The cuttings were selected by DTHS volunteers and assembled into folders for public display in Schramm's Cottage Museum:
- Selected Press Cuttings Display Folder 1967
- Selected Press Cuttings Display Folder 1968-1971
- Selected Press Cuttings Display Folder 1971
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East Yarra News 03 May 1967
Historic group meeting tonight. The first meeting of the Doncaster Templestowe historical society tonight, Wednesday, will discuss the acceptance of the proposed Constitution. Office bearers for the coming year will also be elected. The Society has functioned with an interim committee since its formation in March. The future of Finn's Hotel is expected to come under discussion and some "new move" disclosures are likely.
East Yarra News 22 February 1967
Search for local history. A City of Doncaster Templestowe Historical Society will be launched two days after proclamation day, February 28. It will almost certainly be the first new organisation inaugurated under the title "City". A public meeting will be held on March 1 at the Athenaeum Hall at 8 pm. Main impetus for the formation of a society has been the interest aroused by the proposed historical display for the city festival of arts in April. It is hoped now to widen the scope of the display by presenting it under the auspices of a municipality based historical society rather than within the limitations of a small festival activity committee. At a meeting of the activity committee on February 14, Mr F Regan and Mrs Muriel Green were elected provisional chairman and secretary respectively of an interim committee appointed to form a society.
Doncaster Mirror 08 March 1967
Historical Society to Form,With the advent of the Shire becoming a city, many residents hove realised thot much History will be lost unless something is done quickly to gather together photo-graphs, documents and other articles of historic value. A historical society will be formed at o public meeting to be held at the Athenaeum Hall, Doncaster, on March 1, at 8 p.m. The Mirror will make its negative file available as a nucleus of a historical photo-graphic file.
Doncaster Mirror 08 March 1967
Ideas, gifts launch new Historical Society.
A combined project may be launched to reconstruct the old Lutheran Church and cemetery on Waldau Hill.
This is suggested by the Box Hill Historical Society in a letter of good wishes on the formation of a Doncaster and Templestowe
Historical Society.
The Box Hill Society also has sent as a gift a plan of the house "Glenfern" which Albert Millwater Caldecott built in Bulleen in 1855.
The National Trust has classified the property "C"-worthy of preservation . A representative of the Ringwood Historical Research group, Mr R.Pullen who attended the inaugural meeting last Wednesday presented old photographs of the district and a school prize book awarded in 1877 to Jane Flinn of Andersons Creek State School, with which to start a collection. Mr Pullen's forebears were pioneers of the Templestowe area. Over 40 people attended the meeting in the Athenaeum Hall, including Crs. Les Cameron and Viv Rush, the city Historian, Colonel E.C. Keogh and a representative of Croydon Historical Society.The society's first project is already underway as part of the City Festival of Arts in April. Four rooms of Pastor Max Shramm's stone cottage (pictured below )on Doncaster Hill, adjoining the city Hall,will be opened for an Historical Exhibition from April 21 to April 30. In them it is hoped to embody a display of furniture of the period between 1860-1900; a display of soft furnishings, historical items relevant to the development of the city and a historical photographic exhibition .
(Mrs. Alice Lattimer-842-1030);Park Orchards.(Mr Huggins-84-8407 ); Templestowe ( Mr Brian Mullins-84-7389)and Warrandyte (Miss Audrey Walsh 69-73311 )
Doncaster Mirror 15 February 1967
Medallions Struck For Proclamation
Each of the 8,000 school children in the Shire of Doncaster and Templestowe will be presented with a specifically struck medallion commemorating the Shire's proclamation as a city on Feb 28.Only 10,000 of these gilded metal medallions will be struck and the extra 2,000 will go to other school children in the area who applied for them. A gold medallion in the same form, and silver medals will be struck for finalists in the City Princess competition, and a silver medal on a spoon will be presented to the first baby born in the city on proclamation day. All dyes will be destroyed after the medals have been struck.
