine promoted women’s meetings to empower women to Cross Rest Home (Montgomery female ministry, equality with take up the cause. House) at Caulfield Hospital. God equals equality with society. Hopefully we will have good Catherine had eight children, and There have been numerous news to deliver! her daughters became leaders. women leaders in the Army, one Anne Kilpatrick The first Salvationist meetings was Brigadier Frances Gillam, GEHS President held in Australia were in 1880. who was a pioneer of Salvation In 1882, Major James Barker Army missionary work in North and his wife Alice were appointed China from 1916 to 1936 and Glen Eira Historical Society Inc a pioneer in the beginnings of A0041700U published this Newsletter. by the General and sent to the policewomen in Victoria. The Society’s street address is Australian colonies to further the 965 Glen Huntly Road, Caulfield, Salvation Army’s work. Major Mary Anderson was 3162. Postal address is PO Box 202, Alice came from a wealthy family, involved with the court and Caulfield South 3162. Phone 9077 and left her family home because prison services and Brigadier 5395 Doreen Griffiths, another leading Email [email protected] of her association with the Army . woman of the Army, was involved Website www.gehs.org.au She married her husband the day The office is open Tuesday and Friday before they sailed for Australia. with community work at the between 9 and 12 or by appointment. The Salvationists had experienced Children’s Court. The Newsletter will be published in persecution in England, marching Report by Claire Barton March, July and November 2017. The was illegal, fines had to be paid, next deadline is 1 February 2017. and coming to serve in Australia We welcome your contribution. 3 The village of Ripponlea growing population. At the same time, many shops were built that Letter to the Editors Wednesday 27 July 2016 are still in evidence along Glen Dear Editors Talk by Dr Judith Buckrich Eira Road today. One of these Here is some feedback on the Judith Buckrich significant shops was Johnson’s July Newsletter. spoke at our AGM Chemist Shop, which pioneered Page 2 Labassa . . . arty about the history needle exchanges for drug users bohemian tenants of the of the suburb of in Victoria. Another was the fruit 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s Ripponlea, shop, now run by Bill Magliss, included the Pieper family. reflecting on the stories she had which opened one hundred Liam was born at Labassa in discovered while researching her 1984, and his older brother, 1 years ago, and has functioned book The Village of Ripponlea . continually as a fruit shop ever Ardian, was born there in Judith’s book was commissioned since. 1979. Liam refers to Labassa in chapter 1 of his first book. The by Bill Magliss, owner of the Glen Ripponlea continued to develop Eira Road fruit shop Victoria book’s cover features the author and grow over the next decades, at the front door of the mansion.1 Fruit Palace. Interested in and by the 1920s Glen Eira Road telling the colourful history of sported four cinemas. The films Page 2 Box Cottage his suburb, he asked Judith to they screened opened up new Is August Rietman any relations research and write the book. views of life for the residents to Rietman’s cement/concrete Judith’s research brings us many of Ripponlea, especially its shop (mainly large planter wonderful stories of the suburb, women. Women in Ripponlea pots) on the site from the 1950s onwards? I went to school with ranging from the 1850s until were also provided with more Sue Rietman from the 1950s today. opportunities when the Holy to the early 1960s. Rietman’s Redeemer School opened in1916. Early Ripponlea had large estates business later relocated to The school became a state surrounded by small working Cheltenham. men’s cottages. As well as the school and provided support and Page 6 Glen Eira cinemas well-known Rippon Lea Estate, scholarships to encourage young I remember the Ormond Plaza others included Erindale, and girls to continue their education Cinema on the south side of Quat Quatta, the latter which to secondary school level. Notable alumnae include Germaine Greer. North Road, between Carlyon still stands today. Both houses and Wheeler Streets. At least were built by Thomas Monaghan, Modern day Ripponlea remains once, we pupils of Ormond East who was born in Dublin and a vibrant suburb, home to land State School were walked from arrived in Australia in 1839. He marks such as the Lyrebird the school to the cinema as an established Erindale in 1869, Lounge and Attica Restaurant, as end-of-school year treat. Few where he lived, kept cows and well as many exciting events. other shops in Ormond remain sold milk. He later built Quat Bill Magliss is delighted with from the 1950s apart from (i) the Quatta. Other architectural Judith’s work, and Judith herself fish and chip shop on the north buildings of note in Ripponlea had a lot of fun uncovering the side of North Road near Grange include Los Angeles Court, which history of Ripponlea. Road; and (ii) the milk bar on is notable for its art deco houses. the corner of North Road and Report by Alice McInnes George Brunning trained as a Dunlop Avenue. It was open only briefly on Sunday mornings. gardener in England and arrived Editors Carol Stals and Geoffrey in Australia in 1853. He later Paterson thank these contributors Page 10 Ormond Church of brought out his family to join him, to Issue 11: Rick Arden, John Christ and by 1860 he had established Attwood, Claire Barton, Bentleigh This was nearly opposite my a nursery in the already- Club, David Bird, Margaret Blight, Dr family home. Mother was fashionable neighbourhood of Judith Buckrich, Felicitie Campbell, furious when the old-style St Kilda, between Argyle and Andrea Casey, Francis Danesi, Salvation Army used to sing Inkerman Streets. He later Peta and Richard Darke, Margaret and play outside the church moved to Los Angeles Court, Dunbar, Neville Daynes, Judith (remember the bonnets and the where he provided employment Gibson, Barbara Hoad, Ken James, tambourines?) when a service was being conducted inside. for many people, and produced Anne Kilpatrick, Colin Kirkham, Interesting – my parents never one of Australia’s first gardening Alice McInnes, Joy Mawbey, attended church. magazines. University Publishing, In 1912, Ripponlea’s railway Trevor Pitkin, David Southwick MP, Regards station was built to service its State Library of Victoria, Frank Margaret Blight Tisher, Yasmin Van Gaalen-Prentice, Ormond 1 The village of Ripponlea J Buckrich , Graeme Warren, and Heather Lauranton Books, Gardenvale, 2015. This 1 Welsh. L Pieper, The feel good hit of the year: book received the 2016 Local History Small a memoir, Hamish Hamilton, Melbourne, Publication Award. 