Postcard of the McArthur drinking fountain in La Trobe Reserve or
Park Street Reserve as it is called here.
On December 5, 1906 a drinking fountain was unveiled in La Trobe Reserve in South Melbourne. It was presented to the people of South Melbourne by Cr Donald M'Arthur, as McArthur was written in those times (1) and unveiled by his niece, Mary, who gracefully removed the encircling flag. (2) There was a large crowd present, including the Mayor of South Melbourne, Cr E. A. Wells (3), seven other councillors and the children of the Eastern Road State School who sang a number of school songs, and the cadets' fife and drum band played a number of lively airs (4).
Cr McArthur presenting the fountain to the Citizens of South Melbourne
Punch December 13, 1906 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/175380504#
The drinking fountain on opening day, December 5, 1906.
Punch December 13, 1906 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/175380504#
The Emerald Hill Record had a comprehensive report of the unveiling - Cr. M'Arthur said it afforded him very much pleasure to hand the fountain to the citizens. He hoped they could enjoy it for all time. He had had the idea on his mind for a long time while he was Mayor. He had received honors at the hands of the citizens, and he desired to show that he was grateful for what had been done for him. The whole of the materials in the fountain were Australian made, the water flowing through would be Australian water, which would be drunk by Australian children. The gold for it was Australian gold minted in Australia. He himself had been so long here that he was almost an Australian so there was quite a "Made in Australia" air about it altogether. (Laughter and applause). He had no children, and he desired to perpetuate the memory of his work in the city, by means of this fountain, and he hoped that the people would use it and that the water flowing through it would be healthful and life-giving (5).
The McArthur drinking fountain.
It is made of Gabo Island granite with Harcourt granite columns.
Image: Isaac Hermann.
Cr Donald McArthur was born in Scotland. He was an Estate Agent and was a South Melbourne Councillor from 1896 until 1920 and was the Mayor on two occasions, 1900/1901 and 1911/1912. Donald was also involved with the Dorcas Street Presbyterian Church, a member of the committees of the Homeopathic and Austin Hospitals and the Melbourne Orphanage. Donald married Margaret Ramsay on September 18, 1880 at her parent's home in Raglan Place, Emerald Hill. She was born in Emerald Hill in 1858 to William and Isabella (nee Milne) Ramsay. Margaret was also community minded and was the Secretary of the Benevolent Society from 1896 until 1914. Donald died at the age of 69 on December 11, 1924 and Margaret died July 18, 1950, aged 91. They did not have children. They are buried at Boroondara Cemetery (6).
The inscription on the McArthur drinking fountain
Image: Isaac Hermann
According to the Electoral Rolls, Donald and Margaret lived at 9 Howe Crescent, South Melbourne Also at the address was a Mary McArthur, who I belive is the niece who unveiled the fountain. Mary was listed at the address from 1908 until 1924. Donald's will, dated December 1, 1924, left money to his two nieces, Mary Donald, of Grangemouth Scotland, wife of Peter Donald and Jessie Harland of Cradock, South Australia. They were the daughters of Archibald and Christina (nee Black) McArthur and they were born in South Australia - Mary in March 1887 and Jessie in May 1892. I believe that Mary was living with her uncle and aunty in South Melbourne and, around 1924 she married Peter Donald and moved to Scotland. She did return to Victoria at some stage as she died in St Kilda in 1974 aged 87 (7).
The McArthur drinking fountain was made by George Dawe, Monumental Mason, of Carlton.
Image: Isaac Hermann.
The Emerald Hill Record describes the fountain as being mounted upon two wide bluestone steps, which form the base, and is constructed of Gabo Island granite, the capping of oxed granite, surmounted by a solid dome, being supported by four columns of polished Harcourt granite (8). The fountain was made by George Dawe, a moumental mason of Carlton. His other works include two monuments to Lieutenant James Roberts, of the 1st Victorian Mounted Rifles, who died February 13, 1900 whilst fighting near Rensberg in South Africa. One is in Royal Park and the other in Murchison, Roberts' home town (9). In 1901, Dawe completed an elaborate memorial to James Coglan, a founder of the Australian Natives' Association who died in August 1899 (10). In 1915, his firm made a monument for Sir Samuel Gillott (1838 -1913) Lord Mayor of Melbourne and Chief Secretary and Minister for Labour in Thomas Bent's Government. This monument, pictured below, is made mainly of Harcourt Granite. The sculpture of the figure representing Grief is the work of Charles Web Gilbert (11). George Dawe died on May 17, 1932 at the age of 87. He left behind an extensive real estate portfolio. A sale by his executors listed seven brick cottages for sale in Carlton. His wife Margaret (nee Smith) had died October 2, 1917 at the age of 70. They had four children Grace, May, Frederick and George (12).
Sir Samuel Gillott's memorial at the Melbourne General Cemetery.
It was designed by Frank Stapley and made by George Dawe's firm, who had also made the
McArthur Drinking Fountain.
Photographer: John Kinmont Moir. c. 1933. State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/465418
The McArthur drinking fountain was located in La Trobe Reserve. The triangular reserve is bounded by Eastern Road and Heather Street and bisected by Park Street. It is now, I believe, called Eastern Reserve but as you can see from the postcard at the top of this post, La Trobe Reserve was also called Park Street Reserve. The first references I can find to the Reserve is in the Emerald Hill Record of December 16, 1905 in a report of the activities of the South Melbourne Council - Normanby reserve and La Trobe reserve can be opened to public next year, and will, no doubt, prove an attraction to numerous residents in the neighbourhood (13). The establishment date is confirmed by this report in the same paper two years later - the northern section of La Trobe Reserve has been completed and the fences removed. This reserve was formally opened on 5th December, 1906, and on the same date the handsome fountain erected in the centre of the reserve, was presented to the citizens by Cr. Donald M' Arthur (14). The last reference in the newspapers I can find to the park being called La Trobe Reserve is in April 1931 (15).
