Monday, August 26, 2024

The Duke of Gloucester visits Berwick in 1934

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


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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

  

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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


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

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


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

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



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

Friday, August 9, 2024

Riviera, Mentone - now the Mentone RSL

This is a history of the villa, Riviera, Mentone Parade, Mentone, built for Charles Potts in 1888. Since 1952 it has been the home of the Mentone R.S.L.


Riviera/Mentone R.S.L., February 2, 1970.
Photographer: John T. Collins. State Library of Victoria image  H98.250/259

In January 1888, Architect William Salway advertised for tenders to erect a large brick villa in Mentone for C.J. Potts. William Salway (1844-1902) was responsible for many civic and private buildings including the Benalla Town Hall, Excelsior House in Elizabeth Street, the Australian Church in Flinders Street, the Athenaenum Club, and the Mercantile Bank in Collins Street (1).


Tenders for the construction of Riviera

Charles James Potts was a Solicitor and was involved with many organisations in Mentone. He was a member of the Mentone Board of Works, a private company which operated 1887 to 1892 to provide infrastructure in the developing suburb of Mentone; a member of the Moorabbin Shire Council, and a Director of the Mentone Racing Club, established in 1888. (2)  His architect, William Salway in conjunction with William Pitts, designed the handsome and commodious grand stand at the Mentone racecourse. (3) Charles seemed to be a 'colourful character' and was involved in many legal cases, acting either as a Solicitor for others, or representing himself as a plaintiff in other cases. (4)

Charles married Frances Mary Daley in 1882. She was only 38 when she died on April 19, 1898 in Prahran and their children, as listed on her death certificate were Mary (deceased), Charles (aged 13), Dulcie (aged 10), Lucy (aged 8), Francis (aged 6), William (aged 4), Ellen (aged 3) and Estella (aged 2). (5)  The death of Frances was a tragedy for the family, and it would be interesting to know who helped look after the children after her death.

In February 1909, Charles was charged with intent to do grievous bodily harm to his son, William Newman Potts, by shooting at him in their home in Motherwell Street, Hawksburn, on the night of February 12th. William was 15 years old at the time and the bullet fortunately missed him. Potts was described as being blind drunk and in a mad condition from the effects of drink at the time of the incident. He was committed to stand trial and at the hearing on March 8, 1909, was found not guilty of the offence. (6)  Perhaps, not surprisingly, when William enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1915, he was living on King Island and  stated on his enlistment papers that his parents were unknown. (7)

Charles died in 1930, aged 80, in unusual circumstances -
The body of the man who was found dead in Little Bourke Street yesterday was identified today by a solicitor as that of Charles J. Potts, retired solicitor. The police state that Potts was a prosperous solicitor in Melbourne at one time, but suffered reverses during the land boom. He had been in ill-health for some time. The police are anxious to hear from his two sons, who it is believed, are is Melbourne. (8)

 As we just saw, Potts was a victim of the 1890s land bust and by 1891 was no longer living at Riviera, and the ownership in the Shire of Moorabbin Rate Books was listed as the Mercantile Bank. (9) Interestingly in 1892 he was living in a rented property in Carroll Street, North Melbourne in a house called Revira. (10) Which begs the question - did Potts name his Mentone home Riviera and also the house in North Melbourne and Revira was a typo? They just seen so similar in name, but I have no information that it was actually Potts who introduced the name Riviera

In 1891 and 1892  the Shire of Moorabbin Rate Books lists Frederick Carter of the occupier of Riviera. In February 1893, Miss Harcourt, opened a Sanatorium for Ladies at Riviera. Later in 1893 Riviera was advertised as a Sanatorium for Invalids and convalescent patients; refined and comfortable home and later still as Comfortable board and residence, ladies, gentlemen and married couples; large rooms and good table (11)


Miss Harcourt at Riviera
The Leader, February 4, 1893 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198026943

The 1894 and 1895 Rate Books show that John H. Maddock, a solicitor, was leasing Riviera, and it was still owned by the Mercantile Bank. John Maddock died in 1933, aged 77 and his obituary noted that he was the founder of the firm Maddock, Jamieson and Lonie and that the late Mr. Maddock was a leading Freemason holding many high offices including that of Past Deputy Grand Master. He was a member of the City of Prahran Lodge No. 115 and in September of this year he celebrated his 50th year as a member of the Craft. He also took an active interest in the Young Men's Christian Association. He was an ardent worker for the Church of England particularly at St Matthew's Prahran and later at St John's Toorak. For many years he was a member of the Prahran City Council. (12)

The next year, 1896 the only name associated with the property in the Rate Books was the Mercantile Bank; and the next reference I can find is January 1899 when James Nunan, manufacturer, was in residence. Whilst the family was at Mentone Mrs Nunan (nee Annie Morrison)  gave birth to two sons  - in July 1899 and June 1901. (13)

Sometime after this, and certainly by 1903, Riviera was taken over by Peter and Marcella (nee Darlington) Dawson. Peter Dawson was an accountant at the British Australasian Tobacco Company. It was used as both their home and a guest house (at least initially)  (14).  

Riviera, operated as a guest house with the Dawsons. 

