Baxter's Merry-Go-Round

Baxter's Merry-Go-Round was a fixture of carnivals for many years and this is a short history of it. I'd first heard about it at St Kilda, but it travelled throughout Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia. The Baxters who owned the merry-go-round were William Baxter and his cousin Fred Baxter. Fred died on May 26, 1937 at the age of 79, and we can find out something about his life from his obituary that was published in the Adelaide Mail on May 29, 1937 (see here)  Fred Baxter was the son of a Thames River tugboat owner and was an apprentice on a windjammer, but after one voyage he decided that the sea was not for him,so he runaway when the vessel arrived in Melbourne. He found his way to  Heywood in the western district, worked on a farm and drove cattle with his brother Frank. He then visited England and on his return to Australia he decided to join his cousin William in the side-show business, this was  in 1885. They imported a steam merry-go-round from England which had galloping horses, the first in Australia. William and Fred were also early pioneers in the moving picture business, but in the end Fred concentrated on his steam merry-go-round. After Fred's death in 1937, his son Arthur took over the running of the merry-go-round (Adelaide Mail, January 7, 1950)

Fred Baxter

Adelaide Mail May 29, 1937  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55934241

The Baxter's Merry-Go-Round was considered to be superior to the others on the side-show circuit. Here are some descriptions of it. The Hobart Mercury had  a report on the Hobart Agricultural Show of 1887 -  Mention must also be made of what proved a source of much attention to the youngsters present - a most elaborate merry-go-round, constructed by Mr. W. C. Baxter, of Melbourne, which comprised in its intricate anatomy a steam piano, that discoursed loud if not the sweetest music. (Hobart Mercury, October 22, 1887, see here)

This report of the New Year's Day Port Adelaide Regatta of 1892 was in the Port Adelaide News - Every kind of amusement was provided along the wharves, the most popular with the juveniles
being swing-boats and merry-go-round. The latter, however, was a very poor substitute for Baxter's merry-go-round of last year, which was driven (including the organ) by steam-power. The one provided on this occasion was worked manually, and had not even a barrel organ. (Port Adelaide News January 8, 1892, see here.)

In 1894  the merry-go-round was in Mount Gambier - Baxter's Steam Circuit, a merry-go-round of a superior character, and four swing boats, opened in Commercial-street on Wednesday evening, and have been a great source of enjoyment to hundreds of young people nightly since. There are in the circus 30 capitally made - horses and two cars, all prettily painted and named after Australian turf celebrities, the whole being set in motion by a small portable engine. The movement of the horses is accompanied by appropriate music, supplied by an organ composed of a number of brass instruments, which is also worked by the steam machinery, and plays 27 tunes. The centre of the circus inside the circle of horses is brilliant with mirrors and spiral columns brightly painted, and when the horses are moving these mirrors and columns revolve with a dazzling effect. (Mount Gambier Border Watch, March 17 1894, see here)

In 1895 a children's fete was held at Government House in Melbourne and amongst the entertainment provided was Baxter's steam merry-go-round (the most perfect of the kind ever seen in Melbourne), with its adjuncts the see-saw merry-go-round and the swinging - boats. (Weekly Times, December 21, 1895, see here.)

From the Laura Standard  - the merry-go-round is a most beautiful sight, the horses moving as nearly to life as possible, and the swing boats carry the passengers right around, at times just stopping in mid-air. They are of course fastened in, but the screams from the fair sex caused some amusement. (Laura Standard, June 10 1904, see here)

I did find one slightly critical report of the merry-go-round.  This was in 1907 from the Hamilton Spectator - The licensee of a hotel at Albury has been fined for allowing Baxter's merry-go-round to perform on a vacant piece of land adjoining and belonging to the premises. It appears that a merry-go-round falls within the definition of "music" though it requires some stretch of imagination to realise the fact. (Hamilton Spectator, July 23, 1907, see here)

This is a steam operated merry-go-round, like Baxter's was - the portable engine is on the left. It's from a series of photos at the State Library of Victoria called Bannon family and friends and views of Victoria and South Australia, taken c. 1914 to 1937. Is this actually Baxter's Merry-Go-Round? Right time frame, right location (Victoria and South Australia) and not dissimilar to the merry-go-round in the photograph, below, which I know is Baxter's.

State Library of Victoria Image  H84.201/4

You can see from the above that Baxter's Merry-Go-Round toured widely and not only to capital cities. There are reports in the paper of it being at Port Pirie and Orroroo in South Australia; Adelong and Tenterfield in New South Wales; Bairnsdale and Rochester in Victorian and Longford in Tasmania. Given that in the early days it would have been transported by horse and dray they are extraordinary distances. Even later on if they used a truck it was still an achievement. There is also a report that the merry-go-round arrived in Renmark by barge.

Baxter's Merry-Go-Round was  a fixture on the St Kilda foreshore for over twenty years.  The first mention I can find of it connected St Kilda was in 1894 when the St Kilda Council had -  an application from Mr. William Baxter to erect swinging boats; steam merry-go-rounds, aerial slides and a cosmorama on the beach during the Christmas holidays. (Prahran Telegraph, November 21 1894)  I can't find  a report on the outcome of this application, but they were definitely there in the summer of 1896/1897 and they continued to exhibit at St Kilda until 1918.

Baxter  was obviously initially happy with St Kilda as according to a report in the Prahran Chronicle of February 22, 1902 he applied to the St Kilda Council to for  a lease of the reclaimed land, containing about 4 acres, on the Lower Esplanade, for a term of 20 or 21 years, at a pepper corn rental. I will expend during the first three years a sum not exceeding £5000, to be spent in three equal sums, one in each of the three years. Such money to be spent in the erection of brick and wooden buildings according to plans to be approved of by the Council - to comprise an amusement pavilion with refreshment and other conveniences ; also a stage and band stand, shrubbery, fencing etc. All improvements to become the property of the council at the end of the lease. (Prahran Chronicle, February 22, 1902, see here)

A grand plan indeed, and it was referred to the Council's Public Works Committee for consideration, but the Council did not accept Mr Baxter's offer. He made the same offer to the Council in September 1904. The Council discussion was reported in the Prahran Telegraph of September 17, 1904 (see here) The discussion covered a number of issues such as whether the Council actually 'owned' the land or whether it was a Reserve. Baxter has also applied for land at the pier. A rental for this was suggested but again there was a  discussion as to whether the Council controlled the land and whether it should be  a depot for shooting galleries and merry-go-rounds. Baxter's Merry-Go-Round was located on various sites in St Kilda (more on this below), so the Council did not agree to him having a 20 year lease on the four acres on the Lower Esplanade.

