Brighton Road State School, St Kilda, Boer War memorial

The Boer War was fought between British forces against the Boers, or Dutch-Afrikaner settlers in South Africa from 1899 until 1902. The War was also called the South African War and referred to as the Second Boer War. The First Boer War, fought between the Boers and the British, took place in 1880-1881, but no Australian troops were officially involved.

Australians who served  in the War were all volunteers. The Australian War Memorial website explains - Australians served in contingents raised by the six colonies or, from 1901, by the new Australian Commonwealth. For a variety of reasons many Australians also joined British or South African colonial units in South Africa: some were already in South Africa when the war broke out; others either made their own way or joined local units after their enlistment in an Australian contingent ended. Recruiting was also done in Australia for units which already existed in South Africa, such as the Scottish Horse. You can read more about Boer War on the Australian War Memorial website, here.  

Brighton Road State School, St Kilda Boer War memorial tablet

The memorial tablet, made from marble, is about 120 cm by 50cm in size. 

Image: Isaac Hermann.

This memorial tablet was erected at the Brighton Road State School in St Kilda to honour the pupils from the school who served in South Africa. The tablet was presented to the school on August 29, 1901 during a concert held at the St Kilda Town Hall to farewell a teacher, Mr Bradhurst. The concert also raised £25 for the purchase of a piano for the school (1).  The tablet was presented by Mr N. Dear. This was  Nathaniel Dear (1846 - 1903),  listed in the 1900 Sands McDougall Directory at 55 Raglan Street, St Kilda.  Mr Dear was a keen letter writer to the newspapers and had a long running dispute with members of the St Kilda Cemetery Trust, and sued the Secretary of the Trust, Charles Truelove, twice for libel (2).  The reports of these legal cases list Nathaniel's occupation variously as 'grave decorator' or monumental mason. It is likely therefore, that Nathaniel also made the memorial tablet.  

Report of the presentation of the memorial tablet by Nathanel Dear

Prahran Telegraph August 31, 1901 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/144680273

There are 25 names on the memorial tablet, one of whom was a teacher at the School. Most of these men on the State School memorial are also listed on the St Kilda Boer War memorial in Alfred Square, which was officially unveiled by the Governor of Victoria, Sr Reginald Talbot on March 12, 1905.  The memorial was designed by Arthur Peck, and I have written about it here. You can read an account of the opening in the Prahran Chronicle, here. 

Eleven of the men on the Brighton Road school memorial also served in the First World War, three of them were Killed in Action. Mr Dear's memorial does have  a number of mistakes including the spelling of names and the fact that he has three men listed as being killed whilst serving, when in fact only one was. However, it is a heartfelt memorial to the men who served their country and 'the Empire' and a fine example of Nathaniel's skill as a monumental mason. 

The Brighton Road State School, St Kilda. The school was officially opened on January 11, 1875. 

There were 13 staff, including the head master, Mr Hadfield. The school could accommodate 650 children and 604 children attended the opening. 

Read a report of the opening in the St Kilda Telegraph, January 16, 1875, see here.

Image: Isaac Hermann

These are the men listed on the Memorial.  The information about their rank and unit comes from the nominal rolls on the Australian War Memorial website, here. These rolls have minimal information, often nothing more than the name and the rank of the soldier. The other information comes from newspaper articles on Trove; the Electoral Rolls on Ancestry;  the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages and the World War One records at the National Archives of Australia. 

Allan, Percy James. 

Percy is listed on the State School Roll as having been killed, but the good news is that he returned from serving in South Africa. He was a Private in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. He enlisted again in Febuary 1916,  in the First World War in the 10th Field Company Engineers. He was 36 years old,  an engineer, and his next of kin was his mother, Elizabeth Allan, of Orrong Road, East St Kilda. His attestation papers list his previous military service as 18 months in the Boer War. Percy returned to Australia in June 1918 and was discharged on medical grounds having been wounded - compound fracture, right thigh caused by a gun shot. Percy was the son of John Fisher and Elizabeth (nee McGregor) Allan; he married Emma Louisa Classen in 1924 and they lived at 187 Orrong Road, East St Kilda throughout their married life. Percy died in March 1951 at the age of 71.

Anderson, David

Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. He was severely wounded at Wilmansrust on June 12, 1901. The fighting at Wilmansrust was a debacle and even the normally patriotic Victorian newspapers were critical of the action of the members of the Unit, read about it here in the The Argus of September 30, 1901. In spite of being wounded David enlisted again in World One on July 7, 1915 and Returned to Australia April 5, 1919. 

Anderson, William Fleming

William was a Private in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. William also served in World War One and was Killed in Action at Gallipoli on August 7, 1915.

David and William, both born in St Kilda, were the sons of Alexander and Catherine (nee Limerock) Anderson) of 14 Scott Street, St Kilda (as it was then, Scott Street is now part of Elwood). They are both listed on the Elwood Presbyterian Church World War One Honour Board, see here.

Ashley, Aubrey Frederick 

Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. He was 'slightly wounded at Wilmansrust, June 12, 1901. Awarded pension'. In spite of being wounded, Aubrey enlisted in the AIF in January 1916 in the 37th Battalion. By then he was a 36 year old publican at the Club Hotel in Boolarra, south of Moe, in the hills of Gippsland. His next of kin was his wife, Ruby. His attestation paper notes his 12 months Boer War service. Aubrey returned to Australia in January 1918 and was discharged due to defective vision. He returned to the hotel at Boolarra, which he operated until 1945 and he died at Parkdale in October 1953, aged 75. 

Bridgeland,  Frederick Charles Lionel

Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Frederick also enlisted in the AIF, in the 4th Light Horse Regiment in August 1914. Fred was born at Orroroo in South Australia, and he was a 32 years old traveller when he enlisted. His next of kin was his wife, Edith, whose address was Casterton. They had one daughter, Victoria Grace, born in 1905. Fred was Killed in Action at Gaba Tepe, Gallipoli on August 6, 1915.

Report of the death of Fred Bridgeland. The date of his death in his file is August 6, not August 7. 

The Argus, September 24, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1563753

Campbell, Garnet  

Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Garnet is not listed on the Alfred Square memorial. There is a Garnet Campbell in the 1903 Electoral Rolls at 31 Kerford Road, South Melbourne, occupation labourer;  also at that address was Lydia Dora, Bertie Charles and Archibald. The Victorian Indexes to the Births, Deaths and Marriages list a Garnet Butler Campbell born to Robert and Lydia Dora (nee Ryan) Campbell in 1881, so this confirms they are the same person. Garnet  married Mary Jane Crawford in 1913, they lived at Brighton and later at Oakleigh, where he died in 1956 aged 76. I had discovered all this and was still not sure that Garnet Campbell on the Memorial was the same person as Garnet Butler Campbell, until I found this article, below, in the The Herald of July 29, 1922.

Mr Garnet Butler Campbell, a cousin of the missing Baronet, Sir John Rivett-Carnac, but of more importance it confirms that this Garnet Campbell is the one on the Memorial tablet.

If you are interested you can read about the Rivett-Carnac family, here.

The Herald, July 29, 1922 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243649372

Christie, Henry 'Harry'

Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Harry is also not listed on the Alfred Square memorial. Harry enlisted in October 1914 in the AIF, in the 10th Light Horse. His attestation paper note his Boer War service. Harry was born in Melbourne and was a 34 year old sleeper hewer, when he enlisted. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs M. Christie and later his sister, Mrs Carlton, both of Subiaco in Western Australia. Harry fought at Gallipoli and was missing in action and a Court of Enquiry held in December 1916, declared that he was Killed in Action on August 29, 1915. 

