Emil Heinrich Schellenberger aka Emile Henry Shelley

Emil Heinrich Schellenberger was born on June 17, 1869 at the family home and business, the Bakers' Arms Hotel in Sandhurst, as Bendigo was once called. He was the fifth child and fifth son of George and Wilhelmina (nee Herold) Schellenberger. When Emil died in 1944 in Warragul, he was known as Emile Henry Shelley and he generously left his estate to the people of Bunyip for the beautification and advancement of the township. This is his story and I am sorry to say that I don't have  a photograph of him. 

His father, George Schellenberger was born June 27, 1826 in Merxheim, Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany.  George arrived in Sandhurst in 1852 and he returned to his birth town in 1862 where on November 27 he married Wilhemina, who had been born on August 8, 1841. Their eight children, were all born in Bendigo; Emil's birth being followed by two sisters and another brother (1).

George Schellenberger - a member of the Society of the Old Bendigonians, 

residents who were in Bendigo up to December 31, 1853 (2) 

State Library of Victoria Image H26099/99

George was a successful businessman - a Master Baker and later a Publican, but the family endured many tragedies - their third son, Albert, died in 1867 aged only 11 months; their second son, Friedrich, died in 1871 aged 6 years and five months; George himself died of cancer on January 27, 1876, when he was only 47. This was followed by the death of the eldest daughter, Wilhelmina in 1877 at the age of five years and nine months. Then tragedy struck again with the death of George's wife and the mother of the children, Wilhelmina, when she died August 18, 1878 aged 37. This left the five remaining children as orphans, ranging from 15 years to three years old (3).

What did they do? Wilhelmina had remarried in May 1877 to Wilhelm Beischer (4). Did the children remain with him or was their another relative who looked after them? I cannot tell you. 

There are a some references to Emil in the newspapers - this first one from December 1883, when he was only 14 years old, tells us about his musical talent and his love of  performing and entertaining which he had all his life -

A performance was given in Weeroona Hall on 12th December, in aid of the Bendigo Hospital, by the Weeroona Dramatic Club. The hall was kindly lent by Mr. Beiseher, and was well

filled. Songs by H. Lethbridge, E. Schellenberger and F. Apted were rendered in good style. The farce "Bruised and Cured" by H. Lethbridge aud W. J. Gissing caused great laughter. The programme concluded with the side-splitting farce entitled " Grand-mudder's Ghost," which was well rendered by F. and E. Schellenberger, Gissing, and Apted, the audience being kept in roars of laughter until the curtain was drawn. (5).

In May 1884 a report of the monthly meeting of the Bendigo United Friendly Societies' Dispensary and Medical Institute noted that the executive committee of the Dispensary reported that they had appointed Mr. E. Schellenberger, on probation as apprentice and in February 1885 it was reported that the Pharmacy Board had registered his apprenticeship indentures (6).

The Bendigo Advertiser reported further on his career in June 1889 -
Pharmaceutical Examinations - We observe by the "Argus" that several Sandhurst students have been successful in passing their examinations before the Pharmacy Board of Victoria this month. Mr. J. W. B. Pedley has passed his final examination as pharmaceutical chemist; also Mr. F. W. Waller and Mr. Alex Rae Downes. Mr. Emil Schellenberger is one of six successful out of eleven candidates for the intermediate examination in materia medica and Botany. All these four gentlemen have been students at the School of Mines here, and three of them, viz.: Messrs. Pedley, Schellenberger and Downes were pupils attending the lectures of Mr Lillie Mackay, director of the school. Mr. Waller studied under Mr. E. L. Marks.(7). 

By 1891, Emil had completed his studies and was leasing 128 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, where he operated a Chemist Shop. He was involved in many local organisations in South Melbourne, including the Australian Natives Association, a committee member of the South Melbourne Cricket Club,  President of the South Melbourne Cricket Club Skittle Club and as his obituary in the Emerald Hill Record noted - During the 'nineties he was treasurer of the South Melbourne Football Club and was instrumental in persuading Mr. Bert Howson to join up with the Red and Whites (8).  Bert was a champion wingman for South Melbourne over 17 seasons which comprised the club's last six in the VFA, and its first 11 in the VFL. He was supremely unfortunate in that he began his senior career the year after South's last VFA flag, and ended it the season before the club's first premiership in the VFL. However, he made amends to some extent when, after being appointed non-playing coach of the red and whites in 1918, he led them to a flag at the first time of asking. (9).  

As a Chemist, Emil was very pro-active and advertised on a regular basis in the local papers and in return they gave him favourable editorial space, such as this -

An Enterprising Chemist - We desire to call our readers' attention to the fact that Mr. E. H. Schellenberger has obtained the local agency for the celebrated Chamberlain Medicines, which are manufactured by the Chamberlain Medicine Co., Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.A.. This company is one of the oldest and most reliable in America, and come highly recommended to the people of South Melbourne, and to make their remedies a household article through this district they have made an advertising contract which will appear in the columns of this paper during the next year. The line of remedies they manufacture is of a class that should be found in every home, since they are for the most common ailments such as every family have use for some time during the year. (10).

One of Emil's advertisements

Emerald Hill Record April 15, 1899 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/108490259

However not content to being just an enterprising chemist, in 1897, the Emerald Hill Record advised its readers that -

The attention of the public is directed to an advertisement by Mr. Emil Schellenberger, the well-known chemist, of Clarendon-Street, who having undergone a training at the Dental College of Victoria, has commenced practice as a surgical and mechanical dentist in all the branches of the profession. (11).

Emil's advertisement for his Dental practice

Emerald Hill Record April 21, 1900 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108492093

On August 1, 1899 at his home 50 Howe Crescent, South Melbourne, 30 year-old Emil married 22 year-old Ethel Jane Whylie McCann. The minister was the Reverend Canon Dickinson. Ethel had been born in Stawell and was the daughter of Thomas Johnston  and Elizabeth (nee Gendall) McCann (12). One of the witnesses was Burley Peet, who was to marry  Emil's sister Henrietta, on August 23 the same year (13). 

