Icon in the archives Andrew Lemon

Archival institutions and historians need each other. Among the grand collections in the University of Melbourne Archives is a very modest group of records dating from 1930 to 1969, occupying 1.02 shelf metres, of the defunct Melbourne business of ‘manufacturing jewellers’, J.W. Steeth and Son. Three of the items, prosaically listed in fi nding aids as workbooks 1/1, 1/2 and 1/3, helped solve a series of mysteries concerning highly valuable gold trophies presented to winners of Australia’s greatest horse race, the Melbourne Cup. As is so often the case with archival research, they answer only some of the questions, and give rise to new ones. These records were not originally The Steeth records include 26 the wise researcher will often probe deposited in order to solve mysteries. undistinguished duplicate invoice further. This is what the fi nding aid They were donated to the university books covering only the years 1963 tells us about the Steeth records: to preserve the memory of a to 1966. Most likely they will never unique Melbourne business and to be consulted in detail, but they could Founded in the early 20th memorialise a tradition of Australian imaginably help provide proof of Century by James William Steeth, goldsmithing. The material proved a provenance of an article made in the (c1884–1959) this fi rm gained a goldmine in a different way to me as Steeth workshop. They also show the reputation for the high quality of a historian. In return, my researches range of work undertaken, and who its work. The Melbourne Cup was may help the archives and its many were their clients. I regret the Steeths produced for William Drummond users gain a richer appreciation of the did not keep their earlier invoice books; & Co from 1919 to 1970 (missing importance of this collection. it might have made my quest easier. only four years). James’ son The reasons why a donor places Finding aids to individual Maurice James Francis Steeth records in an archive may have no collections at the University of (c1913–1970) was employed connection with the motives of those Melbourne Archives are now as a toolmaker with Aviation wishing to consult them. Perversely, increasingly available online, so a Manufacturing Co Pty Ltd from bread-and-butter items sometimes researcher no longer needs to visit Jan 1941 until Oct 1945 when he hold the key to understanding. in person to consult the lists. But left to join the family fi rm.

Andrew Lemon, ‘Icon in the archives’ 39 Previous page: The 1980 Melbourne Cup trophy (formerly the 1953 trophy) that the author believes was originally made by James Steeth and could well be Phar Lap’s trophy from 1930. Pictured with Dr Andrew Lemon (at the launch in August 2008 of his book The history of Australian thoroughbred racing, volume 3), are Susan, Lady Renouf (owner of the trophy) and trainer Bart Cummings. Photograph courtesy of the Victoria Racing Club.

Right and opposite: Details of marks on the 1980 trophy (believed to be Phar Lap’s 1930 Melbourne Cup). Photographs courtesy of the Victoria Racing Club.

