Showing posts with label Street names. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Street names. Show all posts

Sunday, July 5, 2026

Julia Avenue, Balaclava and the Buchholz family

Julia Avenue in Balaclava was developed as a private street in 1886 by Simon Buchholz and named for his wife Julia. Around 1912 it was renamed Carlisle Avenue, and given that it runs off Carlisle Street it appears to be a decision that would have led to confusion regarding mail deliveries. Carlisle Street is named after the Earl of Carlisle. On the corner of the Avenue and Carlisle Street is St Colman's Catholic Church. The original building, a weatherboard one, was officially opened as the Church of the Holy Angels in October 1900  The current brick Church was opened in November  1913  and it was renamed St Colman's in 1939. (1) 

Simon Buchholz was born (as listed on his death certificate) in Bomst, Germany in 1825; an area which is now part of Poland. (2) He migrated to England when he was 15 and around 1855 married German born Julia Gruenthal in Sheffield, England (3).  Their first child, Emma Esther, was born in 1856 in Sheffield. (4) The next year, the family moved to Victoria and their next four children were born in Ballarat East - Solomon in 1858; Morris in 1859, Louis in 1861 and daughter Frances in 1862. (5) Around 1864 they moved to New Zealand where Simon operated a general store in the town of Moteuka, on the South Island. (6) Their sixth child, Samuel, was born in Moteuka in 1868. (7) In June 1882, Simon sold his business to Abraham Manoy. (8) 1882 was also also the year that Simon was naturalised. (9) 

On July 26, 1883 tragedy struck the family when 24 year old Morris accidentally drowned at Takaka. The circumstances were reported on the the newspaper, The Colonist - 
Late on Saturday news was received in Town that Mr Morris Buchholz, a son of an old and respected resident in the district, was missing between Parapara and Takaka, and it was at once feared that he had met with an accident in endeavoring to cross the Takaka River. We learn that on Thursday last Mr Morris Buchholz, who was travelling for Mr M. Davis of this city, obtained a horse from Mr Miles at Collingwood, and that at 4 o'clock in the afternoon he started to ride to Takaka, taking with him some packages strapped to his saddle. He was seen as far on his road as the Parapara, and on Saturday, upon its becoming known at Collingwood that Mr Buchholz had not arrived at Takaka, alarm was at once caused, and as soon as the tide admitted the local constable started on a search. Mr Hicks, the Takaka constable, and others also proceeded, we understand, to search for the missing gentleman. Yesterday morning the horse that Mr Buchholz rode was found hear the mouth of the Takaka with the saddle turned round so that it was under its belly, and it was saturated with water. One of the stirrup leathers was also found on the beach, so that the nature of the accident is too apparent. There was no fresh in the river at the time, but if our information is correct Mr Buchholz could not have arrived at the river till long after dark, when there would be the danger of getting into a deep hole, and then, with the stirrup leather breaking, and the saddle slipping round, there would be but small chance for the rider to escape. (10)  Morris' body was found in twenty feet of water on August 12, and he was buried at the Nelson Cemetery, two days later. (11) 

Soon after Morris' death, Simon and Julia and some of their children returned to Victoria; but only six months later another tragedy struck the family. Solomon, the eldest son who was 27, died in Sydney on January 24, 1884. He had spent the past three years living in Fiji, and the Jewish Herald reported on the unusual circumstances of his death  - 
A New Zealand contemporary publishes an account of the death of Mr. Solomon Buchholz, which, we regret to say, took place under painful circumstances. The deceased gentleman was the Fiji government agent of the schooner Glidi; and having left the island in that vessel to proceed to Sydney, was seized with fever, of which he died. On the news of his untimely death reaching Suva, a gloom was cast over the whole town. The flags of the vessels in harbour, together with those at the offices of their agents, and at the Norwegian consulate, wore lowered at half-mast, and the shutters of the principal stores closed, as a token of respect. (12)

It was around October 1886 that Simon developed Julia Avenue. The St Kilda Telegraph reporting on a St Kilda Council meeting noted that -
That in reference to letter from Mr Samuel Bucholz [sic], he be informed that, conditionally upon his
paying into the hands of the Borough Treasurer the sum of £350, the Council will form, channel, &c, the private street known as Julia-avenue, including entrance and drain into Williams-street, and that on receipt of the sum named, tenders will be called for the work.(13)   The article lists Samuel as the author of the letter but given that he was only 18 years old at the time, I believe this is an error. 

Before many of the blocks were sold, Simon passed away at the age of 58, on November 3, 1887 at his home, Motueka, in Grey Street, the house obviously named after the town in New Zealand where they lived for around 20 years. (14)  Eleven blocks of land in Julia Avenue formed part of his estate and they were valued for Probate at £2,932. (15)


This is the plan of the Julia Avenue allotments from Simon's Probate papers at the Public Records Office of Victoria. The darker shaded blocks are the eleven allotments owned by Simon. Lot 13 on Carlisle Street is the location of St Colman's Church.
Simon Buchholz Grant of Probate Public Records Office of Victoria

These eleven block of land, described in the advertisement as valuable building sites with frontage to Julia Venue and Balaclava Road (as that part of Carlisle Street was then called) were auctioned  on June 30, 1888. (16)  


The Julia Avenue allotments auctioned on behalf of the executors of Simon Buchholz.
The Age, June 16 1888 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195991136

I have no information as to whether the blocks sold, however the 1898 Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works Plan shows only two houses built in Julia Avenue. However, of  interest, is that the house at what was then 249 Carlisle Street (17), on the corner of Julia Avenue (see in the MMBW plan below) was occupied from 1890 to 1896 by the artist Elizabeth Parsons (1831-1897).  Elizabeth was one of the first professional women artists to work in Victoria and exhibited with Heidelberg School artists Tom Roberts, Frederick McCubbin, Arthur Streeton and Charles Conder. She had lived in St Kilda at other addresses previously and often painted St Kilda scenes.  At her Carlisle Street home, which was named Sah-Luma, Elizabeth mentored young artists through her Stray Leaves club, whose aim was  primarily designed to bring together and encourage young people interested in art.  Elizabeth also held exhibitions of her works at Sah-Luma. (18)  The house is now demolished.


Only two houses in Julia Avenue in 1898, and Elizabeth Parson's house at 249 Carlisle Street is on the left of Julia Avenue.
Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works detail plan. no. 1438, City of St. Kilda, 1898
State Library of Victoria - see full plan here https://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/124923

As you can see from these references from the Sands & McDougall Directories,  development did not take off until  after 1905.


