This post looks at the construction and the official opening of the Armytage Own Scout Hall in Dandenong. When I was a girl (the 1960s and early 1970s) the main way to get from our home in Cora Lynn to Melbourne was along the Princes Highway through Dandenong and there were three 'landmarks' that I used to look out for in Dandenong - the Dandy Bacon neon pig; the rocket ship on the Coles New World and the Armytage Own Scout Hall, because it looked like a castle.
The early history of scouting in Dandenong is a bit hazy (to me) but there was a Scout Troop in Dandenong in 1909; however there are also reports that the 1st Dandenong Scout Group was established in July 1917; it was also known as the1st Dandenong Troop of Boy Rechabite Scouts, and members had to belong the Independent Order of Rechabites. The Scout Master was Mr D. McFarlane (1). The troop did not appear to last very long as in June 1928 there are more newspaper reports of a newly formed troop of scouts - the 1st Dandenong Troop Armytage Own. It was named the Armytage Own (also Armytage's Own) after Miss Ada Armytage, who has taken a warm practical interest in the troop right from the time it was re-formed. (2).
In June 1928, a concert was held at the Boomerang Theatre in Dandenong, to raise money for the Scout Troop, and Miss Armytage presented the troop colours, comprising a Union Jack, an Australian flag, and a troop flag, to the 1st Dandenong colour party (3). The Troop colours were blue and gold. (4)
Ada Elizabeth Armytage (1859-1939), was the second child and eldest daughter of Charles Armytage (1824-1876) and his wife Caroline Tuckwell (1832-1909). They raised their ten children, born between 1858 and 1875, at Como and the property was in the Armytage family until 1959, when it was handed to the National Trust. Caroline purchased Holm Park (built c. 1877) at Beaconsfield in 1883 as a country residence. Ada became involved in the Scouting movement as early as 1902, when she invited the Richmond and Toorak troops to hold camps at Como. (5).
Miss Armytage also held scout camps at Holm Park - the 1929 camp was reported in The Argus - The 1st Dandenong Troop of Boy Scouts (Armytage's Own) has concluded a fortnight's camp at Holm Park, Beaconsfield, the property of Miss Ada Arymtage. A sports meeting was held for trophies given by Miss Armytage. One of the most interesting incidents of the camp was the campfire concert, held on sloping ground on the Holm Park home.....On behalf of the parents and committee of the troop, Councillor W.B. Tharle presented Miss Armytage with an enlarged inscribed finished coloured photograph of the troop, as a slight recognition of her generous assistance.... To commemorate the troops first birthday, Miss Armytage entertained the scouts at a party on the eve of breaking camp. The table decorations in the large Holm Park dining-room included a miniature scouts' camp from which rose a four-tier birthday cake. (6).
The work of erection was the task of Mr. Leslie G. Taylor, and every detail has been carried but with meticulous care, under supervision and direction of Mr. Woodcock, Shire engineer. In design, it is attractive, and like wise wholly imposing, having a frontage of solid brick, over which there is a surface of colored rough cast. Its turreted and battlemented entrance through a wide and imposing Gothic arch, is an adherence that is faithful to the original. From each front corner pillar there is swung a huge chain, carried in loops to smaller posts in keeping with the general design. Though the whole frontage is of brick, and of rough cast, the remainder of the spacious structure is of wood, to which has been added weighty steel columns, making for solidity; and, on the outside the rough cast has been completed, over the whole, whilst the inner walls are Leonite sheeted.
The area of the building is 50,000 feet, having a floor space of 40,000 ft., since four cloak rooms and an office accommodation has become provided at the entrance. The floors of the whole are of the best Victorian hard wood, and the dance room, which is the special feature of the whole, has been electrically planed, and is perfect. The walls internally are finished with a luxuriant Victorian timber dado and overhead is a ceiling of fibro plaster artistically affixed.
Originally it had been intended to provide a gallery, but thought of that was later abandoned. As things progressed, it was found possible to revert to that plan, and so there has now become provided a supper room, approached by a wide stairway. It is at the front of the building, where there has been provided a supper room, buffet and lounge. (10)
The hall was opened in July 1930 with a grand ball - Table Talk had an extensive report -
This beautiful hall, of which the Scouts are immensely proud, has been made possible largely through the interest and help of Miss Ada Armytage, whose home, Holm Park, Upper Beaconsfield, has always been an active centre for Scout Interests, as Miss Armytage has placed the lodge at their disposal as their camping centre. The Scout movement has always roused her admiration to such an extent that one of her proudest moments was when she herself was admitted to the ranks, and presented with one of their highest badges. Not only has Miss Armytage contributed largely to the cost of the hall, but she has given the furnishings, pictures, etc. (11).
To finish this post we will look at the trip 180 Scouts made on January 7, 1935 to the Dandenong Scout Hall and Holm Park. The Scouts were attending the World Scout Jamboree held at Frankston (15). After arriving in Dandenong they visited Kelly and Lewis Pty. Ltd. and the Dandenong Bacon Factory and from there they journeyed to the Armytage Own Scout Hall, where a surprise indeed was awaiting them. None realised so grand a hall could exist out of a metropolitan city. It was to them all an awakening. (16).
An interesting ceremony then took place; interesting, of course, as I would have assumed that the foundation stone would have been unveiled during the construction stage of the building and not five years later - At this point the company adjourned to the front entrance of the spacious hall. There followed a joyous ceremony - in the unveiling of the foundation stone, and to the honor of the lady (Miss Armytage), whose name is thereon inscribed in letters of gold on spacious tablet...... a silver trowel [was presented and] Miss Armytage received it with words of graciousness, and waved it appropriately over the stone, which she declared was truly placed. (17).
The Scouts then travelled to reception at the Dandenong Town Hall and their day was still not finished as they were to motor over through the glorious hills and to return via “Holm Park,” where Miss Armytage was to be their gracious hostess at afternoon tea. That was of surprising generosity, and so generously received, each visitor felt himself at home, as the name of the picturesque estate implies. (18).
As a matter of interest, another of Miss Armytage's project was the funding and establishment of the Beaconsfield Avenue of Honour in 1929. Hybrid Black Poplars were planted along the Princes Highway between the Cardinia Creek and the Berwick township to honour 123 local Great War soldiers (20). Ada Armytage died on September 2, 1939. She was cremated at Springvale Cemetery and a memorial service was held at the Officer Union Church. Miss Armytage left an estate of £139,557, but did not have a Will. She was survived a brother, two sisters, a niece and two nephews (21).
Trove list - I have created a list of newspaper articles relating to this post, access it here.
Footnotes(1) There is a photo of the Dandenong Scout group in Punch, January 6, 1910, see here; and an interesting account of their 1911 Christmas camp at Rosebud in the South Bourke and Mornington Journal of January 12, 1911, here; the Dandenong Advertiser of October 4, 1917, see here, reported that the Dandenong Troop was nine weeks old and the requirement to be a member of the Independent Order of Rechabites; the South Bourke and Mornington Journal of October 4, 1914, see here, called the troop the Boy Rechabite Scouts.
(2) Dandenong Journal, November 1, 1928, see here.
(3) The Argus, June 26, 1928, see here.
(4) Dandenong Journal, January 10, 1935, see here.
(5) Selzer, Anita The Armytages of Como: pastoral pioneers (Halstead press, 2003).
(6) The Argus, January 11, 1929, see here.
(9) John Hemmings - see various articles in my Trove list, here.
(10) Dandenong Journal, June 5, 1930, see here.