2014. 4 Glenfern visit 18 August The following article from the Caulfield Historical Society by Barbara Hoad Newsletter provides more details The gardens here are informal. of this important film. The Unfortunately, there are no National Film Library is now the diagrams or plans showing the National Film and Sound Archive. layout of the early garden. The remaining plantings are tended September 13th 1900 by the caretaker and outside From Australia's Yesterdays contractors who mow the lawns an article from the Argus and and try to keep up with pruning Age. and caring for the tall trees, Town Hall, this evening 7.45 some of them, original pines. Wonderful Limelight Lecture Photo Barbara Hoad. Maintenance work was completed entitled Soldiers of the Cross Glenfern is a National Trust on the roof and chimney a few by Commandant Booth. property on Inkerman and years back. Hotham Streets, East St Kilda. Behind these modest words Glenfern is one of three National lay the fact that Australia had We were warmly welcomed by Trust owned properties in the produced the first religious epic National Trust staff and the live- and is often and probably the world's first full in caretaker. The last owner of overlooked for the better known length film. Soldiers of the Cross Glenfern was Amy Ostberg and Rippon Lea and Labassa. was a 3000 ft. film, with a cast she very nearly sold off the front of 600 professional and amateur garden to BP for a petrol station Salvation Army Heritage actors. on the corner site. She did Centre visit 13 October It was made three years before however sell off the side orchard America made The Great Train where cream brick flats now Robbery of 800 ft. length, which stand quite close to the house. is claimed by historians as the The Ostberg family lived at first real movie. It was made Glenfern from 1915 until Amy by Major Joseph Perry then in bequeathed the property to the charge of the Salvation Army's Magic Lantern Photographic National Trust in 1984. The Department of Melbourne. Ostbergs had bought the much- Photo Margaret Dunbar. Most of it was filmed on a tennis diminished property from Captain During their visit, GEHS court in the Melbourne suburb of John T Boyd and Lucy (Martin) members and friends were Murrumbeena. Boyd, founders of the Boyd taken high up into the roof of dynasty of artists, musicians, this heritage building, to the The Film cost about 600 pounds, writers and architects. They with Limelight Studio where the and Perry was a master of trick their twelve children lived at Salvation Army produced over photography and of crowd scenes. Glenfern for over 30 years. 300 films. This restored area The film was taken to America Heritage Victoria describes appears much as it was in the the next year and shown Glenfern as a “rare example of late 1800s. throughout that country. picturesque domestic Gothic” and One of these films is the religious Now, an honoured place awaits its brooding demeanour makes epic filmSoldiers of the Cross. it in the National Film Library it desirable for film shoots. It The Heritage Centre at 69 at Canberra, but recent searches was built in 1857 for Francis Bourke Street Melbourne also by the Salvation Army and other McDonnell, an investor in railway has a fascinating display of items interested organisations have syndicates, who was forced to sell including uniforms, musical failed to find the film. the property because of financial instruments, letters, photographs Caulfeld Historical Society Newsletter 38, difficulties. Thomas Watson was and much more. October 1993, page 4. the next owner in 1866 and he lived there until the Boyd family GEHS Committee 2016–2017 took up residence in 1876. Left to right: Carol Stals, There are now nine Writers Geoffrey Paterson, Claire Studios which are used during Barton seated, Joy Mawbey, the day under a Writers Victoria Barbara Hoad Vice President, and National Trust partnership. Janine Mayhew Treasurer Here writers can find a quiet seated, Anne Kilpatrick space away from day-to-day President, Alice McInnes distractions. Secretary seated. 5 Caulfield Grammar GEHS Research inquiry: Lost or missing School Archive Centre Linlithgow School sculptures of Glen Eira visit 29 September by Barbara Hoad by Carol Stals by Barbara Hoad Glen Eira seems to have mystery Judith Gibson, archivist at surrounding some of their Caulfield Grammar, is in charge sculptures. of a fascinating array of books, One sculpture was the work letters and diaries from the early Kore by Karl Duldig which was days of the school. It started in a unfortunately stolen from its lolly shop in Glen Huntly Road, base in the Elsternwick Shopping near Selwyn Street, in 1881. Centre in 2013. It was quite a One of the challenges she faces few days before the disappearance as an archivist today is managing was noticed. The police have not 4 Linlithgow Avenue today been able to trace it. the current history which comes Photo Barbara Hoad. mainly in digital form. We received a request for the Another work, Isabella, was The present site of the school is school records of a pupil who created in memory of Isabella its fourth since 1881. During attended this small private school Webb, the 19 year old daughter our visit we heard that the first at 4 Linlithgow Avenue, Caulfield of Judge George Webb of Chinese student Charles Ying