Residents of Julia Avenue from 1895 to 1915
Sands and McDougall Directories, State Library of Victoria


For some reason, as we said before, around 1912, the name changed from Julia Avenue to Carlisle Avenue. The last reference to Julia Avenue I can find in the newspapers on Trove is June 1912 and the first references I can find to Carlisle Avenue are also in June 1912. (19) 

Which brings us back to the Buchholz family. After the death of Simon the family moved to Redan Street, St Kilda and they named that house Motueka as well. (20) This is where Julia died on April 6, 1894 at the age of 69. (21) She was buried with her husband in the Jewish section of the St Kilda Cemetery. (22) 

The two surviving sons, Louis and Samuel both sadly died by suicide. Samuel was a Chemist (pharmacist) and died on July 15, 1903 after taking poison; he was only 35 years old. He is buried with his parents at St Kilda Cemetery. (23)  

Louis, at the age of 44, had married Stella Clarice Raphael on April 18, 1905, the service being conducted by Rabbi Dr Abrahams.  They had two daughters Mollie born in  March 1907 and Joan in February 1909 at their home Astra, Park Street, St Kilda (24) Louis was a partner in the firm of S. Cohen and Sons, a hardware firm in Lonsdale Street; he was at work on January 21, 1910 when he tragically shot himself.  He is also buried at St Kilda Cemetery. (24) The whole thing is just too sad for words. 

Emma, who had been born in Sheffield in 1856 married Siegmund Schwartz in Wellington, New Zealand on June 19, 1883, the service being conducted by Rabbi Herman Van Stavern. (26)  The couple later moved to Melbourne; there were no children from the marriage and they separated in 1905. (27).  

Frances, the second daughter never married. She taught at the St Kilda Hebrew and Sabbath Schools; her father Simon was at one time President of the St Kilda Hebrew Congregation. In the late 1880s Frances was also on the committee of the St Kilda Jewish Young Ladies Sewing Society, a philanthropic organisation. In 1903 she was Secretary of the Jewish Women's Guild. (28)  

Frances was living Motueka, Redan Street with her brothers Louis and Samuel when Samuel  committed suicide there; Frances and Louis moved out soon after and she sold off all her splendid furniture including a superb walnut upright grand piano at an auction in December 1903. (29)  In the 1905 Electoral roll Frances and Louis were both living at the Prince of Wales Hotel in St Kilda. By 1910, she was living with her sister Emma  at 31 Loch Street, St Kilda and in 1913 they were at Tintern, another house in Redan Street. By 1916 Emma and Frances were living at Astra, 8 Robertson Avenue, St Kilda with their sister-in-law Stella and her daughters Mollie and Joan. Interesting that Stella named this house Astra, after her old Park Street home (30)

In 1916, Emma changed her surname from Schwartz to Shaw. The same year Frances and Stella  changed their surname (and that of Mollie and Joan) from Buchholz  to Buckley, no doubt due to anti-German feeling during the War. (31)

Emma died on February 6, 1922 at the age of 66 and is buried in the Jewish section of  the Brighton General Cemetery, under the name Emma Shaw. Frances died on August 31, 1935 at the age of 73. (32)


Emma's death notice
The Argus, February 7, 1922 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4705560


Frances' death notice
The Argus, September 2, 1935 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11763291

Stella, their sister-in-law, with whom they both seemed to have a lovely friendship, died on November 14, 1947, aged 74 and is also buried in the Jewish section at Brighton Cemetery, under the name Stella Buckley.  Stella's two daughter's both married - Mollie to Lionel Shotlander and they had three daughters; Joan to  Frank Coleman Myers and they had two daughters and a son. (33)


Stella's death notice
The Argus, November 18, 1947 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22520589

We need a campaign to change the name back to Julia Avenue and give Mrs Julia Buchholz her rightful place in history.

Acknowledgment - My research colleague, Isaac Hermann, told me about Carlisle Avenue originally being called Julia Avenue. I thought it would make a good story and set myself the task of finding out who Julia was, and discovered she was Julia Buchholz. I also wanted to find out why the name was changed, but am still working on this. Isaac also alerted me to the interesting fact that the artist, Elizabeth Parsons, lived on the corner of Julia Avenue. 

Footnotes
(1) The Advocate, October 20, 1900, see here;  The Advocate, December 6, 1913, see here; The Advocate, December 7, 1939, see here. 
(2) Death Certificate.
(3) Simon's migration to England was listed in his daughter Emma's Grant of Probate papers held at the Public Records Office of Victoria - see here
His death certificate notes he was married in Sheffield, the date of marriage is my guess taken from when their first child was born.
(5) Index of the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages. 
(6) Date of arrival based on the fact that when he sold the store in 1882, it was noted that he had operated in Moteuka for 18 years. See -  Evening Post, Volume XXIII, Issue 23, 30 January 1882, Page 2 - https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP18820130.2.24.1
(7) Birth notice - Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 11, 14 January 1868, Page 2
(8) Colonist, Volume XXVI, Issue 3497, 3 July 1882, Page 1  https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC18820703.2.2.5
(9) Simon's naturalisation date was listed in his daughter Emma's Grant of Probate
(10) Colonist, Volume XXVI, Issue 3941, 30 July 1883, Page 3
(11) Colonist, Volume XXVI, Issue 3952, 13 August 1883, Page 3
Funeral - Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVIII, Issue 191, 13 August 1883, Page 2
(12) Solomon - Death notice: Sydney Morning Herald, January 25, 1884, see here; Report of death - Jewish Herald, February 22, 1884, see here. There is another report of Solomon's death here -
Colonist, Volume XXVII, Issue 3865, 12 March 1884, Page 3
(13) St Kilda Telegraph, October 9, 1886, see here.
(14) Simon - Death certificate; Death notice - The Argus, November 4, 1887, see here.
(15) Simon's Grant of Probate at the Public Records office of Victoria - Plan of Julia Avenue allotments - https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/28C8A6EA-F1D4-11E9-AE98-E709A3C4CAA5?image=25
Valuation of allotments - 
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/28C8A6EA-F1D4-11E9-AE98-E709A3C4CAA5?image=23
(16) The Age, June 16 1888, see here. 
(17) 249 Carlisle Street is now numbered as 287. The re-numbering took place between 1925 and 1930 (according to the Sands & McDougall Directories). Another notable resident of the house was John Henry Pittard, a former Mayor of the City of St Kilda, he died April 8, 1937, read his short obituary in The Age, here.  The house has been demolished. It was for sale as a development site with a 13-roomed residence in 1969 (see advert here in the Australian Jewish News), so I presume it was demolished around then.  
(18) Elizabeth Parsons - https://www.geelonggallery.org.au/whats-on/exhibitions/elizabeth-parsons There is a link on that page to the Exhibition catalogue written by Veronica Filmer, More than a Memory: the art of Elizabeth Parsons. I have also written about Elizabeth and mainly her connection to Berwick, here https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2021/12/elizabeth-parsons-1831-1897.html
(20) Property as listed in Julia's death notice - The Argus, April 7, 1894, see here
(21) Julia - Death certificate; Death notice - The Argus, April 7, 1894, see here.
(22) On Ancestry. com - Victoria, Australia, Cemetery Records and Headstone Transcriptions, 1844-1997
(23)  Samuel - Jewish Herald, June 18, 1891, see here; Death notice - The Argus, July 16, 1903, see here. Reports of Inquest - The Argus, July 16, 1903, see here; The Argus, July 25, 1903, see here; On Ancestry. com - Victoria, Australia, Cemetery Records and Headstone Transcriptions, 1844-1997
(24)  Louis - Wedding report - Punch, April 27 1905, see here;  Mollie -  birth notice - Prahran Telegraph, March 30, 1907, see here;  Joan - birth notice - The Argus,  February 13, 1909, see here.
(25) Louis - Death notice - February 5, 1910, see here; Report of death -  The Argus, January 24, 1910, see here.
On Ancestry. com - Victoria, Australia, Cemetery Records and Headstone Transcriptions, 1844-1997
(26) Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVIII, Issue 145, 20 June 1883, Page 2
(27) Siegmund Schwartz: Grant of administration at the Public Records Office of Victoria - https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/D8B1564C-F1F6-11E9-AE98-F970997A373C?image=1
(28) Teaching - Jewish Herald, September 26, 1888, see here; Jewish Herald, November 20, 1891, see here; Sewing Society - Jewish Herald, April 26, 1889, see here;  Womens Guild -  Jewish Herald, April 24, 1903, see here; Simon President of Congregation - Jewish Herald, August 31, 1888, see here.
(29) The Argus, December 10, 1903, see here;
(30) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com
(31) Name change -Emma Shaw's Grant of Probate papers held at the Public Records Office of Victoria 
Frances and Stella - Graphic of Australia, October 13, 1916, see here.
(32) Emma: The Argus, February 7, 1922, see here; Brighton Cemetorians database -  
https://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/  Frances: The Argus, September 2, 1935, see here. 
(33) Stella - The Argus, November 18, 1947, see here; Brighton Cemetorians database -  
https://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/  Mollie's children listed on her headstone at Brighton Cemetery - https://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/  and Joan's children listed on her headstone in Wellington, New Zealand https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/221609323/joan-sidney-myer
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Tuesday, August 12, 2025

