St Kilda Park State School Great War Honour Board designed by George Dancey

The St Kilda Park Primary School, No.2460,  is located in Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. The School opened on August 1, 1882 and a noted alumni is Sir Zelman Cowen (1919-2011), Governor General of Australia (1). The School was designed by Education Department Architect, Henry R. Bastow and the Victorian Heritage database describes it thus -The two storey school building is designed in the Gothic style, which was commonly adopted for larger school buildings from the late 1870s. It is a brown brick building with polychromatic contrasts in black, cream and red brick, set on a bluestone base. Asymmetrically composed on a corner site, it contains an unusual two storey splayed corner element which provides a visual transition between the two facades. Steep slate gable roofs, tall chimneys and a prominent tower provide a picturesque skyline, and pointed and trefoil arches with render label mouldings give a Gothic character. (2). 

St Kilda Park School, c. 1970s. Photographer:  Laurie Burchell. 

State Library of Victoria Image H2006.165/356

Not only is the school itself an elaborate confection of design, but it has a elaborate Great War Honour Board, one of the most glorious school Honour Boards I have seen. It commemorates the 150 past students who served overseas.

St Kilda Park School Honour Board

Image: Isaac Hermann, 2023

The Honour Board, designed by George Dancey and was unveiled by the Minister for Railways, and M.L.A for St Kilda,  Frederick Eggleston (3)  after  the Empire Day celebrations on May 23, 1924. The Herald reported on the event -

Mr Eggleston told the children that if the qualities exhibited by the men whose names appeared on the honor board wore displayed in the civil life  of the community, all its problems, social and political, would be solved. He reminded them of the splendid examples of courage and chivalry set by the Australian fighting forces during the war. Messrs Syme Harris, chairman of the school committee; R. Davey, district inspector; R. H. Trembath, headmaster; B. Ramsay, ex-headmaster, and Cr. Burnett Gray also spoke. The new honor board is a handsome piece of work designed by the late Mr George Dancey, the artist. It was executed in opus sectile by Brooks Robinson Pty. Ltd. The composition is tile-like and assembled in mosaic effect, the colored design being burnt in by a special process. The whole is enclosed in a copper frame. From the children's point of view the best part of the ceremony came this afternoon. Every State school child in the St. Kilda district was entertained at the Palais pictures by the Mayor and councillors and presented with a packet of sweets (4). 

Detail of the St Kilda Park School Honour Board, encased in the copper frame, showing George Dancey's signature. Fecit - 'He made'

Image: Isaac Hermann, 2023

The Honour Board was designed by George Henry Dancey. George was born in London on March 26, 1865 to Joseph and Clara (nee Bursill) Dancey (5).  He trained as an ecclesiastical artist at Clayton and Bell in London, one of England's most prolific stained glass studios in the Victorian and Edwardian eras (6).  Whilst at Clayton and Bell he worked on the stained glass windows for St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne, which were then installed by Brooks, Robinson Pty Ltd, who made the St Kilda Park Honour Board (7). After his arrival in Victoria, he married Annie Maria Wills (nee Jenkinson) in 1893. She was the widow of John Wills and they had a daughter Ethel, who had been born in South Africa, where her parents were from.  In 1903,  Ethel married Alek Williams. Williams was an illustrator and cartoonist whose work appeared in the Bulletin, Punch and Smith's Weekly, under the name of Alex Sass. Alex died December 1, 1922 aged 44. George and Annie had the one daughter, Clara, in 1896 and she married Cyril Devenport in 1923. Just three weeks after the death of Alex, another tragedy struck the family when George died at his home at 11 Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda on December 23, 1922 at the age of 58 years old, so he did not get to see see the Honour Board completed. He is buried at the Brighton Cemetery, with his wife Annie, who died in 1934, aged 78 (8).

George Dancey, 1908

Photographers: Johnstone, O'Shannessy & Co. 

State Library of Victoria Image H28902/17

The Prahran Telegraph printed a very informative and touching obituary - 

GEORGE DANCEY'S DEATH. Mural Painter and Cartoonist. Resident of St. Kilda.

Recently there passed away at his home in Beaconsfield parade, St.Kilda, one, George H. Dancey, cartoonist and mural painter. It would be interesting to know what this signifies to the ordinary St. Kilda citizen. It is very certain that he does not realise what a great artist had he had his opportunities and been appreciated as his merits deserved, has been lost to Australia. George Dancey was, unfortunately, a martyr to an art, mural decoration, which is in little demand as yet in this young country, still in the crysalis stage of commercial progress. But it is safe to say that had Mr. Dancey remained in England his fame would have been known throughout the civilised world. 

St. Kilda is fortunate in having two very fine examples of his work in war memorials, which are

to be found in Christ Church, Acland street, (9) and Holy Trinity Church,  Balaclava (10). It is a great pity that he was not commissioned to decorate in fitting manner the St. Kilda Town Hall. It would then have numbered among its visitors art lovers, who would have been further impressed with this beautiful city, and the city fathers might have had the pleasure of boasting of another reason for their pride in the 'Queen City of the Metropolis.' But, alas, the chance has gone by!

As a cartoonist on Melbourne 'Punch' Mr. Dancey was best known to the public. While his inclination was not towards this work, he persistently applied himself to it, for bread and butter reasons, and succeeded. His best cartoons are on nobles lines, seldom found in other work of this nature. After fifteen years study at the Kensington Art School, London, Mr. Dancey was forced by ill-health to come to Australia, some twenty-five years ago, and finding small demand for mural decoration, he became a cartoonist. In his mural painting Mr. Dancey was deeply influenced by Lord Leighton. Several of Mr. Dancey's original cartoons were shown in London about five years ago, when they attracted much attention. 

Among other branches of his art Mr. Dancey devoted himself largely to the designing of stained glass windows, at which he had been engaged for many years. Among his works of a purely decorative nature are two panels, Comedy and Tragedy, which adorn the proscenium slope of Her Majesty's Theatre.