Cowden, William

There are no Cowdens listed on the Nominal Roll. There was a report in the Prahran Chronicle of a dinner tendered to local men who had returned home after fighting in South Africa and one of the men was Corporal J. Cowden, who enlisted in South Africa and was wounded.

Report of the dinner held for St Kilda men who returned home after fighting in South Africa.

Read the full report - Prahran Chronicle, May 18, 1901 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165239289

This is James Cyril Cowden of 269 Inkerman Street, St Kilda. He also enlisted in the First World War. James was born in Canada, was 48 years old and a bridge carpenter when he joined up on Septemner 1915, in the 2nd Squadron, 1st Remount unit. His attestation paper noted his 13 months of Boer War service. He returned to Australia in January 1917 and was discharged on medical grounds. James and his wife, Martha (nee Dau), had a son Wilfred who seved in the Navy, on the H.M.A.S Una, and died whilst on service at Rabaul. A beautiful marble tablet was unveiled in Wilfred's memory at the Pakington Street, St Kilda Baptist Church in August 1915. You can read about it in the Malvern Standard, here. I believe that the William Cowden on the School memorial actually refers to James but I cannot explain why he is listed as William.

  Wilfred Cowden's memorial tablet which was unveiled at the Pakington Street, 

St Kilda Baptist Chutch in August 1915.

Image: Isaac Hermann

Cox William

There is a John William Cox who was in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifle. He enlisted as a Private and was promted to Lance Corporal. William Cox does not appear on the Alfred Square Memorial.  I have no other information about him.

Dare, Douglas Henry

5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, enlisted as a  Corporal and was promoted to Sergeant. Douglas is listed on the memorial as being killed, but according to the nominal roll and the Alfred Square memorial, he survived. Douglas was born in St Kilda in 1882 to Douglas George and Frances Emily (nee Wilson) Dare;  he had a brother Norman born 1884 and a sister Emily born in 1886. Douglas senior was an Auctioneer and Estate Agent. In 1917, Norman died on active service in German East Africa. A death notice in The Argus listed his father at 43 Jackson Street, St Kilda and his mother as living in Johannesburg in South Africa. I am surmising that Douglas either remained in South Africa or moved there soon after the War, and his mother and brother followed.  In 1946, he was awarded an Order of the British Empire. He died in 1967 and is buried at a cemetery in Durban, South Africa.

Douglas Dare's O.B.E. Basutoland is now known as Lesotho.

London Gazette January 1, 1946 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37407/page/55/data.pdf

Gardiner, John Fraser

Listed as Gardener on the memorial.  Private, Victorian Citizen Bushmen.  'Invalided Australia, arrived May 2, 1901'.  John was farewelled at a function at the St Kilda Town Hall Library on March 1, 1900 (see below). John was born in St Kilda in 1879 to Charles Fraser and Grace (nee Sinclair) Gardiner. He is listed in the 1903 Electoral Roll at 86 Westbury Street, St Kilda, living with his sister Catherine and brother George, but I have no information about him after this. 

Farewell to the St Kilda soldiers, including John Fraser Gardiner, Garnet Campbell and Edwin Knox

Read the full report - Prahran Telegraph, March 3, 1900 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/144602188

Gordon, Archibald 

There are two men named Archibald Gordon listed on the Nominal Rolls and they both enlisted in the 3rd Queensland Mounted Bushmen; one of them may be our Archibald, but I can't tell.  Archibald's name does not appear on the Alfred Square Memorial. 

Hoad, John Charles

A former teacher at the school. Major General, 1st Victorian Contingent. You can read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here. 

Hutchinson, Henry Hall 'Harry'. Lance Corporal, promoted to Corporal. Severely wounded, June 28, 1901 at Bethel. Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette July 29, 1902).

Hutchinson, Luke. Trooper. 5th South Australian Imperial Bushmen.

Surnam spelt Hutchison on the memorial tablet. Harry and Luke were both born in St Kilda, Harry in 1878 and Luke in 1880, the sons of Joseph and Martha (nee Hall) Hutchinson. Harry is listed in the Electoral Roll in 1913 at Hopetoun, his occupation was draughtsman. In 1919, he had moved to Mildura and was a supervisor at the First Mildura Irrigation Trust. He died in Mildura in 1937, aged 59. I have no information about what happened to Luke, except that according to Harry's death notice (below) Luke predeceased his brother. This research is complicated by the fact that there was another Luke Hutchinson born in St Kilda, in 1874 - to George and Catherine (nee McRae) Hutchinson.  There is a Luke Hutchinson in the Electoral Rolls at 122 Barkly Street, St Kilda, but at the same address is a Thomas Alston Hutchinson, another son of George and Catherine, so it is not 'our' Luke.

Death notice of Harry Hutchinson. 

The Argus November 27, 1937 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11127917

Knox, Edwin 

Listed as Edward on the memorial. Private, Victorian Citizen Bushmen. 'Drowned at Wanderboom, February 26, 1901'.  Edwin was the son of Henry Matthew and Elizabeth Emily (nee Smith) Knox. Henry was the City of St Kilda rate collector. After his death the St. Kilda Rifle Club, of which Henry was a Captain, and the St. Kilda Tradesmens Club, of which Henry was Secretary, raised money to erect a memorial to Edwin. The memorial, a drinking fountain, was unveiled by Sir George Turner, Commonwealth Treasurer, on February 23, 1902. It was located on the corner of the Esplanade and Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. The Prahran Telegraph had this description of the fountain - The iron portion of the fountain was supplied by Messrs Peel and Kirkpatrick. brass and iron founders; the base is of bluestone, and the whole structure was erected by Mr E. Gough. The bluestone is 3 ft. 7 ins. in height, the fountain, from the ground to the top being 9 feet high. Mr E. W. M. Crouch fulfilled the duties of honorary architect in a manner that gave every satisfaction (3).  All that remains of the original memorial (4) is the bluestone base and the plaque. In 2012, it was restored with a modern interpretation of the fountain  and is located in the Cleve Gardens in St Kilda. You can read about it on the Monument Australia website, here.

The unveling of the Edwin Knox memorial fountain

The Australasian, March 1, 1902 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/139755163/11417051

The Edwin Knox memorial fountain in Fitzroy Street

Fitzroy Street, c. 1912. State Library of Victoria Image  H96.200/80

MacCartney, James

There is an Edward James McCartney who enlisted in the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen; a John Irwin McCartney who enlisted in the Victorian Citizen Bushmen and a Robert Augustine Macartney who enlisted in the 1st Victorian Mounted Rifles. Given that this memorial tablet is not without errors,  one of these men may be 'our' James, but I don't know. John Irwin McCartney died of wounds at Rustenberg Hospital on July 31, 1900, and a report in The Argus of August 8, 1900 says he lived at Melrsoe Street, Richmond. James MacCartney is not listed on the Alfred Square memorial.

Mullen, Leslie Miltiades

Private, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Leslie had a distingushed military career and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During World War One, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Croix de Guerre, and was twice mentioned in despatches. He moved to Tasmania in 1914 and from 1921 was the President of the Tasmanian R.S. L. You can read his obituary in the Hobart Mercury of March 19, 1943, here and his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here.

Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Mullen

Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P11038488

Parrott, Stanley Hamilton

Lance Corporal, 2nd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse. In 1910 Stanley married Fanny Maria Lowe and in August 1914 he enlisted in the AIF in the Field Artillery Brigade 2, Brigade Ammunition Column. At the time of enlistment he was 32 years of age, his occupation was seaman and his next of kin was his wife of 29 Pakington Street, St Kilda. Stanley was awarded the Croix de Guerre and he returned to Autralia, December 1918.  Stanley died in June 1962, aged 80 and he is buried at the Brighton Cemetery.

Pummeroy, Robert

Listed as Pumeroy on the memorial. Lance Corporal, 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles. His was a cook.  There is a Robert Pummeroy listed in the 1903 Electoral Roll at 42 Rosamund Street, St Kilda and I believe this is the man on the memorial.  His occupation is a plumber. Robert had married Rosa Dix in 1895 and by 1909 they were living in Clifton Hill and later moved to Preston. Robert died July 1948, aged 74.

Short, William.

Not listed on the Nominal roll and does not appear on the Alfred Square Memorial. There is an Arthur James Short who enlisted in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, that's the closest I can get.

Thomas, William

There are thirteen men listed on the nominal roll with the name William Thomas, including two who enlisted as Privates in the Victorian Imperial Bushmen. It is likely that the man on the memorial is one of those two, but I have no other information. 

Tompsitt, Sidney Clarence 

Private 2nd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse. Sidney (whose name is also spelt as Sydney in some sources) was born in 1880 to Clarence and Mary Ann (nee Gravenall) Tompsitt. In the 1903 Electoral Roll he was listed at Kipling Street, St Kilda, his occupation was a bootmaker. That same year he married Elsie May Poole. In the 1906 Electoral Roll he was in Wagin in Western Australia, however Elsie was not listed with him. Sidney then moved back to Victoria and he died in 1909 at only 29 years of age. As you can see from the death notice, below, there was no mention of Elsie, so it appears the marriage did not last. 

Death notice for  Sydney Tompsitt.

The Argus September 24, 1909 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198486257

Wells, George Murray Wells

Private, Victorian Imperial Bushmen.

Wells, Thomas Henry 

Private, Victorian Imperial Bushmen and Private 2nd Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse.

The men are the sons of William and Hannah Maria (nee McKane) Wells; they were both born in St Kilda, Thomas in 1879 and George in 1880. The brothers moved to Western Australia where they both enlisted in the AIF, both in the 10th Light Horse Regiment, 12th Reinforcements. Henry enlisted in August 1915, he was 38 years old and a carter, his next of kin was his wife, Elsie Mary of Leederville. He returned to Australia March 1919. George enlisted in October 1915, he was 35 and his occupation was a lumper (a dock labourer who unloads cargoes).  His next of kin was his wife, Mary Theresa Wells, of West Perth. He returned to Australia in August 1919. The brothers lived the rest of their life in Western Australia and Thomas died in 1935 and George in 1950,

Thomas Henry Wells' death notice March 1935

The West Australian, March 9, 1935 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32839723

George Murray Wells' death notice

The West Australian August 22, 1950 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47881953

Acknowledgements

I wish to acknowledge Isaac Hermann for supplying the photographs of the Brighton Street School memorial tablet, the one of the school and Wilfred Cowden's memorial plaque. I would also like to acknowledge Sally Wall, the St Kilda Elsternwick Baptist Church administrator, for kindly arranging access for Isaac to photograph Wilfred's plaque. Thank you!

Footnotes

(1) Prahran Telegraph, August 31, 1901, see here.

(2) I have created a list of newspaper articles on Trove, relating to Nathaniel Dear. You can access it here. 

(3) Prahran Telegraph, March 1, 1902, see here. I have created a list of  newspaper articles on Trove, connected to the death of Edwin Knox and the erection of the memorial fountain, access it here.

(4) When did the fountain disappear from the memorial? There is a Rose Series postcard, which the State Library of Victoria has dated as c.1945 (see here) which shows the memorial intact and another postcard which I believe is from the early the 1960s which shows only the base. If these dates are correct then the fountain disappeared sometime after 1945 and before 1960.

This image is dated c. 1945 and shows the intact memorial fountain.

Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Imag6 H32492/6378. 

Download a high res version here http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/59715

This is a later image, possibly early 1960s and all that remains of the memorial is the bluestone base and plaque. 

Fitzroy Street, St Kilda: Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/6985

Download a high res version here http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/66927

The Old Stone Bridge at Dandenong

The Old Stone Bridge, Dandenong. 

Photographer: Hammond Photo, Dandenong.

The Dandenong Advertiser (1) in June 1918 had a report on the stone bridge at Dandenong. The bridge crossed the Dandenong Creek at Lonsdale Street, which is part of the Gippsland Road.  

How many times have we heard this reiterated in the past, when there were not any railways, and the whole traffic of Gippsland and South Gippsland passed over "The old Stone Bridge'' The vehicular traffic outside the coaches to Sale, and Grantville was not heavy, but thousands of fat cattle from the rich pastures of Gippsland and South Gippsland passed over the bridge, in charge of competent drivers, and, regularly you would see good old Henry Beattie (2), of Yallock, pass over with his draft of beautiful Hereford bullocks, walking in front of his horse, with an oilskin on the saddle, nursing his cattle for the Flemington market. It was a long journey then and prices were short, and graziers had to be careful. "The Old Stone Bridge" was built some 60 years ago; by a firm of bridge builders from Melbourne. Many persons referred to it as a bluestone bridge, but it was constructed of granite, quarried from a reserve, just a mile up the creek from the bridge......The Gippsland road is a three chain stock route extending from Sale to Albury and away through New South Wales to distant Queensland (3).

It is interesting that the Gippsland Road, now called the Princes Highway, was once considered part of a national stock route. There was, of  course, a large stock market at Dandenong and the Newmarket yards in Flemington.

A tragic accident on the Dandenong Creek bridge in 1842. 

Manton's station was based around modern day Tooradin.

Port Phillip Patriot August 15, 1842    http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226510185

The 'old stone bridge' was built in 1866 -1867, but it was not the first bridge over the creek, this had been built around 1840 and G.R.F., in his book Reminiscences of Early Dandenong  (4) described this bridge as a chock and log affair.... which was swept away about the year 1848 or '49 (5). He goes on to say in 1850 a new wooden bridge was built of more pretentious design...but...it was not built so firmly as the first one, the work of the old pioneers. For very soon after its erection it was pronounced unsafe, and the flood in 1864, being  a fierce one, moved it so much out of positon that it was decided to replace it with a stone structure (6).

The 'old stone bridge' was the third bridge over the Dandenong Creek, this 1849 advertisment 

is for tenders for the second bridge, a wooden bridge.

The Argus, December 15, 1849  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4773917

Tenders for the stone bridge were accepted at a meeting of the Dandenong District Roads Board at their meeting held on July 28, 1866. The contract was awarded to J. Nichols (7). 

Report from August 1866 of the Dandenong District Roads' Board meeting where the tender for 

the 'new' stone bridge was discussed and decided.

The Herald  August 2, 1866  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244425036 

Colin Skidmore in his history of Laurel Lodge (8) writes that Nichol [sic] was in continual strife with the Council  over the bridge contract, and after  a number of special meetings, and unresolved disputes, a special Board meeting had before it a letter from Nichol offering to let the matter be decided by arbritation, and appointed Mr R. Huckson as his representative. Thus it appears that Huckson may have worked for Nichol on the construction of the Bridge, and he may well have taken over the completion of the contract (9). 

This  report from February 1867 of a Dandenong District Roads Board meeting shows some of the frustration that the Board had with Mr Nichols and his progress. 

