History News Issue.346 February 2020

HISTORY NEWS ISSUE.346 FEBRUARY 2020

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

President’s report History Victoria Support Group Weston Bate oration report Victorian Community History Talented and energetic: Ashley Awards Smith Holsworth Local Heritage Grants Windows on History Awards of Merit Castlemaine pioneers What’s on Smokers’ Nights History Month Book Fair If trees talked Books received Heritage report Around the societies A Hall of Fame

Windows on History The John Stanton Bell Window President’s

RHSV NEWS RHSV Report

This past summer has been a terrible Pankjaj Sirwani, who had replaced Amy face-to-face contact in 2019 with more one for all Australians, but especially Clay, while she was on maternity leave than one-hundred and fifty affiliated those in the line of fi re. Our great thanks in 2019. Amy has now decided not to societies and assisted more through forever to the tireless fi refi ghters and return, so we will soon be searching for phone and email contact. I recently their supportive families. Our members a replacement. Other farewell news is met members of some Mallee societies and member societies may have been that two councillors have stepped down at the launch at Ouyen of a book three directly aff ected and our best wishes go due to health concerns, Alleyne Hockley colleagues and I wrote, Mallee Country. to them. Chips Sowerwine has written in and Jim Dixon. We are saddened by the There, I was made more aware of the this issue about the heritage implications loss of RHSV members John Murphy of challenges of maintaining their important of these confl agrations. Leongatha HS, fi fty-six year membership, collections, and of succession planning in However, for the RHSV the year 2019 and former Victorian premier John Cain, remote historical societies, exacerbated was positive. Our financial position sixteen year membership. by declining rural town populations. ended strongly due to an increase In 2020 we aim to reaffi rm one of our Our work connecting to local societies in income, notably book and ticket strengths, our work for member societies. remains a vital part of our mission. sales and donations, and a decrease in I have recently written to the presidents Richard Broome expenditure due to careful management. and members of our 330 affiliates, The fi nal fi gures will reveal not a defi cit reiterating how the RHSV assists with for our operating budget as in 2018, their many challenges and our new but a modest surplus in operating costs initiatives to assist them. We aim to create for 2019. Our reserves and moneys set a scheme to allow most societies without aside for future use continue to remain DGR tax status to funnel donations very strong. These pleasing results are a for projects or equipment through the tribute to our Executive Offi cer, Rosemary RHSV. We aim to make grants to regional Cameron, our Treasurer Daniel Clements networks of historical societies, and to and the Executive & Finance Committee. hold a regional conference that will feed Our membership has grown somewhat, into a special rural issue of the VHJ. The our current level of activity is more vibrant RHSV is keen to reintroduce excursions with a new initiative among schools, to historical societies in 2020, a tradition and the spirit of our many volunteers is dating back fi fty years, which has lapsed remarkable. We celebrated a new batch in the past decade. This will allow local of more than fi fty members in 2019 and societies to display their treasures to Australia Emeritus Professor John Poynter’s 90th RHSV members. birthday. Our new book Melbourne’s I hope to visit societies in the city Twenty Decades is soon to break even and country as time permits, although Day 2020 within two months of publication and with three-hundred and thirty member we welcome its strong financial and societies it is a daunting task. The RHSV Honours List reputational contribution to the RHSV. together with our History Victoria Support Group has in one way or another had We farewelled our administrative offi cer We were thrilled to see, in this year’s Australia Day Honours, that six of our own were awarded Orders of Australia. We congratulate: History News • Our President, Emeritus History News is the bi-monthly newsletter of the RHSV ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA INC. Professor Richard Broome AM • Our Hon Secretary, Carole EDITOREDITOR SSharonharon BetridgeBetridge [email protected]@outlook.com PRESIDENT Richard Broome DESIGN & ARTWORARTWORKK CCentreforceentreforce PtPtyy Ltd 5975 8600 EXECUTIVE OFFICER Rosemary Cameron Woods OAM MARKETING CO-ORDINATOCO-ORDINATORR Jessica Scott ADMINISTRATION OFFICER PRINTED BYY First Class Mailing 9555 9997 Appointment pending • Our Victorian Historical Journal Items for publication should be sent to the Editor COLLECTIONS MANAGER & VOLUNTEER co-editor, Dr Judy Smart AM EMAIL [email protected]@outlook.com COORDINATOR Jillian HiscockHistory House HistorHistoryy News CCopyopy closes 16th: March, MaMay,y, JulJuly,y, SeptemberSeptember,, • A member of our Foundation November and January unless in consultation with the editor, SSharonharon committee, Emeritus Professor Betridge. RHRHSVSV welcomes submission ooff articles fforor inclusion in HistoryHistory 239 A’Beckett Street Melbourne 3000 News. Publication and editineditingg will be at the discretion ooff the editor and Offi ce & Library Hours: Monday to Friday John Fitzgerald AM tthehe Publications CCommitteeommittee as directed by our Terms of Reference. 9am to 5pm COVERCOVER WindowsWindows on History: The ‘‘JohnJohn SStantontanton Bell WindowWindow’,’, Phone: 9326 9288 • Our next exhibition’s curator, GGardenvaleardenvale St Stephens AnAnglicanglican CChurch,hurch, ‘Arm‘Armyy in OOurur ReRegion’,gion’, Website: www.historyvictoria.org.au Noel Jackling OAM M. Napier Waller 11951951 Email: offi [email protected] SSeeee page 8 ABN 36 520 675 471 Photo: SSusanusan KelletKellettt Registration No. A2529 • RHSV member, Peter Williams PRINT POST APPROVED PP336663/00011 ISSN 1326-2691326-269 OAM

2 RHSV NEWS FEBRUARY 2020 Attendance at any and all RHSV events

should be booked through our website: RHSV NEWS What’s www.historyvictoria.org.au/rhsv-events/ All events are held at RHSV, 239 A’Beckett St, Melbourne VIC 3000, unless otherwise stated. On Queries: offi [email protected] or (03) 9326 9288

EXHIBITION: THE SWAMP VANISHES one ships containing nearly 5000 bounty workshops (three Saturdays over three months) January to July 2020 migrants to the new settlement. A major which cover cataloguing and digitisation. This Curator: Lenore Frost shipowner of London, Marshall instigated series of workshops is progressive, starting reform of Lloyd’s Register of Shipping and with basic concepts and building in complexity. Before European settlers arrived in the Port established Britain’s first emigration depot Phillip district, a large wetland that lay between We have spaced the workshops so that at Plymouth, but today his contributions to the Yarra River and the Moonee Ponds Creek participants have time in which to put into the ship-owning and merchant worlds of the sustained the indigenous people and the practice their new skills before the next nineteenth century have been largely forgotten. cultural traditions of the Kulin nation. It was workshop. Participants need to bring their known by the new settlers as Batman’s Swamp, own lap-top. later West Melbourne Swamp. In less than LECTURE: WOMEN’S Some participants will want to book for the full 20 years that important wetland had been HISTORY MONTH series of 6 workshops and others will want to despoiled by European settlers, who turned LECTURE choose those individual workshops that are it into a receptacle for sewerage and rubbish. Tue 17 March 2020 most suitable for them. So, although the series By the end of the nineteenth century signifi cant Professor Lynette Russell is designed as a cohesive whole, the individual engineering works had changed the very shape 5:15pm drinks, launch and workshops also work as stand-alone training of the land. lecture at 6pm sessions. A feature of the land which had sustained $10 / $20 Aboriginal people for millennia prior to Lynette Russell AM is a SEMINAR: STARTING FAMILY HISTORY European settlement in 1835 became a Professor at the Monash Indigenous Studies 24 February 2020 refuge for the down-and-out during the 1930s Centre at Monash University. Professor Russell’s depression. ‘Reclamation’ works continued, focus is on developing an anthropological Presenters: Jenny Redman (current President) until the wetland is now represented by the approach to the story of the past. Her historical and David Down (immediate Past President) Dynon Road Tidal Canal, parallel to Dynon interests are far ranging - across the eighteenth 1:30–3pm Road, and a small Wildlife Reserve. to the twentieth centuries, from Aboriginal Genealogical Society Victoria, level 6, people in the maritime industry, to museums This exhibition traces how a signifi cant wetland 85 Queen Street, Melbourne vanished from sight. and museum collections, to the history of anthropology itself. $5 For her research achievements, Professor The Genealogical Society of Victoria off ers BOOK LAUNCH AND Russell has held the positions of President RHSV members and friends an introduction to LECTURE: JOHN and Vice President of the Australian Historical the resources and skills needed to immerse MARSHALL AND Association and was elected Fellow to the Royal yourself in family history. BOUNTY MIGRATION Historical Society in 2012 and Fellow to the For anyone contemplating researching their TO PORT PHILLIP Academy of Social Sciences of Australia in 2013. family this event is key. It is also of great interest Tuesday 18 February 2020 for those undertaking more general research 5:15pm drinks, launch and GIPPSLAND as family research skills and resources can be lecture at 6pm WORKSHOPS: used to create histories for any characters, not just your family. As we all know family research Free event SOPHIE SHILLING ON CATALOGUING AND is more than births, deaths and marriages and Emeritus Professor Graeme Davison AO, Chair DIGITISATION good research skills and resources are needed of the ‘History Council of Victoria’, will launch Dr to put fl esh on bones. Topics to be covered: Liz Rushen’s book, John Marshall: Shipowner, Saturday 15 February, • Introduction to the GSV Lloyd’s reformer and emigration agent. Saturday 21 March, Saturday 18 April 2020 • Starting family history After the launch, Dr Rushen will deliver a 9:30am – 12:30pm / paper which explores the significant role • DNA 1:30pm – 4:30pm John Marshall played in the white settlement • ending with Q&A. of the Port Phillip District. When Port Phillip Federation University Gippsland Campus was fi rst opened up for settlement, Marshall Library, Northways Road, Churchill, VIC. was Britain’s most active emigration agent: $30 / $45 each or $150/$225 for series of 6 in the three years 1839-1841, he sent twenty- The RHSV is offering a series of 6 linked