To those who knew him personally the late artist was the most gentle, kindly sympathetic man imaginable, who had a good word for all, especially for those who tried to appreciate his art. For many years he was an invalid, and was attended by a devoted wife, who with a daughter and a stepdaughter, wife of the late Alex. Sass, the cartoonist, he has left behind to mourn his loss. As a result of his long illness and lack of support of his art, the family is not well provided for. The Victorian Artists' Society, it is understood, will hold a gift exhibition, at which the works shown will be presented by the artists and the proceeds will go to the dependents. (11). 

This was not the only time the Prahran Telegraph had bemoaned the lack of recognition and respect for George Dancey's art by the Australian public. This was written after the Honour Board was unveiled - 

The Honour Board at the St. Kilda Park Central School is a specially fine one, being the conception of that very fine artist, the late George Dancy, whose artistic worth was barely recognised in this country, we being apparently not sufficiently cultured to appreciate what a master he was in mural decorative art. In Europe Dancy would have found the fame and the fortune which lack of appreciative knowledge of this form of a great art failed to give to him in his own country. (12).

The Dancey Memorial Exhibition was held in May 1923 and raised for than £500 for the family (13).

Acknowledgment

Thank you to my research colleague, Isaac Hermann, for telling me about this wonderful Honour Board and allowing me to use his photographs, and thus leading me to George Dancey, whom I had not heard of before.

Trove list - I have compiled a short list of newspaper articles relating to this Honour Board and George Dancey, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) Vision and Realisation: a centenary history of State Education in Victoria edited by Les Blake (Education Department of Victoria, 1973);

(2) Victorian Heritage Database https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/1109 

(3) Sir Frederick William Eggleston (1875-1954) see Australian Dictionary of Biography entry here  https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/eggleston-sir-frederic-william-344

(4) The Herald, May 23, 1924, see here.

(5) Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1923, London Metropolitan Archives on Ancestry.com

(6) Clayton and Bell - https://www.visitstainedglass.uk/artist-page/clayton-bell and 

https://www.claytonandbell.org.uk/home 

(7) George's entry in Who’s Who in Australia, 1921-1950, on-line at Ancestry.com, lists his connection to Clayton and Bell.  

Brooks, Robinson Pty Ltd - more information https://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM01420b.htm 

Who’s Who in Australia, 1921-1950, on-line at Ancestry.com

(8) Victorian Indexes to the Births, Deaths and Marriages; Family notices notices - see my Trove list; and his obituary, as transcribed above. Alex Sass - obituary in Smith's Weekly, here; and Sydney Evening News, here.

(9) Christ Church, Acland Street - read about George's work here. It was unveiled December 11, 1921.

(10) Holy Trinity Church, Balaclava - read about George's work here. It was unveiled August 6, 1922. 

(11) Prahran Telegraph, February 2, 1923, see here.

(12) Prahran Telegraph, May 30 1924, see here.

(13) The Herald, May 26, 1923, see here.

The Narre Warren Cool Store

In 1891, William Bailey purchased 50 acres of land at Narre Warren, and began planting out his orchard, which was the first commercial orchard in the area (1). Other orchards soon followed as Narre Warren was considered to be a very suitable area for orchards. The Australasian in April 1919 reported on the advantages of fruit growing in the area -

The orchards and areas available for planting are within comparatively short distance from the railway station, where a central packing shed is in operation; the district is but 22 miles from Melbourne; the climate and soil are well suited for apple and pear culture, and, in addition, the district is settled by progressive fruit growers, who have an intimate knowledge of most matters affecting fruit production. When a district is within comparatively easy reach of the metropolis it has an enhanced value that, while difficult to estimate on an acreage basis, is nevertheless considerable.

In the first case it means that the cost of delivering produce on the market, an ever-recurring expenditure, is far less than that incurred by the up-country grower, and this same question of freight expenditure applies to everything that is purchased for use on the orchard; implements, spraying materials, manures, wrapping paper, cases, and numerous other items that must be obtained from the city, and this also applies to the initial costs connected with settlement. Then, too growers may, if they so choose, put their fruit on rail overnight, and travel to Melbourne by the evening train to sell their own produce. Several hundred acres now planted with fruit trees are within three miles of the local station and packing shed, served by a good level road, and this means easy haulage and expeditious handling of the crop during the height of the season. The co-operative fruit packing shed has been in operation over three seasons, and already there has been some talk of establishing cool stores so that the fruit may be held over for late season marketing (2).

The article also had profiles on local fruit growers including James Bailey, President of the Victorian Fruit Growers' Association (and son of William Bailey). James had 68 acres planted out in fruit trees - 34 acres of apples, 30 acres of peaches and 4 acres of pears (3).

Narre Warren Cool Store

Weekly Times August 21, 1926 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223334041

In the endeavour to establish a Cool Store at Narre Warren, the Narre Warren Orchardists' Co-operative Cool Stores Co., was formed in 1923, with James Bailey as Chairman of Directors (4). Mr Bailey was the driving force behind the Cool Store as The Australasian reported - Although possessing a cool store of his own, sufficient for the requirements of his orchard, he has been the dominating figure in bringing about the erection of the new chambers (5).

The method of financing the construction of the Cool Store was reported in The Age newspaper - a first call of 6d. per share was made, which enabled the company to purchase the land. Later the share holders contributed 3/10 per 10/ share, making a total amount of £1700, and £2400 having been advanced by the State Savings Bank, the erection of the store was commenced. They had sufficient machinery to run a store of double the capacity, so that any additions would cost considerably less (6).

Aerial of Narre Warren - taken January 20, 1974. The Cool Store, which is opposite the Narre Warren Railway Station, is circled. The Railway Station moved from original location (west of Webb Street) to it's current location (east of Webb Street) in 1995.

Image: Casey Cardinia Libraries.

The Cool Store at Narre Warren, built on an acre of land near the Railway Station (7) was officially opened on Saturday, March 7, 1925 by the State Minister for Agriculture, Murray Bourchier (8), who congratulated the share-holders on their enterprise and co-operation, and said he felt honored at being invited to start the machinery working (9).