John Street, Clarke Street and other Elwood Street Names

I have a friend who lives near John Street in Elwood and he wondered where the name of the street came from, so because I have a bit of  a fascination with street and place name origins, I did  some research.  But before we look at John Street,  this is what historian, J. B. Cooper, in his history of the City of St Kilda (1) wrote about the naming of streets in Elwood or South St Kilda as it was then called.
Three months later, October 28, 1857, the Council decided to name the streets lying to the "south of Balaclave Road," i.e., Carlisle Street. In accordance with instructions, the Public Works Committee submitted its report to the Council with a plan of the unnamed streets, and a list of the names the Committee proposed to call the streets. The streets in question were the roadways formed when the Government surveyed the Crown Lands for the purpose of selling the land in sections.

Councillor Sutherland moved, and Councillor Hale seconded, that the Public Works Committee's report be adopted. Councillor Mooney moved as an amendment that the names of British authors be given to the streets. Councillor Spicer seconded the amendment. Councillor Marshall moved a further amendment: "That the names of British and Colonial Statesmen be given to the streets." The Chairman, Councillor Cowderoy, seconded Councillor Marshall's amendment. The second amendment was lost, and Councillor Mooney's amendment was carried. A further amendment, that consideration of the names to be given to the streets be postponed for a week, was lost. After consideration, and much argument, it was agreed that the streets' names should be officially proclaimed as follows -

Original name as 
suggested in report         New name
Keogh                         Burns
Monaghan                 Scott
McCombie                 Byron
Willis                         Milton
Goldie                         Dickens
Emu                         Blessington
Nankerville                 Southey
Bennett                         Tennyson
Prell                       Mitford

J.B. Cooper continues with information about the namesakes of the rejected names for instance Monaghan, Nankivell and Prell were local land owners and McCombie was an auctioneer.

Probably the Council was wise in its generation when the majority of its members voted for naming the streets with non-contentious names. The amendment launched during the consideration of the street-naming question and seconded by the Chairman, Councillor Cowderoy, that the names of "colonial statesmen" be selected, had in it the elements of discord. Was the prevailing color to be green, O'Shanassy and Duffy? or of another color, Haines and Childers ? Harmony was preserved by the selection of the names of literary men for the streets' names. 

Since the poets' names were selected as the names of streets by the St. Kilda Council the number has been added to as new streets have been formed in the vicinity of the parent group. The poets' names are to be found in the southern portion of the city, as well as a place name called "Poets corner." The value of such group-name placing is obviously that of a finger post to their locality. A stranger in St. Kilda seeking a street is not long in doubt of his vicinity to it when he finds himself within the area containing the war, the poetical, or the official groups of street names.

Tennyson Street is one of the best known of the poetical named thoroughfares. Other street names after authors' names are Shakespeare, Chaucer, Spenser, Dryden, Coleridge, Wordsworth. Then we have in the South at Elwood Meredith Street, Addison Street, Ruskin Street, Goldsmith Street, Shelley Street, Beat's Street, Lytton Street, Hood Street, Cowper Street, and others, quite a full library edition of notable authors in English literature. Thackeray is not forgotten in Thackeray Street. Carlisle Street is supposed by some to have been intended to be called Carlyle Street, and that an error was made in spelling the dour Chelsea sage's name. Australian poets are represented by Kendall, Gordon and McCrae, and Australian story tellers very inadequately by Marcus Clarke, Clarke Street. The influence of the mid Victorian period throughout St. Kilda is very marked.  (2)

The origin of Clarke Street, is I believe incorrect, and it is connected to John Street, which was created in 1884 when the Tennyson Estate was sub-divided.


Elwood in 1973. The Poet and other Literary Streets are north of Glen Huntly Road. 
John Street and Clarke Street, run parallel to Byron Street.
Melway Street Directory of Greater Melbourne, Edition 7, 1973 (Melway Publishing P/L)


The Tennyson Estate was advertised as 60 Sea View Villa Building Allotments with frontages of 50 feet to 75 feet to Southey, Byron, Melford (it was actually Mitford Street) and the newly created John Street and William Street. It went to auction on November 15, 1884. (3)


Tennyson Estate advertisement, 1884. Melford Street is actually Mitford Street.
The Argus, October 11 1884 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6059280

The Auctioneer, E.J. Dixon was selling on behalf of Sir W. J. Clarke - William John Clarke, hence the names of the newly created streets - William and John.  Sir William (1831-1897) was the son of William John Turner Clarke (1805-1874), known as "Big" Clarke who was immensely wealthy. W. J.T. Clarke died in 1874 and William inherited all of his father's Victorian land holdings which were valued at  £1,500,000.  The newly rich William built the property Rupertwood at Sunbury and in 1887 he built Clivenden in Wellington Parade, East Melbourne, described as one of the largest private residences in the Colony. He was created a Baronet in 1881.  Sir William's second wife, Janet Snodgrass (1851-1909) was involved with many charities, was the President of the National Council of Women, and later the Women's National League. In a time when very few women could attend University in 1889, she funded the construction of  the Hostel for Women University Students, Trinity College at Melbourne University; this is now known as Janet Clarke Hall. (4)

A small part of the land holdings inherited by Sir William in 1874 were three parcels of land in South St Kilda, or Elsternwick as it was called in the Probate papers of his father, W.J.T. Clarke.  The City of St Kilda rate books show that Clarke senior had purchased the land in 1870 from Hugh Glass (1817-1871), the original owner as noted on the Prahran Parish Plan. In the 1860s Hugh Glass was said to have been the richest man in Victoria with assets of £800,000; however when his business empire collapsed leaving him with a debts of £500,000, he was forced to sell many of his properties and W.J.T. Clarke was a ready buyer. (5)


Extract from the Probate papers of W.J.T. Clarke, itemising his Elwood properties - 
called here Elsternwick - Allotments 112a, 116 and 124.  
Click on image to enlarge. Wm. J. T. Clarke: Grant of probate, Public Records Office of Victoria  VPRS 28/P0002, 11/607
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/AD27053F-F1DE-11E9-AE98-EF972B65E2E8?image=1




The three allotments were located in the Parish of Prahran - Allotment 112a - just over four acres; Allotment 116, just over five acres and Allotment 124 of six acres. They are marked on the map, below, with stars. 