Timetables.
The Shire President, Cr Stan Shepherd,told representatives of suburban and daily newspapers this at a conference at the Shire offices on Thursday. Cr Shepherd had called the conference to release and publicise the timetable and programme for the proclamation celebrations which will run from Febrary 21 until the end of April. Events planned include a special council meeting to mark the end of the shire era which will be attended by past councillors.
The Govenor of Victoria,Sir Rohan Delacombe,and Lady Delecombe will be officially welcomed to the municipality at 2.30 P.M.on proclamation day when the Governor will read the proclamation .The Minister for Local Government Mr Hamer, will invest the Mayor and Town Clerk with their robes.At a naturalisation ceremony on March 3 the Mayor will administer the oath of allegiance and present naturalisation certificates. The following Sunday there will be a combined church thanksgiving service on Shramm's reserve.
Princess Contest.
From February to April the Proclamation Princess Contest open to all single girls in the city aged 16 and over, will be conducted .In the latter half of April from the 14th to 30th, the arts festival will be held covering arts, pottery,statuary, drama, ballet,theatre,music, photography and shire history with a $400 prize for a winning painting. Response to public meetings for the arts festival have been very good, said Cr Ken May, who is chairman of the steering committee of the festival. Entry forms for painting, sculpture and pottery competition from Mrs. W Wiltshire (850-1485)or Mrs, J Thorpe (840-1455)
*In the photograph the Shire President, Cr Stan Shepherd (centre) and
Cr Ken May(right )discuss the plans for the festival with reporters, left to right Jonathon King of The Australian, Richard Creswick of The Mirror and Peter Owen of the Sun
Doncaster Mirror 22 February 1967
They settled here in 1875
The home of Mr.and Mrs.H. Fromhold, who settled in Doncaster in 1857,is next to another very old residence,the Theile property in Victoria St.
The original homestead was demolished about 70 years ago, and a new home built in it's place. Mr.A Fromhold, a grandson of the original owner,now owns the property. Two grandaughters, Mrs.W.Rieschieck,of George St.,Doncaster, and Mrs.E. Aumann,of Templestowe say their grandmother came to Australia as a girl of fourteen. She came from Breslau,in the south of Germany, and by this early age was a qualified tailoress.There were no sewing machines in those days, and all the suits,trousers and vests she made were stitched by hand. Mrs Rieschieck and Mrs Aumann well remember being shown the elaborate lawn petticoat which their grandmother embroidered on the four and a half month voyage to Australia.The Fromholds also used Ruffey's creek for their water supply and in which to do their washing. Their produce of eggs, butter, vegetables they transported with springcart and horse to the Eastern Market,which was on the site of the Southern Cross Hotel.Firewood was also taken to the city, and sold to the bakeries. Candles lit many of the rooms in the Fromhold home, but first they had to be made ,and Mrs Rieschieck speaks of the special stand with six moulds in which her grandmother used to make the candles.The home in which Mrs Rieschieck now lives is also one of the early homes of Doncaster,and was built about ninety -seven years agoby Mr G.Finger a great uncle of her husband's. It is constructed of homemade bricks,which were made on the property,and has a slate roof.Adjacent to the house is a small windowless,flat roofed brick room- this is the smoke house,where the bacons and hams were hung over a smokey fire burning on the earth floor.Mrs Rieschieck came to live in the old homestead as a bride, 56 years ago.
Mirror 22 February 1967
Pioneers in Shire
Mr. Robert Mundy, of Foote St.,is one of the younger members of the Mundy family who were among the early settlers in the Shire.
Robert and Elizabeth Mundy landed at Twofold Bay with Captain Boyd's expedition in 1844 with their family,and came overland to Port Phillip.
