HISTORY NEWS ISSUE.351 DECEMBER 2020
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
WWI: The Missing Obituaries: Mick Woiwod and Rex Harcourt Anglican Historical Society Wodonga through and beyond the Second World War Carlo Catani’s vision Victorian Community History Awards Tower showcases more Sale history
Melbourne Cup winner in stained-glass RHSV NEWS 2 its placeinMelbourne’s topography and Visitors willclimbFlagstaff groups onotherdaystoo. 9288. Chriscanoftenaccommodatelarger Monday andcost$10. Bookingson039326 again. Thetoursareat11amor2pmevery guided walkingtoursofFlagstaff Chris Mancheeistakinghisveryentertaining WALKING TOURS FLAGSTAFF GARDEN GUIDED date inyourdiary. Thursday 4March2021 Our nextexhibitionisduetoopenat wetland vanishedfromsight. This exhibitiontraceshowasignifi had changedtheveryshapeofland. the centurysignifi for sewageandrubbish.Bytheendof settlers, whoturneditintoareceptacle wetland hadbeendespoiledbyEuropean In lessthan20yearsthatimportant Swamp, laterWest MelbourneSwamp. known tothenewsettlersasBatman’s traditions oftheKulin nation. Itwas the Indigenouspeopleandcultural the MooneePonds Creeksustained that laybetweentheYarra Riverand the Port PhillipDistrict,alargewetland Before Europeansettlersarrivedin to seeit. that everyonewillhavetheopportunity been extendeduntilFriday5Februaryso Vanishes Our gloriousexhibition EXHIBITIONS Stained-Glass, photobyRay Brown.Seepages 12-13 PRINT POST APPROVED PP336663/00011ISSN1326-269 COVER IMAGE: of Reference. editor andthePublicationsCommitteeasdirected byourTerms News. Publicationandeditingwillbeatthediscretion ofthe RHSV welcomessubmissionofarticlesforinclusioninHistory July, September, November, unlessinconsultation withtheeditor. History News EMAIL Items forpublicationshouldbesenttotheEditor PRINTED BY DESIGN &ARTWORK EDITOR ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETYOFVICTORIA INC. History Newsisthebi-monthlynewsletterofRHSV History News RHSV NEWS What’s on [email protected] SharonBetridge , curatedbyLenore Frost,has FirstClassMailing95559997 copycloses8thofthemonth:January, March,May, Briseis: 1876MelbourneCupwinnerin cant engineering works cant engineeringworks DECEMBER 2020 Centreforce PtyLtd 59758600 Hill to consider Hilltoconsider so pencil that so pencilthat The Swamp Gardens Gardens 5pm, 5pm, cant Victorian history, tocome tofruition.Every publishing projects,focussingonregional grants havenowenabledwellover100 fully thanwehaveinthepast.These were abletofundmoreprojects, Holsworth Local HeritageGrantsandwe This yearwasaboomforthe HOLSWORTH LOCAL HERITAGE GRANTS so pencilthatdateintoo. February Members eveningwillbe second-hand historyBookFair. mountain ofbooksforourworld-famous benefited byaccumulatingavast spring-cleaning maniaandwe’ve Throughout lockdowneveryonehad BOOK FAIR in personorbyZoom. will behybrideventsthatyoucanattend History Awards forearlynextyear:these from the2020VictorianCommunity We arelininguplotsoftalkswithauthors LECTURES observatory. station andmagneticmeteorological roles asaburialground,fl pre-European historyaswellitsearly AT RHSV PRESIDENT ABN 36520675471Registration No. A2529 Email: Website: Phone: 9am to5pm Offi 239 A’Beckett Street Melbourne 3000 History House MARKETING CO-ORDINATOR COORDINATOR COLLECTIONS MANAGER &VOLUNTEER ADMINISTRATION OFFICER EXECUTIVE OFFICER ce &LibraryHours: before we open to the public beforeweopentothepublic offi 9326 9288 [email protected] www.historyvictoria.org.au RichardBroome JillianHiscock Rosemary Cameron agstaff Monday toFriday Thursday 18 Rebecca Toohey JessicaScott signalling Trust Grantscloseonthe31Julyeachyear. Applications fortheHolsworthHeritage recipients in2020: Congratulations tothesuccessfulgrant which championregionalandruralhistory. inspiration inestablishingthesegrants to CarolHolsworthforhervisionand History Awards. We aredeeplygrateful in thefl year thebarisraisedandwecanseethis Warragul &DistrictHistorical • • Stanley Athenaeum Mortlake&DistrictHistorical • • Romsey Lancefi HeytesburyDistrictHistorical • GippslandAssociationofAffi • EastGippslandFamilyHistory • ChilternAthenaeum Inc • CharltonCroquetClub • care about. Give RHSVMembershiptosomeoneyou future generations toenjoy. collection ofmanuscripts andimagesfor Your gifthelpsuspreserveourunique become-a-member/ historyvictoria.org.au/membership/ recipient. membership toyouordirectlythe (03 93269288).We cansendthe Gift MembershiporphoneRebecca Use ourwebsite’s membershipformfor and attendance. have thechoiceofhybridevents:zoom events andinfutureourmemberswill we continuedtooff any researchprojects.Duringlock-down Jillian Hiscock,istheretohelpthemwith purchases andourCollectionsManager, get discountsonroomhireandimage and collectionfree-of-charge, theyalso and viewings.Membersusethelibrary are alsomember-exclusive events,tours events inafriendlyenvironment.There History News to the Australia. Membersenjoyasubscription 350 otherhistoricalsocietiesfromacross history loversfromaroundtheworldand hub enjoyedbysome900individual Society Inc Society Inc Historical SocietyInc Society Historical Societies Group Inc itMembership Gift ow-on to the Victorian Community ow-on totheVictorianCommunity Victorian HistoricalJournal The RHSVisanactivehistory andafullprogramof eld & Districts eld&Districts er ourmembersdigital liated liated and RHSV NEWS 3
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Collaborative Award 2014 penfolk.com.au 21 Ronley Street @ Community History ...... 5 www.penfolk.com.au Blackburn Vic 3130 DECEMBER 2020 DECEMBER publish p The missing RHSV NEWS NEWS RHSV News and Articles WWI: ...... Thank you Jackie Watts 4-5 Obituaries: Mick Woiwod ...... 8-9. Harcourt Rex Anglican Historical Society ...... 13 through and beyond the Wodonga . . .14-15...... War Second World ...... 15-16 vision Carlo Catani’s History AwardsVictorian Community . 17 showcases more Tower Sale history ...... 18-19 ...... History Victoria Bookshop 20-25 Features Regular ...... on. . . . What’s 2 reportPresident’s ...... 3 In Praise of Roadside Heritage Report: Trees ...... 4-5 A Hall of Fame: Sunbury ...... 6-7 History Victoria Support Group: tenacity and Resilience ...... shines through 9 10-11 ...... Around the societies Windows on History: Briseis, 1876 ...... 12-13Melbourne Cup winner Books received. . . . .24 ...... Table of of Table contents Local historical societies can help by historical societies can help by Local working with local schools that offer The Federation of History. Australian Historical Societies provides Australian valuable guidance to historical societies on how to connect to local schools. https://www.history.org.au/wp-content/ uploads/2018/12/Local-History-and- Schools-Curriculum-FAHS.pdf understand our past is to comprehend To If we our present and future more clearly. who will? study our own history, don’t Richard Broome AM
; f c d d n • to the Anthropocene Custodianship • a Nation Creating • and Resistance Power • and Upheaval War series called ‘Analysing Australian History’. History’. Australian series called ‘Analysing halves of the fourI am also writing two members: Graemebooks and other RHSV Harris and David Davison, Marian Aveling along with a group of are writers too, are proud to be giving back teachers. We our years of History after to Australian in this area.teaching and researching or AreaThe four books each follow a theme, two and each student chooses of Study, 12 study of Australian themes for their Year The themes are vital ones in history. past and reveal that our history Australia’s is dynamic and at times revolutionary: power and resistance creates as war, upheavals that reshape relations between groups enhancing our freedoms: a strong and venerable democracy is created; and our ancient land is transformed and fought The four themes for investigation are: over. Each book is composed of contextual narratives, many historical documents, key illustrations, questions and classroom learning modules shaped by teachers. The emphasis is on students learning from investigating documents and evaluating for themselves contested views about episodes in the past. The RHSV is proud to be involved in this series. Indeed, we had contemplated a series of our own before deciding the massive task and punishing deadlines therefore warmly We were prohibitive. welcome and wholeheartedly support the commitment of Cambridge University Once the History. Press to Australian Design is live in 2022, all parties Study history involved hope to grow Australian numbers thereafter. 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 … Revolutions Australian Ancient History t publisher. publisher. t 81% that is personal, friendly, cooperative and confidential Call for appointment (03) 9878 9285 7%
k k t, but as a social good as they are We takeWe pride in producing work of the highest possible quality, and provide a service 11%
may include design and production of books, provide assistance guidance project,your or and tree charts. We can take you through all stages of with writing; designing and compiling family with specific elements. papers and charts; reproducing and retouching documents; and photos assistance advice and P e n F o e n F o l P PP PPe »» Our service is adapted to suit your needs, and A new Australian History Study Design History Study A new Australian begins in 2022 but until recently no publisher had committed to publishing textbooks for this new course due to the economics of publishing for such low numbers. University Press Cambridge However, has now committed to publishing four c textbooks, one for each of the specifi Design. They in the Study Areas of Study not in the expectation ofhave done so, any profi strictly a not-for-profi I am to be the general co-editor with a practising teacher Ashley Pratt, of the The Study of Australian History is like a of Australian The Study tertiary level it is in relatively egg. At curate’s the Humanities ingood health, although under the currentgeneral are under attack fees.restructuring of university History and 10, Year In Victorian schools to at each year History are covered Australian 11 and 12 in 2019 at Years level. However, it was at a much lower level and has been trending down for decades. About 15,000 students do a History 1 and 2 Unit, but not 12 11. In Year at Year History, Australian of do an assessable 3-4 unit; over 83,000 those 5,811 or seven percent do a history. students: Of those seven percent of VCE 649 do Australian 4719 do Revolutions; History and 433 do Ancient History.
report President’s President’s RHSV NEWS RHSV
Heritage report: Preparing to fell roadside trees on the Midland Highway; Mt Buninyong in background (photo in praise of roadside trees Peter Hiscock, November 2019).
