My aunty had her wedding reception at Dynevor, 325 Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda in January 1963. This is the story of the building and its two significant owners, Thomas Paul Anthony (1863-1929) who built the house, and Solomon Green (1868-1948).
Dynevor, January 1963
Photographer: Frank Rouse (my Dad). This was originally a slide, which I scanned.
Thomas Paul Anthony (1863-1929)
Dynevor was built, I believe, around 1910-1912 for Thomas Paul Anthony, a manager of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, who named the property Sebastian, after the birthplace of his wife, Mary Robina 'Polly' Charlton. (1) At the time, the street address was 45-46 Beaconsfield Parade.
This date of construction is based on a number of factors - firstly the 1910 Sands McDougall Directory list properties at 44 and 48 Beaconsfield Parade, with nothing in between. Secondly, Thomas and Polly Anthony were living at 15 Canterbury Road, St Kilda in February 1910, when their third child, Tom, was born but they are listed in the 1912 Electoral Roll at Sebastian, Beaconsfield Parade. Thirdly, in September 1909 the Bendigo Advertiser published the following -Messrs. Cordner, Reynell and Co announce that they have received instructions from Mr. T. P. Anthony to sell privately his mansion at the corner of View street and Barkly Place, known as "Sebastian." In the October the very superior modern art furniture, appointments, vehicles, harness, ponies, etc. to be sold on the premises, "Sebastian." (2) This would seem to confirm that the Anthony's were leaving Bendigo, and as we know they ended up in St Kilda.
Thomas Anthony, born on May 20, 1863 was the fifth of six children of Thomas William Anthony and Mary Ann Kemball (also sometimes called Campbell) who had married in 1857; he had four older sisters and a younger brother. At the time of Thomas' birth his father was 44 and his mother was 27. Thomas, like his sisters, was born in Creswick. (3) Thomas senior, born in Pennsylvania, operated the American Hotel in Creswick. In 1875 he moved to Melbourne and opened Anthony's Farmers' Club Hotel, Bourke Street West and at the time of his death he was at the Victoria Hotel in Hotham (North Melbourne). (4)
The Ballarat Courier had this touching obituary of Thomas senior after his death on January 31, 1880 -We regret to record the death of Mr T. W. Anthony, for many years host of the American hotel, Creswick, but latterly of the Victoria hotel, Hotham. We suppose there is no name more intimately connected with the district of Creswick than the genial and liberal Tom Anthony. While landlord of the American hotel he made heaps of money, in old coaching days, and was never backward in spending it again in developing the resources of the district, and there are many now resident in the district who owe to him their success through his open-hearted assistance given them in the past. Latterly, however, fortune was not so kind to the deceased, although in a comfortable position when he died. He left Creswick for the metropolis, and became host of the Victoria hotel, Hotham, where he died on Saturday morning, after an illness of a few days, from English cholera. (5)
After the death of her husband, Mary Ann Anthony married James Adams in October 1882 and that is the last I can trace of her. (6)
On September 25, 1894 thirty-one year old Thomas married 27 year-old Polly Charlton at St Paul's Anglican Church in Bendigo. The Bendigo Advertiser this report of the wedding -
Fashionable wedding - At St. Paul's Church yesterday morning a very pretty and interesting ceremony was performed, when Mr. T. P. Anthony, local secretary of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, was married to Miss Polly Charlton, daughter of the late Mr. Charlton, of Sebastian. The church was splendidly decorated for the occasion, and the effect was highly creditable to the Misses Knight, of the firm of Knight Bros., who were entrusted with the work. Among the floral devices were a wedding bell, the initials of the bride and bridegroom, and a horseshoe showing "Good Luck." Tall graceful palms, ferns, and arum lilies were used in the decorations, the church being quite a bower of camellias and other choice flowers. The edifice was filled by friends of the contracting parties, the guests being accommodated in the centre of the aisle. Among those present were many prominent citizens.....he bride, who looked charming in a costume of ivory duchesse satin with full court train of handsome brocade falling from the shoulders; the front of bodice accordion pleated, with stylish draped Empire sash finished with orange blossoms and full puffed sleeves with duchesse lace from elbow, was given away by her brother, Mr. J. P. Charlton. Her sister Elizabeth was one of the bridesmaids. (7)
