Miss Helen Robertson - Secretary of the St Kilda Ladies' Benevolent Society

In a previous post I wrote about Miss Robertson, one of two women who signed the petition in 1856 to alter the boundaries of the St Kilda Municipality. I identified her as Ellen Robertson from Fitzroy Street and have written about her here. 

There is another Miss Robertson who appears in the history of St Kilda, Helen Robertson (1)  who was from 1864 until her death in 1881, the Secretary of the St Kilda Ladies' Benevolent Society. (2)  I wondered at first whether she was Miss Robertson, the petition signer, but I believe I have it right with Ellen, as the earliest I can place Helen in St Kilda is 1862.

Miss Robertson, of the St. Kilda Ladies' Benevolent Society

The Argus, March 7, 1874 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5865409 

The St Kilda Ladies' Benevolent Society was established 1859, and we will let J.B. Cooper, the St Kilda Historian, explain the origins and purpose of the  Society -

The ladies of St. Kilda were energetic workers in causes that appealed to their sympathies, and among such causes, was the plight of poor people, who struggled for a livelihood, on the margin line, that divides penurious existence from actual want. Any temporary cessation from daily employment, any visitation of sickness upon the breadwinner, and such families became distressed ones needing help in money or kind. Then too there were the families who suffered from the improvidence of the breadwinner brought about maybe by intemperance. Be the cause what it may have been, the ladies of St. Kilda were of that charitable nature, that they could not allow the children, and wives, to suffer, without making an attempt to succour them. It was adjudged that the best method wherewith to deal with such cases was to establish a Ladies' Benevolent Society, and a meeting of ladies was held at the residence of Mrs. Purchase on October 11th, 1859, for that purpose. Two resolutions were adopted:- 1. That such a Society was necessary for the purpose of visiting and relieving the poor and 2. that the Society be designated "The St. Kilda Ladies' Benevolent Society." Mrs. A'Beckett was elected to fill the office of President, Mrs. Cooke that of Treasurer, and Mrs. Shaw that of Hony. Secretary. A code of rules was drawn up for the guidance of the Committee. A second meeting was held on the 25th, at which Mrs. Alicia Jennings acted as President in the absence of Mrs. A'Beckett."

The Society's first report gives a glimpse into the necessities of the poor in early St. Kilda. Indigent persons to the number of 58 were relieved, and assisted, during the first year of the Society's existence. Some deserted wives were given the means to earn money by presents of mangles. The receipts for the year from charitable people (including £50 from the Council) were £230, and the expenditure in relief £365/12/1. The committee of the St. Kilda Ladies' Benevolent Society was in the the habit of distributing bread, groceries, clothing, and firewood. Many poor people also had assistance given to them to enable them to pay their rent. In 1863, the society advanced money to two poor women for the purpose of buying sewing machines. Several individuals, sick and poor, had been sent to the hospital, and some old people to the Benevolent Asylum, wholly through the efforts made, and the influence used by the ladies of the society. Numbers of children in St. Kilda, whose parents were too poor to pay for their education, were sent to school at the Society's expense. The committee of the society established friendly relations with the authorities of the Melbourne City Mission. At the society's request, a missioner visited St. Kilda, once every week to visit the poor. For this service the committee paid to the mission the sum of £10 per year. 

The society afforded help to all indigent persons, without distinction of creed. The only limit to its bounty was the extent of its resources. In the report issued, by the Society in November, 1863, acknowledgement was made of the generous way, in which the residents of St. Kilda, had supported the Society. The cash account showed that the Society had commenced its year with a balance of £35/3/74, and that the subscriptions had totalled £73/7/- and the donations and payments £172/3/- making a total of £280/13/7½. The expenditure for the year had been £257/17/6, leaving a balance in hand of £22/16/1½. The cash receipts were swollen by the receipt of £50 from the Municipal Council of St. Kilda, a body of men who had the highest opinion of the St. Kilda Ladies Benevolent Society, an opinion that still lives in the corporate mind of the St Kilda Council towards the present members of this very useful society. The £50 was handed to the secretary of the Society, to enable the ladies to arrange that the children of the poorer classes should participate in the rejoicings at St. Kilda in celebration of the marriage of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. (3)

St Kilda Day Nursery established

St Kilda Telegraph, April 3, 1875 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109630297

One of the achievements of the St Kilda Ladies' Benevolent Society was the establishment of a Creche on April 8, 1875, and again we will turn to J.B. Cooper  -
Creches did not exist in the same way today [1931] as they did fifty three years ago, though the want of a place where infants could be left by working mothers was, in degree, just as pressing as it is today. The St. Kilda Ladies' Benevolent Society recognised the want, and the ladies of that society, made provision to meet it. On April 8, 1875, they opened, what they called, "The St. Kilda Day Nursery" in Somerset Street. The nursery, it was stated, was for "the benefit of the working women to enable them to leave their children, from the age of one month to six years, during their necessary absence from home." Advertisements were inserted in the newspapers, informing the mothers, that full particulars could be obtained from the nurse on the premises, from the honorary secretary of the Society, Miss Robertson, Acland Street. (4)

St Kilda Ladies' Benevolent Society ceased functioning in 1963. (5)  There were many women, apart from Helen Robertson, with a long-term involvement with the Society, but they are a story for another day. 

