Frankston and the Sun News-Pictorial Ideal Town competition 1927 and 1931

In 1927 the Sun News-Pictorial newspaper introduced the Ideal Town competition. Towns could be entered into one of the three division - Division A was for towns having a population greater than 3,000;  Division B, a population between 1,500 and 3,000, and  Division C, a population below 1,500. There was a daily coupon in The Sun and these were to be sent in with the name of the town the reader wanted to vote for and how many votes they estimated the town would achieve. The person who was the closest in each division received a prize of £25 and there were 25 consolation prizes of £1. (1)

After the voting closed -

and the six leaders in each division have been discovered, an expert committee will visit the towns and pick the best. Three well-known citizens have recognised the wide public interest in the quest, and the beneficial influence it is exercising in the country, and have consented to act as judges. The town planners are represented by Mr C. E. Merrett, member of the Metropolitan Town Planning Commission, and president of the Royal Agricultural Society. Mr Robert R. Hamilton, prominent city architect, and a member of the Council of the Institute of Architects, will judge the architecture of the towns, while Mr George Bell, the well-known Australian artist, also will act. (2)

The criteria for the judging included - Situation and lay-out will be factors considered, but the competition will go much further. Points will be given for civic enterprise, the development of local industries, beautification schemes, lighting, parks and open spaces for the people, and children's playgrounds.(3). Another report noted that the Judges travelled 2273 miles, visiting towns throughout Victoria before reaching their decision. (4) The winning town was awarded £200; the second prize was   £75 and the third prize was £25. (5)

Frankston entered in Division B, and a civic campaign commenced in November when a meeting of over thirty delegates representing every organisation in Frankston was held. At the meeting -

Cr. W. J. Oates presided and gave a brief outline of the scheme, which is a simple one. Each day a coupon appears in the Sun News Pictorial on which the reader may record his ideal town of Victoria. These coupons need not be sent in from day to day, but may be saved and forwarded in one lot. In the case of Frankston it is proposed to receive them at the Shire Office and send them in from there.

The method of voting is not complicated. All the reader has to do is to fill in the word Frankston in the space provided, give an estimate of the number of votes which he thinks will be recorded for the town of his choice and sign his name. The estimate of votes gives the reader a chance of winning a cash prize of £25, as this sum will be paid to the one who gives the nearest estimate to the number of votes which the winning town in each section receives. The report of this meeting noted that no opportunity to vote every day should be lost by anyone who has the interest of Frankston at heart. (6)

Main Street, Frankston, in January 1928. 

This is how Frankston looked like when the judges visited in connection 

to the 1927 Ideal Town competition. 

The Australasian January 21, 1928 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140791820

Frankston also sought some high-profile support -

Frankston hopes to get support for its drive to be declared the Ideal Town of Victoria from

some of its widely-known residents, such as the Prime Minister (Mr. Bruce), the President of the Employers' Federation (Mr T. Ashworth), Mr Daryl Lindsay, the artist, Major-General H.W. Grimwade, Brigadier-General Elliott and Mr W. B. McGuiness, who is painting Canberra. The Frankston Publicity Committee has asked these men to tell why they chose Frankston as permanent places of residence, or for holiday homes. (7)

The first set of winners were announced on Monday, January 9, 1928 in Division A, towns with  a population over 3,000,  the honours going to Warrnambool, with Castlemaine second and Bairndsale third. On Friday, January 13, the winners of Division C, towns with  a population below 1,500 were announced. The winner was Yea, second place Jeparit and equal third Alexandra and Woodend.(8) 

In Division B, the winners were announced on January 11, and sadly for Frankston, they were pipped by Beechworth, with Nhill coming third. The Frankston and Somerville Standard reported on the day -

Frankstonians started Wednesday with heavy hearts when the result of the Ideal Town competition was made known. Hopes of securing top of the tree had run high, and the announcement that the township had to take second place was too much to stand up to cheerfully so early in the morning. As the day wore on, residents began to smile once more and realised that the securing of second place in such a contest was something of which every resident could justly be proud. (9)

The Herald reported that -

In all their remarks the Judges have emphasised the importance of trees, and the removal of trees from Frankston's main streets was considered a disadvantage by the judges. They said that many of the finest homes and gardens in the State are to be found on the cliff-edged heights and praised the water and light, the sporting facilities and fine bathing beaches. Frankston's gardens and trees in the State and High Schools won it points. (10)

Having won £75, the Frankston community had to make a decision how the money should be spent. In May 1928 the Frankston & Somerville Standard reported that -

A meeting of the committee connected with the Ideal Town competition was held on Monday night to finalise matters in connection with the competition. Some debate on the question of the use to which the prize money (£75) won in the competition was to be put ensued.