On May 11, 1900 Ethel gave birth to their daughter, Minnie Ethel, at Howe Crescent.  Sadly Minnie passed away on January 10, 1904 at the age of three years, eight months. She was to be their only child (14).  By this time, due to the renumbering of South Melbourne streets which took place sometime between 1900 and 1905,  the business and their residence was now 224 Clarendon Street (15). 

Death notice for little Minnie, who died at 224 Clarendon Street.

The Argus January 11, 1904    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10592045

Emil was, as we know, a talented musician and performer and there are many reports of his singing engagements as well as some of the social functions he attended with Ethel. Emil sang at a Pleasant Sunday Afternoon, organised by the local committee in aid of the s.s. Federal disaster fund; at an Independent Order of Foresters concert and at a Euchre party held the Albert Park Bowling Club. (16). In July 1905, the couple were guests at the Mayoral Ball, held at the South Melbourne Town Hall; Ethel wore ivory duchesse satin, relieved with chiffon. In the July of the next year, they were invited to a Mayoral 'At Home', also held at the Town Hall. This time Ethel wore cream merv, chiffon bertha, scarlet flower - merv being a silk material and bertha being a deep falling collar attached to a low-necked dress. (17). 

In 1907, Emil established a factory for the manufactory for rubber goods located on the corner of Meaden and Douglas streets and he still had that business in 1915. A year later in 1908 the couple left for Europe for an extended holiday - the dentistry practice was taken over an Alfred Deakin and the rubber goods factory was managed by J. E. McCann - Ethel's brother (18). The couple returned to South Melbourne at some time, they were certainly back by 1911, as there are references in the paper to Ethel's involvements in the South Melbourne Cricket Club Ladies Bowling Club (19). 

In February 1913,  Emil and Ethel travelled overseas again, as The Herald reported  - Mr E. H. Schellenberger... has decided to follow a musical career. He will leave by the Afric, and will go to Germany to pursue his studies on the 'cello. For three years Mr Schellenberger was a member of Mr Marshall Hall's orchestra.  George William Louis Marshall-Hall (1862-1915) was the Professor of Music at Melbourne University and conducted his orchestra from 1892 until 1912. (20). 

I don't know how long they were overseas for, but they are listed in the 1917 Electoral Rolls at Mitford Street in Elwood. There is one change though - presumably due to anti-German feeling the couple are now  known as Emile Henry and Ethel Shelley. From 1918 until sometime in 1922, the Shelley's were in Yea, where he operated a Chemist shop.  Not surprisingly, Emile was involved in musical performances at Yea on occasions - at a farewell to the Reverend Falconer, of St Luke's Church of England, a violin and 'cello duet by Messrs Taylor and Shelley was well rendered and well received and at a Peace Ball held in October 1919 - The Yea Orchestra, consisting of violin (Mr R. Taylor), 'cello (Mr E. H. Shelley), bass violin (Mr C. Sheppard), cornet (Mr A. Lonsdale), and piano (Miss J. Bett) provided excellent music for the twenty odd dances, which made the evening still more enjoyable.(21).

Emile Shelley's advertisement for his Yea Chemist shop

Yea Chronicle, December 23, 1920 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/60451376

After their return from Yea, the couple are listed in the Electoral Roll at 11 Vautier Street in Elwood. Then they made another move to a country town, this time Bunyip. The Shire of Berwick Rate Books show that on June 17 1925, Emil took over the Chemist shop in the town and purchased a house. 

Emile and Ethel soon involved themselves in the community - Emile was a member of the Bunyip Progress Association, the Agricultural Society and the Cricket, Tennis and Football Clubs. Ethel was a committee member of the Australian Women's National League and an inaugural member of the Bunyip Country Women's Association (22). However, life in a country town had its downsides. The Dandenong Journal reported on the following letter Ethel Shelley wrote to the Berwick Shire in 1942 - 

“Are there any by-laws limiting the extent of farming in a residential area (George street).? wrote Mrs. E. Shelley, Bunyip to the Berwick Shire council last Friday. ‘I can honestly say I have not had a proper, night’s rest for some weeks,” she went on. Late at night and early morning, white leghorn roosters start crowing - as well as cows.”....Mrs. Shelley added that animals near a private house bring flies and mosquitoes - “and we have plenty, of both,” she wound up. Sadly for Ethel the Council responded that they had no by-law covering the matter.  (23)

In 1948 Ethel Shelley was photographed at Mrs Pye and Mrs  at the recently

opened Country Women's Association Club in Lansell Road, Toorak. The caption reads Mrs Pye and Mrs Shelley pause beside a fountain. Mrs Shelley, who is very fond of flowers, says the garden is a delight. She was one of the first members of the CWA in Bunyip, "The Club is wonderful - It fills a long-felt want," she tells Mrs Pye

The Herald, December 14, 1948 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243547502

Emile Shelley died on January 8, 1944 at the Warragul Hospital (24). The contents of his will were detailed in a letter his Trustees sent to the Berwick Shire Secretary -

“We beg to advise that the company is applying for probate of the will of Emile Henry Shelley, late of Bunyip, retired chemist, who died on the 8th. ult. Under the will, the whole of the estate, both real and personal, is devised and bequeathed upon trust for the widow, for life without impeachment of waste. On the death of the widow, the sum of £1000 is payable to the trustee for the time being of the Bunyip Mechanics’ Institute, and £1000 to the trustees of the Bunyip Agricultural Society.

The remainder of the estate is to be known as the Emile Henry Shelley Trust and is bequeathed upon trust as to capital and income to be administered by the trustee and expended as it in its absolute discretion shall decide for the beautification and advancement of the township of Bunyip, and the trustees may seek the advice of F. S. Dodge, J. A. Cock, G. B. Calderwood, all of Bunyip, or the survivor or survivors of them. From data prepared to date it would appear that the value of the trust will be in the vicinity of £7000, but it will be appreciated that this figure may vary by the time the trust is established."  (25).

