Emil Heinrich Schellenberger aka Emile Henry Shelley

Emil Heinrich Schellenberger was born on June 17, 1869 at the family home and business, the Bakers' Arms Hotel in Sandhurst, as Bendigo was once called. He was the fifth child and fifth son of George and Wilhelmina (nee Herold) Schellenberger. When Emil died in 1944 in Warragul, he was known as Emile Henry Shelley and he generously left his estate to the people of Bunyip for the beautification and advancement of the township. This is his story and I am sorry to say that I don't have  a photograph of him. 

His father, George Schellenberger was born June 27, 1826 in Merxheim, Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany.  George arrived in Sandhurst in 1852 and he returned to his birth town in 1862 where on November 27 he married Wilhemina, who had been born on August 8, 1841. Their eight children, were all born in Bendigo; Emil's birth being followed by two sisters and another brother (1).

George Schellenberger - a member of the Society of the Old Bendigonians, 

residents who were in Bendigo up to December 31, 1853 (2) 

State Library of Victoria Image H26099/99

George was a successful businessman - a Master Baker and later a Publican, but the family endured many tragedies - their third son, Albert, died in 1867 aged only 11 months; their second son, Friedrich, died in 1871 aged 6 years and five months; George himself died of cancer on January 27, 1876, when he was only 47. This was followed by the death of the eldest daughter, Wilhelmina in 1877 at the age of five years and nine months. Then tragedy struck again with the death of George's wife and the mother of the children, Wilhelmina, when she died August 18, 1878 aged 37. This left the five remaining children as orphans, ranging from 15 years to three years old (3).

What did they do? Wilhelmina had remarried in May 1877 to Wilhelm Beischer (4). Did the children remain with him or was their another relative who looked after them? I cannot tell you. 

There are a some references to Emil in the newspapers - this first one from December 1883, when he was only 14 years old, tells us about his musical talent and his love of  performing and entertaining which he had all his life -

A performance was given in Weeroona Hall on 12th December, in aid of the Bendigo Hospital, by the Weeroona Dramatic Club. The hall was kindly lent by Mr. Beiseher, and was well

filled. Songs by H. Lethbridge, E. Schellenberger and F. Apted were rendered in good style. The farce "Bruised and Cured" by H. Lethbridge aud W. J. Gissing caused great laughter. The programme concluded with the side-splitting farce entitled " Grand-mudder's Ghost," which was well rendered by F. and E. Schellenberger, Gissing, and Apted, the audience being kept in roars of laughter until the curtain was drawn. (5).

In May 1884 a report of the monthly meeting of the Bendigo United Friendly Societies' Dispensary and Medical Institute noted that the executive committee of the Dispensary reported that they had appointed Mr. E. Schellenberger, on probation as apprentice and in February 1885 it was reported that the Pharmacy Board had registered his apprenticeship indentures (6).

The Bendigo Advertiser reported further on his career in June 1889 -
Pharmaceutical Examinations - We observe by the "Argus" that several Sandhurst students have been successful in passing their examinations before the Pharmacy Board of Victoria this month. Mr. J. W. B. Pedley has passed his final examination as pharmaceutical chemist; also Mr. F. W. Waller and Mr. Alex Rae Downes. Mr. Emil Schellenberger is one of six successful out of eleven candidates for the intermediate examination in materia medica and Botany. All these four gentlemen have been students at the School of Mines here, and three of them, viz.: Messrs. Pedley, Schellenberger and Downes were pupils attending the lectures of Mr Lillie Mackay, director of the school. Mr. Waller studied under Mr. E. L. Marks.(7). 

By 1891, Emil had completed his studies and was leasing 128 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, where he operated a Chemist Shop. He was involved in many local organisations in South Melbourne, including the Australian Natives Association, a committee member of the South Melbourne Cricket Club,  President of the South Melbourne Cricket Club Skittle Club and as his obituary in the Emerald Hill Record noted - During the 'nineties he was treasurer of the South Melbourne Football Club and was instrumental in persuading Mr. Bert Howson to join up with the Red and Whites (8).  Bert was a champion wingman for South Melbourne over 17 seasons which comprised the club's last six in the VFA, and its first 11 in the VFL. He was supremely unfortunate in that he began his senior career the year after South's last VFA flag, and ended it the season before the club's first premiership in the VFL. However, he made amends to some extent when, after being appointed non-playing coach of the red and whites in 1918, he led them to a flag at the first time of asking. (9).  

As a Chemist, Emil was very pro-active and advertised on a regular basis in the local papers and in return they gave him favourable editorial space, such as this -

An Enterprising Chemist - We desire to call our readers' attention to the fact that Mr. E. H. Schellenberger has obtained the local agency for the celebrated Chamberlain Medicines, which are manufactured by the Chamberlain Medicine Co., Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.A.. This company is one of the oldest and most reliable in America, and come highly recommended to the people of South Melbourne, and to make their remedies a household article through this district they have made an advertising contract which will appear in the columns of this paper during the next year. The line of remedies they manufacture is of a class that should be found in every home, since they are for the most common ailments such as every family have use for some time during the year. (10).

One of Emil's advertisements

Emerald Hill Record April 15, 1899 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/108490259

However not content to being just an enterprising chemist, in 1897, the Emerald Hill Record advised its readers that -

The attention of the public is directed to an advertisement by Mr. Emil Schellenberger, the well-known chemist, of Clarendon-Street, who having undergone a training at the Dental College of Victoria, has commenced practice as a surgical and mechanical dentist in all the branches of the profession. (11).

Emil's advertisement for his Dental practice

Emerald Hill Record April 21, 1900 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108492093

On August 1, 1899 at his home 50 Howe Crescent, South Melbourne, 30 year-old Emil married 22 year-old Ethel Jane Whylie McCann. The minister was the Reverend Canon Dickinson. Ethel had been born in Stawell and was the daughter of Thomas Johnston  and Elizabeth (nee Gendall) McCann (12). One of the witnesses was Burley Peet, who was to marry  Emil's sister Henrietta, on August 23 the same year (13). 

On May 11, 1900 Ethel gave birth to their daughter, Minnie Ethel, at Howe Crescent.  Sadly Minnie passed away on January 10, 1904 at the age of three years, eight months. She was to be their only child (14).  By this time, due to the renumbering of South Melbourne streets which took place sometime between 1900 and 1905,  the business and their residence was now 224 Clarendon Street (15). 

Death notice for little Minnie, who died at 224 Clarendon Street.

The Argus January 11, 1904    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10592045

Emil was, as we know, a talented musician and performer and there are many reports of his singing engagements as well as some of the social functions he attended with Ethel. Emil sang at a Pleasant Sunday Afternoon, organised by the local committee in aid of the s.s. Federal disaster fund; at an Independent Order of Foresters concert and at a Euchre party held the Albert Park Bowling Club. (16). In July 1905, the couple were guests at the Mayoral Ball, held at the South Melbourne Town Hall; Ethel wore ivory duchesse satin, relieved with chiffon. In the July of the next year, they were invited to a Mayoral 'At Home', also held at the Town Hall. This time Ethel wore cream merv, chiffon bertha, scarlet flower - merv being a silk material and bertha being a deep falling collar attached to a low-necked dress. (17). 