Roadside trees are a much-loved aspect European settlement and may have planned removal of more than 400 trees of Victoria’s rural landscape and they served as landmarks before the roads to widen the Midland Highway. Many of often carry great historic signifi cance. were built. Others were planted by early these trees were very old growth Manna Awareness of the need to protect trees settlers from an instinctive sense that Gums, some planted to commemorate culturally significant to Indigenous tree-lined roads were appropriate. Still the 1956 Olympic Games. The Society peoples has been raised by the recent others were planted to form Avenues of argued that these trees were ‘an essential controversy over trees for the Western Honour after World War I or to prepare part of the vista of Mount Buninyong’. Highway Duplication and, indirectly, for the 1956 Olympics. They were part of a signifi cant landscape by Rio Tinto’s appalling destruction Roadside trees help us to make sense of overlay in the Ballarat Planning Scheme of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters; our landscape. Tree-lined roads identify and formed an important wildlife corridor. you can see the RHSV submission our paths. They show us where the road The Society asked the Minister for Roads, to the parliamentary inquiry on this: is and affi rm us as we drive, off ering us Jaala Pulford, for consultation; but did not https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/rhsv- shade and comfort. Across Victoria, they even receive the courtesy of an answer makes-a-submission-to-juukan-gorge- defi ne our rural landscape. to their letter. inquiry/. We strongly support the right of We can all remember the pain we felt It’s time to go back to the drawing board Indigenous Australians to protect their when roadside trees were lost. From and ensure that current and future road heritage. Ararat and Beaufort to St Kilda Road, projects give sufficient weight to the In general, the trees which mark our roads Melbourne, many have been felled, some trees along our roads that form such should weigh more heavily in considering at great cultural and historic cost. I myself an important part of the Victorian rural road projects, whether the trees be was deeply pained by the felling in 2016 landscape. This is especially applicable culturally significant to Indigenous of the great Flemington Road Gum at to culturally and historically signifi cant Victorians or of social or historic value the entrance to the Tullamarine Freeway. trees. Planting saplings as replacements to non-Indigenous Victorians. The felling Many of us still mourn the loss of the is not suffi cient compensation for either of trees for road projects has been and great trees of St Kilda Road. loss of heritage or loss of shade and continues to be a major issue for the wildlife habitat. In the country, trees constitute a major RHSV and for many of our local historical feature of the rural landscape. The When we weigh up trees for road societies. Roadside trees often have Buninyong and District Historical Society widening, are we thinking of the future? historic significance. Some pre-date last year protested in vain against the Most of our roadside trees were planted
4 RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 RHSV NEWS
WWI : The Missing
The unprecedented death toll of volunteered for Graves Detachment World War I generated a mass of work after surviving Gallipoli and the grief. Particularly heartbreaking was Western Front. the vast number of dead who were It was “a very grizzly job”, says Associate ‘missing’: their bodies never found. Professor Cahir. A short documentary fi lm, The Missing, “They were working for the bereaved celebrates two unsung Australian at home,” says Dr Bart Ziino, a Senior humanitarian efforts connected to Lecturer in History at Deakin University. the crisis of the missing in WW1: the Many elements of the story connect Australian Red Cross Wounded and Melbourne’s history, as it was the Missing Enquiry Bureau and the post- Federal capital at the time of the World war Australian Graves Workers. War I and the location of the Australian In 1915 the newly formed Australian Red Cross Society headquarters. Red Cross Society set up a volunteer network of Information Bureaus to help Featuring rarely seen historic images families of the missing discover what from the Victorian RSL and Australian had happened to their loved ones. Red Cross Society archives the Integral to the network was Vera Deakin, documentary includes interviews with Preparing to fell roadside trees on the young daughter of Prime Minister Alfred Professor Melanie Oppenheimer and Midland Highway (photo Peter Hiscock, Deakin, who headed up the Australian Dr Ziino and incorporates original music November 2019). Red Cross Wounded and Missing by Federation University Arts Academy Enquiry Bureau’s overseas offi ces. Director Associate Professor Richard “You’re talking of hundreds, hundreds Chew. before cars and trucks became our of Australians volunteering their time for Skilfully crafted and edited by director dominant mode of transport. When the duration of the war,” says Professor Jary Nemo, the eleven-minute fi lm is a our forebears built the railways, they Melanie Oppenheimer, Chair of History moving and visually rich refl ection on assumed this was the future, but within at Flinders University and historian of war, grief, commitment and loss, a fi tting two generations the motor car began to the Australian Red Cross Society. vehicle to commemorate the centenary challenge the railways. My grandparents Then, for three years after the war of the Great War’s aftermath. grew up walking or riding on carts and ended, 1100 volunteer ex-servicemen “I wanted to create something which buggies. How will my grandchildren and new recruits laboured on the now- travel? Can we assume that our transport feels cinematic and modern but silent battlefi elds consolidating burial connects you to what it might have felt won’t change again? In a period of rapid sites into newly created cemeteries like at the time,” says Mr Nemo. technological change, facing climate and locating missing bodies where change and global pandemics, change is they could. “Their role was to identify The Missing was produced by likely. Will our grandchildren still need cars and exhume dead soldiers and then to independent Ballarat based fi lm-makers and trucks? They will certainly need trees. rebury them, and photograph the place Wind & Sky Productions and is the Roadside trees bear witness to our past. where the cross was marked for each fi rst output of the ‘Ordinary People in They give meaning to our rural landscape soldier,” explains Associate Professor Extraordinary Circumstances’ project for all Victorians. We will need them long Fred Cahir, historian at Federation collaboration between Federation after we have found new ways to travel. University, whose grandfather Frank University Australia, Wind & Sky Productions, Australian Red Cross Charles Sowerwine Society and RSL Ballarat. It is supported by the Victorian Government through the Victoria Remembers Program. A digital gallery, book and education resource kit are in production. Thank you, Jackie Watts The Missing can be freely viewed online at: www.windsky.com.au or direct via Cr Jackie Watts has stepped down from Melbourne City the YouTube link https://youtu.be/ Council after ten years. During that time, she has been a YwVDDXN6Lpk great friend of the RHSV and has fought valiantly for the Queen Victoria Market and for heritage in general. We look forward to working with her in the future on other projects in which she continues her involvement.
RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 5 RHSV NEWS 6 attended agrand openingballon2 Institute, everybodywho wasanybody Originally theSunburyMechanics’ as wewaitedoutthecoronavirus threat. has beenalivewiththeghostsof thepast triumphs, IliketobelievethatSunbury Hall years ofacommunity’s challengesand 1885 andhavingbeenthewitnessto135 under aCOVID-19 lockdownorder. Builtin community itservesshelteredinhomes of 2020ithaslaindarkandsilent,asthe historic, SunburyMemorialHall.Formost asylum, liestheunassuming,butnoless and theabandonedbutmuchloved Between thegrandRupertswoodmansion spectral formsdancingbeforemyeyes. windows withthechildlikehopeofseeing echoing musicandwatchdarkened windows inafoolishattempttocatch when drivingatnight,Irolldownmy enact goodtimesandbad.To thisday, cautiously emergefromthewallstore- locked, theghostsofpastwould were turnedoffandthedoors events andpeople, andwhenthelights buildings absorbedtheenergyofpast When Iwasachild,fanciedthatold RHSV NEWS Sunbury Memorial Hall DECEMBER 2020 Pink Lady’. who wonfi Attendees cheeredMissGretaCurtis, Guttridge’s jazzbanduntil2.00 am. Sunbury dancedtothesounds of Maurice At afancy-dressballinMarch1923, Memorial Hall. World War Ianditwasre-namedSunbury commemorate thetown’s participationin in 1922duetoacommunitywish Bulla Counciloffi For atime, thehallhousedShireof Snapshots ofvillagelife minded. generous, lively, resilientandcommunity suggests thatSunburyresidentswere and thehistoryofSunburyMemorialHall what wasimportantinsmall-townlife, speech. Eventsatlocalhallscantellus and AlfredDeakin,whogaveanopening William ClarkeofRupertswoodmansion were evengracedbythepresenceofSir and beauty’inattendance. Thefestivities a ‘grandshoost,’ witha‘galaxyofyouth commentator speculated,theeventwas September 1885.Asanewspaper rst prizeforhercostume ‘The ces. Itwasremodelled stalls: sweets, cakes,aman’s stall,a to St Mary’s church.There wereseveral 1950 inordertoraise£1,000 forrepairs A bazaarwasheldatthehallon 5August famous gardeninnearbyBulla. a displayofroseswhichcame froma Presbyterian church.Thefeature was hall withproceedsaidingSt Andrews Sunbury flowerdaywasheldatthe On the8November1941,annual the back,akitchenandstage. either side. Thereareauxiliaryroomsat hallway thatleadstomeetingroomson fronted byanentrance, withacentral triangle oftheparapet.’ Themainhallis and edgethecorners,fl pilasters whichfl stripped classicalmotifssuchasthefl Architectural featuresinclude‘amixtureof that Sunburyresidentsenjoytoday. architect Stuart Calderandisthebuilding were lost.Itwasrebuiltusingthedesignof clubrooms, butthehallandrearbuildings council offi alight. Firemenwereabletosavethe just beforemidnight,thehallcaught Tragedy struckon28March1938when, ces andthereturnedsoldiers’ ank the central entrance ank thecentralentrance attened attened uted uted RHSV NEWS 7 DECEMBER 2020 DECEMBER RHSV NEWS NEWS RHSV by Terri Mackenzie by Terri [email protected] 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 Honorary Victorian Historical Journal Indexer Honorary Victorian Inscription: ‘A memento of a Firemen Inscription: ‘A Ball, Sunbury 26.8.36’ Image provided courtesy of the Hume Civic Collection e. ed young lady in an of smoke and the of smoke and the c1920s Built as the Mechanics Institute in 1885 and taken over by the and taken c1920s Built as the Mechanics Institute in 1885 Soldiers Memorial Hall. Shire of Bulla in 1922 to be remodelled as the Image provided courtesy of the Hume Civic Collection jumble sale and a refreshment stall. Mr Beggerly won a milking cow in a raffl Ten young debutants were presented young debutants were presented Ten 1951, to a crowd of 500 on 22 August attendees. The young ladies danced the Waltz’. delightfully named ‘Parma In modern times, the hall plays host to the Sunbury Neighbourhood Kitchen, the Market on the Green, pro wrestling, model train shows, bluelight discos and blood donation; it remains a social hub for the entire community. Every time I pass by the Sunbury Memorial Hall, I imagine that in the quiet hours of the evening, you might hear faint sounds of a lively violin and the stomping of quiet muttering just dancing feet. Perhaps of serious men discussing matters of business, or smell an intangible perfume of roses. In the month of March, you might catch a whiff Maybe you alarming crackle of flame. see a fabulously coiff elaborate white dress dashing into the hall out of the corner of your eye. More likely you’ve noticed none of these spectres, and they went about their ghostly business unnoticed during we are now lockdown. However, cautiously beginning to emerge from our homes and will once again set up market stalls, attend lectures, commemorate our war dead, and remain the generous, resilient community Sunbury has lively, been for over 135 years. The hall will be witness to it all. Sulkowska Lee The self-taught