This is Baxter's Merry-Go-Round at St Kilda (1). Photographer: Nicholas Caire. 

To the right of the merry-go-round is Baxter's 'Royal Shooting Salon'  

State Library of Victoria Image H2014.184/123. Click here to see a higher res version on the SLV website.

 In 1918 Baxter's relationship with the St Kilda Council soured and he ended up in the St Kilda Court - Fredk. W. Baxter was charged on the information of Sergeant F. Dainty, summoning officer to the St.Kilda Council, with being the occupier of certain premises situate at the Upper Esplanade, did permit a public amusement to be conducted in and on such premises, namely, a merry-go-round, without such premises being registered, contrary to bye-law No. 79 and part 6 of the 13th schedule of the Local Government Act, 1915. The result of the court case was that Baxter was found guilty of twelve charges, fined ten shillings on each charge and over three pounds in costs.  Read about the case in the Malvern Standard May 11, 1918, here.

It was after this that Baxter moved his operation to Glenelg in Adelaide, where it was still operating in 1950. Another reason put forward for the move from St Kilda to Glenelg was mentioned in Fred Baxter's obituary - It was keen competition of St. Kilda that brought Mr. William Baxter and
his large merry-go-round to this State [South Australia] in 1918. (Adelaide Mail May 29, 1937 see, here)  There are other reports confirming the strong competition for the entertainment dollar (or more correctly the entertainment shilling) in St Kilda at this time. This is from the Sydney paper, The Referee of January 8, 1908 -  St. Kilda Beach is the outdoor show place of Melbourne. Up within three years ago Baxter's merry-go-round had the district "on its own." Then came "The Pierrots" two seasons ago, also "The pester King" in the the same year and the report goes on with various other amusements and how much income the St Kilda Council derived from these shows.

Where were Baxter's located in St Kilda?  J.B. Cooper writes about the merry-go-round in volume two  of his History of St Kilda (1) He writes about various amusements on the St Kilda foreshore such as the English Pierrots - Before those regular beach shows there was in full whirl, Baxter's Merry-Go-Round, which gave many happy minutes to thousands and thousands of holiday-making children, enjoying glorious days at St Kilda with their buckets, spades and sand castles. Baxter's Merry-Go-Round is notable because it was the first amusement on the first piece of reclaimed shore land. The St Kilda Council made the reclamation...starting at the foot of the pier and spreading out from there, towards Kenney's baths...the subsequent beautification of the foreshore of St Kilda, had its source, in this modest beginning, upon which Baxter was allowed to place his Merry-Go-Round, as so he became the first tenant on reclaimed shore land at St Kilda.

Advertisement for Baxter's 'riding gallery' located on the Esplanade between Pier and Kenny's Baths.

 Prahran Telegraph December 19, 1896. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article144633411

The Merry-Go-Round had, as I said before, various locations in St Kilda in the time it was there - here are some of the locations as reported in the newspapers. Cooper's 'first piece of reclaimed shore land' was near Luna Park - the St Kilda 'triangle area' (3).  In 1896 - they were between the Pier and Kenny's Baths (see advertisement above). The Prahran Chronicle of November 19, 1904 said they  they were located at the entrance to the pier. The  Prahran Telegraph of  January 5, 1907 reported that Baxter's merry-go-round quite held its own in popular favour, and, although the location is different, this innocent amusement is just as popular as ever it was. This doesn't tell us any exact locations, but it does indicate it occupied various locations in St Kilda. In 1916 it was located on an allotment on the other - the Esplanade Hotel - side of the street. (The Argus January 17, 1916).  In 1917, Baxter applied to  use  the ground adjoining the Royal Hotel, Esplanade  (Malvern Standard, December 22, 1917). The Royal Hotel was on the corner of Robe Street.  At one time it was operating on the corner of the Upper Esplanade and Acland Street (where McDonalds is now located) and where the Empire Cafe was opened in December 1918. (3)

Baxter's Merry-Go-Round  brought a lot of joy to the public but there were also some accidents associated not with it but with Baxter's other side-show attractions - a steam swing boat and  a shooting gallery. Here are reports of some of these incidents.   In August 1891 a lad named Hammond, was in Market square [Castlemaine]  He was passing the swing boats attached to Baxter's steam merry-go-round when one of the boats struck him on the forehead and inflicted a severe wound. The lad was conveyed to the hospital and this evening was in a critical condition. (The Argus, August 17, 1891, see here)  The steam boat was also the source of another accident in December 1900 when an employee, Charles Beresford, was swinging himself to and fro in the boat and he stood up, toppled over and fell back downwards through the air, a distance of 30-feet, his head crashing with great violence against one of the solid wooden stays of the suspended boat, after which he lay on the sand bleeding from a large scalp wound as the Age of December 26, 1900 graphically reported (see here). Charles was rushed to the Alfred Hospital and operated on. I don't know what happened to him in the end.

In Numurkah the next year George Williams met with an accident with the lighting plant attached to the merry-go-round -  the calcium carbide used for lighting had somehow become damp and on Williams lifting the lid of the drum in which it was kept the lighted watch he was carrying ignited the gas from the decomposing chemical with a consequent explosion of flame. Williams had his hair and moustache burnt off and was otherwise rather severely singed. (Numurkah Leader, June 14 1901, see here) However, the most tragic incident occurred in 1907 in Rochester, when sixteen year old George Sullivan was shot at Baxter's shooting gallery -  A man was going to have a shot, but decided to change the rifle he was about to use for another. He laid the loaded weapon on the table, and an attendant, named Cooper, picked up the rifle to unload it. The rifle went off, and Sullivan, who was standing near by, was shot in the breast. (The Age, April 12 1907, see here)  The  verdict of  inquest into his death was that it was an accident and thus Cooper was not charged.

Sad though this is, given the number of people entertained by Baxter's side-shows over the years the number of incidents was very small, although I am not dismissing the pain and anguish these incidents caused. There was another side to Baxter's side-shows and that was their donations to various charitable causes - here's a few examples - the hospital at Narrandera, the Mining Disaster fund at Bendigo, the Blind Soldier's Fund at Mildura; the Alfred Hospital and the Womens' Hospital in Melbourne and the Chelsea Fire Brigade.

 Baxter's side-show exhibits at St Kilda (1). Photographer: Nicholas Caire.

The merry-go-round is on the left, then the shooting gallery, a ferris wheel and round-about attraction with boats - is that the Swing boat? There also appears to be another Swing boat on the very right of the photograph. 

   State Library of Victoria Image H2014.184/124. Click here to see a higher res version on the SLV website. 