In 1907, Emil established a factory for the manufactory for rubber goods located on the corner of Meaden and Douglas streets and he still had that business in 1915. A year later in 1908 the couple left for Europe for an extended holiday - the dentistry practice was taken over an Alfred Deakin and the rubber goods factory was managed by J. E. McCann - Ethel's brother (18). The couple returned to South Melbourne at some time, they were certainly back by 1911, as there are references in the paper to Ethel's involvements in the South Melbourne Cricket Club Ladies Bowling Club (19). 

In February 1913,  Emil and Ethel travelled overseas again, as The Herald reported  - Mr E. H. Schellenberger... has decided to follow a musical career. He will leave by the Afric, and will go to Germany to pursue his studies on the 'cello. For three years Mr Schellenberger was a member of Mr Marshall Hall's orchestra.  George William Louis Marshall-Hall (1862-1915) was the Professor of Music at Melbourne University and conducted his orchestra from 1892 until 1912. (20). 

I don't know how long they were overseas for, but they are listed in the 1917 Electoral Rolls at Mitford Street in Elwood. There is one change though - presumably due to anti-German feeling the couple are now  known as Emile Henry and Ethel Shelley. From 1918 until sometime in 1922, the Shelley's were in Yea, where he operated a Chemist shop.  Not surprisingly, Emile was involved in musical performances at Yea on occasions - at a farewell to the Reverend Falconer, of St Luke's Church of England, a violin and 'cello duet by Messrs Taylor and Shelley was well rendered and well received and at a Peace Ball held in October 1919 - The Yea Orchestra, consisting of violin (Mr R. Taylor), 'cello (Mr E. H. Shelley), bass violin (Mr C. Sheppard), cornet (Mr A. Lonsdale), and piano (Miss J. Bett) provided excellent music for the twenty odd dances, which made the evening still more enjoyable.(21).

Emile Shelley's advertisement for his Yea Chemist shop

Yea Chronicle, December 23, 1920 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/60451376

After their return from Yea, the couple are listed in the Electoral Roll at 11 Vautier Street in Elwood. Then they made another move to a country town, this time Bunyip. The Shire of Berwick Rate Books show that on June 17 1925, Emil took over the Chemist shop in the town and purchased a house. 

Emile and Ethel soon involved themselves in the community - Emile was a member of the Bunyip Progress Association, the Agricultural Society and the Cricket, Tennis and Football Clubs. Ethel was a committee member of the Australian Women's National League and an inaugural member of the Bunyip Country Women's Association (22). However, life in a country town had its downsides. The Dandenong Journal reported on the following letter Ethel Shelley wrote to the Berwick Shire in 1942 - 

“Are there any by-laws limiting the extent of farming in a residential area (George street).? wrote Mrs. E. Shelley, Bunyip to the Berwick Shire council last Friday. ‘I can honestly say I have not had a proper, night’s rest for some weeks,” she went on. Late at night and early morning, white leghorn roosters start crowing - as well as cows.”....Mrs. Shelley added that animals near a private house bring flies and mosquitoes - “and we have plenty, of both,” she wound up. Sadly for Ethel the Council responded that they had no by-law covering the matter.  (23)

In 1948 Ethel Shelley was photographed at Mrs Pye and Mrs  at the recently

opened Country Women's Association Club in Lansell Road, Toorak. The caption reads Mrs Pye and Mrs Shelley pause beside a fountain. Mrs Shelley, who is very fond of flowers, says the garden is a delight. She was one of the first members of the CWA in Bunyip, "The Club is wonderful - It fills a long-felt want," she tells Mrs Pye

The Herald, December 14, 1948 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243547502

Emile Shelley died on January 8, 1944 at the Warragul Hospital (24). The contents of his will were detailed in a letter his Trustees sent to the Berwick Shire Secretary -

“We beg to advise that the company is applying for probate of the will of Emile Henry Shelley, late of Bunyip, retired chemist, who died on the 8th. ult. Under the will, the whole of the estate, both real and personal, is devised and bequeathed upon trust for the widow, for life without impeachment of waste. On the death of the widow, the sum of £1000 is payable to the trustee for the time being of the Bunyip Mechanics’ Institute, and £1000 to the trustees of the Bunyip Agricultural Society.

The remainder of the estate is to be known as the Emile Henry Shelley Trust and is bequeathed upon trust as to capital and income to be administered by the trustee and expended as it in its absolute discretion shall decide for the beautification and advancement of the township of Bunyip, and the trustees may seek the advice of F. S. Dodge, J. A. Cock, G. B. Calderwood, all of Bunyip, or the survivor or survivors of them. From data prepared to date it would appear that the value of the trust will be in the vicinity of £7000, but it will be appreciated that this figure may vary by the time the trust is established."  (25).

It was a very generous donation to the town. When Ethel Shelley died at the age of 71, on June 3, 1950 at her home in George Street, Bunyip, Emile's bequests could then be enacted upon (26). It was reported that when the Hall received the magnificent bequest [it] automatically liquidated the hall overdraft, leaving a credit of £475. When the hall was re-built the late Mr. Shelley donated the portico at the main entrance. The original Hall  burnt down on March 14, 1940 and the new Hall, with Mr Shelley's portico, opened on October 8, 1942. (27).

Bunyip Hall, which opened October 1942. The portico was donated by Emile Shelley.

Image: Call of the Bunyip; History of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk 1847-1990 by Denise Nest

Emile's plaque at the Bunyip Hall. 

I'll take a better photo of it one day,

There was a challenge to the Will as reported in The Argus in December 1952 -

The Full High Court today ruled that a man's bequest of £9,600 should be used for the "beautification and advancement" of Bunyip, Victoria. The man, Emile Henry Shelley, died in 1944. He bequeathed his estate to his widow in trust until her death. Shelley directed that when his wife died the money should be used for Bunyip's beautification and advancement. When Mrs. Shelley died in 1950, next of kin contested the will in the Supreme Court of Victoria. Judge Coppel held that the purpose of the will was "good and charitable." The next-of-kin's fight ended today, when the Full High Court upheld Judge Coppel's ruling. (28). Who was the next of kin who challenged the Will? More on this later. 

The Trustees of the Emile Henry Shelley Trust made a decision in 1957 that  the money should go towards a Hospital. The Shelley Memorial Hospital Society was established in 1960 and the Shelley Memorial Hospital at Bunyip was officially opened on March 19, 1966, a fitting tribute to a community minded man. In the first two years of operation, 100 babies were born at the Hospital. The Hospital closed on May 1, 1991, and the building is now part of Hillview Aged Care. (29). 

The Shelly Memorial Hospital, Bunyip.

Image: Call of the Bunyip; History of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk 1847-1990 by Denise Nest

Emile was cremated at Springvale Crematorium and his ashes were interred with Minnie at the Melbourne General Cemetery, where Ethel was later buried. (30).  There was one mystery which temporarily perplexed me. Ethel's death notice (see below) listed her children as Lily, Charles, Mary and Edgar. And yet,  both death certificates list Minnie as their only child, and their marriage certificate states that neither were married before and had no previous children.  Lily, Charles, Mary and Edgar  are actually her siblings and Vi Barber is Ethel's niece, the daughter of her sister Mary (31).  It would be interesting to know who challenged Emile's will - he had two surviving siblings, Ferdinand and Herbert;  Ethel had the one surviving sibling, Edgar, did they feel they were entitled to the Estate or was it nieces and nephews on either side? I cannot tell you. 

Emile's death notice 

The Argus, January 10, 1944 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11802986

Ethel's death notice, which mistakenly lists her siblings as her children.

