St Kilda Town Hall Gates from the 'Corry' Mansion

In July 1923 it was reported that the St Kilda City Council had  purchased massive wrought iron double entrance gates which were in use at Corry, Sir Lauchlan Mackinnon's house in Toorak, for erection at the entrance to the town hall grounds. (1)  

Sir Lauchlan Mackinnon, was one of the proprietors of The Argus newspaper. Sir Lauchlan was born in Corry, on the Isle of Skye in 1848 and was educated at private schools and in his youth was designated to succeed his cousin Mr Lauchlan Mackinnon then one of the partners in the firm of Wilson and Mackinnon proprietors of "The Argus." With this object he was given a thorough insight into newspaper management and direction beginning at the beginning. He served for some time in the office of "The Times," later in the great publishing house of W.H. Smith and Co, and then for several years in the office of the "Scotsman," Edinburgh. The experience he gained in these establishments was an admirable preparation for more responsible activities, and he was transferred to Melbourne in 1870. (2)

The Herald, December 4, 1925 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243899876

In 1881 Sir Lauchlan became the general manager of The Argus. He retired from that role in 1919 and his son, also called Lauchlan, succeeded him as a partner in the firm of Wilson and Mackinnon and as representative of the family interests in the management of the newspapers. (3) After his retirement, Sir Lauchlan, his wife, Emily, and two daughters, Barbara and Nancy, spent the next two years travelling overseas. They returned to Melbourne in April 1921, but this was a short-lived stay as he decided to move to England, where he died in December 1925.  The move to England prompted the sale of Corry, which was on just over six acres in Heyington Place, and it was put up for auction on March 2, 1922. (4)

Corry, Heyington Place, Toorak

The Australasian, February 18, 1922 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140228145

It did not sell at auction and was later offered for private sale; it appears to have sold in the July and  then turned over quickly as Corry, one of the finest homes in Toorak, was advertised again in December 1922 along with three three magnificent residential allotments fronting Heyington Place and Kooyong Road, which had been sub-divided from the original block. (5)

It is likely that the gates were removed around this time, you can see them on this MMBW plan from 1905, at the entrance to Corry, outside the Lodge. 

Corry, from the 1905 MMBW plan. Click on image to enlarge.

Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works detail plan. 931, City of Prahran, 1905

http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/121915

In 1923, the St Kilda Council made the decision to remodel the Town Hall and undertake some landscaping works with the installation of the Corry gates part of this work. This was reported in The Argus in the July - 
St Kilda Town Hall. Plans for Remodelling.
Several months ago it was decided by  the St. Kilda Council to remodel parts of the St Kilda Town Hall and provide a portico entrance. A prize of £75 was offered for the best design for a portico, and one of £50 for the best plans for remodelling, other parts of the building. A committee of the Institute of Architects which judged the designs has awarded both prizes to Messrs. Sale and Keage, architects of Little Collins street. The portico design provides for cars drawing up to the town hall door under the portico, a long ramp providing easy approach. The roof is supported by massive circular columns.

Provision is made for widening the main entrance doors to the building. The municipal offices, which are situated on other side of the main door, will be placed it the west corner of the building the engineers offices being immediately over those of the clerical staff. The present municipal offices will be converted into large cloakrooms and a card-room will also be provided. To give easy access to the municipal offices a new door and stairway will be constructed at the north-east end of the building, and a stairway leading up to the engineer's offices will be provided. The plans also provide for the erection of a now lodge room at the south east corner of the building. The existing stairways will be removed and new ones built, to permit of the entrance vestibule being greatly enlarge. A reception room will be built immediately above the vestibule and between the Council chamber and the major's room. 

Three entrance door to the hall proper will replace the existing door. The council has purchased massive wrought iron double entrance gates which were in use at Corry, Sir Lauchlan Mackinnon's house in Toorak, for erection at the entrance to the town hall grounds. Tenders for the alterations to the town hall will be called shortly, but it is doubtful if the work will be commenced before the close of the dancing season. (6)   A year later in May 1924, The Argus could report that the alterations would be finished in two months. (7)

The only photo I can find of the Corry gates.