History Month 1–31 October 2020

As a reﬂ ection of its success, History Week Some great resources are available to https://www.history.org.au/wp-content/ will, in 2020, become History Month for the help you plan an event with your local uploads/2018/12/Local-History-and- whole of October each year. school and many of these ideas are also Schools-Curriculum-FAHS.pdf Start planning your events now. The relevant for your local library. Your events https://www.htav.asn.au/curriculum/ website will be operational in March and don’t have to be complicated but it is a history-week the earlier you upload your events, the great opportunity to interact with your local more we can publicise them. community and to attract new members.

RHSV NEWS FEBRUARY 2020 3 If Trees Talked: a River Red Gum RHSV NEWS RHSV Guards your Journey

Aboriginal people believe that anything This is because the gardeners at Heide The Heide River Gum is however, no with a form or a shape has a spirit of its regularly soak its root system and trim ordinary common-or-garden Scarred own. You only have to stand in front of any dead wood. Marker Tree. It in fact marks the junction of the massive fi ve-hundred year old River The height of the scar on the south-east Songlines going in fi ve diff erent directions. Red Gum at Heide Museum of Modern side is about four metres. The width of First leads west over the river ford near Art in Bulleen, to know this is true. It was the original cut has been reduced by the the Heidelberg Bridge, then splits off to obvious to the earliest settlers in this area bark slowly growing back over the scar. Songlines along today’s Greensborough from the 1840’s that this was a special However, about half-way up, you can Road, Bell Street and Heidelberg Road. tree, not just because it was scarred see by the way the tree branches grow Second leads south past Bolin-Bolin by a canoe having been cut from it, but laterally, that its growth was interrupted. Billabong and on to meet the Doncaster because local Aboriginal people also This was probably caused by a lightning Road-High Street Songline. Third heads once congregated there. strike about 200 years ago. When this south-east along Manningham Road to The land on which the tree stands was happens, the sap instantly boils and the Shoppingtown were it joins the Doncaster eventually bought by artists John and tree explodes as if hit by a bomb. Road-Mitcham Road Songline. Fourth heads east along the high fl oodline route Sunday Reed in 1934. They opened up This is however no ordinary canoe tree. It of Templestowe Road. Fifth follows the their home to like-minded artists such is also a ‘Songline Marker Tree’. In other meandering northeast course along the as Sidney Nolan, Albert Tucker and Joy words, it is a silent sentinel that marks a south side of the Yarra from Melbourne Hester, and this gave birth to the present traditional Aboriginal travel route. These to Healesville. day Museum of Modern Art ‘Heide’. This routes are called ‘Songlines’ because just stately tree stands in Heide’s upper car like the GPS in your car, Aboriginal people In October 2013 a special ceremony was park at 7 Templestowe Road in Bulleen. composed songs recounting the various held at which Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Bill Standing at the tree you can see that natural and man-made landmarks, so they Nicholson named the tree ‘Yingabeal’. a couple of hundred years ago, a four could fi nd their way, even in unfamiliar The name is drawn from the Woiwurrung metre length of bark was harvested territory. Just as when you travel overseas words ‘Yinga’ meaning sing and ‘Beal’ to make a canoe. The precise year this to another country you wouldn’t think to meaning River Red Gum. So together, was done can’t be determined, the go without your passport, neither would it means the ‘River Red Gum Songline month certainly can. In the ninth lunar Aboriginal people, and the song was in Marker Tree’ at Heide. month, which occupies all of August, fact your passport to safe travel. Dr. Jim Poulter the sap starts to rise in trees. This The longest known Songline stretches means they give up their bark more 3,500 kilometres from Uluru to Byron easily, so August is the Aboriginal Bark Bay. It was also celestially coded into the Harvest Season. This also precedes constellation movements and would have the October rains and the annual taken over four months to complete one fl ooding along the Yarra Valley; so, way. The reason why such trips would be this is when new canoes were needed. made is simple. People from Byron Bay Harvesting bark in August also gave the wanted to see the Sacred Rock and the tree the greatest chance of survival, so people from Uluru wanted to see the sea. it could begin healing before the heat of Marker Trees come in four types: Scarred, summer. These scars are almost always Ring, Arched or Spiral. Yingabeal is a good on the south-east side, which was also a example of a Scarred Marker Tree. A Ring deliberate strategy to ensure the tree’s Marker Tree is where two branches are survival. Most of the heat of the day in tied or spliced so they fuse and leave a summer is from the north and west, whilst hole like the eye of a needle. An Arched the desiccating winds are from the south- Marker Tree is where two saplings are west and north-west. It is after all, just fused to grow from two trunks into a single common decency to protect the spirit of trunk. Such trees usually mark a birthing the tree, especially when it has just given spot. A Spiral Marker Tree is a genetic birth to the spirit of a canoe. freak where about one in every 20,000 Since the Upper Yarra Dam was built in trees grow with a spiral grain. These 1956, the Yarra rarely fl oods nowadays ‘corkscrew trees’ were only allowed to and Red River Gums suffer from not grow on Songlines, and because they having their feet wet each spring, but were useless for timber, settlers rarely cut ‘Yingabeal - Heide Scar Tree’ by Sonia Hankova (2018) http://sonhank.com/ this tree is in obvious good health and them down, so they can often still be seen education/heide-sustainability-art-trail/ houses colonies of birds and bees. along our highways. indigenous-stories/yingabeal-heide-scar-tree/