Polly was the fourth of seven children of Robert and Mary Ann (nee Irwin) Charlton. At the time of her marriage only she, her brother John, sister Elizabeth, and their mother were still living. Robert Charlton had died in December 1878. The Herald had this short obituary -
Mr Robert Charlton, J. P., died in Sandhurst yesterday. He was the opener of the Frederick the Great Company, Sebastian Reef, out of which he made a considerable fortune. (8)
The Argus had a longer obituary -
Mr Robert Charlton, a gentleman well known in connexion with the mining industry in this district, died at his residence, Sebastian, yesterday. The deceased first arrived in Bendigo in 1854, but after a brief stay proceeded to Maryborough and other places, finally returning to Sandhurst in 1864. He then, in company with some partners, commenced mining operations at Sebastian. The celebrated Frederick the Great claim belonged to him and his partners, and the proceeds of the mine not only gave fortunes to the party, but also added considerably to the income of the lessor of the ground by the royalty paid for the privilege of working the mine. The Frederick the Great plant is one of the largest in the colony. About 12 months ago operations at the mine were discontinued, and shortly afterwards Mr Charlton proceeded to England. The trip, however, would appear to have operated injuriously on his constitution rather than otherwise, for since his return a few months back he gradually failed, until yesterday morning, when he died, at the age of 45 years. Mr Charlton held the position of a justice of the peace for some time. He leaves a wife and family, who are well provided for. (9)
In January 1883, Polly's mother, Mary Ann, remarried to John Tawse Illingworth and she died in Bendigo in 1906 and left an estate of £7,860. (10)
As you can see both Thomas and Polly came from well-off families and this, plus the sale of their Bendigo mansion and his salary with the Australian Mutual Provident Society, no doubt allowed them to build the new Sebastian in Beaconsfield Parade. I don't know what his salary would have been, but in 1909 the Australian Mutual Provident Society had assets of £24,522,715, so it was a large business of which Thomas was a district manager and later the sub-manager. (11)
Australian Mutual Provident Society; District Secretary was Thomas Anthony.
Bendigo Independent, November 6, 1909 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article227820775
Thomas and Polly had three children - Lila in 1895; Hector in 1900 and Tom in February 1910. The elder two were born in Bendigo and their last child, Tom was born at Windarra Private Hospital in Toorak, when as we know, they were living in Canterbury Road, St Kilda. (12)
It was while they were living at Sebastian, Beaconsfield Parade that their daughter Lila was married on March 16, 1915 to Cyril Vane Lansell, the son of George and Harriett Lansell of Fortuna Villa, Bendigo. (13) George Lansell, the Quartz King, had made a fortune from mining. His obituaries noted his influence in the mining field and in Bendigo -
Bendigo owed much to the pioneers, and of these Mr. Lansell was perhaps the most striking figure. The prosperity of Bendigo depended on its mines, and Mr. Lansell, by the payment of miners' wages, had given employment to a great many people. (14)
The great quartz "boom" which sent a wave of prosperity over Bendigo in the late "sixties" and early "seventies," gave Mr Lansell his opportunity, and he entered into a scheme of investment which proclaimed the astute and wary, though distinctly courageous, speculator, whose value to a mining field is not to be measured by mere money. If one thing more than another has earned for the departed mining magnate the thanks of the community, it is that he inspired the weaker and more timid investors with courage and confidence. (15)
George Lansell's estate was valued for Probate at £339,000. (16) Before we leave George Lansell, Punch had this interesting comment in their obituary - Most Bendigonians, so 'tis said, believe that when they die, if good, they will go to St. Kilda. Mr. Lansell never took much stock in St. Kilda. He reckoned that Bendigo was just as good a place to live as to grow rich in.... (17)
The Anthonys lived at Sebastian until March 1921, when they sold and moved to Brighton. Thomas died at 120 The Esplanade, Brighton on August 12, 1929 and Polly died in South Yarra on May 21, 1945. They are buried at the St Kilda Cemetery. (18)
The sale of Sebastian, March 19, 1921
The Herald, March 12, 1921 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242251528