It was from  the paragraph, above, about the Creche, that I discovered Miss Robertson, and then wondered if she was the petition signer. Helen, born in 1834, was the daughter of Dr Archibald Robinson and his wife Agnes Hamilton, she was the fifth of their six children, all born in Scotland. 

• Isabella Gellie born 1824; died on May 9, 1856 aged 32.  
• Archibald Moodie born 1825; died December 1, 1862, aged 37. 
• Janet (known as Jessie) born 1828. Married John Russell Keays on October 8, 1855. Died February 8, 1857, aged 29, on the day she gave birth to a daughter, Jessie, who died 11 days later. 
• Louisa Mary born 1830. Married John McLachlan on January 8, 1851 in Adelaide. Died September 16, 1856 at Spring Bank, Avoca River, aged 26. 
• Helen born 1834. Died November 20, 1881, aged 47. 
• Agnes born 1839. Married George Thomson on September 6, 1866. Died on October 26, 1900, aged 60. (6)

The family arrived in Melbourne in January 15, 1849 on the Duchess of Northumberland, Dr Robinson had acted as the Surgeon Superintendent on the voyage. They, at some time, moved to Heidelberg where Dr Robinson died on July 27, 1854. He was the first of the family buried at the Warringal Cemetery in Heidelberg, in three adjoining plots. Sadly, he was soon followed by three of his daughters, who died between May 1856 and February 1857 and in time by his wife and his other three children. (7)

The first connection I can find between the family and St Kilda was with Helen's brother, Archibald Moody Robertson, who in 1858 and 1859 was listed in the St Kilda Rate books, renting an 8-roomed wood and slate house in Acland Street from a Mr Lomas. Two questions of which I have no answers - were Agnes and her two unmarried daughters, Helen and Agnes, also living with their son and brother; and where was Archibald living in 1860, 1861 and 1862 before he died on December 1, 1862? (8) 

Miss Robertson presented with a purse of sovereigns. I wonder what she bought with them?

The Argus, August 31, 1875 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5900704

In 1862, Helen's mother Agnes began renting a 13-roomed iron house in Alma Road, next to a now demolished Congregational Church, which was on the corner of Alma and Barkly Streets (opposite the grand Presbyterian Church on the St Kilda hill).  The owner of the house was Mrs Fletcher, the widow of the Reverend Richard Fletcher, a Congregational minister, whose original church was also made of  iron and which could seat 250 worshippers. Mrs Fletcher was an original committee member of the Benevolent Society. (9)  Two years after that, in 1864, Helen took over as Secretary of the St. Kilda Ladies' Benevolent Society from the original secretary Mrs Henry Steel Shaw. (10)  In 1866, young Agnes married George Thomson, at the house. The marriage was conducted by the Presbyterian Minister, Reverend Irving Hetherington and Helen was one of the witnesses. (11)

Agnes Robertson's property in Alma Street (now called Alma Road)

Sands & McDougall's Melbourne and suburban directory 1865, digitised at the State Library of Victoria

In 1873, Agnes and Helen moved to an 8-roomed brick house in Acland Street, rented from Robert Stroud. It was located on the corner of Jackson Street. They were still living there when Helen died of enteric fever on November 20, 1881, at only 47 years of age. (12)

Helen Robertson listed in the 1880 Sands and McDougall Directory. This was how I finally discovered her given name, all the newspaper reports of her activities as Secretary list her as Miss Robertson.

Sands & McDougall's Melbourne and suburban directory 1880, digitised at the State Library of Victoria

Helen's death notice

St Kilda Telegraph, November 26, 1881 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107118170

After Helen's death, Agnes moved in with her youngest daughter, also called Agnes, who lived in Fawkner Street, St Kilda, and she was living there when she died on March 4, 1887 aged 89, having out-lived five of her six children. Agnes is also buried at the Warringal Cemetery. (13)

Helen Robertson and her colleagues at the St Kilda Ladies' Benevolent Society provided a valuable service to the people of St Kilda in the days before aged pensions, widow's pensions and single mothers benefits, by looking after the elderly, the poor, the sick and their children. 

Trove list - I have created  a list of newspaper articles related to Helen Robertson, her work with the St Kilda Ladies' Benevolent Society and her family, access it here.