It was a very generous donation to the town. When Ethel Shelley died at the age of 71, on June 3, 1950 at her home in George Street, Bunyip, Emile's bequests could then be enacted upon (26). It was reported that when the Hall received the magnificent bequest [it] automatically liquidated the hall overdraft, leaving a credit of £475. When the hall was re-built the late Mr. Shelley donated the portico at the main entrance. The original Hall  burnt down on March 14, 1940 and the new Hall, with Mr Shelley's portico, opened on October 8, 1942. (27).

Bunyip Hall, which opened October 1942. The portico was donated by Emile Shelley.

Image: Call of the Bunyip; History of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk 1847-1990 by Denise Nest

Emile's plaque at the Bunyip Hall. 

I'll take a better photo of it one day,

There was a challenge to the Will as reported in The Argus in December 1952 -

The Full High Court today ruled that a man's bequest of £9,600 should be used for the "beautification and advancement" of Bunyip, Victoria. The man, Emile Henry Shelley, died in 1944. He bequeathed his estate to his widow in trust until her death. Shelley directed that when his wife died the money should be used for Bunyip's beautification and advancement. When Mrs. Shelley died in 1950, next of kin contested the will in the Supreme Court of Victoria. Judge Coppel held that the purpose of the will was "good and charitable." The next-of-kin's fight ended today, when the Full High Court upheld Judge Coppel's ruling. (28). Who was the next of kin who challenged the Will? More on this later. 

The Trustees of the Emile Henry Shelley Trust made a decision in 1957 that  the money should go towards a Hospital. The Shelley Memorial Hospital Society was established in 1960 and the Shelley Memorial Hospital at Bunyip was officially opened on March 19, 1966, a fitting tribute to a community minded man. In the first two years of operation, 100 babies were born at the Hospital. The Hospital closed on May 1, 1991, and the building is now part of Hillview Aged Care. (29). 

The Shelly Memorial Hospital, Bunyip.

Image: Call of the Bunyip; History of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk 1847-1990 by Denise Nest

Emile was cremated at Springvale Crematorium and his ashes were interred with Minnie at the Melbourne General Cemetery, where Ethel was later buried. (30).  There was one mystery which temporarily perplexed me. Ethel's death notice (see below) listed her children as Lily, Charles, Mary and Edgar. And yet,  both death certificates list Minnie as their only child, and their marriage certificate states that neither were married before and had no previous children.  Lily, Charles, Mary and Edgar  are actually her siblings and Vi Barber is Ethel's niece, the daughter of her sister Mary (31).  It would be interesting to know who challenged Emile's will - he had two surviving siblings, Ferdinand and Herbert;  Ethel had the one surviving sibling, Edgar, did they feel they were entitled to the Estate or was it nieces and nephews on either side? I cannot tell you. 

Emile's death notice 

The Argus, January 10, 1944 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11802986

Ethel's death notice, which mistakenly lists her siblings as her children.

The Argus, June 5 1950 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22833353

The town of Bunyip would be grateful for the generosity of Emile and Ethel Shelley, as the during the 25 years the Hospital operated it provided employment for the local community, in a caring local hospital used for the treatment of illness, for operations and for the delivery of babies. 

Trove List - I have created a list of newspapers articles on Trove on the  Schellenberger / Shelley family. Access it here. 

Footnotes 

(1) A source on Ancestry.com - Geneanet Community Trees Index - lists George and Wilhemina's Birth and Marriage locations as Merxheim, Meisenheim-Birkenfeld, Rheinland Pfalz, Allemagne; George's arrival date in Bendigo Advertiser, February 23, 1876, see here. Their children were - George Frederick (1863 - died in Kalgoorlie, W.A in 1931); Friedrich (1864-1871); Albert Wilhelm (1866-1867); Ferdinand (1867 - died in Cheltenham, Vic, in 1955); Emile; Wilhemina Maria (1871-1877); Henrietta Margaratha (1873- died in Beechworth in 1931, married Burley Peet in 1899); Herbert Luie (1874 - died in Belmont, W.A. in 1952). 

(2) Old Bedigonians - Bendigo Advertiser, September 28 1870, see here.

(3) Victorian Indexes to Births, Deaths and Marriages; family notices in the newspaper, see my Trove list, here.

(4) Bendigo Advertiser, June 11, 1877, see here. In 1882, when he was 38 years old,  Wilhelm married 25 year old Henrietta Friswell and they had eight children together. 

(5) Bendigo Advertiser, December 17, 1883, see here.

(6) Bendigo Advertiser, May 24, 1884, see here; The Argus, February 13, 1885, see here.

(7) Bendigo Advertiser, June 15, 1889, see here.

(8) City of South Melbourne Rate Books on Ancestry.com; involvement with community groups - see references in my Trove list, here; Obituary - Emerald Hill Record, January 15 1944, see here.

(9) Bert Howson -  Entry by John Devaney on Australianfootball.com - here 

(10) Emerald Hill Record, April 15 1899, see here. 

(11) Emerald Hill Record, May 1, 1897, see here. 

(13) Information from marriage certificate. Thomas Johnston McCann (1845-1928) married Elizabeth Gendall (1848-1937) in 1870. They had six children - Lily (1871-1892); Mary Helena (1873-1948, married James Taylor in 1894 and they had  three daughters - Mary Helena, Elsie Elizabeth and Violet May. Mary and James divorced in 1914 and she married William Gardner in 1928); Ethel; Thomas Johnston (1879-1883); Charles Edmund (1883-1918); John Edgar (1887 - died in New South Wales in 1961)

(13) The Argus, September 20, 1899, see here.

(14) Birth certificate; death notice The Argus, January 11, 1904, see here. 

(15) Sands McDougall entries for 1900 and 1905. Emil's shop - same location, different number. 

Location of Emil's shop in Clarendon Street, 1900

Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1900.

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

Location of Emil's shop in Clarendon Street, 1905

Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory for 1905

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

(16) Singing engagements - see references in my Trove list, here.