North. Known as Linlithgow Crotonhurst. She died in India attended the school in 1916 Co-Educational College, the in 1876 while on a trip with her and these days the school has a school was run by Bessie Favelle father. campus in Nanjing, China. and her husband Jack from the Historian Dr Geulah Solomon The Caulfield campus wasn’t early 1960s until 1991. They notes: “The marble sculpture only a secondary school. In 1923, had bought the property from of Isabella, which Webb Headmaster William Murray champion jockey Billy Duncan in subsequently had cast by Charles Buntine set up a kindergarten 1952. Summers, the sculptor of the initially for the children of staff Bessie Favelle also taught famous statue of Burke and Wills, members – he was considered an at Shelford and Caulfield now stands in the Caulfield City 1 entrepreneurial head. Grammar Schools and in 1986 Hall" . Standing at the entrance of the was interviewed by Barbara In 1981, the Caulfield Historical impressive John Cripps Centre, Blackman about her educational Society had a brass plaque made we had an unexpected view philosophy and methods and her and placed on the statue in 2 of Rippon Lea Mansion to the life in education. A recording Caulfield Town Hall . south. On this site in 2000, a fire of the interview is held at the A third piece of sculpture destroyed the 1950s Memorial National Library of Australia. was the bronze statue of a Hall but the beautiful stained The house stills stands and small child kneeling. It was glass memorial window was is described as “a highly a drinking fountain made for saved. It has been incorporated representative and luxurious the Railway Reserve beside into the new centre which also example of the Streamlined Elsternwick Station then shifted includes a 650-seat Memorial Moderne style” and is included to Greenmeadows Gardens. This Hall, Music School, Visual Arts in Glen Eira’s Local Heritage was designed and executed by School and the Archive Centre. Overlay HO411. Paul Montford, creator of the GEHS does not hold school Adam Lindsay Gordon piece, plus records for Linlithgow and major works on the Shrine of referred the request to the Public Remembrance. It seems to have Record Office Victoria which has disappeared many years ago. a file on the school. What a strange history of three 1 planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/schemes/ valuable sculptures disappearing. gleneira/ordinance/43_01s_glen.pdf Does anybody remember Isabella or the Kneeling Child? Do you Did you know? know the answer? The name Dudley was chosen 1 Caulfield's heritage, volume 1 Artefacts of W. H. C. Buntine who died in instead of Rosstown for the now G Solomon, Caulfield's building heritage, World War 1. Photo courtesy of Caulfield Carnegie area. Rosstown was Grammar School Archives. 1989, page 36. a name that reeked of failure. 2 Caulfield Historical Society Newsletter 18, However, it was anticipated August 1981, page 64. Our next General Meeting is on that the name Carnegie may Wednesday 22 March at 7.30pm at bring money from the Carnegie Carnegie Library. Foundation. Failure again. 6 Joseph Sayce – control of a site for establishing a bureaucrat in charge of public school, confronting the Education parks and gardens at the time, a brief profile Department. There are records degrades. This does not end well, by Trevor Pitkin showing Sayce’s involvement with a very public dispute laid out Joseph Sayce arrives in in shareholding of several gold all over the Melbourne press Melbourne from England in mining operations. as he goes head-to-head with 1852, having worked as a woollen Hodgkinson. Hodgkinson draper and master tailor up to himself resigns not that time. Like many immigrants long after, in the face in the immediate post-1851 of assertions of poor era, his interest in moving to administration and the golden state of Victoria is overseeing a major probably unrelated to his previous financial scandal. occupation. Nevertheless, it is Sayce dies at age 61 years quite a shift from managing a while in Hobart in 1876, business of 45 staff in London, and is survived by his to presenting as a gentleman on wife Emma, daughters the other side of the world and Josephine and Gertrude, not apparently engaging in the Edenthorpe in 1870 by William Tibbits and son Charles. A few clothing industry. State Library of Victoria. years before her father’s His movements in Victoria are In the early 1870s, he seems to be death Josephine moved to intriguing. Rate books show resident at Edenthorpe once more. Queensland after marrying him in Caulfield for two years Throughout his time in Victoria, David Stuart in Bendigo; after arrival, then St Kilda for Sayce is active in horticultural Charles moved around the state another two years, settling in at circles and horticultural shows, and does not appear to have the address for which he became with awards for rhododendrons, stayed attached to Edenthorpe. known locally – Edenthorpe. roses and some citrus. Local Gertrude remains unmarried Not long after his arrival, Sayce residents note the extensive until her death. Emma stays at lodges a patent application in orange tree plantings at his Edenthorpe until the sale of the late 1854, jointly with Edward residence on the northeastern 10 acres and residence in 1880. Potts, which seems not to have corner of Kooyong and Glen She also disposes of a 406 acre been granted; conversely it was Huntly Roads. He becomes the farm property in the Balnarring– not not granted, meaning its founding chair of the Apiarist Schnapper Point area. She status is uncertain. In these Society, which seems to have stayed in the local area, living first patents lodged in Victoria faded away within a few years of at several places in Elsternwick (his was #9), there were many formation. There are links to the until her death in 1901. Acclimatisation Society through that related to crushing and Edenthorpe was a very ornately the activities of the Apiarist amalgamating auriferous and decorated yet modestly scaled group. argentiferous ores. The invention brick building, as