The residence is handsome in appearance, well designed, and contains:- on Ground Floor - Spacious entrance hall, with lavatory, drawing-room 20 x 16 and bay, dining-room 28 x 18 with two bays and conservatory, morning-room 16 x 17, maid's room 13 x 16 with wardrobe, kitchen with servery to dining-room, 2 pantries, storeroom, and laundry. Upstairs - Bedroom 20 x 16ft. 6in., with sleeping-out balcony and balconette leading off, dressing-room fitted with wardrobe and lavatory basin, bedroom 15 x 14, with balconette 18x 15ft. 6in., with bay 16 x 17; boxroom, and bathroom. Hot water service is installed. Land 99 x 165, laid out in garden, and lawns. Full steel garage. The house is modernly designed, tastefully finished, the rooms being large, well decorated and nicely arranged, and the position is one of the finest in this popular district, overlooking the bay, within easy walking distance of St. Kilda railway station, and convenient to pier, baths and cable car. (19)
Solomon Green (1868-1948)
Sebastian was purchased by Solomon 'Sol' Green, retired bookmaker, a racehorse owner and a business man, who had extensive property holdings - both rural and urban. Sol, was born in England on August 1, 1868 to Judah and Elizabeth (nee Jacobs) Green. Judah was a publican, with an interest in horse racing. Sol came to Melbourne as a 15 year-old and after a few odd jobs became a bookmaker and was very successful, which gave him the capital to invest in property. (20)
It was the Greens who renamed Sebastian to Dynevor. Dynevor Downs, near Cunnamulla, was one of Sol's pastoral properties in Queensland, which he had purchased in 1914, thus the house name came from this property. Dynevor Downs was established in the 1860s and was possibly named for Dynevor Castle, a 13th-century castle near Llandeilo, in Wales. (21)
In 1926, the Sydney Truth newspaper published an article on Sol Green, under the headline The Romance of Solomon Green, and the writer noted that - if there has ever been a quicker thinker or more successful man in the betting ring of Australia, India and South Africa than Solomon Green, I, who saw him operating in each of those countries, have failed to notice the individual. (22)
On February 9, 1892, 23 year-old Sol married 18 year-old Rebecca Mendes, the daughter of George Mendes and his wife Amelia, nee Ottolangui. George was an ironmonger and they lived in Coventry Street, South Melbourne. The wedding took place at Arcadia, Beaconsfield Parade, Albert Park, the service being conducted by Rabbi Joseph Abrahams of the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation (who had, as a matter of interest, conducted the marriage ceremony of General Sir John Monash and his wife, Hannah Moss in April 1891) (23)
Arcadia was the home of Alfred and Emma Da Costa - Emma was Rebecca's sister. Sol and Rebecca's marriage was quickly followed by the birth of a son, Robert Judah, on June 19, 1892; he was born at Arcadia. When their second son Louis Horace was born in January 1894, they were living at Sylvia, Beaconsfield Parade. In June 1903, their third son Arthur Jasper was born, also at Sylvia. (24)
Arcadia and Sylvia were part of Amelia Terrace, on the corner of Beaconsfield Parade and Harold Street, numbered in 1903 Electoral Roll as 208-211 Beaconsfield Parade. Rebecca and Emma's brothers, Albert and Morris Mendes were also living at Amelia Terrace. (25)
Amelia Terrace, then 208-211 Beaconsfield Parade - where Sol and Rebecca were married and where their three sons were born.
Sands & McDougall Melbourne and Directory - 1900
Rebecca's father, George Mendes, was an early settler in South Melbourne and he died in November 1901 - the Emerald Hill Record had this obituary -
One of the oldest residents of South Melbourne passed away on Monday last in the person of Mr. George Mendes, of Coventry-street. The deceased gentleman, who was 80 years of age, was one of the early settlers of the Hill, arriving here in 1852, and for nearly the whole of that period resided in Coventry street. He built largely in South Melbourne, and the building in Coventry street now occupied by the Salvation Army, was erected by him in 1877 as a theatre at a cost of £10,000. Mr Mendes was a member of the South Melbourne Cricket Club and the Albert Park Bowling Club, and in the early days took a keen interest in rowing. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and a Forester, and one of the founders of the first Druid Lodge in South Melbourne. His funeral on Tuesday was largely attended by a number of representative citizens. The funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Abrahams. Mr.Mendes was married twice, and leaves a widow and grown-up family. (26)
Sol Green, c. 1947.
