South Eastern Historical Association Inc.

Blog

  • News from the Newsletters – May 2019

    This is a summary of the articles and events taken from the newsletters sent to the Secretary from SEHA Groups and Societies. May 2019. Compiled by Heather Arnold.

    Bass Valley Historical Society      https://bassvalleyhistoricalsociety.com.au/
    • The Dinner meeting will be held on Friday, June 14. Guest speaker is Colin Robinson of the Victorian Re-enactment Society – the Battle of Waterloo. All the details are here https://seha.org.au/event/bass-valley-historical-society-dinner-meeting-3 The Grantville History website has the issues of the Western Port Times as well as lots of historical information on the Bass Valley, Grantville and San Remo areas. http://www.grantvillehistory.com.au/

    Brighton Cemetorians        http://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/
    • The March Cemetorian is an all-female issue and takes a look at some of the many women buried at the Brighton Cemetery – Dr Edith Barrett, who graduated as a Doctor from Melbourne University in 1901 and founded the Bush Nursing Association of Victoria in 1910; Emily Dixon who founded Shelford Girls Grammar School in 1898; Dora Blundell, Head Mistress of Shelford from 1905 and Mary Doris Greenwood, Opera singer.

    Chelsea & District Historical Society
    • The February newsletter reported that it is 90 years since the Chelsea Court House opened on February 4, 1929. The City of Kingston is undertaking an extensive renovation of the Court House, which houses the Society’s Museum. The Society is hopeful that the renovations will be finished by the end of the year.

    Dandenong & District Historical Society       http://ddhs.com.au/
    • The Gipps-Land Gate of April 2019 has an article on Early gold in the district and an article on Dr Pat Wellington, who studied medicine at Melbourne University 1932 – 1937. It is a delightful extract from her memoirs – High school years, University years and her romance with her future husband Dr Medwyn Hutson. Carmen Powell has retired as the Gipps-Land Gate editor after 36 editions.
    • The Annual Luncheon is on Saturday, June 15. The guest speaker is Martin Culkin – retired Principal of Dandenong High School. All the details are here https://seha.org.au/event/dandenong-historical-society-annual-luncheon

    Frankston Historical Society      http://www.frankstonhs.org.au/
    • Ballam Park Homestead opening hours – Tea Rooms are open every Sunday from 1.00pm to 5.00pm. Guided tours through the house and museum available every Sunday from 1.00pm to 4.00pm (Tea Room closed and no tours on the 5th Sunday of the month). Tour Groups by appointment.

    Hastings Western Port Historical Society      http://www.hwphs.org.au/
    • The March issue has an article on the history of Victorian Railway bus tours by David Taylor.

    Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society
    • The March newsletter had an article on the Bennett’s Stump Puller, trialled by Carlo Catani on the Koo wee Rup Swamp in 1894; the April newsletter has an article on Life on the Koo wee Rup Swamp in 1893/1894, taken from newspaper reports at the time. The May newsletter has an article on Thomas Roxburgh – first commercial grower of asparagus on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp. All articles by Heather Arnold. The April issue also has an article by Libby Skidmore on Sam’s Pears – an orchard planted by Samuel Anderson at his property on the Bass River in 1835. It is illustrated with two photographs taken by David Mickle in 1968, one of the Anderson home and one of the pear trees.

    Mornington and District Historical Society      www.morningtondistricthistory.org.au
    • The February 2019 newsletter has a report of a recent Mornington Peninsula Shire Local History Network meeting, where the Mayor, Cr David Gill, raised the idea of collecting information about the history behind the names of street names. Some groups are already documenting the names, but this would be more of a collective project where members of the public could also add information. It’s a great idea.

    Rye Historical Society         http://ryehistoricalsociety.weebly.com/
    • The Whitecliffs newsletter from April-June 2019 has an article by Noel Erbs, on the Rye saleyard, which opened in 1918. There is also an article about the Lifesaving Track along the Ocean Beach by John Hazeldine. It is an 11 km track from Sorrento to Rye built in 1904.It had beach access tracks which were numbered and marked for rescuers. It is largely intact and now used as a walking track. An article looks at the life of Alfred Ernest ‘Tommy’ Short who was a resident of Rye for 50 years. He died in 1961 aged 83.