The Herald February 16, 1867  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244401076

The stone bridge was opened around May 1867 (10). It was built of granite. G.R. F writes the granite which comprised the bulk of the structure, was got out of the quarry near the corner of Wedge and Power street and the coping stones were quarried at the Richmond Quarries, Burnley (11). Robert Huckson, the man generally considered to be the builder of the granite bridge, had arrived in South Australia from England in 1849. In 1855 he came to Melbourne where he was joined by his three brothers James, William and Thomas. The brothers worked together and won the contract in 1856 to erect the Treasury Buildings. Other governemnt contracts followed including that of the Gabo Lighthouse in 1860. During this time Robert was living at 220-222 Victoria Parade in East Melbourne, but he then moved to Dandneng where he erected a number of buildings such as the first Royal Hotel. He built Laurel Lodge, in Langhorne Street in Dandenong in 1867 (12). Laurel Lodge is still standing. This land had previously been owned by Janet Bowman (13) and Huckson sold the property in 1872 to James Lecky (14). 

A public meeting was held in May 1867 to make plans for the opening of the stone bridge

The Age May 15 1867  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155030341

In November 1916 the Dandenong Advertiser reported that Some years ago, when the meandering verdure clad Dandenong creek was straightened to allow the flood waters to get away more rapidly, and thus save the low-lying lands and houses in around Dandenong from inundation, it was considered at the time, that it was a good and necessary work, and so it was, because we will not now ever have a serious flood. But the work has proved an expensive one, as the erosion in the creek has been very decided as in some places the chasm is 30 ft. deep and 60 yards wide (15). This erosion impacted not only the stone bridge but other bridges as well When the erosion commenced, away down Keysborough, and a massive weir was put in the creek to stop its progress, a heavy flood came along, and the flood gates and weir were washed away down to Mordialloc. Later, the erosion crept up to the Hammond road bridge, and that disappeared. The railway bridge stood the shock, but had to be fortified by a small train load of boulders, but the force of the waters and the fall of earth let most of the stone down below the bridge. Still the piles are driven right down to what appears to be rock, and they are not likely to shift. The falls are now gradually approaching the stone bridge on the Gippsland road, at the foot of Lonsdale-street, and it will be almost impossible to save the structure, and a fine old landmark will be obliterated (16).

View from Old Stone Bridge, Dandenong, c. 1900.

 This image is cropped, see the original here http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/336472

State Library of Victoria image H2014.1013/151.

A decision was made to replace it. This was not a popular decison with everyone, especially the Dandenong Advertiser -  It seems a thousand pities that this old landmark—the good old key to Gippsland, should have been allowed to fall without some effort being made to save it. It was said that two contractors had guaranteed to secure the bridge for all time for a sum of between £250 and £300. If that were so, what a pity it is that the structure shouldhave been allowed to collapse without a hand to save, and that the whole of the road traffic of Gippsland should have been diverted in the middle of winter by a detour road which was execrable in its incidence.... the a shame that the traffic should be diverted over a morass—for you could not call the state of Hammond road, with the abnormal traffic on it, anything else (17). 

The new bridge was designed by the Dandenong Shire Engineer, R.H. Woodcock, who incidentally purchased Laurel Lodge in 1918 (18). It was built by the Country Roads Board (C.R.B.), the contractors were Reilley Brothers (19) and officially opened by the Premier of Victoria, Mr Lawson (20), on August 29, 1919. The wife of the Dandenong Shire President, Mrs Abbott (21) had the honour of cutting the ribbon. William Calder, the chairman of the  C.R.B., was also present at the opening. The total cost of the bridge, including all the necessary road construction was £4,435 (22).

The Peace Memorial Bridge at Dandenong which was officially opened in 1919.

The Bridge at Dandenong. c. 1925. 

Photographer: Valentines. State Library of Victoria Image H2009.98/14

There were two interesting aspects of the day. Firstly a 'time capsule' was installed. The South Bourke & Mornington Journal reported that on the day the Shire President eunumerated the documents and newspapers contained in a bottle found in the foundations of the old bridge .... and which had been deposited in the new bridge, in company with more recent productions in regard to documents and newspapers (23).  When the bridge was enlarged in 1938 the 'time capsule' was recovered and it was reported that in a bottle behind the memorial stone were found copies of two daily newspapers- dated December 19, 1866, and a copy of the Journal which was published on July 24, 1919 (24). The original  balustrading on the west side of the bridge, still remains. 

Secondly and more importantly, Mr Groves M.L.A, was called upon to unveil the tablet in the of the bridge, which had been provided to perpetuate the memory of fallen heroes at War (25). The tablet reads In honor of the brave men who gave their lives to save civilisation and to commemorate the declaration of Peace. June 1919 (26). The decision to erect the memorial tablet on the new bridge at Dandenong and an existing bridge over the Dandenong Creek at Mordialloc was made at a Dandenong Council meeting held July 28, 1919 -  Cr Groves said he thought a tablet should be placed on Mordialloc bridge, in memory of local fallen heroes in the great war. He was prepared to have the work done at his own expense. On motion of Crs Colenso and Burden, the offer was accepted with thanks. On motion of Crs Harris and Colenso, the matter of having a similar tablet placed on the bridge on the Main road at  Dandenong, was left in the hands of the Centre riding members (27) The bridge is known as the Peace Memorial Bridge and the Victorian Heritage Database (28) says there are two other bridges in the State with that appellation - at Omeo and Mordialloc.  

The Peace Memorial Bridge, in October 1937, during a flood.

Image:  Historic Waterways  Photo Library - this photo was, I believe, taken by the State Rivers & Water Supply Commission.

The Peace Memorial bridge, 1938.

Country Roads Board photographer. 

Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 17684/P0003/4854, 38_00158

Trove list

I have created a list of articles relating to the stone bridge and the Peace Memorial bridge over the Dandenong Creek, at Dandenong. You can access the list, here. 

Footnotes

(1) The Dandenong Advertiser commenced publication in 1874, and ceased in 1959. The publisher was James W. Swords and later taken over by other family members.

(2) Henry Beattie, of Mt Aitken, purchased the Yallock Estate, of 2, 719 acres, near Koo Wee Rup, in May 1875. It had been part of the Western Port holdings owned by John Mickle, John Bakewell and William Lyall. Beattie had arrived in Victoria from Scotland in 1854 and worked with John Aitken at his Mt Aitken Station, in the Sunbury area. Beattie later purchased Mount Aitken, operating a Hereford cattle stud, in fact it was considered to be one of the best Hereford studs in Australia. He was also the first to import pedigree Shropshire sheep to Australia. I believe it was his son Henry, who managed the Yallock Run. Henry Snr was a member of the Melton Shire for forty years. He died on August 10, 1906.  You can read his obituary in The Age, here. The Yallock Estate was put up for sale in 1915, read about this here.

(3) Dandenong Advertiser, June 20, 1918, see here.

(4)  G.R.F.,  Reminiscences of Early Dandenong  - George Fenton Roulston, publisher of the South Bourke & Mornington Journal, later the Dandenong Journal. He wrote the book in 1935 and it was republished by the Dandenong & District Historical Society in 1992. 

(5) G.R.F., op.cit p. 99

(6) G.R.F., op.cit p. 99

(7) J. Nichols - This is John Nichols - his surname is also listed as Nicholls, Nicol, Nicholl. I don't know anything else about him, partly because I don't know the correct spelling of his surname.

(8) Skidmore, Colin Laurel Lodge, No. 51 Langhorne Street, Dandenong (Dandenong & District Historical Society, 1973). I first found out that Robert Huckson built Laurel Lodge from his entry on the East Melbourne Historical Society website, https://emhs.org.au/catalogue/emvf0172 and this entry led me to Colin's book.