Footnotes
(1) In all the newspaper mentions of Miss Robertson, her first name was never noted, I only discovered her name as she is listed in the 1880 Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory. Once I had her name I could start building the family tree.
(2) Helen became the Secretary in October 1864 -  The Age, October 14, 1864, see here.
(3) Cooper, John Butler The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a City and after, 1840 - 1930, v. 1 (City of St Kilda, 1931), pp. 361-362. You can read this book on-line on the St Kilda Historical Society website - https://www.stkildahistory.org.au/publications/ebooks
(4) Cooper, op. cit., p. 363.
(5) Longmire, Helen St Kilda the show goes on: the history of St Kilda v.3 1930 to July 1983 (Hudson/City of St Kilda, 1989), p. 207. You can read this book on-line on the St Kilda Historical Society website - https://www.stkildahistory.org.au/publications/ebooks
(6) Dates of birth were estimated from age at death. Death dates and age at death taken from the headstones at Warringal Cemetery - photos taken by John William Constantine on Find a Grave;  death certificates of Archibald Robertson, Helen Robertson and Agnes Robertson (nee Hamilton) and death notice of Jessie and the birth notice of her daughter -  The Argus, February 9, 1857, see here.  I cannot find  a death notice for Archibald Moodie Robertson or any reference to his death in the Victorian Deaths Index. Marriage date of Jessie - The Argus, August 10, 1855, see here; Louisa - Melbourne Daily News, January 20, 1851, see here ; Agnes -  marriage certificate. 
(7) Arrival date - Shipping records at the Public Records Office of Victoria - Register of Assisted Immigrants from the United Kingdom VPRS 14; death certificate of Archibald Robertson.
(8) St Kilda Rate books are  on-line at the Public Records Office of Victoria - VPRS 8816 -  from 1857 and on Ancestry.com from 1859. 
(9) St Kilda Rate books, see footnote 8; The Fletchers are listed as living in the house in 1861, the Reverend Fletcher died on December 15, 1861 - death notice - The Age, December 16, 1861, see here;  J. B Cooper writes about the iron houses and buildings, including the Church, in his St Kilda history (see footnote 3) on page 243. Mrs Fletcher is listed in the First Annual Report of the St  Kilda Ladies' Benevolent Society, digitised at the State Library of Victoria, here. 

(10) Helen became the Secretary in October 1864 -  The Age, October 14, 1864, see here, due to Mrs Shaw leaving the district.
(11) Agnes Robertson/George Thomason marriage certificate.
(12) St Kilda Rate books, see footnote 8; 1880 Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory; Helen's death certificate.

(13) Agnes Robertson's death certificate.

Ann Grant and Ellen Robertson sign the 1856 St Kilda Municipality Petition for alteration of boundaries

When the St Kilda Municipality was created on April 23, 1855, the St Kilda Village remained as part of the City of Melbourne. As historian J.B. Cooper noted -
The village of St. Kilda, which sat on the hill of St. Kilda, commencing at the hill's base along Fitzroy Street to the shore line, within which angle, extending as far as Carlisle Street lay the houses, huts, tents, and wattledaub humpies that comprised the Village of St. Kilda, was not, by the proclamation, included in the new municipality of St. Kilda..... The Corporation of Melbourne had spent sufficient money in constructing some of the streets of the Village of St. Kilda as to make its representatives opposed to any suggestion that the Village of St. Kilda should pass out of their control. (1)

In 1856, three-hundred and one householders residing in the St Kilda Village area,  signed a petition to have that area severed from the City of Melbourne and added to the Municipality of St Kilda. The petition was officially called the St Kilda Municipality: Petition for alteration of boundaries.  The  petitioners were successful in uniting the St Kilda Village with the St Kilda Municipality and the first election  took place in March 1857. (2)

The Petition preamble.

Victoria Government Gazette, No. 143, November 7, 1856, p. 1884

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1856/V/general/143.pdf

We have identified two women who signed this petition - Ann Grant and Miss Robertson. We thought there was a third, Florence Gardiner, but Florence was a male. (3) It wasn't unknown for Florence to be used for both males and females early on; and it was Florence Nightingale that popularized the name as  almost exclusively used for females.

Ann Grant was born to Hugh Hutchison and his wife, Sarah McAllister, in Tandragee, County Armagh, Ireland, around 1809-1810.  She arrived in Melbourne on the Genghis Khan, on July 1, 1853 with her 18 year-old daughter Mary, also born in County Armagh.  She was a widow, and I have no information about her late husband James.  The shipping record  shows  Ann's occupation was a Matron and Mary a servant and that they were both engaged at the Melbourne Hospital - Ann at a salary of  £30 and Mary at £13. (4)

Ann's name on the petition

Victoria Government Gazette, No. 143, November 7, 1856, p. 1885. 

  https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1856/V/general/143.pdf

At some time Ann moves to St Kilda, and she appears in the 1857 St Kilda Rate books where she is renting a property in Fitzroy Street from Richard Daldy, described as wood, 2 rooms. In 1859 Ann's property was described as wood, 3 rooms + coal yard and  in 1861 as 3 rooms, shop, wood + shingle. Richard Daldy is still the owner of the property, and I believe despite the description, they are the same property. (5)

