The Newsletter Essendon Historical Society Inc Established 1970 Moonee Ponds Courthouse Museum 768-770 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds 3039 Inc No A001740P ABN No 33 706 980 895 Issue No 231 June—July 2015 EHS is affiliated with the Royal Historical Society of Victoria Telephone 9370 4607 CONTENTS A Message from the President page 2 The ANZAC Centenary Committee Report (Coming events to watch out for) page 3 Michela Capicchiano (1862-1945) A Pioneer by Marilyn Kenny page 4 Vale Jack Simpson (former M.L.A. For Niddrie) page 6 Notice of Annual General Meeting / Membership Subscriptions 2015/16 page 7 Fireside Readings 2015 page 7 A Brief History of Roselyn Court page 8 by Bob Chalmers Restoration Committee Report by Mary Cahill page 10 Memory Lane Garden Report by Mary Cahill page 10 Our 45th Birthday (Annual Dinner Meeting) page 11 Our April Meeting (from notes by Kelsey Collins) page 11 Our May Meeting (by Bob Chalmers) page 11 New Members/ U3A Course for 2015/Lantern Tour/ Important Dates page 12
Transcript
The Newsletter
Essendon Historical Society Inc
Established 1970
Moonee Ponds Courthouse Museum
768-770 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds 3039
Inc No A001740P
ABN No
33 706 980 895
Issue No 231 June—July 2015 EHS is affiliated with the Royal Historical Society of Victoria Telephone 9370 4607
CONTENTS
A Message from the President page 2
The ANZAC Centenary Committee Report
(Coming events to watch out for) page 3
Michela Capicchiano (1862-1945) A Pioneer
by Marilyn Kenny page 4
Vale Jack Simpson (former M.L.A. For Niddrie) page 6
Notice of Annual General Meeting / Membership
Subscriptions 2015/16 page 7
Fireside Readings 2015 page 7
A Brief History of Roselyn Court page 8
by Bob Chalmers
Restoration Committee Report by Mary Cahill page 10
Memory Lane Garden Report by Mary Cahill page 10
Our 45th Birthday (Annual Dinner Meeting) page 11
Our April Meeting (from notes by Kelsey Collins) page 11
Our May Meeting (by Bob Chalmers) page 11
New Members/ U3A Course for 2015/Lantern
Tour/ Important Dates page 12
Page 2
Essendon Historical Society Newsletter—Issue No. 231 June—July 2015
Dear Members,
Once again the past two months has been very busy and has kept the members of your Management
Committee on their toes.
The past two Meetings have again been very well attended and it was great to see two of our own
members, Sue Wright (in April) and Marilyn Kenny (in May) treat us to interesting presentations
based on their own private research. We greatly look forward to our next meeting (June 23rd) when
we pay a visit to Saint Columba’s College (cnr Buckley Street and Leslie Road) to learn about the
interesting history of the old building, originally the mansion of flour miller, Alexander Gillespie, and
later, in 1897, to become a Convent for the Catholic Order, The Sisters’ of Charity.
Eve Park and Bob Mackay once again were called on by the Essendon Camera Club to dress up and
act as models for budding photographers, and hopefully, material for our next Newsletter may result.
Members, you are invited to think of the Essendon Historical Society when attending to your personal affairs.
A kind gesture by you by way of a donation or bequest can make a big contribution to the work of the Society in the
future.
Your Solicitor will be able to assist you in drawing up the necessary documents to ensure that any part of your estate left
to us will be used according to your wishes.
Members wishing to make donations to the E.H.S. are reminded that the Essendon Historical Society Museum Restora-
tion Fund is Tax Deductible.
THINKING OF A BEQUEST OR A DONATION TO THE ESSENDON HISTORICAL SOCIETY?
The 58/32 Infantry Battalion
Association Report
1. THE LONE PINE TREE
A tree grown from the seed of a tree
that was growing outside the Australian
War Memorial in Canberra, has been
obtained by the Association and will be
planted in Queens Park on Saturday,
August 8th (between 2.30—3.00 pm) to
mark (to the day) the 100th Anniversary
of the Battle of Lone Pine. (8/9/1915).