In 1914 Punch reported that -
Mr. and Mrs. P. Dawson, of "The Riviera," Mentone, gave a dance in honour of the coming of age of their son Keith on 23rd January. The young friends of their son and daughter were invited. The lovely grounds were brilliantly illuminated by Lux lights, which added much to the enjoyment of the guests, who numbered about one hundred. When not dancing, the young people seemed to take great pleasure in exploring the many nooks and shrubberies. The central hall and dining-room were utilised for dancing, the musicians being stationed between. The decorations were especially lovely. Festoons of cut crystals and greenery were suspended from the ceilings. Supper was laid in the large vestibule, and in the court yard adjoining small tables for those, who preferred theirs in the open air. This square was lighted by multi-coloured Chinese lanterns, which added to the general effect. Although the reason of the dance was supposed to be a profound secret, it must have become known, as many handsome presents were received by Mr. Keith Dawson. (15)

The vestibule, where supper was held at Keith Dawson's 21st Birthday party, has a wonderful wood-lined ceiling and ceiling rose and lead light windows. 


The vestibule ceiling and ceiling rose at Riviera.
Image: Heather Arnold, August 2024


The vestibule lead light windows at Riviera
Image: Heather Arnold, August 2024


The vestibule lead light windows at Riviera.
Image: Heather Arnold, August 2024


Peter  Dawson died on May 14, 1914, a few months after his son's 21st birthday celebration (16). In  May 1915, Keith Cyril Darlington Dawson enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the A.I.F., and during his service, was Mentioned in Despatches. In February 1918 he resigned from the A.I.F to take up a commission in the Indian Army. (17)  In 1925 Keith was appointed aide-de-camp to Field Marshall, General Sir William Birdwood, Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. In 1928 he married Anne Bromhead, in India; she was the niece of Lady Birdwood and Sir William gave her away. By 1940  he was in command of  the British forces at Nasirabad, Rajputana, India. Keith and Anne returned to Victoria and in 1948 purchased Kimbolton, in Upper Beaconsfield; they were there until 1965 and then relocated to Mornington, where he died in  1977. (18)  Marcella died in October 1940 and her short obituary noted that she was the aunt of Peter Dawson, the Australian Baritone. (19)

However, by this time the Dawsons had already left Riviera and around 1921 the Andersons arrived - John Allan Anderson and Ethel Margaret Anderson. (20).  J. Allan Anderson, as he seems to have always been referred to, was a Solicitor and was instrumental in establishing Mentone Grammar School, which officially opened on March 3, 1923. Their website notes - 
A proposal developed by local solicitor J. Allan Anderson, presented the option to open Mentone Grammar School as a new public company. At a public meeting of parents and interested parties held on 18 January 1923, the finer details were discussed and agreed upon. J. Allan’s proposal of developing Mentone as a ‘Grammar School of some consequence', swayed parents and attracted the support of others. J. Allan’s patient and informed replies to the questions and concerns led to a show of hands passing the motion for a reconstituted school. The new Mentone Grammar was born under the leadership of a new School Council led by J. Allan and well-qualified Headmaster, Henry Tonkin. (21)

Mrs Anderson hosted various events at Riviera - in 1932 it was reported that she had lent her home, Riviera, Mentone Parade, Mentone, on Saturday evening for a dance and bridge party to aid the funds of the local association of the Mentone and District Girl Guides. The spacious hall was cleared for dancing and bridge was played in the lounge and dining room, where almond blossom and japonica were effectively arranged. (22)  The next year Riviera was the location of the establishment of the Mentone branch of the League of Mission Helpers for the Mission of St James and St John. (23)

The Anderson's daughter, Dorothy, was in Europe at the outbreak of World War Two, and immediately enlisted in the W.A.A.F., in London. She spent two years as a staff officer in England, then was commissioned to take  a party of W.A.A.F.s to Egypt. Dorothy met William Hallett, who was an economist with the National Bank of Egypt, and they married at the Cairo Cathedral in Cairo in April 1943. Sadly, Dorothy died suddenly on December 30, 1943 aged only 26 and was buried in Cairo. Perhaps this shock loss of their daughter was the catalyst for the Andersons to leave Riviera in early 1945 and relocate to near-by Elbana Avenue in Mentone. (24)  J. Allan died in 1959, aged 83, and Ethel in 1952, aged 75, and they are buried at the Cheltenham Memorial Park. (25)

Harold and Maggie Irene Lee were the next residents of Riviera and they operated a guest house, although it is probably more correct to say that Maggie operated the guest house - her occupation in the Electoral roll was Guest House proprietress and Harold was a fitter. They advertised on a regular basis from January 1946, and emphasised the spacious grounds and in the winter, the open fires, so it  was a suitable holiday location in all seasons. (26)




The Argus, December 24, 1947  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22526577 

In 1950, Harold and Maggie moved to Ash Grove in East Malvern and in the November, Riviera was advertised for sale, with an auction on November 23.  The property was of 13 main rooms and many bathrooms on three acres, with frontages to Naples Road,  Palermo Streets and Mentone Parade. (27)


Riviera for sale.

