Number 11 Newsletter January - February 2013 Number 11 Newsletter BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE January – February 2013 Patron: remains theFounded same in 1974 to promote interest in the history of Prahran and to foster appreciation of Australia’s national heritage of history, the environment, architecture and the arts. President: Gabriel Hermes) Secretary: Rose Sciardis) all three positioned on left side under Patron Treasurer: Andrew Turner)Patron Member of the Royal Historical Society Mr P. S. Isaacson AM DFC AFC DFM of Victoria Inc. Reg. No: A0021770T –positioned directly under the logo (centre) in small print-no longer under the PO Box address President: Gabriel Hermes PO Box 8649 H Secretary: Rose Sciardis I S . Armadale VIC 3143 T Treasurer: Andrew Turner O C R IN Australia Telephone – put under the PO Box address on rightI side of page CA TY Telephone: 9529 7442 L a CIE nd ARTS SO SPRING INTO GARDENING A0021770T Email: [email protected] Website: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~phas Spring into Gardening was SPRING INTO GARDENING held at the Victoria Gardens in October. The Prahran Historical & Arts Society Inc. organised a presentation Spring into Gardening waswhich held was at manned the Victoria by Gardens in October. The Prahran Historicalmembers who& Arts fielded Society Inc. organised a presentation which wasinquiries manned by by the members public. It who was fielded inquiries by the public. a It beautiful was a beautiful day and attendanceday and attendance by the community was excellent.by the community Many community was groups excellent. Many community were represented including the Malvern Historical Society groups were represented who had a first-rate displayincluding of historical the Malvern pictures. It was very pleasing to see ourHistorical wonderful Society Parks whobeing had used a for such first-rate display of historical pictures. It was very pleasinga well toattended see our publicwonderful event. Parks During being theused course for such of athe day Mr.well Hicks attended donated public a event. McLellan During & Cothe –course The Big of the Store day (303 Mr. HicksChapel donated St Prahran a McLellan Circ 1903 & Co – –1968) The Big Shoe Horn and documentationStore (303 Chapel relating St Prahran to “Eastleigh Circ 1903 College” – 1968) Shanoe educational Horn and documentation institution located relating in Williamsto “Eastleigh Rd. Prahran in 1933. ThankCollege” you an to educational Mr. Hicks! institution These are located great initems Williams and will Rd. be Prahran used inin future1933. displays.Thank you If to you Mr. have Hicks! any old photos or memorabiliaThese are great you items would and like will to be donate used in to future our Societydisplays. it Ifwould you have be very any wellold photos received. or memorabilia you would like to donate to our Society it would be very well received. PAT RAYSON 29.8.1922 – 9.12.2012 PatPAT Rayson, RAYSON a valued 29.8.1922 member – of9.12.2012 the Prahran & Historical Arts Society passed on PatDecember Rayson, 9 a in valued palliative member care of at the Cabrini Prahran in & Prahran, Historical after Arts being Society diagnosed passed onwith incurable Decemberlung cancer 9 ina monthpalliative ago. care Pat at established Cabrini in Prahran, the Toorak/South after being Yarra diagnosed Anti withHigh-Rise Group incurablewhich she lung presided cancer over a month for manyago. Pat years established opposing the inappropriate Toorak/South development. Yarra Anti Pat High-Rise Group which she presided over for many years opposing inappropriate development.also served a termPat also as aserved Prahran a term Councillor as a Prahran from Councillor 1976 – 1979 from and 1976 continued – 1979 to attend andCouncil continued meetings to attend until Council recently. meetings Both Pat until and recently. her late Both husband Pat and Rusty her werelate long husbandstanding Rusty members were of long the standing PHAS. members Mr. Chris of Gahan the PHAS. OAM. Mr. JP. Chris and memberGahan of the PHAS OAM.Committee JP. and attended member the of funeralthe PHAS and Committee burial. attended the funeral and burial. The PHASPHAS extends extends their their sympathies sympathies to tothe the family family of Patof PatRayson. Rayson. BENDIGO BANK CITY OF STONNINGTON Thank you to Windsor Branch of LOGO & Details LOGO Bendigo Bank for their sponsorshipWe of would the printing like to of thank this the Stonnington Community Financial Services Ltd Newsletter.Windsor Branch of the Bendigo Bank Branch No: 9194 for their Sponsorship of the printing of 111 Chapel Street, Windsor VIC 3181 +61 3 9521 1732 / 0414 240 953 this newsletter. [email protected] Annual General Meeting The PHAS Annual General Meeting was held at the Community Centre, Grattan Gardens on 24th October 2012. There was a good turn out of members. The President presented his Annual Report and all positions