Baxter's was around for so long that is worked it's way into the social fabric of the community - here are some anecdotes -
This was from an article on horse racing - reminds us of the old gag and the almost certain winning bet that used to be made on the way to down-the-line meetings. "There will be a lot of grey horses
seen out to-day" would say one chap. The shrewdie would consult his race book and see not more than one or two entered. He would offer to bet they would not see three grey horses. The alleged shrewdie alongside would see the book, too, and stand in half with him. But they never win. The
point of the joke is that every market gardener for miles this side of and beyond Mordialloc has a grey horse, and any day you may see not three but dozens of grey horses. The alleged shrewdie thinks only of the racehorse greys, and the market gardeners don't come into his calculation-but he has to pay. One day the joke nearly went astray. It was the market gardeners' picnic. The jokists seemed certain to lose their money, but darned if Baxter's merry-go-round wasn't planted right near the bridge on the main road. And they're all grey horses! (Richmond Guardian, February 23, 1908, see here)

While the merry-go-round is used as an excuse for taking little Mary and Willie out of an evening, in reality pa and ma desire the outing for the purpose of meeting old and lost-sight-of friends. And it is "marvellous how many old friendship have been renewed at Mr. Baxter's "show place"! (Glenelg Guardian November 15, 1923, see here)

This was in an article written by jockey, Laurie Meehan - As I returned to the jockeys' room a racegoer told me I would fall off Baxter's Merry Go-Round if I wasn't tied on. (The Call (Perth, W.A) July 17, 1947, see here)

What happened to the Merry-Go-Round?  1885 appears to be when they imported the first steam Merry-Go-Round, but in the interview with Frederick's son, Arthur,  in the Adelaide News of December 30, 1952 (see here)  he says the Glenelg merry-go-round is 50 years old, thus from 1902. It also says that Mr. Baxter's father imported a merry-go-round from Norwich (England) 60 years ago. It's still running at Cronulla (NSW). This dates the original steam merry-go-round to 1892.  But in the long run a couple of years here and there is unimportant and what is important is the fact that Baxter's Merry-Go-Round gave joy and happiness to thousands of children and adults over the years all throughout Australia.

Trove list
I have created  a list of newspaper articles on Trove about Baxter's Merry-Go-Round, access it here. Every article referred to here is on the list.

Footnotes
(1) To say I was excited finding these photos of Baxter's Merry-Go-Round and other side-show attractions is the understatement of the year. The State Library of Victoria have the five photos in this series labelled as "St Kilda Foreshore, Victoria, dated as '1890-1910?' They are stereographs - so I have cropped the 2nd photo.

(2)  John Butler Cooper wrote the two volume The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a City and after, 1840 - 1930. It was published by the St Kilda City Council in 1931. The information on Baxter's Merry-Go-Round, which I quoted is from Volume 2, page 206 and 207.

(3) It was my friend and research colleague, Isaac Hermann, who told me about Baxter's Merry-Go-Round initially, and the fact that the Empire Cafe at St Kilda was built in 1916 on a previous location of the merry-go-round. I have more information on the Empire Cafe, here. Isaac also told me that the first piece of reclaimed shore land, which J.B. Cooper identified as the original location of Baxter's Merry-Go-Round in St Kilda was the land near Luna Park.

Sculpture of Mercury by C. D. Richardson

Sculpture of Mercury, The Age building, Collins Street

Collins Street, Melbourne, c. 1910 State Library of Victoria Image H82.62/11

I was looking at photos of Collins Street on the State Library of Victoria website and found this one, shown above, and wondered what the sculpture was on the building on the left. The building is The Age newspaper building at 239 Collins Street. It was built in 1879, designed by Reed & Barnes, and then extensively remodelled and enlarged in 1898/1899 at a cost of £15,000. The frontage has been doubled by the acquisition of the premises formerly occupied by the Victoria Permanent Building Society (The Leader August 12, 1899). The Architects, Hyndman and Bates had to undertake the work whilst the business of producing The Age and The Leader was still being conducted. There is a very informative article in The Leader of August 12, 1899 about the new building, read it here.

The Age building in Collins Street, before the 1899 remodelling

The Age 1879 office building. Engraver: F.A. Sleap.

Illustrated Australian News February 21, 1879. State Library of Victoria Image IAN21/02/79/20

In 1931 a new 'modern' eight story building was erected adjoining this building, you can read about this in The Age, here. It is a very extensive article and tells us that the building was designed by Godfrey and Spowers, that all the material in the building was Australian made and it also has interesting information about how the newspapers are produced and distributed.

The Age building in Collins Street, showing the results of the 1899 remodelling, the Mercury statue and the 1931 addition.

The Age building, 239-241 Collins Street, south side, Melbourne, c. 1957. Photographer: Lyle Fowler. 

State Library of Victoria Image H92.20/6031

As part of the 1899 works the sculpture of Mercury was erected on the pediment. It was designed by Charles Douglas Richardson, known as Douglas Richardson. Richardson (1853 - 1932) was born in England and arrived in Victoria with his family in 1858. He was educated at Scotch College, studied at the National Gallery of Victoria's School of Design and then the Royal Academy of Arts Schools in London. He was a painter and a sculptor and in 1898 he established the Yarra Sculptors' Society with others including Margaret Baskerville, whom he married in 1914. Margaret Baskerville (1861 - 1930) is responsible for the statue of Victorian Premier, Thomas Bent, in Brighton and the Edith Cavell memorial in St Kilda Road. You can read more about Charles Douglas Richardson in the Australia Dictionary of Biography, here and Margaret Baskerville's entry, here. She's an interesting woman, I will write more about her one day. I have a photo of the Edith Cavell memorial, here.

Back to the Mercury sculpture - the Bendigo Adveriser had an informative article on the sculpture
David Syme is certainly to be congratulated on the magnificent statue of Mercury erected over the new imposing "Age" edifices. The work, from the designing of the erection, was entirely conducted in Melbourne, under the supervision of those well known architects, Messrs. Hyndman and Bates. The figure is formed of stout copper sheets, shaped by hammer and rivetted together. From the base of the globe on which it stands to the extremity of its extended arm, the height of the figure is 12ft. 9in.; the weight, in spite of its massive appearance, is but about 15cwt. A 2½in. steel rod is fastened to a steel blade stretched across the chest in the same manner, but slightly higher, than the human diaphragm. This rod passes down the interior of the left leg and extends downwards through the parapet for a distance of 8ft., thus insuring stability and safety. The sculptor and designer of this artistic creation was C. D. Richardson, Esq., Collins-street, Melbourne, who must be warmly commended on the graceful outlines and correct pose of the figure. The realisation of Mr. Richardson's model was entrusted to Messrs. Rocke and Co., Collins street, who successfully performed this onerous undertaking at their factory in Leicester-street, Carlton. The workmanship of this enterprising firm, the only one in Victoria that undertakes high-class work of this description, is equal, is not superior, to that of any European manufacture. We are indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Herbert Wood, of Messrs. Rocke and Co., for the particulars of this latest addition to Melbourne's sights. (Bendigo Advertiser, July 12 1899, see here)

The Mercury sculpture was a reproduction of the statue of Mercury by John of Bologna - Giovanni Bologna (1529 - 1608). Mr Richardson also sculpted three figures in relief in the tympanum, the inner portion of the pediment, representing Literature, Science and Art (The Leader August 12, 1899). They can be seen in this photograph, below.