RHSV NEWS RHSV historians:
Arnold Rex Harcourt OAM (1925-2020) and Michael Francis Woiwod (1929-2020) Mick Woiwod Rex Harcourt
A strength of the RHSV has been its neared 60, when hip problems forced Mick to write a history of Kangaroo support for both the amateur and semi-retirement. In his lively, self- Ground, Kangaroo Ground: the the academically trained historian. published 2011 book, Round & round highland taken. Signifi cantly, he then My early-career work as an archivist the mulberry bush: an autobiography, backed Mick’s scheme of writing an at the Public Record Offi ce, Victoria he explained that he had always been historical novel about the local impact introduced me to dedicated, even an avid reader of Australiana; and, of white settlement. The result was obsessed, researchers who had made increasingly, ‘anything to do with this The Last Cry endorsed by Wurundjeri themselves the complete expert country’s Aboriginal people’. Now elders. Mick revised and reissued the on their chosen topic. Many never he successfully applied to La Trobe novel as Wrath of the Myndie in 2015. published. Few that did were great University to enrol as a mature age Mick wrote several short community writers, but they were indefatigable student in history. Reading was one histories of Kangaroo Ground in their research. If you sought an thing, writing another. He recalled his Cemetery, of Rye Cemetery, and obscure fact on their topic, you went fi rst 300 word assignment: ‘Back in Research Rural Fire Brigade. He to them fi rst. 1989, it was way beyond my capacity transcribed and edited two important I have this in mind in acknowledging to put pen to paper’. He mastered the pioneer diaries. His saw the the recent deaths, in their nineties, skill. Professor Richard Broome was connection between indigenous of two men I would call self-taught one of his acknowledged mentors at history and contemporary issues, and historians, Rex Harcourt and Mick La Trobe. was a prime mover in establishing the Woiwod. Neither played a part Mick finished his degree and was influential Nillumbik Reconciliation in the work of the RHSV, though invited to continue with an honours Group. both at times used the Society’s year. A spell in hospital derailed its In 2012, again backed by Tarcoola resources. Both were deeply involved completion, but his project soon Press, Mick published two as volunteers in local and special enlarged into a community history documentary resource guides, interest historical societies. Both centered on his local Christmas Hills. Birrarung Database and Coranderrk made notable contributions to the Mick was a determined man and a Database. The latter won the RHSV- study of Victoria’s history, including natural publicist. Amazingly his fi rst PROV Victorian Community History indigenous history. And both began book, Once around the Sugarloaf: Award for a research project. His fi nal writing history only in their retirement. the transformation of a Victorian book, on the Coranderrk reserve, was Mick Woiwod, born at Ferntree landscape and the story of its people, his Culture clash: Barak vs the Black Gully to English parents, grew up in was completed and published within Hats of Melbourne (2017). Mick’s Frankston and attended St Bede’s a year, and sold its print run. deteriorating physical condition Mentone, an education that he Mick’s Sugarloaf book revealed a enforced a move from Bend of Islands said provided ‘good sport but little distinctive voice and style. He had a to Eltham, to a house with a bush intellectual stimulation’. He fi nished gift as a storyteller, a rare appreciation view. Being wheelchair bound never without completing his Leaving Year of the natural environment and an stemmed his energy. In his fi nal days 11 Certifi cate. A bricklayer by trade, imaginative capacity to wind back time he was completing a manuscript three times Mick literally built his own to evoke the people who had lived in on his theories of massacre and homes. The last of these three was the and changed those landscapes. Aboriginal dispossession at Kangaroo one he loved best. In the 1980s, with Mick joined the Eltham Historical Ground. his wife Marg, family and friends, he Society and helped create the Rex Harcourt similarly was fascinated spent weekends making mud bricks innovative Andrew Ross Schoolhouse by the story of fi rst contact in Port on site and building Wombolano, by Museum at Kangaroo Ground. In local Phillip District. Growing up in the Yarra River at the unique Bend resident Bruce Nixon, Mick found Preston, graduating in Commerce of Islands, in the hilly Christmas Hills another essential mentor. Bruce, at Melbourne University, working territory between Kangaroo Ground inaugural president of the C.J. La as a Commonwealth public servant and Yarra Glen. Trobe Society, ran his own imprint, and raising his family in Northcote Mick turned to formal study only as he Tarcoola Press. He commissioned in the 1950s, Rex became absorbed
8 RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 RHSVBOOKS NEWS 9 School Genoa DECEMBER 2020 DECEMBER The remains of RHSV NEWS NEWS RHSV traditionally have attracted. However, traditionally have attracted. However, most of the changes will provide yet more challenges for the volunteers in charge of caring for and presenting our history. will just have to keep working with We government at all levels to ensure they recognise the worth of our work. Please contact the History Victoria Support Group to let us know about your upcoming projects and what areas we should target for training and information resources in the future. I do hope you all have a great Christmas As someone after this very strange year. ‘I’m staying up until midnight said recently, Eve to make sure 2020 this New Year’s leaves’. Hitchins Pauline Convenor HVSG (RHSV) Phone: 0437 296925 Email: [email protected] It is tough trying to get published in in published to get trying It is tough for academics even history, Australian publicity status, hard to get with high to the it is a tribute So, and distribution. that Rex of both Mick and doggedness own recognition in their they achieved was awarded Harcourt in 2012 ways. Rex to the community “for services the OAM researcher and historian, as an author, and early particularly of the founding Victoria”. days of Melbourne and who had struggled with Mick Woiwod, could claim by the end 300 words in 1989, his Covid-19 restricted25 publications. At a video link was funeral in September, to Dave Wandin, made to Coranderrk, who performed a elder, a Wurundjeri smoking ceremony in Mick Woiwod’s Mick, he said, had helped him honour. understand the traditions of William Barak and the truth, pain and joy of the people of this land. What historian could ask for a better Just like William Barak, Dave accolade? explained, Mick went as the wattle bloomed. Andrew Lemon
My Fifth ction and ignored Cricket Walkabout: Walkabout: Cricket rst published by that . Mulvaney accepted Victorian Historical Historical Victorian (Issue 257, 2002). (Issue 257, where he set about putting the nality of such an event spurs us all as a person of good intentions’. Professor of good intentions’. as a person more expert on the period A.G.L. Shaw, in chided the book gently broadly, for the a review for the reinstatement of Batman – a – a Batman of reinstatement for the in fi person maligned Journal Harcourt laboured Rex contentiously, Less researcher at thefor years as a volunteer with a group thatMelbourne Cricket Club part in upgrading played an essential library. the club’s and professionalising as one of the It is now recognised in the world. finest sporting libraries information from the MCC new Locating encouraged Professor archives, Rex and reissue John Mulvaney to update his 1967 book: the fi historian and archeologist exceptional and originally titled Aboriginal Cricketers the Australian 1867-1868 on Tour, when it was reissued as co-author Rex nal fi in 1988 and again in 2015. Rex’s self-published work in 2003 was Gospel record straight on the life of Jesus. of so many local stories. The fi to ensure that our records are copied and duplicated to guarantee they are preserved for future generations. And some times it is the obvious that is overlooked; have you recorded your museum and its displays on a regular basis? While we can be grateful for the electronic advances which have made keeping in touch much more practical for most, there was a grinding halt to many activities, from research to fundraising; but little cessation of those bills which still have to be paid. Many groups will experience ongoing impacts on activities and membership. Some are positive with an increased online presence for many and providing which have drawnpresentations online, greater numbers than physical meetings
(2001). culties. Southern Southern res, there cult year it was His commentary His commentary Resilience and Resilience byc Northcote location ection on 2020 and wonder
allre was a blow to the district and to
the Merri Creek. of Batman The best overview 2009 Attwood’s historiography is Bain and the Treaty Batman’s Possession: Matter of History. pre- labours in underplays Harcourt’s data. In the internet days in compiling intervening years the heroic view of brave Batman, founder of Melbourne, was giving way to one of bad Batman found himself who met a sorry end. Rex falling on the wrong side of history. He sought to put the record straight in his self-published book in collecting information about John about John information in collecting famous commemorating the Batman and Batman’s land claims of 1835. treaty and Phillip had travels in Port diary of his to many interpretations, given rise internally is imprecise and because it and studied this Rex contradictory. in detail, alwaysassociated documents the signing tookintent on proving that place at a specifi Invasion, Northern Conquest: the story of the founding of Melbourne He claimed it made ‘a convincing case who had a connection to the site both as a school, as a museum and as a repository Future generations will no doubt make a similar refl at what a strange and diffi for us. many restrictions ease, As COVID-19 museums have been able to open, while others have not. How do you socially distance in the confined spaces of a or the small rooms a bunker water tower, of houses and offices now converted to museums. The challenges for many continue. such as the Genoa SchoolAnd for some, fi museum lost in the New Year be a return to a ‘new normal’ at all.won’t The fi As we research the stories and legacies of our forebears, we are often struck by their resilience and the tenacity which saw them overcome so many diffi
Group: Group: History Victoria SupportHistory through shines tenacity Around the societies Prepared by volunteer We welcome Societies to submit an article/event of around SOCIETIES Glenda Beckley on 50 words, or email your Newsletter to us and we will write up around 50 words for you around twice per year. behalf of the History FOR THE FEBRUARY 2021 ISSUE please send details Victoria Support Group. to offi [email protected] by 4th January 2021.