    Somerville Tyabb & District Heritage Society       http://home.vicnet.net.au/~stdhs/
    • The March 2019 newsletter has a report on the unveiling of a photo of Colonel Annie Sage at the local community centre, the Annie Sage Community Centre, which was named in her honour in March 2017. Colonel Sage was born in Somerville in 1924 and you can read about her life, her nursing and military career in her Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/sage-annie-moriah-11601

    Wonthaggi and District Historical Society       http://www.wonthaggihistoricalsociety.org.au/
    • The essay in the February 2019 Plod is on Bill Robertson, who arrived in Wonthaggi in 1958 to take up a teaching appointment at Wonthaggi Technical School – he fell in love and married Barbara Dakers and fell in love with the town and joined the local council and became Mayor of Wonthaggi. The article was written by his son, Mark, and was part of Mark’s eulogy to his Dad, whose funeral was in February. The March Plod essay is on Wally ‘Hefty’ Stuart, Wonthaggi Cycling champion and also has a general look at the history of cycling in Wonthaggi, written by C. Landon. ‘Hefty’ went to England in the 1930s with Hubert Opperman and Ernie Milliken and raced over there and in the World Championships in Belgium in 1935. He tragically died in 1938 as a result of an accident at Olympic Park where he was doing exhibition rides. The April Plod essay has an essay by Gill Heal on the Wonthaggi Theatrical Groups 1982 programme in the newly rebuilt Union Theatre, which had been destroyed by fire in April 1980.

  • Minutes of the May 2019 meeting

    Here are the minutes of the meeting held on May 5, 2019, hosted by the Phillip Island & District Historical Society.

    SEHA Mins May 2019 – Web minutes

    The guest speaker was Christine Grayden. Christine read some entries from Mary Potter’s Nature Notes, you can read more about this here, https://seha.org.au/mary-potters-nature-notes-1918

  • Mary Potter’s Nature Notes from 1918

    Our guest speaker at the May 2019  meeting was Christine Grayden, of the Phillip Island Historical Society, who is also the past curator of Churchill Island.

    Christine read some entries from Mary Potter’s Nature Notes. In 1918, Mary Potter (1854-1943, daughter of Thomas and Catherine Anderson) wrote down her memories of the birds and animals that she saw during her youth in the San Remo, Bass River and Phillip Island region. It was really interesting. You can read her notes here – http://pidhs.org.au/?action=viewEssay&articleId=6 and see a photo of Mrs Potter, here – https://victoriancollections.net.au/…/phillip-island-and-di…

  • Minutes and report on guest speaker, Patrick Ferry, from the February 2019 meeting

    Here are Minutes from the February 2019 meeting which was hosted by the Berwick Pakenham Historical Society.  The guest speaker at the meeting was Patrick Ferry, writer and historian. His topic was ‘Writing History’

    SEHA Mins Feb 2019 – Web minutes

    Writing History Patrick Ferry 2019

  • News from the Newsletters – February 2019

    This is a summary of the articles and events taken from the newsletters sent to the Secretary from SEHA Groups and Societies. February 2019. Compiled by Heather Arnold.

    Bass Valley Historical Society

    Chelsea & District Historical Society

    • The October/November newsletter has a report of their successful Fashion Parade and a copy of a report from the City of Chelsea News of December 12, 1963 about the formation of the Chelsea Historical Society – 55 years ago.

    Dandenong & District Historical Society        http://ddhs.com.au/

    • The Gipps-Land Gate of October 2018 has some articles on the Gartside family of Dingley. The Gartsides had a connection to French Island and there are articles about this as well as Ken Gartside’s barges.

     

    Frankston Historical Society    http://www.frankstonhs.org.au/

    • The November/December reports on the donation of a Top Hat belonging to James Fulton who had a farm at Mount Eliza. His spring cart is already on display at Ballam Park. Mrs Fulton’s wedding dress has also been donated. The former Elizabeth Collins married James in February 1871.