4 RHSV NEWS FEBRUARY 2020 RHSV NEWS 5 re re threatens. back-up and where back-up regardingre seasons FEBRUARY 2020 FEBRUARY re. cers and members have an up to RHSV NEWS NEWS RHSV ering, our work of safeguarding the Stony Creek Trestle Bridge, Nowa Bridge, Nowa Trestle Creek Stony now partially Nowa, Vic., October 2019, destroyed by fi Hiscock, RHSV. Photo by Peter services to utilities? What about archives and other records? They can be digitised and apps for collection management offer some track of security of at least keeping holdings, but is there a church has received a grant of $110,000: a grant of $110,000: church has received https://www.grants.gov.au/?event=public. GA.show&GAUUID=AEAE2A84-EDF5- 81A2-66F680A6F96B8C41. be learned from theAre there lessons to more intense fi new, plans for local disaster management their collections? historical museums and volunteers mayIt will be tough because be too busy defending their own homes buildings and as well as the society’s collections, but it is important to consider if fi what steps can be taken Do offi date list of emergency contacts, from fi is it stored? Societies may need to ensure and, on the cloud that there is back-up perhaps a separate hard drive stored out of the local area. The RHSV would be prepared to store these in our armoury if societies desired. In the face of the national tragedy we are suff past to inform the future is more important The more a community has lost, than ever. the more important its past becomes. work together to continue helping Let’s people understand the stories of their communities. Charles Sowerwine, Heritage Committee. Chair, ‘Blue ‘Blue useful ers ers ict or natural re prevention nd new ones. fi ort to res remind us, however, that res remind us, however, res. Many will, like Marysville, want Marysville, res. Many will, like res are as big a threat as terrorism, In the longer term, we need to refl ect ect we need to refl In the longer term, to protect heritageon what can we do and artefacts. The buildings, archives Historical ‘Federation of Australian which the RHSV of (FAHS), Societies’, collaborates with is a member, part (BSA), Shield Australia’ of the international Blue Shield, which works cultural heritage to protect the world’s in the face of armed confl offers BSA Here in Australia, disaster. advice on disaster preparedness plans and resources. Their web site off to call on people outside their area acrossto call on people outside The RHSV standsthe state and beyond. calls. Whileready to help with state-wide we be lost forever, particular artefacts may eff every will make bushfi what matters is what we do on the ground. once the immediate in the year, Later danger from bushfires has passed, the RHSV will be seeking information from all member societies as to what they have done and what they want to do to preserve their buildings and collections. Are there any fi bigger perhaps in the bush. As reported the 18 March last year, in The Age, Commonwealth allocated $55 million in at community grants for security upgrades synagogues, temples mosques, churches, and religious schools after the Christchurch terrorist attack; the Prime own Minister’s links for groups coping with losses afterlinks disaster as well as on prevention: https:// blueshieldaustralia.org.au/resources/. also runs an annual ‘MayDay BSA promoting disaster planningCampaign’ and awareness amongst archives, libraries, museums, heritage places, historical societies and similar organisations. To is coincide with this campaign, the FAHS preparing a project on time capsules to raise awareness of the need to protect will be made An announcement heritage. at the start of February. The bushfi measures that can be put in place? The installation of rooftop sprinklers, may be considered. What for example, other possibilities should be considered? the RHSV member societies like Would to campaign actively for Commonwealth The support for such safety precautions? bushfi res, the ected by the current ort to build up a new one. res and is unlikely to stand res and is unlikely res are a continuing nationalres are a continuing

new items had to come fromre, remainedected, only 25 buildings

ce Victoria all searched out information er support and assistance to memberer support orts and this widespread support, the ex-residents and family members living ex-residents outside the district as well as tourists who had spent time in the town. The Society reached these people through mainstream media, automobile clubs and magazines. The State and seniors’ National Libraries and the Public Record Offi The RHSV helped by providingto help. to theirdigital copies of records. Thanks eff Marysville Society built a new collection that helps them continue to tell the story of their community. for local This could be an example historical societies aff societies as they seek to rebuild and societies as they seek to rebuild and will be doing our best to make We restore. sure that claims against RHSV insurance for historical societies are settled quickly and fully. If a collection, or part of a collection, is lost, it may be possible to build a new one through a public appeal for materials. In the 2009 Black Saturday bush fi much longer. By the time this article By the time this article much longer. appears, we will know of other tragic losses. Updates are being provided by the Gippsland History Public Group excellent Facebook page: https://www.facebook. com/groups/1755971574632862/ permalink/2682664761963534/. Such losses can include both built heritage and collections amassed by local historical societies. The RHSV stands ready to off ‘Marysville & District Historical Society’ tragically lost all its collection. They put in a great eff Since nearly all residents of Marysville were aff after the fi The bush fi by the loss Our hearts are torn tragedy. too is Heritage of lives and property. is irreplaceable. being lost and it too we have lost theAlready we know that Museum, lovely Genoa Schoolhouse Historical Society’, ‘Mallacoota and District railway trestle and several important Another is the Stony bridges in Gippsland. Built in 1916, it is or Bridge. Creek Trestle was the longest railway trestle bridge in Victoria at two-hundred and forty-seven structurally metres. It was weakened before the fi Bush Fires and Bush Heritage Bush and Fires Bush Heritage Report: Heritage RHSVRHRHSVV NNEWSEWEWS 6 Heath (1867-1948) and built by ‘Cockram by ‘Cockram built and (1867-1948) Heath local prominent by designed was complex 1922 The Street cottages. Bell two and 1876, in extended was and offi municipal and courtroom wooden and Town Hall alsoThe new double storey purpose-built replaced hall. municipal the remained astructure bluestone this 1912, aTown and September in 1905 January in aBorough proclaimed was from the prison stockade. When Coburg 1870 to diff municipal area name change in March a following hall public Shire Coburg the became It 1875. after disbandment their Rifl Volunteer Pentridge the for hall adrill as served originally which 1909, in extended and 1869 in built hall, awooden 1837. replaced Today’s hall first surveyed Reserve: Village Pentridge hectare two by Robert thirty- and Hoddle one-hundred the on located in hall first the not was However, this 2019. in birthday 96th its celebrated has 1922, in city a so as and 1923 in opened and completed Coburg of proclamation the tocelebrate built ‘Taj was it Mahal,’ the nicknamed Locally entrance. front central its above dome concrete false ‘Lutyensesque’ unique the (c1922) and dominatedsetback, by English two oaks awith spacious Bell Street landscaped Coburg has an Interwar Town Hall, The Coburg Taj Mahal A Hall of Fame: ce building, which opened in 1867 RHSV NEWS erentiate the area’s settlers area’s settlers the erentiate architect Charles Robert Charlesarchitect Robert FEBRUARY 2020 e Corps until until e Corps Hall was used for a marathon dance dance a marathon for used was Hall 1930s economic depression. The Town and families struggling during the unemployed the for vegetables buy and loan building the back topay money the used Council The shown. tobe ‘talkies’ June 1930 boughtof equipment silent movies to showing the Town for the allow Hall out rented twice weekly Council the 1929 In Town the Hall. in and in yearly fl oral displays and competitions twice held Society Horticultural Coburg popular the 1930s, and 1920s the In décor. Deco Art its included tohave believed are alterations an additional four hundred people. These main hall balcony able to accommodate space,hall, library foyer, lounges and supper a with or larger concert northern 1928 in enlarged was complex The 1956. it remained in front of the Town Hall until and 1924 in outside acenotaph erected entrance and adjacent offi separate with 1918, from dates which aclub, for room ex-serviceman’s front a was There above. room committee asecond with 1983, until corner, east south its in library asmall and above rooms councillors’ and chamber council the with side, western its on Offices Municipal hall, banquet eastern smaller and hall alarge show plans 1922 Its Viceroy’s 1920s. the of Delhi New in Lutyen’s house by inspired been have to believed was dome Its Cooper’. and ce. The RSL RSL The ce.

boys and girls’ schools’primary balls, annual church night Town Hall dances, annual local Saturday were there War II, World After JHawke. Robert Wills, for MP the 1988 exhibition was opened by the 1990; and 1989 1988, in exhibitions art craft art, an with mayor 1976, mid in display historical and festivals the of revivals limited more organized clubs Rotary Vale Pascoe later and Coburg 1960s. early the until continued which 1945, suburban Theatre National branch in ﬁ the toform ameeting for Victorian rst venue the been also had It quests. talent and lectures exhibitions, art comedies, musical recitals, operas, plays, concerts, for venue main the Town was The Hall believed to be the ﬁ inrst Melbourne. Festivals, Arts annual organised Council Coburg the municipality, working-class 8, to increase pride in their northern 1946- in after and citizens its up cheer to years, War II World later the During 1936. until 1931 from Balls debutante and Mayoral annual the of suspension the for depression years. This was the reason of residents singingcommunity to the spirits “doing uplift it regular tough” for and 1931 April in competition in the administered by the Council’s health staff inoculations public mass of aplace was it 1980s, and 1950s the Between teachers. elocution and music local some of pupils for nights award and recitals and gymnasium club gymnasium displays 2019 photographer, November Right: M.Moore, St [c1920-1954] Vic., Rose Stereograph Co. Left: Town Hall,Coburg, ate LibraryVictoria .