Did  the R.S.L. purchase Riviera at this auction?  Riviera was still being advertised in January 1951 as a guest house (28), but I can't find a 1952 sale or auction notice. However, either way they certainly owned it in 1952 as in the September they held an auction of the surplus furniture of Riviera including a floral Axminister carpet, beds and mattresses and other bedroom furniture. (29)


Surplus furniture auction at Riviera

These following two photographs show Riviera in the 1960s.


Riviera/Mentone R.S.L., September 28, 1963
Photographer: John T. Collins. State Library of Victoria image  H98.250/258


Riviera/Mentone R.S.L., February 12, 1967
Photographer: John T. Collins. State Library of Victoria image  H98.250/257

Riviera is now surrounded by houses, and its address is 9 Palermo Street, however it still has a frontage to Mentone Parade through the Mentone Memorial Gardens.


Riviera, from the Mentone Memorial Gardens.


Memorial wall at the Mentone Memorial Gardens.


Acknowledgement  - The basis of this post was the article written by Leo Gamble - Mentone Mansions: Riviera (Now Mentone RSL Headquarters)  https://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au/articles/544 

Trove list -  I gave created  a list of newspaper items connected to Riviera and its owners, access it here

Footnotes
(1) Tender - The Age, January 28, 1888, see here; Information on William Salway is from The work of Melbourne architect William Salway by David Stray https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3178583799/view 
(2) Gamble, Leo Mentone Board of Works: 1887-1892  https://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au/articles/299 ; Moorabbin Council - Caulfield and Elsternwick Leader, August 11, 1888 see here; Hahn, Veronica Mentone Race Club  https://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au/articles/1
(3) The Leader, September 8, 1888, see here.
(4) See my Trove list here for some cases. 
(5)  Frances' death certificate. Interestingly, I have checked the Index to the Victorian Births, Death and Marriages and cannot find the reference to their marriage and can only find the registration of one child, Charles in 1884 and that of little Mary's death, who died 1885, aged 2.
(6) Reports of the shooting - The Argus, February 26, 1909, see here; The Age, March 9, 1909, see hereThe Argus, March 9, 1909, see here.
(7) William's Attestation papers from the National Archives of Australia  https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8021383 
(8) The Herald, October 11, 1930, see here.
(9) Shire of Moorabbin rate books available on Ancestry.com
(10) The Argus, August 13, 1892, see here.
(11) The Leader, February 4, 1893, see hereThe Argus, April 20, 1893, see hereThe Argus, May 27, 1893, see here.
(12) The Argus, November 21, 1933, see here
(13) The Age, August 5, 1899, see here; Leader, July 13, 1901, see here.
(14) The Dawsons are listed in the 1903 Electoral Roll at Mentone Parade, Mentone and his occupation was an accountant;  The Age October 7, 1940, see hereThe Age, November 24, 1906, see here
(15) Punch, February 12, 1914, see here.
(16) The Argus, May 15, 1914,  see here.
(17) Keith's Attestation papers from the National Archives of Australia    https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3493439
(18) The Herald, February 21, 1928, see here; Table Talk, May 31, 1928, see here. Kimbolton residence - https://upperbeaconsfieldhistory.au/g0/p110.htm#i3272
(19) The Age, October 7, 1940, see here
(20) The Dawsons are listed in the 1920 Sands & McDougall's Directory at Riviera; and the Andersons in the 1922 Electoral Roll at Riviera.
(22) Sun News-Pictorial, August 8, 1932, see here
(23) The Herald, July 19, 1933, see here;  Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com
(24) The Argus, March 27, 1943,  see hereThe Argus, January 5, 1944, see here; Horsham Times, January 11, 1944, see here. Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com.
(25) Ethel - Death notice The Age, May 31, 1952, see here; Friends of Cheltenham Regional Cemeteries database https://www.focrc.org/
(26) Electoral Rolls, Sands & McDougall's Directory. Advertisements - see my Trove list, here.
(27) Electoral Rolls, The Age, November 21, 1950, see here.  
(28) Advertisements - see my Trove list, here.
(29) The Age, September 20, 1952, see here

Friday, July 26, 2024

Coliban Viaduct at Malmsbury

The Coliban or Malmsbury Viaduct was part of the infrastructure on the Melbourne to Bendigo Railway line, officially known as the Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway (1) which opened in stages - Melbourne to Sunbury on February 10, 1859; Sunbury to Woodend on July 8, 1861, Woodend to Kyneton April 25, 1862; Kyneton to Bendigo, October 21, 1862 and two years later it was extended to the border at Echuca on September 19, 1864. (2)  The contractors for the viaduct and the first thirteen stages of the railway line were Cornish and Bruce, more of whom later.


Coliban Viaduct, 1860s. Also called the Malmsbury Railway Viaduct. 
Photographer: Alfred Morris. 
 State Library of Victoria image H3987

The viaduct was, I assume, designed by George Darbyshire, Chief Engineer of the Victorian Railways or William Hull, who was the Railways District Engineer in charge of the construction of Bendigo Railway line. 