Some time ago the Shire council received a request from the Arborean Club that the prize money be handed over to the club for the purpose of planting trees in the streets. As a result the council asked the Ideal Town committee for a recommendation regarding the spending of the money. Practically all present were in sympathy with the proposal to use the money in tree planting, but a suggestion from Cr. Bradbury that attractive entrance gates to Frankston Park found greater favor. It was agreed that it be a recommendation to the council to expend the money in erecting entrance gates to the Park. (11)

The Park Gates, Frankston.

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/4164

Local stonemason, Thomas Ferbrache, constructed the gates. He died in January 1938, aged 59, and his short obituary said that he was a stonemason of outstanding ability, and many works in the district - including the Frankston Park gates, are a monument to his skill. Mr. Ferbrache, who was a native of Guernsey, died following a stroke. (12)

In June 1930, it was reported that - 

The ornamental gates at the main entrance to Frankston Park are now complete and the tall iron gates standing between massive stone columns form a fitting entrance to a park which is second to none south of Melbourne. At last meeting, of the shire council it was decided, on the motion of Crs. Pratt and Oates, that the Minister for Lands (Mr. Bailey) be invited to officially open the gates on July 2. As the prize money won by Frankston in the Ideal Town competition conducted by the Sun News Pictorial was spent on this work, Mr. Keith Murdoch has been invited to be present. (13). Sadly neither men could accept the invitation, and six months later in the December, the Premier, Mr Hogan, and Mr Murdoch, were again unavailable. I have no information as to when or if the gates were officially opened. 

In December 1930, the Victorian Provincial Press Association went to Frankston for their annual outing. A report on the Tour of Beauty Spots in the Frankston area was published in many newspapers - there are nineteen accounts I can find on-line on Trove. Here is an abridged report of the visit to Frankston Park -

Frankston Park... is claimed to be the finest park within a radius of fifty miles of Melbourne. It is the rendezvous of thousands of picnickers each year. It is surrounded by hundreds of stately pines which provide excellent shelter....A progressive shire council has adopted a park beautification scheme, and wonders have been wrought in the past few years. The enclosure promises to become one of the show spots of the bayside....The most attractive feature of the park is the imposing entrance. Massive pillars of masonry support heavy wrought-iron gates sixteen feet in height. On either side are smaller gates on correspondingly smaller pillars for pedestrian traffic. The entrance was constructed to commemorate Frankston's success in the "Sun News-Pictorial" Ideal Towns Competition. Frankston led by many thousands of votes in the public contest and was placed second by the judges appointed by the "Sun News-Pictorial." Since that time Frankston has advanced considerably and would embrace an opportunity to enter another contest of the kind. (14)

Entrance Gate to Frankston Park

Benalla Standard, December 23, 1930 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/255594371

Frankston did indeed embrace the opportunity to enter another contest; it was the 1931 Ideal Town competition also held by the Sun News-Pictorial. The judges this time were Colonel E. E. Merrett (chairman), Mr. P. H. Meldrum, of Stephenson and Meldrum (architect judge)., Mr. Harold Herbert (artist judge), and Mr. F. C. Cook (town planner judge). (15)

When the judges visited Frankston they were shown these ornamental gates and the Frankston and Somerville Standard reported - 

After passing the Presbyterian church, the post office, war memorial and Mechanics' Institute and having a glimpse of the Church of England the judges were confronted with the entrance to the park. It is safe to say that nothing seen on the tour made such an impression on the minds of the judges as this entrance. They were unanimous in their declaration that they had seen nothing to compare with it in any town they had visited. Mr. Cook saw in the gates something dear to the heart of a town planner; Mr. Meldrum saw beauties understood only by those versed in the beauties of architecture; Mr. Herbert saw beauty in the artistic simplicity of the massive pillars with their background of trees; Colonel Merrett in addition to appreciating the magestic [sic] appearance of the gateway, was delighted by the information that the gates were erected with the prize money received by Frankston which gained second place in the 1927 quest. The entrance made such a profound impression on Mr. Meldrum that his enthusiasm grew as the day advanced and he declared when responding in the evening to a toast to the judges, that the gates were equal to anything that could be seen anywhere in the world. (16)