(9) Skidmore, op. cit., p. 2.

(10) The Age May 15 1867, see here. 

(11) G.R.F., op.cit p. 99-100.

(12) Skidmore, op. cit., p. 2.

(13) Janet Bowman, established the Gippsland Hotel at Beaconsfield and organised and paid for the cutting of Bowman's Track.  I have written about her, here. You can read her obituary in the Dandenong Journal, here.

(14) James Lecky, owner of Gin Gin Bean at Officer. You can read about the Lecky family, here.

(15) Dandenong Advertiser, November 23, 1916, see here.

(16) Dandenong Advertiser, November 23, 1916, see here.

(17) Dandenong Advertiser, June 20, 1918, see here.

(18) R. H. Woodcock - Robert Hopper Woodcock. He took up the position of Shire Engineer in 1911, and  purchased Laurel Lodge in 1918. The Woodcocks, Robert, his wife Nellie, had three daughters, Beatrice, Dorothy and Constance. Robert died June 1951, Nellie in 1971 and in 1972, their unmarried daughter, Dorothy sold Laurel Lodge to the Dandenong Council. It is now part of the historic Heritage Hill complex, see here. The information in this footnote comes from Colin Skidmore's book on Laurel Lodge and Robert's death notice in the Dandenong Journal of June 20, 1951, see here.

(19) Reilley Brothers - listed as Reilley Bros., in the South Bourke & Mornington Journal, here, but I believe that the surname is actually spelt Reilly - there is a report that they built the main outlett channel, Waranga Basin, here.

(20) Sir Harry Sutherland Wightman Lawson, read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here.

(21) Mrs Abbott - Ellen Ada Abbott, wife of John Abbott,  storekeeper. He died in 1938, see his obituary in the Dandenong Journal, here.  Mrs Abbott died in January 1965. 

(22) Information about the bridge opening comes from South Bourke & Mornington Journal September 4, 1919, see here.

(23) South Bourke & Mornington Journal September 4, 1919, see here.

(24) Dandenong Journal, May 25, 1938, see here.

(25) South Bourke & Mornington Journal September 4, 1919, see here.

(26) Monument Australia https://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/30958-peace-memorial-bridge

(28) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, July 31, 1919, see here.

(29) https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/125802

Mr Justice George Webb of Croton Hurst, Caulfield

George and Matilda Webb and their baby left London on June 4, 1852 on the Kent, and arrived in Melbourne on September 23 (1).  George was to have a very successful career in Melbourne, becoming a Supreme Court Judge. He would come to own a large mansion in Caulfield, Croton Hurst (2),  but this success was tempered by a sad private life, as in the first eight years of his time in Victoria he faced the death of two of his children and his wife and years later another daughter died at the age of nineteen.

George Henry Frederick Webb was born on July 12, 1828 to Samuel Webb, a Naval officer and his wife Isabella Sweet. In 1850 he married Matilda Sarah Fields and their first child George Edward was born in 1852 (3). Little George passed away at the age of eighteeen months on October 18, 1853. George placed personal notices in the newspapers commemorating family milestones and they are interesting because they tell us where the family was living at the time, his occupation and what I feel is unusual for the time, made reference to his deceased children. Little George's death notice says he was the only child of Mr. George H. F. Webb, of Little Collins-street, Melbourne and Richmond (4). A daughter, Matilda, was born on April 14, 1855 when the family were living in Prahran. She died at the age of three months on July 12 and the notice says she was the infant daughter and only remaining child of Mr. George H. F. Webb, Government shorthand writer, Melbourne (5).  Their third child, Isabella Elizabeth was born on October 24, 1856 and their address was St Kilda (6). Their pain was not yet over as Matilda died of consumption at the age of 29, on October 22, 1860, at Burwood, near Sydney, the beloved wife of Mr. George H. F. Webb, Government shorthand writer, Victoria (7).  

George remarried on April 18, 1862 to Sophia Sarah Agg and his occupation in the marriage notice was barrister-at-law (8). When their daughter Sophie was born on May 27, 1863, the notice said she was born at Croton-Hurst, Caulfield, [to] the wife of George H. F. Webb, barrister-at-law (9).  Isabella passed away on March 13, 1876 and her death notice told us that she died at Bombay, of small-pox, taken in India whilst en route from Melbourne to England, Isabella Elizabeth, eldest surviving daughter of George H. F. Webb, of this city, barrister-at-law, aged 19 years (10). The notice of the marriage of his daughter Sophie on October 4, 1883 has these details -  at Croton-Hurst, Caulfield, by the Rev. J. Reid, William Farrar, only son of the late Henry Langdon, of Melbourne, merchant, to Sophie Sarah Annie, only surviving daughter of George H. F. Webb, Q.C. (11).

Mr Justice Webb in 1886, the year he became a Judge of the Supreme Court

Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil, June 1 1886  State Library of Victoria Image A/S01/06/86/88

These public notices firstly show that he was a devoted family man. After Isabella died in 1876, George commissioned a marble scuplture in her memory, the work being undertaken by Charles Summers (1825 - 1878), known for his Bourke & Wills statue. It is now at the Caulfield (Glen Eira) Town Hall (12). This was not the first time the Webb family had commissioned a work from Charles Summers. He had previously created a bust of James Hemming Webb (13), George's brother. The bust was presented to the National Gallery in 1887 and it was apparently regarded as one of his most successful works (14).

Secondly, they indicate that he was professionally ambitious. When George arrived in Melbourne he worked as a reporter on The Argus for a short time until he joined the Public Service as a stenographer; he had practiced this profession in London (15).  In October 1854 he was promoted to the Government shorthand writer, where he supervised the pool of shorthand writers who serviced both the Government and the Supreme Court (16).

Soon after his arrival in Melbourne, George promoted his short-hand writing skills and experience with this public notice. 

The Argus, October 6, 1852  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4787506

In 1858 George attended the course for articled clerks at Melbourne University and was admitted to the Bar on 6 December 1860 (17) and as his 1862 marriage notice says, he became a barrister-at-law. Webb was appointed as a Queens Counsel in January 1879 (18) and had a very lucrative practice. So lucrative, in fact, that when he was offered the role of a judge on the Supreme Court in 1874 that he refused the appointment. It was offered to him again in May 1886 and this time he accepted the honour (19). 

George's well paid profession allowed him to build a large house, Croton Hurst  on Hawthorn Road, near the corner of Glen Eira Road in Caulfield. An article in The Herald in 1937 and the impending demoliton on Croton Hurst said that it Claimed to be the first house built in the Caulfield district, and erected in 1859, "Crotonhurst" gained its name from the dense growth of bush croton that covered Caulfield in the early, days, and made it difficult for Mr Justice Webb to find the 17-acre estate after he had purchased it at an early city land sale. Originally a four-room and kitchen building, the house had a dining wing added in 1868, more additions were made in 1880, and it was completed in 1889, when the distinctive tower also was erected (20).

Croton Hurst, c. 1919, showing the distinctive tower, which was completed in 1889.

Photographer: Rose Stereograoh Company. Image enhanced by Paul Caine. See footnote 21 for the original image.

Croton Hurst was advertised for lease in May 1860 as the family were away for a few months, presumably in New South Wales, where Matilda died in the October.  The house was described as containing a dining, drawing, three bed rooms, and dressing room, kitchen and servants' room, large garden and paddock, stable, coachhouse, &c. Also, good Library, legal and general (22). The 1872 Shire of Caulfield Rate books list the building as brick, 16 rooms and stables on 19 acres, so either the dates listed in the 1937 article are incorrect or more than a dining wing was added in 1868. The 1882 Rate books describe it as 20 rooms and the 1891 Rate books as 30 rooms (23). 