The Argus, June 5 1950 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22833353

The town of Bunyip would be grateful for the generosity of Emile and Ethel Shelley, as the during the 25 years the Hospital operated it provided employment for the local community, in a caring local hospital used for the treatment of illness, for operations and for the delivery of babies. 

Trove List - I have created a list of newspapers articles on Trove on the  Schellenberger / Shelley family. Access it here. 

Footnotes 

(1) A source on Ancestry.com - Geneanet Community Trees Index - lists George and Wilhemina's Birth and Marriage locations as Merxheim, Meisenheim-Birkenfeld, Rheinland Pfalz, Allemagne; George's arrival date in Bendigo Advertiser, February 23, 1876, see here. Their children were - George Frederick (1863 - died in Kalgoorlie, W.A in 1931); Friedrich (1864-1871); Albert Wilhelm (1866-1867); Ferdinand (1867 - died in Cheltenham, Vic, in 1955); Emile; Wilhemina Maria (1871-1877); Henrietta Margaratha (1873- died in Beechworth in 1931, married Burley Peet in 1899); Herbert Luie (1874 - died in Belmont, W.A. in 1952). 

(2) Old Bedigonians - Bendigo Advertiser, September 28 1870, see here.

(3) Victorian Indexes to Births, Deaths and Marriages; family notices in the newspaper, see my Trove list, here.

(4) Bendigo Advertiser, June 11, 1877, see here. In 1882, when he was 38 years old,  Wilhelm married 25 year old Henrietta Friswell and they had eight children together. 

(5) Bendigo Advertiser, December 17, 1883, see here.

(6) Bendigo Advertiser, May 24, 1884, see here; The Argus, February 13, 1885, see here.

(7) Bendigo Advertiser, June 15, 1889, see here.

(8) City of South Melbourne Rate Books on Ancestry.com; involvement with community groups - see references in my Trove list, here; Obituary - Emerald Hill Record, January 15 1944, see here.

(9) Bert Howson -  Entry by John Devaney on Australianfootball.com - here 

(10) Emerald Hill Record, April 15 1899, see here. 

(11) Emerald Hill Record, May 1, 1897, see here. 

(13) Information from marriage certificate. Thomas Johnston McCann (1845-1928) married Elizabeth Gendall (1848-1937) in 1870. They had six children - Lily (1871-1892); Mary Helena (1873-1948, married James Taylor in 1894 and they had  three daughters - Mary Helena, Elsie Elizabeth and Violet May. Mary and James divorced in 1914 and she married William Gardner in 1928); Ethel; Thomas Johnston (1879-1883); Charles Edmund (1883-1918); John Edgar (1887 - died in New South Wales in 1961)

(13) The Argus, September 20, 1899, see here.

(14) Birth certificate; death notice The Argus, January 11, 1904, see here. 

(15) Sands McDougall entries for 1900 and 1905. Emil's shop - same location, different number. 

Location of Emil's shop in Clarendon Street, 1900

Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1900.

State Library of Victoria https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/popular-digitised-collections

Location of Emil's shop in Clarendon Street, 1905

Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1905

State Library of Victoria https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/popular-digitised-collections

(16) Singing engagements - see references in my Trove list, here.

(17) Mayoral Ball, Emerald Hill Record, July 22, 1905, see here; Mayoral 'At Home' Emerald Hill Record, July 14, 1906, see here. Definitions of merv and bertha - Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd edition, 1964.

(18) Manufactory for rubber goods -  Emerald Hill Record, February 16, 1907, see here; Emerald Hill Record, February 22, 1908, see here; The Age, July 24, 1908, see here.

(19) Emerald Hill Record, September 16, 1911, see here.

(20) The Herald, February 12, 1913, see here;  George William Louis Marshall-Hall (1862-1915) - Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here 

and https://library.unimelb.edu.au/collections/marshall-hall

(21) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com. Farewell to Reverend Falconer Yea Chronicle, July 17, 1919, see here; Yea Orchestra - Yea Chronicle, October 23, 1919, see here

(22) Nest, Denise The Call of the Bunyip: history of Bunyip, Iona & Tonimbuk, 1847-1990  (Bunyip History Committee, 1990), p. 195 and see also my Trove list, here, 

(23) Dandenong Journal, July 22, 1942, see here.

(24) Death certificate.

(25) Dandenong Journal, February 23, 1944, see here.

(26) Death certificate

(27) Dandenong Journal, November 8, 1950, see here;  Nest, Denise Bunyip Mechanics' Institute Hall 1906-2006: a place of learning and entertainment (published by the author, 2006) 

(28) The Argus, December 13, 1952, see here.

(29) Nest, Denise History of Shelley Memorial Hospital, A'Beckett Road, Bunyip 1930-1991 (Bunyip History Committe, 2000)

(30) Death certificates and https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/186234662/emile-hennch-shelley_(schellenberger)

(31) See footnote 13

McArthur Drinking Fountain, South Melbourne

Postcard of the McArthur drinking fountain in La Trobe Reserve or 

Park Street Reserve as it is called here.

On December 5, 1906 a drinking fountain was unveiled in La Trobe Reserve in South Melbourne.  It was presented to the people of South Melbourne by Cr Donald M'Arthur, as McArthur was written in those times (1)  and unveiled by his niece, Mary, who gracefully removed the encircling flag. (2) There was a large crowd present, including the Mayor of South Melbourne, Cr E. A. Wells (3), seven other councillors and the children of the Eastern Road State School who sang a number of school songs, and the cadets' fife and drum band played a number of lively airs (4).

Cr McArthur presenting the fountain to the Citizens of South Melbourne

Punch December 13, 1906 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/175380504#

The drinking fountain on opening day, December 5, 1906.

Punch December 13, 1906 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/175380504#

The Emerald Hill Record had a comprehensive report of the unveiling - Cr. M'Arthur said it afforded him very much pleasure to hand the fountain to the citizens. He hoped they could enjoy it for all time. He had had the idea on his mind for a long time while he was Mayor. He had received honors at the hands of the citizens, and he desired to show that he was grateful for what had been done for him. The whole of the materials in the fountain were Australian made, the water flowing through would be Australian water, which would be drunk by Australian children. The gold for it was Australian gold minted in Australia. He himself had been so long here that he was almost an Australian so there was quite a "Made in Australia" air about it altogether. (Laughter and applause). He had no children, and he desired to perpetuate the memory of his work in the city, by means of this fountain, and he hoped that the people would use it and that the water flowing through it would be healthful and life-giving (5).

The McArthur drinking fountain. 

It is made of Gabo Island granite with Harcourt granite columns.

Image: Isaac Hermann.

Cr Donald McArthur was born in Scotland.  He was an Estate Agent and was a South Melbourne Councillor from 1896 until 1920 and was the Mayor on two occasions, 1900/1901 and 1911/1912. Donald was also involved with the Dorcas Street Presbyterian Church, a member of the committees of the Homeopathic and Austin Hospitals and the Melbourne Orphanage. Donald married Margaret Ramsay on September 18, 1880 at her parent's home in Raglan Place, Emerald Hill. She was born in Emerald Hill in 1858 to William and Isabella (nee Milne) Ramsay.  Margaret was also community minded and was the Secretary of the Benevolent Society from 1896 until 1914. Donald died at the age of 69 on December 11, 1924 and Margaret died July 18, 1950, aged 91. They did not have children. They are buried at Boroondara Cemetery (6). 