Prahran Parish Plan - the Clarke properties (ex Hugh Glass) are marked with a star and I have added the street names. 
As you can see, the land west of Mitford Street was still a Swamp at this time.
Click on image to enlarge. Part of the Parish of Prahran, June 25, 1857.Victoria. Department of Crown Lands and Survey.


It was Allotments 112a and 116, which were situated on either side of Byron Street, that became the Tennyson Estate in 1884 and which created John Street and William Street. (6) William Street, although featuring in the advertisements and the real estate flyer, was very quickly renamed Clarke Street, as we can see from the flyer below. This renaming was likely due to the fact that there was already a William Street in St Kilda, near the Balaclava Railway Station. 


The advertising flyer for the Tennyson Estate, 1884. 
William Street has been renamed Clarke Street. 
Mitford Street is incorrectly labelled as Milford Street.
Click on image to enlarge. Tennyson Estate, South St. Kilda, 1884. Crabb & Brotherton, Printers. 
State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/295990

The Auctioneer, Mr E.J. Dixon, could proudly report that the entire Tennyson Estate was sold at the auction on November 15, 1884 for a total price of  just over £7196. (7)


Sale result for the Tennyson Estate
The Age, November 17, 1884 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191470641


The first reference I can find to John Street in the City of St Kilda rate books was in 1885 when four five-roomed weatherboard houses, all owned by builder F. Douglas, of Caulfield; and two vacant blocks of land, were listed. Only one of Mr Douglas' houses was occupied and that was by Edward Rogers, a labourer.  Clarke Street does not appear in the rate books until 1888 - there were nine vacant blocks of land and one six-roomed wooden house owned and occupied by William Robertson, whose occupation was listed as a Gentleman. Rate books don't always reflect the true position of land ownership, especially in times when there are a large number of  new estates being developed as was the case in the Elwood area in the 1880s; it seems to take a year or so for them to catch up. However, I like to think that Edward Rogers and William Robertson could be considered the first occupants of the recently created John and Clarke Streets. (8)

Clarke Reserve, on the corner of  Clarke Street and Mitford Street, may have been developed at the same time as Lindsay Avenue, which is north of and parallel to Clarke Street (see the Melway map further up this post).  However, the earliest date I have for Clarke Reserve at the moment is 1931. (9)  The Lindsay Estate with residential blocks facing both Southey Street and Lindsay Avenue, was sub-divided in 1912. (10)  Was Lindsay Avenue named for Adam Lindsay Gordon, as there is a Gordon Avenue which runs parallel to Lindsay Avenue on the north side?  (Norman Lindsay is another option, but I don't think he was famous enough in 1912). Lindsay Avenue is not listed in J.B. Cooper's list of Literary streets, but Gordon Avenue is. Neither appear on the 1905 MMBW plan, shown below, so Gordon Avenue was thus possibly established around the same time as Lindsay Avenue, but that's a story for another day. 


The state of John, Byron and Clarke Streets in 1905
Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works detail plan. no. 1394, City of St Kilda, 1905
Click on image to enlarge. State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/122579


In answer, then, to my friend's question as to the origin of the name of John Street in Elwood, it was named for Sir William John Clarke, the developer of the Tennyson Estate.  Clarke Street was almost certainly named for him as well and not, as J.B. Cooper noted, after Marcus Clarke the author. 

Footnotes
(1) Cooper, John Butler The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a City and after, 1840 - 1930, v. 1 (City of St Kilda, 1931).
(2) Cooper, op. cit., pp 95-98.
(3) The Argus, October 11 1884, see here.  
(4) Australian  Dictionary of Biography -  Sir William Clarke -   https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/clarke-sir-william-john-3229 W.J.T Clarke -  https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/clarke-william-john-1902  Lady Clarke https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/clarke-lady-janet-marion-3224 ; Clivenden: - Illustrated Australian News, March 15, 1887, see here.
(5) Wm. J. T. Clarke: Grant of probate, Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 28/P0002, 11/607
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/AD27053F-F1DE-11E9-AE98-EF972B65E2E8?image=1; City of St Kilda rate books on Ancestry.com; Australian Dictionary of Biography - Hugh Glass - https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/glass-hugh-3620
(6) Map - Tennyson Estate, South St. Kilda, 1884. Crabb & Brotherton, Printers. State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/295990
(7) The Age, November 17, 1884, see here.  
(8) City of St Kilda rate books on Ancestry.com
(9) Cooper, John Butler The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a City and after, 1840 - 1930, v. 2 (City of St Kilda, 1931), p. 331.
(9) The Herald, August 22, 1912, see here.


Lindsay Estate,  Elwood.
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Monday, August 26, 2024

The Duke of Gloucester visits Berwick in 1934

Station Street in Berwick was renamed Gloucester Avenue after the visit of the Duke of Gloucester (1900-1974) to Victoria in 1934 for Victoria’s centenary. The celebrations were held between October 1934 and June 1935; the Centenary firstly commemorated Edward Henty's Portland settlement in November 1834 as Victoria's founding, then John Batman's pronouncement of Port Phillip as 'the place for a village', and thus the city's foundation, in June 1835. (1)


The Duke of Gloucester in 1934.
Photographer: Raphael Tuck & Sons, London.
State Library of Victoria Image H10577

The Duke of Gloucester was the brother of Edward VIII - the Duke of Windsor - and George VI, who is the late Queen's father. In 1935 he married Lady Alice Christabel Montagu-Douglas-Scott (1901-2004, she was 102 when she died), daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch. They had two children- Prince William (1941-1972) and Prince Richard (1944-), who is the current Duke of Gloucester. (2)

The Duke arrived in Victoria on the H.M.S Sussex on October 18 and departed November 19, 1934, after spending a few days visiting Tasmania. (3) He travelled all over Victoria and called in on Berwick on  October 27, 1934. The original plan was for the Duke to attend the Berwick Show which was scheduled for that day, he would arrive at 5.20pm on the train, after having visited Yallourn. The Duke would be gracefully welcomed  and he would view the exhibit of prize winning horses and cattle (4).


The proposed location of the Duke's visit - The Berwick Show Grounds in Clyde Road, with the Berwick Airfield behind it. The Railway Station is on the right.
Photographer: Charles Daniel Pratt/Airspy, dated c. 1925-1930.
State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/20185

However, things did not go to plan as the show had to be postponed due to excessive flooding (5) of the Show Grounds and the Duke was instead welcomed at the Railway Station.  The Show Grounds at the time of the Duke's visit were in Clyde Road, where Federation University is now located. They are now at Akoonah Park.