seen in the is apparently manufactured by In 1873, he enters his most above painting that William the company Daw & Co, but how public adventure with the Tibbits produced around 1876. widely successful it is or how design of the gardens for one Sayce would have commissioned many examples are constructed of the most prestigious public this work, as Tibbits was making is unknown. In the patent projects of the time: Government his living in Melbourne selling his applications he is identified as House and the Domain. Sayce services to all and sundry for such ‘Joseph Sayce of the Bank of New presents his design in the house portraits. On the basis South Wales’. wake of a competitive process of grounds of this scale and the In the mid to late 1860s, for professional landscape extent of the house, Edenthorpe however, he becomes very closely designers that fails to produce certainly makes a mark as a associated with the burgeoning anything satisfactory. After clear gentleman’s residence, but was township of Walhalla. He seems endorsement by the committee not a mansion in the sense of to disappear from the rate books in control of the project, Sayce’s many others in the Caulfield for a period that broadly matches design is fine tuned and area. MMBW plans show the his profile emerging in Walhalla. formalised by the government house extending well beyond the He is appointed manager of the lithographer, and published. Kooyong Road frontage that is the Walhalla branch of the Bank Sayce is engaged to oversee initial focus of Tibbits’s painting. The of Victoria, and while resident works, and he is at the stage of estate is subdivided in 1889 by there is appointed Justice of the seeking to be paid an appropriate Charles May, a developer, leading Peace. He chairs town meetings fee when the relationship with to the disposition of properties that are agitated about the Clement Hodgkinson, the seen today. 7 Sagamore by Frank Tisher OAM Number 2 Sagamore Court North Caulfield was my family’s home from November 1979 until May 2016. We were privileged to live in this beautiful home with historical significance. We were the third owner of this property, having purchased it LeftSagamore circa 1920s and right 2015. Photos courtesy of the author. from a medical practitioner Peter Freeman (now deceased). A title embossed on the sweat flaps. All had wonderful memories of search indicates that he became Helen Sage walked me through the house and the property. I am the registered proprietor on 4 the house, explaining where the saddened that it has gone, but the June 1963. servant quarters were, where photos and memories remain, as does the large liquidambar. The previous owner was Arthur the Indian room had been and James Sage. He and his wife drew attention to the beautiful Sagamore, demolished in mid- Elizabeth had three children, western red cedar doors and 2016, was not under a heritage Betty, Arthur and Helen. I was ceilings. Helen Sage pointed to overlay. privileged to meet Helen Sage. a large liquidambar tree in the Shortly after we moved into front, which she said had been Murrumbeena Sagamore, there was a knock on planted the day Edmund Hillary Station kiosk the front door and Helen Sage climbed Everest. A nearby large silver birch had been bought for by John Attwood introduced herself. She added The kiosk was installed on the sixpence and planted to celebrate that she had lived at the house Melbourne side platform about the Queen’s coronation. and grown up there. Her father 1925 and was placed in the Arthur had built the house in Helen Sage gave me photographs present position at the entrance about 1908. It was built by of Sagamore, with horses grazing to the station in 1965, with Sage in an American Edwardian on grassland outside the house. increased business. style as her father had been a The neighbouring houses of today When the kiosk was located on friend of the American President were then just open grassland. the platform people were delaying Theodore Roosevelt. She said Sagamore Court had a gravel the train as they purchased their that Roosevelt had a home at driveway for horses to arrive at newspapers. Sagamore Hill at Oyster Bay on the house. In one picture, to the Long Island, near New York. She south was the croquet lawn. In the Glory Days of the kiosk, said that her father and Roosevelt sales of the Sun News Pictorial I was saddened to read of Helen had corresponded, and Sage had were 300, The Argus 200, The Age Sage’s death on 29 August 1999. built our Sagamore in the same 100 plus extras such as chewing She had been born on 2 October style of house on Long Island. gum, PK, Juicy Fruit, Spearmint, 1899 so she was just short of 100 Sagamore was an Indian name, Life Savers, chocolate, cigarettes, years. The Age obituary said named after one of the tribes of tobacco, and combs. More papers that “her father, an importer and American Indians. were sold from the kiosk than the founder of the family business Murrumbeena Newsagency. Helen Sage gave me a cutting A. J. Sage & Co built a large that explained the connection house on five acres of land in As I write this, the kiosk is about between Sage and Roosevelt. Orrong Grove Caulfield and the to be demolished to make way Sage, when travelling in America, family moved there in 1909”. for Sky Rail. I remember the had visited Colonel Roosevelt Helen Sage was awarded an days when I did a paper round in his home at Oyster Bay and Order of Australia Medal in on a pushbike and would dash Roosevelt had asked many September 1994 for her work over to work on the kiosk to keep questions about Australian life. as a communal carer and passengers happy. He mentioned that one of his best philanthropist. regiment men was an Australian. When we sold Sagamore it was Mr Sage had a typical Australian approximately 24,500 square feet. bush saddle made which he It was the most wonderful home presented to Colonel Roosevelt. to our family, with its magnificent The saddle was made of specially garden, pool and tennis court. My selected materials of Victorian children had many parties and manufacture, and had his initials their friends came for a farewell worked in monogram on the skirt, party when we left Sagamore. while the Southern Cross was Photo courtesy of the author. 8