BALLAN: From The Ballan Times: 309 469 Email: [email protected] documents that help to tell the story of Thursday, October 11, 1945. ‘Ballan Shire ECHUCA: For an easy stroll or drive in those fascinating and transforming times. Patriotic and Comforts Fund - Forty the Echuca Heritage Precinct an Audio Photos or newspaper cuttings about parcels have been forwarded to the Food Poetry Trail is available to residents and businesses or town events, photos of for the Motherland appeal, made by the visitors. Several poems inspired by our social gatherings, school photos of the R.A.N. for the bombed out children and heritage, the natural environment and late ‘60s and early ‘70s, memorabilia war widows of the Motherland. Each the atmosphere of this special place can from sports events, or even a photo of parcel contains 16oz tins of lard, peanut be heard. Visit the Poetry Trail page at you dressed in fl ares and looking like a butter and Horlick’s malted milk, 12oz echucahistoricalsociety.org.au and scroll member of ABBA would be particularly packet of mixed fruits, 4oz packet of fruit down to ‘The Poetry Trail’ and listen to the welcome. If you are not sure whether jelly crystals, two packets of Koolmints and poems. QR codes are displayed at the something might be of interest, please tin of Mayfair ham loaf.’ fi ve listening stages indicated by Poetry phone, 03 9489 5939 or 0439 895 939 or BOX HILL: At the conclusion of the Trail plaques. By following the map (GPS) email the Society: enquiries@lintonhistory. AGM, on Sunday 15 November, the and using a SCAN app on a smart phone, org.au Committee will be pleased to welcome visitors may listen to readings of these MELBOURNE MARITIME HERITAGE: fellow Committee member, Rev. Shane poems which acknowledge our early In April 2020, the federal government Hubner, to present to the meeting, on peoples, those who came afterwards and granted the Mawson’s Huts Foundation the subject ‘The Anglican Community in the ever-challenging river and bush. (MHF) $321,000 for a 2020-2021 Box Hill – 130 years in the making, with LEONGATHA: The Seven Historical expedition to conduct urgent conservation plans for the next 130!’ Shane, who is Wonders of Gippsland. Which seven work on Mawson’s Huts at Cape Denison. the current Vicar of the Box Hill Anglican historic sites would you choose if you Expedition Manager and six others will Parish, will provide an examination of the were selecting the seven historic wonders depart Hobart late 2020 to spend up to development of the Parish, from humble of the South Gippsland Shire? The six weeks at the historic site. The French beginnings in 1889 to its multi-cultural historians of Gippsland came up with the Antarctic programme will transport the focus in 2020. idea of having a region wide Facebook team on the voyage south. It will be CAMPERDOWN: It’s time to remember poll to come up with the Seven Historical the 16th expedition organised by the that ‘Past Matters’. In other words, it’s time Wonders of Gippsland. The historical MHF. The program will include major for the latest edition of our newsletter and networks from each shire in the region work on the fragile Transit Hut, used by at last it appears on our Facebook page. have been working to come up with a Mawson in 1911-14 and take star sightings Lots of diff erent subjects covered in this list of historic wonders for their shire. The to determine its exact position. This is edition - have a look at the contents list nominations were posted on a history pleasing and aligns with the MMHN - and it’s full of heaps of good reading – Facebook page related to that shire and approach to conservation – looking including the interesting ‘Every Picture the public has been invited to vote. Due ‘forward’ in the installation of an automatic Tells a Story’. Visit our Facebook page: to security concerns only those who weather station to monitor the changing www.facebook.com/camperdownhistory are members of the group Gippsland climatic impacts on the historic site. or website at www.camperdownhistory. History were able to vote. You can join org.au the Gippsland History Facebook group by CORNISH: Last Chance for the ‘Agan applying on that page. The results are in; Kernow Project’ (Our Cornwall). It’s the see them at: https://bit.ly/2IVSpD3 last chance to write down a story or two LINTON: For those of us who lived about your Cornish ancestors and your through the 1960s and 1970s, those times memories of visiting Cornwall. Your stories seem like yesterday, and don’t yet feel don’t even have to be typed: just send like an historical era. However, they are us what you have and we will gladly edit very much part of our modern history, them. We have received stories from all and in not too many years will be ancient over Australia, Canada and the United history for a new generation. We have States. Even the New Zealanders have become aware that the Society is lacking MOUNT EVELYN: Hidden Histories of now promised to send us some stories in historical material relating to this era, Mount Evelyn. In the past we have held as well. We won’t close off the project so we are keen to build up this collection. exhibitions in October to coincide with until the end of 2020. Your edited story Accordingly, we would be very grateful if History Week. This year we were inspired will be sent to you for approval. When we you have any donations you could make by other historical societies running online have enough material, the CAV will send that would help preserve the stories of exhibitions because of the Covid-19 to a publisher a book or an anthology of that era in Linton. We would love to hear shutdown. We have many stories about stories about ‘Our Cornwall’. Phone: 0400 from you if you believe you have any Mount Evelyn which are tantalisingly
10 RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 SOCIETIES
brief: ‘This boy reckons he’s found a & Timmering District, written by the inscription: ‘Gold found here, June 1851 tunnel’, ‘The friend of a mate of a friend members of the Nanneella Timmering by Louis J Michel and party. Rewarded said ...’, ‘I heard something in the bush Heritage Group. The second book is a 306 by Government as discoverers of the which might have been a Panther’. But a page family history of A Family History fi rst goldfi eld in Victoria. Erected 1935’. History Group’s role is to investigate the of Cornelia Creek Run and the Simmies The anniversary prompted the Society story and fi nd facts to prove or disprove which covers the history of the settlement to ask for repair and restoration advice it. One of our stories is a collection of of Victoria and Cornelia Creek squatter’s from a stonemason and the report has reports of Mount Evelyn ghosts. While run from the 1840s until today, written by been forwarded to Parks Victoria for we can’t prove or disprove anything yet, Mike Hamblin a maternal descendant of consideration. a fi rst step is to collect data. We invite you, George Simmie. WERRIBEE: Recently discovered by the our audience, to contribute information SANDRINGHAM: The very popular Werribee Half Battery is a late Victorian you might have to support or contradict Gipsy Village Walk booklet has been 1½ storey hay loft and carriage house, the stories, and we hope some questions out of print for some time. We have been Liverpool bond double brick on a blue might be fi nally answered. We invite you working on a new edition with up to stone foundation with a variety of window to share your stories and provide new date photographs, some text updating styles. The building was previously part chapters. And thanks to the many people and editing. The booklet is now with our of the depot of the noted local builders who have shared their stories and their volunteer graphic designer. Once this Rushford and Walsh and has been photographs. We hope the exhibition will work is fi nished, it will be available as an overlooked in the past as it is not on a be launched by a small, possibly online eBook from our online shop, and once street frontage. Given its location it may ceremony before Christmas, but we will fi nances permit, it will be published in hard well be one of the outbuildings of the let you know when the exhibition is up copy. We are delighted to advise that one historic Beamish farm. The Werribee and running on our Facebook page - of our members, Dr Cheryl Threadgold Historical Society has nominated it for a Mount Evelyn History Group https://bit. OAM, has been awarded the 2020 Council heritage listing. ly/393xpoD . Collaborative Community History Award NARRE WARREN FAMILY: Digital Annual by the Public Records Offi ce Victoria and General Meeting Wednesday 9 December the Royal Historical Society of Victoria 2020. 2020 has not been what anybody for her book, In the Name of Theatre. expected, but it has been a year of the Our congratulations to Cheryl and don’t ‘first’. We invite you to join us for the forget the book can be purchased through ‘first’ Narre Warren & District Family the online shop on our website: https:// History Group Inc. Digital Annual General sandringhamhistorical.org.au/product/ Meeting. There will be the formalities of in-the-name-of-theatre/ any other AGM but this will be the ‘fi rst’ STAWELL: We are still receiving donations AGM conducted via Zoom. It may be the during the lockdown. These include ‘fi rst’ time you are using Zoom – don’t photos of the Warriors Football team worry we plan to have the ‘fi rst’ Zoom (premiers 1954), Nalder’s Garage in Patrick Training AGM. We will not have a guest Street (1955 and 1962) and Navarre speaker at this year’s AGM, so we plan to School (1910). A cricket blazer of the have the ‘fi rst’ digital group family history Stawell West Cricket team, which is in Q&A session afterwards. It will be the very good condition, has been donated. ‘fi rst’ time that we can have our interstate This Cricket Club ceased to exist many and regional Victoria members join in the years ago. Our Society has also received meeting. Be the ‘fi rst’ to contact Eileen the records of the Stawell Rifl e Club (1915 Founded Durdin, our Secretary, at Secretary@ to 2017) which includes minute books, nwfh g.com.au if you want to attend either ledger, competition lists and score books. Over 30,000 items of meeting. Eileen will forward you our ‘fi rst’ WARRANDYTE: Digital Annual Report and links to our ‘fi rst’ Victorian and interstate 85 years ago, Digital Annual General Meeting and to history, resources for family on Saturday 9 our ‘fi rst’ Zoom Training Annual General history and much more November 1935, Meeting. available for loan. the Gold Memorial ROCHESTER: The Rochester Historical Cairn was unveiled. 9510 3393 & Pioneer Society will be open to the This commemorates www.pmi.net.au public as from Wednesday 11 of November the discoveries of 39 St Edmonds Road, 2020. Our Research team have been gold at Andersons Prahran very busy conducting family research Creek, Warrandyte, and we also have two new books that which led to the will be available for purchase from the proclamation of the 11 November. Channels of hope: the fi eld as the fi rst in Victoria. The cairn was Nanneella Timmering district celebrates built of stone sourced from Fourth Hill, the centenary of irrigation and education the builder is not known. On the front is a 316 page book on the Nanneella face was a white marble tablet with an
RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 11 RHSV NEWS RHSV
Windows on history: Briseis, 1876 Melbourne Cup winner
In 1876 a horse named after Briseis, into the breakfast room having a stained I stumbled across an article from 1989 the legendary princess in the Iliad, glass upper panel (manufactured by titled ‘Form to Please a Horseman’. What became the fi rst fi lly to win the prestigious Ferguson & Urie, of Curzon street North piqued my interest was; ‘… the glorious Melbourne Cup. She was owned and Melbourne); in the centre of the panel is colors [sic] in the Briseis stained-glass trained by James Wilson at his St Alban’s a medallion in which is painted the head door…’ in the review of the restaurant at Stud near Geelong, and the Jockey, Peter of Briseis who won the Melbourne Cup in ‘Suma-Park’ homestead, Marcus Hill near ‘St Albans’ Bowden, was the youngest to 1876… This panel presents exceedingly Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula. It ever ride in the Cup. In fact, Peter was not rich appearance. In the lower panels turns out it that it had been one of Wilson’s yet thirteen, the minimum age for a jockey are painted racing trophies, jockey cap, horse studs known as ‘Frankfort-on-sea’. when he led Briseis past the Flemington whip, etc. painted in the colors of Messrs I contacted Suma-Park in January 2012 post to a roaring crowd of 75,000 for a Wilson, senr and jun, these have been and was excited to hear there was a one and a half length win over second treated in a very artistic manner…’ - North window depicting a race horse. The placed Sibyl and third placed Timothy. Melbourne Advertiser, May 1891. owners were amazed to hear the history She had a triple win of the Derby, the I came across this clue in 2011 and I had and invited me to visit. I had pre-conceived Oaks, and the Melbourne Cup all in the no idea if Wilson’s Camberwell home still visions of a grand stained-glass tribute to space of six days. At odds of 13:2 Wilson existed. A virtual Google Street view tour the famous Melbourne Cup winner, but took the champions’ purse of £1,775. lead me toward the likely house and I exuberant expectations rarely live up to In 1891 Wilson commissioned the Ferguson contacted the owners. Amazingly, they reality. The only remaining section of the & Urie stained-glass company of North knew a story of a window depicting a original window containing the roundel Melbourne to create a tribute to Briseis horse in the house over a century ago. of Briseis is set into the top half of a for his new Camberwell home: The rumour indicated that when Wilson lonely wooden door leading to the old ‘Last week we had the pleasure of sold the house in early 1900 the furniture smoking room, now relegated to storage inspecting ‘Aire’, the residence of Mr and contents would be included for sale, for tableware. James Wilson, senr, late of St. Albans except for the Briseis window. That left me Geelong, the well known racing veteran… at another dead end. Photo by Ray Brown At the end of the hall is a door opening Months passed with no further clues until