The figures of Literature, Science and Art sculpted by Charles Douglas Richardson, 1899

The Age building in Collins Street.

State Library of Victoria Image H93.335/81

By 1967 the original building has been demolished and replaced with, in my opinion, an incredibly bland multi-story and the Mercury statue had been moved to the top of the 1931 building.

The Mercury statue on the 1931 The Age building, the original building has been demolished.

Office buildings, 227-247 Collins Street, Melbourne, 1968. Photographer: Wolfgang Sievers.

State Library of Victoria (SLV) Image H99.50/188.

There is also a 1967 photo by Wolfgang Siever that shows the 1931 building with the Mercury statue, see it here on the SLV website.

The State Library of Victoria has a 1970 photograph of The Age building and this time not only has Mercury disappeared but seven stories of the 1931 building have also gone! What an ignoble end to a grand building.

1970 - all that remains of  The Age building is the ground floor.

Hothlyn House, 233-241 Collins Street, Melbourne, 1970. Photographer: Wolfgang Sievers. 

State Library of Victoria Image H99.50/150

What happened to the Mercury statute?  It is now at the Museum of Victoria. The is from their website -  In 1969 it was moved to the Age building on Spencer Street first standing on a platform on the corner of Spencer and Lonsdale Streets and then on the Spencer Street verandah. The statue did not appear to best advantage in either location, and was placed in storage. In 1985 it was lent to the Museum of Victoria for the Story of Victoria exhibition, and was then donated to the Museum in 1997. Read more and see photographs of it, here on the Museums Victoria website. One of the photos is shown below.

Statue of  Mercury by Charles Douglas Richardson. 

This photo is from the Museums Victoria website, taken by John Broomfield.

https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/247862

I have created a list of newspaper articles, on Trove, on The Age building in Collins Street, Charles Douglas Richardson and the Mercury statue - you can access it here. All the articles referred to in this post are listed.

Tubbs Hill and the Victoria Cross connection

I have an interest in War Memorials and also an interest in trucks, as my husband John was involved in the transport industry for over 50 years. Amongst our collection of truck photos is this one, it was a  slide that I scanned.

Tubbs Hill, near Euroa, early 1970s. 

Photo: John Arnold

It's a Kenworth John drove for Cameron's Transport and it was taken at Tubb's Hill, on the old Hume Highway near Euroa, in the early 1970s. If you are interested this is a S-model Kenworth, with a GM 6V71 engine and a 12 speed Spicer gear box (and see more here)

Anyway, I wondered why Tubb's Hill was named that and discovered that it was named after World War One, Victoria Cross recipient, Frederick Harold Tubb. In the same area is a Maygar Hill, named after Boer War Victoria Cross recipient, Leslie Cecil Maygar.  It's an interesting way to recognise war veterans and a bit different from an Honor Board or Avenue of Honor. It's probably peaceful now, but Tubb's Hill and Maygar's Hill wouldn't have been very peaceful until they were by-passed in the 1980s or 1990s - there would have been a continuous stream of trucks going through the gears night and day in the early days.

North Eastern Ensign, May 4 1934

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70789802

The hills were named in 1934, according  to this article, above. Balmattum Hill was not, in the end , named after Corporal Burton, but there is a bridge in Euroa, on the old Hume Highway, named Burton Bridge, after Corporal Alexander Burton.

Captain Frederick Harold Tubb - the namesake of Tubb's Hill

Image: Australian War Memorial   https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P11013425

Frederick Harold Tubb (1881-1917), was born at Longwood, near Euroa, the son of Harry and Emma (nee Abbott) Tubb, of St Helena, Longwood.  He enlisted on August 12, 1914 at the age of 34. He was a grazier. His brothers, Alfred, Arthur and Frank also enlisted.  Frederick was awarded his Victoria Cross for his gallantry at Lone Pine. Captain Tubb Died of Wounds September 20, 1917.  

This is Captain Tubb's citation from the London Gazette of October 15, 1915. 

Was awarded the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Lone Pine trenches, in the Gallipoli Peninsula on 9th August 1915. In the early morning the enemy made a determined counter-attack on the centre of the newly captured trench held by Lieut. Tubb. They advanced up a sap and blew up a sandbag barricade, leaving only one foot of it standing but Lieut. Tubb led his men back repulsed the enemy and rebuilt the barricade. Supported by strong bombing parties, the enemy succeeded in twice again blowing in the barricade, but on each occasion, Lieut. Tubb, although wounded in the head and arm, held his ground with the greatest coolness and rebuilt it and finally succeeded in maintaining his position under heavy bomb fire. Corporal Burton, see below, was also awarded a Victoria Cross for the same incident.

Captain Tubb has an entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, you can read it here. You can read his full military history in file at the National Archives of Australia, here.

Lieutenant-Colonel Leslie Cecil Maygar - the namesake of Maygar's Hill

Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P11013287

Leslie Cecil Maygar (1868 - 1917) was born at Kilmore to Edwin and Helen (nee Grimshaw) Maygar He served in the Boer War, in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles,  which was where he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He also served in the First World War, where he enlisted on August 18, 1914 at the age of 43. His occupation was grazier and his address was Strathearn, Longwood.  He Died of Wounds November 11, 1917.  

Lieutenant- Colonel Maygar's Victoria Cross was reported in The Leader - The action for which Lieutenant Maygar receives the cross "for valor" was performed in a fight at Grelhoutboom. One of his men was left dishorsed on an open plain, under heavy Boer fire, and Lieutenant Maygar, dismounting, placed the man  on his own horse, himself running the gantlet of the Boer fire of foot until he could reach cover. (The Leader February 15, 1902) During the Great War, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and was Mentioned in Dispatches, three times. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Maygar has an entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, which you can read, here. You can read his World War One service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.