This was a significant battle in which
the 7th Battalion (AIF) suffered heavy
losses while in battle with the Turks to
hold the trenches. 12 officers and 342
of lower ranks of the 7th Battalion lost
their lives in this battle. Four members
were awarded the Victoria Cross
2. THE 58th BATTALION
MEMORIAL TABLET
The Association received a Federal
Government Grant of $18,000 to erect
a memorial to the 58th Battalion. This
will be erected at the south east corner
of Queens Park near the cannons. The
unveiling and dedication will be held
over until 2016.
A number of significant anniversaries of
the 58th Battalion AIF will occur in
2016 including the Centenary of its
formation in February 2016
A full sized (5 ft 2 ins) bronze statue of
a woman, “Rosemary” will be unveiled
in Victory Park, Ascot Vale, on
Saturday, August 29th at 11 a.m. She
will stand proudly near the corner of
Epsom and Langs Roads to represent
all women caring for the Veterans of
War.
Members of the Essendon Historical
Society will be invited to attend this
ceremony in period dress to provide
colour and atmosphere to the occasion.
The statue has been financed using both
State and Federal Grants.
KEEP THESE DATES IN YOUR
DIARIES
THE ANZAC CENTENARY
COMMITTEE REPORT WOMEN CARING FOR
VETERANS OF WAR
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Essendon Historical Society Newsletter—Issue No. 231 June—July 2015
The war had ended but the Essendon Gazette still had front page stories of the aftermath. The edition of 11th October 1945 had lead articles of how an Ascot Vale POW escaped from Germany and of Life in Peacetime. However the cen-tre column of the front page also bore an obituary of a woman who had spent the first half of a long life on foreign shores. It is a compliment to the woman and her family that at this time such a tribute appeared. Michela Iaci had been born in Lipari, on November 3rd 1862. Lipari is the largest of the beautiful Aeolian Islands situated between the tip of Italy and Sicily. The Aeolians have a strong sense of individuality and a cultured world view. They were sea going folk, trading their wine around the Mediterranean. In February 1878 Michela married the 20 year-old Giovanni Capicchiano, two weeks before he was conscripted into the Italian navy. In August he was discharged, not serving out his two year term. Giovanni’s discharge papers attest that he could read and write (this applied to only 40% of the population) and had pierced ears. Over the next ten years family papers show the couple trading in property and conducting business. A daughter, Angelina, was born in 1888, and a son Giovanni in 1890. In the 1880s the islands experienced a crisis as disease spread in the vineyards. The great migration of the Aeolians started at this time. However the lack of direct shipping services and the high cost of passage meant migrants focused on the Americas rather than Australia. In 1884 most Australian colonies ratified the treaty between Italy and the United Kingdom which gave Italian subjects freedom of entry, the rights to acquire property, and to carry out business. Family understanding is that Giovanni’s brother, the 22 year-old Giosafatto, voyaged out in 1892 to work on the Western Australian railways. Giovanni may also have been in W.A. for a time working in the Kalgoor-lie goldfields. Italians became known for their frugal and temperate way of life, remitting funds home to their wives known as White Widows. Michela had the couple’s second son, Michele, in March 1893. In November 1894 Giovanni sailed on the Ormuz bound for Sydney. The ticket for the three third class berths, for him and two countrymen, was £28. A few months later the brothers were reunited in Melbourne. In Victoria Aeolian Islanders were strongly associated with the fruit and vegetable trade and this was the occupation chosen by the Capicchiano brothers and many of their family in the future. It is believed that they were given employment by the Casemento family before setting up themselves. Although in the 1890s Puckle Street was not the retail hub of the district, there were a number of retailers amongst the private homes. The brothers’ business first appears in the 1896 Directory at 130 Puckle Street, a 30 foot brick three roomed shop. They would probably have dealt with the wholesalers in the Queen Victoria Market. However, the Western Market was still a pivot point for fresh foodstuff. Fruiterers needed to rise in
the dark to travel into the market several times a week to negotiate their purchases. By now Giosafatto’s name had been anglicised to Joseph. Michela and her children arrived in Melbourne 11 October 1898, travelling from Naples on the SS Oruba. With her was Joseph, his young bride Anna, and two other families from Lipari. In Italy spouses keep their original surname and Michela travelled under her name of Iaci. It is not clear whether the 34 year-old Giovanni Iaci on the manifest is her husband or a kinsman, though the family believe Giovanni remained in Melbourne awaiting the group’s arrival. Michela joined a select minority of 236 Italian born women living in Victoria. The 1901 Australian census showed 5678 Italian born persons with 1525 in Victoria. The Migration Restriction Act of 1901, introducing