George Webb's advertisement for the short-term lease of Croton Hurst in 1860.

The Argus, May 19, 1860 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5682713

George Webb died of bronchitis and influenza at the age of 63 on September 26, 1891 (24). His funeral was held at Croton Hurst with a service  conducted by the Reverend John Reid (25), assisted by the Reverend H. B. Macartney (26). The funeral procession then left for the Melbourne General Cemetery where the Reverend Reid gave the address (27).  George left Croton Hurst to his only surviving child, Sophie Langton (28). His wife, Sophia, died four years later at the age of 76 on October 16, 1895 (29).

In March 1914 Croton Hurst was partly destroyed by a fire. The fire was reported on in The Age and we will reproduce it here to show how opulent the house was - 

A destructive fire broke out yesterday morning at Crotonhurst, a mansion of 30 rooms, owned by Mr. W. F. Langdon, and situated at the corner of Glen Eira and Hawthorn roads, Caulfield. The outbreak was first noticed in the billiard room, which, with its contents, was destroyed. The picture gallery and ballroom were also considerably damaged, but the efforts of the brigade prevented the fire from spreading over the whole building. Some valuable pictures were destroyed or damaged. Expensive statuary, which was in the damaged section of the mansion, was saved. The mansion is being repaired and painted at the present time, and it is thought that the outbreak was caused through some wood work becoming ignited during the operation of burning off old paint. The building and contents are insured in the Insurance Office of Australia for £6500. "Crotonhurst" was built some 30 years ago for the late Mr. Justice Webb, whose daughter is Mrs. Langdon. Part of the contents of the billiard room was a valuable pipe organ, which was totally destroyed (The Age March 12, 1914) (30)

Crotonhurst Avenue and Langdon Road, two reminders of Croton Hurst, were established as part of the Crotonhurst subdivision in 1915, when 31 superior villa sites were put up for sale (31). There was another  subdivions sale in 1919 with a further 23 allotments (32).  

In 1923 there was an interesting application to convert the Croton Hurst stables into flats. This was rejected by the Caulfield Council on the same basis that a similar application by the owners of  Labassa had been refused.

Application to convert Croton Hurst stables into flats.

The Argus, September 20, 1923 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1992927#

The end for Croton Hurst came in December 1937 - The demolition sale tomorrow of Crotonhurst in Walworth avenue, near the town hall, Caulfield will remove an old district landmark.....Most of the original 17 acres was sub-divided some years ago, and the land is now built on. The remaining land has now been subdivided into nine allotments, and will be developed by the new owners (33).

Advertisement for the demolition sale of Croton Hurst

The Argus, December 4, 1937 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11129666

The Glen Eira Historical Society (GEHS) says that some of the decorative features of Croton Hurst were used in the new home of Sophie (or Dottie as she was known) Langdon. Her house was Choto Croton at 411 Beach Road, Beaumaris. This house has also been demolished, another victim of developers and the slack heritage protection on the part of local Councils, however as at June 2020 the gates from Croton Hurst still remain on the property. You can read about it in the GEHS June 2020 newsletter, here. It would be interesting to know how many of the superior villas built after the 1915 sub-division sale still exist in Crotonhurst Avenue and Langdon Road. I will have a look one day when I am in the area. 

Trove list

I have created a list of articles connected to George Webb, his family, his career and Croton Hurst, on Trove. Access the list, here.

Footnotes

(1) Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839-1923 available on Ancestry, originals at Public Records Office of Victoria.

(2) Croton Hurst is now also written as Crotonhusrt, but it was originally two words, and unless I am quoting from a newspaper article that is how I am spelling it. The 1860 advertisement when it was advertised for lease lists it as two words, his personal notices regarding births etc of his family has as two and his Will and Probate papers have it as two words, amongst other documents.

George Webb's Will, showing Croton Hurst as two words

Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 7591/ P2, unit 187, item 47/329

(3) England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975; England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973; England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 and birth date of his son comes from his death notice (see footnote 4)

(4) The Argus, October 19, 1853, see here.

(5) Matilda's birth notice The Argus, April 16, 1855, see here; death notice The Argus, July 12, 1855, see here.

(6) The Argus, October 25, 1856, see here.

(7) The Age, October 23, 1860, see here.

(8) The Argus, April 17, 1862, see here.

(9) The Argus, May 28, 1863, see here.

(10) The Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil, June 10, 1876, see here.

(11) The Australasian, October 20, 1883, see here.

(12) Glen Eira Historical Society newsletter, No. 11, November 2016, p. 5, see here.

(13) James Hemming Webb, died August 21, 1881 - his short obituary reads We have to record the death of Mr. James Hemming Webb, Government shorthand writer, which took place at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. B. C. Harriman, on August 27. This event was not unexpected, as the deceased had been ailing from dropsy for a long time, and had been absent from his official duties on sick leave for about five months. Mr. Webb, who arrived in the colony in 1857, succeeded his brother, Mr G. H. F. Webb, Q.C., as Government shorthand writer, about 14 years ago, and this position he has held ever since. He leaves a widow and nine children, and his death will also be regretted by a very large number of colonists, as he was very widely known and much esteemed. The Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil, September 10, 1881, see here.

(14) The Argus, January 29, 1887, see here. The bust was presented to the National Gallery by his daughter, Elizabeth Clara Agg, the wife of William Henry Agg

(15) The Argus, October 6, 1852, see here. There is an overview of his career in The Australasian of May 8, 1886, see here.

(16) Australian Dictionary of Biography entry by Robert Miller, see here.

(17) Australian Dictionary of Biography entry by Robert Miller, see here.

(18) The Argus, January 18, 1879, see here.

(19) Australian Dictionary of Biography entry by Robert Miller, see here and The Australasian, May 8, 1886, see here.

(20) The Herald, December 1, 1937, see here.

(21)  My fellow historian, Isaac Hermann, purchased his own copy of this postcard, below, and we wondered what the building was in the background and with some research on my part discovered it was Croton Hurst. I found the information and an image in From sand, swamp and heath: a history of Caulfield by Peter R. Murray and John C. Wells (City of Caulfield, 1980).  Paul Caine kindly enhanced the image and and as there appears to be very few images of Croton Hurst, this is gold.  An original of this postcard is also at the State Library of Victoria and it is reproduced below. Croton Hurst is at top right.

View of the Wards, Caulfield Military Hospital, c. 1919. Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co.

State Library of Victoria Image H42809/3 http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/381662

(22) The Argus, May 19, 1860, see here.

(23) The Shire and City of Caulfield Rate books are on Ancestry, 1857 to 1953.

(24) Death notice in The Argus, September 28, 1891, see here.

(25) Reverend John Reid, Minister of the Congreational Church and founder of the Melbourne Shakespeare Society. He died in January 1911, read his obituary in The Argus of Janaury 21, 1911, here.

(26) Reverend Hussey Burgh Macartney (1799 - 1884), Church of England Minister. Read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry by A. De Q. Robin, here.

(27) Description of the funeral is in the The Herald, September 29, 1891, see here.