(17) Mayoral Ball, Emerald Hill Record, July 22, 1905, see here; Mayoral 'At Home' Emerald Hill Record, July 14, 1906, see here. Definitions of merv and bertha - Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd edition, 1964.

(18) Manufactory for rubber goods -  Emerald Hill Record, February 16, 1907, see here; Emerald Hill Record, February 22, 1908, see here; The Age, July 24, 1908, see here.

(19) Emerald Hill Record, September 16, 1911, see here.

(20) The Herald, February 12, 1913, see here;  George William Louis Marshall-Hall (1862-1915) - Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here 

and https://library.unimelb.edu.au/collections/marshall-hall

(21) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com. Farewell to Reverend Falconer Yea Chronicle, July 17, 1919, see here; Yea Orchestra - Yea Chronicle, October 23, 1919, see here

(22) Nest, Denise The Call of the Bunyip: history of Bunyip, Iona & Tonimbuk, 1847-1990  (Bunyip History Committee, 1990), p. 195 and see also my Trove list, here, 

(23) Dandenong Journal, July 22, 1942, see here.

(24) Death certificate.

(25) Dandenong Journal, February 23, 1944, see here.

(26) Death certificate

(27) Dandenong Journal, November 8, 1950, see here;  Nest, Denise Bunyip Mechanics' Institute Hall 1906-2006: a place of learning and entertainment (published by the author, 2006) 

(28) The Argus, December 13, 1952, see here.

(29) Nest, Denise History of Shelley Memorial Hospital, A'Beckett Road, Bunyip 1930-1991 (Bunyip History Committe, 2000)

(30) Death certificates and https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/186234662/emile-hennch-shelley_(schellenberger)

(31) See footnote 13

The Inebriates Asylum at Beaconsfield

Between 1889 and 1892 there was an Asylum for Inebriates operating at Beaconsfield, and even though the Asylum was short lived, it gave its name to the surrounding area and even as late as 1925 a report in The Argus called the area Inebriates Hill (1).  The area is now known as Guys Hill.

The Inebriates Act of 1890, defined Inebriates as persons who habitually used alcoholic liquors and they could be committed to an Inebriate Asylum for detention and curative treatment for up to three months (2).  Around 1881, Dr Charles McCarthy had opened the first Melbourne Inebriate Retreat at Northcote and this was compulsorily taken over by the Government in 1890, though he was appointed the Medical Superintendent of the establishment (3). More of Charles McCarthy later. Previously inebriates were committed to the Lunatic Asylum. 

We can trace the early history of the Asylum through the Victoria Government Gazettes (4). On September 30, 1889 the Governor in Council ordered that the buildings and premises situate at Beaconsfield and hitherto known as Craik’s Boarding House shall be an Asylum for Inebriates.

The start of the Inebriates Asylum

Victoria Government Gazette, October 4 1889, p. 3320.  https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1889/V/general/103.pdf

A week later, the  Government Gazette noted the appointment of the Superintendent of the  Asylum, Thomas Elmes and the Secretary, Charles Williams. Thomas Elmes was a Doctor with a practice at Berwick (5). Charles William was the Superintendent of the Belair Inebriates Retreat in Adelaide, upon which the Beaconsfield facility was modelled. Belair had opened in June 1877 (6). 

Appointment of the Superintendent and Secretary of the Beaconsfield Asylum.

Victoria Government Gazette, October 11 1889, p. 3377  https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1889/V/general/107.pdf

On November 4, 1889 the Governor in Council ordered that The buildings and premises belonging to Mrs M.H.Blair, situate at Beaconsfield, and known as Walnut Grove, shall be an Asylum for Inebriates, to be used for the care and treatment of female patients only.

Facilities for female at Beaconsfield

Victoria Government Gazette, November 8, 1889, p.3834. https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1889/V/general/118.pdf

The Victoria Government Gazette of December 20, 1899 (7) published the Regulations relating to the discipline and conduct to be observed by patients in asylums for inebriates. This covered such things as meal times - Breakfast at 8.00am, Dinner at 1.00pm and Tea sat 6.00pm; Bed-times - 10.00pm and to rise at 6.00am in the summer and 7.00am in the winter; there was to be no gambling and patients were not to receive any articles from visitors without permission of the superintendent. 

The same issue also published the Regulations for the Management, Supervision, Inspection , and Regulation of Asylums for Inebriates. The Regulations covered the amount of food allowed to each inmate; intoxicating liquor was banned; inmates were banned from having money or stamps and all letters were opened before being handed to inmates. Regulations also covered what to do if an inmate became insane (they were sent to a Lunatic Asylum) or died (a letter was sent to the local Coroner and to the ‘person who shall have made the last payment on account of such patient'). The Fees were also set out - £2 per week for patients on the ‘lower scale’ and £5 per week for those on the ‘higher scale.'

The daily rations for each inmate.

Victoria Government Gazette, December 20, 1899, p 4450-4451 https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1889/V/general/135.pdf 

I found the following descriptions in the newspapers of the Asylum at Beaconsfield -
A report from July 1891 noted - There was only accommodation for 10 male and seven female inmates, and these were kept in buildings two miles apart from each other (8). From January 1892 - The [male] asylum consists of two blocks of wooden buildings a slight distance apart, one of which was on the land when it was leased by the Government; the other has been since erected (9).  A later report from July 1892, described the male complex - Government had purchased a large area of property and built a number of houses, as well as a caretaker's private residence of considerable dimensions (10).

There were two tragic stories connected to the Asylum. The first concerns Thomas Bissell, of South Melbourne,  who on Tuesday April 28, 1891 escaped through a window, wearing only a nightshirt, drawers and socks. The grounds and surrounding area were searched and there was a reported sighting on the Thursday morning. The Aboriginal trackers were called in and started work on Friday morning but could not pick up the trail (11). On the Saturday morning - 

about 60 horsemen and 30 or 40 people on foot assembled at the retreat. The horsemen were divided into parties under Constables Roberts and Falkiner, and Messrs. Fuller and Williams, who scoured the bush right through to Gembrook. The footmen, under Messrs. W. Paternoster and Gardiner, searched the Cardinia Creek for about four miles, dragging all the water holes, but when the daylight drew in the party had to give up without finding any trace (12).