The next year, still in Fitzroy Street, Ann's new landlord was Mr Bullivant and her premises were described as shop + 2 rooms, wood. In 1864, for the first time her occupation is listed as fruiterer. In 1870, it appears that she has moved to another shop in Fitzroy Street as it is described as 5 rooms, brick and is owned by the Stewart Brothers. In good news, in 1872, Ann had purchased her own property, described as shop, 3 rooms, wood, in Fitzroy Street. (6)

Not for the first time however, the information in the Rate books doesn't quite correspond with the information in the Sands and McDougall Directories (7) as both the 1870 and 1875 Directories place the Grant fruit shop two doors down from Edward O'Donnell's grocery shop, but I can't explain this discrepancy and it doesn't alter the story or diminish the credit that Ann should receive for working hard in her own fruit shop business and buying her own property.  Her neighbour,  Edward O'Donnell, was a St Kilda councillor for 44 years and a member of many committees such as the Albert Park Committee and the St Kilda Foreshore Committee and a Trustee of the St Kilda Cemetery. (8)

Ann Grant died on February 14, 1873, at Fitzroy Street, of chronic hepatitis and asthma at the age of 64 and is buried in the Presbyterian section of the St Kilda Cemetery. (9)  

Death notice of Ann Grant

St Kilda Telegraph, January 18, 1873 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108982893

Her daughter Mary took over the fruit shop. She married John Irvine Beck on August 14, 1876 in New South Wales and they operated the fruit shop until around 1885. Mary died at 74 Wilson Street in South Yarra and on November 20, 1891 aged 54. Mary did not have children and she was buried in the same grave as her mother at St Kilda. (10)

Death notice of Mary Beck

The Argus, November 21, 1891 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8643362

One mystery remains - there is a third person in the grave, 74 year-old Jane Wall, who died on February 20, 1910 in George Street, East Melbourne. She was single, born in Bristol in England, the daughter of John Wall and his wife, Ann Rawlings. Jane left an estate of £650 to Lilla Vowles, who was, as noted in her will, residing with me at Simpson Street, East Melbourne. The executor of her will was Edward O'Donnell of Fitzroy Street, who as we know, had a grocery shop just down from Ann and Mary's fruit shop; he also had a mortgage over the property of £600 and this was transferred to Lilla. (11) In those days as single women would find it hard to obtain finance from a bank, Jane would have had to make a private arrangement, and clearly Edward was in the position to lend her the money.  Jane was around the same age as Mary, and I presume they were friends and they may have both worked together in the fruit shop and hence Jane met Mr O'Donnell. Lilla Vowles, to whom she left her property, was a cousin - the daughter of James Vowles and his wife, Priscilla Rawlings. She was born in Ballarat in 1857 and died in Sydney in 1932. (12)

The other woman who signed the petition was Miss Robertson. I believe this is  Ellen Robertson, who is listed in  the 1857 Rate books as renting a house described as wood, 4 rooms, from Thomas James in Fitzroy Street. She was at the address in 1860, but does not appear in the 1861 Rate books. (13) I have no other information about her. 

Ellen's name on the petition

Victoria Government Gazette, No. 143, November 7, 1856, p. 1884.

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1856/V/general/143.pdf

In 1857, there were nine women listed in the Rate books as renting property in Fitzroy Street (and what is described as off Fitzroy Street) out of 55 properties and two of them signed the petition.  It would be interesting to know how the names were gathered for the petition and whether canvassers went go door-to door and whether other women had the opportunity to sign but did not do so;  or were they just not asked?

However, Ann Grant and Ellen Robertson have their place in the history of St Kilda through signing the petition to alter the boundaries of the Municipality of St Kilda. 

Acknowledgment - Thank you to my research colleague, Isaac Hermann, for alerting me to this petition and to the women who signed it and for providing information about the St Kilda Municipality in the 1850s.

The other Miss Robertson - There was another Miss Robertson in St Kilda around this time, she was Helen Robertson, who was from 1864 until her death in 1881, was the Secretary of the St Kilda Ladies' Benevolent Society. I initially thought it was Helen who was the petition signer, but as the earliest I can place her in St Kilda is 1862, I am confident it was actually Ellen. I have written about Helen, here.

Footnotes
(1) St Kilda Municipality: Petition for alteration of boundaries - Victoria Government Gazette, No. 143, November 7, 1856 - https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1856/V/general/143.pdf;  Cooper, John Butler The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a City and after, 1840 - 1930, v. 1 (City of St Kilda, 1931). You can read this book on-line on the St Kilda Historical Society website - https://www.stkildahistory.org.au/publications/ebooks

(2) St Kilda Municipality: Petition for alteration of boundaries - Victoria Government Gazette, No. 143, November 7, 1856 - https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1856/V/general/143.pdf; Barrett, Bernard The Civic Frontier: the origin of local communities and local government in Victoria (Melbourne University Press, 1979); 

(3) Read more about Florence Gardiner here - Hobart Mercury, April 27, 1915, see here.