The inscription on the McArthur drinking fountain

Image: Isaac Hermann

According to the Electoral Rolls, Donald and Margaret lived at 9 Howe Crescent, South Melbourne Also at the address was a Mary McArthur, who I belive is the niece who unveiled the fountain. Mary was listed at the address from 1908 until 1924. Donald's will, dated December 1, 1924, left money to his two nieces, Mary Donald, of Grangemouth Scotland, wife of Peter Donald and Jessie Harland of Cradock, South Australia. They were the daughters of Archibald and Christina (nee Black) McArthur and they were born in South Australia - Mary in March 1887 and Jessie in May 1892.  I believe that Mary was living with her uncle and aunty in South Melbourne and, around 1924 she married Peter Donald and moved to Scotland. She did return to Victoria at some stage as she died in St Kilda in 1974 aged 87 (7). 

The McArthur drinking fountain was made by George Dawe, Monumental Mason, of Carlton.

Image: Isaac Hermann.

The Emerald Hill Record describes the fountain as  being mounted upon two wide bluestone steps, which form the base, and is constructed of Gabo Island granite, the capping of oxed granite, surmounted by a solid dome, being supported by four columns of polished Harcourt granite (8). The fountain was made by George Dawe, a moumental mason of Carlton. His other works include two monuments to Lieutenant James Roberts, of the 1st Victorian Mounted Rifles, who died February 13, 1900 whilst fighting near Rensberg in South Africa. One is in Royal Park and the other in Murchison, Roberts' home town (9).  In 1901, Dawe completed an elaborate memorial to James Coglan, a founder of the Australian Natives' Association who died in August 1899 (10).  In 1915, his firm made a  monument for Sir Samuel Gillott (1838 -1913) Lord Mayor of Melbourne and Chief Secretary and Minister for Labour in Thomas Bent's Government.  This monument, pictured below, is made mainly of Harcourt Granite. The sculpture of the figure representing Grief is the work of  Charles Web Gilbert (11).   George Dawe died on May 17, 1932 at the age of 87. He left behind an extensive real estate portfolio. A sale by his executors listed seven brick cottages for sale in Carlton. His wife Margaret (nee Smith) had died October 2, 1917 at the age of 70. They had four children Grace, May, Frederick and George (12).

Sir Samuel Gillott's memorial at the Melbourne General Cemetery. 

It was designed by Frank Stapley and made by George Dawe's firm, who had also made the 

McArthur Drinking Fountain.

Photographer: John Kinmont Moir. c. 1933. State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/465418

The McArthur drinking fountain was located in La Trobe Reserve. The triangular reserve is bounded by Eastern Road and Heather Street and bisected by Park Street. It is now, I believe, called Eastern Reserve but as  you can see from the postcard at the top of this post, La Trobe Reserve was also called Park Street Reserve. The first references I can find to the Reserve is in the Emerald Hill Record of December 16, 1905 in a report of the activities of the South Melbourne Council  -  Normanby reserve and La Trobe reserve can be opened to public next year, and will, no doubt, prove an attraction to numerous residents in the neighbourhood (13). The establishment date is confirmed by this report in the same paper two years later - the northern section of La Trobe Reserve has been completed and the fences removed. This reserve was formally opened on 5th December, 1906, and on the same date the handsome fountain erected in the centre of the reserve, was presented to the citizens by Cr. Donald M' Arthur (14). The last reference in the newspapers I can find to the park being called  La Trobe Reserve is in April 1931 (15).

Susan Priestley, in her history of South Melbourne, wrote that in 1910, the triangular portion of La Trobe Reserve was 'fitted up with swings, see-saws, merry-go-rounds and other forms of amusement.....[it was] always crowded with children outside of school hours, and the fittings used with zest and amusement (16). The work was funded by a  £110 donation by Aaron Danks (17).  It was fortunate that the active children could quench their thirst at the McArthur drinking fountain.

The back of the McArthur drinking fountain postcard.

This is the back of drinking fountain postcard which is shown at the top of this post. It is addressed to Master F. Mudkins,  50 Lee Street, North Carlton. It is dated August 31, 1907. The letter reads - This is the fountain that Miss Mary unveiled and I hope you will have  a cool drink at it, as you will see the drinking pipe in the middle of it. C. B (?).  Miss Mary obviously refers to Miss Mary McArthur. The writer of the postcard and Master Mudkins would both seem to be acquainted with Miss Mary. 

Master F. Mudkins is Frederick Aulton Mudkins, born in 1895 to Edward Albert and Annie Amelia (nee Aulton) Mudkins. He had a sister Edith, born in 1887 and a brother Albert in 1891. They are in the 1909 Electoral Roll at 50 Lee Street - Edward is a painter, Annie 'home duties' and Edith is a dressmaker (18).

The report of Donald McArthur's funeral said - Among the chief mourners were Messrs. J.

M. McArthur, G. McArthur, W. McArthur, C. W. Ramsay, Aumann, Mudkins, and McNabb (19). C. W. Ramsay is Charles William Ramsay, Margaret McArthur's brother.  There is clearly some connection between the McArthur family and the Mudkins family, I just don't know what it is. The other thing I cannot tell you is whether young Freddie Mudkins ever had a cool drink at Cr Donald McArthur's drinking fountain. 

Since I wrote this we have found another post card, below, which I firmly believe was written by Mary McArthur to Edith (Edie) Mudkins. It is postmarked January 14, 1907 and is of the South Melbourne Town Hall, a building Mary would be well familar with. Mary writes Dear Edie, If convenient and you are at home we will be over to see you Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon. Would you please let me know which day will suit, Love from Mary.  Mary and Edith were both born in 1887, so they were the same age, no wonder they were friends, but how did they meet?  Edith married William Rawlings Jones in 1912 and she sadly died on October 13, 1919, aged only 32 (20). 

The postcard sent to Edie Mudkins from Mary. I believe this is from Mary McArthur.

Acknowledgment

It was my research colleague, Isaac Hermann, who found the McArthur drinking fountain postcard on Ebay. As soon as I read the letter on the back that mentioned Miss Mary, I wondered who she was and started researching through the newspapers on Trove and this post is the result of the research. Isaac also took the photos of the McArthur drinking fountain for me. He also found the postcard of the South Melbourne Town Hall, written by Mary to Edie, which just adds to the story. I was sad though to find that Edie died so young. It was a shock as I felt as if I knew her.  As always, I am very grateful to Isaac for finding these postcards, there are so many stories that they tell. 

Trove list

I have created a list of newspaper articles connected to the McArthur drinking fountain, Donald McArthur and George Dawe, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) I have used the spelling McArthur through this post unless I am reproducing a newspaper report and it is written as M'Arthur.

(2) Emerald Hill Record, December 8, 1906, see here.

(3) Cr. E. A. Wells - Ernest Alfred Wells. I have written about the family, here   https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2021/03/dixons-bakery-kerford-road.html

(4) Emerald Hill Record, December 8, 1906, see here.

(5) Emerald Hill Record, December 8, 1906, see here. There were reports of the unvieling in other papers, as well, see my Trove list.

(6) The information about Donald's life and career comes from his obituary in the Emerald Hill Record, December 13, 1924, see here. The marriage and death dates of Donald and Margaret are from the notices in the newspapers, see my Trove list. The information about Margaret's involvement with the Benevolent Society is from page 225 of Susan Priestley's book South Melbourne: a history (Melbourne University Press, 1995).