George Christian Darbyshire (1820-1898)
George Christian Darbyshire had worked in railway construction in England from 1839 until 1851 (3) before he arrived in Victoria in 1853. On  May 1, 1856, he was appointed as the Chief Engineer on the newly created Victorian Railways Department of the Public Works Department. (4) His obituary tells us something of his life -
Coming to Australia in 1853, he accepted an appointment in the Lands department, and was for some time engaged in the Williamstown Survey District. In 1855 Legislative sanction was given for the preliminary railway surveys and in 1856 Captain Clarke, R.E. (now Sir Andrew Clarke, Acting Agent-General for Victoria), who was Surveyor-General, appointed Mr Darbyshire as the first Engineer-in-Chief to the railways. In this capacity he personally supervised the construction of the Bendigo line, and also the Geelong and Ballarat railway. On the retirement of Captain Clarke, Mr Darbyshire succeeded him as Surveyor-General of the colony, in addition to his position as Engineer-in-Chief. ....A strict disciplinarian, Mr Darbyshire was always noted for his impartiality, earning, in fact, with many of his subordinates the title of "Honest George." To many in the department he often proved himself a kindly, sympathetic friend in many ways. (5)

George was a  councillor for the Shire of Wyndham (later renamed the Shire of Werribee) and Shire President on two occasions. (6)  He died on March 15, 1898, aged 78, and was buried at the Werribee Cemetery, with his wife Maria, who had died in 1881. (7)  As was common in those days, there was a report of the contents of his will, which were interesting -  
By his will, which was made on 4th September, 1891, he left land in the parishes of Mambourim and Deutgam, together with his residence known as The Grange, to his trustees, for the purpose of founding or establishing in such manner as they may think proper, a home for deserving or destitute convalescent persons.  He also left a bequest to the widow of his brother, John, and to his housekeeper, Dora Furlong. (8)



William Bennett Hull (1821-1890)
William Bennett Hull was born in 1821 Bristol in England to William and Ann Hull; William was also a Civil Engineer.  In England he worked on the Western Railway and in 1851 married Charlotte Mitford. Some time after that, they migrated to Victoria. William was also appointed to the newly created  Railways Branch on May 1, 1856 as an Assistant Engineer and Surveyor, under George Derbyshire.  After his time with the Victorian Railways, he was appointed as a District Engineer with Railway branch of the New South Wales Railway Branch, the date of this appointment was April 9, 1866. Whilst in that State he worked on the Great Western Rail project. (9)

In the 1870s William was living and working in South Australia where in 1874  he was appointed Assistant-Engineer in the Engineer-in-Chief's department, having previously been the Superintendent of the Drainage Work. In 1881 he was assistant engineer in the Hydraulic Engineer's Department, however due to the South Australian Governments amalgamation of departments and  subsequent retrenchments he left his position at the end of 1881. Their house in Kensington, in Adelaide was sold and William and Charlotte moved back to Melbourne, living in Herbert Street, St Kilda. (10)

In December 1882 it was reported that - The ordinary meeting of the Victorian Institute of Architects was held at the Athenæum yesterday. Messrs. W. B. Hull and A. G. Hill, civil engineers, were elected honorary members of the Institute. (11)  William died on September 28, 1890, aged 69. (12)

After I did all the research, above I found an obituary of William in the Kyneton Observer, which provides some additional information -
DEATH OF MR W. B. HULL. - The death of Mr W. B. Hull, C.E., an old and much respected colonist is announced. He was born at Bristol, England, in the year 1821 and came out to Adelaide in 1852, accompanied by his brother, the late Mr Frederick Hull. He came on to Melbourne in 1853, and assisted the late Mr Chancer, C.E., in the survey of the Melbourne and Sandridge railway. He entered the Lands and Survey Department in 1854, and was transferred to the Railway Department in 1856. After having conducted several railway surveys and superintended the construction of the main line from Malmsbury to Castlemaine, he severed his connection with the Railway Department of Victoria, and was appointed engineer in charge of the construction of the Zig-zag railway over the Blue Mountains, in New South Wales. Subsequently he held the position of engineer of harbours, etc., in Adelaide until the office was abolished, since which time he has been engaged in railway work in Tasmania and Melbourne, until failing health compelled him to retire from active work a few months ago. He left a widow, but no children. (13)

William left an estate of £7,100 and directed that all assets be sold, the proceeds invested and the income to be distributed to his wife, and after her death to his brother John Murvell Hull. Charlotte died June 17, 1896 and was buried with her husband and his mother, Ann, at the Boroondara Cemetery. (14)


Rail Bridge, Malmsbury, 1870.
Public Records Office of Victoria, Railway Negatives VPRS 12800 image H3418.