(28) A comprehensive report of the contents of his will was in The Age, November 18, 1891, see here. His daughter Sophie, also known as Dottie, married William Farrer Langdon (1860 - 1943) in 1883. He was the son of Henry Langdon and Mary Grace Farrer. Sophie and William had eight children - Frank Henry Webb (1884 - 1912), George Rupert Webb (1885-1889), Isabel Webb (1887), Mary Grace (1889), Sophie Violet Webb (1891), William Webb (1893), Georgie Helen (1894) and Marcus Webb (1897). She died June 21, 1948, death notice is here.

(29) Death notice of wife, Sophia, is in The Australasian, October 26, 1895, see here.

(30) The Age, March 12, 1914, see here.

(31) Advertisement for the sale in The Argus, October 30, 1914, see here. An advertorial was in The Herald, December 9, 1915, see here.

(32) Prahran Telegraph, April 5, 1919, see here.

(33) The Argus, December 6, 1937, see here.

The Lady Loch - the Yarra river steam ferry

The Lady Loch, a steam ferry built at Johnson's Tyne Foundry, commenced operation on August 29, 1884. She provided much needed access for passengers and vehicles over the Yarra River between the City and South Melbourne, crossing from Spencer Street to Clarendon Street.

The Lady Loch, steam ferry.

Steam Ferry on the Yarra. Photographer: Charles Nettleton. 

State Library of Victoria Image H3793

The Age had a comprehensive report of the ferry a few days before the first journey -
As an evidence of the rapidly growing requirements of the city, and the consequent necessity of providing the most rapid means of transit for those engaged in business, the Harbor Trust authorities have just had completed to their order, by Messrs Johnson and Co., of the Tyne Foundry a steam ferry, which will ply for hire between Spencer and Clarendon Streets, thus connecting the two cities. The ferry, which is of particularly, massive construction, is so built as to convey vehicles of all descriptions across the river, so that in a few days drivers wishing to reach any part of South Melbourne from the north-western part of Melbourne will save considerable time by utilising the ferry instead of crossing the Falls bridge (1), as they have had to do hitherto. 

The length of the ferry, which is of composite build, is 59 feet 6 inches, with a breadth of 36 feet 4 inches, and a depth of 12 feet 3 inches. At each end is a well 9 feet 9 inches in depth, constructed so as to allow the chain on which the ferry works to have ample room to pan backwards and forwards to the engine room. The angle iron frames and reverse angle irons are 3.3g inches in thickness. Below the water line the body of the vessel, which is of iron, is covered with redgum 4, inches in thickness. The decks are constructed of kauri pine 3 inches in thickness, and the roadways, which run on the two sides of the ferry, are covered, in additon to the kauri pine with redgum to the depth of 3 inches. Two movable stages are placed at either end, and these are lowered as vehicles enter or leave the ferry by a pair of engines specially made for the purpose, each having an 6 inch cylinder with 12 inch stroke. The hauling, or main engines of the ferry, have also been most carefully prepared, the contractors having to pay due regard to strength while also bearing in mind that space must be economised. The cylinders in this case are 12 inches in diameter with a 24 inch stroke, and the chain which this engine is supposed to haul is 1¼ inch in thickness. The two boilers are of the marine return tubular order, each being 8 feet 9 inches in diameter and 9 feet 9 inches long. The shells of the boiler are 7/8 inch in thickness, and are treble rivetted all over. The boilers will work to a pressure of 100 lb. to the square inch, and have been tested up to 200 lb. hydraulic pressure ; and in order to retain the heat they have been coated with Bradbury's composition, manufactured by Messrs. C. P. Bradbury, of Hoddle-street, Collingwood. The ferry has been constructed with due regard to the comfort of passengers, the portion of the vessel allotted to them being covered in, while seats are ranged along the outer side. The whole of the vessel has been neatly painted and cost the Trust the sum  of £9,500. The ferry will commence running in a few days, as soon as the necessary approaches on either side of the river have been completed. (2)

The ferry was designed by W. R Rennick, who started his working life as an engineer with the Melbourne Harbour Trust, during which time he supervised the construction of Queen's Bridge. He later moved to the Railways Department  and was responsible for the design of various station buildings, railway bridges and the the coal canal at West Melbourne amongst other work. William Robert Rennick retired in July 1924 and died in 1938 at the age of 78 (3).

The ferry was built by Messrs Johnson and Co., of the Tyne Foundry, on the south bank of the Yarra, at Lorimer and Tyne Street intersection, near South Wharf.  The foundry was established by John Currie Johnson, around 1873 (4). There was a description of the foundry in The Age in October 1883 - The extensive works of this firm are situated to the west of Wright and Orr's docks, on the South bank of the Yarra. The area of ground is 2 acres 1 rood 4 perches, of which about 1 acre is covered with buildings. The latter comprise a carriage building shop, waggon shop, boiler yard and shed, shipbuilding yard, smiths' Bhop, engineers' shop, forge shop and pattern shop. The average number of men employed during the year is 300 a week, the  wages sheet being about £800 per week (5). 

Apart from the ferry the foundry built other vessels including the steam boat Sprightly (1875); the tug Pelican (1880) and the sand dredge, Pioneer (1949). The Pioneer is pictured, below. The Foundry also supplied the wrought iron work on the Eastern Market, which opened December 1879,  built mining equipment and portable steam engines (6). The Foundry closed about 1970 (7). 

Ports & Harbour dredge, Pioneer, under construction at 

Johnson's Tyne Foundry, South Melbourne, c. 1948

State Library of Victoria Image H2008.39

John Currie Johnson had arrived in Melbourne in 1853 and worked at Langlands Foundry (8) before establishing his own company.  Johnson and his family moved to Footscray in 1860. His obituary said he was elected a member of the Footscray Council in 1865, holding a similar position at South Melbourne at the same time (9). He was actually elected to the Footscray Council in 1867 and resigned in 1870, and to South Mebourne (or Emerald Hill as it was then called) Council in 1880. He successfully stood again for Footscray Council in 1881 and was Mayor the same year. He retired from South Melbourne Council in 1883 and Footscray in 1884 (10).  John died in 1903 aged 77 (11).  His son, James Ritchie Johnson, later managed the Foundry; he had undertaken his apprenticeship at Langlands. In common with his father, he was also a Councillor at Footscray, from 1903 until 1931, being the Mayor on two occasions. He died in 1945 aged 87 (12).  John Currie Johnson had a numerous other sons (13) including one named Henry Langlands,  a tribute perhaps to his old employer, Robert Langlands.  On the subject of names, John was born in Newcastle on Tyne, so I presume that is the source of the name of the foundry, which gave its name to the street. 

Advertisement for the Tyne Foundary

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

The steam ferry had been launched a few months previously on June 23 1884, at a ceremony attended by members of the Harbour Trust including the Commisioner, John Nimmo, M.L.A., representatives from the South Melbourne Council and various politicians. The vessel was then  finished off in the water and the approaches on both sides of the river completed before she was put into service (14). 

At the launch Miss Daisy Johnston, John Currie Johnson's daughter, broke the time-honoured bottle of wine said one report (15) or the customary bottle of champagne said another (16) and and christened the ferry the " Lady Loch," to honour the wife of  the Victorian Governor, Sir Henry Brougham Loch (17).

There were comments from the start about the appearance of the vessel. Mr J. M. Bruce of the Harbour Trust addressed this issue at the launch -
There was no doubt as to the ferry being a thing of much utility, though, perhaps, severe critics might be disposed to question its beauty. It was, perhaps, only a half compliment to name it after Lady Loch. Considering the nature of the locality, and its liability to floods, it would have been more appropriate to have called it the "Noah's Ark," and it would in the future probably be found very useful in conveying people from the dangerous low-lands of South Melbourne to the more secure levels on the north bank (18).