(4) Ann Grant - Death certificate; shipping record - Public Records Office of Victoria - VPRS 7666 Inward Overseas Passenger Lists

(5) St Kilda Rate Books are  on-line at the Public Records Office of Victoria - VPRS 8816 -  from 1857 and on Ancestry.com from 1859. 

(6) See footnote 5

(7) Sands and McDougall Directories are on-line at the State Library of Victoria from 1860 (every five years i.e. 1860, 1865 etc) and on-line for each year from 1857 to 1880 at Melbourne University 

https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/melbourne-history/exhibits/show/melbournedirectories/browsemelbournedirectories

(8) Edward O'Donnell - Obituary - The Argus, July 8, 1933, see here.

(9) Death certificate.

(10) Mary Grant -  St Kilda Rate Books; Marriage - St Kilda Telegraph, August 26, 1876, see here; Death certificate.

(11) St Kilda Cemetery records - Victoria, Australia, Cemetery Records and Headstone Transcriptions, 1844-1997 on Ancestry.com; Death certificate; Public Records Office of Victoria - VPRS 7591 Wills and VPRS 28 Probate and Administration Files. 

(12) Indexes to the Victorian and New South Wales Births, Deaths and Marriages.

(13) See footnote 5

South Brighton becomes Moorabbin

The town of Moorabbin used to be called South Brighton and I wondered when the name was changed. The movement to change began in 1906 when the Railways Department began discussions about changing the name of the East Brighton and South Brighton Railway Stations to avoid confusion with stations on the Brighton line (also called the Sandringham line). As was reported - Many people travelled on the Brighton line, expecting to reach the stations named, and a good deal of annoyance was caused. (1)  Both these stations had opened in December 1881 and were on the Frankston line. (2)

The Moorabbin Council (where South and East Brighton were located) discussed the issue in September 1906 and the Brighton Southern Cross asked for suggestions from their readers and these were published in their 29th of September issue (3) -

W. T. C. Kelly writes:- "Change South Brighton to Joyceville and East Brighton to Clementine."   The previous week, Mr Kelly - William Trench Clifford Kelly to give him his full name - expressed the opinion that let us have good old Moorabbin left common property to the entire district. (4)

Mrs. Annie Black, writing from "Swanpool," Carrum, suggests Dunlop or Whitmuir for East Brighton, and Morley or Baden Hill for South Brighton.

Mrs. Black writes: "I think with W. T. C.Kelly that Moorabbin would be misleading as a name for either East or South Brighton, and if they are to changed let it be to some of the old pioneers' names. Until late years, since 1853, I was a resident of South Brighton, arriving in March of that year with my parents (the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Knight, parents of Mr. A. Knight, secretary of the Market Gardeners' Association). At that time the property, now known as the Plough and Harrow Hotel, was owned by Mr. Jesse Morley, who, about the year 1855 or 6, opened the hotel. I think that Morley would not be a bad name for South Brighton. Coming to later days, the land which the& South Brighton station and shire-hall stand is part of a paddock that was owned by the late Mr. C. Tack, subdivided by him and called Baden Hill Estate. So I think Baden or Baden Hill would be appropriate. There are many other names of old residents in the vicinity - Cooney (Peter Cooney owned the land more recently owned by the late Mr. Gaskell and Mr. Reynolds); Exley was another old colonist, as well as his father-in-law, Werner. For East Brighton I would suggest Dunlop or Whitmuir. In the early 50's the Whitmuir Estate was owned and tenanted by Lady Dunlop; and, later, by Dessailly and R. G. Ford. As a reader and subscriber of the 'Southern Cross' since it was first published, I wish it success."

F. Rossiter, Tucker-road, suggests Ellindale as a suitable name for East Brighton, Mr. Ellin being one of the oldest residents. The Rev. J. R. Currie writes from the Methodist Parsonage, South Brighton:- "I can given very good reasons for the two following names should they be accepted - South Brighton, Morndawn ; East Brighton, Dews Park."

C. J. Long writes:- "I think the name of Eastville would be very suitable." Miss E. Long wiles: - "I wish to suggest that the new name for East Brighton station be East Lynne, as we would very much like to keep the first part of the old name."

"Early Eclipse'' writes : - Re Stations - Bent, Benton, Bentlea, Bentleigh, would suit East Brighton splendidly, and nothing better than Barnett suggests itself for South Brighton. Apart from its being the name of a family identified with local affairs for a long time, Barnett will be found in the map of England, and marks a battlefield in early English history. (5)

Suggested names for South and East Brighton

Brighton Southern Cross, November 24, 1906 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164418342 

At a Moorabbin Shire Council meeting held on December 3, 1906, a letter signed by eighty-two East Brighton residents requested that the Council recommend to the Railways that the station be changed to Bentleigh, after Thomas Bent. The Council were in unanimous agreement. (6) Thomas Bent (1838-1909) was the member for Brighton in the Legislative Assembly from 1871 until 1894, then 1900 to 1909; Premier from February 1904 until January 1909; a Moorabbin Shire councillor from 1871 until 1909 and a councillor of the Town of Brighton from1874 until 1909. (7)