The Coliban Viaduct
Because I rather like bluestone structures and bridges I was taken by the Coliban Viaduct - it is a piece of skilled engineering, showcases the art of the stone masons and is very aesthetically pleasing or as one correspondent wrote in 1860 to the Mount Alexander Mail For simplicity of design, boldness of execution, and neatness of finish, it will surpass all others of the sort. (15)

In May 1859, an unnamed journalist in the Kyneton Observer wrote this account of the soon to be erected viaduct, and because I especially like the first paragraph and all the statistics, it is published here in full - 
Among the many evidences of civilization in a country, railways appear the most prominent; but it is not the mere forming a level surface of earth with rails laid thereon, to enable carriages to move with less friction that upon the common road; nor is it owing to the ingenuity, skill, and contrivance in adapting steam power to the locomotive, which when harnessed to the carriages, carries them away at so great a speed; but it is to the many impediments met with in the construction of these railways, owing to the diversities of the earth's surface, over which hills, valleys, plains, streams, rivers, lakes and even aims of the sea itself. These modern roads are carried in spite of those apparent insurmountable obstacles, which to an untutored mind could never be overcome. In constructing bridges, viaducts, and other gigantic works in connection with railways, mathematical science in all its dignity is exercised: the field of geometry and the mazes of analysis are ranged through with the most enthusiastic emotions by scientific minds, who commanding much well-regulated labour, are enabled to complete structures which at once involve the contemplative mind in extreme astonishment, and proclaims the fact that the society in which such works are accomplished must be far advanced in civilization and progress. 

Such thoughts as these occupied my mind while inspecting the elevation, and other drawings for the railway viaduct, shortly to be constructed across the river Coliban at Malmsbury, and having examined the same with considerable attention, I am now enabled to give the result thereof for the benefit of all.

 At the point where the viaduct crosses the river, the levels of the "line" is 7 ft. 6 in above its bed, which to that point will be its height. Above this, however, a parapet of 4 ft. 6 in. will be carried up. The main portion of the viaduct will consist of three arches, each having a 60 ft. span, their figure being that of a segment of a circle; their rise from the base line to the crown being 66 ft. Between these arches will be two piers, each 12 ft. in width, on the face of which are pilasters with moulded cap, &c., in the Grecian order of architecture. Each pier, including the cutwater at the base, is 54 ft. in length. At either end are abutments, each 78 ft. long, these will be arched over in the inside. The whole width of the structure over the parapet is 21 ft., over the pilasters, 37 ft., and at the base over the cutwater 54 ft. 

The total length of this immense pier of masonry over all is 360 ft., and will be built entirely of the blue-stone, now being quarried from the immediate vicinity of its construction. The first two courses for the foundations will consist wholly of blocks, each of not less than a ton, and many as much as 2½  tons in weight. The quantity of earth required to fill up the level of the line to the abutments is 30,000 cubic yards. The total cost of the whole work will be upwards of £40,000. In order to the safe construction of the work, and for raising and lifting up the immense blocks of stone, what is called an "erecter" must be prepared. This will consist of longitudinal and horizontal beams of Baltic timber, running the entire length of the work for the support, &c., of cranes. The cost of this work alone will be upwards of £1500.

Besides this, there must be the centres for the arches, pieces of work of no small magnitude. The mode of their construction, or their probable expense, however, is not yet ascertained, as a plan of the same must first be prepared and submitted for the approval of the Engineer in Chief. It is expected the first stone of this viaduct will be laid in about six weeks, from which period to its completion will occupy from a year and a half to two years. In furnishing this report I have to acknowledge the kindness and great courtesy shown me by Mr Alexander Kerr the superintendent of the works, who submitted plans to my inspection, and gave me every information he was enable to do.
(16)

Just a note that other newspaper reports sometimes published different measurements of the various components of the viaduct, but essentially you can understand the size of the structure from the figures above. 

The foundation stone of the viaduct was laid on October 25, 1859. The Mount Alexander Mail reported on the event -
Yesterday, the foundation stone of this viaduct was laid by the Hon. G. W. S. Horne, Commissioner of Public Works, in the presence of about 500 spectators, including a party of guests who had been specially invited from Melbourne. Among the latter were the Dr. Macadam, M.L.A., Mr. Sinclair, M.L.A., Mr. Derbyshire, Engineer-in-Chief, and Messrs. Green, Lord, Smith, Superintendent of Police Kent Hall, Throckmorton, Wilkinson, Mitchell (of De Pass Brothers.) and J. Watson, J. P., Messrs. Bruce, Urquhart (District Surveyor), Hull (District Engineer), Zeal (17) and Finlay were also present. The children of the National School marched in procession to the spot, proceeded by a flag on which were the words "Advance Malmsbury," and the utmost enthusiasm pervaded the large assemblage collected by the interesting nature of the proceedings. (18)

The report continued with a description of the foundation stone -
The stone, an enormous block of bluestone, weighing about two tons and a half, was then lowered over the hole, in which a bottle containing copies of the 'Mail' and 'Advertiser' had been deposited. A brass plate bore the following inscription - "Sir Henry Barkly, Governor. This foundation stone of the Coliban Viaduct was laid by the Hon. G. S. W. Horne, Commissioner of Public Works, the 25th Oct, 1859. G.C. Darbyshire, Esq., C. E. Engineer-in-chief of Victorian Railways, W. B. Hull, Esq., C. E., District EngineerCornish and Bruce, contractors." (19)  C.E is short for Civil Engineer.

Exactly one year later on October 25, 1860, Dr. Greeves, who was the newly appointed Commissioner of Lands and Survey,  performed  the ceremony of placing the keystone to the arch in the Coliban viaduct, (20) whilst in February 1861 the last stone was laid on the 27th of February, by a humble individual and without any demonstration (21) and the Viaduct was completed. 

