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