The change of name to Moorabbin met with more resistance. At a previous Council meeting, held in November, it was reported that a  public meeting had been held in South Brighton and the meeting suggested the name of Moorabbin. (8) In response to this, a person using the pen-name "Early Eclipse" wrote to the Brighton Southern Cross and said that -

It would be extremely selfish on the part of  South Brighton residents to adhere to a determination to arrogate to themselves the name of Moorabbin for the local station and district, thus embarrassing all other parts of the shire...[and that] South Brighton people seek to rob their neighbours of their share in the name with out any consideration of their rights, title and interest. (9)

Then at the December Council meeting it was reported that a letter had been received, signed by 63 South Brighton residents,  recommending the name Moorabbin. Not all Councillors were in favor of this, Cr McIndoe noted that whilst 63 ratepayers had signed a letter in favour of Moorabbin, he thought 600 or 700 in the shire would sign a letter in opposition to that name. The name belonged to the whole shire and not to any little corner.  After more discussion the motion to change the name to Moorabbin was adopted 6 to 3. (10)

In January 1907 The Age reported that The Railway Commissioners have sanctioned the Moorabbin council's recommendation that East Brighton station shall be renamed "Bentleigh," and South Brighton "Moorabbin." Arrangements will be made to make the new names effective on the issue of the next general time table in May. (11)

The station names were quickly adopted and around May 1908 the name of the East Brighton Post Office was changed to Bentleigh (12)  however by April 1909, the South Brighton Post Office had not been officially changed to Moorabbin and so -

A deputation representing the Moorabbin shire council waited on the Postmaster-General on Thursday seeking important changes in the postal arrangement in the district. The deputation was introduced by Mr. Agar Wynne, M.P. and included amongst its members the president of the shire (Cr Scudds) and Cr. Sir Thomas Bent. It requested, first, that the name of the South Brighton post office be changed to Moorabbin. It was pointed out that the Railway Commissioners had called the local station by that name, and that the area served by the post office included the Moorabbin shire hall.  The Postmaster General said that  if the change in the name seemed to be justified by the geographical situation, and be more convenient to the residents, he would probably take a favorable view of the deputation's request. (13)

At a Council meeting in May 1909 a report was received from the Hon. Agar Wynne, the local Federal member, with some good news -

From the Postmaster-General regarding the requests of a recent deputation for increased postal facilities at Moorabbin, showing that the change of name from South Brighton to Moorabbin would date from 17th inst.  At the same meeting Cr. Mills reported that the Education Department had decided also to alter the name of the South Brighton State School to Moorabbin. (14) 

Thus from May 17, 1909 the South Brighton Post Office was officially known as the Moorabbin Post Office; the school name changed on May 6, 1909 (15). And South Brighton had officially become Moorabbin.

Trove list

I have created a short list of articles connected to the name change of South Brighton to Moorabbin, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) Brighton Southern Cross, September 22, 1906, see here.

(2) Brighton Southern Cross, November 24, 1906, see here; opening date of stations - https://vicsig.net/

(3) Brighton Southern Cross, September 29, 1906, see here.

(4) Brighton Southern Cross, September 22, 1906, see here. Mr Kelly was a Moorabbin Shire Councillor from 1908 until 1917 (source -  Cribben, John Moorabbin: a Pictorial History 1862-1994 (City of Kingston, 1995)

(5) Brighton Southern Cross, September 29, 1906, see here.

(6) Brighton Southern Cross, December 8, 1906, see here. 

(7) Thomas Bent - https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/thomas-bent/; Councillor dates from - Cribben, John Moorabbin: a Pictorial History 1862-1994 (City of Kingston, 1995) and Bate, Weston A History of Brighton (Melbourne University Press, 1983)

(8) Brighton Southern Cross, November 24, 1906, see here;

(9) Brighton Southern Cross, November 24, 1906, see here;

(10) Brighton Southern Cross, December 8, 1906, see here.

(11) The Age, January 24, 1907, see here.

(12) Brighton Southern Cross, May 30, 1908, see here.

(13) The Age, May 1, 1909, see here.

(14) Brighton Southern Cross, May 22, 1909, see here.

(15) Vision and Realisation: a centenary history of State Education in Victoria, edited by L.J. Blake. (Education Department of Victoria, 1973), v. 3

Double Lagoon, part of section 37 of the Parish of Moorabbin

Double Lagoon was a locality and landmark in what is now Highett, but was then referred to as South Brighton - which was later called Moorabbin (1). It was named after the shape of  a waterhole in the area, which is clearly seen on the map below, straddling sections 37 and 38 on the Moorabbin Parish Plan from 1864. A Parish Plan shows the owners of the land after the Crown, so those who purchased the land at the first Government land sales. Subsequent owners and subdivisions are not shown on a Parish Plan, unless the land was the subject of a government subdivision such as a Closer Settlement Board scheme or Soldier Settlement scheme or similar.