Narre Warren Cool Store

Weekly Times April 27, 1929 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223187736

The benefit to the area of having a Cool Store was explained in The Australasian newspaper - Owing to the demand for Jonathan apples for export, and also because this variety may usually be profitably disposed of within three or four months of harvesting, the cool chambers will be utilised mainly for the storage of the Yates and Rome Beauty kinds which are among the best storing varieties of apples grown. In the past many of the growers have been obliged to part with the bulk of their crops at prices which purchasers considered would leave them a margin of profit after paying storage expenses. With the local stores in operation there is the prospect that much of the fruit will return a more lucrative price to those who hold it until late in the season (10).

The Cool Store was designed to hold 10,000 cases of apples, but provision had been made to add two extra chambers if required. These chambers, each holding 3,000 cases were added in early 1928 (11). 

As with all primary production, some years were better than other and 1933 was a record year for fruit export in the Narre Warren area - Approximately 51,000 cases of fruit - 5000 cases of pears and the remainder apples - were exported from Narre Warren this season. In addition, 8000 cases were sold on the Melbourne and inter-State markets, and it is expected that a further 23,000 cases will be held in cool storage for the late markets. The quantity of fruit exported constitutes a record for the district. Last year two new cool stores were erected by individual orchardists, making four stores for the district (12).

One of these two Cool Stores was erected by Robert Haysey, which held 80,000 cases (13). An unusual cool room was built in 1932 by Arthur Robinson, on his Hillsley property, at Narre Warren North. The Dandenong Journal reported on the construction - a store had been built of bluestone boulders, some of which weigh over one ton; it was cut into the side of the hill, and the walls are built of the huge stones, which were after wards cemented. Mr. Robinson is of opinion he will be able to store many thousands of cases for a considerable period, and that they will keep equally as well as in a cool chamber (14).

Arthur Robinson's bluestone cool storage shed built on his Hillsley property in 1932.

Image: Oak Trees and Hedges: a pictorial history of Narre Warren, Narre Warren North and Harkaway (Berwick Pakenham Historical Society, 2002)

The Narre Warren Cool Store wasn't the first one built in the district. As we saw James Bailey already had one on his property, however as early as 1908 Captain Jones installed a cooling plant in his packing shed at Narre Warren, you can read about it here. Captain David Jones (15) of the Victorian Stevedoring Company had purchased 560 acres of land in Narre Warren around 1898 and established a large orchard (16). Captain Jones' property was called Tan-y-dderwen, which means "Under the oak" in Welsh (17). After his death in 1926, his son Thomas Evan Jones (18) took over the property - Tandderwen Court and Tom Jones Court in Narre Warren North are named after him.

The Cool-Air machine and oil engine driving it - photographed on Captain Jones' Narre Warren property, in 1908.

The Australasian, May 2, 1908 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/139213622#

I do not know when the Narre Warren Cool Store ceased operation, but in February 1953 the Crossley Engine was advertised for sale by tender.

Tender for sale of the Narre Warren Cool Store engine

The Age February 28, 1953 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206116830

The Cool Store was demolished in the late 1970s or early 1980s. 

The Narre Warren Cool Store in the process of being demolished.

Some of the cars in this photo have been dated - a 1977 Torana Sunbird, a post 1978 Datsun 200B and possibly a 1977 Corolla and the green car in the centre is a HG Monaro. These identifications date this photo to at least the late 1970s.

Image: Casey Cardinia Libraries.

Acknowledgement
This post, which I wrote and researched, originally appeared on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past. Thank you to Tracy Howard and her friends, for helping to identify the location of the Cool Store in the 1974 aerial, shown above.

Trove List
I have created a list of articles on Trove, connected to the Narre Warren Cool Store, access it here.

Footnotes
(1) I have written about William Bailey here https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2023/05/william-bailey-orchardist-of-malvern.html
(2) The Australasian, April 26, 1919, see here.
(3) The Australasian, April 26, 1919, see here.
(4) The Age, March 9, 1925, see here.
(5) The Australasian, January 24, 1925, see here.
(6) The Age, March 9, 1925, see here.
(7) The Argus, August 17, 1923, see here.
(8) Murray Bourchier, read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bourchier-murray-goulburn-madden-12235
(9) The Age, March 9, 1925, see here.
(10) The Australasian, January 24, 1925, see here.
(11) Weekly Times, August 21, 1926, see here and Dandenong Journal, April 5, 1928, see here.
(12) The Age, May 23, 1933, see here.
(13) Dandenong Journal, January 26, 1933, see here.
(14) Dandenong Journal, January 26, 1933, see here.
(15) Captain David Jones, read his obituary in The Age, December 28, 1926, here.
(16) Weekly Times, December 26, 1908, see here.
(17) Weekly Times, December 26, 1908, see here.
(18) The following information comes from family notices in newspapers and Early Settlers of the Casey Cardinia District (Narre Warren & District Family History Group, 2010) - Thomas Evan Jones (1898-1964) married Margaret Alice Asling in 1921. Margaret, born 1897, died July 15, 1925 at Tandderwen, at the age of 28. She left behind a son, Evan David, who had been born on March 18, 1922. Margaret was the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (nee Meade) Asling, of Narre Warren North.
Tom Jones remarried in 1928 to Alice Asling. Alice Asling was the half sister of Edward and thus an aunt of Margaret.
Edward Asling (1869-1961) was the son of George Asling (1846-1934) and Margaret Neville (1839-1874). After Margaret Neville died in February 1874, George married Sarah Martha Webb (c. 1854-1923) in December 1874 and one of their children was Alice (1889-1972) who became the second Mrs Jones. Sarah Martha Webb was the sister of Sidney Webb of Holly Green, Narre Warren.

William Bailey - Orchardist of Malvern and Narre Warren

In the 1890s William and Frances (Fanny) Bailey settled in Narre Warren North and established the first commercial orchard in the area. William was born in Harrow in England, the son of a farmer (1). William had arrived in Victoria in 1861 for the purpose of learning the nursery and horticultural business from his uncle, who owned the well-known Coles' Nursery at Hawthorn. For ten years Bailey worked for his uncle and then bought what was the first plant nursery in Malvern on land adjoining Elizabeth Street (2). William Bailey's plant nursery was called Malvern Nursery, and it was on the aforementioned Elizabeth Street and Toorak Road. 