In a repeat of the 1927 competition, Frankston was again beaten by Beechworth - 

The announcement of the decision of the judges in the 1931, Ideal Towns' Quest brought disappointment to many ardent workers for Frankston's success. The placings were:-Beechworth, 1; Frankston, 2; Swan Hill, 3; Yallourn, special prize. Those who take a keen interest in Frankston's progress felt confident that the wonderful progress made by the town in the past four years and the improvements to Kannanook Creek, the foreshore and reserves were sufficient to place Frankston in the premier position in 'B' division, but Beechworth's architectural features, its tree-planted streets and industries made a more forceful appeal to the judges. (17)

Today, the gates are still at the entrance to Frankston Park. Interestingly the Frankston: Enjoy every moment website has this to say about the gates - The Frankston Oval Gates were obtained from the Old Melbourne Gaol that had parts previously demolished. The massive iron gates were erected at the Frankston Oval where gate posts were built by stone worker Thomas Ferbnache [sic] during the time of the Second World War. Most impressive in stature, the gate posts were constructed in a random rubble form of medium sized boulders mined from local quarries. (18). More information on the gates is in a  comment attached to a photograph of the gates on Flickr - Wrought iron gates were obtained for the Frankston Park entrance from a demolished section of the Old Melbourne Gaol in Russell Street by Major Condant [sic], then Gaol Governor. Condant had previously been commandant of the Langwarrin Army Camp near Frankston during the First World War. (19).

Regarding the information in the first quote -  I am sure that the gates were formed of boulders from local quarries, however the World War Two construction date is incorrect, because they were completed by December 1930 and Thomas Ferbache died in January 1938. Both comments note the gates were  obtained from the Old Melbourne Gaol. Is this correct?  Possibly. In July 1924 it was reported that the prisoners were in the process of being moved to Pentridge Gaol and that -  most of the fittings have been removed from the gaol and the work of demolition will begin as soon as practicable. (20). Perhaps the gates were amongst the fittings removed. Some demolition work was carried out in the 1920s and more extensive demolition work in 1937. (21)  Were they supplied by Major Condant? The man is actually Walter Tasman Conder, who was in charge of the Langwarrin Camp from 1916 until March 1921. He was appointed Governor of Pentridge Gaol in April 1922 and resigned in October 1923. From 1926 until 1930 he was the General Manager of 3LO Broadcasting; then of Dominion Broadcasting Company and in 1933 appointed General Manager of the Australian Broadcasting Commission. (22)  It is possible that the gates came from the Old Melbourne Gaol, but from May 1928 when the concept of the gates were first conceived and June 1930 when they were completed, Walter Conder had long ago left the penal department. 

These gates are a reminder of the Frankston's civic pride and their entry into the Sun News-Pictorial 1927 Ideal Town Competition.

Trove list 

I have created a list of articles on the Ideal Town competition, mainly related to Frankston's participation and the construction of the gates, access it here. 

Footnotes

(1) See various articles in my Trove list, here. 

(2) The Herald, November 30, 1927, see here.

(3) The Herald, October 24, 1927, see here.

(4) The Herald, January 9, 1928, see here.

(5) The Herald, November 9, 1927, see here.

(6) Frankston and Somerville Standard, November 4, 1927, see here.

(7) The Herald, November 3, 1927, see here.

(8) See the results in various articles in my Trove list, here. 

(9) Frankston and Somerville Standard, January 13, 1928, see here.

(10) The Herald, January 11, 1928, see here.

(11) Frankston and Somerville Standard, May 11, 1928, see here.

(12) Frankston and Somerville Standard, January 7, 1938,  see here.

(13) Frankston and Somerville Standard, June 28, 1930, see here.

(14) Benalla Standard, December 23, 1930, see here.

(15) Ovens and Murray Advertiser, October 17 1931, see here.

(16) Frankston and Somerville Standard, November 14, 1931, see here.

(17) Frankston and Somerville Standard, December 5, 1931. see here.

(18) Frankston: enjoy every moment https://www.discoverfrankston.com/frankston-cultural-walk/frankston/frankston-park-gates

(19) Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/hytam/46695257871/in/photostream/ 

(20) The Argus, July 12, 1924, see here.

(21)  Labour Call, April 18, 1929,  see here; The Age, February 18, 1937, see here; The Herald, April 8, 1937, see here.

(22) Calder, Winty  Australian Aldershot: Langwarrin Military Reserve Victoria, 1866-1980 (Jimaringle Publications, 1987); Victoria Government Gazette No. 40, April 12, 1922; The Age, October 17, 1923, see here; Table Talk, April 29, 1926, see here; Brisbane Telegraph, April 1, 1933, see here.