The Dandenong Journal reported on the visit of the Duke of Gloucester to Berwick -
Royal Visitor
A large gathering assembled on Saturday at the Berwick railway station, to take part in the welcome to H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester. The committee of the Agricultural Society, under the leadership of the president (Cr. D. N. McBride), who was ably assisted by Mr. C. F. Greaves, past president, and Mr. W. Gamble, parade superintendent; had made complete arrangements, and a suitable area adjoining the station ground had been allotted for various bodies, including shire councillors from Berwick, Dandenong, Cranbourne and Ferntree Gully, Justices of the Peace, Returned Soldiers, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, St. Margaret’s Girls’ School, Berwick, and all State schools within a radius of 10 miles.

Early visitors began to arrive, and prior to the arrival of the Royal train several hundred people were in waiting. The rain had ceased, and the sun shone brightly. The train, drawn by two engines, steamed in on time at 5.20, the Royal visitor immediately stepped out on to the platform, where he was received by the president of the Agricultural Society (Cr. D. N. McBride), and escorted into the Royal enclosure. Cr. McBride then conveyed the thanks of the Berwick Agricultural Society to H.R.H. for the honor conferred upon the society and the district for the Royal visit, and for the acceptance by the Duke of an honorary life membership of the society. He also assured the Royal visitor of the loyalty of all to His Majesty the King.

Cr. McBride then presented the President of the Berwick Shire (Cr. Kinsella) to His Royal Highness, who expressed the people’s loyalty to Throne and appreciation of the honor conferred by the Royal visitor, which were such as to cement the bonds of Empire. That welcome, his Royal Highness acknowledged, and expressed his pleasure at visiting Berwick.

Before departing the Duke was shown a wombat. He was delighted, and when he took his departure, amid great enthusiasm, all were delighted at the success which had attended his reception. (6)

  

Caption from The Age - At Berwick a small dog joined in the welcome to the Duke just as he began his inspection of the guard of honor of Girl Guides.


There was another more detailed report in the Pakenham Gazette -
Duke of Gloucester Visits District. Enthusiastic welcome at Berwick
Last Saturday was a notable day in the history of Berwick, and all roads led to the township. The Berwick Agricultural Society, in conjunction with the Shire Council, had arranged for an informal welcome to His Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester, who was travelling to Melbourne from Gippsland. Notwithstanding the threatening weather, a large crowd gathered from all parts of the district to welcome the Royal visitor. Considerable enthusiasm was shown throughout the proceedings.

It was originally intended to hold Berwick Shoe on Saturday and to bring prize-winning stock to the railway station for the Duke to inspect. But the phenomenal rains on Tuesday necessitated a postponement of the Show and the revision of the programme.

The site chosen for the welcome would, under favourable weather conditions, have been ideal for such a gathering. It was a paddock with a gentle slope, on the north side of the station platform. Shire councilors and returned soldiers, with their wives, and Scouts and Guides were given places of honor in a reception area which had been roped off, and hundreds of children and other residents lined the sides of the enclosure. The weather, which was showery early in the day, improved during the afternoon, and the sun was shining when the Royal train arrived. But the field was sodden after the rain, and in parts where the crowd walked over, their feet churned up inches of mud.

An amplifying unit had been installed at the ground, with the loud speaker hung from a hand pine tree. A few musical numbers were “broadcast” through this unit to entertain the crowd prior to the arrival of the Royal train, and Cr. D.N. McBride, president of the Berwick Agricultural Society, made use of it to explain the form the welcome would take. Hearty applause greeted his announcement of receipt of a telegram from Mr. C.C. Gale, State Director of the Royal Visit, intimating that His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester would be pleased to accept an honorary life membership of Berwick Agricultural Society.

On arrival of the train at the beflagged station platform, the Duke and his party were escorted to the centre of the reception area, where two flag-poles had been erected and Union Jack and the Australia flag were fluttering in the breeze.

The appearance of His Royal Highness was the signal for three hearty cheers. As the party halted beneath the flags a band recording of the National Anthem was played and amplified.

Turning to the Duke, Cr McBride said:- “May it please Your Royal Highness : It is my pleasant privilege, Sir, to ask you to accept the grateful thanks of the Berwick and District Agricultural Society for the great honor you are conferring on us by your presence here to-day. We realize this honor is ours not only because we are the oldest Agricultural Society in Victoria but also on account of our consistent effort through the years to help in raising the standard of stock in our district as well as presenting to our patrons a first class country picnic show. It had been hoped to have some prize winners here for your inspection, but the rain has made it impossible for us to hold our show, so that part of to-day’s programme has had to be cancelled. With your permission, Sir, I will now ask the President of the Shire of Berwick (Cr Kinsella) to speak some words of welcome.

Cr Kinsella said:- “We, the people of Berwick and district, are, Your Royal Highness, delighted to have this opportunity of expressing our unwavering loyalty to the Throne of His Majesty the King, and tender to Your Royal Highness a most cordial welcome to our district. Your presence here to-day brings vividly before us the fact that our forefathers – those men of sterling worth who pioneered this land of ours – not only laid so surely the foundations of our material development, but brought with them and fostered in us, their descendents, that wonderful spirit of loyalty, love of freedom and tolerance to all men which has always been so characteristic of British people. We are proud that we are British, proud and delighted to have your Royal Highness with us, and we trust that you will carry with you a peasant memory of your visit to our midst.”

Cr. McBride again addressed the Duke and said had to refer to a further splendid honor His Royal Highness was conferring on the Agricultural Society by consenting to become a life member. The Society’s history went back to the year 1848, which so far as Victorian institutions were concerned was quite ancient, and during that whole period only ten honorary life members’ badges had been issued. On behalf of the officers and committee he asked His Royal Highness to accept the badge, representing the highest compliment they could offer.

His Royal Highness, who was accorded a tremendous ovation, in a brief response thanked the Agricultural Society for asking him to become a life member and said it was a great honor to be the eleventh life member of the oldest Agricultural Society in Victoria. He also expressed his thanks for the welcome extended to him, and said it gave him great pleasure to be present.

The Duke was then escorted around the reception area, and inspected guards of honor of Guides, Scouts and returned soldiers. The large gathering gave him rousing reception, with cheers and clapping.

There was another outburst of cheering following an announcement by Cr. McBride that it was the wish of His Royal Highness that the teachers should give the school children a day’s holiday.

Under the impression that the Royal party were on their way back to the station to entrain for Melbourne, the crowd broke through the ropes surrounding the enclosure and pressed forward to catch another glimpse of the Royal visitor. But His Royal Highness was on his way to inspect a wombat, which Cr. R. Ure had crated and brought to the ground for his inspection, and the people gathered round in a circle.

When the Duke and members of his party proceeded to the station many followed in their wake, and again there were resounding cheers in which the gathering gave expression to its feelings of loyalty. (7)

Apparently the Duke had also seen a wombat on his trip however the Duke was jovial when viewing the wombat, since that had been for long the nickname of his equerry - Major-General Howard Vyse, ever since his school days. (8)

Two years later at the Berwick Shire Council meeting held on August 21, 1936 a petition was presented asking that Station Street be renamed Gloucester Avenue as a memento of the Duke's visit. The Council agreed. (9)


Petition presented to change the name of Station Street
Dandenong Journal, August 27, 1936


Gloucester Avenue, looking towards High Street, in the 1940s. 
The Post Office and Court House is on the right, I have written about this here. 
Image: Casey Cardinia Libraries.