Coles' Nursery was operated by his uncle, Mr Thomas Cornelius Cole (1810-1889), the brother of William's mother, Annie Cole. Two of Mr Cole's sons also had nurseries - John Charles Cole (1838-1891) had the Richmond Nursery and Henry Ungerford Cole (1843-1904), a Hawthorn Nursery. Another son, the Reverend Thomas Cornelius Cole (1836-1879) was the vicar at Malvern. The Reverend Cole inherited an interest in horticulture and his rose garden was envy of rosarians. He also planted many choice shrubs in the church grounds. The surroundings of the fine church were beautified by the artistic groupings of the trees. The church garden appeared to harmonise with the church buildings (3).

John Cole's Richmond Nursery catalogue from 1868. 

John Cole was the first cousin of William Bailey.

The State Library of Victoria has the full catalogue digitised, here.

Along with the nursery, William also had a farm in Malvern, which he acquired in 1872. This article from The Leader in December 1875, had this description  of the farm - 

Mr. Bailey's garden is situated about five miles from Melbourne, on the Toorak-road; the property, consisting of 25 acres, occupies the angle formed by the Toorak and Auburn roads: it is a portion of the old Gardiner's station, and the creek that bears his name runs through it. Mr. Bailey resides in the old house, which is one of the oldest in the district. The garden is situated on the west side of the ground, and has a rather steep slope towards the creek, with an eastern aspect; it contains 10 acres, occupied with fruit trees, the other 15 acres, including the creek, being used as a paddock for the horse and cow. A rich alluvial flat which lies between the garden and the creek was formerly under cultivation with vegetables, but in consequence of the frequent floods it has been laid down to grass, with the exception of about half an acre of the best portion, on which the vegetables and young fruit trees grow luxuriantly. The garden is in two portions, old and new; the latter, which adjoins the road, contains about three acres; the trees have been planted five years, they are mainly pears, are in a fine thriving condition, and just about beginning to bear. In the other portion the trees are about 20 years planted, some of them are of large size, we measured an apple tree which was fully nine yards across and of proportionate height (4).

The article lists the huge varieties of plants grown, including this list of apples and pears, none of which appear to be available in supermarkets these days -

Margaret, Quarrenden, Ribston Pippin, King of Pippins, Adams' Pearmain, and Scarlet Nonpareil; Lord Nelson, Allan Bank Seedling, Kentish Fillbasket, and Stone Pippin. Pears: Doyenne d'ete, Citron des Carmes, Jargonelle, Williams's Bon Chretien, Capiaumont, Durondeau, Beurre Bosc, Vicar of Winkfield, Winter Nelis, and Josephine de Malines. (5).

There was another article in The Leader in November 1886, which lists the variety of other plants grown by William Bailey and mentions his faith in the use of night soil as a fertilizer - 

The lower part of the ground, however, a flat bordering the creek, and used as a tree nursery is alluvial, easy to work, and producing capital young stuff. On this ground is an acre or so of lucerne which is worthy of notice, as there are different opinions current as to the proper time of sowing, some considering autumn the best season while others prefer the spring;  this crop was sown in the early part of May, and although the frost has been unusually severe, especially in river valleys, the lucerne has not been injured in the slightest and some of it is now 15 inches tall. A crop of oats alongside is also in excellent condition. A striking instance of the value of night soil as a manure is afforded by these crops, it having been applied to a portion only of the ground, and on the manured part the oats are stronger, several inches taller and of a far deeper hue of green. Asparagus also does well on that part of the ground. Mr. Bailey has a high opinion of the value of night soil and uses it also for his fruit trees, dressing them with it every third year. Strawberries and vegetables of various kinds are grown on vacant spaces for which the stable manure is used. About a quarter of an acre of rhubarb has already brought £11 this season. Near to this is a little over a quarter of an acre of Yorkshire Hero peas, as fine a crop as can be seen, being estimated to produce a ton weight of green peas, valued at the rate of £40 per acre. Other vacant slips are cropped with tomatoes, capsicums, maize and melons, but the latter have to be resown, the seedlings having gone off through the cold. Strawberries, as in nearly all other gardens, have all but gone off, so that the crop is certain to be light this year. (6).

The last paragraph of 1886 Leader article is very interesting -

Mr Bailey and his fruit have obtained such a good reputation that he has no occasion to stand the market with it, fruiterers and others being willing and anxious to take more than he can supply, knowing that his fruit is always of good quality, and his cases honestly filled. But owing to the inexorable demands of an increasing population be is about to be deprived of a large portion of his orchard which is destined to be cut in twain by the Glen Iris railway, which is to run diagonally across it, a chain and a half in width. This will not only divide the land, but on account of the slope of ground the cutting on one side will be so deep that crossing it will be impracticable (7).

The building of the railway though his property is no doubt the reason that in 1891 William Bailey purchased 50 acres at Narre Warren, and began planting out his orchard, although it appears that the family did not move there until after the birth of the last child, Ivy in 1893. The Narre Warren property was called Bona Vista, in Bailey Road (8).

William's family was a large one.  In 1872, William had married Frances (Fanny) Godwin and they had ten children, all born in Malvern - Annie Frances (1873-1944,  married Charles Brown in 1896); George Robert (1875-1960, married Florence Emma Toe in 1901); James William (1877-1962, married Lucy Agnes Webb in 1903); William Henry (1879-1942, married Christina Cameron in 1905); Rose Emmeline 'Minnie' (1881-1891);  Alfred Percy (1883-1966, married Margaret Josephine Coxon in 1910); Charles Cornelius (1885-1965, married Lilian Mary Mickle in 1911); Charlotte Myrtle (1891-1979, married Edward Percival Krummeck in 1932); Violet Emma (1891-1952, married Edward George Hill in 1915) and Ivy Edith May (1893-1941, did not marry) (9).