RHSV NEWS 7

FEBRUARY 2020 FEBRUARY . RHSV NEWS NEWS RHSV A talented talented A energetic & volunteer Socials’ is included in this edition of Socials’ History News Ashley is always prepared to go mile with his research. For the extra Meng when doing the Kong example, Ashley travelled to South article, a photograph of the Melbourne to take Meng lived in. house Kong the time of writing he is migrating At the catalogue records of photographs of people into our main database and at the same time researching the subjects to add more information he brings knowledge all these tasks To he gained when he did his Masters of and Masters of Professional Writing at Deakin University. Cultural Studies Ashley is also able to use these skills in volunteer work he has done with and at the Southern the National Trust Historical Society. Sherbrooke Jillian Hiscock Collections Manager and RHSV, Coordinator Volunteer lling year for all. d about the Ashley Smith has been with us as a volunteer since about 2016. In this to the Ashley is standing next picture, This was a ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’. he curate small exhibition history of Victorian Football League history of Victorian Football League using Football League come Australian material from our collection and a few pieces he negotiated the loan from the Ephemera Society of Victoria. The RHSV collection is being enriched by Ashley through his manuscript accessioning and descriptions, reference enquiry research, research for the RHSV Olympic Games and writing articles for the exhibition George Coppin andRHSV website. the Cremorne Gardens, the life of Kong Meng and Victorian social life are the research topics of some of Ashley’s Night ‘Smoke and writing. His article, This is a very short article, as I have had to resign due to ill health. as I have had to resign This is a very short article, sincere appreciation for all the best my to express I would like I have received in recent weeks. wishes and kind thoughts since its inauguration in 2004. of HVSG I have been a member have had the privilege to work with manyDuring that period, I I would people. and knowledgeable dedicated, experienced and all to those members, say my personal thanks to now like have had the pleasure to work with, andhistorical societies I best for the future.wish everyone all the May 2020 be a rewarding and fulﬁ Alleyne Hockley History Victoria Victoria History Support Group

ces were were ces ce extension opened threatened with demolition but saved by by saved but demolition with threatened 1960s. late the from protests resident There was an offi in early 1983 and a redevelopment after the formation of Moreland City Council in 1998. When the elected Council was suspended in 1994, and State Government appointed Commissioners Before a school hall was constructed at the municipality’s first High school, opposite Hall Town the High, Coburg was used for speech nights, ‘scripture’, movie assemblies, school Monday stage productions, concerts, events, ‘Education Week’ display nights and the annual ANZAC and Remembrance Day services. Newlands High also used Hallthe for Town assemblies before until 1979 built. From was hall their a provided it amalgamations, Council venue for annual Christmas concerts Seniors. The Coburg for lunches and hall was thehome of the Coburg RSL 1990s commercial and dance dinner provided and performances choral space required for large local secondary the in ceremonies graduation school 2000s. offi and building Hall Town The administered the new City of Moreland, of Cities former the of amalgamation an Coburg, Brunswick and the southern section of Broadmeadows, community advisory successfully members panel argued for the retention of the centrally located Coburg Hall with its large population. larger capacity a for Since 1996, every City of Moreland annual Mayoral ceremonial meeting has been held at the Coburg Public Hall. Hall Theis Town still used for other special Moreland Council civic occasions: the 2016 celebration of life rst Mike Mayor, Hill, the for Moreland’s ﬁ democratically elected local of return celebrations, milestone government annual Moreland Council award nights, featuring orations Blackburn regular prominent guest speakers, citizenship community ethnic and ceremonies Organ Theatre The dances. and lunches Society of Australia installed a Christie Theatre Pipe Organ under its stage in 2000. In this user paysfor weekend markets era, and other events. it is hired out HallOur remains Town an important civic and community focus, not only for Coburg but now for the whole Moreland municipality. Moore, Marilyn Society Historical Coburg RHSV NEWS RHSV

Windows on History: The ‘John Stanton Bell Window’, St Stephen’s John Stanton Bell, c1939. Warriors’ Chapel, St Stephen’s, Gardenvale. Anglican Church, Kellett, Susan Elizabeth Mary, RN ‘Australia’s Martial Madonna: the army Gardenvale nurse’s commemoration in stained glass windows (1919-1951)’ Stained glass is traditionally associated donated two of the chapel’s six stained charges past a body slung over four with biblical fi gures rather than military glass windows. strands of barbed wire and into battle at commemoration. During World War St Stephen’s was designed by Melbourne Bullecourt in May 1917. Waller based this I (WWI), memorial windows donated ecclesiastical architect Louis Williams, scene on his own terrible experience. in memory of lost soldier-sons found who remained in touch with the parish The explosion shown behind him drove acceptance in churches across the nation after the church was completed in 1929. a round into the artist’s right shoulder and then, from the 1920s, images of His preference for professional artists over and ultimately cost him his arm several Australian servicemen began appearing commercial companies for the design days later. Waller subsequently taught in commemorative glass. These windows and production of stained glass in his himself to paint again using his left hand. fulfi lled the same purpose as a public churches led to the recommendation of He was exhibiting within 12 months war memorial: a place for individuals, Napier or Christian Waller when a patron of his repatriation with some of his families or congregations to gather to could afford the couple’s higher fees. works entering the collections of State mourn their loss and reflect upon the Waller, a graduate of the National Gallery and National Galleries. Waller’s heroic memory of the fallen. This religious Art School, Melbourne, and a veteran return to artistic competency rapidly tradition continued after World War II of WWI, specialised in murals, stained became part of his defi ning and enduring (WWII) and, at St Stephen’s Anglican glass and mosaic. Major commissions in narrative. However, it barely addresses Church, Gardenvale, the ‘John Stanton Melbourne and interstate had earned him the considerable impact the trauma Bell Window’ appears as one of six a reputation as one of the county’s leading stamped on his personal life. His was windows that depicted secular themes architectural artists. Waller was in the fi nal a struggle that continued to play out in in its commemorative Warriors’ Chapel. stages of completing the windows for countless homes across Australia as Showing service personnel from both the Hall of Memory, the Australian War servicemen, nurses and, in latter wars, World Wars, this window’s representation Memorial, Canberra, when he accepted servicewomen, transitioned back to of loss remains as meaningful today as the Gardenvale commission in early 1950. civilian life while haunted by memories when Melbourne artist, M. Napier Waller, of their service. Like a public war memorial, the ‘John conceived it nearly seventy years ago. Stanton Bell Window’ privileged sacrifi ce For many thousands of returned John Stanton Bell was 22 years old when as death on a distant battlefield. The servicemen, the loss that service infl icted he was killed during the battle of Tarakan upper half of the Window shows ‘a Papuan went unrecognised and was broadly in May 1945. His father Tom, a veteran of supporting a wounded Australian in New omitted from Australia’s commemorative the Gallipoli campaign, channelled his Guinea’. The artist used John Bell as the tradition. By using his experience on the grief into creating a fi tting memorial for model for this panel. He is shown with Western Front to inform his art, Waller his only child. With the vicar’s support, his hand over his heart in a fi nal gesture quietly nuanced sacrifi ce to acknowledge Bell worked tirelessly to transform existing of patriotism as a “Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel” a population of service personnel that is space within St Stephen’s into a Warriors’ lowers him to the ground. John’s parents only today emerging within the nation’s Chapel. He fi nanced the carved panelling would have taken comfort from their son’s commemorative agenda: those physically, separating the chapel from the main body fl awless appearance and the illusion that, medically and/or emotionally wounded of the church; paid for the vellum book in his fi nal moments, their son did not die by their service. Warfare has evolved of remembrance and its illumination with alone. Until her own death two decades considerably in the seven decades the names of those from the parish who later, Agnes Bell sat in the pew beside since Waller conceived and painted the served in both confl icts; carved unit colour John’s window taking solace in the light ‘John Stanton Bell Window’: his message patches onto the ends of the chapel’s his window shed upon her. remains just as relevant. pews and involved himself in all aspects In the lower half of the window, with face LEST WE FORGET of the furnishing and fi t-out. Bell even set in grim determination, an artilleryman Dr Susan E M Kellett grew white gladiolus for its altar and