were opened for election. The outcome of the voting is as follows: President: Gabriel Hermes. Vice President: Chris Michalopoulos. Secretary: Rose Sciardis. Treasurer: Andrew Turner. Committee: Beverly Whipp, Keith Wilson, Nobby Seymour, Dr. Roger Wilson and Chris Gahan OAM JP. The next AGM will be held on 23rd October 2013. PHAS Christmas Dinner was held at the Prahran Mission Chapel Street, Prahran on Friday 23rd November 2012. The food was delicious and a good time was had by all. This event is becoming an Annual Event so look out for details and come along this year. New and Renewed Members A warm welcome to the following new and renewed members: Simon Davies, Nathan Black, Patrick Galvin, Jason Minator, Carol Taylor, Z Bryce, Frank Van Straten, J Campbell, Carmel & Phil Wymant, H Proctor, R Mercer, Alan Kirsner, Louise Baker, M. McDonald Membership Fees Individual $13 Family $20 Pensioners $5 Student $9 Life $100 Donations…….. FUTURE EVENT The Prahran Historical & Arts Society Inc. & The Malvern Historical Society Inc. invite you to the following presentation: ReConnections and Recollections – Charting the history of Connections UnitingCare Rhiannon Wapling, Resources Administration Officer, Connections UnitingCare Join us in unearthing Connections UnitingCare’s 80 year history. In 2010, Connections marked its 10th anniversary as Connections and 80 years of providing care and support to disadvantaged people in Melbourne. During this time, Connections uncovered images and artifacts from Melbourne’s inner city and Connections’ founding organisations, which were used to form a historical booklet and visual display. These founding organisations include: Methodist Babies Home, South Yarra, Presbyterian Babies Home, Camberwell, Copelen Family Services, Canterbury Family Centre, Wheelers Hill Family Centre, and Grassmere Youth Services. The presentation will be followed by viewing of Connections Flickr online photo catalogue and hardcopy photo catalogues. The Methodist Babies Home, South Yarra established in 1929. In 1974 it became the Copelen Street Family Centre, moving into the provision of foster care and preventive family services in the inner suburbs of Melbourne. DATE: Wednesday 6th February, 2013 TIME: 7 p.m. VENUE: Foyer of Malvern Town Hall – cnr Glenferrie Road and High Street, Malvern COST: Nil RSVP: Gabriel - Ph: 03 95297442 A light supper will be served. COMING SOON- revamped PHAS Website The PHAS Website has been updated and is in the process of being introduced to the public. We are hoping that this will take place shortly and will keep you advised of the progress. Once it is introduced we will list upcoming events and current news. City of Stonnington – Grant In 2012 the Prahran Historical & Arts Society applied to the City of Stonnington for a Grant of $1,000 to assist with the digitalization of The Prahran Telegraph by TROVE. The Grant was approved and has been forwarded to TROVE. Thank you to the City of Stonnington for their support for this project and ongoing support for the Prahran Historical & Arts Society Inc. A Brief History of the Establishment of the Victoria Gardens, Prahran Michael Fleming Ph.D PART 2 Although the loan had been approved, the change in the numbers in the council gave the ‘opposition’ the ability to demand details of purchases made to date. It was revealed that at an auction on 22nd July 1884 four acres of land had been purchased on High-street east for £5,660. The land had previously belonged to a non-resident and had been used for many years by a farmer to graze his cows rent-free! It was also revealed that the mayor had bid personally and had, in fact, exceeded the council reserve by £500 in order to secure the loan.(Cooper, op. cit. p.287 has the date as 22nd June, but the auction was held on 22nd July according to The Chronicle. Cooper’s date precedes the loan!) A year later, on 7th August 1885, the Governor and his wife ceremonially entered the city of Prahran. Lady Loch declared open ‘the lands of the City of Prahran known as the Toorak Gardens, the Victoria Gardens and the Prahran Reserve, dedicated to public use and enjoyment as pleasure grounds and places of recreation.’ The Victoria Gardens were the four acres of land in High-street purchased so secretly. The mayor of Prahran at this time was CR. G. W. Taylor, Esq. and the gardens were named for his wife Victoria, not the reigning monarch (Prahran Chronicle, 14 August 1885). That is the last of the Victoria Gardens in the official history of Prahran for it is concerned with people and events rather than things. The gardens are a living thing and have continued on. The history of the gardens can be divided into four distinct periods. The first period, 1885-1918, was the heyday of the gardens as the epitome of Victorian era recreational use. The second period, 1919-1945, was the time when the gardens were changed from their original design and entered into a state of decline and neglect.