MacRobertson’s Chocolates and People of Glen Eira sometime resident in the Caulfield by Anne Kilpatrick area. Great supporter of the One of the most enjoyable aspects of our recent work for the Caulfield Football Club and the Significance Assessment of our Collection has been viewing our Caulfield South Cricket Club. records of individuals and families in Glen Eira’s history to the From the age of 57, he was keeper present day. Our records for specific people range from diaries, of the Caulfield Town Hall. recollections and oral histories to photographs and newspaper obituaries. Vladimir and Evdokia Petrov Russian spies who defected to We do not aim to create a definitive database for everyone but even Australia in 1954 and who lived a quick glance points to an enriching, varied and talented population in East Bentleigh as Sven Gustav represented in our Collection. It is a great reflection of the many Allyson and Maria Anna Allyson contributions to our community made by people of the Glen Eira area. from the late 1950s. Some are well known and others less so – but all the records clamour to be shared and celebrated. Mark Trevorrow 1959– Here are a few examples of the people recorded in our files. Further aka comedian Bob Downe grew up examples will be included in the next Newsletter. in Murrumbeena. We invite you to suggest one or other of your favourite people connected David Warren OAM to the Glen Eira area, past or present. And all the better if you have 1925–2010 some records to donate as well. Email us via gehs.org.au Carnegie, Glen Huntly, McKinnon, Will Alma 1904–1993 Trevor Hart 1942–2014 and Caulfield Caulfield resident noted historian South resident who was a Gold Star Member of the and archivist who invented the black Inner Magic Circle, the highest helped establish the box flight recorder. honour for the magic fraternity Caulfield Historical world-wide. He performed Society in 1972. Photos courtesy of left to right, Rick Arden, as a magician nationally and Also played key Felicitie Campbell, Camberwell Grammar internationally from 1918 for the roles in the School Archives, and Graeme Warren. next 70 years. The State Library Wedgwood Society of Australia, of Victoria holds the W. G. Alma Fitzroy History Society, Southern Shelford Girls' Grammar Conjuring Collection that he Metropolitan Regional Historical Association, Genealogical Society of Archive bequeathed to them. Victoria as well as many others. by Francis Danesi Alma Blair 1918–2015

also Alma Arden. Ross Hannaford 1950–2016 world renowned guitarist Years apart, she including with Daddy Cool who was married to grew up in Bentleigh East and two former Mayors Moorabbin. of Caulfield: Fred Arden and Max Sir Albert Victor Jennings Blair. She was very active as the 1897–1993 Mayoress and in the community. Founder of A. V. Jennings Hugh Percival Hall company, which started in Caulfield, and sometime resident Shelford prefects and probationers, 1928. 1899–1967 Photo courtesy of Shelford. of Carnegie. He built Beauville resident of Estate (Murrumbeena) and From its small beginnings in Glenmoore in St Hillcrest Estate (Caulfield South), a cottage on Glen Eira Road Georges Road, known for their Art Deco features in 1898, the school has grown Elsternwick. He and subject of Heritage Overlays. considerably, and has overseen was a solicitor, the learning and personal artist and Marion Lau, OAM 1943– development of thousands of photographer Caulfield-based Chinese women’s students. particularly known for his advocate, first woman chair of the photograph exhibitions and book Ethnic Communities Council of The memories and individual of ballet photographs which Victoria and first female president collections of Shelford included Pavlova, the Ballet Russe, of the Chinese Community Society memorabilia held by each past the Borovanski Ballet and the of Victoria; also an inductee to the and present Shelfordian help Rambert Ballet. Father of Felicitie Victorian Honour Roll of Women. tell the story of Shelford’s rich Campbell, Caulfield Historical Henry Ernest Melbourne heritage and the part it has Society (CHS) founding member 1912–2007 played in their lives. and longtime President/Vice creator of the Freddo Frog for The school was recently reminded President of CHS and GEHS. 9 of this when Donna Hellier, a of the Elsternwick Progress Rotary Club former student and teacher, Association and Mr. J. Haig, who generously donated material was a prominent member of the of Caulfield Inc. to Shelford’s archive, and the Elsternwick Branch of the Australian by Heather Welsh Natives Association. family of Mrs Bettina Woodburn The Rotary Club of Caulfield Inc. (Bromley, 1940) donated five Both of these Gentlemen had was established in 1962, named been aware for some time that the trophies. The trophies were for the then City of Caulfield. awarded for her academic and Elsternwick Railway Reserve was not large enough to accommodate sporting achievements at school, Former Mayors of the City, who the hundreds of people who always were members of the Club, were which included being Dux of her came, every week-end, to listen and year in 1939. These wonderful Eric Parton, Donald Bunny, and be entertained by the music of the current Secretary Jack Campbell. donations complement a Caulfield and Elsternwick Town diverse collection of records and Band. John Lord, the current Club memorabilia. Dr. Weigall and Mr. Haig negotiated President has been a member Recently re-established, the with the owner of the land, now for over 40 years and followed Archives Office aims to collect, occupied by Hopetoun Gardens, his father Lindsay into the Club. document and preserve items of and subsequently obtaining a John’s grandfather R. H. Lord, for continuing value which record Government grant, they obtained whom Lord Reserve in Carnegie the assistance of Mr. Pockett, Head and