the White Australia policy, the dictation test and discouragement of migration from Southern Europe, meant that numbers would only increase slowly over the next four decades. The 1900 Directory shows the families residing in No 47 Shuter Street. In early 1902 Giovanni sought naturalisation, confirming that theirs was a permanent migration. The papers were issued 18th April 1902. In this Giovanni was acting unusu-ally as only 38 Italians had sought naturalization in between 1871-1898 and a handful since. However newspapers were calling for fewer obstacles to be put in the way respectable aliens who intend to settle permanently asserting that all possible facilities should be extended to aliens to become attached to the Empire. Two more children were born to Michela - a daughter Nunziata in 1903 and son Bartolommeo in 1905. Both children were to attend St Monica’s school, with Nunziata going on to St Columba’s where she completed her Intermediate Certificate. The family were attached to St Monica’s Church and with the Casamento and Bongiorno families formed the nucleus of the Italian Catholic community in the district. The new Moonee Ponds Post Office opened in August 1906 so confirming Puckle Street as the main shopping centre. In situating their business at No 130, directly opposite, the brothers had chosen wisely. On the 11 October 1906 the brothers purchased from the National Bank a block of land in Shuter Street. On this they were to build a house which family members occupied for the next 90 years. This was a brick dwelling of seven rooms on a 46 foot frontage. Life in the pre-war years was for Michela focussed on family, not only her own young children, but the eight nephews and nieces born to Joseph, now Joe, and Anna. In 1909 the 21 year-old Angelina married Vincenzo Paino who had travelled with them on the Oruba. Vincenzo was also a fruiterer and the couple eventually set up a well-respected business in Clifton Hill. Michela would have taken pride in Nunziata’s musical talents and in Bart’s role in St Monica’s premiership football team.
In May 1915, after a period of negotiations, Italy entered the war on the side of the Allies. The Consul of Italy appointed the Capiccchino brothers as official collectors of funds for the Italian Red Cross. Locally the family supported the war effort in practical ways, the brothers frequently being acknowledged as the donors of fruit for
MICHELA CAPICCHIANO
1862 - 1945
A Pioneer
Page 5
Essendon Historical Society Newsletter—Issue No. 231 June—July 2015
such events as the 1914 Town Hall farewell to troops and the patriotic carnivals. In September 1915 there was brisk bidding at a charity event for their presentation of a magnifi-cent trophy of fruit, decorated with the Italian colours. However in October 1916 Michela’s older sons, now John and Michael, were registered at the police station under the War Precautions (Aliens Registration Regulations 1916), despite their country of birth not being at war with the King. This year also saw Giovanni, nearing 60 years, and in poor health, handing over his part in the business to his sons. These brothers took on the responsibility of supporting their parents and their younger siblings who were still at school. Their uncle Joe (known as Cappy) moved into a separate shop at 118 Puckle Street whilst they continued at No 130. Cappy was to become an institution at No 118 where he remained for decades. In 1918 John and Michael were refused electoral roll registration even though they had acquired British nationality in 1902. This was sorted out quickly and testimonials from local police indicate the family was in the fruit business in a large way and were Highly respected, well conducted and industrious. Michela’s life revolved around family, church and business, and the annual high-light of the Market Gardeners and Fruit Retailers Picnic. Life was punctuated by the marriages of her own children and those of nieces and nephews. Most were celebrated at St Monica’s. A number were written up in the society news-paper, Table Talk, which gave a detailed description of dress and the reception. In the mid-1920s Michela’s sons moved their business from Puckle Street to Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. Nunizatta and her husband Giovanni Ferlazzo, however, were nearby, with a shop on the corner of Holmes Road and Norwood Crescent. They in turn went into partnership with their daughter Emilia and husband, Lawrence Murphy, in the 1950s. Additional social opportunities came when in 1925 the Aeolian community, economically successful and with a vibrant culture, formed their own regional association. Societa Isole Eolie was the first and is now the oldest such group in Victoria. In 1935 Giovanni died. Michela stayed on at 26 Shuter Street, in another brick, seven room house on a fifty foot frontage, next door to her brother and sister in law. Joe’s grandson, Anthony Capicchiano, remembers her as a small, frail figure, always in black, who warmly welcomed them when they returned after school to Shuter Street. The family who were all cricket mad played endless games in her long drive-way, the trellis covered with grape vines. Michela was known to all the extended family as Aunty Cappy.