(7) Electoral Rolls are available on Ancestry. Donald's will is on-line at the Public Records Office of Victoria, https://prov.vic.gov.au/.  Family information about Mary and Jessie is from   https://www.genealogysa.org.au/ and https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/

(8) Emerald Hill Record, December 8, 1906, see here.

(9) Weekly Times, August 18, 1900 see here.

(10) The Age, August 29, 1901, see here.

(11) Preston Leader, July 17, 1915, see here. Read Sir Samuel Gillott's entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, here. Charles Web Gilbert, the sculptor, read his entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, here. 

(12) The  death dates of George and Margaret and the names of their children, are from the notices in the newspapers, see my Trove list. The advertisement for the Executor's sale of George's properties was in The Herald, May 17, 1933, see here.

(13) Emerald Hill Record, December 16, 1905, see here.

(14) Emerald Hill Record, December 7, 1907, see here.

(15) Emerald Hill Record, April 11, 1931, see here.

(16) Priestley, Susan South Melbourne: a history (Melbourne University Press, 1995). p. 329.

(17) Sir Aaron Danks, read his obituary in the Emerald Hill Record, June 9, 1928, here. The son of  John Danks, South Melbourne Councillor who is the source of the name Danks Street.

(18) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry and https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/

(19) Emerald Hill Record, December 13, 1924, see here

(20) Edie's death notice was in The Age, October 14, 1919.

The Age, October 14, 1919. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203700477

Dixon's Bakery, Kerferd Road

In 1891, Henry Edwin Dixon, baker of Clarendon Street, South Melbourne commissioned local architect, William Elliott Wells to design a new bakery for him in Kerferd Road, which was to be built by the builders, Meyer & Austin. This is the story of the Dixon family, the Wells family and the builders.

This is an original docket, signed by the W.E. Wells, the architect, certifying that the builders, Meyer and Austin, were entitled to a progress payment from H. E. Dixon for the shop and bakery in Kerferd Road.

Image: Isaac Hermann.

Henry Edwin Dixon was born to Henry Dixon, who was a bandmaster,  and Eliza Goslin  in 1856 in Gibraltar, according to his marriage certificate or St John, New Brunswick, Canada, according to his death certificate. He arrived in Australia at the age of twenty, so had obviously done his bakers apprenticeship wherever it was he grew up. He married eighteen year Alicia Doughtery on January 27, 1879 at her house, 23 Cobden Street, Emerald Hill (South Melbourne). Alicia had been born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1861, the daughter of a sailor, Hugh Dougherty and his wife Margaret Anderson.  Henry's Edwin's address was 21 Cobden Street, next door to Alicia's family home. The 1880 South Melbourne Rate books list a Leonard Gravolin, a baker living at that address, so I believe that Henry worked for him or with him and boarded with him and his wife, Sophia (1).

Henry and Alicia had six children - Alice (1880), Emily (1882), Hugh Henry (1884), Margherita (1886), Henry Edwin (1887) and Francis Adolphus (1892) (2). The family lived for a short time at 112 Little Raglan Street, and then in 1887 Henry established his own bakery at 191 Clarendon Street, on the east side between Napier and Cobden Streets; by 1889 this property had been renumbered as 267 Clarendon Street. This was in a useful pocket of shops which included a butcher, bootmaker, furniture dealer, green grocer, grocer, and  a confectioner. George Briggs, a blacksmith, owned Henry's shop, the four neighbouring shops as well as the first three just around the corner in Cobden Street (3). 

Dixon's Bakery, 64 Kerford Road, Albert Park. 

The parapet is decorated with sheafs of wheat, the main ingredient of the bakery trade.

Image: Isaac Hermann.

Around 1891 Henry and Alice purchased a block of vacant land in Kerferd Road, between Merton Street and Montague Street, and commissioned local architect, William Elliott Wells to design a property - it was a brick building of eleven rooms including a shop and bakery. The land did not have  a street number for the first ten years. The South Melbourne Rate books lists 53 Kerferd and 69 Kerferd Road while in between they have three un-numbered properties, and even as late as 1900, Henry Dixon had vacant blocks on both sides of his building. Dixon's Bakery does not get its own street number until around 1903, when it becomes 64 Kerferd Road, the street was re-numbered with the even numbers now on the west side, rather than the east side (4).

The wheat motif decorating the building.

Image: Isaac Hermann.

Henry Dixon advertised in the local papers and by 1896 the business had expanded stocking groceries as well as being a baker, pastry cook and a supplier of birthday and wedding cakes.

Advertisment for the Dixon bakery.

Emerald Hill Record April 25 1896 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/108477911

Advertisements in the 1896 papers were also the first reference I could find to Henry calling the bakery, the 'Victoria Bakery' and that same year, Henry also began advertising in the Jewish Herald. He advertised Chala loaves, which, it has been explained to me, are an essential feature of Jewish holiday and Sabbath meals and that at a commercial bakery, their preparation would be supervised or especially approved by religiously sanctioned personnel or authority (5). The reference in the advertisment, below, that all bread was guaranteed full weight, no doubt referred to the fact that Henry was charged in January 1896 with selling bread under the statuatory weight. The council health inspector had stopped his bread cart and weighed 31 loaves and found them altogether 47 ozs. deficient (6). 

Henry Dixon's advertising the availabilty of Chala loaves. 

Jewish Herald August 21, 1896 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/147277147

The Dixon family had an eventful time on the night of Monday, April 20, 1910 when a storm of exceptional severity resulted in considerable damage to a cottage in Kerferd Road, occupied by Mr & Mrs Binns and their two children and Mrs Hager and her three children. The cause of the damage was the roofing from the brick stables attached to Mr. H. E. Dixon's bakery business in Kerferd-road. The roofing iron and rafters of the building, covering a space, of 45ft. x 15ft., had been lifted bodily by the wind, carted over a vacant block, about a chain, and dashed into the cottage. The impact caused the building to list right over, the side wall was almost stove in, also the roof, whilst the chimney was practically demolished. The families were lucky to escape without injury (7). 

The family were tight knit and the three daughters, who never married, lived with their parents at bakery or next door at 60 Kerferd Road. Henry died on November 15, 1931 and the Emerald Hill Record published a short obituary that said, in part that he was  one of the oldest members of

the Master Bakers Society of Victoria, and as a townsman was universally liked (8)  The bakery was then operated by Henry junior until his death on April 6, 1944 and his obituary said that he will be very much missed in this 'district, where he was engaged in the bakery business all his life and that he enjoyed the high esteem and respect of his colleagues in the bakery trade (9).  64 Kerford Road  is listed in Sands McDougall Directory as Dixon's bakery until 1950 and then in 1955 it is listed as 'flats'.  Another son, Hugh was businessman in South Melbourne and he died in March 1949. His obituary said that the Dixon family conducted a bakery in Kerferd road for many years and has always been associated with local charity appeals. During the last war Mr. Dixon was an active supporter of South Melbourne Patriotic Fund (10).

Alicia died at the age of 90 on July 22, 1951. Her death was referred to at a meeting of the South Melbourne Council and Cr Wells said that South Melbourne had suffered another loss in the recent death of Mrs. Alice Dixon, well known in the municipality for her charitable work, and as the mother of the family which for long had conducted the bakery business in Kerferd road. Cr. Barry said that the Dixon family was one of the oldest established in the municipality. The late Mrs. Dixon had been a good social worker, and had been closely associated throughout a long life with local charities and with war work (11).

Mayoral portrait of W. E. Wells, 1886.