    Hastings Western Port Historical Society     http://www.hwphs.org.au/

    • The December issue has an article on Lieutenant George Ingram, the last Australian awarded the Victoria Cross in the First World War. George lived at Hastings after the War.

     

    Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society

    • The October newsletter had an article on Hedges and fences in the area including the 1882 hawthorn hedges at Caldermeade and the 1888 hedges at Catani. The November newsletter has an article on Frederick Bayles, the namesake of the town of Bayles. The December newsletter has an article about the 1948 concert at Koo Wee Rup State School and the February newsletter has an article looking back at Koo Wee Rup in 1919.

    Lang Lang & District Historical Society   http://www.langlang.net/historical.html

    • The November newsletter has a report on the Lang Lang Cemetery tour that the Society undertook in conjunction with the Narre Warren & District Family History Group.

    Mordialloc College Alumni Association    https://mordialloccollegealumni.org

    • Ventured December 2018 has memories of the school from Marjorie Kean (nee George) who was at the school for four years from 1939 to 1942. She later helped form the Ex-students Association.

    Mornington and District Historical Society     www.morningtondistricthistory.org.au

    • The November newsletter had a short history of boat hire from Scout Beach at Mornington,  a service that has been provided for 100 years.

    Narre Warren and District Family History Group    http://nwfhg.org.au/

    • The November Spreading Branches has a report on the Great War themed Lang Lang Cemetery tour. The February newsletter has an article on Dr and Mrs Elliot Drake of Beaconsfield Upper. Both newsletters have photos from the Max Thomson collection, many of which were taken by Michael Drew. The State Library of Victoria also has a collection of photographs donated by Max Thomson.

     

    Rye Historical Society       http://ryehistoricalsociety.weebly.com/

    • The Whitecliffs newsletter from October-December 2018 has an article on Early Surveyors of Rye and district by John Bertacco. The first recorded licence for grazing rights was granted in 1838. There is also an article on the Rye Ice Works, established around 1904 The January-March 2019 newsletter has a report on the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Rye Cemetery and an article called Early adoption of auxiliary engines in sailing vessels.

     

    Somerville Tyabb & District Heritage Society      http://home.vicnet.net.au/~stdhs/

    • The December newsletter has an article on the opening of the Heritage Machinery shed on October 10, 2018. The shed houses machinery connected to the local orchards and features murals of orchard life by Simon White.

     

    Wonthaggi and District Historical Society      http://www.wonthaggihistoricalsociety.org.au/

    • The essays in the October and November 2018 The Plod are part one and two of the Life of Frederick Thomas Webb. When he was 14 he got himself a job on a farm at Leongatha, milking cows, he later returned to Melbourne and did an engineering course at Melbourne Tech (RMIT) and in the early 1930s worked for the State Coal Mine at Wonthaggi, where he became responsible for all mine transport. Fred then started buying buses – school buses and also started transporting the miners to and from their shifts. Fred also built a long-distance high pressure steam pipe, a large factory, a stone crushing plant. The crushing plant used Wonthaggi redstone – a waste product of the coal mining process (mudstone, splint which has a high carboniferous content and coal – this would self-combust and after burning would be rock hard and red brick in colour) Fred sold the crushed rock to the local Council. It was also used on the running track at the MCG during the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

  • Reports and Minutes from the September 2018 meeting & AGM

    Here are the reports and Minutes from the September 2018 meeting and the Annual General Meeting which was hosted by the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society

    SEHA reports September 2018

    SEHA Mins Sep 2018 website

    SEHA AGM mins 2018 website

    The content of these reports are the sole responsibility of each individual Society and do not necessarily reflect the views of the South Eastern Historical Association. In future, if you do not want your report posted on our website then please notify the Secretary.

     

  • News from the newsletters – September 2018

    This is a summary of the articles and events taken from the newsletters sent to the Secretary from SEHA Groups and Societies. September 2018. Compiled by Heather Arnold.