 A year later, there was still some major work to be done on the line before it could be opened, as The Argus reported -
Only three obstacles of any importance now remain to the immediate connection of Kyneton (and of course Melbourne) with Castlemaine and Sandhurst, by a single line of rail. These are the heavy embankment at Malmesbury bridge over the Coliban, the Taradale viaduct, and the embankment at Castlemaine. (22)

The railway was opened to Castlemaine on October 15, 1862 and six days later to Bendigo (Sandhurst), on both occasions by the Governor, Sir Henry Barkly. To add to the festivities of the day, triumphal arches were erected on the Coliban and Taradale viaducts and the Elphinstone tunnel.  The cost estimate of the Viaduct in 1859 was £40,000, however a report in March 1861, noted the cost as £65,000. (23)

In August 1864, The Australian News for Home Readers would report -
this viaduct is one of the finest pieces of work along the whole extent of this line, about 100 miles, and as will be seen, it was designed strictly with a view to stability and strength, and but little architectural decoration has been bestowed in the finish of it. (24)  It also published the engraving below, based on a photograph of Alfred Morris, who took the photograph at the top of this post.



Engraving of the Coliban Viaduct, from a photograph by A. Morris.
The Australian News for Home Readers, August 25, 1864  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/63170444/6162875


The Contractors
The contractors for the Viaduct and the railway line were the firm of Cornish and Bruce.- William Crocker Cornish and John Vans Agnew Bruce.  It was a massive project as these statistics provided by Cornish and Bruce attest, and these figures only relate to the work undertaken up to two years before completion  -
The Melbourne and River Murray Railway. - Statement of Work Performed to Date 25th October, 1859.- Cornish and Bruce, Contractors.
We have removed and deposited in embankment one million five hundred and ten thousand and sixteen (1,510,016) cubic yards of earth and rock ; we have provided two hundred and seventy-six thousand six hundred and forty-nine (276,649) cubic yards of ballast. We have set two hundred and twenty-four thousand five hundred and eight-nine (224,589) cubic feet of ashlar masonry ; likewise sixteen thousand seven hundred and thirty-four (16,734) cubic yards of rubble masonry. We have erected one hundred and twenty-five thousand six hundred and seventy (125,670) lineal yards of post and rail fencing. We have laid seventy-seven thousand four hundred and forty (77,440) lineal yards of permanent railway, weighing fifteen thousand four hundred and eighty (15,480) tons. We have removed and transported to place since the commencement of the works two million nine hundred and seventy thousand and twenty-five (2,970,025) tons of material, a distance averaging twelve hundred and sixty-one (1261 yards.) We employ four thousand three hundred and eighty-one (4,381) excavators and labourers ; four hundred and twenty-two (422) stone-cutters and masons ; one hundred and twenty-four (124) smiths and fitters ; and one hundred and eighty-nine (189) carpenters.; seven hundred and eighty-two (782) horses, three hundred and fifty (350) of which belong to the firm; likewise two hundred and twenty (220) bullocks for the cartage of timber ; and we have belonging to us, and in daily use, thirty-three (33) miles of temporary rails, upon which are worked five hundred and sixty-four (564) earth waggons. (25)

William Crocker Cornish (1815-1859)
William Crocker Cornish was born in Cornwall in 1815 and arrived in Melbourne in September 1852. In 1850s Cornish built a number of public buildings including the Melbourne Post Office in 1853; the Geelong Post Office and Customs House in 1855,  Parliament House in 1856 and Castlemaine Gaol in 1857.  In June 1858, he began the major work of his career. He had formed a partnership with John Bruce to tender for constructing the Melbourne to River Murray and the Geelong to Ballarat railways. The partners won the contract for the first thirteen sections of the Melbourne-Murray railway, to be built at a cost of some £3,357,000. (26)

Sadly, William died at the age of  44 on March 31, 1859, so he did not see the railway completed. The Age announced his death - 
We regret to have to announce the death of W. C. Cornish, Esq., of the firm of Cornish and Bruce. Mr Cornish has for a long time been suffering from a disease of the heart, which had latterly presented more serious and alarming symptoms, and yesterday, about half past five p.m., terminated fatally. (27) He left behind his wife, Jane, and six of their seven children. (28)

