In 1891, Henry Edwin Dixon, baker of Clarendon Street, South Melbourne commissioned local architect, William Elliott Wells to design a new bakery for him in Kerferd Road, which was to be built by the builders, Meyer & Austin. This is the story of the Dixon family, the Wells family and the builders.
This is an original docket, signed by the W.E. Wells, the architect, certifying that the builders, Meyer and Austin, were entitled to a progress payment from H. E. Dixon for the shop and bakery in Kerferd Road.
Image: Isaac Hermann.
Henry Edwin Dixon was born to Henry Dixon, who was a bandmaster, and Eliza Goslin in 1856 in Gibraltar, according to his marriage certificate or St John, New Brunswick, Canada, according to his death certificate. He arrived in Australia at the age of twenty, so had obviously done his bakers apprenticeship wherever it was he grew up. He married eighteen year Alicia Doughtery on January 27, 1879 at her house, 23 Cobden Street, Emerald Hill (South Melbourne). Alicia had been born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1861, the daughter of a sailor, Hugh Dougherty and his wife Margaret Anderson. Henry's Edwin's address was 21 Cobden Street, next door to Alicia's family home. The 1880 South Melbourne Rate books list a Leonard Gravolin, a baker living at that address, so I believe that Henry worked for him or with him and boarded with him and his wife, Sophia
(1).
Henry and Alicia had six children - Alice (1880), Emily (1882), Hugh Henry (1884), Margherita (1886), Henry Edwin (1887) and Francis Adolphus (1892) (2). The family lived for a short time at 112 Little Raglan Street, and then in 1887 Henry established his own bakery at 191 Clarendon Street, on the east side between Napier and Cobden Streets; by 1889 this property had been renumbered as 267 Clarendon Street. This was in a useful pocket of shops which included a butcher, bootmaker, furniture dealer, green grocer, grocer, and a confectioner. George Briggs, a blacksmith, owned Henry's shop, the four neighbouring shops as well as the first three just around the corner in Cobden Street (3).
Dixon's Bakery, 64 Kerford Road, Albert Park.
The parapet is decorated with sheafs of wheat, the main ingredient of the bakery trade.
Image: Isaac Hermann.
Around 1891 Henry and Alice purchased a block of vacant land in Kerferd Road, between Merton Street and Montague Street, and commissioned local architect, William Elliott Wells to design a property - it was a brick building of eleven rooms including a shop and bakery. The land did not have a street number for the first ten years. The South Melbourne Rate books lists 53 Kerferd and 69 Kerferd Road while in between they have three un-numbered properties, and even as late as 1900, Henry Dixon had vacant blocks on both sides of his building. Dixon's Bakery does not get its own street number until around 1903, when it becomes 64 Kerferd Road, the street was re-numbered with the even numbers now on the west side, rather than the east side (4).
The wheat motif decorating the building.
Image: Isaac Hermann.
Henry Dixon advertised in the local papers and by 1896 the business had expanded stocking groceries as well as being a baker, pastry cook and a supplier of birthday and wedding cakes.
Advertisment for the Dixon bakery.
Advertisements in the 1896 papers were also the first reference I could find to Henry calling the bakery, the 'Victoria Bakery' and that same year, Henry also began advertising in the Jewish Herald. He advertised Chala loaves, which, it has been explained to me, are an essential feature of Jewish holiday and Sabbath meals and that at a commercial bakery, their preparation would be supervised or especially approved by religiously sanctioned personnel or authority (5). The reference in the advertisment, below, that all bread was guaranteed full weight, no doubt referred to the fact that Henry was charged in January 1896 with selling bread under the statuatory weight. The council health inspector had stopped his bread cart and weighed 31 loaves and found them altogether 47 ozs. deficient (6).
Henry Dixon's advertising the availabilty of Chala loaves.