    Bass Valley Historical Society

    • The Dinner meeting held on Sunday, September 9 had Libby Skidmore as the guest speaker. Her topic was The Active and her men.
    • Bass Valley U3A – Local History Group present “Grantville History Day” Public Open Day. When: Saturday, October 6 2018 from 1.00pm to 4.00pm. Where: Grantville Hall, Bass Highway. More information https://seha.org.au/event/grantville-history-day
    • The July newsletter (the inaugural newsletter) introduced the Committee and the new website www.bassvalleyhistoricalsociety.com.au and an essay on ‘What is history’ by Roger Clark. The September newsletter promotes the Grantville History Day.

    Brighton Cemetorians  http://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/

    • The September Cemetorian has some interesting stories on cemetery ‘residents’ – Jane Stock Greig, who graduated in medicine from Melbourne University in 1895, she was one of the founders of Queen Victoria Hospital and medical officer with the Education Department amongst many other achievements; James Boxshall, the father of Yallock settler Thomas Boxshall; William Rolland, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Victoria in 1904/05 and father of Frank Rolland, who reorganised the training of deaconesses in Victoria and established Rolland House in Carlton, for this purpose.

    Chelsea & District Historical Society

    • The Society has published Patterson Lakes: a new exciting concept of living, available for the modest price of $3.00.

     Dromana & District Historical Society  http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dromana/

    • The June newsletter has a report on the naming of a bridge over Dunn’s Creek in Dromana after local family, the Littlejohns. William Littlejohn came to Dromana in 1917 with his young family of nine children and settled on land along Dunns Creek. In 1927, William successfully tendered to build the reinforced concrete bridge which replaced an old timber bridge and was located at the entrance to the Littlejohn property. You can read more about the event here https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/About-Us/News-Media-Publications/News-Media/100-year-Dromana-family-legacy-lives-on
    • There is also a list of soldiers who enlisted at Dromana in the Great War.

    Friends of Cheltenham and Regional Cemeteries  http://www.focrc.org/

    • The July 2018 Raves from the Graves has a report on a tour they conducted for Grade 6 students from St Patrick’s of Mentone. The tour went very well.
    • There is an article by Rosemary Reddick on the Fairlam family of Cheltenham. William Fairlam was the local auctioneer, his son Richard was a well known photographer. William’s father, also William, had arrived in Victoria in 1853, hoping to make his fortune with gold digging, instead he married Adeliza Walker the daughter of Cheltenham pioneers and they established a market garden in Jasper Road, East Brighton. William Jnr opened his Estate Agency in Collins Street and also had a branch in Cheltenham. Richard established his studio next to his father’s Estate Agency and took many photos of the local area. After serving in the Great War he settled back into Cheltenham, married Ruth Kennon, whose family owned the Genesta Guest House in Cowes, Phillip Island. They took over his father’s business which had become a home furnishings and hardware business.
    • There is also an article by Sue Beazley on the Livingstone Home in Cheltenham, a home for neglected and orphaned children. It opened in 1891 and was closed in 1967. The Southland Shopping Centre now sits on the site.

    Hastings Western Port Historical Society     http://www.hwphs.org.au/

    • The June issue has an article on Nurses and Nursing in World War One. The September issue has an article on The Armistice (November 11, 1918), it also has photos of the 45th anniversary of the Society. There is an obituary of Joe Stockton who died in July 2018. The Stockton family were orchardists of Grayden’s Road in Tyabb. There is a proposal to name the access road from the Flinders Yacht Club, ‘Lacey View’ in honour of Ken Lacey, who died in March 2017. Ken was heavily involved in the SEHA and many other community groups including the Yacht Club.

     Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society

    • The June newsletter has a report on the annual dinner, held on May 27. The guest speakers were John and Jo Spencer who toured Europe on a motorbike. The July newsletter has an article, by Heather Arnold, on Charles and Ellen Rossiter of Hawkesdale, Koo Wee Rup and the source of the name Rossiter Road in Koo Wee Rup; the August newsletter has an article on the history of Churches in the town and the September newsletter has an article on Sarah Fagan, who operated a hotel in Lyndhurst in the 1850s.