Image courtesy of Port Phillip City Collection, SM 0026

It was interesting that it was Cr Wells who paid tribute to Mrs Dixon as it was his grandfather who designed the bakery. The Wells family had a long connection to the South Melbourne Council beginning with William Elliott Wells, the architect and auctioneer. W. E. Wells was elected to Council in August 1883, was Mayor in 1886; his son Ernest Alfred, elected in 1902, was Mayor in 1906/07 and 1919/20 and his grandson, also called William Elliott Wells (but known as Elliott) was elected in 1941 and was the Mayor in 1944/45, 1945/46 (12).  The Age reported that three generations mayors is believed to be a unique record in the history of Victorian municipal government (13). One of the traditional honours of being on a Council was having a street named after you and the Wells family are recognised in Wells Street. The first references I can find to the street are in 1887, when it was described as a continuation of Palmerston Crescent (14).  

W. E. Wells Illuminated Address, presented in 1887. The illustrations at the bottom of are of the South Melbourne Town Hall and Albert Park Lake.

 Port Phillip City Collection. Image: Isaac Hermann.

W. E. Wells Illuminated Address, presented in 1887. 

 Port Phillip City Collection. Image: Isaac Hermann.

Another honour bestowed upon William Wells was the presentation of an illumintaed address in March 1887 by the Mayor and Councillors of the City of South Melbourne  to express their estimate of the service rendered by you during the term you occupied the mayoral chair, and of the great concern taken by you in the affairs of the city during the three years you have held office as councillor (15). The Wells' Illuminated Address is part of the Port Phillip City Collection.

The illustrations from W. E. Wells Illuminated Address -  

The South Melbourne Town Hall, which was a familiar building for three generations of the Wells family.

 Port Phillip City Collection. Image: Isaac Hermann.

The illustrations from W. E. Wells Illuminated Address -  

Albert Park lake, looking towards the Bay

Port Phillip City Collection. Image: Isaac Hermann.

William Elliott Wells, the designer of the Dixon bakery, was born in Bridport Street, Dorsetshire in 1837 and arrived in Victoria in 1855. He lived in the Bendigo area and was at Eaglehawk when he married Jane Wright Fry on December 16, 1865. He was a 27 year old carpenter and Jane, who had been born in London, was 21 years old. They had eight children; the first two were born at Eaglehawk and the other six at Emerald Hill (as South Melbourne was then called) -  Eliza Alice (1866), Ernest Alfred (1868), Edith Clare (1870), Annie Eva (1873), Francis Stanley (1875), William Thomas (1877), George Elliott (1879) and Gertrude Evelyn Mary (1888) (16). 

His obituary says that after spending time in the Bendigo area he came to Melbourne and worked as a buildier before he commenced practice as an architect and auctioneer in Clarendon Street, in 1880 (17).  Given that he listed his occupation as 'carpenter' on his marriage certificate, it doesn't appear that he was a trained architect.  His obituary also says he designed the grandstand at the South Melbourne Cricket Club.  However, Susan Priestley in her history of South Melbourne writes that it was George Gray who designed the grandstand in 1886 and William Wells designed the members stand and refreshment pavilion (18). The grandstand was destroyed by fire in August 1926 (19).

There are two other works that I can attribute to W.E. Wells. In 1885 a meeting of property owners in Clarendon street was held, on Wednesday evening, which plans and specifications were adopted and tenders ordered to be invited for the erection of a new set of street verandahs, extending from Park to Bank street, on the western side. The owners having agreed with two exceptions to the proposed extension of the verandahs to the curb stone, this portion of the street will, at an early date form a splendid promenade which will, without doubt, beneficially influence the business done in the block. The preparation of the plans was entrusted to Cr. W. E. Wells, of this city, who submitted a light and graceful design, which was at once unanimously adopted (20).

The other buildings are a pair of buildings at what was 45 and 47 Dundas Place, Albert Park which were put up for auction in February 1889. The buildings are still there; the street was renumbered between 1900 and 1905, with the even numbers on the north side instead of the south side, and they are now 30 & 32 Dundas Place (21).

Advertisement for the sale of 45 & 47 (now 30 & 32) Dundas Place, 

designed and built under the supervision of W. E. Wells.

The Age February 23 1889 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196993744

30 & 32 Dundas Place (formerly 45 & 47) designed by W. E. Wells

Image: Isaac Hermann

William Wells also operated an auction house which he established 121 Clarendon Street, at Bank Corner. This was near the corner of Clarendon and Banks Street. I presume it was called Bank Corner because the new E. S. & A Bank was erected at that intersection in 1880 and opened the next year (22).  The first mention I can find of the term 'Bank Corner' is in 1882 (23).  In 1896 the firm moved to new premises at 183 Clarendon Street, and due to the renumbering of South Melbourne streets which took place sometime between 1900 and 1905, it became 301 Clarendon Street (24). 

An early advertisement for W. E. Wells

Emerald Hill Record July 7, 1882 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/108472968

The 1896 move to 183 Clarendon Street, which was renumbered as 301 Clarendon Street

sometime between 1900 and 1905. 

Emerald Hill Record November 7, 1896 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/108481715#

Wells & Son Auction Rooms, 301 Clarendon Street.

Image courtesy of Port Phillip City Collection, SM 1442
 

William Elliott Wells, one of Emerald Hill's greatest pioneers (25), died on August 30, 1930.  His obituary (26) said he was warmly attached to the local Congregational Church, and a few years back took a prominent interest in Freemasonry, holding the office of P. G. S. W. (27) in the first Victorian Grand Lodge under the Grand Mastership of the late Geo. Coppin (28). His wife Jane had died May 23, 1923 (29) and they are both buried at the Brighton Cemetery. William and Jane's daughter, Eliza,  was married to the Reverend William Silas Pearse, who when he died in 1949 was described as one of the oldest Congregational Church ministers in Victoria (30). For  a short time in the mid 1880s and during the time William was the Mayor, the family lived at 42 Howe Crescent, South Melbourne. Their youngest daughter, Gertrude, was born in the house. It was a convenient location for the family as it was just down from the Congregational Church (31). As a matter of interest, the Wells family later lived  at 154 Kerford Road for a number of years until the early 1920s, 45 houses up from the Dixons (32)  

41 & 42 Howe Crescent, South Melbourne. 

The Wells family lived at No. 42 during the time William was the 

Mayor of South Melbourne in 1886.

Image: Paul Caine.

Mayoral portrait of E. A. Wells, 1906-07. 

Image courtesy of Port Phillip City Collection, SM 0019

The Auction business was taken over by his  son, Ernest Alfred and after Edward's death on May 17, 1950 by his son William Elliott, named for his grandfather.  Ernest and his wife Ethel (nee Thornton) were also involved in the Congregational Church, attending and holding various honorary offices in  the church in Howe Crescent for over 60 years. Their son, Henry became a Congregational Minister and their daughter a medical missionary in India.  Ernest also served as both the Treasrurer and Vice President of the Homeopathic Hospital, which was renamed Prince Henry's Hospital  in 1934 (33). 

Mayoral portrait of Elliott Wells, 1944.

Artist: Max Casey. Port Phillip City Collection.

Image: Isaac Hermann.

I acknowledge that this painting is still under Copyright and it is reproduced here for the purpose of research only. 