The Dixon family had an eventful time on the night of Monday, April 20, 1910 when a storm of exceptional severity resulted in considerable damage to a cottage in Kerferd Road, occupied by Mr & Mrs Binns and their two children and Mrs Hager and her three children. The cause of the damage was the roofing from the brick stables attached to Mr. H. E. Dixon's bakery business in Kerferd-road. The roofing iron and rafters of the building, covering a space, of 45ft. x 15ft., had been lifted bodily by the wind, carted over a vacant block, about a chain, and dashed into the cottage. The impact caused the building to list right over, the side wall was almost stove in, also the roof, whilst the chimney was practically demolished. The families were lucky to escape without injury (7).
The family were tight knit and the three daughters, who never married, lived with their parents at bakery or next door at 60 Kerferd Road. Henry died on November 15, 1931 and the Emerald Hill Record published a short obituary that said, in part that he was one of the oldest members of
the Master Bakers Society of Victoria, and as a townsman was universally liked (8) The bakery was then operated by Henry junior until his death on April 6, 1944 and his obituary said that he will be very much missed in this 'district, where he was engaged in the bakery business all his life and that he enjoyed the high esteem and respect of his colleagues in the bakery trade (9). 64 Kerford Road is listed in Sands McDougall Directory as Dixon's bakery until 1950 and then in 1955 it is listed as 'flats'. Another son, Hugh was businessman in South Melbourne and he died in March 1949. His obituary said that the Dixon family conducted a bakery in Kerferd road for many years and has always been associated with local charity appeals. During the last war Mr. Dixon was an active supporter of South Melbourne Patriotic Fund (10).
Alicia died at the age of 90 on July 22, 1951. Her death was referred to at a meeting of the South Melbourne Council and Cr Wells said that South Melbourne had suffered another loss in the recent death of Mrs. Alice Dixon, well known in the municipality for her charitable work, and as the mother of the family which for long had conducted the bakery business in Kerferd road. Cr. Barry said that the Dixon family was one of the oldest established in the municipality. The late Mrs. Dixon had been a good social worker, and had been closely associated throughout a long life with local charities and with war work (11).
Mayoral portrait of W. E. Wells, 1886.
Image courtesy of Port Phillip City Collection, SM 0026
It was interesting that it was Cr Wells who paid tribute to Mrs Dixon as it was his grandfather who designed the bakery. The Wells family had a long connection to the South Melbourne Council beginning with William Elliott Wells, the architect and auctioneer. W. E. Wells was elected to Council in August 1883, was Mayor in 1886; his son Ernest Alfred, elected in 1902, was Mayor in 1906/07 and 1919/20 and his grandson, also called William Elliott Wells (but known as Elliott) was elected in 1941 and was the Mayor in 1944/45, 1945/46 (12). The Age reported that three generations mayors is believed to be a unique record in the history of Victorian municipal government (13). One of the traditional honours of being on a Council was having a street named after you and the Wells family are recognised in Wells Street. The first references I can find to the street are in 1887, when it was described as a continuation of Palmerston Crescent (14).
W. E. Wells Illuminated Address, presented in 1887. The illustrations at the bottom of are of the South Melbourne Town Hall and Albert Park Lake.
Port Phillip City Collection. Image: Isaac Hermann.
W. E. Wells Illuminated Address, presented in 1887.
Port Phillip City Collection. Image: Isaac Hermann.
Another honour bestowed upon William Wells was the presentation of an illumintaed address in March 1887 by the Mayor and Councillors of the City of South Melbourne to express their estimate of the service rendered by you during the term you occupied the mayoral chair, and of the great concern taken by you in the affairs of the city during the three years you have held office as councillor (15). The Wells' Illuminated Address is part of the Port Phillip City Collection.
The illustrations from W. E. Wells Illuminated Address -
The South Melbourne Town Hall, which was a familiar building for three generations of the Wells family.
Port Phillip City Collection. Image: Isaac Hermann.
The illustrations from W. E. Wells Illuminated Address -
Albert Park lake, looking towards the Bay
Port Phillip City Collection. Image: Isaac Hermann.