Later they took up a farm "Cleaveland" at Heidelberg on the site of what is now the Rosanna Golf Links.Their son Robert Mundy, Grandfather of the present Mr. Mundy,was born on August 1,1841, at Sydenham, England, and came to Australia with his parents in 1844. Elizabeth Mundy (nee Hewish) his wife,was born at Templestowe in the Parish of Bulleen, on August 24 1844.
Her family originally owned the land which Mr Mundy occupies in Foote St.
His grandparents were married on September 11 1862,at the Church of England, Heidelberg. They had 13 children of whom 10 survived. At the age of 5 years ,in 1846, Robert Mundy Snr. was taken away by the natives for a week, and on his return his frantic parents were assured that he had been taken only on a walkabout.
Incomplete
The names of Pioneers whose stories appear in these pages is by no means complete -it is not claimed to be complete. We at the Mirror hope to extend the list in further issues
Mullens Settled here in 1860
The Mullens family, another old name in the Templestowe district, first settled in the Shire about 1860 when Stephen Mullens went to live at Warrandyte . He mined for gold before finally settling down to orcharding. One of his sons Sylvester, took over the Templestowe Forge from a Mr.Hunter who left to practice veterinary surgery. Sylvester's son John, still runs the forge. He had four other sons after John--- Sylvester, Hugh, Edward and James---who all live in the area still. All had their early schooling at Templestowe State School when one of the head teachers was Mr.Betheras, who later became the Director of Education.
Doncaster Mirror 22 February 1967
City Pioneers Met Here
Owning the oldest Hotel in Templestowe,The Upper Yarra,has exacted a high price from Mr Ned Finn,and his brother Andrew and sister Marie.For ever since the fact that it was the oldest hotel in the area was first publicised, they have been plagued with curiosity seekers, fortune hunters and the usual run of "interested" people bent on seeking an historical landmark. Without a doubt that's what it is, because the first mention of it appeared in the book , "Victorian and Australian Goldfields 1857" by William Westgarth, who described a journey he made to Anderson's Creek (Warrandyte) on February 22, 1855, exactly 112 years ago today.
Westgarth described Templestowe as a small village containing an Hotel, blacksmith shop and a few houses, and in fact Templestowe had been officially proclaimed in September 1842. The hotel referred to was first called the Bulleen, later changed to the Templestowe,finally becoming the Upper Yarra, the name it has held since. For several years in the 1850s it was run by David Bell who sold out to Robert Mundy, who ran it until 1852 when James Finn, grandfather of the present family, took over.
In 1921 the hotel was one of about 20 in surrounding shires that lost their liquor licences. THe original buildings still stand near the junction of Thompson's Rd. Templestowe Rd.and Foote St. and is occupied by the Finn family, but they believe it will soon be demolished by the Doncaster-Templestowe Council. In the 1850s the Templestowe area had two Hotels,including the Upper Yarra Hotel and another two beer shops.
Main competition for the Upper Yarra,came from the Templestowe Hotel, situated on the site of the present hotel, and was first known to be conducted by a person named Sparkes.In 1870 he sold the hotel to Mr. P.Sheahan who now lives near the hotel,who came out from Ireland in 1860. When Mr. Sheahan died he left the hotel to his elder son Joe who sold it in 193? The hotel changed hands several times between then and about ten years ago when the present owner Jack Smyth bought it .Three years ago Mr Smyth demolished some of the bedrooms at the back of the hotel to make way for a kitchen and dining room. At the same time they modernised the hotel placing the accent on comfort and cleanliness, with better service. Although the old weatherboard front of the building still stands almost identical to how it looked many years ago, the internal changes include a new public bar, lounge and bottle department .In the 1860s Templestowe had two beer shops as well as the hotels but the rivalry between these shops,which stood opposite each other on the main Rd.,ended in 1870 when a haystack belonging to one burnt down the other's shop.
The photographs show (above) the Upper Yarra Hotel which is claimed by the owner to be the oldest in Templestowe and (right) the first Tower Hotel, built by Alfred Hummell and later destroyed by fire.