The Duke of Gloucester was the Governor General of Australia from January 1945 to January 1947 and visited Berwick privately during that time (10). He was invited to the 1945 Berwick Show, but was unable to attend but sent a message that  he well remembers his previous visit to Berwick in 1934, which he enjoyed very much (11).


Trove list - I have created a short list of  articles on Trove connected to the visit of the Duke of Gloucester to Berwick, access it here.

Footnotes
(1) McCubbin, Maryanne Centenary https://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM00316b.htm
(2) Cunneen, Chris  First Duke of Gloucester (1900–1974)   https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/gloucester-first-duke-of-10313
(3) Sunraysia Daily, May 29, 1934, see here.
(4) Dandenong Journal, October 25, 1934, see here and here
(5) Dandenong Journal,  November 1, 1934, see here
(6) Dandenong Journal, November 1, 1934, see here
(7) Pakenham Gazette, November 2, 1934 page 3
(8) Dandenong Journal, November 8, 1924, see here.
(9) Dandenong Journal, August 27, 1936, see here.
(10) Early days of Berwick and its surrounding districts - Beaconsfield, Upper Beaconsfield, Harkaway, Narre Warren and Narre Warren North, complied by Norman Beaumont, James Curran and R.H Hughes. It was first published in 1948. 3rd edition, pages 63 and 64.
(11) Dandenong Journal, November 21, 1945, see here.



A version of this blog post, which I wrote and researched, also appears on my work blog - Casey Cardinia Links to Our Past.

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Friday, March 1, 2024

'Endeavour' streets in Endeavour Hills

Endeavour Hills was officially gazetted as a suburb on July 14 1971, and the first land sales took place on November 24, 1973. The project was first conceived in 1970 when Lewis Land Corporation purchased the 1,032 acre site (about 420 hectares). As the suburb was being developed at the same time as the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Captain Cook in the Endeavour, it was considered fitting to name the suburb after the Endeavour. Around 80 Endeavour Hills streets are named after the Endeavour crew and passengers. (1)

I first wrote this post in 2016 when I was Local History Librarian at Casey Cardinia Libraries,  for my blog Casey Cardinia Links to our Past  As Captain Cook is in the news again due to the vandalism of two of statues of him in Melbourne, I thought I would revisit a memorial to him that can't be so easily destroyed, the street names of Endeavour Hills. 

What follows is a list of these Endeavour streets, the person they were named for and their position or role  on the ship. I am unsure now where I found this list of the Endeavour crew, so can't tell you the original source.

ANDERSON - Anderson Court - Robert Anderson, A.B. (Able-bodied seaman - a seaman with four years experience - they start as a Boy, then spend  two years as an ordinary seaman and then a year as seaman and then you can become an A.B.)

BANKS - Joseph Banks Crescent - Joseph Banks (1743-1820) Natural Historian. You can read more about Sir Joseph Banks in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, here.


Sir Joseph Banks painted by Thomas Phillips, c. 1814.  

BOOTIE  - Bootie Court - John Bootie, Midshipman.

BRISCOE  - Briscoe Court - Peter Briscoe, Joseph Bank’s servant.

CHARLTON  - Charlton Court - John Charlton, Captain’s servant.

CHILDS  - Childs Rise - Joseph Childs, A.B.

COLLETT - Collett Rise - William Collett, A.B.

COOK  - James Cook Drive - James Cook (1728-1779)  Captain. You can read more about James Cook in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, here.


Captain James Cook R. N., F. R. S., from an original engraving published in London, 1784
State Library of Victoria Image H96.160/298

COX  - Cox Court - Matthew Cox, A.B.

DAWSON  - Dawson Court - William Dawson, A.B.

DOZEY  - Dozey Place - John Dozey, A.B.

DUNSTER  - Dunster Court - Thomas Dunster, Private.

EDGCUMBE  - John Edgcumbe Way - John Edgcumbe, Sergeant.

ENDEAVOUR  - Endeavour Crescent - Name of ship  

GATHREY  - Gathrey Court - John Gathrey, Boatswain or Boson. A boson was foreman of the seaman, they were the link between the Officers and the seaman.

GOLDSMITH  - Goldsmith Close - Thomas Goldsmith, A.B.

GOODJOHN   - Goodjohn Court - John Goodjohn,  A.B.

GORE  - Gore Rise - John Gore, 3rd Lieutenant.

GRAY  - Gray Close - James Gray, A.B.

GREEN - Charles Green Avenue - Charles Green, Astronomer.

HAITE  - Haite Court - Francis Haite,  A.B.

HARDMAN - Hardman Court - Thomas Hardman, Boatswain’s mate.

HARVEY  - Harvey Place - William Harvey,  Zachery Hick’s Servant.

HICKS - Zachary Hicks Crescent -  Zachary Hicks, 2nd Lieutenant.

HOWSON - Howson Close - William Howson, Captain’s Servant.

HUGHES  - Hughes Close - Richard Hughes, A.B.

HUTCHINS  - Hutchins Avenue - Richard Hutchins, A.B.

JEFFS  - Jeffs Court - Henry Jeffs, A.B.

JOHNSON  - Johnson Place - Isaac Johnson,  A.B.

JONES -  Jones Court - There were three Jones on the Endeavour - Thomas Jones, William Monkhouse’s servant;  Samuel Jones, A.B. and Thomas Jones, also an A.B.

JORDAN  - Jordan Court - There were two Jordans on the Endeavour - Benjamin Jordan, A.B., and Thomas Jordan, a boatswain and Gathrey’s servant.

JUDGE  - Judge Rise - William Judge, Private.

KNIGHT  - Knight Court  - Thomas Knight, A.B.

LEGG  - Legg Court - John Legg, A.B.

LINDSAY  - Lindsay Close - Alexander Lindsay, A.B.

LITTLEBOY  - Littleboy  Rise - There were two men with the surname Littleboy on the Endeavour -Michael Littleboy, A.B., and Richard Littleboy, also an A.B (2)

MAGRA  - Magra Place - James Magra, A.B.

MANLEY  - Manley Close - Isaac Manley, Robert Molyneux’s servant.

MARRA  - Marra Court - John Marra, A.B.

MOLYNEUX  - Robert Molyneux Avenue - Robert Molyneux, Master.

MONKHOUSE  - Monkhouse Drive - William Monkhouse, Surgeon. Jonathan, the brother of William was also on the Endeavour, he was a Midshipman.

MOODY  - Moody Place - Samuel Moody, A.B.

MOREY  - Morey Rise - Nathaniel Morey,  John Gore’s servant.

MORGAN  - Morgan Court - Peter Morgan, A.B.

NICHOLSON  - Nicholson Close - James Nicholson, A.B.

NOWELL - Nowell Court  - George Nowell, A.B.