His funeral was reported on in great detail in The Age  -
The mortal remains of the late William Crocker Cornish were conveyed to their last resting place, in
the Melbourne General Cemetery, yesterday afternoon. The body was enclosed in three coffins. The inner one, made of wood, was lined with flannel and trimmed with satin ; the second coffin was composed of lead; and the third, or outer one, of cedar. It was covered with superfine black cloth and superbly mounted. The breastplate, of solid brass, contained the following inscription : - 
WILLIAM CROCKER CORNISH,
Died 31st March, 1859,
Aged 44 Years.
The procession moved from the late residence of the deceased at Brighton, at a quarter past one
o'clock, in the following order : -
Carriage containing Dr. Ford and the Rev. Mr Chase
Carriage containing Drs. Motherwell and Brownless.
Undertaker and Assistant.
Four Mutes.
Hearse and plumes, drawn by four horses.
Deceased's private carriage with closed windows, and the horses clothed with black trappings.
Four Mourning Coaches.
Mr Bruce's private Carriage ; the horses clothed with black trappings.
About Fifty Workmen on Foot.
About Fifty Carriages.
Fífteen Persons on Horseback.
On arriving at the Cemetery the remains were conveyed to the grave, the procession observing the
following order : - The undertaker, followed by the Rev Mr Chase, the officiating clergyman, and Drs Ford, Motherwell, and Brownless. Next came four mutes, who were followed by the coffin. The following gentleman acted as pall bearers: Daniel Cleal, Esq.; -  Burgoyne, Esq.; J. Bignell, Esq.; - Stoddart, Esq.; - Darbysbire, Esq.; - Malleson, Esq.; - Mackenzie, Esq.; Jacob Cleal, Esq. The chief mourners were the deceased's three sons and Mr. Bruce. The coffin having been lowered into the brick vault prepared for its reception, the sublime service of the Church of England was pronounced over the dead by the Rev Mr Chase, and the mourners departed. The whole of the arrangements, under the superintendance of Mr John Sleight, of Collins street, were carried out in a manner befitting the importance and solemnity of the occasion. (29)

John Vans Agnew Bruce (1822-1863)
It was left to John Vans Agnew Bruce to complete the railway, after the death of William Cornish. John was born in 1822 in Edinburgh and arrived in Victoria in 1854 and started work in road construction. In 1858, as we saw, he won the contract for the River Murray Railway with his new partner William Cornish. John also died young, at only 41 on April 5, 1863, only six months after his work on the railway line was completed. He left behind his wife Margaret and four children. (30)


John Vans Agnew Bruce, 1863. 
 Incorrectly called Charles on the photo label.
Photographer: Batchelder & O'Neill. State Library of Victoria image H6059

John's obituary, with again comprehensive details of his funeral, appeared in The Age, and, again,  because I am fascinated by all these details, it is published here in full- 
MR. BRUCE'S FUNERAL.
The funeral of the late Mr Bruce, whose sudden demise, on Sunday morning last, caused such a painful sensation amongst his large circle of friends and acquaintances, look place yesterday. As might be expected, from the somewhat public position which Mr Bruce held, as the representative of the firm who had undertaken, and nearly carried out, one of the largest railway contracts in Victoria, and his private character as a man of generous sentiments, his funeral was one of the largest - if not the largest -and most influentially attended of any, being that of a private citizen, that has hitherto taken place in this colony. Members of the Ministry, of both branches of the Legislature, of the Civil Service, of the mercantile and trading community, and others, attended to pay their last tribute to the memory of one who had been so suddenly removed from a sphere of usefulness. 

On account of the large number of friends Mr Bruce was happy enough to possess, and the impossibility of sending invitations to all, it was wisely determined to dispense with that formality, and a general invitation through the newspapers was all that was given. The funeral cortege was appointed to leave the residence of the deceased at two o'clock yesterday, and before that hour a number of the deceased's most intimate friends assembled there. Mr Bruce belonged to the Established Church of Scotland, and the Rev. Irving Hetherington was the officiating minister. Before the corpse was removed from the deceased's residence, a funeral service was performed by that gentleman, and the coffin was then placed in a hearse, which was drawn by four horses, caparisoned in black cloth. The funeral procession was then formed, and proceeded on its way towards Melbourne. Many who had not been able to reach Essendon before the departure fell in on the way, and before the outskirts of Melbourne leading to the Cemetery were reached, there were no less than eighty eight carriages in the procession, and about a score more joined it afterwards. As Mr Bruce was a freemason, a number of the members of that body, in all about fifty, attended the funeral, and joined the procession at Parkside.

The following was the order of the procession :-
Freemasons representing the Lodges under the English, Irish, and Scotch Constitutions, dressed
in masonic costume.
Medical gentlemen.
Undertaker and assistant.
Four mutes.
Hearse and plumes, drawn by four horses, with head plumes and trappings.
The carriage of the deceased, closed.
Four mourning coaches.
About one hundred private carriages.
Gentlemen on horseback.
In the first mourning coach were the Rev. Mr Hetherington and the eldest son of the deceased, and following them, in carriages, were the Chief Secretary, the Attorney-General, Mr Hugh Glass, the Surveyor-General, Mr Stodart, Mr David Wilkie, M.L.C., Mr John Watson, Mr Zeal, and Mr
Septimus Martin. Mr Hummfray, Mr Frazer, Mr J. T. Smith, and Mr Edwards, M.L.A.'s, were also
amongst those present; Mr Smith as provincial grand master of the freemasons, under the Irish
Constitution, walking on foot with the rest of that body, and bearing the insignia of office. We noticed present, also, representatives of the Melbourne Corporation, the Sandhurst, Castlemaine and Essendon Municipal Councils, and of several Road Boards and other public bodies. The procession arrived at the gate of the Cemetery at about four o'clock, and, of course, but a small portion of those who composed it could gain admission, for while the first portion was within the grounds, the rear was a mile off. 