He continued the business for jewellers Hardy Brothers, who its gold value today in the collectors’ after the death of his father on retailed them to the Victoria Racing market. Only a golden medallion, 1 Jan 1959, until his own sudden Club (VRC). Hardy Brothers now originally part of that trophy and death on 10 Jun 1970. Maurice make the trophies in Brisbane. engraved with details of the winning gained a reputation as a teacher The date of the fi rst Steeth horse and connections, was retained and examiner. The business was Melbourne Cup trophy, and of the by Wilson descendants. Last year acquired by the Italian born start of the business itself, causes this relic was stolen, only to fi nd its silversmith Fortunato Rocca. confusion. William Drummond way into the premises of a gold dealer and Co. as prestige jewellers had who thought it was a commemorative DESCRIPTION: Work books, supplied racing trophies to the VRC medal. I think it has now been invoices, stock sheets, newspaper since the late 19th century—most restored to its rightful owner. cuttings and photographs. The often a piece of imported English In World War I the VRC aban- collection also holds work punches silverware in one of a variety of forms, doned its preference for importing for Steeth and Edward Fischer from epergnes and statuettes to tea trophies and pragmatically agreed to of Geelong.1 services. Contrary to many claims, have them made in Melbourne. In there was no offi cial trophy presented 1916 Drummond and Co. supplied a Maurice Steeth’s daughter Ann for the fi rst four Melbourne Cups small gold cup, won by New Zealand and son Michael donated the Steeth (1861–64), and thereafter the practice horse Sasanof, and this trophy Collection to the university many of including a trophy was sporadic. remains in New Zealand today. You years ago. When Maurice died in Only twice prior to 1916 had the might irreverently describe it as a 1970 the children were too young VRC presented a Melbourne Cup Magic Pudding—a round bowl with even to consider taking over the trophy in gold. Both were Australian- three curved handles that become business. Fortunato ‘Lucky’ Rocca made but the 1887 version was its short legs. It stands on a circular was Maurice’s leading apprentice in nothing more subtle than a mounted timber plinth. James Steeth, by his the 1960s and was able to acquire the golden horseshoe. The 1876 trophy own counting of the years, was the Steeth workshop and goodwill, but on the other hand truly represented goldsmith who made this trophy, despite the outstanding quality of the colonial goldsmith’s art. The probably still as an employee of the work it was only ever an artisan Geelong goldsmith Edward Fischer, Drummond. business on a modest scale. Rocca whose work punch ended up in the James began working is still in business today on his own Steeth Collection, made this ornate independently as an artisan soon account as a gold- and silversmith cup, paid for by VRC chairman afterwards, but still worked in Elgin Street, Carlton, close to the James Blackwood and won by James extensively for Drummond, for whom University of Melbourne. He kept Wilson, owner-trainer of the wonder he made the next two Melbourne making the famous gold Melbourne fi lly Briseis. Tragically this trophy was Cup trophies. Again they had bowls Cup trophies annually until 2000, sold decades ago to be melted down. but this time featured two handles fi rst for Drummond and Co. and later It would be worth a lot more than and a single stem with a rounded

40 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 9, December 2011 base. The 1917 example is owned Maurice became a student The explanation for the four by the Australian Jockey Club of the history of goldsmithing blank years in the 1950s turns out (now the Australian Turf Club) at and jewellery manufacturing in to be that second-hand Melbourne Randwick. The next step in the Australia. The collection contains Cup trophies had come onto the evolution was in 1919 with the a beautifully presented typescript market. These were acquired by creation of what we now recognise as of his research. He voiced two loud Drummonds below cost, then the Melbourne Cup design—a three- laments. One was that so much fi ne re-engraved and re-presented as handled loving-cup about a foot tall, Australian gold craftsmanship had new, unbeknown to the winning in liquid Art Deco style with a shaped been destroyed in times of economic owners. To that list we need to add stem supporting the bowl, the stem depression; the Briseis Melbourne the 1980 trophy won by Robert emerging from a scalloped base, and Cup trophy was just one example. Sangster’s imported stallion Beldale the whole thing resting on a circular His second grief was that English Ball, which was in fact the 1953 polished timber stand. goldsmiths denied Australian makers trophy. Lucky Rocca refurbished it Steeth’s Melbourne Cups the use of traditional hallmarks to at the request of the VRC, who had superfi cially look the same but the sign their work. Maurice himself acquired it from a deceased estate. designs fl uctuated subtly over the often placed James Steeth and Son In 1980 the gold price went through years, altering in width, height, identifying marks on their work the roof, just as it has done this year, weight, proportion and gold content. in locations where they would not so it seemed to make sense to bring It is the workbooks of James and readily be seen. Without the Steeth this old cup out of the vault and Maurice, imperfect as they are, that Collection at the University of rebrand it. help explain how the cups changed. Melbourne Archives, many items What Rocca did not know, In the depression years from 1931 the made by the father and son could and nobody in the VRC had trophies became smaller and contained have ended up simply attributed to remembered, was that the trophy less gold, and they never fully returned retailers ‘Wm Drummond and Co.’ was already second-hand when to 1930 dimensions until 2010.2 whose company name was engraved awarded in 1953. This fact was Maurice Steeth began working visibly on the rim or base of all the tucked away in fi nancial ledgers with his father before World War Melbourne Cups they supplied. that miraculously survived sundry II, not afterwards as the University It is true as the fi nding aid says purges of records at the VRC and is of Melbourne Archives summary that in four years (during the 1950s) confi rmed by the silence in Steeth’s suggests. He made his fi rst Melbourne Steeth and Son did not make new workbook. This now invaluable Cup solo in 1938, with James Melbourne Cups, even though source gives weights and details of standing by; his anxious comments trophies were presented for each of many of his trophies, and it led me are preserved in the workbooks. After those races. In addition, in three of to conclude that the Beldale Ball the war the Steeths more rigorously the years during World War II (1942, trophy had originally been made at standardised the design but still 1943 and 1944) no trophy was made, least 50 years earlier, no later than introduced small variations. war bonds being presented in lieu. 1930. Whose cup was it?