    Lang Lang & District Historical Society   http://www.langlang.net/historical.html

    • The July newsletter covers the 20th anniversary celebrations, where you take a ride around the town in a horse and landau; there are plans for a 2019 calendar and the Society has acquired portraits of the Doxey family and other memorabilia. Doxey Road in Lang Lang is named for the family. The Society is working with the Narre Warren & District Family History Group on a World War One tour of the Lang Lang Cemetery on October 14. More information https://seha.org.au/event/peace-at-last-a-world-war-one-walk-in-the-lang-lang-cemetery

    Leongatha & District Historical Society   http://www.leongathahistory.org.au/

    • The Shingler Memorial Lecture and Dinner was held on September 15 and the guest speakers were Dorothy Giles and Lyn Skillern who spoke about the history of the Great Southern Star newspaper and the Giles and Gannon family.
    • The September newsletter has a report that a medal belonging to Private Leslie George Walker of Leongatha, who was Killed in Action at Fromelles on July 19, 1916, turned up in a garden at Tatura. The medal was returned to family members. Leslie’s widowed mother, Rosalie moved to Tatura after the war.

    Mordialloc College Alumni Association  www.mordialloccollegealumni.org

    • Ventured July 2018 has memories of the school from David Tindal (at the school 1950 – 1954) and Ray Shamray (1963 -1968). Ventured September 2018 has an article about the school in World War Two and various memories of the school including those of Gus Johnson (1964-1968) and Nancy Pond (nee Sirett) 1956-1958. Nancy loved science but in those days girls weren’t allowed to do Science beyond Form 2 and she had to do Mothercraft and Needlework instead!

    Mornington and District Historical Society      www.morningtondistricthistory.org.au

    • The June newsletter had a look back at the 1980 Rye Pizza Parlour shooting where the owner, Mrs Zimbarti, was left paralysed and a policeman, Sergeant Liefting was shot and sustained damage to his liver. Society member, Dr David Price, was the surgeon on call at the Frankston Hospital that night. Interesting account and a reminder that collecting and writing about our more recent history is just as important as writing about long term history.
    • The August newsletter reported on the Balcombe fountain at Mornington Park. It was donated to the people of Mornington by the Balcombe family, in memory of Alexander Balcombe. It has moved a few times and has now been replaced close to its original position and restored.
    • The Museum at the old Mornington Post Office turns 50 on December 6 this year.
    • Mornington Cemetery Walk is on October 7 – more information https://seha.org.au/event/mornington-cemetery-tour
    • The Leslie Moorhead lecture is on October 27 – more information https://seha.org.au/event/leslie-moorhead-lecture-indigenous-culture

    Narre Warren and District Family History Group    http://nwfhg.org.au/

    • The August 2018 Spreading Branches has a report on the AGM; an article by Marianne Rocke on Frances Elmes, a journalist who wrote for The Argus, under the name Lino. She died in London in 1919 of influenza. Marianne has created a list of articles and has more information on Frances which you can access here https://upperbeaconsfieldhistory.org.au/elmes.htm
    • The newsletter has three entries in a writing competition from the Group’s members – on Joachim Popp, one on Godwin George Crespin and William Doherty.
    • Peace at last: a World War One walk in the Lang Lang Cemetery will take place on October 14. More information https://seha.org.au/event/peace-at-last-a-world-war-one-walk-in-the-lang-lang-cemetery

    Nepean Historical Society          http://nepeanhistoricalsociety.asn.au/

    • The June 2018 newsletter, the Nepean, has an article on Alfred Sandle Ford, the grandson of James Sandle Ford an early pioneer, who was responsible for naming Portsea. Alfred served in the Great War. There is also an obituary of Gwen Sapiano (nee Skelten) who was born in Sorrento in 1925. The September newsletter has the Annual Report – over the year July 2017 to June 2018 the Society hosted 22 group events with 631 visitors. Seventy two Society members gave 223 hours to the Society (in total) and raised over $3,800.

     Phillip Island & District Genealogical Society   http://piadgs.org.au/

    • Reflections newsletter August 2018 has an article about the launch of the Society’s searchable database to the Shire of Phillip Island and Woolamai Rate Books from 1872 – 1900.