illustrate the history, was named, was Mayor in 1923. Gardener of the Malvern City In February, 2017, current Club functions and development of Council, who was “borrowed” to Shelford since 1898; promote an Archivist, Dr Graham Sicklemore, advise on the planning of the new will celebrate 100 years of appreciation of Shelford heritage gardens. four generations of his family by documenting historically Mr. Pockett began work in December significant records; and providing dental services in 1907, and the Hopetoun Gardens Elsternwick. communicating their existence were officially declared open, by the to the School community and then Mayor of Caulfield, Councillor In 1997, Heather Welsh, a former provide access to the records for R. L. Phillips, on 31st July 1908. City of Caulfield Councillor, reference purposes. Councillor Dunbar obtained the became the Club’s first (of many) In 2018, Shelford will celebrate a ornamental trees and shrubs from women Presidents. significant anniversary, marking the Botanical Gardens, and the Before kerbside recycling, the 120 years as a leading provider Bandstand was moved from the Club fundraised by collecting of education for girls in Victoria. Elsternwick Reserve in 1909.” newspapers, aluminium cans and Caulfield Historical Society Newsletter ,24 The school archivist would be October 1984, page 8. bottles. It also ran Art Shows, pleased to hear from anyone Book Fairs, Markets and the ever who holds items that they may Caulfield becomes a City popular sausage sizzles, which be willing to donate for the As reported by The Prahran it still does fortnightly, outside permanent collection, or lend Telegraph, 2 August 1913. Woolworths store in Glen Huntly. to Shelford for a temporary “On Saturday 26 July, 1913, the Early projects included formal ceremony of declaring the exhibition. coordinating the chopping and Town of Caulfield to become a City These may include photographs, took place in delightful surroundings, delivery of truckloads of firewood personal recollections, badges and for the afternoon proved warm and to local pensioners and supporting uniforms, trophies, samples of sunny. . . adult education. The Club later handcrafts and other school work, In the large hall the Mayor, organised cultural projects in school publications and reports. Councillor Thompson and Mrs. music, dance and visual art. It Please contact Francis Danesi Thompson held an informal reception has regularly provided medical [email protected] or as the guests arrived, while in an and disaster aid in South East phone 9524 7437 on Wednesdays enclosure outside the hall, the Asia and the Pacific regions and Elsternwick Brass Band played promoted international goodwill and Thursdays during school lively airs, and a Guard of Honour terms for more information. through the Rotary Student formed by a Company of the Caulfield Exchange program. Cadets, paraded on the roadway. The Club has always had a strong From the Archives The Governor of Victoria declared the environmental focus, hosting a Municipal bands Town of Caulfield for it was a Town, The Caulfield and Elsternwick to be a City, for it is now a City.” Honey Festival, a Bee Aware Town Band had a close connection Caulfield Historical Society Newsletter 22, Project and owning two beehives. with the original Elsternwick October 1983, pages 1–2. One is managed by members Faye Band founded in 1889 that played A number of bands have existed and Ian Kirkwood, who won first regularly in the Railway Reserve. in various forms since that time prize for Suburban Honey from around 100 entries in 2015. “ The Hopetoun Gardens first came and made themselves available into being through the combined for Council official functions. Further information is at efforts of Dr. Weigall, a member http://caulfieldrotary.org.au/ 10 Bonfire or Cracker Night rockets, and Catherine wheels to Rain, hail or shine, all the set off on cracker night. There neighbourhood would gather on by Richard Darke were strings of tom thumbs, the roads around the unlit bonfire When I was a child growing up halfpenny, penny and threepenny at about 7 pm. A couple of the in the 1950s and early 1960s, bungers and threepenny crackers. older residents lit the fire which we celebrated two bonfire or These were lethal and could blow usually took off very quickly with cracker nights. Empire Day on the door off a wooden letterbox! the flames reaching up licking the 24 May celebrated Queen They were really quite dangerous our guy, smoke and sparks flying, Victoria’s birthday, which later in the wrong hands and often the children whooping and shrieking became Commonwealth Day; Guy fathers would set these off for us. happily. Fawkes’ Night on the 5 November They were even known to blow It was now time for everybody commemorated the Gunpowder off small fingers if not let go of in Plot in which Guy Fawkes (1570– to start lighting their crackers time. A ban was later put on the and rockets. Whoosh! Whizzing 1606) and others conspired to sale of threepenny crackers. blow up the English Parliament rockets flew into the sky. and King James 1 during the Crackers and other fireworks opening of parliament on the 5 exploded everywhere, the smell November 1605. of gunpowder filled the air, it was exhilarating for this young As children, we recited the rhyme boy! Many people just threw Remember, remember the their fireworks straight into the 5th of November The gunpowder, treason and plot. bonfire, throwing up beautiful I know of no reason why the colours and patterns into the gunpowder treason night sky. Should ever be forgot! There was always one neighbour For a week or two before bonfire who called the fire brigade, night all the kids in our local fearing the sparks would settle streets around Mimosa Road in on their weatherboard house Carnegie gathered together after and burn it to the ground. This school or on the weekend prior never happened of course as with our homemade billycarts or conscientious neighbours kept old prams and jeeps to collect any a vigilant eye on the fire with old combustible materials