William Elliott Wells, the designer of the Dixon bakery, was born in Bridport Street, Dorsetshire in 1837 and arrived in Victoria in 1855. He lived in the Bendigo area and was at Eaglehawk when he married Jane Wright Fry on December 16, 1865. He was a 27 year old carpenter and Jane, who had been born in London, was 21 years old. They had eight children; the first two were born at Eaglehawk and the other six at Emerald Hill (as South Melbourne was then called) - Eliza Alice (1866), Ernest Alfred (1868), Edith Clare (1870), Annie Eva (1873), Francis Stanley (1875), William Thomas (1877), George Elliott (1879) and Gertrude Evelyn Mary (1888) (16).
His obituary says that after spending time in the Bendigo area he came to Melbourne and worked as a buildier before he commenced practice as an architect and auctioneer in Clarendon Street, in 1880 (17). Given that he listed his occupation as 'carpenter' on his marriage certificate, it doesn't appear that he was a trained architect. His obituary also says he designed the grandstand at the South Melbourne Cricket Club. However, Susan Priestley in her history of South Melbourne writes that it was George Gray who designed the grandstand in 1886 and William Wells designed the members stand and refreshment pavilion (18). The grandstand was destroyed by fire in August 1926 (19).
There are two other works that I can attribute to W.E. Wells. In 1885 a meeting of property owners in Clarendon street was held, on Wednesday evening, which plans and specifications were adopted and tenders ordered to be invited for the erection of a new set of street verandahs, extending from Park to Bank street, on the western side. The owners having agreed with two exceptions to the proposed extension of the verandahs to the curb stone, this portion of the street will, at an early date form a splendid promenade which will, without doubt, beneficially influence the business done in the block. The preparation of the plans was entrusted to Cr. W. E. Wells, of this city, who submitted a light and graceful design, which was at once unanimously adopted (20).
The other buildings are a pair of buildings at what was 45 and 47 Dundas Place, Albert Park which were put up for auction in February 1889. The buildings are still there; the street was renumbered between 1900 and 1905, with the even numbers on the north side instead of the south side, and they are now 30 & 32 Dundas Place (21).
Advertisement for the sale of 45 & 47 (now 30 & 32) Dundas Place,
designed and built under the supervision of W. E. Wells.
30 & 32 Dundas Place (formerly 45 & 47) designed by W. E. Wells
Image: Isaac Hermann
William Wells also operated an auction house which he established 121 Clarendon Street, at Bank Corner. This was near the corner of Clarendon and Banks Street. I presume it was called Bank Corner because the new E. S. & A Bank was erected at that intersection in 1880 and opened the next year (22). The first mention I can find of the term 'Bank Corner' is in 1882 (23). In 1896 the firm moved to new premises at 183 Clarendon Street, and due to the renumbering of South Melbourne streets which took place sometime between 1900 and 1905, it became 301 Clarendon Street (24).
An early advertisement for W. E. Wells
The 1896 move to 183 Clarendon Street, which was renumbered as 301 Clarendon Street
sometime between 1900 and 1905.
Wells & Son Auction Rooms, 301 Clarendon Street.
Image courtesy of Port Phillip City Collection, SM 1442
William Elliott Wells, one of Emerald Hill's greatest pioneers (25), died on August 30, 1930. His obituary (26) said he was warmly attached to the local Congregational Church, and a few years back took a prominent interest in Freemasonry, holding the office of P. G. S. W. (27) in the first Victorian Grand Lodge under the Grand Mastership of the late Geo. Coppin (28). His wife Jane had died May 23, 1923 (29) and they are both buried at the Brighton Cemetery. William and Jane's daughter, Eliza, was married to the Reverend William Silas Pearse, who when he died in 1949 was described as one of the oldest Congregational Church ministers in Victoria (30). For a short time in the mid 1880s and during the time William was the Mayor, the family lived at 42 Howe Crescent, South Melbourne. Their youngest daughter, Gertrude, was born in the house. It was a convenient location for the family as it was just down from the Congregational Church (31). As a matter of interest, the Wells family later lived at 154 Kerford Road for a number of years until the early 1920s, 45 houses up from the Dixons (32)
41 & 42 Howe Crescent, South Melbourne.