    Rye Historical Society       http://ryehistoricalsociety.weebly.com/

    • The Whitecliffs newsletter from July – September 2018 has an article on the official opening of the ‘Dorothy Houghton walk’ on May 4. The walk is around the base of Eastern Sister, near Sorrento. Mrs Houghton was Life Member of the Society, local business woman and involved community member. There is an article on the history of the White Cliffs store by David Trufnell and the first part of a history of the Rye Mechanics’ Institute by Noel Erbs.

    Somerville Tyabb & District Heritage Society      http://home.vicnet.net.au/~stdhs/

    • The June newsletter has an article by Len Heywood ‘Memories of my early cricket playing days’ including playing on French Island, which they would travel to by Peterson’s fishing boat. They were met by an old truck that took them to the ground. There is a reprint of an obituary of 89 year old Mrs Jane Unthank of Somerville who died in 1921. The September edition has a reprint of an article from the Frankston and Somerville Standard on the Better Farming train visit to Somerville.

    Wonthaggi and District Historical Society      http://www.wonthaggihistoricalsociety.org.au/

    • The essay in the June 2018 The Plod is called A brief history of the Wonthaggi State School Swimming pool by Sam Gatto; the July Plod essay by Terri Allen, called Paperbark Thicket, is about ‘a place called Wonthaggi before it was named Wonthaggi’ from ancient times to 1909 when the mine was established. The August Plod essay is about Beatrice Ridley, the first supervisor of Rose Lodge Aged Care Centre. Mrs Ridley’s daughter, Barbara Robertson, was a guest speaker at a meeting and spoke about her mother. The September Plod essay is a history of the Wonthaggi Rifle Club by Terri Allen.
    • Wonthaggi & District Historical Society Annual Dinner will be held on Friday, November 30 2018 at 6.00pm. The theme is ‘Wonthaggi & District Hospital School of Nursing 1912 – 1967’ More information https://seha.org.au/event/wonthaggi-district-historical-society-annual-dinner

  • Make Do To Renew exhibition, Benga House Dandenong, from July 31 2018 to October 7 2018.

    Benga House, Heritage Hill at Dandenong  is hosting the exhibition, Make Do To Renew, that draws on the experiences of grandparents to recycle and reuse. The exhibition includes select works from the Springvale & District Historical Society, Dandenong & District Historical Society and private collections. Exhibition is on from July 31 to October  7, 2018.

    Where: Benga House, 66 McRae Street, Dandnenong. Open Tuesday to Friday, 10.00am to 4.00pm. Free entry.

    For further information please contact 03 9793 4511 or email heritagehill@cgd.vic.gov.au

    http://www.greaterdandenong.com/section/306/heritage-hill

  • Notes from the ‘Stuff you need to know 2’ seminar July 2018

    Our ‘Stuff you need to know’ seminar was Sunday, July 29 2018 at the Narre Warren Mechanics’ Institute Hall, 59 Webb Street.

    Here are some notes from the day. Unfortunately, the session on Community Banking did not go ahead as the guest speaker could not make it, due to unexpected circumstances.

    Digitisation: Turning History into Pixels presented by Murray Adams, Mornington Peninsula Shire Local History Digitisation Officer. As well as giving us lots of practical information on digitising, Murray also talked about George Rose, the founder of the Rose Stereograph Company, who produced the Rose Series postcards.

    Murray Adams Turning history into pixels

    The following sessions were presented by Lynne Bradley, President Narre Warren & District Family History Group and Heather Arnold, Local History Librarian Casey Cardinia Libraries and President, Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society.

    We’ve got a policy for that!  What policies should you have and why.

    We have a policy for that updated Oct 2018

    Where on the Net.  Free local and family history information on the Internet. We also looked at some free creative design tools – Canva and Gimp.

    Where on the Net

  • Casey Cardinia Archive Collection Policies

    We spoke about Collection policies at the ‘Stuff you need to know 2’ seminar held on July 29, 2018. These are the policies written by Claire Turner Sandall when she was Local History Officer at Casey Cardinia Libraries.

    Casey Cardinia Archive Policies