Corporal Alexander Stewart Burton

Australian War Memorial  https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1498

Alexander Stewart Burton (1893 - 1915) Service Number 384. Alexander was born at Kyneton, the son of Alexander and Isabella (nee Briggs) Burton, and he enlisted at the age of 21 on August 18, 1914. His occupation was ironmonger and he was living at Binney street in Euroa.  Alexander was Killed in Action at Lone Pine on either August 8 or 9, 1915.

Corporal Burton's citation reads -

For most conspicuous bravery at Lone Pine Trenches in the Gallipoli Peninsula on the 9th August 1915.

In the early morning the enemy made a determined counter attack on the centre of the newly captured trench held by Lieutenant Tubb, Corporal Burton and Dunstan and a few men. They advanced up a sap and blew in a sandbag barricade, leaving only one foot of it standing, but Lieutenant Tubb with the two Corporals repulsed the enemy and rebuilt the barricade. Supported by strong bombing parties the enemy twice again succeeded in blowing in the barricade, but on each occasion they were repulsed and the barricade rebuilt, although Lieutenant Tubb was wounded in the head and arm and Corporal Burton was killed by a bomb while most gallantry building up the parapet under a hail of bombs.

Corporal Burton has an entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, which you can read, here. You can read his World War One service record at the National Archives of  Australia, here.

Corporal William Dunstan (Service Number 2130) of Ballarat was also awarded the Victoria Cross, I have written about him here https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-chalet-geneve-on-albert-park-lake.html

Trove list
I have created a sort list of articles on the three men on Trove, you can access it here.

There is a Victoria Cross Memorial Park in Kirkland Avenue, Euroa, which has statues of the three men. See more details here http://www.nevictoria.com/euroa.htm 

Australian Farmers' Harvester Works Ltd.

A friend of mine, Isaac, came across an album of photographs connected to various families including the Gilmour and Penhalluriack families. (1)  Amongst the family shots was this photo of man and a boy sitting on a piece of farm machinery, which was branded 'Australian Farmers'. On the back of the photo is written 'On the harvester at Craigieburn. The lad named Hall - from Burwood.' That is all I can tell you about the identity of the man and the 'the lad' but I can tell you more about the 'Australian Farmers' company - as it turns out it was a short-lived company with grand ideas.

The photo of the Australian Farmers machine, found in an album of photographs, connected to the Gilmour/Penhalluriack families. 

The Australian Farmers' Harvester Works (2) was incorporated in September 1926 (Herald November 28, 1928) but the first article I can find about the company is in The Age in September 1927. The Australian Farmers' Harvester Works was described as a Farmers Co-operative and the project began when Mr. J. G. Gilmour, a retired mallee former, prevailed upon Mr. F. D. Fogarty not to take certain inventions of his for improving agricultural machinery to America, but to let them be taken up in Australia by a farmers' co-operative concern. Mr. Gilmour undertook to help in the formation of such a company. (The Age, September 10, 1927) Thus the company was formed with the aim of farmers providing the capital, the company would then manufacture their own farm machinery by taking over the patent rights of harvesters and other farm implements from inventors such as Mr Gilmour. They would also later trade in other Agency lines. Part of the plan was also to sell land  for housing near the factory for the workers to live in, so the Company was involved in both manufacturing and land sub-division.

In February 1928, the Australian Farmers' Harvester Works applied for a victualler licence for a hotel at Craigieburn. They would use an existing eight room building, but had plans to build a brick and cement hotel with fifteen bedrooms at a cost of £8750. The Licensing Court heard that Craigieburn had a population of one hundred and sixty people within a radius of three miles.....Mr. F. Fogarty, managing director of the company, said the site of the proposed hotel was 2½ acres in extent, which the company owned, as well as 400 acres adjoining. There would be a sports ground, children's play ground, tennis courts, bowling green and swimming pool. The works would cover 32 acres. Despite this glowing report from Mr Fogarty, the Court decided that the application was premature and thus it was withdrawn. (The Age, February 16, 1928)

At this time the company was still operating in Footscray, where they had made a prototype of the harvester as there were reports of trials taking place at Craigieburn and also in the Jung area. A report in The Australasian said this about the working of the machine Owing to the even distribution of the draught, which is obtained by chains working over a pulley attachment from three points on the main transverse pieces, all side draught is eliminated, the implement being drawn evenly through the crop. The disposition of the wheels is also a variation from the general structure of these implements, and is regarded as as added advantage in relieving any side strain and in lightening the draw weight of the machine. (The Australasian, February 18, 1928)

It wasn't until 1929 that the company commenced building their factory at Craigieburn - the Architects were H. V. Gillespie (3)  and Latimer of 443 Chancery Lane, Melbourne. There was a detailed description of the building in The Herald  the aim of the architects was to design a well-lit and airy building of attractive appearance at a minimum cost. The building is to be of brick and timber frame construction, designed to give an economical plant and assembly line lay-out with full advantage taken of the only necessities obtainable without cost - light and air.

Large areas of glass have been introduced into the roof of the saw-tooth type facing, to admit the cool, uniform light from the south, which has the advantage of soft brilliancy without glare, or the strong and disturbing shadows cast by sunlight. Thus there will be no dark or light areas, and no fatigue due to continual adjustment of the mechanism of the eye, it being an axiom that, if a work man must peer at his work, he is not working properly.

The Interior is one of large areas without an undue number of supports. which are of timber, but do not enter the ground, thus preventing another form of industrial waste, the placing of perishable material - which includes even jarrah - in aerated earth layers near the ground surface. Actually, the posts rest upon concrete footings in posts in the ground, but resistance to wind pressure has been obtained in an interesting manner - by introducing a calculated amount of wind bracing into the trusses. The whole of the interior will be finished in white. (The Herald, September 11, 1929, see here)

As you can see from the illustrations below, the building was large. Unfortunately, the images do no reproduce very well, but they give you an idea of the size of the project.