The Wells family lived at No. 42 during the time William was the
Mayor of South Melbourne in 1886.
Image: Paul Caine.
Mayoral portrait of E. A. Wells, 1906-07.
Image courtesy of Port Phillip City Collection, SM 0019
The Auction business was taken over by his son, Ernest Alfred and after Edward's death on May 17, 1950 by his son William Elliott, named for his grandfather. Ernest and his wife Ethel (nee Thornton) were also involved in the Congregational Church, attending and holding various honorary offices in the church in Howe Crescent for over 60 years. Their son, Henry became a Congregational Minister and their daughter a medical missionary in India. Ernest also served as both the Treasrurer and Vice President of the Homeopathic Hospital, which was renamed Prince Henry's Hospital in 1934 (33).
Mayoral portrait of Elliott Wells, 1944.
Artist: Max Casey. Port Phillip City Collection.
Image: Isaac Hermann.
I acknowledge that this painting is still under Copyright and it is reproduced here for the purpose of research only.
In 1895, Ernest Wells and Charles Buchan Sydserff (34) established the South Melbourne TRY Boys Society. The main object of the Society was to offer to young men inducements to refrain from prowling about the streets and to persuade them to improve themselves at some of the classes which the Society provides for education in writing, book-keeping, shorthand and elocution, and so to fit them better to fight life's battle (35).
The last element of the Dixon's Bakery docket are the builders - Meyer and Austin. I cannot find out much about them, however in 1893 they built Samuel Coulter's house, Ulster, in Station Street, Port Melbourne. Mr Coulter (36) invited a large number of visitors to the laying of the foundation stone ceremony, including the Mayor, Cr Malcolmson and this was reported on in the Port Melbourne Standard. At the function afterwards at the Albion Hotel, the Mayor called on Mr Austin as the senior contractor, to propose the health of Mr & Mrs Coulter. Mr. Austin said he had much pleasure in responding to the Mayor's request. He contended that Mr. Coulter had shown great pluck in undertaking such a work at the present time. Such buildings were always a boon to any place, and as things were now the value to contractors and workmen was doubly valuable (37).
Ulster, the house built by Meyer & Austin in 1893 in Station Street in Port Melbourne, is shown here. It is the house directly behind the horse's saddle. The house immediatley to the right is Derwent house; the house to the far right is the start of Alfred Terrace. The house on the left, obscured by the tree, is Emerald (38) which is on the corner of Raglan Street and Station Street.
Horse drawn wagon owned by Port Melbourne City Council. Photographer: Albert Jones.
State Library of Victoria Image H2007.130/13
In 1900, Samuel Coulter offered Ulster, with its amenites such as a bath, wash-house
and 2 stall stable, for lease.
I believe that Mr Austin, who worked with Meyer, also worked in partnership with Anthonie Dubbledan, of Port Melbourne. Mr Dubbledan's obituary said that some of the most prominent buildings in the town were erected by him (39). In 1889 Dubbledan and Austin built a school room at the Catholic Church in Port Melbourne (40) and 1893 they built the Britannia Hotel on the corner of Graham and Bay Street (41). Other than this I have no other information about Mr Austin.
George Meyer is listed in the South Melbourne Rate Books from 1881, when he lists his occupation as a shipwright. By 1886, he has purchased 71 Little Page Street, and changed his occupation to carpenter. George is at this address until 1897 at least and the only difference seems to be that in 1896 he changed his occupation again, this time to contractor (42).