East Yarra News 22 February 1967
White's Corner Project OK
* Three councillors abstain
The plan for a large regional shopping centre for White's Corner was taken one step further on Monday night, when the council of the Shire of Doncaster and Templestowe agreed to issue a planning permit to the developers, Westfield Development Corporation.
Three councillors,Crs. Hardidge, Kelly and Remington, left the council chamber ,during the debate and abstained from voting because of their comercial interests in the shire. Cr. Roy Harle, in moving that the planning permit be issued,said that the proposal was a major matter, the largest ever proposed to council. It would be a regional shopping centre of 280.000 square feet with acres of car parking space ."The developers have knowledge that probably over 100,000 people would shop at the centre. This is also a proposal which could have an effect on other shopping areas, but the evidence that I have is that it will attract people in to the city of Doncaster and Templestowe and will not be to the detriment of existing traders,"Cr.Harle said . He said that possibly it could be said that the site was not the best, but what site being developed is perfect.
"We have found a developer who is prepared to back his judjment and I feel the proposal is good for the residents,"Cr Harle said.
Cr. Basil Elms said that the councillors represented suppliers and consumers and the majority were consumers."We must remember that the smaller shop keeper may be disturbed by the fact that a large shopping complex would be opening in their area. However surveys have shown that 64 per cent of money is being spent outside the shire.If we can promote this project the city will be better off" he said.
MONEY FOR ROADS?
Cr. Morris Williams said that while he was not against the idea of the project, he opposed it because he was not satisfied that the life companies who were financing the developers would loan council the $350.000 necessary to construct the roads leading to the site.The development of White's corner will cost a quarter of a million dollars which the developers will raise from these life companies. Over the past five years they have lent over $35 million to the developers. Surely they can assist council to obtain the finance for the poor roads leading to their investment" Cr.Williams said . Cr. Rush said that he opposed it because the massive structure would be aesthetically wrong standing as it would on the most dominating spot in Melbourne.
The motion was passed on a show of hands. Mr John Kennedy,of Westfield Development Corporation told "Mirror" yesterday: "We're very happy to have been granted consent to the final meeting of the Shire Council. We hope to grow and prosper with the new city".He added that he was confident the new business centre would bring benefits to other business people in the district.
East Yarra News, 22 February 1967
White's Cnr. market in two years.
Westfield Development Corporation Ltd.,have been granted a conditional permitfor the development of a regional shopping centre at White's corner Doncaster. If all goes to plan the $12 million centre should be open for business in two years. The shopping centre will cover 28,000 sq.ft. and include a large department store, supermarket,60 smaller shops, restaurant, theatre,exhibition hall,and enclosed car park. It will be fully air conditioned.There will be an undercover bus station for 13 bus routes that will converge at White's Corner. The Sydney developers created a record when they constructed the Burwood Shoppingtown--a similar size regional centre outside Sydney--in 12 months . During the council debate on the application, Cr.R.Hardige,A Kelly and L.Cameron withdrew from the council chamber.
Biggest yet
Cr.Roy Harle described the centre as being the largest development in the Shire. There were already local and district shopping centres serving the Shire but the proposed development was a regional shopping centre and would draw customers from outside the Shire. Careful council investigation had shown the proposed development would not be fatal to existing centres. He agreed it would attract custom from within the shire,but this would not be to the detriment of existing shops. The centre would add to ammenity of the shire and cut travelling time. Cr. Harle moved that the application be granted on certain conditions.
Conditions
One condition is that an employee car park with spaces for 250 cars be provided; another that all loading and unloading of vehicles be carried out within the site, and a third, that the developing company contribute towards the cost of construction of Council St.,from Doncaster Rd., to Goodson ST., and of Goodson St., from Council St.,to the Eastern boundry of the site to a 45ft. wide pavement. Cr. M. Williams agreed the development would be a boon to the area but opposed the motion because the developers had not shown a readiness to assist the Shire in roadmaking associated with the centre. Voting was six to two in favour of the application.