ORTON  - Orton Rise - Richard Orton, Clerk.

PARKER  - Parker Court - Isaac Parker,  A.B.

PARKINSON -  Sydney Parkinson Avenue - Sydney Parkinson (1745-1771) Natural History Artist. You can read more about Sydney Parkinson in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, here.


Sydney Parkinson, by James Newton.
National Library of Australia https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136094412/view

PAUL - Paul Court - Henry Paul, Private.

PECKOVER - Peckover Court - William Peckover, A.B.

PERRY  - William Perry Close - William Perry, Surgeon’s mate.

PICKERSGILL - Pickersgill Court - Richard Pickersgill, Master’s mate.

PONTO -  Ponto Court - Antonio Ponto, A.B.

PRESTON - Preston Avenue - Daniel Preston, Private.

RAMSAY - Ramsay Court - John Ramsay,  A.B.

RAVENHILL  - Ravenhill Crescent  - John Ravenhill, Sailmaker.

REARDEN  - Rearden Close - Timothy Reardon, A.B.

REYNOLDS - Reynolds Court - John Reynolds, Charles Green’s servant.

ROBERTS  - Roberts Court - There were two Roberts on the Endeavour - James Roberts, Joseph Bank’s servant and Daniel Roberts, a Gunner’s servant.

ROSSITER  - Rossiter Avenue  - Thomas Rossiter, Drummer.

SATTERLEY  - Satterley Close - John Satterley, Carpenter.

SIMMONDS  - Simmonds Place - Thomas Simmonds, A.B.

SMITH  - Isaac Smith Street -  Isaac Smith , Master’s mate.

SOLANDER  - Daniel Solander Drive - Daniel Solander (1733-1782)  Naturalist. You can read more about Daniel Solander in the Australia Dictionary of Biography, here.


Daniel Solander by Harriet Gunn
National Library of Australia https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136114687/view (image has been cropped)

SPORING - Sporing Court - Herman Sporing,  Assistant Naturalist.

STAINSBY  - Stainsby Close - Robert Stainsby,  A.B.

STEPHENS  - Stephens Close - Henry Stephens,  A.B.

SUTHERLAND  - Sutherland Court - Forby Sutherland,  A.B.

TAYLOR  - Taylor Court - Robert Taylor,  Armourer.

TERRELL  - Terrell Close - Edward Terrell, John Satterley’s mate.

THOMPSON  - Thompson Court - John Thompson, Cook.

THURMOND  - Thurmond Court - John Thurmond, A.B.

TRUSLOVE  - Truslove Court  - John Truslove, Corporal.

TUNLEY  - Tunley Close - James Tunley, A.B.

WILKINSON  - Wilkinson Way - Francis Wilkinson, A.B.

WILSHIRE  - Wilshire Court - William Wilshire, Private.

WOLF  - Wolf Court  - Archibald Wolf,  A.B.

WOODWORTH  - Woodworth Close - John Woodworth, A.B.


Footnotes
(1) https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-endeavour-hills-captain-cook-statue.html
(2) There were two Littleboys on the voyage. The other was Richard Littleboy, A.B. A copy of the Endeavour Gazette,  the Endeavour Hills community newsletter lists Littleboy Rise as being named after Michael.

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Sunday, February 5, 2023

Trophies from the Crimean War

In January 1858, The Age reported that a communication was received from Lord Panmure, by the Right Worshipful the Mayor of the City of Melbourne, in which that nobleman, as Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's Forces, offered to the City of Melbourne two Russian Guns, to be preserved in the City as Russian War Trophies. The offer was made in consequence of the manner the citizens of Melbourne displayed their loyalty to the Sovereign, and the handsome way in which they came forward with their subscriptions for the relief of the sufferers by the late Russian War (1). 


Russian Trophies, Botanical Gardens, 1862. 
Artist: George Stafford; Engraver: Samuel Calvert. 
State Library of Victoria Image H4205


The Russian War, also known as the Crimean War, was fought on the Crimean Peninsula between Russia and an alliance consisting of Britain, France, the Ottoman Empire and Sardinia. It began in October 1853 and ended on March 30, 1856.  For people like me, who are not military historians,  the Crimean War is remembered due to its connection to Florence Nightingale who was in charge of nursing the British and Allied soldiers and improved the standard of care, cleanliness and food provided to the wounded. On her return to England she established a school of Nursing to improve the training of nurses. (2)

The other interesting thing about the Crimean War is that a number of Victorian place and street names are connected to the battles and personalities of the War. A prime example can be seen in the suburb of St Kilda which has a Crimea, Odessa, Sebastapol, Raglan, Alma, Inkerman (3), Malakoff, Redan and Balaclava Street. St Kilda is also next to the suburb of Balaclava.  Odessa is a port on the Black Sea, near the Crimean Peninsula. Sebastapol is named for a city on the Crimean Peninsula, which was besieged for eleven months from October 1854. It is also the source of the name of the town of Sebastapol, near Ballarat. Raglan is named for Baron Raglan (1788-1855) a commander of the British troops during the War and  there is also a town called Raglan, near Beaufort. Alma, Inkerman, Redan and Balaclava were Crimean War battles. Malakoff was named for Aimable-Jean-Jacques Pélissier, duc de Malakoff (1794-1864), the last French commander in chief in the Crimean War. (4)

The town of St Arnaud, was named for Armand-Jacques Leroy de Saint-Arnaud (1798-1854), the Commander of the French forces.  Napier Street in St Arnaud is named for Sir Charles Napier (1786-1860), commander of the British Baltic fleet in the War. (5)

In Cranbourne there are three streets with a Crimean War connection -
Codrington - Sir William John Codrington (1804 - 1884) was Commander in Chief of the British Forces in the War; Clarendon - George William Frederick Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon (1800 - 1870) was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1847 to 1852 and the British Foreign Secretary on three occasions from 1853 to 1870. He negotiated a favourable outcome for Britain at the end of the Crimean War in 1856 at the Congress of Paris Peace talks. The third Cranbourne street is Lyons Street - named for Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons (1790-1858), 1st Baronet Lyons, who commanded the Black Sea fleet during the War. (6)

I also believe that Pakenham was named after Lieutenant-Colonel Edward William Pakenham (1819 -1854) who was killed at Inkerman during the Crimean War. This has been disputed, but I stand by my research. You can read more about the naming of Pakenham, here.


The Russian cannons and the rotunda, Botanical Gardens, Melbourne, c. 1870.
State Library of Victoria Image H10788


Back to the cannons - the loyal citizens of Melbourne were indeed happy to accept the war trophies and a year later, they had arrived and The Age reported in January 5, 1859 -
A platform of stone work is now being erected in the Botanic Gardens, for the accommodation of the Russian guns presented to the colony, trophies of the late war, by the Home Government. The platform is in the immediate vicinity of the music pavilion (7). 

Two days later, The Argus had this detailed report - 
Trophies from the Crimea - Two of the Russian guns taken at the Redan fortification in the Crimea, and forwarded by the Imperial to the Victorian Government, have recently been placed in the Botanical Gardens, on an  elevated spot overlooking the southern and eastern portions of the city. The peculiar construction and formidable powers of these enormous engines of warfare render them well worthy of Inspection, not to take into consideration the ideas which they must naturally suggest of the sufferings and triumphs of the allied armies in the late war. 