Italy declared war on Great Britain in June 1940. Australia
had been asked to accept numbers of enemy aliens and
prisoners of war as internees would have no chance of
escape. The prisoners were placed in camps scattered
around the country, guarded by reservists. Some 18, 500
Italians were imprisoned from 1941 to December 1947
when the last group was returned to Italy. Early in 1943 it
was decided employ Italian POWs to supplement the rural
workforce. The prisoners were paid ten shillings a week
and given their keep. This introduced large numbers of
Australians to the Italian people, food, and culture. Many
P-02713 –
Studio portrait of the Capicchiano family:
from left
Giovanni, Angelina, Michela with Bart ,Giovanni with
Nunziata, and Michele
photographer: Stewart and Co., 284-286 Bourke Street
Melbourne. c1905. Copyright.
Reproduced with permission of Co.As.It.
– Italian Historical Society.
of these POWS were to return to Australia post war as
migrants.
When war came several members of the Capacchiano
family enlisted, including three of Michela’s fifteen grand-
children, which point was made in her obituary. There was
high feeling in Essendon regarding Italians in the last year
of Michela’s life. In March 1945 Cr John Alexander raised
the issue of Aliens and property at a Council meeting. He
stated that a person with a foreign sounding name had applied
for a permit to establish an Ascot Vale market garden. He
objected to aliens being allocated property or permission to
start new businesses when our men are away fighting. He felt
that this would deny them opportunities once they
returned from the war. Cr Alexander described Puckle
Street as a New Jerusalem, given the number of foreigners now
carrying on trades there. Cr Alexander was a returned soldier of
the Great War, had been on the Council since 1941, was
Mayor in 1943-44, and was President of Essendon R.S.L.
Acknowledgements Many thanks to Dr. Paolo Baracchi, Coordi-
nator, Co.As.It. Italian Historical Society, Anthony Capicchiano,
Lisa Corker, Jennie and Julia at Sam Merrifield library.
Main References Chalmers R, “Pulse of the Ponds” and “The Annals of Essendon”
Co As It Italian Historical Society Archives Cresciani G “The Italians in Australia” (Cambridge University Press, 2003)
Di Lorenzo, G. “Solid Brick Homes and Veggie Patches: a History of Italian Migration to Moonee Ponds” (University of Melbourne History Monograph, No 29) Lanigan. J, “On their shoulders we stand: the story of St. Monica's Parish Moonee Ponds, 1854-1984”
Essendon Gazette Table Talk and Argus newspapers, BDM, Directories, NAA Naturalisation and Alien records, PROV Shipping
Gail Armstrong took this photograph while on duty at
the Courthouse Museum one recent Sunday afternoon
to prove that we do work hard. Pictured from left:
Rosemary Henderson, Peter Willoughby, Bob
Chalmers and Alex Bragiola.
WANTED
BOOKS/DVDs/CDs
OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS
For a Bonanza Book Sale to raise money
for our RESTORATION FUNDS
OCTOBER 2015
See Kate O’Donnell
It is with sadness that we record the death of Jack
Simpson, another person well known to many of us in the
Essendon District. Jack passed away in Perth, W.A. on
19th May.
Jack grew up in Essendon, attended Essendon North State
School and was a French polisher by trade. He managed
the family furniture retail business in Keilor Road, North
Essendon, for 18 years before winning ALP pre-selection
for the new State seat of Niddrie. He was elected as the
first MLA for the new Seat of Niddrie on 20th March 1976
and retained the Seat until 1988 when he was succeeded by
Bob Sercombe.
Jack was a genial character who showed great interest in his
local area. He played football for Doutta Stars Football
Club and in 1949 and 1951 he played 6 senior games with
Essendon as a follower-forward. He lived in Ogilvie Street,
Essendon, before moving to W.A. He was aged 86 years.
Essendon Historical Society Newsletter—Issue No. 231 June—July 2015
In accordance with the Constitution of
the E.H.S. (Rule No 29), members are
hereby notified that the Annual Gen-
eral Meeting of Essendon Historical
Society Inc. will be held at the Moonee
Ponds Courthouse Museum on
TUESDAY, 28th JULY 2015
commencing at 7.30 p.m.