The Weekly Times of September 14, 1929

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224402815

The Argus September 17, 1929

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4037780

As we said before, this project also involved houses for the workers. As The Argus said In the early stages the company realised the value of having its workmen living within easy distance of their work, and it obtained an area, which has been surveyed in collaboration with an officer of the Town-planning Commission, and negotiations are now pending, for the erection of workmen's houses and business premises. It is expected that by the middle of January [1930] more than 60 highly trained mechanics, with their assistants, will be employed at the works and by this time 12 months several hundred men, skilled in all branches, will be permanently employed. (The Argus, September 17, 1929)

The Company had gone so far as to actually name the streets in the new estate - It was decided to give streets on the new subdivision adjacent to the site for the factory the names of Dunhelen (after the original estate), Craigieburn, Station, Harvester, McCallum, Henderson, Carlisle, Gilmour, Crockett, Plumpton, Healey, Cliff and Harvey (The Herald, September 10, 1927)

Does it all sound too good be true? Indeed it was. Even in November 1929, the financial advice column, written by Harold Burston, in the The Herald was sounding a note of caution Very little has been known of the financing arrangements; but with building operations in progress, and active selling of home-blocks in the works estate to prospective employees and others, it has been generally believed that the company commanded all funds it required.  However, investigation reveals that Australian Farmers' C.D. Harvester Works Ltd. is proceeding with works construction and planning for production early next year with funds that must be quite inadequate to ensure that operations can be conducted on a sufficiently large scale to give opportunities for commercial success. In fact Mr Burston writes [there is a]  deficit of £10,032 in the profit and loss account. These intangibles and deficiencies exceed the paid-up capital by £2,124 and Mr Burston goes on to say  the directors have been developing the company's interests with a remarkable optimism in their capacity to secure the new capital when required.  Mr Burston also reported that 119 blocks had been sold, some to unemployed people who hoped that they would then get work at the factory.  The blocks cost £70 each and they also had to purchase a minimum of 25 shares in the Company. As Mr Burston pointed out Should the company fail to secure adequate capital and be compelled to cease operations, Craigieburn home sites would, no doubt, slump in value.

It appears that over the next 18 months, very little happened. According to the Craigieburn Historical Interest Group (CHIG) the brick facade of the building was erected and no machines were ever made.  The wall became part of Craigieburn's history - For years the front wall of the foundry stood untouched along the Melbourne to Sydney Rd and became such a prominent feature of Craigieburn that is was unofficially named ‘The Wall’. The remainder of the building was not completed until the mid 1970’s and is now incorporated into a modern factory. (CHIG)  So famous was this wall was that it was actually shown in the Melway Street Directory.

Just near the Railway Station is 'The Brick Wall' - all that remained of the Australian Farmers' Harvester Works Ltd. 

Melway Street Direstory, Editon 6, 1973

It is possible  then that the machine in the photo that was in the Gilmour/ Penhalluriack album was the prototype that was used in the trials at Craigieburn and Jung in 1928. The CHIG post said that the founder of the Australian Farmers' Harvester Works, Francis Desmond Fogarty, was later involved in other failed ventures, but that's a story for another time. You can  read the CHIG post, here, which includes a photograph of the only part of the Harvester Works built, 'The Brick Wall' which is now part of a factory in Potter Street, Craigieburn.

In the end the company was wound up on the petition of  George Gustave Weinberg, of Donald, farmer and grazier. In April 1931 Mr Weinberg took action in the Practice Court, saying the company owed him £250 and Mr. Justice Macfarlan ordered the winding up of the company. The CHIG post says that 386 investors were affected.  Looking back, it would seem that the fact that the company made a decision  to apply for a hotel licence, before they had even manufactured one item, and had they been successful, used up valuable company resources in a non-core area, might have been an indication that hotels and land sub-division may have been the main aim from the start rather than manufacturing. However, clearly one machine was made, as the newspapers reported on the trials at Craigieburn and Jung. What happened to this machine and was it the machine in our photo?  I cannot tell you that. I can tell you that Mr Gilmour never had a street named after him in Craigieburn.  I wonder if he lost money when the Company was wound up?

I have created a list of articles on Australian Farmers' Harvester Works Ltd. on Trove, you can access it here. All the articles referenced here are on the list.

Footnotes -
(1) The Company is variously called in newspaper reports - Australian Farmers' Harvester Works Ltd.; Australian Farmers' Centre Draft Harvester Works Ltd or Australian Farmers' Centre Draught Harvester Works Ltd or the Australian Farmers' C.D. Harvester Works Ltd. Unless I am quoting a newspaper article, I have called the company  Australian Farmers' Harvester Works

(2) Gilmour and Penhalluriack Family History information
William Gilmour married Mary Peters in 1891, they had
Flora Grayson (b. 1892, never married, died 1950)
Ruby May (b. 1895, married Victor Egerton in 1929)
Ida (b. 1898, married George Ernest Buncle in 1935)
Ernest Charles (b. 1900, married Violet Peters in 1932) 
William Neil (b. 1905, married Hazel Isabel Sleeman in 1933)

In 1882 in Ballarat, William John Penhalluriack married Emma Peters.  They had
Ernest William (b. 1883)
Lillian Grayson (b. 1888)
Charles Peter (b. 1897)

Mary (b. 1860) and Emma (b. 1855)  are sisters - the daughters of Charles Peters and Jane Grayson. The other children were Harriet (b. 1857, m. William John Brown in 1883) and Albert Grayson (b. 1874)

I am pretty sure that Mr J. G Gilmour, the 'retired Mallee farmer' who had invented the machine and prompted the formation of the Australian Farmers' Harvester Works' who came from Sea Lake according to  a report I found, and William Gilmour are  brothers. There is a John Gabriel Gilmour b.1876 to a Thomas Daniel Gilmour and Mary Daniel. They also had a William b. 1860. According to a law notice in the paper (March 28 1934) Probate of Mary Gilmour's will was granted to John Gabriel Gilmour of Waitchie (a town right next to Sea Lake) - so that confirms, in my mind that William and  J.G. Gilmour are bothers.   J.G. married Annie Tweedale in 1906.

(3) H. V. Gillespie  - George Harold Vernon Gillespie (1888 - 1946), Architect. I have created a list of articles on Trove and websites, about his professional and personal life, access it here. I don't have any information about his partner, Latimer.

The St Kilda Yacht Club WW1 memorial on the St Kilda pier

I heard of this memorial by chance when my friend, Isaac, came across a reference to it in Isaac Selby’s Old Pioneers’ Memorial History of Melbourne, published in 1924. Selby wrote  The St Kilda Yacht Club have erected a monument, in the form of a Conning tower at the end of the Pier, in memory of its members who fell in the war. The tower is a relic of the old British torpedo boat “Childers.” Selby, then has few more lines about the unveiling ceremony. This is an unusual type of war memorial, so I did some research to find out more about it.

St. Kilda Pier with conning tower, 1933.  Photographer: John Kinmont Moir.