12 RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 RHSV NEWS 13 DECEMBER 2020 DECEMBER publication of historical writing publication of historical writing about the Diocese. Bishop Grant introducing Bishop Grant introducing members to ‘prime Anglican Territories’. RHSV NEWS NEWS RHSV 3. 3. encourage and assist the To The Society has met at various locations Cathedral Paul’s over the years; St Crypt and other rooms in the Cathedral and now at College, buildings, Trinity East Melbourne. Holy Trinity, The late Bishop James Grant AM was involved with the Society since its as Patron, inception, and it was he who, found speakers on subjects relating to historical anniversaries, centenaries and sesquicentenaries. Meetings are held on the third and of February to June, Wednesday The meetings September to November. commence at 6.30pm and conclude by 8pm. The Society also makes occasional visits to churches, institutions, and conducts occasional cemetery walks. but for do not have a website, We further information please contact the at Meyer, Roger Secretary, [email protected]. All are welcome to join and the annual subscription is $25. ve The Anglican understanding of the history of the its parishes,Diocese of Melbourne, its institutions and its individual clergy and laity. relating to the history of the This is now forwarded Diocese. to the Diocesan Archives in North Fitzroy. shillings. The inaugural lecture was shillings. The inaugural lecture was delivered by Bishop John McKie on 29 July 1955, on ‘Some aspects of the History of the Diocese of Melbourne’ to an attendance of 47 persons. The historical society has three main aims: 1. promote interest in and To 2. collect and preserve material To The Church of England, now Anglican, Historical Society was established in 1955. It was at a time when a number of parish churches were celebrating their centenaries, with a corresponding heightened interest in matters historical. The focus of this interest was the diocesan Mollison Library and its Smith. In Sydney librarian, the Reverend September 1954, a letter in sought expressions of interest from those interested in forming an historical An inaugural society for the Diocese. meeting was held on 26 November 1954 with a sparse attendance of six. An annual subscription was set at fi The Anglican Historical Society rst to be made in Australia by the rst to be made in Australia Australasian Sketcher, Sketcher, Australasian 4. 2 September 1876, p. Austrian immigrant Edward Fischer. The immigrant Edward Fischer. Austrian Club has many tribute Geelong Racing an the Briseis Cup, items to Briseis: there’s a viewing stand club, members’ exclusive room, a of the track from the members’ St tribute cabinet and the annual Peter The Victorian Trophy. Albans Jockeys’ has the annual Briseis Club Racing handicap on their Flemington calendar. In 1879 Briseis was sent to stud but reared and fell backwards in the stable fracturing her skull and was put down. She was inducted to the racing hall of fame in 2015. Bowden, died in 1898. Peter The Jockey, His funeral was recorded as the largest of the time at Geelong, yet he was buried a of his grave The exact location pauper. at the Eastern Cemetery is not recorded. James Wilson died at Marcus Hill in 1917 and has an imposing monument at The the Melbourne General Cemetery. location of his gold Melbourne Cup trophy remains a mystery to this day. Further information can be found at: http://fergusonandurie.wordpress.com Brown Ray The intricate and expertly detailed head of Briseis appears in the tiny roundel less than twenty centimetres in diameter. Surrounding Briseis are simple floral designs and textured glass in various colours. I believe it may have been the work of Charles William Hardess who was apprenticed to Ferguson & Urie circa 1873. whereabouts of other glass the Sadly, depicting racing paraphernalia that was described in the 1891 article is not known. Between 1868 and 1886 only one Melbourne Cup trophy was awarded in 1876 when coincidentally for the race, The Gold Etruscan Briseis was the victor. shaped cup had two handles and was the fi RHSV NEWS RHSV
Bonegilla: Newcomers were provided with a meal within an hour of arrival. ‘Migrants collect their meal (rear), and help themselves to tea (foreground), in the dining-hall at Bonegilla, Victoria, 1949 NAA Series/Control symbol A12111, 1/1949/22/8’ https://bit.ly/36VE5CF
An online exhibition, ‘The impact of the Second World War on Wodonga Wodonga and its surround’, just launched traces the era as it impacted a Victorian country town, during then after the war. Wodonga, with Albury, was strategically important at the break through of railway gauge. During the confl ict, the railway junction was improved. Huge military encampments were built at Bonegilla and Bandiana, so that troops and their equipment could be and beyond rushed north or south in case of invasion. Wodonga became a garrison town. It doubled in size helping the Second to provide food and recreational needs for the 11,000 service personnel stationed in the district. The exhibition invites viewers to explore reports on Trove about World War how the war and its aftermath were reported in the local press and in national popular magazines. So, for example, one issue of Pix on 5 December 1944 featured a story on how Elyne Mitchell was coping at nearby Towong Hill: ‘Husband a prisoner, woman runs big fat stock station’. The same issue applauded the way a
14 RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 RHSV NEWS
‘Expert: Many women prefer to see cattle from a distance, but they hold no terrors for Mrs. Mitchell. She knows all the fi ner points of fat stock raising.’ Pix (1944) ‘Husband a prisoner of war: Women runs big fat stock station’, 5 February, p8-9, National Library Australia https://nla.gov.au/nla. obj-389050162 local entertainment group had hospitably mustered to support the soldier lads and lasses stationed in the district: ‘Albury’s Victory Vanities’. Cantani Arch, St Kilda Post-war Wodonga was called upon to be the immediate host community for the arrival of large numbers of displaced persons at Bonegilla. Two magazine illustrative stories drawn from Australian Women’s Weekly show how immigration department publicists tried to allay community concerns about the arrival of Carlo non-British displaced persons. The fi rst features the carefully stage-crafted arrival of the fi rst cohort in 1947: ‘Romance in the air at Bonegilla’s migrant camp’. The second, two years on, tries to allay community concern about the treatment of the displaced Catani’s persons at Bonegilla: ‘Tense drama of fi ght for migrant babies lives’. The outbreak of peace was a transitional time, and the exhibition traces something of the clamour of ideas about how the post-war vision years might be diff erent. The planning to establish a Murray Valley Region drew Wodonga Many recreational pursuits we still enjoy today were and its cross-border, bigger sister town Albury closer together. It enhanced by an Italian migrant described as seeing marked the awakening of a cross-border solidarity that continues ‘possibilities to which others were blind’. stubbornly, even defi antly, 75 years on through a pandemic. Parks, gardens, lakes, and access roads to popular tourist The online exhibition was supported by the Victorian Government destinations can be credited to civil engineer Carlo Catani and the Victorian Veterans Council as part of the 75th anniversary who spent the majority of his career with the Victorian of the end of World War Two Grant Program. government. Some of his work might be recognised by his https://historywodonga.org.au/the-impact-of-the-second-world- name but not everyone appreciates the signifi cance of his war-on-wodonga-and-its-surrounds/ contribution. St Kilda’s foreshore and gardens, Alexandra Bruce Pennay Avenue and Gardens, Mt Buffalo’s Lake and roads to attractions such as Mt Buff alo, Arthurs Seat and Mount Donna Buang all benefi tted by his vision and commitment. Signifi cantly, he was also responsible for the draining of the Koo-Wee-Rup and Moe swamps. His Village Settlement Scheme encouraged workers to make their own commitment to the development of the area and became a benchmark in helping the unemployed regain employment and independence. The tiny township of Catani recognises the engineer’s contribution over a couple of decades to the success of this huge project. There’s even a locally grown potato that is named after him! Carlo Catani (1852–1918) came to Australia, via a brief stopover in New Zealand, in 1876 with two other Italians who Holdenson and Nielson Fresh Food Pty Ltd supplied milk, were also to make their mark on Victoria. Ettore Checchi butter, cheese and ice to the military camps and, then, to the (1853–1946) became a hydraulic engineer and played a Bonegilla Migrant Camp. It made and delivered 60 gallons or signifi cant role in Victorian and New South Wales irrigation 273 litres of ice cream to Bonegilla each week. Thank you for June Shanahan and her family album. schemes and Pietro Baracchi (1851–1926) who became
RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 15 RHSV NEWS SOCIETIES RHSV
He is credited with the vision which saw its transformation to today’s Heritage-listed Catani Gardens.
the Government Astronomer at the canoeists, and fi shermen among other been part of Catani’s vision, was erected Melbourne Observatory. visitors. in 1932 to honour him as ‘A Great Public Catani joined the Public Works Department However, it is Catani’s work on the St Servant of Victoria 1876-1917’, The Sun and was soon involved with a number of Kilda foreshore which is probably his describe him as having transformed the signifi cant projects, quickly rising through most lasting legacy. He was appointed to foreshore ‘from reeking marsh to garden the ranks to become Chief Engineer the multi-government St Kilda Foreshore beauty’. of Public Works in 1892. In 1896, under Committee in June 1906 to work on the Marking the centenary of his death, Catani’s supervision, a section of the reclaimed foreshore. He is credited with ‘Carlo Catani: Visionary, Creator, Genius,’ Yarra River was widened and improved the vision which saw its transformation to an enlightening bi-lingual exhibition upstream from Princes Bridge which has today’s Heritage-listed Catani Gardens. showcasing his life and significant allowed for the safe passage of both The palms, winding paths and rockeries, achievements was presented by CO.AS. people and vehicles from the south to now part of St Kilda’s signature image, IT. Italian Historical Society at the Museo the north. were Catani’s vision to create ‘a European Italiano in Carlton. The exhibition ran from As the Yarra works, and the Monier style resort atmosphere’ providing among 20 November 2018 to 23 March 2019 and concrete Anderson Street bridge, now other features ‘a long promenade for in 2019 the exhibition was awarded the the Morell Bridge, he championed and the summer girl to display her figure Victorian Community History Historical supervised, were underway, Catani and dainty garments’. The Foreshore Interpretation Award. started work on Alexandra Avenue. Committee secretary, H. O. Allan, who While the foreshore may evoke St Kilda’s This included planting a variety of trees, provided the earlier quote regarding heyday as a resort for promenading, ensuring the river banks would always Catani’s vision, described him as ‘a refl ecting both Edwardian formality and look lush and green, providing a grand landscape genius if ever there was one, the festivity of a seaside resort, it is still entrance to the city and developing the [responsible for] the engineering work, a popular destination today with regular adjacent gardens which allowed the together with the beautifi cation.’ markets and other events in normal times ‘citizens to promenade around a circuit “It would be hard to say to what and an ideal exercise venue for walking, formed by both sides of the river and the enormous extent Melbourne is indebted cycling, skating, running or promenading Princes and Anderson Street bridges’. to this artist,” said Allan, referring to the in COVID and other times. In the early 1900s Catani was involved ‘expansive lawns and beautiful palms, Pauline Hitchins in two major projects: a road up to Mt vistas, eminences, and graceful curves’, Buff alo and a recreational lake named in Catani’s design ‘with none of your after him, and the development of St Kilda diamonds, crescents, and grave-like beds foreshore. breaking the lawns...’. The road to Mt Buff alo, another project After 41 years in the public service, Catani providing work for the unemployed, retired in 1917 but, at council’s request, opened a signifi cant year-round tourist remained involved with the committee. attraction for the state. Lake Catani has He died in July 1918 at the age of 66. bought pleasure to swimmers, skaters, When the clock tower, which had also