The only other project that I can attribute to George Meyer is the erection of a shed at the South Melbourne market in 1895. That would appear to be a simple project but was the subject of some discussion at the South Melbourne Council meeting held May 28, 1895 - this is the report from the Emerald Hill Record - Cr. Palmer protested against the payment of £60, first part payment to George Meyer, for erection of market shed. He did so on the ground that the work was not provided for when framing the estimates. It was said that the money was to come from the surplus received from the lease of the market, but that money was used in other works. The account had not been passed by the committee, not that the members did not wish the money to be paid, but so that the council as a whole might authorise the payment. He moved that the item be excised. Cr Stead said he considered the work one of emergency as the gardeners had threatened that if some accomodation was not provided they would leave in a body. Cr. Owen could not see how the shed could come under the head of an emergency although it might be a useful erection. Cr. Gittus did not see how there could be any objection. Cr. Tope was satisfied to support the clause and let Cr. Palmer lodge his protest. Cr. White also protested against the payment on the same ground that Cr. Palmer raised. He had seen quite enough of the risks run. The account was passed for payment. Crs. Wadey, Palmer, Owen, White and Madden voting against it (43).
George later moved from South Melbourne to Ascot Vale, where he died at the age of 51 on April 1, 1909. This was followed, less than six months later, by the death of his married daughter, twenty six year old Matta Louisa Higginbotham on August 21. Matta had married in 1904 and she left behind four year old Linda and 2 year old Arthur. There was some happiness for the family that year as their other daughter, Linda, married Henry Dallimore on October 5, at St Pauls Church of England, Ascot Vale. George's wife, Emma died in October, 1915 (44).
Henry Dixon, William Wells, George Meyer and Mr Austin have long passed on, but the building in which they all played a role - Dixon's Bakery in Kerford Road, is still there - 130 years later.
Acknowledgments
A huge thank you and much appreciation goes to Anne Scambary, Arts & Heritage Officer, City of Port Phillip; Dorela Gerardi, Collections Registrar, City of Port Phillip and David Helms, Heritage Advisor, City of Port Phillip. Anne provided the copies of the Mayoral portraits of W. E. Wells and E. A. Wells, as well as the image of Wells' Auction room at 301 Clarendon Street. Dorela gave us access to W. E. Wells' Illuminated address and the Mayoral portrait of W. E. Wells (the younger) and allowed my research colleague, Isaac Hermann, to photograph them. David provided the correct identification of Ulster and also provided the information on the neighbouring properties - see footnote 37. It was Isaac who came across the 1891 docket, signed by W. E. Wells, which inspired this story. Isaac also provided the photographs of the bakery building, the Dundas Place property and the Wells' grave at Brighton Cemetery (footnote 16) and some of the research. As always, I am grateful for his support, photographs and input. Thank you also to Paul Caine, for the photograph of 42 Howe Crescent.
Trove lists
I have created a list on the Dixon family and the bakery, access it
here; and a list on the Wells family, access it
here.
Footnotes
(1) The information in this paragraph comes from Henry and Alicia's marriage certificate (which includes their residential address) and their death certificates. The South Melbourne Rate books are available on Ancestry.
(2) Henry and Alicia Dixon's children - this information comes from the Victorian Indexes to Births Deaths and Marriages; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry and newspaper articles on Trove, which you will find on my Trove list,
here.
- Alice Elizabeth 1880 - 1968. Did not marry.
- Emily 1882 -1970. Did not marry.
- Hugh Henry 1884 - 1949. Married Elsie May Scopie in 1924 and they had one daughter, Yvonne, who was for some time the pianist for South Melbourne Philharmonic Society (Emerald Hill Record, March 26, 1949)
- Margherita 1886 - 1968. Did not marry.
- Henry Edwin 1887 - 1944. Married Alice Elizabeth Owen in 1913. They had two children, Peggy and Hal. Henry's obituary said that a son was a Flying-Officer in the R.A.A.F and that Peggy was attached to the Australian Broadcasting commission (Emerald Hill Record, April 15, 1944)
- Francis Adolphus 1892 - 1966. Married Daisy Philomena Lawlor in 1920 and she died Feb 7, 1937. He then married Helen Maud Johansen in 1947. Unlike the rest of his family Francis did not spend his life in the South Melbourne area. He was listed in the Electoral Rolls at Lancefield from 1921 until 1937, occupation grazier. He also spent some time at Fishermans Road, Five Ways. From 1954 to 1963 the was at 9 Crozier St, Bentleigh.