In 1895, Ernest Wells and Charles Buchan Sydserff (34) established the South Melbourne TRY Boys Society. The main object of the Society was to offer to young men inducements to refrain from prowling about the streets and to persuade them to improve themselves at some of the classes which the Society provides for education in writing, book-keeping, shorthand and elocution, and so to fit them better to fight life's battle (35). 

The last element of the Dixon's Bakery docket are the builders -  Meyer and Austin. I cannot find out much about them, however in 1893 they built Samuel Coulter's house, Ulster, in Station Street, Port Melbourne. Mr Coulter (36) invited a large number of visitors to the laying of the foundation stone ceremony, including the Mayor, Cr Malcolmson and this was reported on in the Port Melbourne Standard.  At the function afterwards at the Albion Hotel, the Mayor called on Mr Austin as the senior contractor, to propose the health of Mr & Mrs Coulter.  Mr. Austin said he had much pleasure in responding to the Mayor's request. He contended that Mr. Coulter had shown great pluck in undertaking such a work at the present time. Such buildings were always a boon to any place, and as things were now the value to contractors and workmen was doubly valuable (37).

Ulster, the house built by Meyer & Austin in 1893 in Station Street in Port Melbourne, is shown here. It is the house directly behind the horse's saddle. The house immediatley to the right is Derwent house; the house to the far right is the start of Alfred Terrace.  The house on the left, obscured by the tree, is Emerald (38) which is on the corner of Raglan Street and Station Street.

Horse drawn wagon owned by Port Melbourne City Council. Photographer: Albert Jones.

State Library of Victoria Image H2007.130/13

In 1900, Samuel Coulter offered Ulster, with its amenites such as a bath, wash-house 

and 2 stall stable, for lease. 

Port Melbourne Standard, June 30, 1900 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164949748

I believe that Mr Austin, who worked with Meyer, also worked  in partnership with Anthonie Dubbledan, of Port Melbourne. Mr Dubbledan's obituary said that some of the most prominent buildings in the town were erected by him (39). In 1889 Dubbledan and Austin built a school room at the Catholic Church in Port Melbourne (40) and 1893 they built the Britannia Hotel on the  corner of  Graham and Bay Street (41). Other than this I have no other information about Mr Austin. 

George Meyer is listed in the South Melbourne Rate Books from 1881, when he lists his occupation as a shipwright. By 1886, he has purchased 71 Little Page Street, and changed his occupation to carpenter. George is at this address until 1897 at least and the only difference seems to be that in 1896 he changed his occupation again, this time to contractor (42). 

The only other project that I can attribute to George Meyer is the erection of a shed at the South Melbourne market in 1895. That would appear to be a simple project but was the subject of some discussion at the South Melbourne Council meeting held May 28, 1895 - this is the report from the Emerald Hill Record - Cr. Palmer protested against the payment of £60, first part payment to George Meyer, for erection of market shed. He did so on the ground that the work was not provided for when framing the estimates. It was said that the money was to come from the surplus received from the lease of the market, but that money was used in other works. The account had not been passed by the committee, not that the members did not wish the money to be paid, but so that the council as a whole might authorise the payment. He moved that the item be excised. Cr Stead said he considered the work one of emergency as the gardeners had threatened that if some accomodation was not provided they would leave in a body. Cr. Owen could not see how the shed could come under the head of an emergency although it might be a useful erection. Cr. Gittus did not see how there could be any objection. Cr. Tope was satisfied to support the clause and let Cr. Palmer lodge his protest. Cr. White also protested against the payment on the same ground that Cr. Palmer raised. He had seen quite enough of the risks run. The account was passed for payment. Crs. Wadey, Palmer, Owen, White and Madden voting against it (43).

George later moved from South Melbourne to Ascot Vale, where he died at the age of 51 on April 1, 1909. This was followed, less than six months later,  by the death of his married daughter, twenty six year old Matta Louisa Higginbotham on August 21.  Matta had married in 1904 and she left behind four year old Linda and 2 year old Arthur. There was some happiness for the family that year as their other daughter, Linda, married Henry Dallimore on October 5, at St Pauls Church of England, Ascot Vale. George's wife, Emma died in October, 1915 (44). 

Henry Dixon, William Wells, George Meyer and Mr Austin have long passed on, but the building in which they all played a role - Dixon's Bakery in Kerford Road, is still there - 130 years later.

Acknowledgments  

A huge thank you and much appreciation goes to Anne Scambary, Arts & Heritage Officer, City of Port Phillip; Dorela Gerardi, Collections Registrar, City of Port Phillip and David Helms, Heritage Advisor, City of Port Phillip. Anne provided the copies of the Mayoral portraits of W. E. Wells and E. A. Wells, as well as the image of Wells' Auction room at 301 Clarendon Street. Dorela gave us access to W. E. Wells' Illuminated address and the Mayoral portrait of W. E. Wells (the younger) and allowed my research colleague, Isaac Hermann, to photograph them. David provided the correct identification of Ulster and also provided the information on the neighbouring properties - see footnote 37. It was Isaac who came across the 1891 docket, signed by W. E. Wells, which  inspired this story. Isaac also provided the photographs of the bakery building, the Dundas Place property and the Wells' grave at Brighton Cemetery (footnote 16) and some of the research. As always, I am grateful for his support, photographs and input. Thank you also to Paul Caine, for the photograph of 42 Howe Crescent.

Trove lists

I have created a list on the Dixon family and the bakery, access it here; and a list on the Wells family, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) The information in this paragraph comes from Henry and Alicia's marriage certificate (which includes their residential  address) and their death certificates. The South Melbourne Rate books are available on Ancestry.

(2) Henry and Alicia Dixon's children  - this information comes from the Victorian Indexes to Births Deaths and Marriages; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry and newspaper articles on Trove, which you will find on my Trove list, here.

• Alice Elizabeth 1880 - 1968. Did not marry.
• Emily 1882 -1970. Did not marry.
• Hugh Henry 1884 - 1949.  Married Elsie May Scopie in 1924 and they had one daughter, Yvonne, who was for some time the pianist for South Melbourne Philharmonic Society (Emerald Hill Record, March 26, 1949)
• Margherita 1886 -  1968. Did not marry.
• Henry Edwin 1887 - 1944. Married Alice Elizabeth Owen in 1913. They had two children, Peggy and Hal.  Henry's obituary said that a son was a  Flying-Officer in the R.A.A.F and that Peggy was attached to the Australian Broadcasting commission (Emerald Hill Record, April 15, 1944)
• Francis Adolphus 1892 - 1966. Married Daisy Philomena Lawlor in 1920 and she died Feb 7, 1937. He then married Helen Maud Johansen in 1947. Unlike the rest of his family Francis did not spend his life in the South Melbourne area. He was listed in the Electoral Rolls at Lancefield from 1921 until 1937, occupation grazier. He also spent some time at Fishermans Road, Five Ways. From 1954 to 1963 the was at  9 Crozier St, Bentleigh.  

(3)   This information is from the South Melbourne Rate books on Ancestry; the list of shops owned by George Briggs is from the 1889 Rate books. The information also comes from the Sands & McDougalls Melbourne & Suburban Directories, digitised at the State Library of Victoria.

(4) Date of purchase of the land comes from the South Melbourne Rate Books; in 1890 Rate books the vacant land as owned by James Tribe. The street numbering comes from the Rate books and Sands & McDougalls. The 1903 Electoral Roll lists the Dixons at 64 Kerferd Road. I don't know where my obsession with numbers comes from, but initially we had trouble identifying the building in Kerford Road as we were working on the original numbers, then we noticed the distinctive wheat  sheaf decoration on the building and that confirmed it. I say 'we' but it was actually my research colleague, Isaac Hermann who 'discovered' the building, following the advice of the City of Port Phillip Heritage Advisor, David Helms. 