On arriving at the gate, the masons ranged on each side of the walk, and the hearse and mourning coaches passed through, and halted near the Presbyterian burial ground, where a grave had been dug, and a vault was in the course of preparation. The coffin was then removed from the hearse, covered with a pall of black velvet, and carried to the place where it was to be finally deposited. The pall-bearers wore the eldest son of the deceased, John Macfarlane, Esq., the hon. the Chief Secretary, the hon. the Attorney-General, the Surveyor General, Hugh Glass, Esq., J.P., John Watson, Esq., J.P., and James Stodart, Esq. Crowds of persons had gained admission to the Cemetery, and the way to the grave was thronged. 

On arriving there, the coffin was deposited in the grave, and Mr Hetherington delivered a simple and impressive prayer. On the rev. gentleman concluding, Mr J. T. Smith, P.G.M., read the masonic ritual over the grave, and the service then terminated. The inscription plate on the coffin bore the following : 
JOHN VANS AGNEW BRUCE,
DIED 5TH APRIL, 1863,
Aged 41 Years.
Part of the masonic formula was the placing of the deceased's apron on the top of the coffin, and that portion of the vault was then closed in with stone slabs. The remains of the deceased were in three coffins, the inner one being stuffed throughout with, horsehair, and trimmed with satin ; the second one being of lead, and the outer one of 1½-inch wood covered with black cloth, highly mounted. There has been no funeral - being that of a private citizen - which has caused so deep and wide-spread a sensation as that of John Vans Agnew Bruce. Even to those who knew him not in friendship, his name was so well known in his public capacity as the great railway contractor, that it is not to be wondered at that his funeral should have attracted so many spectators as it did yesterday ; and the large number of his friends who attended as silent mourners was a befitting testimony of their respect for the deceased's memory. (31)



Bridge at Malmsbury.
Image undated. 
Public Records Office of Victoria, Railway Negatives VPRS 12800 image H4211.


Malmsbury Viaduct, East Side, November 1, 1945
Public Records Office of Victoria, Railway Negatives VPRS 12800 image H3894

This is the story of the construction of the Coliban Viaduct and a look at the lives of the engineers, George Darbyshire and William Hull, who likely designed the structure and William Cornish and John Bruce, whose company was responsible for its construction. The Coliban Viaduct at Malmsbury is still standing and still part of the rail network.

Trove list - I have created a list of articles on the construction of the Coliban Viaduct and the men involved - George Darbyshire, William Hull, William Cornish and John Bruce. Access it here.

Footnotes
(1) Harrigan, Leo J. Victorian Railways to '62 (Victorian Railways, 1962)
(2) Harrigan, op. cit., p. 283.
(3) Weekly Times, March 12, 1898, see here.
(4) Harrigan, op. cit., p. 14.
(5) Weekly Times, March 12, 1898, see here.
(6) Werribee: the first one hundred years edited by K.N. James (Werribee District Historical Society, 1985)
(7) The Argus, March 7, 1898, see here.
(8) The Age, March 31, 1898, see here. Darbyshire had actually sold The Grange to Captain Percy Chirnside in 1895; the Chirnsides demolished the house and built a new house, Werribee Manor. The house site overlooked the Werribee River. I don't know what effect that had on the Will, but the thought was there on George's part. 
(9) Sources on Ancestry.com - Bristol, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1922; England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915; New South Wales, Australia, Public Service Lists, 1858-1960. Sydney Morning Herald, March 25, 1868, see here. Harrigan, op. cit., p. 14.
(10) Border Watch, March 25, 1874, see here; South Australian Register, May 25, 1881, see here; The Express and Telegraph, November 1, 1881, see here.
(11) The Age, December 19, 1882, see here.
(12) Death Notice - The Argus, September 29, 1890, see here.
(13) Kyneton Observer, September 30, 1890, see here.
(14) Melbourne Punch, November 6, 1890, see here; Ancestry.com - Victoria, Australia, Cemetery Records and Headstone Transcriptions, 1844-1997  for Boroondara Cemetery.
(15) Mount Alexander Mail, August 30, 1860, see here.
(16) Kyneton Observer, May 28, 1859, see here.
(17) William Austin Zeal - like William Hull, also appointed to the newly created  Railways Branch on May 1, 1856 as an Assistant Engineer and Surveyor, under George Derbyshire. He later became a member of the Victorian Parliament - https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/zeal-sir-william-austin-1073
(18) Mount Alexander Mail, October 26, 1859, see here.
(19) Ibid.
(20) The Age, October 25, 1860, see here.
(21) Mount Alexander Mail, March 20, 1861, see here.
(22) The Argus, April 29, 1862, see here.
(23) The Herald, October 16, 1862, see hereMount Alexander Mail, March 20, 1861, see here.
(24) The Australian News for Home Readers, August 25, 1864, see here
(25) Mount Alexander Mail, October 26, 1859, see here.
(26) Maxwell, John  Cornish, William Crocker (1815–1859), Australian Dictionary of Biography  https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/cornish-william-crocker-3263
(27) The Age, April 1, 1859, see here.
(28) Maxwell, John  Cornish, William Crocker (1815–1859),  op. cit.
(29) The Age, April 5, 1859, see here.
(30) Maxwell, John  Bruce, John Vans Agnew (1822–1863),  Australian Dictionary of Biography  https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bruce-john-vans-agnew-3094
(31) The Age, April 9, 1863, see here.