(3) This information is from the South Melbourne Rate books on Ancestry; the list of shops owned by George Briggs is from the 1889 Rate books. The information also comes from the Sands & McDougalls Melbourne & Suburban Directories, digitised at the State Library of Victoria.
(4) Date of purchase of the land comes from the South Melbourne Rate Books; in 1890 Rate books the vacant land as owned by James Tribe. The street numbering comes from the Rate books and Sands & McDougalls. The 1903 Electoral Roll lists the Dixons at 64 Kerferd Road. I don't know where my obsession with numbers comes from, but initially we had trouble identifying the building in Kerford Road as we were working on the original numbers, then we noticed the distinctive wheat sheaf decoration on the building and that confirmed it. I say 'we' but it was actually my research colleague, Isaac Hermann who 'discovered' the building, following the advice of the City of Port Phillip Heritage Advisor, David Helms.
Below: Sands & McDougalls Melbourne & Suburban Directories - renumbering of Dixon's Bakery and other Kerford Road allotments.
Kerferd Road, west side, 1900
Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1900.
Kerferd Road, west side, 1905.
Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 11905.
(5) Thanks to my research colleague, Isaac Hermann, for the explanation about chala or challah loaves.
(6)
The Herald, January 3, 1896, see
here.
(7)
Emerald Hill Record, April 30, 1910, see
here.
(8)
Emerald Hill Record, November 21, 1931, see
here.
(9)
Emerald Hill Record, April 15, 1944, see
here.
(10)
Emerald Hill Record March 26, 1949, see
here.
(11)
Emerald Hill Record, August 4, 1951, see
here.
(12) These dates regarding their elections to the South Melbourne Council come from various newspaper articles on my Trove list,
here.
(13)
The Age, May 19, 1950, see
here.
(14)
Emerald Hill Record, March 9, 1887, see
here.
(15)
Emerald Hill Record, March 19, 1887, see
here.
(16) This information in this paragraph (and below) comes from William and Jane's marriage certificate; the Indexes to the Victorian Births Deaths and Marriages and his obituary in the
Emerald Hill Record, September 6, 1930, see
here.
William and Jane Wells' children -
- Eliza Ann 1866 - 1930. Married William Silas Pearse in 1897.
- Ernest Alfred 1868 - 1950. Married Ethel Thornton in 1898.
- Edith Clare 1870 - 1956. Did not marry.
- Annie Eva 1873 - 1956. Did not marry.
- Francis Stanley 1875 - 1917. Married Ada Elizabeth White in 1897. Killed in Action in France May 2, 1917.
- William Thomas 1877 - ?. Married Emily Maude Crook in 1901.
- George Elliott 1879 - 1963. Married Myra Tilley in 1906.
- Gertrude Evelyn 1888 - 1961. Did not marry.
The Wells' grave at the Brighton Cemetery. It's interesting that it contains five members of the family - William and Jane and three of their daughters - Edith, Annie and Gertrude.
Image: Isaac Hermann.
(17)
Emerald Hill Record, September 6, 1930, see
here.
(18) Priestley, Susan South Melbourne: a history (Melbourne University Press, 1995), p. 187.
(19)
The Argus, August 14, 1926, see
here.
(20)
Emerald Hill Record, May 23, 1885, see
here.
(21) Sands & McDougalls Melbourne & Suburban Directories - renumbering of 45 & 47 Dundas Place to 30 & 32.
Dundas Place, north side, 1900.
Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1900.
Dundas Place, north side, 1905.
Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1905.
(22)
The Record & Emerald Hill Advertiser, December 17, 1880, see
here.