Some of William and Fannie's children remained in the Narre Warren area after they reached adulthood - their eldest son, George (1875-1960), was an orchardist and also had a General store in Narre Warren, operated by family members until the 1970s. George and his wife Florence built Brentwood (later called Clarinda Park) in 1904. In 1993, the address was 271-299 Narre Warren North Road, I don't think it still exists.  Another son James married, as we said,  Lucy Agnes Webb, the daughter of Anne and Sidney Webb. He was also a fruit grower and involved in many industry bodies such as the Victorian Fruitgrowers' Central Association, James was also a driving force in establishing the Narre Warren Cool Store, which you can read about here. James and Lucy built Araluen in 1903 and their daughter, Lucy,  lived there until she died  in April 1997 and the land was sub-divided. Araluen, at 301-331 Narre Warren North Road, burnt down in mysterious circumstances some years ago. (10)

William died December 29, 1922 aged 81 and Frances died May 28, 1929, aged 78. They are buried at the Boroondara Cemetery along with their daughters Minnie and Ivy.

I don't have a photograph of William Bailey, 

but this is his son, James Bailey with his son, Sidney James Bailey, taken c. 1918,

 in their Narre Warren North orchard.

Casey Cardinia Libraries collection

William Bailey's horticulture enterprise at Narre Warren was also the subject of reports in the newspapers. This one is from the Weekly Times of April 15, 1899 (see here)   Once again, it mentions a huge variety of fruits which are no longer grown commercially.

FRUIT GROWING AT NARRE WARREN (By Our Agricultural Reporter.)

The Weekly Times of April 15, 1899

The cultivation of fruit has not been extensively carried out in the Narre Warren district, but a splendid object lesson is afforded, as to the possibilities of the district, by Mr W. Bailey's Bona Vista orchard, about 4½ miles from the Narre Warren railway station and 1½ miles from old Narre Warren township

The orchard is pleasantly situated on the side of one of the numerous hills to be found in the district. When Mr Bailey first started the land was heavily timbered and covered with dense scrub. He was laughed at when he stated his intention of planting fruit trees, and was told failure was bound to ensue. Being a practical orchardist, he formed his own opinion about the matter, and from the results there is no doubt as to the soundness of his judgment.

Although the orchard has only been started eight years, the growth made is simply marvellous. Pinus insignis, planted for breakwinds, would, from the growth made, lead one to suppose they had been planted at least twice that period. What strikes one on first entering the orchard is the uniform size of the trees - one tree would serve as a model for the whole of any particular plantation. The soil is of a granite nature, and at the first glance would not impress one as to its fertility.

The orchard has a north and westerly aspect, which seems to suit the trees admirably. Remarking on the size of the trees, Mr Bailey explained that he followed out a system of summer pruning, so often advised in "The Weekly Times", for by this means all the available growth is directed into the proper channel, instead of making rank growth, which has to be cut away in the winter pruning.

The whole of the orchard has been thoroughly drained by means of either tile or charcoal drains, but for efficacy Mr Bailey prefers the former. Although no insect pests have yet made their appearance, spraying is regularly carried out during the winter months as a preventive, Bordeaux being the mixture chiefly favored.

The area devoted to Peaches at the present time is about two acres, and these trees look remarkably well, with the exception of a few worked in the almond stock, and these have proved far from satisfactory, while a few have grown as freely as those worked in the peach stock. The majority are dwarfed and stunted. Why this should be Mr. Bailey is unable to explain, but it should serve as a warning to all intending planters in the district. The crops this season have been very fine, and have given good returns. The varieties most favored are Briggs Red May, Hale's Early, Early Crawford, Fosters Royal George the Comet.  The trees have been planted 15ft x 15ft. apart, and this, Mr Bailey finds, is far too close.

There are twelve acres devoted to the cultivation of apples, and these have also made very free growth. In some instances the outer growths have been brought into a horizontal position, thus causing lateral shoots to grow out, besides utilising the exuberant growth, the size of the trees has been considerably extended. This system has been more particularly observed with trees having a tendency to grow into close pyramid form. 

The following varieties give equally good results: - Rome Beauty, Jonathan, King of Pippins, Reinette du Canada, Summer Scarlet Pearmain, London or Five Crown Pippin, H.U. Cole's Prince of Pippin, and Cole's Rymer. The latter is an enormous cropper; its only fault is that it comes into bearing the same time as Jonathan. The apples are planted 20 x 20 feet apart.

The Rome Beauty apple, one of the varieties grown by William Bailey.

This illustration, dated March 1881 was done by John Charles Cole of the 

Richmond Nursery, the first cousin of William Bailey. 

State Library of Victoria Image H96.160/2075

The three acres of pears show remarkably clean growth, and the fruit is of excellent quality. Williams's Bon Chretien, Souvenir de Congres, Bailey's Bergamot, Keiper's hybrid, Beurre d'Angon, Doyenne du Bossoch and Vicar of Winckfield are the principal sorts grown.

Plums also receive attention, but not to such a large extent as the other fruits, but from the success attained Mr Bailey would feel quite justified in the area devoted to them. Orleans, Washington, Black Orleans, Fellenberg, and Golden Drop have given the best returns. Whilst on the subject of plums we must not forget the Japanese variety, Kelsey. This kind is an enormous bearer, and is especially useful for private use. The blood Japanese Mr Bailey would advise grown as a weeping, ornamental plant, for planting on the lawn or elsewhere.

Apricots seem as much at home as the other varieties of fruits, but only the following varieties are grown to any extent: - Ouillen's Early, Moorpark, and Campbellfield's Seedling. The strawberry plantations are by no means the least important item at Bona Vista. The returns from this source have been excellent. The plants are placed in double rows, 2½ feet apart, and 15 inches in the rows. This enables the horse hoe to work readily between the rows.

The Jonathan apple, another variety grown by William Bailey.

This is a wax model, made in the Melbourne Museum

by Joy Dickins in 1950.