The Agenda shall include
1) The confirmation of the
Minutes of the 2014 AGM
2) The reception of reports
covering activities of the Society
in 2014/15
3) The reception of the Financial
Statement for the Year Ending
June 30th 2015
4) Ratification of Subscriptions for
2015/16
5) The Election of Office Bearers
and members of the Committee
of Management for the ensuing
year
6) Other Business of which notice
has been given.
Positions for which nominations are
invited in accordance with Rule 43 are:
President
Vice President (1)
Secretary
Treasurer
Ordinary Members (5)
Nominations for the above positions
must be received in writing by the
Secretary on the official nomination
form by the close of business (4 p.m.)
by Tuesday 21st July, 2015.
Deliver to: The Secretary (EHS)
768-770 Mt. Alexander Road,
Moonee Ponds
Or mail to
The Secretary (EHS)
P.O. Box 557
Essendon, 3040
Nomination Forms are available on
request from the Secretary, or from
the Courthouse Museum on Sunday
afternoons, or at the June General
Meeting
A list of Nominations will be posted in
the Courthouse Museum on Sunday,
July 19th.
SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR 2015/16
The Annual Subscription Fees for the
coming year fall due after 30/6/2015.
The current Subscriptions are as
follows:
SINGLE MEMBERSHIP $30—00
DUAL MEMBERSHIP $50—00
STUDENT CONCESSION $20—00
Fees for the coming year will be
confirmed at the Annual General
Meeting.
To assist the Treasurer, members are
asked not to renew their Membership
until after the close of the Financial
Year (June 30th, 2015).
A Membership Renewal Form will be
posted to all members by the
Treasurer in a special mail-out.
Notice of Annual General Meeting, Tuesday 28th July 2015
MEMBERSHIP FEES
FIRESIDE READINGS 2015
Our 15th and Final “Fireside Readings”
Fun and
Games
Members and Friends are warmly
invited to the Annual E.H.S.
Fireside Readings
In the Moonee Ponds Courthouse
Museum
On Saturday, August 8th at 1.45 p.m.
Admission $10-00
(including a Light Afternoon Tea)
Bookings: - Ring 9370 4607
Page 8
Essendon Historical Society Newsletter—Issue No. 231 June—July 2015
Many long time residents of Essendon received a shock
recently when they discovered that the owners/proprietors
of “Roselyn Court”, that well known Reception House in
Raleigh Street, Essendon, applied for a permit to demolish
all of the buildings on their property and replace them with
46 dwellings.
A permit to demolish the 110-year-old residence is yet to
be granted by the Moonee Valley Council, but the future of
the establishment is currently under threat. For posterity,
then, let me record its history, first as a grand old home
and later, as a popular and elegant reception centre, the
venue for many a local wedding reception and the meeting
place of a number of our Service Clubs and organisations.
Two acres of land on the north east corner of Section 6 of
the Township of Essendon (Crown Allotments 10, 11, 12
and 13), with a frontage of 500 links (5 chains) to the west
side of Hoddle Street and 400 links (4 chains) to the south
side of Raleigh Street, was reserved in the Parish Survey,
for the Wesleyan Church. However, the Wesleyans decided
to build their church on a different site, and sold the
reserved land.
Oliver Parnham (builder), Mars Morphett Miller
(gentleman) Richard Hodgson (importer), Edward Oakley
and Edwin Harcourt (warehousemen), all of Melbourne,
purchased the two acres from the Church and brought it
under the Land Transfer Act on 13th March 1882. Later
that year (8th June 1882) they conveyed it to widow, Cecilia
Zander. Cecilia Zander’s husband, John Charles Zander, a
merchant, had died in 1858. Cecilia, who also purchased an
adjoining allotment (C.A. 14), was operating a Bonded
Store (warehouse) in King Street, Melbourne. A nine
roomed wood cottage was built on C.A. 14 which she
called “Trewalla”. However, at the time of her death on
12th January 1896 she was leasing her Essendon property
and was living in Moreland.
Five years after her death, on 12th April 1901, her executors
transferred her property (now 2½ acres) to her son-in-law,
Charles Edward Lloyd, who subdivided it and advertised it
for sale through John Buxton & Co as nine villa lots. On
3rd October, 1902, James Leary, a Sergeant of Police,
purchased Lots 2 and 3 with a combined 99 foot frontage
to Raleigh Street and a depth of 330 feet.