8 RHSV NEWS FEBRUARY 2020 RHSV NEWS 9 cially on 1 1 on cially FEBRUARY 2020 FEBRUARY 1893 from Castlemaine ti, 1996. Available RHSV NEWS NEWS RHSV Main: The Old Telegraph Station, built built Station, Main: The Old Telegraph in 1856 and opened offi has been the home of the January 1857, ‘Castlemaine Pioneers & Old Residents’ Association’ since Above: Castlemaine Association of of Records Pioneers and Old Residents, the Castlemaine Pioneers, Castlemaine, Graffi Association. and Old Residents ld ld cially on 1 January 1857. The building, and the land January 1857. it stands on, was granted to the P&ORA on 22 December 1893. the form of Their celebrations will take a special meeting on the 19 March and a four day Historical Exhibition in the 19 Hall: Thursday Castlemaine Town March-Sunday 22 March, 10am-4pm, gold coin entry. is the theme of the exhibition: ‘Transport’ rst passed from when Major Mitchell ﬁ through the Castlemaine area, 29 September 1836, up until the present will cover some The exhibition day. of the sailing ships that brought the early settlers to our shores. It will also include the journey from Melbourne and go Geelong to the Mount Alexander The Old Telegraph Station at 208 Barker at 208 Barker Station The Old Telegraph It was Castlemaine is their home. Street, built in 1856 and opened offi some on foot pushing a wheel elds; ﬁ beside a horse others walking barrow, or bullock drawn wagon, while a few travelled in style in a stage coach.

ort to establish a legacy for a legacy for ort to establish 140 Years: Congratulations 140 Years: and Celebrations ’ as past members were reluctant ’ as past members were reluctant future generations. to throw anything out. was Until the late 1980s the P&ORA orientated toward helping to improve These days their members their society. are spending time sorting, digitising, cataloguing and storing their collection in an eff We congratulate the Castlemaine congratulate the Castlemaine We Association, Pioneers & Old Residents’ will celebrate 140 years which (P&ORA), of collecting, preserving, protecting historic and promoting Castlemaine’s memorabilia in March 2020. held its first meeting The P&ORA on 17 March 1880 following some informal meetings amongst like-minded to form an gentlemen who were keen organisation to support one another in times of need and to enhance the society they lived in. One of the early rules states ‘that the preserve organisation will collect, store, local history’. and promote the area’s is not a Historical Society as The P&ORA such, but they do own a lot of historical ‘stuff RHSV NEWS 10 that time. It might be inferred that these that time. Itmightbeinferred thatthese to theclaypipesthatweresmoked at and smoke theirclay’:the‘clay’referring these mencouldcongregateto ‘moisten As explained in an the opportunitytorelaxawayfrom home. club providedthemenofelite society clubs suchastheMelbourneClub. This away fromfemaleeyes,weregentlemen’s gatherings, thatallowedmentosmoke One oftheearliestformssocial ‘insult alady’bysmokinginherpresence. etiquette, as menwereencouragedtonot of thesexes wascommonsmoking in Australia Under Fire:AHistoryofTobacco Smoking women inpolitesociety. Robin Walker, in was abehaviournotencouragedamong masculine identity. At thattimesmoking in Australia ithadbecomeassociatedwith smoking wasseenasagentleman’s habit; events arehazy. InVictorian-eraEngland, the airofthesenights,originssuch Like thesmoke thatperhapspermeated culture wasverydiff reﬂ to aformaldinner. Theseeventsalso smoke attheirleisure, aswellsitdown by organisationswhereeveryonecould events wereessentiallyget-togethersrun Also knownasthe‘smoke social’, these twentieth century, was thesmoke night. A commonsocialeventupuntilthemid- Socials Smoke Night ect atimewhenAustralia’s smoking RHSV NEWS , highlights that this separation , highlightsthatthisseparation erent totoday. FEBRUARY 2020 Age article of 1855, articleof1855,

In 1875 were knownas‘Gentlemen’s Nights’. but itislikely thattheearliestexamples became moreformalaff The exact timingofwhensmoke nights versions ofthesmoke night. mens’ gatheringswereearly, butinformal, in sight. in sight. reinforces thissentiment,withno women 1952 photoofaMeterShopsmoke night in Pyalongwasameetingofsixty men.A social eventatthethennewly builthall dominated events.Forexample, a1939 ‘smoke events’ continuedtobemale- women weresmokinginAustralia. But, By 1950, 70%ofadultmenand30% women joinedtheranks ofthesmokers. During thetwentiethcenturyslowly a selectionfor“Smoke night”’. rendition ofaLizstcompositionas‘hardly theatre, at one-pointdisapprovingofthe only eventatMelbourne’s Athenaeum the Liedertafelrunningagentlemen- Times entertainment. Anarticlein pianist andthechoironstageprovide smoking pipesandsharingdrinks asa text showsanall-maleaudience, many group. Anengravingaccompanyingthe by theMelbourneLiedertafel,achoral music inMelbourne’withaperformance the ‘greatincreaseincultivationof reported onaneventthatisevidenceof onNovember13th1880reports The IllustratedAdelaideNews airs isnotclear, The Weekly