Detail of the Moorabbin Parish Plan from 1864, showing the Double Lagoon,

in sections 37 and 38.

Parish of Moorabbin, County of Bourke / lithographed at the Department of Lands and Survey, Melbourne, May 14th, 1864.

State Library of Victoria https://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/123867

A later version (see below) of the Moorabbin Parish Plan, has street names which places the Double Lagoon around Wickham Road, between Bluff Road and the Nepean Highway. 

      

Detail of the Moorabbin Parish Plan from 1926 showing  sections 37 and 38 

and some street names.

Moorabbin, County of Bourke  / photo-lithographed at the Department of Lands and Survey, Melbourne by W. J. Butson, 1926. 

State Library of Victoria https://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/112254

The part of the Lagoon, located in section 37, was shown in an 1853 subdivision map, with the annotation Fresh water lagoon.

Part of the lagoon is shown on this 1853 map.

Plan of subdivision of portion no. 37 in the Parish of Moorrabbin called Worthing near Brighton by Charles Laing, Surveyor, 1853.

State Library of Victoria https://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/161550

The first mention I can find of  the  Double Lagoon in a newspaper was in 1854, when it was mentioned in the sale of building allotments in the Owensville Estate, on Arthur's Seat Road, Brighton.

Sale of land in April 1854, in the Owensville Estate in section 38, near the Double Lagoon

The Argus, April 6 1854 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4805438

The 1854 advertisement reads, in part,
Brighton. Building Allotments. Johnston and Co. will sell by public auction, at their rooms, Collins-street, on Thursday, 6th inst, at twelve o'clock, The unsold portions of forty seven really fine building allotments, portion of section 38, parish of Moorabbin, known as the Owensville Estate, as named after the celebrated Dr Owens, the Diggers' Delegate, from which gentleman the present vendor derives his title. This property is on the great three chain Arthur's Seat Road, a short distance from the well-known Key's Hotel, adjoining the Brighton Survey. The land is finely timbered, High and Dry, and has the great advantage of an abundant supply of good fresh water from the Double Lagoon, which forms the south-west boundary of the Owensville Estate. (2)

Arthur's Seat Road is the Nepean Highway. Dr Owen, as mentioned above, was Dr John Downes Owens (1809-1866). He advocated for miner's rights on the gold fields (thus referred to as the Diggers' Delegate) and his obituary noted that - To Dr. Owens's earnest and able advocacy the miners owe their release from the petty tyranny that the ruling bureaucracy imposed on them in the early days of the gold-fields.  He later purchased land at Brighton, in section 38, the subdivision of which was known as the Owensville Estate. (3)  As a matter of interest, Ripponlea, in the 1850s was also known as Owensville. (4) The Key's Hotel was Robert Key's Little Brighton Hotel, the licence of which was granted in  April 1847 at the Annual Licensing Session for the district of Bourke and the Argus noted in their report of this session that - A petition against the granting of this license was presented from a number of ladies, residing on the special survey at Brighton, who seemed to think that the concession of such a privilege to a bachelor applicant was a direct infringement of the vested rights of the fair sex. The magistrates, however, granted the license, no doubt expecting that the applicant would take the hint and provide himself with a helpmate before next licensing day. (5)  

In  June 1856, land being sold near Brighton, was advertised as being close to a large ornamental sheet of water, known as the Double Lagoon. (6)

Land near Brighton, close to Double Lagoon.

The Argus, June 30, 1856 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7132305

This 1856 advertisement has the location as Worthing, near Brighton. I presume this, like Owensville, was the name of the estate, but I can find no other information. It also notes that the land is nearly opposite the Plough and Harrow Inn. This Hotel, was opened by Jesse Morley in 1855 on the corner of South Road and what is now the Nepean Highway. (7)

In January 1859, the Double Lagoon Estate, part of section 37, was up for sale. The advertisement is transcribed below.

The Double Lagoon Estate for sale in January 1859

The Argus, January 20, 1859 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7308325

The advertisement reads - 

To be sold, by private, the DOUBLE LAGOON ESTATE, being part of portion No. 37 in the parish of Moorabbin, adjoining the Western Port-road, now metalled, and distant from Melbourne 9½ miles, half a mile from the South Brighton Post-office and the Plough and Harrow Inn, 1½ mile from the Brighton Railway Terminus, 1 mile from Pic-Nic Point, possessing a commanding view of the Bay, with a never-falling supply of spring water.

From its close proximity to the Railway Station, and the fact of two omnibuses passing dally to and

from Melbourne, this properly is well adapted for Villa residences, nursery and commercial gardens, &c  and will be divided in lots, as follows:-

Lot No. 1, containing 14 acres, upon which stands a four roomed brick house, partially finished, the greater part of the land being in a very high state of cultivation: and under crop.