The cannon weigh each three tons, and their comparatively light-looking carriages weigh a ton-and-a-half each. The carriages are of very peculiar form, being entirely of iron, and in some degree resembling that of the English field-gun, with the exception that the wheels are not more than 2½ feet in diameter, and are fitted with double-spokes of crossed iron bars. The sockets into which the elevating screws are turned project from the back part of the carriages, and when the screws are entirely removed form a rest for the breach, keeping the guns at point-blank range, beyond which range the muzzles cannot be elevated. The muzzles may, however, be so far depressed as to bear upon a force within a very short distance of an embrasure, in which they were no doubt placed. Each gun is 9 feet 4 inches in length, and about 2 feet in diameter at the breech. The calibres are 7¾ inches, and will receive balls weighing about 40 lb. When loaded with the full or distance charge (12¾ lb.) of powder, these imposing-looking iron magnates would propel their iron globes with much greater velocity than lighter guns of the same calibre to a distance of nearly 4,000 yards. 

One of the guns is "spiked"-that is, a brittle steel rod has been driven into the vent, and then broken off, of course rendering the gun useless until the steel is drilled out again. This must have taken place at the storming of the Redan. The other gun has the vent so enlarged from constant firing, that the finger may be readily introduced. Besides these evidences of use, one of the cannon bears a singular mark, caused by the bursting of a shell upon it breach. The projectile must have been thrown from a howitzer from the English trenches, as it has evidently entered the narrow embrasure in which the gun was placed in a horizontal direction, and has scored a horizontal trace along one side of the metal, and finally burst at the breech. The mark made on the metal where the shell burst is a deep circular dent, from which radiate pretty equally and pretty thickly, in every direction, grooves cut into the solid iron, some of them an inch wide and a third of an inch deep. Of course, the Russian artillerymen on that side of the gun must have been killed, and the man stationed at the breech, who would occupy a position similar to that occupied by an artilleryman No. 4 in working an English gun, must have been blown to pieces. The guns are of excellent workmanship, and bear the date 1836 on the trunnions. The sight of them will well repay a visit to the spot where they are placed (8). There is more on the date of manufacture, below.

At this time, just after the end of the Crimean War, Victorians were happy to display these trophies and  on occasions the cannons were fired. The Geelong Advertiser reported in March 1859 that a Military Band performed at the Botanical Gardens, the highlight of which was -
a performance of a Battle Sinfonie, descriptive of British troops leaving their native shores for the seat of war, the composition of the band-master, Mr Johnston. During the performance, one of the Russian war trophies placed in the gardens, was called into requisition and fired, to represent the daybreak morning gun. Owing to some negligence in not warning the spectators, a man who was crossing within range of the gun, was struck to the ground with a piece of wadding, which caught him in the face, and carried away a portion of his nasal organ. When removed from the ground, he was bleeding most profusely, and it will be fortunate if he has not received any severer injury (9). 

However, the relationship between England and Russia thawed as the years went on. They thawed to such an extent that on January 23, 1874 Queen Victoria's second eldest son, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (10) married  the Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, the daughter of the Russian Emperor, Alexander II, at the Winter Palace at St Petersburg (11). After this it was thought inappropriate to have such war trophies on display in such a prominent location so they were, as the Herald reported in February 1882, bundled into the barrack yard where they now lie (12).  By 1889, they were located either side of the central door at Victoria Barracks, St. Kilda road (13), where they are today.


The wedding of Prince Alfred to the the Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, January 1874.


I don't have a specific date as to when they were moved from the Gardens to the Barracks, even though I do like to know these things - the best I can do is between 1874, when the Royal wedding took place and 1882. 

The Age report from 1859 said the guns bear the date 1836 on the trunnions. Major Bill Billett, in his book Victoria's Guns: a field guide (14) notes that the guns were restored  at the Ordnance Factory in Bendigo in 1989 and an attempt was made at translating the marks of  their origins. Major Billett, who was the curator of Arms and Armour at the Melbourne Museum, also says the guns were made in 1838, possibly at the Alexander Arsenal in Russia to a design  by Armstrong, or supervised by him,  for the Tsar of Russia.  He lists the guns as a Type 36-Pr SB with the numbers 26028 and 26046 (15).


The cannons at the Victoria Barracks, St Kilda Road, 1975.
Photographer: John T. Collins.
State Library of Victoria Image H98.251/183


Finally, even before the 1874 Royal Wedding, some Victorians were tiring of the glorification of the Allied victory over the Russians on the Crimea Peninsula - this is from the St Kilda Telegraph of August 1869, written by the journalist 'Figaro' - 
Why Redan and the Crimea? I ask the question in connexion with the naming of two new streets about to be formed in St. Kilda. I am sorry to see the council have sanctioned this ill-advised nomenclature. I do not approve of thus to perpetuating names that were brought into prominence by events which, if they cannot be forgotten, need not at least be thus ever-lastingly obtrusively forced on our notice. Have we not already Inkermann-street and Balaclava-road to keep the Russian campaign green in our memories, to say nothing of the trophy-guns in the Botanical gardens? Where, then, is the good of adding to these souvenirs of a miserable epoch in the national history? Why should we Australians in particular - who had nothing to do with the war, excepting as a matter of sympathy - thus perpetuate its sad memories? Besides, what might be justifiable when the Russians were at war with the mother-country, is, now they are at peace with her, very like an insult (16). 

I understand what 'Figaro' is saying, but I have a real interest in the origin of place and street names and find this pocket of Crimean War names in St Kilda an interesting part of our Colonial history.  There were , of course, Crimean War veterans who migrated to Australia and I have written about some of them, here. 

Footnotes
(1) The Age, January 12, 1858, see here.
(3) Inkerman Street was originally spelt as Inkermann, which was how the town on the Crimean Peninsula was actually spelt. I don't know when the last n was dropped. (Cooper, John Butler The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a City and after, 1840 - 1930, v. 1 (City of St Kilda, 1931), p. 93)
(4) https://www.britannica.com/event/Crimean-War; https://www.britannica.com/biography/FitzRoy-James-Henry-Somerset-1st-Baron-Raglan; https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aimable-Jean-Jacques-Pelissier-duc-de-Malakoff 
(2) Inkerman Street was originally spelt as Inkermann, which was how the town on the Crimean Peninsula was actually spelt. I don't know when the last n was dropped. (Cooper, John Butler The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a City and after, 1840 - 1930, v. 1 (City of St Kilda, 1931), p. 93)
(7) The Age, January 5, 1859, see here. 
(8) The Argus, January 7, 1859, see here.
(9) Geelong Advertiser, March 15, 1859, see here. 
(10) I have written about Prince Alfred in this blog before, read it here. 
(12) The Herald, February 3, 1882, see here.
(13) The Herald, March 18, 1889, see here. 
(14) Billett, Bill Victoria's Guns: a field guide (Scienceworks, Museum of Victoria, 1994)
(15) Billett, op.cit, p. 39.
(16) St Kilda Telegraph, August 7, 1869, see here. 
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