On 28th June 1904, Leary sold his vacant block to William
Broadbent, a herbalist, and by 1905, as shown in the
Essendon Rate Book of 1905-06) a ten roomed brick
house had been erected.
This residence, which was later known as No 51 Raleigh
Street, was originally called “Maranatha”. The 1906
Electoral Roll shows the residence to be occupied by
William Broadbent (herbalist), his wife, May (home duties)
a daughter, Jane Rosetta (compositer) and a son, William
Jr. (a student). Later Electoral Rolls saw the addition of
George Robert (a salesman), John (herbalist) and Edith
Agnes (home duties). The Raleigh Street premises
remained in the occupation of the Broadbent family for
about 13 years.
At the time of William Broadbent’s death on 19th January
the residence was shown as comprising 13 rooms and was
valed in his Probate papers at £1700. He also owned two
weatherboard cottages in Shamrock Street , Essendon (Nos
2 & 4) and a double fronted weatherboard dwelling at No
32 Taylor Street, Moonee Ponds.
His estate was left in the hands of his eldest son, William
James Broadbent and the Equity Trustees, Executors and
Agency Company. By late 1917 “Maranatha” was occupied
by Thomas Ryan and his wife, Minnie.
Thomas Ryan, an agent, representing the Nationalist Party,
defeated Maurice Blackburn at the State Elections on 15th
November 1917 to become the Member for Essendon in
the Legislative Assembly. On 15th April 1921 the property
was conveyed to Minnie Ryan, and their 13 roomed
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ROSELYN COURT
by Bob Chalmers
Page 9
Essendon Historical Society Newsletter—Issue No. 231 June—July 2015
residence was renamed “Warrengesda” (believed to be a local
indigenous word roughly translated to mean “welcome to
my home”).
In May 1923 Thomas Ryan purchased the local newspaper,
“The Essendon Gazette” from the Mott family, at which
time it was under the editorship of James McJunkin. While
purchasing the business, he indicated that the same staff
would be retained and that he would not take over the op-
eration of it for some time.
In May 1924 he lost the seat of Essendon to Frank P.
Keane. Later that year he and his family decided to travel
abroad, and on 20th August, 1924, he sold his residence to
Essendon butcher, Robert James Gilbertson.
Robert J. Gilbertson had established a butchers shop in
Puckle Street in 1902 together with partners Harry
Dunstan and George Ord. From a small beginning, the
business grew into a large enterprise known as R. J.
Gilbertson Pty. Ltd., with a large number of butchers
shops spread around the district. Gilbertson held the
position of Managing Director of the company and became
the chairman of the Victorian Master Butchers’ Ltd with
his interest extending to the meat export trade.
Robert James Gilbertson had married Laura Ruth Lewis in
1906 and established their first home in Pascoe Vale Road
which was known as “Lauraville”. This residence is better
known today as The Brass Tavern. When the family moved
to Raleigh Street in 1924 they retained the name
“Warrengesda”.
R. J. Gilbertson was elected to the Essendon City Council
in 1918, representing the Moonee Ponds Ward. He
remained on the Council for a total of 22 years (1918-39)
and was Mayor of Essendon on two occasions (1923-24
and 1938-39). During the occupancy of the Gilbertson
family, the residence changed from No 51 to No 33
Raleigh Street.
On 9th February 1938 Gilbertson purchased the adjoining
property (No 53) on which Cecilia Zander’s residence,
“Trewalla” had been erected.
Robert James Gilbertson was born into a family that had
been residents of the district for many years, his father,
Walter being a brick-maker and his mother, Martha, being
a member of the pioneering Woods family that played an
important role in the establishment of the Primitive
Methodist Church. He himself was a devout Christian and
gave great service to the South Essendon Methodist
Church over many years
Living opposite the Essendon Recreation Reserve,
Gilbertson became an ardent Essendon Football Club
supporter, and during the 1930s the players were frequently
invited “Warrengesda” for social events. He served on the
Essendon Football Club Committee a number of times and
served several years as a vice president. He was also the
President of the first Essendon Technical School Council
when it opened on the Buckley Street site in 1939 and was
the M.C. of the School’s first Speech Night.