from The Argus, 5 November 1954, page 7. buckets of water and garden the surrounding households. This Photo State Library of Victoria. hoses on standby. However, was used to build a huge bonfire We would buy our crackers from the fire truck arrived with bells on an overgrown, triangular bit of Coles variety stores or the local ringing, much to the delight of ground where Mimosa and Mile newsagent which seemed to be the children. The firemen usually End Roads diverged. It formed a the only businesses licensed to stayed and watched and joined in large traffic island which we all sell fireworks. Young children the fun, talking to residents and called The Patch. had to have a parent to buy accepting mugs of tea from ladies fireworks for them, but I can with thermoses. remember being able to buy them The very small children ran about myself when I was only 9 or 10 with sparklers glittering in their years old. hands as they waved them round We used to make a guy or effigy Mimosa and Mile End Roads today. and round in circles. Older kids Photo Carol Stals. of a man which was placed at the attached Catherine wheels to apex of our huge bonfire which fences and watched them spin We would collect tree branches could be as high as 12 feet (3.65 around throwing out rainbow and shrub offcuts, old cartons, metres) by about 8 feet (2.44 colours in all directions. wooden fruit boxes, newspapers, metres) wide at the base. The guy scrap timber, old paint cans By about 9 pm, our bonfire had would often be made from an old (no-one worried about toxic almost burnt down to the ground straw broom with a crosspiece chemicals in the atmosphere in and our guy had long since been nailed on for arms. It would those days) and empty petrol consumed by flames. Nearly be dressed in an old coat and or kerosene tins (they made a all the fireworks were used up, trousers stuffed with straw or wonderful explosion!) There was just the odd explosion here and paper, with a papier-mâché head one householder who saved all his there, then all was silent. People with a painted face attached. old car tyres for us. They burned started drifting home with tired Rope or hemp hair and an old hat fiercely for quite a long time. children. Some men stayed added the final touches. to douse the hot, smouldering Meanwhile, for a couple of weeks After much excited anticipation, embers with water, and it was all we had been saving our pocket the special night would arrive. over for about six months until money to buy crackers, sparklers, 11 next cracker night. noise, narrow paths between property for long, as he died in I couldn’t wait! ancient buildings and the November 1891. His wife was obsession of the followers were all bequeathed their home for life, very disturbing. Disappointingly, with power to dispose for her own More fireworks I did not get to see the chained use and any of his livestock. memories library but did learn the story of Advertising in 1898 shows us Margery Reed was born in St. Catherine. that Mrs Betsey Armstrong Ballarat in 1904 and moved with She was a highborn, educated of now Killearnan is involved her family to Caulfield in 1910. young woman from Alexandria in the raising of funds for the She later became Mrs Bromfield who converted to Christianity. Church Mission to the Chinese in and a member of the Caulfield She then converted many people Victoria. Historical Society. These are her and was eventually martyred recollections of bonfire night. Killearnan was being used for at the age of 18, being tied to a “On Bonfire Nights, we would all horse agistment, with horses Break Wheel and ignited. Her often coming from the stables at have lots of fun, collecting branches memory lives on in the fireworks from dead trees, and then have our Caulfield. Betsey and husband that gave me so much pleasure as own fire. Children from all around Alexander went upmarket in would come to our Bonfire, and we a child. 1911, taking the name Killearnan would have crackers, bung bungs, with them to their new residence Catherine wheels, tom thumbs, but Story of Whitmuir Hall in Torresdale Road, Toorak. most of all, laughter.” by Claire Barton By 1929, the subdivision of Caulfield Historical Society Newsletter ,23 Whitmuir Hall, the first and Killearnan had begun, 11 acres, April 1984, page 5. only grand mansion in the East Brighton area, now Bentleigh, 3 roods, 1.7 perches up for sale, Fireworks reflections was located in that part of the property boundaries being, Dendy’s Special Survey known as Whitmuir, Huntly and Thomas by Carol Stals Streets. However, land sales How exciting bonfire night Dendy’s Farm. were becoming difficult to achieve was for children. Initially, I The mansion was surrounded in 1930. The Killearnan Estate remember being allowed to select by 158 acres. The gardens had was considered one of Bentleigh’s some fireworks from a bag to be lovely marble statues and a better areas and the fine old home shared with my sisters; then came fountain which still remain (see that was central to it was later to the thrill of being old enough to photo below). become the site of the Bentleigh have money and able to select my Club. own. Not for me the loud Double Inside the home was a beautiful Bangers but I did love the little staircase and stained glass In 1931, Miss Crozier lived in bunch of Jumping Jacks and the windows, imported from Italy Thomas Street and there is now skyrockets. Best of all, I loved in the 1850s. Over many years, a Crozier Court, running off the Catherine wheels, which had Whitmuir Hall has undergone Whitmuir Road. She used the to be attached to a fence or a name changes and owners. grounds of Killearnan for spelling post by some responsible adult. The property changed hands from horses, some coming from Ron Sometimes they would be rogue Walter Adamson to Mrs Wallace Crozier's stable at Caulfield. and spin off the nail and whizz Dunlop. In 1861 she held a public Sources: Historical Society, away. sale of household furniture, oil Trove. About six years ago, I visited paintings, horses, cows, poultry, St. Catherine’s Monastery, an carriage, harness and carts, prior important, isolated and ancient to her departure for Europe. group of buildings in Egypt's The property continued to be Sinai Desert. I was very keen advertised for sale in 1863 and to see their chained library. 