from be heldtohonourawoman.Anarticle exceptions whenasmoke nightwould However, sometimestherewouldberare credited forsupplyingrefreshments. Men’s Societyreportingthat‘ladies’ were Herald were reducedtocatering,witha1913 duties. Often,atsocialevents,women the time, women’s roleswereindomestic gender rolesandthepatriarchalnormsof at theseeventsmayalsorelatetothe It shouldbenotedthatthelackofwomen depending on who was hosting the event. depending onwho washostingtheevent. However, thepurposewould vary and betreatedtomusicalperformances. on organisationactivities,provide toasts the organisationwouldprovide speeches smoking andadinner, key membersof appear tooff Onthesurface, manyoftheseevents participate. in thecommunity, couldbeallowedto that women,oratleastthoserespected made aspeech,itdoesatleastshow toasting andnoindicationthatFreemantle patriarchal norms,withthemendoing article doesimplyareinforcementof a triptoWestern Australia. Whilstthe in Windsor, whohadjustreturnedfrom the proprietressofAdelaideHotel the homecomingforaMrsFreemantle, reports aSmoke Nightthatcelebrated article224358398 (p. 13)http://nla.gov.au/nla.news- (1875). TheIllustratedAdelaideNews ‘MetropolitanLiedertafel,Melbourne’ The MalvernStandard article on the Church of England articleontheChurchofEngland er little variation. Along with er littlevariation.Alongwith in1908 RHSVSOCIETIES NEWS 11 FEBRUARY 2020 FEBRUARY ects of smoking. RHSV NEWS NEWS RHSV songs such as ‘Waltzing Matilda’. Matilda’. songs such as ‘Waltzing have changed toward smoking Attitudes the past. nights are a thing of and smoke adverse impact between smoking’s Links ratheron health began in the 1930s. So, today smoking than being a social activity, at most social events is considered anti-social. The activity is restricted by legislation in public areas, there are bans on tobacco advertising and in our schools we teach young people about the detrimental eff Ashley Smith by Terri Mackenzie by Terri ‘Centenary smoke night’ [A program with ‘Centenary smoke night’ [A program with separate invitation to a centenary Smoke Night hosted by The Old Melburnians of Melbourne Church of England Grammar collection School on June 27th 1958] RHSV [email protected] ce bearers Society of Indexers [email protected] Enhance your next book with an Index Professional Back of Book Indexer Member of Australian and New Zealand Member of , records a Smoke Social that was , records a Smoke Honorary Victorian Historical Journal Indexer Honorary Victorian Australia held by their organisation at Camberwell to Sometimes such events were in 1919. The bring up issues dear to the community. shows the participants Pyalong example discussing the Hall itself and whether the government should allocate money to the local highway. The RHSV collection includes a range of dated 1938, night invitations. One, smoke promotes the 20th anniversary of the 8th Battalion; it reviewed activities of the previous year and elected offi for the year ahead. Another is evidence Social’ run by the Melbourne of a ‘Smoke Grammar School in 1958, to celebrate its where attendees sang 100th anniversary, lobal g books books y Advance book fair is and is y y recorded how recorded how ) air broadl ear. Please contact the ear. y y d supper invitation - d supper invitation - k F ce if you’d like your surplus ce if you’d like ce if you’d like your surplus ce if you’d like hout the g Fitzroy City Press oo ur second-hand histor RHSV offi collected. (History is history books interpreted ver – not just Victoria. Book Fair B Our second-hand history book fair isO planned for November and we happilyplanned for November and we happily collect donations of histor collect donations of history books Please contact the throu throughout the year. RHSV offi collected. (History is history books interpreted very broadly and is global – not just Victoria.) ‘Smoke night an American Fleet visit.’ (1938) American Fleet visit.’ collection RHSV For some, it was a celebratory event. In it was a celebratory For some, 1897 the such an event was put on in the aftermath of the local elections, which congratulated the successful candidates and ‘the unsuccessful time’. one told to hope for better results next nights to Sports clubs would run smoke celebrate recent success, as was the case for the Camperdown football club in 1914, with various people toasting the players and members that won them the ‘shield’ that year. nights recognized a Sometimes smoke massive milestone or reunion. Other times the events were organised to introduce The Australian new or promoted staff. Natives Association magazine, SOCIETIESBOOKS 12 lives together. and illustrationsthatdefi which aredelightfullywoventhe recipes family andaculturalhistoryof a city, into avante-garde. Thisisbothahistory of as theybecameafocusofthe creative championship ofmodernartand culture through Mirka’s own paintings andtheir their cafesandrestaurants,fineart synonymous withgoodfoodthrough Melbourne off vivre theveryblankcanvasof1950s escaped wastoembracewithjoiede response totheHolocausttheyhad the culinaryandartisticlandscape. Their of energythathadbeenabsentfrom brought withthemfromEuropealevel would become, ifatfirstslowly. They world thatpost-World War IIAustralia Georges Moraembodiedthebravenew ISBN 9780522873300. Mirkaand Publishing, Melbourne, 2019, pp. i-230, Carlton, 2018,Australian Scholarly Kendrah Morgan,MiegunyahPress, Mirka &Georges. Traditional Aboriginal LandUse Toward theMunicipalMappingof animals, birdsandfi the gulliesandfosteringhabitattosuit seed production,myrnongplantingsin permaculture farming,centredaround for whatwouldnowbedescribedas The paperpointstotheuseofland described beforeEuropeanoccupation. section oftheYarra River, usingpatterns in theManninghammunicipalityalonga map thelandusebyAboriginalpeople In thisshortpaper, JimPoulter setsoutto 1-12, ISBN9780949196347. Poulter, Red Hen,Melbourne, 2019, pp. BySchauble John Books Received RHSV NEWS ered. Their names became ered. Theirnamesbecame Lesley Hardingand shusedforfood. FEBRUARY 2020 ned theMoras’ . Jim Victorian HistoricalMagazine RHSV in1909andanearlyeditorofthe was alsoafoundationcouncilorofthe which manyreadersmayalsorecall.He Scholarly commissioned the defi edited the made. In1896hestartedandfor30years that hismostinfl publications section.Itwasinthatrole the VictorianEducationDepartment’s school inspectorandlaterheadedup was ateacher, educationallecturer, young menevensharedahome. Long rivals, theywerecollaboratorsandas and early20thcenturies.Rather than public educationsysteminthelate19th infl Frank Tait. Bothwere, however, extremely the shadowofhisbetter-knownsuperior, In asense, C.R.Long livedandworked in pp. 1-236,ISBN9781925801941. during thefi agricultural settlement intheMallee change wroughtinVictoria by closer European settlement.Theirreversible utterly inthehundredyears following of themalleecountryweretransformed by theAboriginalpeople, thefragilesoils landscape. Managedfor50,000 years tale oftransitionfromnaturaltocultural the present.Thestoryisaquintessential the malleecountryfromDeepTimeto and politicalhistorytracesthestoryof comprehensive environmental,social state, spilling overintoNSWandSA. This for alargechunkofthenorthwest predominate, inVictoriathisaccounts semi-arid zoneinwhichmalleeeucalypts and Western Australia. Definedasa signifi country’ orappreciatethatthereare Not manyVictoriansthinkabout‘mallee 2020, pp. i-415,ISBN9781925523126. Monash UniversityPublishing,Clayton, Fahey, AndreaGaynor andKatie Holmes, Mallee Country. 1860 -1944. C.R. Long,M.A.:Victorianeducationist uential intheshapingofVictorian nesitstill. cant tractsofitinSouthAustralia Publishing rst halfofthe20th century School Paper Geoff uential contributionwas Richard Broome, Charles Richard Broome, Charles W. Pryor, Australian Victorian Readers , Melbourne, 2019, . Long later . , History Award. winner ofthe2019VictorianPremier’s illustrated. research, beautifullypresentedand local history. Itisathorough pieceof of interestandrenewaladdtothisrich impacts oftimefollowedbyaresurgence over thelifeofproject.Thedeleterious contribution madebyonelocalcompany volunteers andbecauseoftheunique project wasitselflargelyoverseenby fascinating story, notinleastasthewhole local volunteerswhoenlisted.Thisisa in Victoria.Itcommemoratesthe3,801 Ballarat’s grandtributeispre-eminent the longestsuchavenuesinworld, War 1,theythinkofthisone. Oneof remembering thosewhoservedinWorld Victorians thinkofan“avenuehonour” It isnosurprisethatwhenmany 9780980284492. Committee, Ballarat,2018,pp. 1-254,ISBN Arch ofVictory–Avenue of Honour Avenue ofMemories. Wadawurrung Country1800-1870. Men HaveStolen It”:theinvasionof “My CountryAllGoneTheWhite which isatoncescholarlyandaccessible. and offi accounts ofsettlers,otherjournal keepers accompanying hordes.Cahir usesthe and finallythegoldrushes and their then squattersandtheirshepherds of Melbourne–fi in Victoriabeyondtheimmediatedistrict a scaleandatspeednotseenelsewhere which enduredoverwhelminginvasionon and compelling.ThiswasapartofVictoria between 1800and1870isboththorough white strangerswhodispossessedthem between theWadawurrung andthe Fred Cahir’s studyoftheinteraction the districtsofBallaratandGeelong. extends throughcentralVictoriaincluding The countryoftheWadawurrung people 2019, pp. i-348,ISBN9780646801780 Cahir, Australian HistoryMatters,Ballarat, cial sources to enrich his account, cial sources toenrichhisaccount, Avenue ofMemories rst through journeymen, rst through journeymen, PhilRoberts, is also isalso Fred Fred BOOKS 13 nancial Peter Cochrane, Text Text Cochrane, Peter FEBRUARY 2020 FEBRUARY ict. Eleanor Robin, Australian Australian Eleanor Robin, urry of histories marking the blotted out of colonialectively RHSV NEWS NEWS RHSV Best We Forget. Best We Swanston. North Melbourne, Scholarly Publishing, i-284, ISBN 9781925588897. 2018, pp. is a largely Captain Charles Swanston history, Victoria’s forgotten figure in recalled only in the major Melbourne As athoroughfare that bears his name. banker Land Diemen’s prominent Van and sometime member of the Legislative Council, he was a leading member of A brave soldier and colonial society. audacious entrepreneur he promoted the land grab by squatters in the nascent Phillip District. Swanston was a risk Port fi who would ultimately face taker ruin with the collapse of the Derwent Bank and die mysteriously at sea en route to California. His ignominious end meant he was eff and his story became a salutary history, lesson in speculative greed. Eleanor kinder worthwhile study is a Robin’s detailed re-evaluation. Publishing, Melbourne, 2018, pp.1-264, 2018, pp.1-264, Publishing, Melbourne, ISBN 9781925603750. Amid the fl 1 there are some more War end of World Peter works. thoughtful exploratory who previously disassembledCochrane, the mythology of Simpson and his donkey, at the war through the prism of thelooks The conventional policy. white Australia view of the rally of the Empire to protect the interests of Britain is displaced by an argument that focusses on the fear of abandonment in the face of teeming Asian hordes and the loss of racial of invasion was a fear Certainly, purity. preoccupation in the newly federated this obsession nation; Cochrane explores of ‘buying’ security in in the context through engagement in a the Pacific European confl rst The The rage . This latest ne study of Clare Wright, Text Text Clare Wright, rage. James Mulcahy, Toorloo Toorloo James Mulcahy, ered to the bookshopered to the ore, Muriel Matters, Nellie Martelore, Publishing, Melbourne, 2018, pp. i-553, 2018, pp. Publishing, Melbourne, ISBN 9781925603934. is an accomplished historian, Clare Wright best-known for the award winning of Eureka Forgotten Rebels suff book tells the story of Australia’s campaigners and the way they shaped leading role in winning an infant nation’s the vote for white women. Australian women were the first in the world to not merely vote but also be allowed to sit in parliament: New Zealand women won the vote in 1893 but not the right to election. The story focuses on the roles of five women: Vida Goldstein, Dora Montefi and Dora Meeson-Coates. Of them, to date perhaps only Vida Goldstein and courtesy of a biography by more recently, Muriel Matters have Wainwright, Robert punctuated the public consciousness. Engagingly written, this is a fi near universal suff You Daughters of Freedom: the of Freedom: the Daughters You who won the vote and Australians inspired the world. Ebb and Flow. Ebb and Flow. Please note: these books listed are not listed are books note: these Please off necessarily please check the shopby authors, catalogue. Arm Primary School, Lake Tyers Beach, Tyers Lake Arm Primary School, ISBN 9780646985688. 1-147, 2018, pp. the school that mark its centenary, To Arm Primary School has become Toorloo ne account a fi has published No.3968 by retired principal Written of its history. with an enthusiastic team James Mulcahy, behind him, it traces the story of education in the area which had its origins in Rural Aboriginal Tyers at the Lake School No.11 Other schools opened, Mission in 1870. School State Road Tyers and closed. Lake came into being in 1918, sharing its fi teacher with the Aboriginal station school. became so many rural schools, it Like surviving and a centre of community, the At prospering into a new century. heart of the story is growing inclusivity: of Aboriginal community members and later post-war European immigrants. Cathy Cathy Kew Historical Kew rst Australian Songs of Love Songs of Love , was something of a sensation rst female mayor of the city in 1954. There The Shelf Life of Zora Cross. From Municipality to City : chairmen &From Municipality to 1861-1994. mayors of Kew Authors, publishers and Historical publishers Authors, contribute to are invited Societies library to the RHSV for the books in for inclusion and for consideration Received. Books Perkins, Monash University Publishing, Monash University Perkins, i-285, ISBN pp. Clayton, 2019, 9781925835533. This biography of Zora Cross recalls poet and writer now an Australian largely forgotten but who in her day both scandalised and delighted. Cross is credited as being the fi passion. woman poet to celebrate sexual Her best-known work, and Life when it was published in 1917. She went when it was published in 1917. onto journalism, wrote novels, produced literature and an early study of Australian particularly in the 1910s much more poetry, and 20s. She corresponded extensively with other writers and publishers. Cathy delightfully written work elevates Perkins’s Zora Cross to a more deserved position in our literary past. Society, Kew Historical Society Inc., Kew, Historical Society Inc., Kew, Kew Society, ISBN 9780646809359. 1-110, pp. 2019, history which detailsThis is a collaborative the chairmen and mayors of the Kew municipality from 1861 until it became part of the City of Boroondara in 1994. Some of Argyle, these leaders, such as Sir Stanley went on to greater things: in his case a Premier of Victoria. Marie Dalley became fi were many other civic leaders drawn from the commercial and legal world. While a small number gained broader portraits of the detailing pen prominence, lives of the remainder to match the rich Historical pictorial record held by the Kew Society proved more challenging. This is an important local record, with context provided to the story of the municipality and a foreword from Don Garden, past Historical RHSV President and past Kew Society Vice President. We welcome Societies to submit an Around the article/event of around 50 words, or email your Newsletter to us and we will write up around 50 words for you around twice per year. Societies FOR THE APRIL 2020 ISSUE SOCIETIES please send details to Prepared by volunteer Glenda Beckley on offi [email protected] behalf of the History Victoria Support Group. by 8th March 2020.