Susan Priestley, in her history of South Melbourne, wrote that in 1910, the triangular portion of La Trobe Reserve was 'fitted up with swings, see-saws, merry-go-rounds and other forms of amusement.....[it was] always crowded with children outside of school hours, and the fittings used with zest and amusement (16). The work was funded by a £110 donation by Aaron Danks (17). It was fortunate that the active children could quench their thirst at the McArthur drinking fountain.
The back of the McArthur drinking fountain postcard.
This is the back of drinking fountain postcard which is shown at the top of this post. It is addressed to Master F. Mudkins, 50 Lee Street, North Carlton. It is dated August 31, 1907. The letter reads - This is the fountain that Miss Mary unveiled and I hope you will have a cool drink at it, as you will see the drinking pipe in the middle of it. C. B (?). Miss Mary obviously refers to Miss Mary McArthur. The writer of the postcard and Master Mudkins would both seem to be acquainted with Miss Mary.
Master F. Mudkins is Frederick Aulton Mudkins, born in 1895 to Edward Albert and Annie Amelia (nee Aulton) Mudkins. He had a sister Edith, born in 1887 and a brother Albert in 1891. They are in the 1909 Electoral Roll at 50 Lee Street - Edward is a painter, Annie 'home duties' and Edith is a dressmaker (18).
The report of Donald McArthur's funeral said - Among the chief mourners were Messrs. J.
M. McArthur, G. McArthur, W. McArthur, C. W. Ramsay, Aumann, Mudkins, and McNabb (19). C. W. Ramsay is Charles William Ramsay, Margaret McArthur's brother. There is clearly some connection between the McArthur family and the Mudkins family, I just don't know what it is. The other thing I cannot tell you is whether young Freddie Mudkins ever had a cool drink at Cr Donald McArthur's drinking fountain.
Since I wrote this we have found another post card, below, which I firmly believe was written by Mary McArthur to Edith (Edie) Mudkins. It is postmarked January 14, 1907 and is of the South Melbourne Town Hall, a building Mary would be well familar with. Mary writes Dear Edie, If convenient and you are at home we will be over to see you Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon. Would you please let me know which day will suit, Love from Mary. Mary and Edith were both born in 1887, so they were the same age, no wonder they were friends, but how did they meet? Edith married William Rawlings Jones in 1912 and she sadly died on October 13, 1919, aged only 32 (20).
The postcard sent to Edie Mudkins from Mary. I believe this is from Mary McArthur.
Acknowledgment
It was my research colleague, Isaac Hermann, who found the McArthur drinking fountain postcard on Ebay. As soon as I read the letter on the back that mentioned Miss Mary, I wondered who she was and started researching through the newspapers on Trove and this post is the result of the research. Isaac also took the photos of the McArthur drinking fountain for me. He also found the postcard of the South Melbourne Town Hall, written by Mary to Edie, which just adds to the story. I was sad though to find that Edie died so young. It was a shock as I felt as if I knew her. As always, I am very grateful to Isaac for finding these postcards, there are so many stories that they tell.
Trove list
I have created a list of newspaper articles connected to the McArthur drinking fountain, Donald McArthur and George Dawe, access it here.
Footnotes
(1) I have used the spelling McArthur through this post unless I am reproducing a newspaper report and it is written as M'Arthur.
(2) Emerald Hill Record, December 8, 1906, see here.
(3) Cr. E. A. Wells - Ernest Alfred Wells. I have written about the family, here https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2021/03/dixons-bakery-kerford-road.html
(4) Emerald Hill Record, December 8, 1906, see here.
(5) Emerald Hill Record, December 8, 1906, see here. There were reports of the unvieling in other papers, as well, see my Trove list.
(6) The information about Donald's life and career comes from his obituary in the Emerald Hill Record, December 13, 1924, see here. The marriage and death dates of Donald and Margaret are from the notices in the newspapers, see my Trove list. The information about Margaret's involvement with the Benevolent Society is from page 225 of Susan Priestley's book South Melbourne: a history (Melbourne University Press, 1995).
(7) Electoral Rolls are available on Ancestry. Donald's will is on-line at the Public Records Office of Victoria, https://prov.vic.gov.au/. Family information about Mary and Jessie is from https://www.genealogysa.org.au/ and https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/
(8) Emerald Hill Record, December 8, 1906, see here.
(9) Weekly Times, August 18, 1900 see here.
(10) The Age, August 29, 1901, see here.
(11) Preston Leader, July 17, 1915, see here. Read Sir Samuel Gillott's entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, here. Charles Web Gilbert, the sculptor, read his entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, here.
(12) The death dates of George and Margaret and the names of their children, are from the notices in the newspapers, see my Trove list. The advertisement for the Executor's sale of George's properties was in The Herald, May 17, 1933, see here.
(13) Emerald Hill Record, December 16, 1905, see here.
(14) Emerald Hill Record, December 7, 1907, see here.
(15) Emerald Hill Record, April 11, 1931, see here.
(16) Priestley, Susan South Melbourne: a history (Melbourne University Press, 1995). p. 329.
(17) Sir Aaron Danks, read his obituary in the Emerald Hill Record, June 9, 1928, here. The son of John Danks, South Melbourne Councillor who is the source of the name Danks Street.
(18) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry and https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/
(19) Emerald Hill Record, December 13, 1924, see here
(20) Edie's death notice was in The Age, October 14, 1919.
The Age, October 14, 1919. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203700477
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