Image: Museums Victoria Collections https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/385107

Mr Bailey remarked that, to grow strawberries successfully, cultivation of the soil must be carried out the whole of the year, and not, as many growers do, leave the plants untouched directly the fruit is gathered until the following spring The manure used for this crop is principally bonedust and stable manure. The following are the varieties grown: - Marguerite, Edith Christy, Trollope's Victoria, and Arthur. The latter does exceedingly well, but, unlike the other varieties named, does not produce a second crop.

Mr Bailey has a clean lot of young fruit trees, suitable for planting this season. The collection comprises all the leading kinds of peaches, apples, pears, plums, strawberries, etc. Besides the orchard, Mr Bailey has about [illegible] acres devoted to the growth of tomatoes, peas, pumpkins, maize, and other crops, suitable for feeding purposes. (Weekly Times of April 15, 1899, see here)

Sadly, the Bailey orchard has also gone and for the same reason as William Bailey's Malvern farm - the inexorable demands of an increasing population. 

Trove list - I have created a list of newspapers articles on the Bailey family, access it here.

Footnotes
(1) William's obituary in The Argus of January 3, 1923, see here, says he was engaged with his father in fruit growing. An article in The Leader of February 23, 1907, see here, says he was the son of a strawberry grower.
(2) Cooper, John Butler The City of Malvern: from its first settlement to a City (Speciality Press, 1935), p. 124.
(3) Quotes about the Rev Cole's garden from John Butler Cooper, p. 122 (see footnote 2). Information also from Thomas Coles' entry, written by Richard Aitken, in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, here and information about the Nurseries in The Australasian, August 19, 1876, here.

(4) The Leader, December 11, 1875, see here.

(5) The Leader, December 11, 1875, see here.

(6) The Leader, November 6, 1886, see here.

(7) The Leader, November 6, 1886, see here.
(8) William Bailey is listed as owning 50 acres from the 1891/1892 Shire of Berwick Rate Books. As all the children were born in Malvern I am assuming they moved after the birth of Ivy in 1893. This is confirmed by the fact that William is listed in the Malvern Rate Books (available on Ancestry.com) in 1893, but not 1894.

(9) Information from the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages 

(10) Heritage of the City of Berwick: Identifying and caring for important places by Context P/L (City of Berwick, 1993)  

This is an expanded version, with new material, of a post which I wrote and researched, which appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past. 

Alfred Hillman - first man to enlist from Pakenham for War Service

The Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth took place on May 12, 1937. This was celebrated all over the Commonwealth including in Pakenham where more than 1000 people competed in or witnessed a procession or gymkhana which had been arranged to mark the occasion. The streets were gay with bunting, and a spirit of carnival prevailed.  The report in the Pakenham Gazette continued with a list of the activities from the day including the best decorated vehicle competition, a colourful display by the men of the 52nd Battalion, foot races and, in the evening, a Ball which was held at the Pakenham Theatre (1).

Mr Hillman attended the Coronation celebrations on Pakenham, transcribed below.

Pakenham Gazette May 21, 1937, p. 3

The next week on May 21, 1937 the Pakenham Gazette had the following report  - Amongst the hundreds of interested  spectators who saw the Coronation procession at Pakenham last week was  Mr A. E. Hillman, of Pakenham, a member of the Australian Contingent which went to England in 1902 for the coronation of King Edward VII. Mr Hillman was in the Garrison Artillery and served in the Boer War from 1899 to 1901 under Major (afterwards General) Monash and was awarded the South African medal with six clasps. The Australian Coronation Contingent in 1902 comprised 150 officers and men, 42 of whom were selected from Victoria. The troops were away from Australia for about six months, and in addition to taking part on the Coronation festivities in London toured England and Scotland. Mr Hillman recalls many pleasant memories associated with the trip (2). As we can see from the short article, Alfred Ernest Hillman, not only witnessed the coronation of Edward VII but also served in the Boer War (also known as the South African War). 

Alfred was born in Drysdale in 1869 and had come to Pakenham with his parents, Edward and Eliza (nee Hopkins) Hillman in 1885 (3). His obituary in the Pakenham Gazette said that he had the distinction of being the first man to enlist from Pakenham for war service (4). 

Alfred enlisted in the 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles (5).  He was awarded the South Africa medal with six clasps. This medal was officially called the Queen's South Africa medal and was awarded to all those who served. You can see the clasps on the photograph, at left. Each clasp represented a location (presumably where a battle took place?) such as Transvaal, Modder River, Johannesburg. The Defence Department, where this photograph comes from, has an explanation and description of the badge as well as a list of the twenty six clasps, here. 

The other interesting thing the Pakenham Gazette article notes was that Alfred served in the Boer War from 1899 to 1901 under Major (afterwards General) Monash. This is, of course, Sir John Monash, World War One General and later the General Manager of the State Electricity Commission. However, Monash's Australian Dictionary of Biography entry (see here) written by Geoffrey Searle, said that although Monash was a member of the  North Melbourne Battery of the Metropolitan Brigade of the Garrison Artillery, he did not volunteer for and was not invited to take part in the South African War.  Possibly, Alfred may have served under Monash in the Garrison Artillery before he went to South Africa. 

William came home from South Africa on the Tongariro; he and his fellow Victorians disembarked in Sydney and arrived by train at Spencer Street Station on May 2, 1901 (6). Alfred's obituary notes that after his War service, he resided in Melbourne, then he came back to this district [Pakenham], remaining here ever since (7).  On June 29, 1904, Alfred married Eva Murcutt at St Ignatius' Church in Richmond. They had two daughters, Eva Florence, born in 1905 and Winifred Mary, born in 1906, both in Richmond (8).

Marriage notice of Alfred Hillman to Eva Murcutt

The Age, July 30 1904 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201650108

In the Boer War nominal rolls (9) Alfred is listed with the service number of 252 the man with the service number of 253 is Joseph Murcutt, Eva's brother (10). Did Alfred and Joseph know each other before they enlisted or did they met in the recruiting office, become friends and then Joseph later introduced Alfred to his sister? Joseph also arrived home on the Tongariro, so perhaps Eva was part of the large crowd that met the returning soldiers at Spencer Street, and that is how Alfred and Eva first met. (11).

Alfred Hillman and his future brother-in-law, Joseph Murcutt.