16 RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 RHSVBOOKS NEWS 17 Printed on Printed on Stone Victorian Historical DECEMBER 2020 DECEMBER Amanda Scardamaglia Amanda Scardamaglia received the Victorian for History Award Premier’s her book Victorian Premier’s History Victorian Premier’s
, June 2013, monetary rewards are ect social patterns, and a cultural RHSV NEWS NEWS RHSV Award. Based on the huge Troedel archive Based on the huge Troedel Award. Library of Victoria, this book in the State has multiple dimensions. It is a history advertising of 19th century Australian a study ‘through the lens of the lithograph’, of how a technological breakthrough can aff in Melbourne. rmly grounded fi history, Visually splendid, this book blends scholarship with popular appeal. The first prize-giving for the Victorian was held Community History Awards in 1998 and regional in Toongabbie Victoria has remained a strong presence in the competition. A sense of belonging, has attachment to place and community, Digital entries been a constant theme. are increasing each year but continue to be outnumbered by books. Although the competition was suspended in 2006 it is and nearly extinguished in 2010, now an established, prestigious part of As I stressed calendar. cultural Victoria’s in my article in the Journal relatively small but contestants above all value recognition. The competition has immeasurably strengthened community history in Victoria and remains unique in Australia. In recent years the prize-giving has been thusheld at the Arts Centre Melbourne, giving community history an honoured place in the arts precinct of Victoria. FRHSV OAM, Carole Woods panel, Judges’ Chair of the central VCHA 2020 related the brilliance of this entry to the ‘bold use of mobile locative storytelling’ and its ‘great capacity to share this history with a broad and diverse audience other mediums struggle to reach’. book Amanda Scardamaglia’s Stone. The Lithographs of Charles Troedel The Lithographs of Charles Troedel Stone. claimed the
, te. te. by î portrays The Bo Annie’s War Annie’s by Patrick Ferry by Patrick Printed on Stone while Jen Rose, while Jen Rose, of Theatre
Misadventure in Little Lon Australia Australia La Mama: The Biggest Little Mama: The Biggest Little La in ed this year by the augmented In the Name more than 150 musical and non-musical amateur theatre companies scattered Fensham Rachel across the state. and Andrew Fuhrmann were joint with their winners of Digital Storytelling entry on Theatre in partnership with The Boîte, took the in partnership with The Boîte, for the vibrantCommunity Diversity Award multicultural digital entry, Historical Society, and Alicia Cerreto, and Alicia Cerreto, Historical Society, president of the Professional Historians Association (Vic.). Associate Professor chaired the History Seamus O’Hanlon assisted by historians Dr Article category, and Alicia Cerreto. Carolyn Rasmussen The best entries this year again showed diversity and the hallmarks of excellence, a time when lockdowns At originality. devastated the performing arts, the competition featured several glowing tributes to theatre in Victoria. Cheryl remarkable collaborative Threadgold’s book History through Music, Song and Story. Amanda Scardamaglia’s has a stunning section on theatre posters. has been a strong theme in the Awards War since commemoration of the centenary of Bracey’s I. Lucy War World gained illustrated by Gregory Mackay, This the Historical Interpretation Award. poignant story of the war from a child’s perspective is closely based on family letters and the memories of Annie’s book marking A collaborative daughter. the 75th anniversary of the end of World History Project Award. II won the Local War & Sweat Tears Blood, Toil, Nye includes many documents with Wally district. relating to the Pakenham wasThe innovative character of the VCHA exemplifi reality game The judges and Andy Yong. Emma Ramsay in eld, Communications eld, of presenterslms taken ce Victoria constantly cer, ran an express delivery ran an express cer,
recorded 176 meticulously cer,
arranged announcement cer at PROV, improvised this year to allow the Victorian to proceed Community History Awards despite the lockdown caused by outstanding the Emily Maiolo, COVID-19. project offi entries, the second highest ever received. She emailed digital projects to the judges Cameron, the RHSV while Rosemary offi executive Offi of results on 28 October by video on social media. Videographer Ben Milward- Bason combined fi Emeritusat home into a masterful video. Professor Richard Broome AM, president Minister and Danny Pearson, of the RHSV, for Government Services, introduced the event. Justine Heazlewood, Keeper and Professor PROV, of Public Records, Alistair Thomson announced the category awards while historian Catherine Andrews, who has had a long association with read out the citation for the the VCHA, History Award. Victorian Premier’s This year the RHSV organised four OAM, judging panels. Carole Woods, chaired the central panel, working with Dr Gary Presland and Dr Helen Doyle. producer at the creative Belinda Ensor, chaired Digital Tiny Empire Collective, and cooperated with Seb ChanStorytelling Centre for the Moving of the Australian Image and Dr Jo Clyne of the History the Association of Victoria. On Teachers initiative of Professor Alistair Thomson, entered into partnership with the VCHA Oral History Victoria. Alistair chaired the deliberating with Oral History category, manager of the Italian Elizabeth Triarico, The Royal Historical Society of Victoria and Historical The Royal Offi Public Record service of books. The judges worked at home and held meetings using Zoom. Instead of the traditional prize-giving at the Oldfi Tara Arts Centre,
Awards Awards Times History History Challenging Community Community Victorian Victorian The The RHSV NEWS RHSV
Tower showcases more Sale history
Sale, in Central Gippsland, now Peter was Mayor of Sale in 1983 when visiting Heritage Council of Victoria and boasts four museum sites and the original railway station was moved outlined the work which had been done local historian Peter Synan has from its unusual location on a spur line to restore these important local heritage been a key player in each of into the town and the site replaced with sites. Peter’s passion, knowledge and them. A long-time member of a shopping centre. He was among commitment to the heritage of the area Sale Historical Society, he’s been those who ensured the original signal was obvious and he was chosen as the the lead archivist and researcher box was retained and is now a small 2016 recipient of the Heritage Council’s at the society’s main museum railway museum. In the early 1990s, Ray Tonkin Heritage Volunteer Award. in the original Borough of Sale he discovered the town’s Powder The award included a $2000 cheque, Magazine, neglected and overgrown which Peter ambitiously chose to use council chamber on Foster Street and modifi ed as a residence, but with as the seed-funding to restore an early for many years. its signature barrel vaulted ceiling, brick water tower in Sale’s Victoria designed to limit any explosion, still Park. Starting with that $2000, Peter intact. Opened in 2000 after extensive Synan has led the redevelopment of the works, the Powder Magazine is a 1888 brick tower in a restoration and unique and outstanding example of a redevelopment project worth around a purpose-built facility, now serving as an quarter of a million dollars. interpretive centre for Gippsland gold. Water supply for the Borough of Sale In 2016 Peter Synan showed these sites was quite contentious for many years: and the unique Swing Bridge to the was the town of less than 500 large
18 RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 RHSV NEWS
Johann August (John) Niemann was a pioneer of the use of artesian water and under Niemann’s guidance, Sale was the fi rst municipality in Australia to trial artesian water as a public water supply.
Previous page: Left: Sale. Brick Water Tower. Victoria Park, cnr. Marley and Cunninghame Sts. Photographer Collins, John T. March 9, 1984 http://handle.slv.vic. gov.au/10381/4122630 Right: The restored Sale water tower.
This page: A wood water pipe on display.
enough to justify a reticulated system? the pollution from mining, farming and But many local businesses and Where would the funds come from? other activities along the river. A further individuals came to the party with How could a water supply compete with poll in 1887, sweetened by the inclusion donations of goods, services and the need for a town gas supply and a of a swimming pool, voted in favor of specialty skills. One of the few existing canal to link the railway with the lakes? the scheme. timber window inserts was replicated For a time from the late 1870s, the The engineer for the new proposal for all the openings, new fl oorboards locals were diverted by the availability was John Harry Grainger, father of were installed and polished, a metal of artesian water. Johann August (John) composer, arranger and pianist Percy staircase replaced the wonky ladders Niemann was a pioneer of the use of Grainger. Grainger snr. was also and professional exhibition boards artesian water and under Niemann’s responsible for the 1883 Swing Bridge were installed on each fl oor. Water guidance, Sale was the fi rst municipality at nearby Longford. history memorabilia, from wooden pipes to valves, was donated and in Australia to trial artesian water as Both Niemann and Grainger are others donated special fi ttings and a a public water supply. Peter reports recognised in the new Water Tower donation box. that Sale’s artesian well of 1880, when museum with one level each featuring water rose as high as 43 feet above the their work. The top level, termed the And a bonus of this project is, of surface, caused much excitement and observation deck, provides a great course, being able to view other many inquiries from water authorities view of the surrounding streets and landmarks around Sale: an opportunity Australia-wide. However, there were landmarks such as the Cathedral and not to be missed. endless issues with the water corroding Lake Guthridge. With an enthusiastic team of volunteers, the pipes: later lined with a casing of The project wasn’t all smooth sailing: the water tower opened each Saturday Californian Red Pine. Residents still had rampant ivy had to be removed from afternoon after its opening in April 2019, their own rain tanks and had to use the brickwork, repointing, plans to attracting dozens of visitors each time water carriers to deliver water or collect reuse the fl oorboards on each level until forced to close under COVID-19 it from the bore or the river. were thwarted by their poor condition, restrictions. The narrow staircases An 1886 proposal for a reticulated competition with cockatoos over the make social distancing tricky to manage system using water from the Thomson timber wooden window frames and but the team will be back just as soon as River was defeated by ratepayer ballot, a never-ending quest for funding to possible. no doubt infl uenced by council Health complete the project. Pauline Hitchins Offi cer Dr Macdonald who emphasised
RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 19 BOOKSHOP History Victoria Bookshop 239 A’Beckett St, Melbourne 3000 Mon- Fri 9am – 5pm
VERA DEAKIN AND THE RED CROSS Carole Woods HB | 244PP | 66 IMAGES $35 Vera Deakin, daughter of Prime Minister Alfred Deakin, was motivated by imperial fervour during World War I to sidestep the Australian government’s restrictions on women’s service. On the eve of WWI she was studying music in Budapest but later joined the fl edgling Australian Red Cross and sailed to Cairo. There she became founding secretary of the Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau, an organisation devoted to fi nding information on behalf of the relatives of Australian soldiers who had gone missing or been wounded or killed during the war, then focused at Gallipoli. She was 23 and formidable. A self-styled despot, she welded a disparate group of women into a committed team. Scientist Sir David Rivett said Vera brought ‘an infi nity of consolation to so many people’. In 1916 she moved the bureau to London. In 1918, at just 26, she was awarded an OBE for her service to the bureau. She led similar work for the Red Cross in Melbourne during World War II. In 1920 after a whirlwind romance, Vera married Captain Thomas White, an Australian pilot who had served in the Mesopotamian campaign before being captured by the Turks. She undertook varied welfare work together with lifelong service to the Red Cross. Vera was honoured during her lifetime but later largely forgotten. The centenary of World War l revived interest in her and the Enquiry Bureau’s 32,000 case fi les on missing soldiers. Now Carole Woods has captured this signifi cant fi gure in Australian history through her perceptive and poignant biography. Carole explores Vera’s humanitarian activism within the defi ning events of the 20th century and shines a light on a woman who defi ed society’s expectations in order to help those in need. Carole Woods OAM, is a Fellow and honorary secretary of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria. For 7 years she chaired the judges’ panel of the Victorian Community History Awards. Her books include Vision Fugitive. The Story of David Allen and Beechworth. A Titan’s Field. She lives in Camberwell.
20 RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 BOOKSHOP
The History Victoria bookshop is fully open again and History is bursting with gorgeous books that will please every Victoria member of your family this Christmas. During lockdown our on-line bookshop was sending books around the Bookshop world but nothing beats coming in to browse..