(23) Letter to the editor from W. E. Wells,
Emerald Hill Record, March 24, 1882, see
here.
(24) Sands & McDougalls Melbourne & Suburban Directories - renumbering of W. E. Wells' Clarendon Street property and other allotments.
Clarendon Street, east side, 1900.
Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1900.
Clarendon Street, east side, 1905
Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1905.
(25)
Emerald Hill Record, September 6, 1930, see
here.
(26)
Emerald Hill Record, September 6, 1930, see
here.
(27) P.G.S.W. - Pro Grand Superintendent of Works - a Freemasons office which advices on any matter connected with building works.
(28) George Coppin - read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry,
here.
(29) Death notice,
The Argus May 26, 1923, see
here.
(30)
The Argus, August 18, 1949, see
here.
Birth notice of Gertrude Evelyn Wells at 42 Howe Crescent in 1881
(32) Electoral Rolls, available on Ancestry.
(33)
The information about Ernest and the involvement with the Congregational Church and Prince Henry's Hospital is from his obituary in the
Emerald Hill Record, May 20, 1950, see
here.
(34) Charles Buchan Sydserff. Born in 1872 in Emerald Hill to John Buchan and Mary Henderson (nee Disher) Sydserff. Charles married Helen Hart Williams in 1900. She died in 1919 at the age of 49. He then married Maggie Porter in 1920. He lived at 73 Merton Street in Albert Park and then (around 1917) moved to Merton, Suffolk Road, Surrey Hills. He was an accountant and died in 1962.
(35) The quote is from
Emerald Hill Record, September 28, 1896, see
here. Information about the establishment of the Society in South Melbourne and a list of the patrons and office bearers is in
Table Talk, November 1, 1895, see
here.
(36) Samuel Lowry Coulter - died February 11, 1925 at the age of 84. His will left his estate to his wife, Alice, and his daughter, Alice Watson, and his grandchildren John and Alice Watson - clearly they liked the name Alice. He also left various bequests to other relatives. Of interest though is that he left £1000 to the Presbyterian Church in Bridge Street, Port Melbourne; plus a further £100 for the Minister to use for the benefit of the Sunday School children and £500 for the erection of a verandah of the manse at Bridge Street Port Melbourne and for the maintenance of the manse. A manse is the house provided by the Church for a Presbyterian minister. There were two other bequests to the Church - £100 to the local minister, the Reverend John Landels and £100 to the Presbyterian Church in Killinchy, County Down, Ireland for the benefit of the Sunday School Children. His will has been digitised by the Public Records Office of Victoria.
(37)
Port Melbourne Standard, November 25, 1893, see
here.
(38) The identification of the buildings and the following information was kindly supplied by David Helms, Heritage Advisor, City of Port Phillip - Derwent, was built c. 1870 and purchased by Samuel Coulter in 1890. Emerald was designed by local architect, Arthur Bidgway and constructed in 1901, also for Samuel Coulter. Alfred Terrace was built c. 1869.
This photo shows Emerald, Ulster and Derwent - all part of Samuel Coulter's property portfolio - and the three buildings which make up Alfred Terrace.
Station Street, Port Melbourne, c. 1907. State Library of Victoria Image H93.431/1
Samuel Coulter advertising Ulster and Derwent for lease in 1896.
(39) Port Melbourne Standard, November 23, 1901, see
here.
(40)
Port Melbourne Standard, May 25, 1889, see
here.
(41)
Port Melbourne Standard, November 23, 1895, see
here.
(42) South Melbourne Rate Books available on Ancestry.
(43)
Emerald Hill Record, June 1, 1895, see
here.
(44) Death notice of George Meyer -
The Argus, April 2, 1909, see
here; death notice of Matta Higginbotham -
The Argus, August 23, 1909, see
here; marriage notice of Linda Meyer - The Argus, November 17, 1909, see
here; and death notice of Emma (nee Aslett) Meyer -
The Argus, October 11, 1915, see
here.