1864, and was later available for However, a huge surprise short-term leasing. awaited me. No calm and quiet In 1868, Hastings Cunningham scene for I knew it was a silent and family were in residence. order. Instead, this tiny walled By 1871, Whitmuir Hall is To monastery was full of very devout Let again, In 1880, Geelong people, mostly moving along the businessman Robert Grey Ford's narrow paths on their knees, name appeared as the new praying loudly. We were taken to owner of the property. One of see the Burning Bush which was his sons, Frederick, married being besieged by frantic people Mabel Sheppard, of the Ricketson Fountain and statue at the Bentleigh Club in climbing on top of each other to family, at Glen Eira in Kooyong 2016. Photo Geoffrey Paterson. get a twig. The heat, crowds, Road. Ford didn’t enjoy his 12 advertising and subscriptions. Book review While a motion to establish Anna Clark a library was passed, and an Private lives, public history executive committee formed, 1 Melbourne University Publishing, Carlton, 2016. nothing came of the matter . ISBN 9780522868951 Cr Kirkham who was Mayor of Caulfield at the time advised the Anna Clark – granddaughter of draws attention to the important ANA to expend the money on Australian historian Manning links forged by local historical improving the library at the Town Clark – has written a most societies with the members of Hall. However, the branch was interesting account of her their local communities who seek not in favour of this suggestion2. research using focus groups to answers to their own past and the identify how Australians process significance of the place in which It was to be nine years before their history. they were brought up. the question of establishing a mechanics’ institute and library Many of course will argue that A book to be commended. was again raised when in August history, meaning academic Reviewed by Neville Daynes 1906 the Elsternwick Progress history, does not interest them Association met with Premier and, it is true, that politicised Thomas Bent to request that the historical debate impacts only Elsternwick Mechanics’ Government give pound-for-pound at the edge on the average Institute and Free Library with the object of establishing a Australian. However, as Clark by Ken James local mechanics’ institute and free teases out in her discussions with The Glen Eira Historical Society library. The Association was led the various focus groups, the has a file containing four items by its chairman, MLA Mr R. F. average Australian is engaged relating to the Elsternwick Toucher, and introduced by Mr R. with history. Mechanics’ Institute and Free G. McCutcheson, MLA. However, Clark's research project Library. It includes two stock the Premier ‘flatly’ refused to reveals that collectively those certificates issued on 18 June consider the proposition and participating “maintain deep 1908 by the Melbourne branch stated that ‘he would not give a historical connections day by of the English Scottish and penny towards the object.’ Was day” while expressing “a distinct Australian Bank Limited and the money raised in support of lack of engagement with more typed letters from the Mechanics’ the project in 1897 and 1906 the formal national narratives”. For Institute and Free Library money used to purchase the two them, the past was important regarding shares dated 25 August stock certificates mentioned at as it related to their own lives 1930 and 10 February 1962. the start of these notes? While and communities. Only then However, no mechanics’ the Progress Association met with could links be made to events institute and free library ever the Caulfield Council in order and issues in the more formal existed! It would appear that to try and secure a suitable site historical narrative. the stock shares were monies for a building nothing came of In her study, Clark focuses on five raised between 1897 and 1906 the matter, probably because of links: Inheritance that includes in a movement to establish an the failure to secure government family history, Commemoration, Elsternwick Mechanics’ Institute monetary support3. Contest, Place, and Presence of and Free Library. 1 Brighton Southern Cross, 7 August 1897. the Past. She observes the great In early August 1897, a public 2 Brighton Southern Cross, 19 February 1910. 3 importance Inheritance and Place meeting held in the Elsternwick Brighton Southern Cross, 11 August 1906. are to indigenous Australians Hall to consider the formation and to a lesser extent to displaced of a public library was attended Coincidence! migrants from Europe and Asia. by about 20 persons, mostly In the area of Commemoration, by Andrea Casey members of the local branch My mother grew up in 353 Glen she traces increasing ownership of the Australian Natives of Gallipoli and Anzac Day by Eira Road, a 1920s house with Association (ANA). The meeting leadlight windows and traditional younger Australians since the was informed by speaker, Hugh 1980s. ceiling decorations. She had her R. Reid, that half the money from 21st birthday there in 1938. This book explores new ground just over £100 raised some years When she married and moved in historical methodology and earlier from the sale of the old fire out the house was sold. Imagine maps out an area for further brigade station in Glen Huntly my surprise when I visited my historical research. It also offers Road had been set aside for a primary schoolfriend’s home and insights for teachers of history library. A library building and found it was my mother’s former in our secondary schools who are books would cost an estimated home! It is still standing and in teaching the subject to junior £150 they would need to raise its original condition. secondary classes. Finally, it an additional £100 by means of