Sweetwater Creek, Frankston

My friend has two postcards (1) of waterfalls on the Sweetwater Creek in Frankston and they inspired me to do some research into the Creek, which I had never heard of before. This post looks at some historic accounts of the flora and fauna found in the Frankston area and along the Sweetwater Creek, which is now part of a nature reserve (2). Sweetwater Creek  was so named because the water was fresh not salty. The mouth of the creek is at the base of Oliver's Hill. Oliver's Hill is the northern extremity of the Mount Eliza granitic outcrop. Granite is exposed in the bed of the Sweetwater creek at various points in its progress to the sea (3).  Around 1852 fishermen and timber cutters formed a  settlement at the mouth of the creek (4).  James Oliver, who was a fisherman and the namesake of Oliver's Hill, had a cottage on the crest of the hill -  Up till about 1863 the sand had not silted up the small bay below and he was able to haul his boat right into Sweetwater Creek and anchor it there (5). 

This 1854 plan of the town allotments at Frankston shows the Sweet Water Creek and further south, the Salt Water Creek, which is the Kackeraboite Creek. 

Click here to see the entire map at the State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/160463

Village of Frankston at Kananook Creek, Mount Eliza, Port Phillip Bay.  Lithographed at the Surveyor General's Office, May 1st 1854, by James B Philp, Victoria Surveyor General's Office

 

In 1902, Clarice Wells wrote this delightful letter to the Mornington Standard about the Sweetwater Creek. Clarice, was the grand-daughter of Henry Cadby Wells, who had arrived in the area in 1859 (6). 

There are a great number of pretty places in Frankston, but the one which most people like best is the gully, or Sweet-water creek. It has pretty rippling water-falls, which are very steep and high. There are also a number of pretty ferns, which are called maiden hair, lady-finger fern, and bird-nest or coral fern. In some places it is very hilly and in others quite flat. There is an old cabin in the gully where an old man has lived for a number of years. The creek runs for miles to the right and to the left out into the open sea. It is a lovely cool place to go for a picnic in summer. It is very nice to hear the birds singing in the green trees. There has also been native bread found in the creek, which was greatly used among the aboriginals in the early days. The gully would be a beautiful place for an artist to paint, either in summer or winter. The wild flowers which grow around the gully are also beautiful (7). 

The beauty of the Sweetwater Creek was recognised in 1906 when an illustration of the falls was included on an illuminated address presented to Mark Young, who was leaving the Frankston district.  Mark Young (8) was the owner of the Pier Hotel in Frankston, a local Councillor and a man of honor and strict integrity - a man whose counsel was of great value, and a man to whom an appeal on behalf of any worthy object was never made in vain. Mr. Young was always to the fore in all matters of public interest; to him we owed the existence of the Frankston Public Park and Mechanics' Institute. It was through the instrumentality of Mr. Young that the Langwarrin military camp was established upon the site it now occupied (9). The illuminated address had been beautifully executed by Mr. W. Laughton, of Melbourne, and handsomely framed by Mr. W. R. Stephens, of Frankston. On the top of the address was depicted an excellent view of the Frankston Pier, whilst the following views were faithfully copied on other portions of the work :-The Swing Bridge, at the rear of the Pier Hotel; Bay-street, and the falls on Sweetwater Creek (10). I wonder where the illuminated address is now. 

Falls, Sweetwater Creek, Frankston.

This postcard was sent in April 1909 (see Footnote 1).

Image: Isaac Hermann

Frankston was the destination for the Botany Class at the Melbourne College of Pharmacy in 1911 and again in 1913. The Mornington Standard reported on the visits - 
On the afternoon of Saturday, September 30th, a considerable portion of the class in botany of the Melbourne College of Pharmacy visited Frankston for the purpose of a study of field botany. Twenty students, including four women students, formed the party. The country round Frankston is stated by botanical authorities to form the best collecting ground in the State. The party was met at the station by Dr Plowman, the Lecturer at the college. ..They first explored the healthy ground between Kars Street and the Hastings road, and afterwards the high ground beyond the extremity of Kars Street. From the highest eminence a magnificent view was obtained of the bay and surrounding country with Mount Macedon and the Dandenong ranges in the distance. It was greatly admired by the visitors, and the whole party was here photographed. A straight line across country to the head waters of Sweetwater creek was then made, and the gully was followed to the coast....the weather was delightful and the field excursion a great success. The main object, viz, the collection and study of wild plants actually in flower, their identification and their reference to their respective natural orders, was fully attained. The number of species was not actually taken, but they were very numerous and were representative of no less than 29 natural orders (11). 