The Lady Loch

The new steam ferry, Spencer-Street. Published in the Australasian Sketcher December 17, 1884.

State Library of Victoria Image  A/S17/12/84/204  

Ferries had been operating between Spencer Street and Clarendon Street from the 1850s. Archibald Cook was the licensee of the Spencer Street ferry from 1854, and due to the commencement of the Lady Loch, the Harbour Trust paid him £860 compensation to forfeit his licence (19).  Cook's vessels were passenger only vessels and did not carry vehicles or livestock (20) and thus there had been  agitation to have a bridge at this location from the 1850s (21). However Melbourne and South Melbourne had to wait until 1930 for a bridge - the Spencer Street bridge opened on February 12 (22). 

The Lady Loch was still operating in 1920. There was a report in The Argus of June 1920 about her  - Once again the ferry is being run with small boats, as the ponderous old steamer, with its square build and flat bottom, is laid up for a badly needed over-haul. Those accustomed to using the ferry are not altogether sorry for the change. A swift motor-launch does a continuous service from 5 a.m. to midnight, and the crossing is made in about a minute. So efficient is the working that the other morning a tally showed 523 passengers were carried in 20 minutes (23) These swift motor-launch were operated by a company which employed only returned soldiers (24). A report in 1924 on the retirement of Mr Rennick, the designer of the ferry, referred to it as the old steam ferrry that plied  at Spencer Street for many years (25)  which implies to me that it was no longer operating. The Lady Loch was auctioned off  for scrap in May 1928 (26).

 The end of the Lady Loch. 

The Age May 15, 1928 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/18866162

Trove list - I have created a list of articles relating to the Tyne Foundry and John Currie Johnson and his family, access it here.

Footnotes
(1) The Falls Bridge was built in 1860 and was replaced by Queen's bridge in 1889. It crosses the Yarra from Queensbridge Street, South Melbourne to Market Street. The Falls were caused by a rocky bar across the the Yarra, which were removed 1883 - 1885, to help alleviate flooding -  see articles in The Argus of May 24, 1883, here and December 3, 1884 here.  Princes Bridge at Swanston Street was built in 1850s and the current bridge dates to 1888. The bridge from Spencer Street to Clarendon Street in South Melbourne was opened in 1930 and the King Street Bridge, linking Kings Street to Kings Way was built in 1957. eMelbourne is a good source for the history of the early bridges and roads https://www.emelbourne.net.au/
(2) The Age August 25, 1884, see here.
(3) William Robert Rennick. Reports of his retirement which list some of his works and his career highlights can be found in The Herald July 8, 1924, see here and The Argus July 9, 1924, see here. His obituary was in The Argus, May 20, 1938, see here.
(4) Date of establishment. An article in The Age of October 1, 1883 (see here) said it was established in 1872; John Currie Johnson's obituary in the Footscray Independent of March 21, 1903 (see here) implies it was founded around 1875. It is listed in Sands McDougall Directory in 1875.

Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1875.

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

(5) The Age, October 1, 1883, see here.
(6) The other projects can be found in various newspapers reports, see my Trove list, here. Some examples of portable steam engines can be found on the Engineering Australia website here.
(7) Closure date comes from a City of Port Phillip Heritage Review, see here.
(8) Short history of Langlands foundry is on eMelbourne, here. 

(9) Footscray Independent, March 21, 1903, see here

(10) Election  to Footscray Council in 1867 reported in The Age of March 2, 1867, see here.  Resignation from Footscray Council from The Argus, November 18, 1870, see here.  Election to South Melbourne Council from Emerald Hill Record, August 13, 1880, see here.  Re-election to Footscray Council reported in The Age, August 12, 1881, see here.   Elevation to Mayor at Footscray reported in the Australasian, August 20, 1881, see here.  Resignation from South Melbourne Council reported in The Argus August 10, 1883, see here. Resignation from Footscray Council reported in the Footscray Independent August 2, 1884, see here.    The fact that he was elected to South Melbourne Council in 1880 came from South Melbourne: a history by Susan Priestley (Melbourne University Press, 1995)

(11) Information about John Currie Johnson's life comes from his obituary in the Footscray Independent, March 21, 1903, see here. It also comes from the History of Footscray by John Lack (Hargreen / City of Footscray, 1991)
(12) James Ritchie Johnson - information about his life is from his obituary in The Argus, September 28, 1945, see here; an article about him in the Footscray Independent of March 3, 1904, see here and History of Footscray by John Lack (Hargreen / City of Footscray, 1991)
(13) John Currie Johnson married Ann Hughes in 1855. They had Thomas Watson (registered Emerald Hill, 1856), James Ritchie (Emerald Hill, 1858), John Currie (Emerald Hill, 1860), William Samuel (Emerald Hill, 1862), Annie Eleanor (1864 - 1878), Henry Langlands (Footscray, 1866), Albert Toney (Footscray, 1868), Francis Ernest (Footscray, 1870), Mary Charlotte (Footscray, 1872). They also had a daughter, Daisy, who launched the Lady Loch, but I cannot find any reference to her birth, in the Victorian Indexes to the Births, Deaths and Marriages. Daisy was possibly a pet name for Mary Charlotte.  Ann, the daughter of Thomas and Margaret (nee Richardson) Hughes, died in 1892 at the age of 56. John then married Flora McInnes in 1892 and they had one son, Neil Laing Johnson in 1893, born when John was 67. 
(14) Reports of the launch can be found in The Herald, June 23, 1884, see here; The Argus June 24, 1884, see here; and the Emerald Hill Record, June 27, 1884, see here. 
(15) Emerald Hill Record, June 27, 1884, see here. 
(16) The Argus June 24, 1884, see here.
(17) The Herald, June 23, 1884, see here.
(18) Emerald Hill Record, June 27, 1884, see here.
(19) The Argus, May 23, 1882, see here and The Argus, June 10 1885, see here.
(20) The Argus, August 30, 1884, see here,  reported on the fares and timetable - The steam ferry will ply from 6 a.m to 7 p.m in summer, and from 7 a.m to 5 p.m in winter. The row boat will ply from 5 a.m to the time the steam ferry begins operations, and from the time the steam ferry ceases until midnight, the charge per passenger being 1d up to 10 p.m., afterwards 2d. Weekly tickets, not available after 10 p.m., will be issued at 6d each. For every vehicle drawn by one horse the charge will be 3d , or 1s. per day ; do, two horses, 4d , or 1s 3d per day ; do, three horses, 6d , or 1s 6d per day ; do , four horses, 1s , or 2s per day. For every horse, cow, or bullock, 2d ; for every pig, ½d , for every sheep, ½d , for each score of sheep 4d.
(21) Report in The Age, March 27 1856 (see here) is the earliest I can find -  A meeting was held on Tuesday evening in the great iron store, for the purpose of taking into consideration the best route for the proposed road from Emerald Hill to, and bridge across, the River Yarra.....The Council had endeavored to procure a line of road from Clarendon street to the Yarra opposite Spencer street, and bridge across the river. It appeared that the Government were disposed to favor the views of the Council, but seemed inclined to substitute a steam-punt for a bridge.

(22) The Argus, February 13, 1930, see here.

(23) The Argus, June 25, 1920, see here.

(24) The Argus, June 25, 1920, see here.

(25) The Herald, July 8, 1924, see here.

(26) The Age May 15, 1928, see here. There was a report in the Williamstown Chronicle, July 7, 1928 (see here) that the ferry was offered to them for a breakwater. I don't know what the outcome of that was.