The Argus, September 5, 1923 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1985865

The Corry gates were significant enough that  J.B. Cooper write about them in his history of St Kilda - The Council, at this time, bought the massive wrought iron double entrance gates that had been in use at "Corry," the late Sir Lachlan Mackinnon's house, in Toorak. The gates were made by Bayliss of London, and they are wonderful examples of honest craftsmanship, in the difficult work of making wrought iron gates. Viewed from the City Hall's upper windows, as they stand, facing the intersection of Carlisle and High Streets, their fine iron work has the appearance that delicate lace patterns present when held up to the light. They are probably the finest wrought iron gates to be found in Melbourne. Examined closely they appear to be flawless. Even the keys of the gates are of solid British workmanship, with artistic mouldings, the like of which in key making is not seen today. (8)

Fourteen years later, in August 1938, the St Kilda Council adopted an extensive scheme for beautifying the grounds surrounding St. Kilda town hall. (9) To this end, the Council purchased from the trustees of Balaclava Methodist Church 60 feet of land in Carlisle-street, which is now incorporated in the town hall grounds, and this made the size of the grounds 2¾ acres. (10)

The Argus reported on the planned new works - 

St. Kilda Council adopted on Monday a recommendation of its parks and gardens committee that a report prepared by Mr. Linaker, of the Public Works Department, be received, and an accompanying plan in relation to the planting and removal of trees at and around the town hall and in other parts of the municipality, be adopted. The report stated that aspects which had been given particular consideration were convenience, trees suitable for planting and varieties to thrive in the district, modernness, background and screening, brightness and maintenance, and skyline and general balance. The plan provided for the removal of two sets of gates at the town hall in Carlisle street, one at the corner of Carlisle street and Brighton road, and one in Brighton road. (11)

There wasn't, however, unanimous support for this scheme as the following report attests -
Cr. Moroney said he regretted that it was intended to remove the ornamental iron gates on the Brighton-road and Carlisle-street frontages. They were fine specimens of the iron workers' art, and had been an embellishment to the grounds for many years. It would be vandalism to remove them. Even if the hedges and fences were taken away the gates could remain.
Cr. Mitty: they are a relict of the past.
Cr Moroney: Yes. That is why I want remain. I also do not approve of the removal of old and beautiful trees from the grounds. Some of them were planted by distinguished people.
The Mayor (Cr. Dawkins): A number of the old trees will remain, and those removed will be replaced by other trees. (12) 

Hugh Linaker died on October 10, 1938 at the age of 66,  so he did not live to see his plans come to fruition. Mr Linaker's obituary noted that he was regarded as the leading landscape gardener in Victoria. Hugh Linaker, Superintendent of State Parks and Gardens of Victoria had undertaken the landscaping around the Shrine of Remembrance, designed the Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden, had been engaged by Sir John Monash to advice on the planning  of Yallourn and for many years [was] employed by the Department of Mental Hygiene as head gardener, and in that capacity he designed the grounds and gardens of every mental asylum in the State. (13)

In April 1939, The Age reported that the comprehensive scheme for beautifying the grounds surrounding the structure [Town Hall] is being carried out by the curator (Mr. N. Scovle), under the supervision or the city engineer (Mr. R. T. Kelly) and that  the ornamental cast-iron gates at the Brighton-road and Carlisle-street entrances to the grounds are also to go, but they are to be stored for possible re-erection elsewhere. (14)

The St Kilda Town Hall, c. 1930. You can clearly see where the gates were installed at the apex of the town hall triangular site, facing the intersection of Carlisle street and High street. (15)

The building on the right, along High Street (Brighton Road) is the St Kilda State School.  The building to the top of the Town Hall is the Balaclava Methodist Church, which faces Chapel Street, on the corner of Carlisle Street.

St. Kilda Town Hall, c. 1930. Photographer: Sir W. Raymond Garrett. State Library of Victoria, see full image here http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/278495

What happened to the finest wrought iron gates to be found in Melbourne, as historian Cooper called them? I do not know, but given the time period possibly scrapped and melted down for the War effort. 