Another group of Botany Students visited Frankston in 1913 and visited the same places and followed the Sweetwater Creek from the head waters to the Bay - they were successful in obtaining many interesting specimens in the streets themselves before arrival at the real collecting grounds. Among them may be mentioned the curious trigger plant, a snow plant, an orchid, and many species of the Lily order, which were found in Wedge-street (12).  The students then continued their work on the hill where the haul of specimens was a particularly good one, including a few special coastal flowers, but the orchids were not so numerous as on the previous occasion when eleven distinct species were obtained (13). 

In 1930, The Age published an article, written under the pen-name of A.L.E., called Wild Life on the Peninsula - Echidna were very numerous, especially on the Mornington Peninsula and along the hillsides and on the moorlands in close proximity to Frankston..... The kangaroo was no longer abundant however its near relation, the wallaby, is not by any means rare, and even along the upper reaches of Sweetwater Creek, near the foot of Mount Eliza, there are some of the finest animals of this class to be found in Australia, but owing to the density of the scrub and bracken fern, it is difficult to obtain a full view of them for photographic purposes (14). 

A.L.E's observations on phalangers were published in The Herald in 1934 - Good news for nature lovers is contained in a letter from A.L.E. (Frankston): flying phalangers, or "squirrels" as they generally are termed, are still to be seen on Mornington Peninsula. "The Dandenongs are not to have it all their own way. During the last seven years I have been interested in the presence of some flying phalangers along that haven for our native fauna, the Sweetwater Creek. Ringtail possums share this locality with the 'fliers.' But, the other day, I was disgusted to find that the house-cat had been visiting trees along the creek, and taking toll of the 'fliers; presumably to let me know that 1 am not the only creature aware of their existence there. For puss placed the pretty little animal - her victim - on the back doormat! "These phalangers were long ago thought to be extinct on the Peninsula. Actually, at present, some of them are making an inspection of the trees in my grounds: no doubt with a view to taking up permanent residence." (15). 

A. L.E was I believe Alfred Leslie Earl, listed in the 1934 Electoral Roll at 'Tower Hill', Frankston. His occupation was Nurseryman. In 1934, under his real name he wrote the following interesting letter to the The Argus - It was stated on Saturday that it was not often that opossums and bees were found in a common lodging place. In the wild country of Sweetwater Creek upper reaches at Frankston it is usual to find above a wild bees hive the nest of the ring-tail opossum and invariably at the groundline or below the hive an ants' nest. Both ants and opossums are passionately fond of honey, but they never attack it while bees remain in possession (16). 

A year later, Mr Earl wrote to The Age about snakes and butcher birds on the Mornington Peninsula - I was much interested in the paragraph referring to copperhead snakes here. That is the type most common along the moorland sandhills. However, there are tiger snakes along the tea-tree, especially in the grey and heavy land. I saw a large one on Davey's Bay-road last summer. Along the high parts of the Overport-road at Mount Eliza some large tigers abound, also on the slopes of Sweetwater Creek. Mention of snakes brings to my mind that I noticed eight Derwent jackasses, or butcher birds, worrying a huge copperhead snake on the Three Chain-road, and ultimately the "butchers" won. They not only killed the snake, but completely severed the head from the trunk (17). 

Marathon Falls, Frankston. 

I presume that these falls are one of the pretty rippling water-falls, which are very steep and high (as Clarice Wells wrote in 1902) on the Sweetwater Creek, but I cannot find any information about them.

This postcard was sent in March 1911 (see Footnote 1)

Image: Isaac Hermann

Water supply for Frankston was an on-going problem until the town was supplied with water from the Beaconsfield Reservoir in 1922 as part of the scheme to supply water to the Flinders Naval base, which had opened in 1920 (18). In 1912 water from the various creeks was sampled and Sweetwater Creek was reported to be very satisfactory, excepting for a slight trace of vegetable matter, which could be accounted for by the water being taken from a pool which had been standing some time (19).

I mentioned at the start of this post that the mouth of the Creek silted up. This seemed to have been a continual problem and was 'solved' on occasions by allowing the removal of sand from the mouth. Thus in January 1928 it was reported that sand was being taken from the mouth of Sweetwater Creek and that the councillors were pleased to have it removed to open the creek up (20).  This created its own problems and three months later in  April it was reported from a Council meeting that  those who were supposed to secure sand from there were taking it from further along the beach. On the motion of Crs. Bradbury and Montague it was decided to notify contractors that no more sand must be removed from the beach (21). 