State Library of Victoria Image H4869

The Unveiling of the memorial
On January 28, 1920 the memorial was unveiled to commemorate, as Selby told us, the six members of the St Kilda Yacht Club who had lost their lives in the War. The Argus of January 29, 1920 reported on this event An attractive and particularly appropriate memorial to members of the St Kilda Yacht Club who sacrificed their lives in the war has been presented by Mr C. Marshall, commodore of the club, and was opened yesterday afternoon. It consists of the conning tower of the old torpedo boat Childers, which, after having been on the Australian station for many years was scrapped four or five years ago. The tower has been placed on a pedestal at the extreme end of the St Kilda Pier. It is surrounded with seats for the public and surmounted by a flagstaff and weather-vane.  It will be used by judges and other yachting officials for club-racing events. A heavy bell is placed at the foot of the flagstaff and will be used for signal purposes instead of a gun.

The Memorial, date unknown.
Isaac Hermann provided this image which came from an unknown family album salvaged from a house renovation rubbish skip by a passer by and donated to the Port Phillip City Collection.

The Mayor of St Kilda, Cr T. G. Allen unveiled the memorial and mentioned that every eligible member of the club had enlisted for service, then Brigadier-General Lloyd responded on behalf of the families. The Malvern Standard of January 31, 1920 had the text of the plaque which was mounted on the memorial -

Erected by St Kilda Yacht Club

In memory of members who fell in

the Great War 1914-1919

Capt F.W. Appleton, Croix de Guerre

Pte. H.C. Craig

Lieut. W.T. Hogg

Pte. J.B. Hosking

Sergt A. Levy, M. M.

Sergt. C. Riley

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends"

Presented by C. Marshall, Commodore, 1920.

Victorian Torpedo Boat Childers.
Appeared in the Illustrated Australian News November 10, 1883. 
State Library of Victoria Image IAN10/11/83/173

The Childers was a torpedo ship and it was launched in 1883 in England. It formed part of the Victorian Navy, alongside the gunboats, Victoria and Albert. The three vessels sailed here together arriving in Port Phillip Bay in June 1884. The Childers was just over 118 feet long, had a beam of 12 feet 5 inches, a top speed of 19.5 knots and a crew of 12. Its purchase price was £10,500. The Childers was decommissioned in September 1916 and sold for scrap for £20 in August 1918.
There is an illustrated history of the Childers, here, http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-childers-hmvs

The men who were honoured
I have listed the Service Numbers (SN) of the men, if they have one, so you can look up their full record on the National Archives of Australia, website, www.naa.gov.au.

Appleton, Frederick William Lieutenant. Frederick enlisted at the age of 33, on July 5, 1915 his next of kin was his mother, Mary, of 308 Carlisle Street, Balaclava. Frederick was Mentioned in Despatches and he was Killed in Action in France on August 8, 1918. Lieutenant Appleton was posthumously awarded the French honour, the Croix de Guerre. His Roll of Honour circular at the Australian War Memorial, says he was a prominent member of the Royal Yacht Club, the St Kilda Yacht Club, the Brighton Yacht Club, being a successful skipper of the six-metre yacht, Rip, which defended the Northcote Cup on several occasions.

Craig, Harold Gordon (SN 416).  Harold was a 28-year-old clerk when he enlisted on August 17, 1914 and his next of kin was his mother, Mary, of Hawthorn. Harold was wounded at Gallipoli and died as a result on August 8, 1915. His Roll of Honor circular tells us that he had attended Scotch College and was a member of the Melbourne Cricket Club and the St Kilda Yacht Club. Harold’s brother Robert also enlisted and his sister, Essie, served in the Australian Army Nursing Service. You can read Harold's entry on the Scotch College World War One Commemorative website, here.

Hogg, William Thomas Lieutenant.  William enlisted on February 28, 1916, he was 29 years old and a Factory Manager. His next of kin was his father, Thomas, of Surrey Hills. He was Wounded in Action and died September 27, 1917. Lieutenant Hogg’s Roll of Honour circular said that he was a leading yachtsman, one of a crew (3) to sail the Rip in Sydney Harbour and also one of the crew when the Rip won the Northcote. His obituary in the Camberwell Advertiser of October 13, 1917 said that Yachtsmen speak of his prowess in this great sport with loving memory. Four of William’s brothers also enlisted - Charles, who was Killed in Action; John and Wallace who were both awarded the Military Cross; and Bruce who was a Lieutenant. William and his brother, Charles, have a memorial window at the St Stephen's Presbyterian Church at Surrey Hills (see here)

Hosking, John Bruce (SN 1959)   John was only 18 when he enlisted on January 6, 1915. He was a bank clerk and his father, John, of 115 Park Street, St Kilda was listed as his next of kin. John died of wounds on July 22, 1917. His Roll of Honour Circular said that he attended St Kilda Park State School and was the youngest of four brothers who all enlisted and saw service in France. His brothers were Bert, Les and Thornton.

Levy, Albert (SN 505) Albert was the only son of Jacob and Eva Levy of 3 Park Street, St Kilda, they later moved to 51 Punt Road, Windsor.  He was 20 when he enlisted on January 10, 1916. Albert awarded was the Military Medal and his citation reads in part He was one of the first to enter the enemy trenches and his example of courage, determination and complete control of his men while under heavy fire helped largely in the success of the operation. Albert was Killed in Action on March 29, 1918. Albert’s obituary in the Herald of June 17, 1918 said that Sergeant Levy was a well-known member of the Melbourne Swimming Club, and the St. Kilda Yacht Club. Albert is also listed on the Victorian Jewish War Memorial in Ripponlea.

Riley, Charles (SN 4760) Charles enlisted on July 19, 1915. He was a 23-year-old clerk in the Victorian Railways and his mother, Ellen, of East Malvern was his next of kin. Acting Sergeant Riley was Killed in Action on May 3, 1917. Charles’ brother Thomas also enlisted and was awarded the Military Medal. I can’t find a connection between Charles and the Yacht Club and he does not have a Roll of Honour circular, but I am fairly certain that he is the man listed on the memorial.

What happened to the Memorial?
The memorial was removed in 1956 when the St Kilda Pier was severely damaged after a storm and it is more than possible that the conning tower structure was scrapped. There was a massive storm in Victoria on the night of April 14 and morning of April 15, 1956. According to newspaper reports, winds up to 60 miles per hour lashed Victoria, huge seas seriously damaged the retaining wall between St Kilda and Elwood and more than two feet of water covered Marine Parade in Elwood and, sadly, ten people lost their lives in car accidents caused by the storm.

After much searching and many enquiries we were pleased to discover that the Memorial plaque has been firmly and respectfully affixed to the wood panelled entrance foyer at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS),  in St Kilda.

The Memorial plaque, taken at the RMYS in October 2019
Photographer: Isaac Hermann

I have created a list of articles on this Memorial and the men who appear on it, on Trove, access the list here.

An abridged version of this article appeared in the St Kilda Historical Society newsletter, The St Kilda Times, No. 229, December 2019.