ADAM LINDSAY GORDON the sale of books written by our members. celebrated composer and pianist Percy, had COMMEMORATIVE COMMITTEE: On Thank you to all past and present members previously designed the Swing Bridge at Saturday 20 June we will be commemorating who have contributed to the successes of Longford. With the commissioning of this water 150 years since the death of Adam Lindsay our society. tower in 1888, Sale residents, for the very fi rst Gordon. Our commemoration will be held in KNOX: ‘Ferntree Gully Cemetery History and time, had water at the turn of a tap. Previously the ground fl oor premises of the RHSV, 239 Mystery Tour’: Friday 7 February and Friday Sale residents, including those who had a tank A’Beckett Street Melbourne. Our committee 27 March at 7.30 pm. Venue: Meet at The at home, were dependent on water carriers, will be working to provide an afternoon of Hut Gallery for sherry and canapes before known then as “watermen”, who sold water talks, music and displays to honour Adam Karin Orpen leads the tour of the Ferntree from door to door. Lindsay Gordon who stirred the imaginations Gully cemetery. Bring a torch and wear shoes SANDRINGHAM: 2020 history forums: of the newcomers to our land with his skills at suitable for uneven surfaces. Cost $20 pp. In addition to guest speakers at general riding and writing. We are currently working Bookings required: email ftghistorymystery@ meetings, we will be holding history forums on producing an Adam Lindsay Gordon gmail.com. throughout the year. Each forum will consist of Encyclopedia to be launched at this event. a small group of members and non-members Many have off ered to provide us with entries, MORWELL: On Sunday 9 February, 12-4pm, we are having a special day for those who who have a like-minded interest in a particular and the closing date for these is at the end of topic, to discuss with a knowledgeable speaker February 2020. worked at L M Ericsson; come along to a reunion and to bring your photos. As we have - over light refreshments. Tickets will be sold GLEN EIRA: We were very excited when our no photos or memorabilia of the time, we for the forums with discounts for members. book, Along the line: Caulfi eld to Oakleigh hope to scan photos and memorabilia to add As fundraisers, the speakers for the forums rail stories, received a Commendation in the to our collection and we will return them to will be separate from speakers arranged for Victorian Community History Awards 2019. their owners. When La Mode closed in 1965, general and annual meetings of the society. The book is available from the RHSV and the Morwell Shire Council bought their factory These will be held in our Resource Centre other outlets, email [email protected] in Church Street and leased it in 1967 to L M and therefore limited to 10 people. So far, we or phone 9077 5395. Our offi ce at 965 Glen Ericsson Pty Ltd, makers of components for have the following speakers confi rmed: Dr Huntly Road Caulfi eld re-opens on Tuesday telephone switch systems. During the peak Don Garden OAM, Dr Cheryl Threadgold OAM, 4 February 2020. Opening hours for 2020 of operations, in the early 1970s, the factory Lorraine Huddle and Graeme Disney OAM JP. are Tuesdays and Fridays 9-12pm. Our 2020 employed seven hundred staff . This factory Dates and topics are yet to be decided. Speaker Series commences on Wednesday closed in 1988. For catering purposes would ST KILDA: 2019 has been a busy year for the 25 March with a talk by Dr Daryl Moran on any former Ericsson staff and employees who Society with an even bigger year to follow. his recent book Empire’s Noble Son about intend to come along please register your 2020 is the Society’s 50th anniversary with Caulfield Grammarian Lyle Buntine: his attendance by phoning Elaine 0438 631 460 a twelve-month program of events and school days and military experiences. 7.30pm, or Shirley 0409 436 019. celebrations including speaker forums, a Caulfield Cup Room, Glen Eira Town Hall, short-story writing competition, a display of Caulfi eld. NILLUMBIK: We would like to thank Terry Phillips for his donation of a replica of Ned artefacts from the SKHS Collection, launch of HASTINGS WESTERNPORT: Can you help? If Kelly’s armour. In order to display it well, the Mirka Mora documentary, publication of an you can help with any of the following, please Maggie and Gwen used the dressmaker’s overview of the Society’s fi fty years, and much email [email protected]. Family Histories: model, and Ron adapted a wire coat hanger more. Details of the full program of events will if you have any photos or family papers that to secure Ned’s helmet. We were originally be announced soon. Check our website at we could borrow to scan and fi le; Newsletter going to ‘hang’ him in the glass cabinet but he stkildahistory.org.au contributions or suggestions; Written pieces didn’t fi t and it would have been rather diffi cult WARRANDYTE: Plans are afoot for 2020. The for the ‘Feature Article’ about local history to add other items to the display with a Ned fi rst major work will be a display and fl oat for are especially welcome, recipes, tried and Kelly theme. We thought his placement in the the Warrandyte festival with the theme ‘Show true, or little items of whimsy. Volunteers are Barn was a good location rather than scaring us your Colours’. We have been fortunate not so plentiful in our area so we are very the living daylights out of people visiting the in receiving a grant from Manningham City grateful to our volunteers who do a variety of cottage. Council for a display entitled ’Pure Gold’. jobs: cataloguing, administration, research, Work is also underway on installing some of maintenance, gardening, facilitating group PHILLIP ISLAND: If you are looking for information on a particular topic of Phillip Island our gold equipment in the rear garden. 2020 visits, and more - more volunteers are always also commemorates 75 years since the end welcome. We receive used stamps; these history, you may fi nd something about it on our website pidhs.org.au under ‘Essays and Talks’. of WW2 and there are plans for a display to are sent to Rotary who then sell them to raise honour the men and women of Warrandyte money. There are almost fi fty essays and talks on a wide variety of topics. Or you may fi nd just the who took part in the confl ict. HEALESVILLE AND DISTRICT: The Society image you are after by searching our online WEDDERBURN: 2019 saw a name change is thirty-fi ve years old! Although there’s been cataloguing program: victoriancollections. from the ‘Korong (Wedderburn) Historical no formal celebration of the occasion, we do net.au. We have catalogued and scanned Society Inc.’ to the ‘Wedderburn Historical recognize that it is no small feat for a voluntary thousands of images, many books and Records Museum Inc.’ Our volunteers have organization such as ours to have had a newspaper cuttings from our collection onto now digitized and indexed over 32,000 presence in the local community for such a this online catalogue: quite a treasure trove! records including over one-hundred audio long period. Over the years, some details of the And we are on Facebook too: https://www. tapes of past presentations given by locals Society may have changed, but the essence facebook.com/pidhs/ talking about their early years in the district. remains the same: to act as the custodian of Selected records and documents can be the district’s history. We are supported by our SALE: The lovely brick water tower in Victoria Park, Sale, has been fully restored over the copied to a USB for visitors to take away team of ten or so regular volunteers who all with them. Further digitizing will continue have a specifi c role, covering most aspects past three years and is now open to the public as a water museum and scenic lookout. This throughout 2020. You can see us at our web of the society’s activities. Although we have site: wedderburnhistorical.com.au laboured in very limited spaces, a tremendous tower and tank, designed by distinguished amount has been achieved over the years. Our engineer and architect, John Grainger, main source of income for a long time has been was built in 1887-88. Grainger, the father of