Boer War Nominal Rolls for the 2nd Victorian Mounted Rifles.

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1447479

Sadly, Alfred and Eva's marriage was short-lived as Eva died on July 25, 1906 at only 24 years of age. 

Death notice of Eva Hillman

The Age July 26, 1906 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189365335

In 1909, Alfred married Cecilia Elizabeth Smith (12). They had one son Alfred George, known as Fred, born in Pakenham in 1912 (13).  Alfred was very community minded and actively associated himself with many organisations in Pakenham - the Horticultural Society, where he was a foundation member; the Mechanics' Hall, Recreation Reserve, Cemetery Trust, St James Church, Racing Club and the Farmers' Union and the Country Party (14). Alfred was a farmer and in the last twenty three years of his life, his obituary noted that he operated a poultry farm in Main Street, near the railway station (15).

Alfred Hillman's Poultry farm at Pakenham

Dandenong Journal May 31, 1939 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201306382

Alfred died on October 15, 1947, aged 78. He was  survived by his wife Cecilia; daughter Eva; daughter and son-in-law, Winnie and Ted Law and their daughter Enid; and son Fred. Cecilia died on November 5, 1978. Alfred and Cecilia were cremated and they are interred at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery (16).

Death notices for Alfred

The Argus, October 16 1947 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/1707759

Footnotes:
(1) Pakenham Gazette, May 14 1937, p. 3
(2) Alfred's obituary in the Pakenham Gazette, October 17, 1947, p. 6 lists his place of birth and date of arrival in Pakenham. Edward Hillman and Eliza Hopkins had the following children, the first two were born in England and the rest on the Bellarine Peninsula (information from the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages).
Albert Edward (1861-1907)
Francis John (1863 - 1949)
Adeline Mary (1865 - 1956, married William Ferguson in 1898)
Julia Anne (1867 - 1934, married Martin John Hitchins in 1892)
Alfred Ernest (1869 - 1947)
Edward Hopkins (1871 - 1931)
Florence Emily (1871 - 1954, married Robert Francis Lovibond in 1906)
Edith Augusta (1876 - 1876)
Maud Alice (1877 - 1947, married John Charles Whitmore in 1908)
Ida May (1882 - 1909, married James Luke Rees in 1908)
Edward died March 21, 1920, aged 86; Eliza died in 1930, aged 93. They are buried at Pakenham Cemetery.

(3) Pakenham Gazette, October 17, 1947. p. 6. Obituary transcription - 

Pakenham Mourns Death of Mr. A. E. Hillman

With feelings of the deepest regret we record the fact that Mr Alfred Ernest Hillman passed away at his residence, Main Street, Pakenham East, shortly before midnight last Tuesday, at the age of 78 years. Mr Hillman had not enjoyed particularly good health for some years, but carried on his business as a poultry farmer as formerly, and on the day of his death appeared to be in his usual state of health. However, he became seriously ill late in the evening and passed away shortly afterwards.
By his death Pakenham has lost one of its oldest and most highly esteemed residents.
He was born at Drysdale, and coming to Pakenham with his parents 62 years ago, he spent the greater part of his life in this district and won the high regard of all who knew him.
He had the distinction of being the first man to enlist from Pakenham for war service. He served with the Australian contingent in the South African War at the beginning of this century, and shortly afterwards was selected as one of the soldiers to represent Australia at the Coronation celebrations in London.
For some time after his return from England he resided in Melbourne, then he came back to this district, remaining here ever since.
Although in recent years Mr Hillman has confined his public activities mainly to various producers’ organisations, in his younger days he actively associated himself with practically every public body in Pakenham. With his death Pakenham loses one o f the few surviving members of the Horticultural Society’s first committee. The Mechanics’ Institute, Recreation Reserve, Cemetery Trust, St. James’ Church of England, and the Racing Club were other bodies which had claimed his keen interest and help, and he was also prominently connected with the Farmers’ Union and the Country Party.
For the past 23 years he had engaged very successfully in poultry farming.
Kindly and helpful by nature, Mr Hillman had a host of friends throughout the district, and the news of his death was received with widespread and deep regret.
The sympathy of the whole community goes out to his wife, son and two daughters in the great loss they have sustained.
The funeral, which was largely attended, took place at Springvale yesterday, Rev. W.P. Daunt officiating at the Crematorium Chapel. Messrs W.J. Garnar and Son had charge of the funeral arrangements.

(4) Pakenham Gazette, October 17, 1947. p. 6

(5) Boer War Nominal Rolls, available on the Australian War Memorial website, see here.

(6) Tongariro Contingent in The Argus, May 3, 1901- Back from the War, here; List of Returned Soldiers, here.

(7) Pakenham Gazette, October 17, 1947. p. 6.
(8) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.
(9) Boer War Nominal Rolls, see here.
(10) Eva was the daughter of William John and Eva Susannah (nee Ratcliffe) Murcutt. They had thirteen children between 1881 and 1908 - Joseph who enlisted with Alfred was the first child, born in 1881 and Eva was the second oldest, born in 1882 (information from the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages)

(11) As per Footnote 6.
(12) Cecilia (1887 - 1978) was born in Pakenham, the daughter of Oscar and Elizabeth (nee Flower) Smith. Oscar was a blacksmith in Pakenham, he died in 1935 aged 77, you can read his obituary in the Dandenong Journal of October 10, 1935, here. Elizabeth died in 1955, aged 91 and is buried at Pakenham Cemetery with her husband.

(13) Alfred's children - Eva Florence (1905 - 1999, married William Thomas Tonkin in 1954); Winifred Mary (1906 - 1983, married Edward Leslie Law in 1930); Alfred George 'Fred' (1912 - 1986).  (information from the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages)
(14) Obituary - Pakenham Gazette, October 17, 1947, p. 6
(15) Obituary - Pakenham Gazette, October 17, 1947, p. 6; There was also a short obituary in the Dandenong Journal of October 29, 1947, see here.

(16) Death notice - The Argus, October 16 1947, see here.