The RMYS also has an Honor Board, seen below. It is at the top of the stairs, so it wasn't that easy to get a good photo.

RMYS Great War Honor Board

Photo: Isaac Hermann

First column

Banks, W. J., Blair, J., Church, S., *Craig, H.G., Crick, A.T., Day, G.H., *Hosking J., Hughes, V., Kyd, A. G. Croix de Guerre, Leslie, S.D., Lewis, R.   D.C.M., Piper, T.H., White, J. G., Adamson, P., *Appleton, F.  Croix de Guerre. Taylor, W.H., Eilenberg, E.G., MacDonald, H., Terrell, V.E., Welshman, R., Fry, G., Jardine, R.E., *Riley, C., Carne, P., Thorpe, J. E., Kebby, E., Duke, E.

Second column

Waller, F.R., Hogg, T., Golding, A., Loud, W Jr., Morrow, T., Lempriere, Dr C.L., Cheel, A.J., Ainslie, B., Walker, E., *Hogg, W.T., May, F.A., Chalmers, J.E., Ross, G.R., Chapman, D., *Levy, A.A. M.M., Fitzgerald, B., Newton, L., James, A.W., Goold, W.C., McCutcheon, W.F., Dalton, R.M., Bishop, H.P., Hodges, W.C.H., Jago, C., Beauchamp, G., Giles, I.E., Smith, P.R.

Third column

Curtain, L., Kennedy, S., Dow, J., Padley, T., Liversidge, E., D’Elton, G., Gough, J.G., Morris, D.R., Atkinson, J., McNaughton, D., Turner, G., Gutteridge, N., Butler, J.J., Corke, A.E., Close, N., Nunan. S.A., Heath, A., Oxley, W.

Ten Best Citizens of Victoria 1905

I was given this post card by a friend, Isaac, who is a collector of postcards.  It shows one of the Ten Best Citizens of Victoria and I wanted to know who the other 'best' citizens were and so naturally I went to Trove to find out. It turns out that the competition in The Herald took place in 1905 with the voting closing on May 29, so this was two years before this postcard was sent (more about that at the end of this post)

The Weekly Times of June 3, 1905 had the results of the poll -

The results of the Ten Best Citizens poll

Weekly Times June 3, 1905 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222767399#

Here's a summary of who these people are -
Sir John Madden  John Madden (1844-1918)  lawyer, member of the Legislative Assembly, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Lieutenant Governor of Victoria. You can read more about him here, in the Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB). I have recently acquired the John Madden postcard.

Sir John Madden postcard, sent to Miss MacMeikan, Newlands, Apsley. 

Postmarked Apsley September 1, 1905. 

Janet, Lady Clarke  Lady Clarke (1851 - 1909) was born Janet Snodgrass and married William Clarke (1831 - 1897) in 1873. They lived at Rupertswood in Sunbury and Clivenden in East Melbourne. Her entry (see here)  in the ADB said her enthusiasm and drive made her a vigorous supporter of philanthropic, cultural, educational and political movements. Janet Clarke Hall at Melbourne University, founded in 1889 to house female university students, is named after her.

Mr T. Bent, M.L.A  Sir Thomas Bent (1838 - 1909)  Premier of Victoria February 1904 to January 1909 - revered by some, reviled by others - read about him in the ADB here.

Sir George Turner, M.P  Sir George Turner (1851 - 1916) Premier of Victoria September 1894 to December 1899. He was later elected to the Federal Parliament and became the Federal Treasurer. His ADB entry is here.

Miss Sutherland  Selina Murray Sutherland (1839 - 1909)  worked with neglected children and established, amongst other organizations,  the Neglected Children's Aid Society and  the Society in Aid of Maternity Hospital Patients.  Her entry (see here) in the ADB, written by Ruth Hoban, rates her contribution to society with that of Caroline Chisholm.

Rev. A. R. Edgar  Alexander Robert Edgar (1850 - 1914)  The Reverend Edgar is the subject of our postcard - he was a Methodist Minister and social reformer. he was the superintendent of the Central Methodist Mission at Wesley Church and involved in the anti-sweating movement and fought against the exploitation  of workers. How glad I am that I have his postcard, the Reverend Edgar is, along with Miss Sutherland, my favourite people from this list. Read his ADB entry here.

Mr W. H Irvine, M.L.A  Sir William Hill Irvine (1858 - 1943)  Premier of Victoria  from June 1902  - February 1904. Read about him, here.

Sir Samuel Gillot,  M.L.A  Sir Samuel Gillott (1838 - 1913) Lord Mayor of Melbourne and member of the Legislative Assembly - read his ADB entry, here.

Mr A Deakin, M.P  Sir Alfred Deakin (1856 - 1919) Prime Minister on three occasions - 1903-1904, 1905-1908, 1909-1910. Read his ADB entry, here.

Mr George Coppin  George Selth Coppin (1819 - 1906)  Actor, theatre manager and owner, Richmond City Councillor, Member of the Legislative Council. Read more about him in the ADB here.

These photos of Ten Best Citizens of Victoria appeared in The Herald on June 1, 1905.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242193605#

The postcard was sent on March 25, 1907 to Mrs R. Moore of Glenferrie Road in Malvern, by Charlie. This is what Charlie wrote - Another for your collection. I suppose by this time your new album will be getting a bit weighty. Trust you and Uncle Dick are well. I am just the glassy. My album is nearly full. I forgot to get Olive Ebbott's ad from you, if I get it I'll have  a lark. Love from Charlie.

So what can we discover from this card?  Charlie was the nephew of Dick or Richard Moore of Glenferrie Road and  both he and his aunt collected postcards. The Electoral Roll of 1905 has a Richard Inghley Moore and Sara Isabel Moore at 61 Glenferrie Road, Malvern - his occupation was a confectioner. According to the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages Richard married Jane Lewis in 1876, she died in 1899 and he then remarried in 1903 to Sara Isabel Potts (born 1866).
Richard died in 1930, aged 76 and I can't work out when Sara died.

The Australasian  July 18, 1903

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138688343

I do not have any other information about Charlie. He mentioned 'Olive Ebbott's ad'  Olive Ebbott  (born 1885) is in the 1908 Electoral Roll at 72 Union Street, Malvern with a Leslie and a Reginald Ebbott who, I believe, are her brothers. Next door at 82 Union Street are  Elizabeth (nee Temby) and Phillip Ebbott - her parents. Phillip Ebbott was a wood dealer, so did the ad concern a job or perhaps Olive took in boarders? I don't know. You can read about the Ebbott family in the Malvern Historical Society Newsletter from April 2007 - access it here. It also has some photographs of the family.