Thomas Bissell missing

Victoria Government Gazette, May 15 1891, p.2021. https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1891/V/general/65.pdf

On July 17 two young men were out shooting in the Gembrook Ranges, about 12 miles from the Asylum, and discovered a human skeleton at the bottom of a gully. The news was sent to Berwick, and Constable Roberts proceeded to the place indicated, where the remains were identified, by means of the little clothing on them, as those of Thomas Bissell, the escaped inebriate. They were conveyed to Berwick, and the usual course in such matters taken. It is satisfactory to know that the mystery surrounding the sad affair will be cleared up (13).

The second sad story concerns Francis Key, a cordial manufacturer of Seymour (14).  He was found in his room on January 3, 1892 having shot himself, the bullet having  entered the head at the chin, and blew the face and fore part of his head to atoms (15) as the local paper graphically reported. He had been living separately from his wife  and at the time of his admission he was suffering from alcoholism and was in a weak state. Under medical treatment, however, he rapidly improved, and appeared cheerful and contented until a few days before his death, when he expressed a wish to obtain his release (16).

Another report notes that -
On the 30th ult. his wife visited him at the asylum, when she noticed that he had a gun in his bedroom, and on her return home the following day she wrote to Mr. Williams, the secretary of the Asylum, cautioning him, "On no consideration to allow her husband to have firearms in his possession, as he was very cunning and had suicidal tendency." The letter was received by the secretary on the 2nd inst., but beyond submitting it to the visiting medical superintendent, no action was taken with regard to it, and on the following morning the deceased shot himself. Two letters the deceased had written to his wife, but had not posted, showed that the act was premeditated. (17).

It may seem extraordinary that inmates at an Inebriates Asylum should have access to guns but as The Age reported, Mr Key had obtained the gun -

from Seymour about a fortnight previously for the purpose of joining the other patients in shooting parties, which occasionally take place under the charge of the secretary, Mr. C. Williams, who resides on the premises. Although patients on their entry into the asylum are deprived for a time of any instrument with which they could injure themselves as soon as they have quite recovered from the effects of alcohol they are treated like residents of an ordinary country boarding house, the only difference being that they are not allowed to leave the asylum grounds except in charge of an attendant. To relieve the monotony of detention, shooting, fishing, &c., are occasionally indulged in, and this accounts for the presence of a gun in the room of the deceased. (18).

The Jury at the Inquest found  -

"That the deceased, Francis Key, came to his death through a gunshot wound, inflicted by himself, during a fit of alcoholic mania," and added a rider, " That we also think sufficient precaution was not exercised by the officials, after the letter of warning from deceased's wife, received on the day before his death, intimating his tendency to commit suicide." (19)

Both Beaconsfield and Northcote were closed in 1892. Dr Charles McCarthy, who established the Northcote Facility as a private concern in 1881, wrote to The Age in July 1892 on this subject, accusing the Government of having ulterior motives and being financially extravagant -

Sir, — I saw from The Age that the Government intends to shut up the Northcote Inebriates Retreat, as well as that at Beaconsfield, on the 30th September, for three reasons, viz. : — 1st. that there is no demand, on account of the smallness of the number of patients ; 2nd, the expensiveness of the staffs ; 3rd, that the matter had better be left to private establishments. Sir, I have supplied every member of Parliament with printed matter, proving that there is not the slightest foundation for the above three pleas being the cause of this determination. First, in May, 1890, when I had male and female patients, I got the option from the Government either to be removed from the Retreat or to accept office under the Government for one year, and with the condition that I should discharge all my patients and admit none but " female paupers." For 18 years not three female paupers applied in any one year. This showed me at once that it was intended to shut up the Retreat. As such, therefore, I had only from one to four patients, with 16 bedrooms empty. During that year a very large number of pay patients, male and female, applied for admission, begging and urging me to receive them up to the day that I was leaving, and on that day also, but I was not permitted to do so. Yea, and up to last week here in Hawthorn. Second plea, of expense : For the previous 14 years the Retreat did not cost the Government 1s. When I saw that for one patient I had four servants, and when I complained to the head of my department that these servants were allowed by him to be out at night, his remedy for that was to promise to appoint two additional female servants, a clerk at £3 per week, who had nothing to do, with 18 books from Kew Asylum, some of them immense ledgers for lunatics. I protested against this extravagance in vain, I saw the object of it, namely, an excuse to shut it up. I begged to be allowed to receive the females from Beaconsfleld This would not be allowed till after my removal. 3rd. That the cure of inebriates had better be left to private institutions. The Lunacy Commission got the Parliament to pass an act forbidding private retreats, and making Northcote retreat a Government institution, and now, when the property has been secured to the Government, it is only private retreats that must be depended on! Very much was said about the poor by the commission. Though I offered the Government to admit the poor, but not as "paupers," this was repeatedly refused, hence it was never intended to have a permanent inebriate retreat, as the above proves. It was only intended to get my property, to prevent patients entering, and to make the expenditure appear disproportionate to the number of patients. Of this there is not a shadow of doubt. Under these circumstances I am entitled to compensation for my compulsory removal.

— Yours, &c., CHARLES M'CARTHY, M.D. 16th July. (20)

The closure of the Asylum at Beaconsfield was of concern to the local community. The Argus reported in July 1892 

- that during the past day or two residents of this locality have been much concerned as to the notion taken by the Government in closing the local inebriate asylum....[The Government] have decided to dispense with the services of the men numbering about twenty and abandon the place which has cost a great deal of money. It is the intention of the residents to send a deputation to the Government on the matter. Notices have been issued to the men that their services will not be required after the 30th September next and the residents are anxious that some definite settlement should be arrived at before that time (21).