Possibly taken at what was to be named Sol Green Reserve in South Melbourne. Mr Green donated £2,000 to have the park made into a children's playground.
Photographer: Herald and Weekly Times, State Library of Victoria image H38849/1677
Solomon Green died on May 11, 1948, aged 79. The Argus published this informative obituary outlining his life and his generous charitable donations -
Sol Green never failed the needy - Born of poor Jewish parents in London 80 years ago, Sol Green came to Australia when he was 19 to "make more than the 2/6 he was getting in London," and he travelled "fourth class because there was no fifth." He began as bookmaker's clerk, set up for himself as bookmaker at 22, and in a few years led his profession.
He bought racehorses and won well with them. He founded the Shipley Stud, at Warrnambool, in 1906, and bred Artilleryman and King Ingoda, both Melbourne Cup winners. He won again with Comedy King. He retired from the ring in 1910, a very wealthy man. He dispersed the Shipley Stud eight years later, only to establish another - Underbank, at Bacchus Marsh - which he carried on until 1944. In all, his horses won almost £70,000 in stakes. But he did not concentrate on racing alone. He owned city hotels, shops, and warehouses, and several station properties.
His long series of charitable gifts - those known to the public - began in 1937, when he gave £100 for blankets for the poor, and subsequently increased it to £1, 000. Then in one year he gave the proceeds of a sale of thoroughbred yearlings, £1,500, to buy blankets for bomb raid victims in England. In 1943 he placed £50,000 in trust in perpetuity to enable returned servicemen to buy homes on easy terms, payments to be returned to the fund and reinvested in more homes.
Two years later he made substantial gifts to hospitals, and in September last year, on Yom Kippur, most sacred day in the Jewish calendar, as he lay sick in hospital, he gave £42,000 to be divided equally between Melbourne's five main hospitals. He followed it with two gifts of £5,000 each to the Royal Melbourne Hospital Centenary Appeal. Those are his recorded philanthropic activities. There were countless others, known only to himself and those he helped. He was not a fool with money, but he never failed those in need.
His character is indicated best, perhaps, by portion of the letter to the Press in which he announced his Yom Kippur gift. "I came to Australia penniless, and this country gave me great opportunities to make my way in life," he wrote. "Today's gift is an expression of my gratitude. It is not made solely on my own behalf, but also on behalf of my many Jewish co-religionists to whom life has not been so kind. It is made, too, to support my plea that the people of this nation may always refuse to take part in any kind of religious or racial bigotry. I ask no personal credit for the gift. I am too old and tired for this to matter." (27)
Sol was buried at the Melbourne General Cemetery, as was his wife Rebecca who died on May 21, 1954. (28) Solomon Green is remembered by the Sol Green Reserve in South Melbourne, which is bordered by City Road, Nelson Road, Montague Street and Coventry Street, the last named was where his wife, Rebecca, grew up. He donated £2,000 to have this park made into a children's playground. (29)
Dynevor - Accommodation and later a Reception Centre
On December 7, 1950, Dynevor was auctioned, but passed in at £12,500. In February 1951 the sale of the beautiful furnishings and effects of Dynevor were auctioned. (30)
Dynevor for sale
The Argus, November 25, 1950 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23031483
The next reference I can find is in May 1952, after Dynevor must have been turned into a guest house/boarding house, when a room was listed for rent. A subsequent advertisement in January 1953, described Dynevor as 1st class accommodation. (31)
Outside Dynevor, January 1963 - all dressed up for our Aunty's wedding.
My sister, Megan, in pink flock nylon; Mum, Wendy, in green silk; my sister Karen in yellow flock nylon and me in pale blue eyelet nylon. Mum, who was 28 at the time, made all these dresses.
Photographer: Frank Rouse, our Dad. This was originally a slide, which I scanned.
Dynevor's life as a boarding house was short-lived as by October 1953 it had become a reception centre, and from that date onwards the building featured in wedding reports, twenty-first birthday reports and reports of other functions. (32) In 1963 it was operated by Vernard James Bell and Violet Irene Bell, I have no information as to when they took over the business. (33) Its next owners were George Henry Whittle and Myrene Nita Whittle, and again I have no information as to when they took over the business. (34) Dynevor's life as a reception centre ceased around the end of 1969; George Whittle died on June 1, 1970 and in January 1971, Myrene Whittle put to auction the catering equipment and fittings and furniture from Dynevor Receptions; selling due to the demolition of the property. (35) And that was the end of Sebastian / Dynevor.