By February 1931 the same issue was reported Cr. Keast said at last meeting of the shire council that he had received several complaints from ratepayers of the removal of sand from the foreshore at the foot of Oliver's Hill. He asked if it was removed with the permission of the engineer. Mr. Ham said permits were issued for the removal of sand from the mouth of Sweetwater Creek. A royalty of 1/ a load was paid. Cr. Keast said he was afraid that those removing sand did not confine themselves to the area defined by the council. The foreshore was being stripped until rocks only remained (22).  The next month it was reported that the Shire Engineer had inspected the mouth of the Sweetwater Creek and it was badly blocked so he advised that the removal of sand should continue (23). This issue resolved itself a few days later in  a dramatic manner when there was a  rain and wind storm and local flooding.  The most severe damage was done on Mornington road, where Sweetwater Creek flows beneath the road to the sea. Debris carried down the creek by the flood waters choked the large culverts, causing the water to back up the creek and rise to such a height that a landslide was caused. Hundreds of cubic feet of earth slid into the creek. When the pressure of water became so great that it broke through the force of the flow carried some of the huge concrete pipes of which the culvert was constructed and large sections of concrete kerbing and channelling from the roadway out into the sea. So much of the roadway collapsed that only sufficient room for two cars to pass was left (24).

Location of Sweetwater Creek, Frankston. The map is from the 1950s. 

Today's map of Frankston, Seaford, Mt. Eliza, Carrum Downs, Baxter, Karringal. 

Published by the Regional Publicity Service.

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/114788

Not only was the Sweetwater Creek rich in flora and fauna but it also possibly contained other riches. In 1949 the Frankston Standard was discussing local gold finds and they reported that Mr. W. P. Mason, well known and experienced pioneer of Frankston and the Peninsula told this paper this week, that he is certain there is a large gold reef that will be discovered eventually on the Peninsula near Frankston, and that there is little doubt that it will be a rich one. "Tubba Rubba may be the most likely spot, said Mr. Mason, but good gold colours were obtained very close to Frankston in the Sweetwater Creek, and gullies near the sea front (25). The Tubba Rubba Diggings were near Dromana.

Is there gold in Sweetwater Creek? I don't know but there are riches to be found in the natural beauty and ecology of Sweetwater Creek Nature Reserve (26). 

Trove List

I have created  a list of newspaper articles on Trove relating to Sweetwater Creek, access it here.

Footnotes

(1)  Thanks to Isaac Hermann for the images of the postcards. The postcards were sent in 1909 and 1911

The letter on the back of the Falls, Sweetwater Creek postcard

Postmarked Frankston, dated April 16, 1909, sent to Mrs J. Fordyce, 191 Kerford Road, Albert Park. Dear Dearie (?), We are just off for a picnic. It is a glorious day. We will be home Monday evening. Love from A.G. How wonderful is this? Did they go to Sweetwater Creek Falls for their picnic? The 1909 Electoral Rolls show Joseph and Elizabeth Fordyce living at 191 Kerford Road. Joseph was an Accountant.

The letter on the back of the Marathon Falls postcard

Postmarked Auburn, March 9, 1911, sent to Mr W. A. Crook, Citizens Chambers, 285 Collins Street, City. Dear Gus, Just a line to tell you we won't be home tonight. Will you ring up and see if Aunt R could have you and Stan tonight, as we can't go Sat. If she can, will you let Stan know. Hope it won't rain. A.F.  Walter Augustus Crook is listed in the 1909 Electoral Roll at 249 Auburn Road, Auburn, occupation Estate Agent. At the same address was a Mary Alice Forster and a William Mark Forster. I believe that it was Alice Forster  who wrote this card.

(2)  https://www.sweetwatercreek.org.au/

(3) Steel, Gwenyth Frankston: an outline of the district's early history (1977), p. 13.

(4) Steel, op. cit., p. 28

(5) Steel, op. cit., p. 16

(6) Edith Emily Susan Clarice Wells was born in 1889  to Octavius and Mary Ann (nee Davey) Wells. She married George Alfred Oakley in 1912 and she died in 1950. You can read her father's obituary in the Frankston & Somerville Standard of July 12, 1935, here. You can read the obituary of her grandfather, Henry Cadby Wells, in the Mornington & Dromana Standard of December 12, 1908, here.

(7) Mornington Standard, November 8, 1902, see here.

(8) Mark Young - read about him here on the Kingston Local History website  https://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au/articles/224

(9)  Mornington Standard, December 15, 1906, see here.