Trove list - I have created a list of articles on this topic, you can access it here.

Footnotes
(1) The Argus, July 12, 1923, see here.
(2) The Argus, December 5, 1925, see here.
(3) The Age, October 10, 1934, see here.
(4)  The Argus, December 5, 1925, see here; The Argus, February 25, 1922, see here.
(5) The Argus, March 29, 1922, see here; The Argus, July 8, 1822, see here; The Argus, December 13, 1922, see here.
(6) The Argus, July 12, 1923, see here.
(7) The Argus, May 17, 1924, see here.
(8) Cooper, John Butler The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a city and after 1840 - 1930, v. 2 (St Kilda City Council, 1931), p. 62.
(9) The Age, August 16, 1938, see here.
(10) The Age, April 1, 1939, see here.
(11) The Argus, August 17, 1938, see here.
(12) The Age, August 16, 1938, see here.
(13) Hugh Linaker - death notice The Age, October 11, 1938, see here; Obituary - The Argus, October 12, 1938, see here and The Australasian, October 15, 1938, see here.
(14) The Age, April 1, 1939, see here.

(15) The Argus, September 5, 1923, see here. 

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.

The Gates of Labassa - from Caulfield North to Bacchus Marsh

 Labassa, the grand mansion in Caulfield North began life in the 1860s as a house of eight rooms, built for Richard Billing. Mr Billing, who had named the house, Sylliott Hill, extended the house to twenty rooms in 1873. In 1887, the property was purchased by Alexander William Robertson who renamed the house Ontario and remodelled it into the 35 room mansion that exists today. The property was sold to John Boyd Watson in 1904 and he renamed it Labassa (1). It is now owned by the National Trust.

The house, which now fronts onto Manor Grove, was originally on a much larger land holding with its front gates on the corner of Orrong and Balaclava Roads. It is actually these front gates, which are now at Maddingley Park, Bacchus Marsh, which are the subject of this post. The gates were imported from Scotland, at a cost of £800, and are said to be the finest set of gates in Australia (2).  It was perhaps Alexander Robertson who imported the gates as a fitting entrance to his mansion, but I cannot confirm this, as yet.

Front gates of Labassa, c.1916

State Library of Victoria Image H98.221/5

The Labassa property was sub-divided in 1913, when 46 allotments were sold at auction on November 29 (3).  Some of the allotments facing Balaclava Road were sold for £8 a foot, and others including allotments in Labassa Grove and Ontario Street for between £3 to £5 per foot (4).  Labassa Lives, a National Trust newsletter, said that the gates were purchased by Edmund George Ovey (5). Ovey also purchased Lot 6 in the land sale (6). In February 1919, the Labassa mansion was on the market and it was advertised as being on four acres with a frontage of 358 feet to Orrong Road (7).

MMBW plan of Ontario / Labassa, which shows the location of the gates.

Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works detail plan. 1431, Shire of Caulfield, 1901.

Image cropped. State Library of Victoria   http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/124934

The gates remained in situ until 1921 (8) when they were purchased by the Bacchus Marsh branch of the Australian Natives Association (A.N.A.) for Maddingley Park. The Melton Express reported on October 1, 1921 that after negotiations extending over four months the gates had been acquired at a very great bargain - a fraction of their cost. The gates will be removed and re-erected at Bacchus Marsh immediately and the fencing at the Park gone on with at the same time (9).

There was  a very detailed description of the gates in the Melton Express in  January 1922 - the iron work (manufactured by Messrs. W. Macfarlane & Co., Glasgow, Scotland) weighs eight tons, and the bluestone foundations another eight tons. The width of the work is 52ft., which consists of two traffic gates, each 7ft. in width, which swing round per roller on a steel track; on each side of these there is a hand gate, 4½ feet in width, one of which will be provided with a turnstile and swing lift gate........ Flanking the gates is further ornamental palisading - whole built in the form of a crescent. The gates are 7½ feet high, which are interspersed with massive pillars, 10ft. high, set on bluestone pieces, 3½ft. x 3ft., under which is 12 inches of cement concrete so there should be no danger of them sagging (10).  At sixteen tons it would have been  a heavy load to transport at the time, presumably with horses and drays, and a slow trip from Caulfield to Bacchus Marsh, a distance of close to 40 miles.