Andrew Lemon, ‘Icon in the archives’ 41 James Steeth at work (photographer and date unknown). Box BWP 9012, ref 8/1, accession no. 1983.0111, J.W. Steeth and Son Collection, University of Melbourne Archives.

A process of elimination, helped There were instances where notes, reminders and calculations by Steeth’s notes but requiring much joint owners of a Melbourne Cup would end up as a treasured part of wider detective work, narrowed the winner commissioned an extra Australia’s history in the University field down first to 12, then to just trophy, out of their winnings, and of Melbourne Archives. two: Spearfelt’s of 1926 or Phar Lap’s times when Drummond and Co. of 1930. Owner and trainer Harry ordered an extra without telling Dr Andrew Lemon is consultant historian to Telford secretly sold Phar Lap’s the VRC. It was one such trophy, the Victoria Racing Club and author of the trophy when he fell on hard times. falsely engraved by a later owner, three-volume History of Australian thoroughbred racing (Melbourne: Hardie Grant, 2008). He Spearfelt’s appeared to be safely in that ended up being touted as Phar tells of ‘The mystery of Phar Lap’s cup’ in The the family of the winning owner, Lap’s missing Melbourne Cup. This story of the Melbourne Cup (Melbourne: Slattery but we later discovered it had gone was the case that sent me first to Media, 2010). He is president of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria and a member missing, probably stolen, and possibly the Steeth Collection in 2005, and of the University of Melbourne Archives before 1953. Dimensions, weights, the workbooks became central to Advisory Board. dates and circumstantial evidence proving the forgery. favour Phar Lap but another lucky These days racing publicists are find in an archive, somewhere, quick to apply the overworked label University of Melbourne Archives collects, manages and provides access to the historical someday, might be the only way of ‘icon’ to the Melbourne Cup. In this records of the University of Melbourne, completely deciding the point. case they are justified. The design of Victorian business, trade unions and other There are other quirks in the it is widely recognised, and now the labour organisations, community and cultural organisations, as well as the personal papers story, and again Steeth workbooks VRC tours each year’s trophy (this of many individuals prominent within them. help tell the tale. A few duplicate year valued at $175,000) around The records are available for research and Melbourne Cup trophies were made, Australia and New Zealand, indeed may be used in the Cultural Collections Reading Room on the 3rd floor of the sometimes with the permission and internationally, in the weeks leading Baillieu Library. See www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/ knowledge of the VRC, sometimes up to the first Tuesday in November, collections/archives/ for further information. not. Leo Menck, who owned the Melbourne Cup Day. Wherever it 1942 winner Colonus and who goes, from kindergartens to nursing received war bonds instead of a homes, from bush races to glamour trophy, later commissioned his own events in regional towns and big 1 T.J. Hart, Finding aid for J.W. Steeth and Son version. Once or twice a cup was cities, the trophy is greeted with Collection (accession no. 1983.0111), prepared stolen from its owners and replaced. admiration and fascination, even 19 November 2001. University of Melbourne One gentlemen’s club in Collins reverence—a secular chalice handled Archives. 2 Dimensions of the 2010 and 2011 trophies Street lost Trivalve’s 1927 cup in this with white gloves—contemplated, were based on those of the 1980 trophy, which way and commissioned a less valuable photographed, coveted. I have been could be the missing 1930 trophy and is replica from Steeth and Co. Years part of the tour and I have seen the similar to the extant 1929 trophy. The current trophies are more robust and contain about later the original turned up, so now effect for myself. James Steeth would 1,600 grams of 18-carat gold, compared with the club has two! have been amazed that his rough under 1,100 grams for the older versions.

42 University of Melbourne Collections, Issue 9, December 2011