However, they concerns of the Beaconsfield community fell on deaf ears and the Asylum was closed. On August 31, 1894, the empty building  caught fire as reported in South Bourke and Mornington Journal by the journalist using the pen name Todea Africana (22) - 

On Friday last an old land mark of Beaconsfield disappeared. I don't know how long Mrs Craik's old boarding house has been in existence. It was certainly flourishing when I first became acquainted with this famous health resort. Situate on the foothills, as it were, of these ranges and looking across the valley, the position was a very, pleasant and healthful one if not so picturesque nor commanding such a grand view as its successor on the Hills, Kincraik. 

As Upper Beaconsfield was growing more and more in favor, it was decided by the proprietor to build a more extensive establishment, and a site was chosen which is certainly second to none on the hills, near the post office. After remaining unoccupied for a period the old premises were let to the Government as an inebriate retreat, and under the efficient management of Mr Charles Williams, formerly of Adelaide. 

The report continues that after the Asylum was closed down  It was next occupied as a dairy farm, but in this character had a short lived existence, and latterly has been let to a lady who was sent to Beaconsfield for her health, as so many are, but alas, at too late a stage of her disease. Her death occurred but recently, and it was whilst the house was being cleaned out that the fire occurred. As in the case of all wooden buildings in the country, once the fire fiend had got a grip, he did not let go until the tenement was purified out of existence, and nothing but a heap of ashes and charcoal with a few dozen tortured and twisted shoots of iron corrugated with agony, remained to tell the tale. It was insured for £700 (23).

As I mentioned at the start of this post the last reference I can find to Inebriates Hill is this sad account of the death of Mr Jack McNaughton of Beaconsfield who was killed instantly in an accident on December 21,  1925 -

As a bullock team driven by Mr. Jack McNaughton, of Beaconsfield, was being driven down Inebriates'Hill, two miles from Beaconsfield, on the Upper Beaconsfield road, the team became out of control and bolted. McNaughton attempted for a time to regain control of the bullocks, which were harnessed to a heavy jinker. He was unsuccessful, and when the jinker passed over a rut he was thrown to the roadway.  One wheel of the jinker passed over his body, killing him instantly (24). 

Jack was 44 years old, the son of Archibald and Mary (nee McDonald) McNaughton, of Beaconsfield.

Trove list - I have created a list of articles connected to the Beaconsfield Inebriates Asylum on Trove, access it here.

Footnotes
(1) The Argus, December 22, 1925, see here. 
(2) Inebriates Act of 1890 https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/hist_act/ia1890113.pdf
(3) The Argus, February 10, 1881, see here; The Age, November 29, 1890, see here. Also Public Records Office of Victoria  https://prov.vic.gov.au/about-us/our-blog/inebriate-retreats
(4) https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/

(5) Thomas Elmes entry in Residents of Upper Beaconsfield by Marianne Rocke   https://www.upperbeaconsfieldhistory.org.au/g0/p163.htm#i4874 

(6) Charles William and Belair Inebriates  Asylum -  South Australian Register, June 8, 1877, see here; South Australian Advertiser, June 21, 1877, see here; The Argus, September 2, 1889, see here. Also see an account of the Belair Asylum https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~dicummings/genealogy/SA-InebriatesRetreat.htm

(7) Victoria Government Gazette, December 20, 1899, p 4450-4451, see here.  

(8) The Argus, July 1, 1891, see here.

(9) The Age, January 5, 1892, see here. 

(10) The Argus, July 6, 1892, see here. 

(11) Reports of Thomas Bissell - The Argus, May 4, 1891, see here; The Leader, May 9, 1891, see here; South Bourke and Mornington Journal, July 22, 1891, see here; 

(12) The Leader, May 9, 1891, see here

(13) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, July 22, 1891, see here

(14) Reports of Francis Key - The Age, January 5, 1892, see here; The Argus, January 6, 1892, see here; South Bourke and Mornington Journal, January 6, 1892, see here; Weekly Times, May 28, 1892, see here.

(15) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, January 6, 1892, see here

(16) Ibid

(17) Ibid

(18) The Age, January 5, 1892, see here

(19) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, January 6, 1892, see here

(20) The Age, July 26, 1892, see here. 

(21) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, September 5, 1894, see here. 

(22) Todea Africana / Thomas Cole Mackley  see  Residents of Upper Beaconsfield by Marianne Rocke https://www.upperbeaconsfieldhistory.org.au/g0/p234.htm#i7000 and https://www.upperbeaconsfieldhistory.org.au/g0/p46.htm#i1360

(23) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, September 5 1894, see here. 

(24) The Argus, December 22, 1925, see here.

A version of this post, which I first wrote and researched in 2010, appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past. This is an updated and expanded version.

Victoria Hall, Yarra Glen

I came across this photograph, below, of Yarra Glen and wondered what the building on the right was and discovered that it was the Victoria Hall. This post looks at the history of the Victoria Hall (later referred to as the Mechanics' Hall)  and the two other Yarra Glen Halls - the Recreation Hall and the Memorial Hall. 

Yarra Glen, c. 1911, showing Victoria Hall

State Library of Victoria Image H96.200/740

The Hall has an interesting history as related by the journalist, The Vagabond. John Stanley James (1843-1896) arrived in Melbourne in 1876 after a mixed career in England and America and he started writing for The Argus, under the name of The Vagabond. (1). He visited Lilydale and Yarra Glen towards the end of 1893 and his observations were published in The Leader in December 1893 and January 1894. This is what The Vagabond wrote about Victoria Hall -