(10) Mornington Standard, December 15, 1906, see here.

(11) Mornington Standard, October 7, 1911, see here.

(12) Mornington Standard, November 8, 1913, see here.

(13) Mornington Standard, November 8, 1913, see here.

(14) The Age November 8, 1930, see here.

(15) The Herald, July 3, 1934, see here.

(16) The Argus, January 17, 1934, see here. The Age has his name listed as A. E. Earl, but I believe this is a mistake and it is Alfred Leslie Earl. 

(17) The Age, February 19, 1935, see here.

(18) The Argus, April 19, 1922 see here and The Argus, October 24, 1922, see here.

(19) Mornington Standard, July 27, 1912, see here.

(20) Frankston & Somerville Standard, January 13, 1928, see here.

(21) Frankston & Somerville Standard, April 20, 1928, see here.

(22) Frankston & Somerville Standard, February 21, 1931, see here.

(23) Frankston & Somerville Standard, March 21, 1931, see here.

(24) Frankston & Somerville Standard, March 28, 1931, see here.

(25) Frankston Standard, October 13, 1949, see here.

(26) https://www.sweetwatercreek.org.au/

Pageant of Loyalty, Frankston, September 1917

This photograph  comes from Museums Victoria, and is labelled Armoured Car in a Street, Victoria, 1914-1918. Part of the description offers the suggestion that it may have been taken in Playne Street, Frankston. I assumed it was connected to a procession or fundraiser in World War One, and with some research on Trove I found it was an exhibit in the Pageant of Loyalty held in Frankston on September 1, 1917. 

Imitation tank from the Pageant of Loyalty, Frankston, September 1 1917

Museums Victoria https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/2098766

The Pageant of Loyalty was a fundraiser for the Red Cross effort, to augment the fund for the erection of an honor roll in the town bearing the names of locally enlisted soldiers, and to help the Wattle Club and Australian Club of Frankston, each of which entertains men going to and returning from the war (1). One of the ways that money was raised was through the sale of  a beautiful souvenir [which had] been prepared and will be on sale for 1s. It is entirely original, and contains, besides other treasures, a list of the names of the boys who have gone from the district to fight for us. Everyone should make a point of  obtaining one at least of these books (2). 

The main attraction was a spectacular procession (3) which started at the Frankston State School, wound it's way around the main streets of Frankston and ended up at Frankston Park. There were some special guests, of which the most distinguished were their Excellencies, Sir Arthur and Lady Stanley - Sir Arthur being the Governor of Victoria (4). The Prime Minister, Mr Hughes (5) was also scheduled to attend, but was unexplained absence, however the local M.L.A., Mr Downward (6) was in attendance. The Shire of Frankston and Hastings was represented by Cr Oates, in the absence of the Shire President, Cr Watts (7).

That's a brief overview of the day and we will have a look in more detail how the day unfolded. The picturesque little town (8) of Frankston was en fete for the pageant - The display of bunting in Frankston had never before been equalled, flags of every color and design being suspended on ropes hung at short, intervals across the street, while the front of the business places were also decked with flags and colored ribbons (9). 

Troops from Langwarrin leading the procession.

Table Talk September 16, 1917 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/146477220?#

The procession, which was reported to be a mile and a half long (10) started as we said at the Frankston State School, hence to Davey Street, Bay Street, Playne Street (where the photo of the tank was taken) to the Railway Station, Wells Street, back to Bay Street and onto Frankston Park (11).  It was lead by exhibits organised by the Langwarrin Military Camp -  a Band, headed by pony mascotte; Infantry guard, 2 platoons, under Sgt Tarrant; Army Medical Corps, 3 stretcher squads, cyclist orderly, ambulance waggon and field dressing station, under Staff Sgts Cox and M'Henry. Army Service waggon, 8 horse team, and display of stores, arranged by Supply Officer Nedwell and Transport Sgt Fishwick. Home Service Kitchen, in charge of Sgt Beer. Blacksmith's Forge, Farrier Sgt Blackway. Y.M.C.A. in charge of Mr M. J. Blok (12). 

Following these were the community groups and floats - Mornington Red Cross, Britannia (Soldiers and Sailors), Britannia (The Allies) - The United States and Britannia were both represented allegorically by classically garbed ladies wearing helmets and draped with the national flags (13);  Frankston Red Cross, Frankston Tent of the Independent Order of Rechabites. Next to come were various tableaux showcasing aspects of Australia's history which included Australian Home, Wounded Soldiers, Young Australia, Bourke and Wills and Captain Cook. This was followed by other exhibits such as the Fire Brigade, Company Red Cross Nurses, Company of Boy Scouts, Bugle Band, School children and about 50 cars of the Volunteer Motor Corps with wounded and returned soldiers (14). Another highlight was Loads of pretty girls in fancy costumes, embowered in greenery, wattle bloom and heath (15). 