A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years blog

The mystery of Minihan's Road, Cranbourne

Monahan's Road is in Cranbourne; it runs from Sladen Street up to Breens Road. There is a park on Monahan's Road called Minihan's Reserve. However, Monahan's Road was originally called Minihan's Road after the Minihan family.  So, the mystery is why is it now known as Monahan's Road and what happened to Minihan's Road?

1963 aerial of Cranbourne (photograph taken December 14, 1963).

Monahan's Road is on the left hand side of the photograph, and ends at what appears to be a ploughed area, but is now, I think, part of SP Ausnet Cranbourne Terminal Station. You can see the beginnings of a new housing estate, centered either side of Camms Road, to the left of the Railway Line. This includes streets such as Evelyne Avenue, Virginia Avenue, Rosalie Avenue etc. Also off Camms Road and between the railway line and the South Gippsland Highway, you can see the development of Circle Drive, to the north of this is Clairmont Avenue and Fenfield Street . What looks like a quarry is now Donnelly Reserve.

Detail of page 128 of the 1973 Edition 6 of the Melway Street Directory. 

Monahans Road is just to the left of blue Cranbourne heading.

The Minihan family were listed in the Shire of Cranbourne Rate Books from 1863 (the first year we have access to these records), when William Minihan is shown as owning 54 acres in Section 5, Lot 9 in the Parish of Lyndhurst. The general location is shown on the Parish Plan, below.

Detail of Lyndhust Parish Plan - the star marks Section 9, the location of the Minihan property.

Lyndhurst, County of Mornington / drawn and reproduced at the Department of Lands and Survey, Melbourne.

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/288705

Cranbourne residents, 1930s and 1940s

This is a sketch map produced for the publication of the book Cranbourne: a town with a history, published by the City of Casey in 1996. (You can access an on-line copy of this book here). A long term Cranbourne resident, Mrs Joan Kelsall, identified the location of Cranbourne residents in the 1930s and 1940s and shows John Minihan's house on Monahan's Road.

William Minihan married Mary Coffee in 1854 in Limerick in Ireland and they very soon after migrated to Victoria. The had nine children, I can't find the registration records for them all, so some dates are a educated guess - 

Mary Ann - died aged four months old in 1855 in Collingwood.

Patrick - born c.1856 and died in 1926 in Cranbourne, aged 70.

Mary Ann - born c.1858 and died aged 5 years old in Cranbourne in 1863.

John - born c.1860 and died aged 3 years old in Cranbourne in 1863.

Catherine - born 1862, birth registered at Lyndhurst and died in 1947 at Northcote, aged 84. 

Mary Ann - born c. 1864 and died aged 32 in Cranbourne in 1896. 

John - born 1866, birth registered at Lyndhurst and died in 1936 in Dandenong, aged 69.

Ellen Francis - born 1868, birth registered at Cranbourne and died in 1898 in Cranbourne, aged 31.  Johanna - born 1870, birth registered at Cranbourne; married Patrick McGrath in 1896 and died 1964 in Murrumbeena aged 94. 

William died on January 25, 1911 and Mary died March 10, 1905 and they are both buried at Cranbourne Cemetery, along with some of their children.  William's Probate papers showed he owned various parcels of  land in the area - in the Parish of Langwarrin - Crown Allotment (CA) 7A of 100 acres, CA 7B of 20 acres and CA 7C of 16 acres, all with no improvements other than fencing. I believe this land is off  Brown's Road, east of Smith's Road in Cranbourne South. 

Detail of Langwarrin Plan, showing William Minihan's property.

Langwarrin, State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/160492

William's land in the Parish of Lyndhurst consisted of - 27 acres part of Crown portions 9 and 10, lot B, with a four roomed weather-board house, hay shed, barn and stable; 26 acres, Lot 4 of Crown Portion 9 with a wattle and daub house and 2 acres of orchards; 26 acres Lot 5 of Crown Portion 9 with a cow shed and fencing; 26 acres Lot 8, Crown Portion 7 with fencing. All up the land was valued at just over £1474 and he also had furniture and tools valued at £17.  

We know from William's Will and from the Shire of Cranbourne Rate books that William, John, Patrick and later Catherine Minihan owned land in Crown Allotments 7, 9 and 10 from at least 1863  until 1936 and we know that this is exactly the same area where Monahan's Road is today

Minihan entry, Shire of Cranbourne Rate books 1925-1926.

Minihan entry, Shire of Cranbourne Rate books 1935-1966.

There are newspaper references to show that there was once a road called Minihans's Road in Cranbourne, as we can see below.

Cranbourne Shire contract to form and gravel Minihan's Road 

South Bourke and Mornington Journal, November 7 1900 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70046498

Cranbourne Shire Engineer's report. The name has been spelt incorrectly, bit still clearly referring to the road where the Minihan family lived.

Dandenong Advertiser September 6 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88818645

Death notice of John Minihan in 1936, of Minihan's Road, Cranbourne

The Age February 17, 1936, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205239716

There is clear evidence that Monahan's Road was originally called Minihan's Road. We know that there used to be a Minihan's Road in Cranbourne; we know that the Minihan family lived on what is now called Monahan's Road and that they owned land on either side of Monahan's Road for seventy years. The mystery is, why was it changed? I do not know, but I suspect it was just slackness in regard to the spelling and the wrong spelling was eventually accepted.

And what is even more ironic, is that the road near their Cranbourne South property, Crown Allotments 7A, 7B and 7C, Parish of Langwarrin, referred to above, seems also to have been known locally  Minahan's Road or South Lyndhurst Road. There is no possibility that the reference below would refer to what is now Monahan's Road. 

A reference to Minahan's Road in South Lyndhurst (now Cranbourne South_.

Dandenong Advertiser, August 9 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88818493

What are the chances that an early land owning family in the Cranbourne area could, over 100 years ago have had two roads named for them and now there are none? In sporting parlance, if I was a Minihan, I would say 'we was robbed'.

Sources - Shire of Cranbourne Rate books; Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Minihan family trees on Ancestry.com;  Willian Minihan's Probate papers at the Public Records Office of Victoria, see here.

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