Unfortunately his contribution to the new school was brief,
as he passed away on 11th December 1940 aged 59. His
widow, Laura Ruth, remained at the Raleigh Street
residence until her death in 1949.
In 1954 Maurice Watson Rosier and his wife, Gwendoline
Violet Rosier, caterers, took up occupancy of 33 Raleigh
Street, and by November of that year they were converting
the old home in to a Reception House. They called their
new establishment “Roslyn Court” and their new business
was operating by 1955. However, it was not until 11th
March 1959 that Robert Henry Gilbertson, the surviving
proprietor of the Gilbertson Estate, conveyed the premises
to the Rosiers.
On 19th March 1971 the business was sold to Clarence
William Price and his wife, Lena. Clarence Price died in
1979 and Lena became the surviving proprietor.
On 12th June 1984 “Roslyn Court”(now known as
“Roselyn Court”) was sold to present owners, John and
Margaret Mugavin. They have operated the business for
the last 31 years.
Over a period of 60 years “Roselyn Court” has become
one of the most elegant and best known reception houses
in the Essendon District. It has been the venue, over those
years, for many wedding receptions and significant social
events. Children from a number of local schools, and in
particular, Essendon Primary School, have attended the
lovely venue for their Graduation from Primary School,
and it is a great shame that consideration is being given to
demolish all the buildings on the site and to replace them
with forty-six dwellings.
Page 10
Essendon Historical Society Newsletter—Issue No. 231 June—July 2015
Work is progressing!
In the past couple of months there has been restoration
work on the upper level of the southern side of the
Courthouse. We now have scaffolding on the northern
face (Kellaway Avenue side). Hence work on the slate
roof, main chimneys and the upper windows on both sides
of the Courthouse can proceed. With the chimneys, there
will be render repairs and tuck pointing to be completed.
With the windows, the wooden frames will need to be
either replaced or repaired and new paintwork will be
required. To cover the costs of the repairs to the chimneys
and windows, we have needed to use EHS funds.
We are still awaiting delivery of the cast iron guttering and downpipes. In order to obtain an exact matching of the profile of the cast iron fittings, orders were placed with a foundry in Castlemaine, Victoria. With the 32 downpipes, we did consider obtaining them from an overseas supplier in order to reduce the cost. However, serious concerns developed in terms of probable delays associated with shipping the downpipes to Australia, plus when a definite order was being negotiated the supplier increased the price! So whilst the downpipes will be more expensive if we use the Castlemaine supplier, we felt that this was a more reliable option. Even with using the local supplier, it will be several months before this work can be completed. The funding for these restoration works has come from a
Heritage Victoria grant and also we have needed to use
some of our EHS funds.
Bob Chalmers and Terry Scott have been working with me
on this project.
~ Mary Cahill
About to Begin!
As you know from past newsletters, at the front of the
Courthouse we are establishing a permanent garden which
will contain personalised engraved tiles. It will be an
opportunity for you to celebrate the memory of a friend,
relative or colleague who has lived or worked in the
Moonee Valley district.
The E.H.S. members will be the first to receive a copy of
the Memory Lane brochure which will contain an order
form to sponsor a tile. The brochure will be mailed out to
each member at the end of June. Order forms will also be
available on the E.H.S. website or at the Courthouse.
In addition the sponsor may wish to supply some
biographical information about the sponsored individual
and, at no extra cost, this information will be retained in a
database kept by E.H.S. as part of the local history
collection. Many thanks to Julie Scott for her work on the
brochure.
The purpose of Memory Lane is twofold. The garden will
be a permanent record of people who have made Moonee
Valley a special place. Secondly, funds from Memory Lane
will help with the restoration costs of the Courthouse.
A great opportunity to be part of history!
~Mary Cahill
The front cover of our Newsletter is an features an artist’s
impression of how our “Memorial Lane Garden” may
look. We thank James O’Dwyer, a landscape architect who
works for the Moonee Valley City Council, for his creative
work, in designing the garden and providing this image..
The garden beds will be divided into concrete “pockets”
each comprising 35 engraved tiles of two colours. These
will be interspersed, as shown, with native, low-growing,
drought resistant shrubs. A large rock will be set in place in
the main garden-bed on which will be attached a bronze
plaque, explaining the purpose of the Garden
RESTORATION OF THE COURTHOUSE
MEMORY LANE
OUR FRONT COVER
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Essendon Historical Society Newsletter—Issue No. 231 June—July 2015
Our Annual Dinner, which will be
held at Windy Hill on Tuesday, August
25th, marks the 45th Anniversary of
the Essendon Historical Society which
was formed in 1970.