Opposite the railway station is the most prominent public building in Yarra Glen. The Victoria Hall is architecturally a feature of the place. Built on a point of land at a junction of four roads, it could not be on a better site. It is as good a building of its kind as there is outside of Melbourne, containing stage, scenery and sitting accommodation for 400 persons. Balls and "socials " at the Victoria Hall are always crowded........This Victoria Hall, it may be mentioned, has a history. Ten years ago a cheese factory was erected near the banks of the river, and an American manager was imported to make cheese and dividends for the shareholders. He failed to do the latter. The benefits to be derived from creameries were not understood by farmers in those days. In these times a butter and cheese factory at Yarra Glen would perhaps pay. This American was one of the most obnoxious Yankees I ever met. Outside dairy management he was very ignorant. To this day they tell with glee of his nailing wire netting on all the windows of the two-story factory to keep out the snakes which he believed crawled up the sides of houses. This would do good, however, in keeping out the flies. Like all ignorant Americans, this Yankee was perpetually blowing about the country of his birth. Once only did he say a good word for Australia. A snow storm came down from the hills on to Yarra Glen. The Yank took off his hat and stood in the centre of the road. " Great Scott !" he shouted, " this is the only thing I've met in this allfired desolate land which reminds me of God's own country, America! " He was not regretted when he left the district. The factory stood empty for years, till someone persuaded Mr. Robert Kilpatrick to buy it and remove it to a central site for a public hall. It cost him an additional £500 to build the Victoria Hall as it is, and there is no chance for years of obtaining a return for the outlay. But Mr. Robert Kilpatrick is a local patriot. "If it doesn't benefit me it will benefit the district," says he. The chairman of the New Mariner can afford this. (2). 

Robert Kilpatrick (1839-1903), of Lilydale, was involved with both the New Mariner Gold Mining Company Steiglitz, which was registered in February 1891;  and the New Mariner No. 1 Quartz Mining Company, which was registered in July 1893 (3). 

Victoria Hall, Yarra Glen. 

This photo and others were published in The Leader of January 6, 1894, in conjunction with The Vagabond's article (see here) 

It is also at the State Library of Victoria, from the Illustrated Australian News of February 1, 1894  http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/437092

The Vagabond's report of January 1894 is the first reference I can find to it being called the Victoria Hall. When it was opened on June 30, 1893 it was referred to as the New Hall. The Evelyn Observer, of July 7, had this report of the opening -

The new hall built by Dr. Wm. Kilpatrick at Yarra Glen was opened last Friday evening, when the Yarra Glen Amateur Dramatic Club staged the play. "Our Days" and the comedietta " Hook and Eye." There was a large audience present, and the amateur theatricals acquitted themselves creditably and were warmly applauded (4). 

It is interesting that they credit Dr William Kilpatrick with the building of the hall. The Vagabond had referred to the musical skills and dedication of Doctor Kilpatrick in his report -

Yarra Glen rivals Lilyday [sic] in musical and histrionic talent. The "leading lady" of the district is Miss Murphy, who is the school mistress at Dixon's Creek. I have been often fairly startled at Miss Murphy's powers. As an amateur she is in the front rank, and delights the audiences to whom she plays throughout the year on behalf of local charities. In comedy and tableaux Dr. Kilpatrick is Miss Murphy's great support. It is nothing for the doctor to spend a day in the saddle around the district, play at Yarra Glen for some "benefit," visit a few more patients, and then drive back to Lilydale, arriving there in the middle of the night, to be up fresh as paint in the morning (5). 

Doctor Kilpatrick was the only child  of Robert Kilpatrick, so whether it was Robert or William who donated the Hall to the community,  they were the same family (6). 

An early function held at this new hall was reported in Lilydale Express in September 1893 -
The debate, "Woman's Position," by Mrs Andrade, in spite of most unfavorable weather, drew a good audience to the new hall, Yarra Glen, on the evening of the 8th September. The bill of fare presented, although it offered nothing new in the way of grievances or remedies was well thought out and delivered. American statistics were brought forward to show the number of positions and the variety of duties fulfilled by women in the United States making them as useful and self-supporting as men. After Mrs Andrade's presentation the debate was taken up by four men - the Reverend Darroch who considered that in women, sense is second to sentiment; Mr Fleming who would give women the vote but did not want to see them in Parliament; Mr Maxwell who thought women should chose her own sphere and not be tied down by any male restriction and the last speaker Dr Kilpatrick who  had been at school and college with girls, and found them equal, if not superior, to the male scholars. Why should not all careers be opened to them? (7). 

The Victoria Hall was used for the usual functions in a small town - meetings, performances, balls and fundraisers for community efforts such as repairs to the Anglican Church building. During the First World War the Hall hosted Red Cross meetings,  farewells to local soldiers and the 'welcome home' to the returned soldiers. 

In September 1898, a Library was opened at the Hall. The Evelyn Observer noted - 

The Yarra Glen Public Library is now open, and considerable interest is being taken in it. On Friday evening last, in the Victoria Hall, Mr. Paul, barrister, of Melbourne, gave a lecture in aid of the funds. The subject of the address was "Ourselves as others see us." (8). The Library was still in operation in December 1905, but it closed at some unknown time and when, in 1929, there was agitation in the town for a new public library it was reported that there is a Probability of a public library being established in the town. Years ago there was one in existence, but it became a thing of the past (9). 

On October 8, 1921, the Soldiers Memorial was unveiled in front of the Victoria Hall, on the corner formed by the Lilydale Road and the Railway (10). The Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser reported - 

The monument consists of a granite column, with abroad pedestal on a foundation of concrete, the

whole surrounded and protected  by a chain set in granite posts. On one face of the monument is the inscription: "This monument is erected by the citizens of Yarra Glen and District,  under the auspices of the Welcome Home League, to perpetuate the memory of the men who gave their lives in the Great War, 1914-1919." And below on the pedestal, "This Monument was unveiled 8th October, 1921."

The following names were listed on two sides of the memorial -  J. Armstrong,  J. Bell, H. Conway, 

C. Dinsdale, E. Farnsworth, C. Gedye, W. Holding,  E. Hubbard, G. Hubbard, A. Hunt, J. Irvine,  

S. Jell, A. M'Leod, L. M'Leod,  H. Marshall, S. Mills, J. Pickering, D. Shillito, S. Smedley, R. Waigh and J. Wilson (11). 