14 RHSV NEWS FEBRUARY 2020 RHSVBOOKS NEWS 15

winner rmation Collaborative Award 2014 penfolk.com.au 21 Ronley Street @ rmation of rmation Community History www.penfolk.com.au Blackburn Vic 3130 publish FEBRUARY 2020 FEBRUARY p Founded Founded

RHSV NEWS NEWS RHSV Victorian Community Victorian Community Awards History are still waiting on conﬁ We ceremony inthe date of the awards the highlightOctober which is always closing date forof History Month; the forms Entry July. entries will be early will be available on our website from on our eBulletins, an eye April. Keep Old News for updates and conﬁ of dates. Over 30,000 items of Victorian ofVictorian 30,000 items Over resources history, and interstate and much history family for loan. for available more 9510 3393 www.pmi.net.au Prahran Road, Edmonds 39 St c or c

; f c d d n ce. The ce. nancial reports liated Member Society of theliated Member Society training and support;training and consultation the finished product. proof reading;proof illustration; graphic development; writing, editing and and photographic reproduction; and advice; printing and delivery of »» Our services include design and PenFolk produces high quality books for historians For allFor publishing your needs … liated historical societies to nominate one of their that is personal, friendly, cooperative and confidential K eywords Call for appointment (03) 9878 9285 kkk P e n F o l P k general local history or natural history in rural and regional Victoria. Thegeneral local history or natural history in rural with an interest in publishingGrant is intended for small organisations no even where the organisation has little or of historical value, works several of self-publishing work. Joint projects encompassing experience groups or annual/special edited journals incorporating submitted historical articles from a wide community are encouraged. More information: https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/programs/ holsworth-local-heritage-grants/ Holsworth Local Heritage Grants Local Heritage Holsworth July each year. Applications open 1 March and close 31 publication of any specifi Grants of up to $2,000 are available for the to our membership and we also present our Fellowships and Awards Awards we also present our Fellowships and to our membership and Bate Oration. Details of is followed by the Weston of Merit. The AGM prior will be sent to all members one month voting, agenda and reports to the AGM. Merit of Award Closing date: Thursday 9 April It is time for our affi The service Society of Victoria (RHSV) or to the RHSV. Historical Royal of offi and go beyond the routine holding should be exceptional work of the Member Societynominee should have been involved in the or the RHSV for a minimum of ten years. More information: https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/recognition/awards- of-merit/ Tuesday 19 May 19 Tuesday including fi we present our annual report AGM our At of Merit. Nominees shouldoutstanding members for a 2020 RHSV Award have given meritorious service to an affi Notice of Annual General Meeting Annual General of Notice Bate Oration Weston and F o l k We takeWe pride in producing work of the highest possible quality, and provide a service your project, or provide assistance guidance project,your or and may include design and production of books, tree charts. We can take you through all stages of with specific elements. with writing; designing and compiling family papers and charts; reproducing and retouching documents; and photos assistance advice and P e n F o P ePP PPe n »» Our service is adapted to suit your needs, and REMEMBERING MELBOURNE & MELBOURNE’S TWENTY DECADES

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Flagstaff Gardens, which are just to your right, are Melbourne’s oldest gardens. They take their name from a ﬂ agstaff erected in GUIDED WALKSIN 1840 at the settlement’s highest point, in order to communicate between the harbour and town. This became known as “Flagstaff HISTORIC FLAGSTAFF Hill”. Before this, the area was used as a cemetery and was known as Burial Hill. (There is a memorial in the gardens that marks the GARDENS graves of the ﬁ rst European settlers.)

GUIDED WALKS EVERY MONDAY

Time 11am Where Meet here at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, 239 A’ Beckett St Cost $10 Children under 16 free Duration 75 minutes Booking preferred At reception, or 9326 9288 email offi [email protected]