Doncaster Mirror 22 Feb 1967
The top left photograph was taken at the same time as the large central photograph and looks west in Doncaster Rd.
The lower left photograph is of three gold fossickers working on a claim at Warrandyte, formerly known as Anderson’s Creek, in the early days.
Middle Top: photograph was taken from Hummell’s Tower around the turn of the century and looks east along Doncaster Road.
Middle bottom: Hummell’s Tower and Tower Hotel
Right Top photograph shows Noonan’s first cottage which was situated near the western boundary of the new city close to the Morning Star foundry.
Right Middle: Mr. Oswald Thiele who became the second head teacher at Doncaster State School after Pastor Max von Schramm resigned for conscientious reasons.
Right Bottom: A group of men laying the foundations for the shop on the corner of Williamson’s and Doncaster RVs and now known as White’s Corner.
Doncaster Mirror 22 Feb 1967
The other photograph (right) is the poster which advertised the first land sale os 55 allotments to the Doncaster Heights Estate in 1888:"Heights of Doncaster - Doncaster
On Saturday 14t of January 1888 - 55 Splendid allotments
The valuable property is situated right in the centre of Doncaster Township and on the main Doncaster Road between the Tower and Dr. Fitzgeralds magnificent residence. A Post and Telegraph delivery throughout the township."
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Doncaster Mirror 22 February 1967
State School had Humble Beginning
Doncaster State school had an inauspicious beginning in the Doncaster Lutheran Church on Waldau Hill, Victoria Street, in 1861.
Mr. Max von Schramm, the first head teacher at the school, taught basic school subjects, with special attention to religious instruction.
A school committee of men from the Lutheran Congregation was formed ,but a few years later many other people whose children attended the school forced the inclusion of other subjects in the curriculum.
The committee was enlarged by the inclusion of men who were not members of the congregation,and the Government was approached for a school allowance.
In 1864 a sewing mistress was appointed,and later that year a special grant from the Board of Education allowed the building of a new school on Doncaster Hill.
This building was purchased by the E.,S.& A.Bank in 1890,and with a weatherboard front added later to the stone building,it still remains occupied by the bank.
In 1873,soon after the introduction of a new Education Act, the school became no longer a church school but a "Common School." governed by new regulations which prescribed the curriculum and abolished religious instruction. As a result of the abolition of religious instruction, Mr. Schramm resigned,on conscientious grounds, as teacher of the school.
He started his own church school in grounds adjoining the school grounds in November, 1873, with 32 pupils.
Religious instruction was again made a major subject of study,but the increasing educational demands of the Board of Education and the keener competion from East and West Doncaster schools forced the school to close in August, 1884
When Mr Schramm resigned from the Common School his position was filled by Mr.Oswald Theile, a secretary of the Holy Trinity Church of England, Doncaster. In 1876 the school was designated State School No 197, and some ten years later the present school building was erected.
These were the most eventful times for the Doncaster State School and all went relatively quietly until 1935 when, in September, a "back to Doncaster School " was held .
A program printed for the occasion listed the Head Teachers since the school's formation as Max Schramm, J.O A.Theile, W. Jack, W.E.Goodson, W. M.Hobbs, A. F. Chisholm and the head at that time , Mr.J.H.Sheridan
School Today
Today there are 14 schools in the city or drawing pupils from the city.
For primary education there are ,Doncaster, Doncaster East, Doncaster Park,Beverley Hills, Templestowe ,Warrandyte ,North Ringwood ,Park Orchards, Bulleen,South Warrandyte ,and Manningham State Schools. All of these schools are represented by either a school committee or a mothers' club or parents and friends society.Some schools, such as the Doncaster State School, have both a committee and a parents and friends' association.
The only secondary school in the area or drawing children from the area are the Templestowe High School,and Norwood High.There is also a Bulleen Branch of the Parents and Friends' Federation of Victoria governs Roman Catholic Schools in the city.