We are very privileged to have secured
Professor Bruce Scates BA (Hons),
PhD (Mon.) Dip. Ed. (Melb) as our
Guest Speaker for this occasion.
Bruce Scates is Professor of History
and Australian Studies at Monash
University and has written on
Australian and New Zealand Labour
history. More recently he has written
on social and cultural aspects of
Australia’s war experience.
Terry and Julie Scott will be sending
out the details in relation to the cost
and times etc. for this occasion in a
separate mail-out shortly.
Restoring an old building that has
Heritage Protection is a very costly
business, and although we have re-
ceived considerable assistance and sup-
port from Heritage Victoria, we need
further funds to cover the cost of the
Courthouse Restoration.
The windows in the Courtroom are
badly in need of attention and we wish
to have the work carried out while we
have access to the scaffolding. Your
support by way of donations at this
time would be greatly appreciated.
Twenty nine members and three
visitors were in attendance at our
Meeting on April 28th.
Most of the reports and business
referred to in the General meeting
have been included elsewhere in the
Newsletter. Mary Cahill reported that
there had been a $20,000 blow out in
the costing of the guttering and down-
pipes which was causing us concern.
However, it was reported that a permit
has been received from Heritage Vic-
toria to enable the “Memory Lane
Project” to proceed. Kelsey Collins has
been delegated to purchase a Digital
Photo Frame to replace the old
computer currently in use in the
Courtroom.
Following the General Meeting, Bob
Chalmers welcomed our Guest
Speaker, E.H.S. Member, Sue Wright,
her husband Keith and Liz Howes
(who operated the digital projector).
Sue, in her illustrated talk, spoke of her
fifteen month research of memorials
to mainly WWI soldiers at the
Fawkner Cemetery, with the assistance
of a Government grant. Her search,
which commenced in 2012, has led to
the discovery of 103 WWI memorials
and a further 200 WWI soldiers who
returned home, as well as many from
WW2. These represented a range of
men from different conflicts and
theatres of war and included eight
women who served as nurses. Just as
the Roll of Honour at the Australian
War Memorial, the books at the Shrine
of Remembrance, and memorials and
Honour Boards in local halls, churches
and schools, these graves function as
places of remembrance for the loved
ones of those who died in conflict, but
had no known grave, assisting with the
grieving process.
Sue’s enthusiasm for the project was
obvious and she was thanked for her
interesting talk and presentation.
Our May Meeting, too, was very
well attended, and in spite of receiving
nine apologies from regular attendees,
twenty-seven members and friends
were present.
President, Bob Chalmers, extended a
welcome to all present and conducted
the business of the day. Members were
reminded in the President’s Report of
the up-coming events/dates and the
proposed second-hand book sale in
October. Secretary, Mary Cahill, gave a
report on the current situation of the
work being carried out on the Court-
house and the progress in relation to
the “Memory Lane Garden” project.
Terry Scott (Treasurer) gave a full
account of our finances and explained
our need for extra support for the cost
of the repair to the windows. An
appeal was made to the members for
their assistance to cover the cost of
this necessary extra work.
Following the Business Meeting EHS
Member, Marilyn Kenny, taking the
part of Mrs. Elizabeth Redding, told us
of the story of the hardship, trials and
tribulations faced by some residents of
the district participating in the Village
Settlement scheme, where land was
provided by the Government and a
sum of money was allocated to enable
the Cooperative to establish itself.
The Meeting to establish this was held
in September 1893 and the first ten
men set off for Bullarto (near
Daylesford) in November to establish
the Essendon Village Settlement on
900 acres of land.
Mrs. Redding told us of the ups and
downs her husband, Alf, and her
family experienced, the eventual
failure, of the scheme and the transfer
of the community, first to Colbinabbin
and later to the Koo-wee-rup swamp.
Marilyn’s presentation helped us to be
aware of the conditions many families
faced during the depression years.
OUR APRIL MEETING OUR 45th BIRTHDAY
CAN YOU HELP US?
OUR MAY MEETING
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Essendon Historical Society Newsletter—Issue No. 231 June—July 2015