Some of the pretty girls in fancy costumes in the pageant.

Table Talk September 16, 1917 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/146477220?#

The procession ended with the whole winding up with a veritable "Tank," with swivel turret and guns, which were fired at intervals along the route, and created no end of wonderment to the youngsters (16). The tank was built at the Langwarrin Miltary Camp. When the  procession arrived at Frankston Park a number of speeches were made, prayers were offered for the troops serving their Country and the National Anthem and the  hymn, O God, our help in ages past, were sung. The Governor, Sir Arthur Stanley's speech focused on our connection to and love of the Empire, the need to unite in the cause of liberty, equality and fraternity and the fight for freedom.  You can see a report of the speeches, here.

Of course there were many school children present and they had a special treat as during the speeches, the children were marched off to the Anglican Sunday School ground, where Mrs. Deane and Staff Sgt Cox, assisted by a detachment of the Army Medical corps, provided them with the good things so liberally contributed, and which had previously been prepared in bags by a body of workers. 500 bags of cakes, fruit and lollies vanished in the onslaught (17).  The newspapers reported that the pageant was a brilliant display (18) and the afternoon's display was very entertaining, creditable to the organisers, and financially successful, much money being collected by ladies and secured by sales of souvenirs (19). 

I wonder if this tank inspired the Tank Tour around Victoria and New South Wales in 1918?  In that year,  the Commonwealth Government sought to raise 40 million pounds through the  Seventh War Loan. Each state was allocated an amount they needed to raise - Victoria's share was  £13,500,000 and each Victorian Municipality was given a quota to raise money, based on valuations and population etc. One of the ideas to encourage members of the public to subscribe to the War Loan was to have a imitation Tank tour the countryside where at each stop people would hopefully be inspired to subscribe. This idea had also been used in England and the United States the previous year, but were they inspired by the Pageant of Loyalty tank? I have written about this tank tour, and there are photographs of the tanks, in another of my blogs, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years, read it here. 

The Tank

Table Talk September 16, 1917 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/146477220?#

This is the photograph that confirmed that the Museums Victoria photograph at the top of this post, was the veritable tank of the Pageant of Loyalty, which caused no end of wonderment to the youngsters who saw it. 

Trove list I have created a list of articles on the Pageant of Loyalty on Trove. You can access it here. All the articles referred to in this post are on the list. 

Sources

(1) The Age September 3, 1917, see here.

(2) Mornington Standard September 1, 1917, see here.

(3) Punch August 30, 1917, see here.

(4) Sir Arthur Stanley (1875-1931) and Lady Stanley (nee Margaret Evelyn Evans Gordon). he was Governor of Victoria from 1914 until January 1920. Read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here. Lady Stanley was the first President of the Australian Red Cross, Victorian division. Read about the formation of this branch, here, in The Age of August 22, 1914. 

(5) Prime Minister, William Morris Hughes (1862-1952) read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here.

(6) Alfred Downward (1847 - 1930). Member for the seat of Mornington in the Legislative Assembly from 1894 to 1929. https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/about/people-in-parliament/re-member

(7)  Shire of Frankston and Hastings - William James Oates, Shire President  1915, 1918, 1931 and 1944. He was defeated after 34 years on the council in August 1944, at the end of term as Shire President. He died in 1958, aged 82 and is buried in the Frankston Cemetery. Cr Watt - I believe this is James Morice Watt, who was an orchardist, from Hastings. He was Shire President in 1917. He died in 1932, aged 67, you can read his interesting obituary here, in the Frankston and Somerville Standard of February 13, 1932. 

(8) The Argus September 3, 1917, see here.

(9) Mornington Standard September 8,  1917, see here.

(10) Mornington Standard September 8, 1917, see here.

(11) The Age September 3, 1917, see here.

(12) Mornington Standard September 8, 1917, see here.

(13) The Age September 3, 1917, see here.

(14) Mornington Standard September 8, 1917, see here.

(15) The Age September 3, 1917, see here.

(16) Mornington Standard September 8, 1917, see here.

(17) Mornington Standard September 8, 1917, see here.

(18) Mornington Standard September 8, 1917, see here.

(19) The Age September 3, 1917, see here.