REMEMBERING MELBOURNE 1850-1960 MELBOURNE’S TWENTY DECADES Ed Richard Broome, Richard Barnden, Don Garden, Ed Richard Broome, Richard Barnden, Don Gibb, Elisabeth Jackson, Judith Smart Elisabeth Jackson, Judith Smart HB | 366PP | 679 IMAGES PB | 148PP | 167 IMAGES $35 $28 Every house and every business in Melbourne should have Melbourne had two foundations. The fi rst was in deep time a copy of this magnifi cent homage to our marvellous city. as an Aboriginal place, about 50,000 years ago. The second Melbourne has been reshaped since the 1950s, the completion was when European settlement began on the Yarra in 1835, of ICI House in 1958 being symbolic of the glass tower a mere 185 years ago. This book which devotes a chapter to revolution that changed the face of this graceful nineteenth each decade of Melbourne’s history, starts in deep time and century city. This book captures what has been lost and then follows the development of this great metropolis until we forgotten, concealed and overlaid, demolished and reborn, in are projecting the future in the 2020s. Each chapter has been the transformation of a city’s buildings and streetscapes. Each written by an expert historian and is lavishly illustrated with chapter is introduced by a short essay written by an expert, images from the RHSV collection. catching the essence of that precinct. Authors: Jill Barnard, Richard Broome, Michael Cannon, The fi rst half of this book looks lovingly at Melbourne’s inner Graeme Davison, Don Garden, John Lack, Andrew Lemon, city which is examined street by street. The second half goes Andrew May, Seamus O’Hanlon, Judith Smart, Charles further afi eld and there are chapters looking at Brighton, Sowerwine. Brunswick, Camberwell-Hawthorn-Balwyn, Canterbury, As a lighter book than Remembering Melbourne, this is an Carlton, Coburg, Collingwood, East Melbourne, Essendon, ideal gift for posting overseas or interstate. Fitzroy, Footscray, Heidelberg, Kew, Malvern, Middle Park, North & West Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Richmond, Sunshine & district and Surrey Hills. This book is a priceless trove of a city’s memory.
RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 21 History Victoria Bookshop BOOKSHOP
“BONLEIGH” GRAND DAME, ARADALE THE MAKING OF A MALDON A NEW HISTORY BELOVED HOME HAUNTED ASYLUM 1853 - 1928 Abigail Belfrage David Waldron, Sharn Waldron Brian Rhule HB | 240PP | 200+ IMAGES | & Nathaniel Buchanan HB | 382PP | 73 IMAGES | $50 $75 PB | 170PP | 8 IMAGES | $29.95 Winner 2020 Victorian Commended 2020 Victorian Built in 1867, the remarkable Community History Awards Community History Awards Gothic structure of the former Maldon was declared a Bonleigh, in its eponymous Ararat Lunatic Asylum, known ‘notable town’ by the National avenue in Brighton was as Aradale, is acclaimed as Trust (Victoria) in 1966. This is a originally built on 5 acres that ‘Australia’s most haunted history of key social, economic ran down to Port Phillip Bay. building’ and is home to and cultural developments in For her current owners Jill a fl ourishing dark tourism the former gold mining town Davies & Graeme Samuel it industry. Throughout its history and its community. It examines was love at fi rst sight in 2015 it has seen transformations in the discovery of gold, the when they were introduced to western society’s treatment formation of a township, the Bonleigh. Jill commissioned of the mentally ill, and it has emergence of early gold Abi Belfrage to research and participated in some of their mining companies & social write not just the history of the darkest scandals. organisations, and the politics house and its owners but to of ‘labour and capital’. tie it into a broader context, A GUIDE TO HISTORIC the social history of Melbourne ST KILDA THE GHOSTS HAVE during Bonleigh’s occupation. David Willis NEVER LEFT This large format book spans PB | 276PP | 249 IMAGES | John & Marie Watt the European history of the $39.95 land from 1852 to 2015. PB | 270PP | 134+ IMAGES | Commended 2020 Victorian $39.99 Community History Awards PENGUIN LAND In words and images this Nearly everyone in Melbourne beautiful book captures both Gregor Buchanan has a St Kilda story. David the glory days and haunting PB | 155PP | 110 IMAGES | $25 Willis’ new book tells the reminders of 21 Victorian gold Summerland housing estate stories of many of the places rush towns, which today are was the last place Philip you’ve visited in the suburb either small, sleepy, or non- Island’s threatened penguin and hear some nifty facts you existent. The lights of Cobb & colonies were to be found. may not have known. Where Co, the pen of Henry Handel Greg Buchanan traces the was the alpaca paddock? Who Richardson, the sinking of the history of the penguins and has the Palais chandelier? Was HMAS Sydney, and the birth Philip Island and how John there a Banksy painting in a St of an iconic wine, all have a Cain’s government bought Kilda laneway? link to at least one of the towns back the land and turned a explored. suburb into a national park. WALTZING MATILDA AUSTRALIA’S ACCIDENTAL JUDGING FOR THE PEOPLE: ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIANS ANTHEM A SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE SUPREME COURT IN Richard Broome W. Benjamin Lindner VICTORIA 1841-2016 PB | 336PP | 68 IMAGES | $35 PB | 352PP | 80 IMAGES | Was $32.99 Now $24 Ed Simon Smith In the creation of any new HB | 308PP | 130+ IMAGES | society, there are winners This song that started as an Was $60 Now $50 and losers. So it was with accidental collaboration in Australia as it grew from a outback Queensland in 1895 In the 179 years since colonial outpost to an affl uent caused the death of a seven- controversial Judge John Willis society. Richard Broome tells year relationship and went on convened the fi rst Supreme the history of Australia from to inspire a nation during WWII, Court sittings, the court has the standpoint of the original following Banjo Paterson’s been a window on the people Australians: those who lost death in 1941. Forensically and events that have shaped most in the early colonial examines many of the myths the history of the state. struggle for power. Highly which have accrued. With a Copiously illustrated, Judging regarded, fully updated for foreword by Geoff rey Blainey. for the People contains this fi fth edition. robust contributions from 13 distinguished law and history scholars and is a splendid large format book.
22 RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 History Victoria BOOKSHOP Bookshop
GRANVILLE STAPYLTON. JOURNEYS INTO CHINESE YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE AUSTRALIA FELIX 1836 AUSTRALIAN FAMILY JOINED. GENERAL SIR PETER SECOND IN COMMAND TO HISTORY COSGROVE A MEMOIR MAJOR MITCHELL Ed Sophie Couchman Peter Cosgrove Gregory C. Eccleston PB | 191PP | 30+ IMAGES | $25 HB | 426PP | 47 IMAGES | HB | 250PP | 225+ IMAGES | Commended 2020 Victorian $49.99 $145 Community History Awards Signed by the author Winner 2018 Victorian Members of the Chinese General Sir Peter Cosgrove Community History Awards Australian Family Historians AK AC (Mil) CVO MC (Retd) This gorgeous large format of Victoria (CAFHOV) is one of Australia’s most book is generously illustrated demonstrate that the signifi cant public fi gures. As with colour photographs and challenges in researching a soldier he saw action in maps. Assistant Surveyor their Chinese ancestry are not Vietnam, winning the Military Granville Stapylton’s intimate insurmountable and you don’t Cross & becoming Chief of journal is here published as have to face them alone. The the Defence Force. In 2014, a faithful transcription from book covers both the diverse Cosgrove became Australia’s the original fi eld books for paths CAFHOV members Governor-General. His memoir the fi rst time. This expedition have travelled in order to allows us an incredible insight proceeded down the Lachlan, understand more about their into the role and world of Murrumbidgee and Murray families are described & the Australia’s Governor-General. rivers into far western NSW, historical sources and skills He was there as two prime before crossing into what is which are valuable to those ministers were toppled by now Victoria and proceeded researching their Chinese their own party. He was there south past the Grampians to ancestry. through disasters both natural the coast at Portland, before and man-made, such as the returning via Mount Macedon PRINTED ON STONE. THE destruction of MH17. to the settled areas near LITHOGRAPHS OF CHARLES Gundagai. TROEDEL BLUE LAKE. FINDING DUDLEY Amanda Scardamaglia FLATS AND THE WEST VISIONS OF VICTORIA. THE MELBOURNE SWAMP HB | 232PP | 124+ COLOUR MAGIC OF KODACHROME David Sornig FILM 1950-1975 IMAGES | $69.95 PB | 392PP | 30+ IMAGES | $35 Nick Anchen Winner 2020 Victorian Premier’s History Award Winner 2019 Victorian HB | 184PP | 170+ COLOUR Community History Awards IMAGES | $70 This book is the fi rst to document the visual history David Sornig examines how Winner 2020 Victorian of print advertising in the 8km-square zone to the Community History Awards Australia and in so doing west of Central Melbourne A journey back in time to a very provides a valuable illustrated became the city’s blind spot. diff erent place with red trains social history of Australia. Once a fertile wetland with a and green trams, Moomba Charles Troedel (1835–1906) large blue saltwater lagoon, parades, FJ Holdens and men was a master printer and it passed through various wearing hats viewed through lithographer, and the face incarnations: from boneyards the wonders of Kodachrome. behind the production of most and rubbish tips; through the Features: Melbourne Street of Australia’s early advertising Depression-era Dudley Flats Scenes & architecture, 1954 posters, product labels, and shanty town; to the modern- Royal Visit, 1956 Olympic other print ephemera, as well day docks. Sornig weaves Games, Flinders Street station, as the iconic Melbourne Album. social history, geographic MCG, 1972 Melbourne Flood, meandering and the personal Moomba parades, Melbourne with concepts of belonging, suburbs, Ballarat, Bendigo and identity, race and class into rural Victoria plus Melbourne’s the Blue Lake narrative. Don’t railways, tramways, shipping forget to visit our exhibition, and aviation. The Swamp Vanishes, which traces the disappearance of Sornig’s Blue Lake.
RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 23 History Victoria Bookshop BOOKSHOP
THE VAGABOND AS IN THE NAME OF THEATRE. PORT FAIRY THE TOWN THAT SOCIAL REFORMER. INSIDE THE HISTORY, CULTURE KEPT ITS CHARACTER. MELBOURNE’S ASYLUMS & VOICES OF AMATEUR MARTEN A. SYME AND HOSPITALS THEATRE IN VICTORIA HB | 295PP | 77 IMAGES | John Stanley James, Ed Cheryl Threadgold $42.50 Michael Cannon HB | 343PP | 250+ IMAGES | Winner 2019 Victorian PB | 239PP | 83+ IMAGES | $20 $45 Community History Awards This is the writing that has Winner 2020 Victorian Syme has reviewed the inspired many others. ‘The Community History Awards published histories and Vagabond’ was the alias of Cheryl Threadgold’s sumptuous examined activities, people a famous nineteenth century book, In the Name of and events in greater detail. journalist, John Stanley Theatre, is a kind of These segments cover James. Under various guises encyclopaedia of the Victorian contact with the indigenous he infi ltrated Melbourne stage. From early colonial inhabitants; whaling; the town institutions and, taking humble settlement when entertainment in the 1840s and 1850s; the employment, was able to included the viewing of commercial dealings of James observe their daily operations. executions, amateur theatre Atkinson, William Rutledge His reports led to important has come a long way. Amateur and their associates; and the reforms and a degree of companies from across the shipping business. In the social justice for the poor, state are documented & twentieth century the story has the unemployed, and the we are entertained with a a wider horizon. unfortunate. cavalcade of writers, directors, performers, designers, set KEILOR TO FOOTSCRAY. MR POOR SOULS THEY builders, technicians, judges, SOLOMON’S MARIBYRNONG PERISHED: THE CATARAQUI critics and musos. This book is Rick Keam - AUSTRALIA’S WORST a celebration of and for theatre SHIPWRECK lovers across Victoria. PB | 123PP | 59 IMAGES | $34.95 ANDREW LEMON & MARJORIE MORGAN MY COUNTRY ALL GONE Before the punt near the THE WHITE MEN HAVE junction of the Saltwater & PB | 192PP | 56+ IMAGES | STOLEN IT. THE INVASION OF Yarra rivers at Footscray, $29.95 WADAWURRUNG COUNTRY a circuitous track from Winner of the Wilke Literary 1800-1870. Melbourne to Geelong crossed Award Fred Cahir the river at ‘Solomon’s Ford’. 2020 is the 175th anniversary But where exactly was it, and PB | 348PP | 42+ COLOUR who was Solomon? Rick Keam of Australia’s worst civil IMAGES | $55.95 disaster. A sailing ship stranded has sought answers by walking just 150m off the deserted This book chronicles the three the riverbank and re-examining shore of King Island, isolated waves of colonial invasion in contemporary documents by rows of reefs; victims the Ballarat + Geelong districts and historic photos. His fresh clinging, for up to 2 days, to by the ngamadjidj – ‘the white account of the Solomon era the disintegrating vessel. The stangers from the sea’. Using is placed in a wider context, miraculous rescue of the few the invaders’ own words, the from early exploration, through survivors by an ex-convict, author presents a challenging the degradation of the river, the response to the news in history of the colonial to its rehabilitation as today’s Melbourne and England, and invaders’ interactions with Maribyrnong. the gruesome aftermath of the Wadawurrung between burial and salvage complete 1800-1870. PENTRIDGE VOICES FROM the tale. THE OTHER SIDE CANTERBURY A HISTORY Rupert Mann MURDER & MISFORTUNE ON DON GIBB WITH JILL BARNARD HB | 279PP | 141 COLOUR THE MOUNT ALEXANDER HB | 187PP | 50 IMAGES | $45 IMAGES | $49.99 ROAD Covers the history of Pentridge was, for 146 years, LENORE FROST Canterbury, Victoria from its an integral, if unwanted, part of PB | 80PP | $10 Aboriginal history as part of Melbourne’s identity. Within the the country of the Wurundjeri decaying walls of this once- Based on selected coronial people to its completed shining fortress, 15 people, inquests held in the district development as a prosperous former inmates and staff , of Essendon, Moonee Ponds, middle-class suburb by the return to their memories and to Ascot Vale and Flemington late 1950s. Noted for its Pentridge —to bear witness to between 1840 and 1866. conservative politics and its end, to tell their stories and The evidence presented at Protestant moral values as well to be photographed amongst the inquests are eye-witness as its leafy streets and large the decay, as a testament to the accounts of events in the early homes. resilience of the human spirit. days of the settlement. 24 RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 History Victoria BOOKSHOP Bookshop
ALBERT ‘POMPEY’ AUSTIN: A ST KILDA FAMILIES. THE WORLD IS ONE MAN BETWEEN TWO WORLDS MEMORIALS IN CHRIST KILOMETRE: GREVILLE Roy Hay CHURCH STREET, PRAHRAN PB | 265PP | 63 IMAGES | Jennifer F. O’Donnell Judith Buckrich $29.95 PB | 243PP | 158+ IMAGES | PB | 213PP | 200+ IMAGES| $50 This book follows in detail $40 This book begins in the 1830s the life and times of ‘Pompey’ This book details the history and leads to the Greville St we Austin (1846–1889) who of Christ Church St Kilda until know and love which found endeavoured to exist in both the start of WWI in 1914. Part fame with its groovy music a white European culture and 2 then introduces some of venues, clothes shops and his own indigenous culture. the ways the war aff ected eateries in the last 30 years From taking the athletic world the St Kilda community, and of the twentieth century. In by storm by winning foot the development of local war the 1970s it was a venue for races, to cricket, racehorse memorials, especially the one Captain Matchbox Whoopie owner, jockey, boxer, horse at Christ Church. Part 3 profi les Band whose members lived thief, artist, explorer, savant, the men and women who in the street as did Chrissie entertainer and musician to served in the war and part 4 Amphlett. Photographer Rennie playing for Geelong in the profi les past parishioners who Ellis ‘captured’ the street ‘new’ Melbourne football he have memorials in the church. for decades. His studio was was one of the most important on the same corner where multi-sports Indigenous OUT OF THE MADHOUSE. Marcus Clarke had lived in the persons of that era. FROM ASYLUMS TO CARING 1870s after one of his many COMMUNITY? bankruptcies. THE PERSONAL HISTORY Sandy Jeff s & Margaret Leggatt OF WILLIAM BUCKLEY. IN THE SHADOW OF THE MURRANGURK AMONG THE PB | 255PP | $34.95 PROM. EARLY SOUTH FIRST PEOPLE Winner 2020 Victorian GIPPSLAND TIMES, TALES Robert Larkins Community History Awards AND TRAMLINES PB | 248PP | 14 IMAGES | $44 Larundel Psychiatric Mike Mccarthy Hospital was ‘the madhouse William Buckley was a British HB | 286PP | 200+ IMAGES| on the edge of town’ – until the $66 soldier who fought against 1990s, a Melbourne cultural Napoleon, but a drunken icon shrouded in mystery in A history of the early escapade led to transportation the outer suburb of Bundoora. settlement of south Gippsland to Australia, an escape from This story takes us into the from Foster to the Mullungdung custody and 30 years of isolation heart of Larundel through forest north-east of Yarram. among the First People who the voices of former inmates The development of the towns sheltered him. Known to his and staff . It shows the shifts and the importance of coastal saviours as ‘Murrangurk’, in psychiatric treatments, shipping to their survival is Buckley learnt their language the social forces at play, and comprehensively covered. It and forgot his own. When changes driving mental health includes extensive details and eventually Europeans returned policy. maps of numerous tramways, and confl ict between them and which provided transport from the First People fl ared, Buckley the coast before the coming of was at the heart of the tumult. THE ACCIDENTAL TOWN. the South Gippsland Railway. CASTLEMAINE, 1851 - 1861 Marjorie Theobold MADNESS & THE MILITARY. HOW THE WEST WAS ONE PB | 330PP | 44 IMAGES| AUSTRALIA’S EXPERIENCE Ed Karyn Howie & Sue O’Brien OF SHELL SHOCK IN THE $39.95 PB | 268PP | $29.99 GREAT WAR Commended 2020 Victorian Michael Tyquin Community History Awards A heart-warming collection of memoirs about growing The alluvial gold rushes of PB | 262PP | 16 IMAGES | $44 up in the western suburbs of 1851 spawned a ramshackle Michael Tyquin deals with war Melbourne during the 1950s, village known as the Canvas neurosis or ‘shell shock’ in the ‘60s & ‘70s. These eye-witness Town which later became years after WWI. He breaks accounts will appeal to anyone Castlemaine. The fi rst decade new ground; the psychological who loves the western suburbs is rich in characters and egos. casualties, the mental debris, or has an interest in the post- They were astonishingly young, of that war have been largely war years of multi-cultural assertive and determined to forgotten. He describes a Australia. neglected generation of war shape a better way of life. ‘The veterans and challenges long- Accidental Town’ recreates an cherished myths surrounding era when Castlemaine was the commemoration of poised precariously between their war and examines a mining camp and a settled the treatment of wartime town. psychological casualties. RHSV NEWS DECEMBER 2020 25 Authors, publishers and Historical Societies are invited to contribute books to the RHSV for the library and for consideration for Books received inclusion in Books Received. Please note: these books listed are not John Schauble necessarily off ered to the bookshop by authors, please check the shop catalogue.
Chis: The Life and Work of Alan Rowland Hume and Hovell Expedition Annie’s War. Lucy Bracey, City of Chisholm (1888-1981). Stan Scott, Termination. Lance Pritchard, Boroondara, Camberwell, 2019, pp. 1-59, Ancora Press, Monash University, 2019, Sunshine West, 2019, pp. 1-104, ISBN ISBN 9780958087414. pp. v-219, ISBN 9780648118985. 9780646816814. This book for younger readers uses A couple of generations after his The premise of this slim volume is simple handsome illustrations by Gregory Mackay retirement as a professor at the University enough: the overland Hume and Hovell to supplement the family story of seven- of Melbourne, the significance of A.R. expedition in 1824-25 ended not at Corio year-old Annie Slade. Annie’s father has Chisholm’s role in the intellectual life of Bay as has commonly been believed, but joined up to fi ght the distant war in Europe. the city and the nation might seem diffi cult at the Werribee River. Hume and Hovell But the war touches those at home too. to fathom. ‘Chis’ gained prominence as an were charged by the Governor of NSW, This is Annie’s story of growing up in Kew intellectual through both scholarship and Sir Thomas Brisbane, with fi nding new in a country at war but far removed, at a his contribution to the history of education. grazing lands in the south of the colony. time when newspapers carried the great Interrupted by service in the First World Lance Pritchard visited the State Library and increasingly tragic news of the day. An War and driven by the moral crisis of the of Victoria in 2018. On display was a off shoot of the Boroondara Remembers second, his contribution to journalism, foldout map attached to an early account project to mark the centenary of World Australian literature and to the education of the trek. The map showed a dotted War One, the story is partly fi ctionalised of generations of students taught was line indicating where the expeditioners but based in large measure upon Slade immense. His 25 years of ‘retirement’ ended their travels. It fi nished well short family letters. This story of a family at war were among his most productive. This of Geelong. Pritchard has since chased will help another generation understand biography written more than 30 years down a range of maps and other materials its futility. ago, has only seen publication through to support his thesis. an extraordinary eff ort.
Gariwerd: An Environmental History A Water Story. Geoff Beeson, CSIRO A Networked Community: Jewish of the Grampians. Benjamin Wilkie, Publishing, Clayton South, 2020, Melbourne in the 19th Century. Sue CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, 2020, pp.iii-289, ISBN 9781486311293. Silberberg, Melbourne University pp.iii-134, ISBN 9781486307685. Not just in Australia but across the globe, Press, Carlton, 2020, pp.vii-243, ISBN This new history of Gariwerd traces the the scarcity of fresh water has already 9780522876345. infl uence of humans upon this environment become one of the defi ning issues of Many will know something of the wave across thousands of generations. It begins our age. This account of water use in of Jewish migration to Melbourne before by looking at its geology and landforms, Australia past, present and pointing to and after WWII. Oddly less familiar is the climate, water, soils, plants and animal the future helps readers to enhance their Jewish community that thrived here for life. A second approach traces the human understanding of why the water crises many decades from the very beginning interactions with the landscape, how this in this country are not about to go away of settlement at Port Phillip. By 1860 the has changed and how it has transformed anytime soon. The interconnected nature fi rst Jewish colonist had taken his seat in the environment. The third aspect of this of Australia’s river and other natural the Victorian Parliament. The community history is an approach to the landscape in water systems means that the parochial prospered and became infl uential across terms of how people have thought about dialogues of the past are no longer the sweep of commerce, the professions, Gariwerd, colonising and reimagining it relevant. Finding a workable solution to especially the law, and the press but not as the Grampians and then realigning it water management and use in the driest the public service. This was a sophisticated back to the Jardwadjali and Djab wurrung. continent will take an understanding of urban community, which developed with Historian Benjamin Wilkie has written a the issues raised here so that historic few civil or political constraints, adapting thoughtful and illuminating exploration of blunders are not repeated. its religious observance to suit the colonial this unique part of Victoria. circumstance. Silberberg has presented an important account of Melbourne’s early Jewish community, its history and infl uence.