Lot No. 2, 24 acres under cultivation, on which is erected a seven-roomed verandah cottage, with stabling, stock-yards, out offices, garden containing a large number of fruit-trees, including vines, &c., all of which are in full bearing.

Lot No. 3, 10 acres, half under cultivation.

Lot No. 4, 80 acres, will be divided in two, if required.

Lot. No. 5, 43 acres, will be divided to suit purchaser.

John Mackenzie, Queen-street. (8)

Pic-Nic Point (often written as Picnic Point) as mentioned in the advertisement, was an early name for Sandringham.

Parts of section 37 were put up for sale again in 1859, this time on  August 20. This was a mortgagees auction on behalf of  the insolvent John Wilkinson. The land consisted of 138 acres, divided into small farms of between 4 to 12 acres, and containing some of the richest soil in the Colony. (9) 

Mortgagee Auction on August 20, 1859 for land in section 37

The Argus, August 17, 1859

see the full advertisement here http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5686455 

The advertisement  doesn't mention the Double Lagoon,  however the subdivision map, which was created for the sale (see below) shows part of the lagoon marked with permanent good fresh water.

Plan showing the blocks, in section 37, which form part of  the mortgagee's auction 

on August 20, 1859

Plan shewing subdn, of part of portion 37, Parish of Moorabbin, 1859.

State Library of Victoria https://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/204678

We know that John Wilkinson lived at Double Lagoon, as he advertised for firewood contracts in May 1857. 

Mr Wilkinson of Double Lagoon

The Argus, May 29, 1857 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7132643

In August 1865, we find  another reference to both Double Lagoon and Owensville. A sale at the Plough and Harrow Hotel included - 12 allotments of land, being a portion of the celebrated Owensville Estate, fronting the Point Nepean Road, near the South Brighton Post-Office and 6½ acres of very superior garden land, near the double lagoon, South Brighton. (10)

Sale of land at Owensville and near the Double lagoon

The Argus, August 14, 1865 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5785321

There was one later reference to Double Lagoon which I could find and it was published  in 1917. The Brighton Southern Cross published an article on long term Brighton resident, George Lawrence. George was born in  England in 1844, the family arrived in Melbourne in 1849 and moved to Brighton in 1850.  He remembers that  the day prior to terrible Black Thursday [1851] he was sent with others of the family to the Double Lagoon, between Sandringham and Cheltenham, to get two loads of rushes with which to thatch the roof. The next day the whole country was ablaze. He also mentioned that on the lagoons were to be found wild fowl of various kinds. (11)

What happened to Double Lagoon? I wonder if the area now Basterfield Park, which has an ornamental Lake and basically adjoins Spring Road. Was Spring Road named for the obvious reason that there was a spring, which was the source of the lagoons good fresh water? Basterfield Park, was established late 1960s or early 1970s and named for Cr Gerald Basterfield, Councillor of the City of Moorabbin, from 1954-1979, and Mayor in 1959-1960 and  1971-1972 (12)

Basterfield Park, with a lake. Was this lake originally Double Lagoon?

Image: https://www.google.com/maps

Basterfield Park, 1973, to the left of Spring Road.

Image: detail of map 77, Melway Street Directory for Greater Melbourne, edition 6, 1973

(Melway Publishing Pty Ltd, 1973)

Footnotes

(1) South Brighton becomes Moorabbin https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2026/03/south-brighton-becomes-moorabbin.html

(2) The Argus, April 6 1854, see here 

(3) Dr Owens - Obituary The Age, November 27, 1866, see here; Australian Dictionary of Biography entry https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/owens-john-downes-4352

(4) Owensville - Ripponlea - St Kilda Historian J.B. Cooper writes - The land absorbed, in the district of Rippon Lea, was, at one time, known by the long since forgotten name of the Village of Owensville. The late William Augustus Pay, of Rippon Lea, who came from London, and settled there, in the year 1857, and dwelt in Gleneira Road for 72 years, first knew the lands, and houses, in the vicinity of his home, as the Village of "Owens- vine." That name was probably a legacy from a land sale division of an estate. Auctioneers of the years of the fifties, had a strong partiality towards calling any large divisional land sale by the name of some projected village. [Cooper, J.B. The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a City and after, 1840 - 1930, v. 1 (City of St Kilda, 1931), p. 99.]

(5) Key's Hotel - Melbourne Argus, April 23, 1847, see here.

(6) The Argus, June 30, 1856, see here. 

(7) The Argus, March 7, 1855, see here; 

Cribben, John Moorabbin: a Pictorial History 1862-1994 (City of Kingston, 1995), p.29. 

(8) The Argus, January 20, 1859, see here.  

(9) The Argus, August 17, 1859, see here.

(10) The Argus, August 14, 1865, see here. 

(11) Brighton Southern Cross, August 11, 1917, see here.

(12) In the 1966 Melway (on-line here) the land where Basterfield Park was later located was just vacant land. The 1973 Melway is the earliest one I own. 

Dates of Cr Basterfield's service from Cribben (see footnote 6)