The sale of equipment and fittings at Dynevor Receptions.
The Age, January 16, 1971, p. 27 from newspapers.com
325 Beaconsfield Parade today
Dynevor was demolished and Breakwater Towers, designed by Architect Sol Sapir, was constructed. It consisted of 24 apartments, with prices starting at $36,500 and the first advertisement I could find for them was at the end of September 1974. (36)
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Advertisement for Breakwater Towers
The Age, October 2, 1970, p. 40 from newspapers.com
Trove List
I have created a list of articles on Thomas Paul Anthony and Solomon Green and their extended families and on Sebastian / Dynevor. Access the list here.
Footnotes
(1) Birth place - Anthony/Charlton marriage certificate
(2) Sands & McDougall Melbourne and Directories - on-line at the State Library of Victoria; Tom Anthony, born February 1910, birth certificate; Electoral Rolls at Ancestry.com; Bendigo Advertiser, September 4, 1909, see here; Bendigo Advertiser, October 13, 1909, see here.
(3) Thomas Anthony's birth certificate; Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.
(4) Ballarat Star, December 23, 1875, see here; Ballarat Courier, February 2, 1880, see here; Ballarat Star, February 3, 1880, see here.
(5) Ballarat Courier, February 2, 1880, see here.
(6) The Argus, October 10, 1882, see here.
(7) Bendigo Advertiser, September 26, 1894, see here; Anthony/Charlton marriage certificate.
(8) Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; The Herald, January 1, 1879, see here.
(9) The Argus, January 1, 1879, see here.
(12) Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Tom Anthony's birth certificate.
(14) The Argus, March 20, 1906, see here.
(15) Weekly Times, March 24, 1906, see here.
(16) The Herald, July 5, 1906, see here.
(17) Punch, March 22, 1906, see here.
(19) The Herald, March 12, 1921, see here.
(20) Australian Dictionary of Biography entry by Chris McConville
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/green-solomon-6473 ; Sydney Truth, May 2, 1926, see here.
(21) Brisbane Courier, January 7, 1867, see here; Riverine Herald, February 28, 1914, see here; Encyclopaedia Britannica https://www.britannica.com/place/Carmarthenshire#ref711294
(22) Sydney Truth, May 2, 1926, see here.
(23) Green/Mendes marriage certificate; Monash/Moss wedding -
(24) Da Costa birth at Arcadia - The Argus, December 26, 1891, see here; The Argus, June 23, 1892, see here; Weekly Times, February 3, 1894, see here; The Argus, June 10, 1903, see here.
(25) Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1900 - on-line at the State Library of Victoria; Electoral Rolls at Ancestry.com
(26) Emerald Hill Record, November 23, 1901, see here.
(27) The Argus, May 12, 1948, see here.
(28) The Herald, May 21, 1954, see here.
(29) Emerald Hill Record, August 2, 1947, see here; Emerald Hill Record, September 27, 1947, see here.
(30) The Argus, November 25, 1950, see here; The Argus, December 8, 1950, see here; The Argus, February 3, 1951, see here.
(32) See my Trove list here.
(33) Sands & McDougall Melbourne and Directories - on-line at the State Library of Victoria; Electoral Rolls at Ancestry.com
(34) Sands & McDougall Melbourne and Directories - on-line at the State Library of Victoria; Electoral Rolls at Ancestry.com
(35) Date of closure - there were reports in The Age of functions at Dynevor up to 1969, but I can't find any in 1970; George Whittle death notice - The Age June 3, 1970; sale of fixtures, equipment etc of Dynevor Receptions - The Age, January 16, 1971. The Age is available on newspapers.com up to the year 2000. Myrene Whittle died in July 1994 and like her husband her cremated remains are at Springvale Botanical Cemetery.
(36) The first advertisement I could find in The Age was on September 27, 1974. Architect - Sol Sapir https://www.builtheritage.com.au/dua_sapir.html