What happened to the Victoria Hall? The last reference in the newspapers which I can find to Victoria Hall is in November 1924. However, from 1919 until 1929 there are references to the Mechanics' Hall at Yarra Glen and I believe they are the same building. This is confirmed by the fact that the building is also listed as a Mechanics' Institute in the comprehensive survey of Mechanics' Institutes in Victoria, These Walls Speak Volumes (12).  The building was still there in December 1934, as it is photographed in the flood photograph, below. These Walls Speak Volumes notes  It is thought locally that Victoria Hall  was demolished some time before the end of World War Two (13). 

Yarra Glen, December 1934 flood. 

State Rivers and Water Supply Commission photographer. 

State Library of Victoria Image RWP/32883

The Victoria Hall was not the first Hall in Yarra Glen; as mentioned previously when it was opened in June 1893, it was referred to as the New Hall. The original Hall was also donated by local business men, as the Evelyn Observer notes in the report from July 1886 -

We hear on good authority that Messrs. Munday and Warren, auctioneers, are making arrangements for building a spacious hall on their land at Yarra Flats, to enable the residents of that district to have some commodious building to hold their public meetings, and allow the young to enjoy " the light fantastic" ; also, in case of wet weather Messrs M. and W. will use the hall for their land or property sales. We believe a stage is included in the specification, so we may expect to see some "stars" on the boards during the oncoming busy times promised for the Yarra Flats and its neighborhood. We wish them success (14). 

Tenders for the building were called in the August and the building was opened by  December 1886 (15). 

Tenders invited for the erection of the Yarra Flats Recreation Hall

The Age, August 24, 1886 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/190847378

I can find references to this Hall, known as the Recreation Hall, until 1911, but I have no information as to its fate. As you can see from the report above, Yarra Glen was originally known as Yarra Flats, however when the railway line reached the town in May 1888, the local station was called Yarra Glen and the School and the Post Office adopted the new name in 1889 (16). 

There was also another Hall in Yarra Glen - the Memorial Hall.  It was opened in December 1920 and the Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser reported on the event - 

Last Saturday, the 11th inst., the Soldiers' Club rooms at Yarra Glen were formally opened by Mr W. H. Everard, M.L.A. There was a fine gathering of district residents, together with many friends from a distance. Mr P. F. Downer presided and introduced the member of the district, who, in a happy speech, declared the building formally opened, and referred eloquently to the generosity which had built and equipped the rooms. The ground, a well-placed corner block, was given by the Herbert family, the money for the building being raised by donations and numerous efforts from the folk of the township and district, and the furniture, which includes a fine billiard table, was a gift from Mrs Woolcott and members of her family.

Speeches were also given by Cr Bath, Chairman of the Welcome Home League, the other two councillors of the Riding, Crs Smedley and Hubbard, and by Mr Maroney as representative of the R.S.S.I.L. During the afternoon a medal from the Welcome Home League was given to Private G. Muir, of Christmas Hills. Tea and cakes, provided by the ladies, were handed round, and then the assembled company inspected the rooms and watched the "Diggers" trying the billiard table. In the evening the Victoria Hall was packed to listen to a fine concert programme provided by the Ringwood Diggers (17). 

Six years later in December 1925 a dance hall was added to the Memorial Hall (18). In the January 1939 Black Friday bush fires the Hall was nearly destroyed - 

...word came from Yarra Glen that the town was in danger, and most of the fighters from the road

area went on, to discover that the Memorial Hall was in imminent peril of being demolished. Outbuildings were alight then, and it appeared to be just a matter of time before the hall itself would catch. Their commendable activity was responsible for a splendid save, as they prevented the flames reaching the main building (19).  

However, sadly, on February 16, 1952 the Hall did not escape destruction by fire. The Lilydale Express reported on the tragedy - 

Destruction of Yarra Glen's Memorial Hall by fire early last Saturday morning is one of the most tragic incidents in the district's history. The Hall, an invaluable asset and of one of most modern in Eltham and neighbouring Shires, was razed to the ground by fire, which began mysteriously. The fire was first noticed at at 5 a.m. by neighboring residents, who quickly raised the alarm.....by 6.20 the hall had been reduced to smouldering ashes (20). 

A new Memorial building was opened on May 27, 1955, by Mr Colin Badger, Director of Adult Education in Victoria (21). The War Memorial was relocated to the front of this Hall in 1998 (22).

Trove List  - I have created a list of newspapers articles on the Halls at Yarra Glen, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) John Stanley James - read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry here   https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/james-john-stanley-3848

(2) The Leader, January 6 1894, see here.

(3) Obituary in the Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian, August 22, 1903 see here; See my Trove list, here, for connections to the New Mariner Companies. Dates of registration from the Victoria Government Gazette of February 13, 1891, page 898 see here; and Victoria Government Gazette of July 14, 1893, page 3212, see here.

(4) Evelyn Observer, July 7, 1893, see here.

(5) The Leader, January 6 1894, see here.

(6) Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian, August 22, 1903 see here

(7) Lilydale Express, September 15, 1893, see here. 

(8) Evelyn Observer, September 30, 1898, see here.

(9) Hurstbridge Advertiser, May 17, 1929, see here.

(10) Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser, October 14, 1921, see here.

(11) Ibid

(12) Baragwanath, Pam and James, Ken These Walls Speak Volumes: a history of Mechanics' Institutes in Victoria (published by the authors in 2015)

(13) Ibid, p. 646.

(14) Evelyn Observer, July 9, 1886, see here.

(15) Evelyn Observer, December 17, 1886, see here.

(16) Evelyn Observer, May 18, 1888, see here; Blake, Les Place names of Victoria (Rigby, 1977)

(17) Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser, December 17, 1920 see here.

(18) The Argus, January 1, 1926, see here. 

(19) Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian, January 21, 1939, see here. 

(20) Lilydale Express, February 22, 1952, see here. 

(21) Lilydale Express, June 3, 1955, see here.

(22) Encyclopedia of Yarra Glen and District http://www.yarraglenhistory.com.au/a-z/M/memorial-hall-yarra-glen; Yarra Glen RSL https://www.yarraglen.com/RSL/YG-memorial.htm