Former Labassa Gates at Maddingley Park, Bacchus Marsh, c. 1975. 

Photographer: John T. Collins

State Library of Victoria Image H90.100/570

The gates were officially presented to the Trustees of Maddingley Park at a  ceremony on February 26, 1922. The Bacchus Marsh Express of March 4, 1922 reported on this ceremony - Maddingley Park - On Sunday afternoon last a large crowd assembled at the above spot, the occasion being the official handing over of the handsome entrance gates as a gift from the Bacchus Marsh branch A.N.A. to the Park Trustees. The neat brass plate on the front of the gates gives the following information to all who pass that way: - "These gates were presented to Maddingley Park by Bacchus Marsh Branch A.N.A., as a memorial to the fallen soldiers of the district. February, 1922."  (11).

The Memorial Plaque

Photographer: Robert (Bic) Bicknell

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maddingley_Park_Gates_Bacchus_Marsh_Donated_by_ANA_-_Plaque.jpg

The unveiling ceremony was performed by the Chief President of the A.N.A., Mr. Thomas Rust and it was the desire of the A.N.A. that the gates be memorial gates. Mr Rust was reported as saying that  Bacchus Marsh had carried out its part in the Great War well, as also had the local branch, who, in making this gift to the Park, were also erecting a very nice memorial to the men who did not come back - the services rendered by these soldiers to the Empire would never be forgotten (12).

When he finished his speech Mr. Rust then touched the cord and the Australian flag "floated" off the memorial plate. The Last Post was sounded by a bandsman, during which the large assemblage stood bareheaded - a touching silent tribute to departed comrades (13). 

The same article had these other details about the gates and the process of procurement - The gates now have a most imposing appearance in their new raiment of moss green and gold - work carried out with taste by Mr. Leigh Harris. These gates were imported from Scotland by their original owner at a cost of £800, and it is estimated that they could not be obtained to-day for £1000. The gates had done duty at a suburban mansion, and it was only because the syndicate which purchased the estate for sub-divsion and had no immediate use for them that they were secured for the Park at Bacchus Marsh - thanks to the persistence and foresight of Mr. J. A. Johns, who devoted a large amount of his time negotiating with the owners, and at last secured a bargain (14). Mr Johns was Chairman of the Park Trustees.

The gates are still at the entrance to Maddingley Park in Bacchus Marsh. We should be grateful to Edmund Ovey who was said to have purchased the gates after the Labassa property was sub-divided and then to Mr Johns for his persistence in acquiring the gates for  Maddingley Park, Bacchus Marsh, which at the time was a small country town. They are an elegant  memorial to the young men who lost their lives in the Great War. 

Former Labassa Gates at Maddingley Park, Bacchus Marsh, c. 1975. 

Photographer: John T. Collins

State Library of Victoria Image H90.100/569

Trove list

I have created a short list of newspaper articles on Trove on the Labassa gates, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) Victorian Heritage Database citation      https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/278/download-report

(2) Melton Express, October 1, 1921, see here.

(3) The Argus, November 5, 1913, see here.

(4) The Herald, December 4, 1913. see here.

(5) Labassa Lives, v. 2, issue 1, 2014.

  https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/LabassaLivesVol2No1.pdf  

The article put the sub-division sale when Edmund Ovey purchased the Gates at 'around 1917' but I believe the correct date was November 1913.

(6) The Herald, December 4, 1913. see here.

(7) The Herald, January 30, 1919, see here.

(8) Labassa Lives, v. 3, issue 2, 2015

 https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/LabassaLives-Vol3No2-August-2015.pdf

(9) Melton Express, October 1, 1921, see here.

(10) Melton Express, January 28, 1922. see here.

(11) Bacchus Marsh Express, March 4, 1922, see here.

(12) Bacchus Marsh Express, March 4, 1922, see here.

(13) Bacchus Marsh Express, March 4, 1922, see here.

(14) Bacchus Marsh Express, March 4, 1922, see here.