Below: Sands & McDougalls Melbourne & Suburban Directories - renumbering of Dixon's Bakery and other Kerford Road allotments.

Kerferd Road, west side, 1900

Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1900.

State Library of Victoria https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/popular-digitised-collections

Kerferd Road, west side, 1905.

Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 11905.

State Library of Victoria https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/popular-digitised-collections

(5) Thanks to my research colleague, Isaac Hermann, for the explanation about chala or challah loaves.

(6) The Herald, January 3, 1896, see here.

(7) Emerald Hill Record, April 30, 1910, see here.

(8) Emerald Hill Record, November 21, 1931, see here.

(9) Emerald Hill Record, April 15, 1944, see here.

(10) Emerald Hill Record March 26, 1949, see here.

(11) Emerald Hill Record, August 4, 1951, see here.

(12) These dates regarding their elections to the South Melbourne Council come from various newspaper articles on my Trove list, here.

(13) The Age, May 19, 1950, see here.

(14) Emerald Hill Record, March 9, 1887, see here.

(15) Emerald Hill Record, March 19, 1887, see here.

(16) This information in this paragraph (and below) comes from William and Jane's marriage certificate; the Indexes to the Victorian Births Deaths and Marriages and his obituary in the Emerald Hill Record, September 6, 1930, see here. 

William and Jane Wells' children - 

• Eliza Ann 1866 - 1930. Married William Silas Pearse in 1897. 
• Ernest Alfred 1868 - 1950. Married Ethel Thornton in 1898.
• Edith Clare 1870 - 1956. Did not marry. 
• Annie Eva 1873 - 1956. Did not marry.
• Francis Stanley 1875 - 1917. Married Ada Elizabeth White in 1897. Killed in Action in France May 2, 1917.
• William Thomas 1877 - ?. Married Emily Maude Crook in 1901. 
• George Elliott 1879 - 1963. Married Myra Tilley in 1906. 
• Gertrude Evelyn 1888 - 1961. Did not marry.

The Wells' grave at the Brighton Cemetery. It's interesting that it contains five members of the family - William and Jane and three of their daughters - Edith, Annie and Gertrude.

Image: Isaac Hermann.

(17) Emerald Hill Record, September 6, 1930, see here. 

(18) Priestley, Susan South Melbourne: a history (Melbourne University Press, 1995), p. 187.

(19) The Argus, August 14, 1926, see here.

(20) Emerald Hill Record, May 23, 1885, see here.

(21) Sands & McDougalls Melbourne & Suburban Directories - renumbering of 45 & 47 Dundas Place to 30 & 32.

Dundas Place, north side, 1900.

Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1900.

State Library of Victoria https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/popular-digitised-collections

Dundas Place, north side, 1905.

Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1905.

State Library of Victoria https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/popular-digitised-collections

(22) The Record & Emerald Hill Advertiser, December 17, 1880, see here.

(23)  Letter to the editor from W. E. Wells, Emerald Hill Record, March 24, 1882, see here.

(24)  Sands & McDougalls Melbourne & Suburban Directories - renumbering of W. E. Wells' Clarendon Street property and other allotments.

Clarendon Street, east side, 1900.

Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1900.

State Library of Victoria https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/popular-digitised-collections

Clarendon Street, east side, 1905

Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1905.

State Library of Victoria https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/popular-digitised-collections

(25) Emerald Hill Record, September 6, 1930, see here.

(26) Emerald Hill Record, September 6, 1930, see here.

(27) P.G.S.W. - Pro Grand Superintendent of Works - a Freemasons office which advices on any matter connected with building works.

(28) George Coppin - read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here.

(29) Death notice, The Argus May 26, 1923, see here.

(30) The Argus, August 18, 1949, see here.

(31)  We discovered that the Wells' family lived at 42 Howe Crescent from this notice, below,  about the candidates in the South Melbourne Council election. Information about the Congregational Church can be found here, http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/search/nattrust_result_detail/66610

Emerald Hill Record July 29, 1886 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113012684

 Birth  notice of Gertrude Evelyn Wells at 42 Howe Crescent in 1881

The Age May 12, 1888 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page18438506

(32) Electoral Rolls, available on Ancestry.

(33) The information about Ernest and the involvement with the Congregational Church and Prince Henry's Hospital is from his obituary in the Emerald Hill Record, May 20, 1950, see here.

(34) Charles Buchan Sydserff. Born in 1872 in Emerald Hill to John Buchan and Mary Henderson (nee Disher) Sydserff.  Charles married Helen Hart Williams in 1900. She died in 1919 at the age of 49. He then married Maggie Porter in 1920. He lived at 73 Merton Street in Albert Park and then (around 1917) moved to Merton, Suffolk Road, Surrey Hills. He was an accountant and died in 1962.  

(35) The quote is from Emerald Hill Record, September 28, 1896, see here. Information about the establishment of the Society in South Melbourne and a list of the patrons and office bearers is in 

Table Talk, November 1, 1895, see here.

(36) Samuel Lowry Coulter -  died February 11, 1925 at the age of 84. His will left his estate to his wife, Alice, and his daughter, Alice Watson, and his grandchildren John and Alice Watson - clearly they liked the name Alice. He also left various bequests to other relatives. Of interest though is that he left £1000 to the Presbyterian Church in Bridge Street, Port Melbourne; plus a further £100 for the Minister to use for the benefit of the Sunday School children and £500 for the erection of a verandah of the manse at Bridge Street Port Melbourne and for the maintenance of the manse. A manse is the house provided by the Church for a Presbyterian minister. There were two other bequests to the Church - £100 to the local minister, the Reverend John Landels and £100 to the Presbyterian Church in Killinchy, County Down, Ireland for the benefit of the Sunday School Children. His will has been digitised by the Public Records Office of Victoria. 

(37) Port Melbourne Standard, November 25, 1893, see here.

(38) The identification of the buildings and the following information was kindly supplied by David Helms, Heritage Advisor, City of Port Phillip -  Derwent, was built c. 1870 and purchased by Samuel Coulter in 1890. Emerald was designed by local architect, Arthur Bidgway and constructed in 1901, also for Samuel Coulter. Alfred Terrace was built c. 1869.

This photo shows Emerald, Ulster and Derwent - all part of Samuel Coulter's property portfolio - and  the three buildings which make up  Alfred Terrace. 

Station Street, Port Melbourne, c. 1907. State Library of Victoria Image H93.431/1

Samuel Coulter advertising Ulster and Derwent for lease in 1896.

Port Melbourne Standard, November 7 1896 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/165314573

 

(39) Port Melbourne Standard, November 23, 1901, see here.

(40) Port Melbourne Standard, May 25, 1889, see here.

(41) Port Melbourne Standard, November 23, 1895, see here.

(42) South Melbourne Rate Books available on Ancestry.

(43) Emerald Hill Record, June 1, 1895, see here.
(44) Death notice of George Meyer - The Argus, April 2, 1909, see here; death notice of Matta Higginbotham - The Argus, August 23, 1909, see  here; marriage notice of Linda Meyer - The Argus, November 17, 1909, see here; and death notice of Emma (nee Aslett) Meyer - The Argus, October 11, 1915, see here.