Doncaster Mirror 22 February 1967
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Doncaster Mirror 22 February 1967
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Doncaster Mirror 22 February 1967
Doncaster Mirror 22 February 1967
Hall Has a Chequered History
In Doncaster the need for a public Hall was first felt in 1869 when the Band of Hope, which had been meeting in the Methodist Church, decided to make a move to build a hall.In that year a meeting was called and as a result the Tower builder Mr. Alfred Hummel, donated 1 acre of land and in 1871 the Athenaeum Hall and lirary was built and opened.
Six years later Mr.A.O.Theile and a committee improved the hall and library which was noted for it's fine collection of reference books.The main hall was enlarged to include a platform , ante room, lodge, supper and cloak rooms and kitchen in 1914.
During its time the Athenaeum Hall had been used for concerts,plays, meetings,classes and in 1918 after the First World War it was used for Peace Celebrations,to which the citizens rolled up in big numbers in their automobiles.The scene is pictured at left together with a picture of the Hall before it was extended
Pastor Max Ran First School
Pastor Max Von Schramm who conducted the first school in Doncaster in a stone cottage which still stands in Doncaster Road was born in Silesia, Germany. After leaving school and joining the Mercantile Marines he served in various sailing ships for about 15 years before reaching Sydney in 1851 where he spent...
Doncaster Mirror 22 February 1967
"A Momentous Occasion " - Says Town Clerk
"The proclamation of the Shire of Doncaster and Templestowe as a City is a momentous and Historic occasion," the Town Clerk elect, Mr.Jack Thompson said this week.He said the ceremonial of the occasion would provide an opportunity for all to pause and consider the future demands which might be made on the resources of the new city over the next 10 to 12 years.
"Should the present high rate of development continue,"he said,"and the very nature of this lovely district leads to the conclusion that it will, the population will increase to 100,000 at about 1975"
Mr. Thompson claimed that the continued expansion of nearby industrial and commercial centres would enable the city to continue it's development as a "highly desirable living area" as was provided for in the Council's recently exhibited planning scheme.
He said the councils planning scheme was directed to the aim of setting up the city as a modern residential suburb liberally provided with municipal gardens, parks and recreational facilities.
These would be framed by well constructed and drained streets and arterial roads and facilities considered necessary to meet modern standards of living, he said.
The Shire Secretary said that as in most youthful, energetic communities the provision of all the services was required in a short time , not in the distant future, and the provision of suitable loan funds would require diligent planning and co-ordination of effort by the council and its officers.
The goodwill and co-operation of the financial institutions and continued assistance of the State and semi-Governmental authorities would also be needed in providing extra funds, he added.
The two photographs left show the old shire hall at about the turn of the century which was built in 1892 and the new shire offices which were occupied in August 1965
Doncaster Mirror 22 February 1967
Early Bank Office
In 1886 the English, Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank opened an agency in the home of Mr. Tom Petty, father of the present residents, Mr. and Mrs.F.Petty, in Doncaster Rd.
The bank then leased only one room of the house which is one block from the corner of Short St.
The land in Doncaster Rd.at present owned and occupied by the bank near the Post Office, was aquired in two separate lots the first being transferred from a Mont Albert bank manager,Mr. Tyson, in May, 1890.
This comprised the front section of the present block.The second section was bought in 1909.
The section purchased in 1890 was the site of Doncaster State School when it became the first Government school in Doncaster after being transferred from Pastor Schramm's school.
Soon after the bank started using the building as a branch, they built a weatherboard section on the front of the original stone structure.
It is this weatherboard section which is still the bank building in Doncaster.
The manager of the bank ,when it moved to the new premises and opened as a branch, was Mr.W. Meader, whose father, also Mr.W. Meader, was the first signatory to open an account at the bank .After that accounts were opened by most of the old well known identities in the district.
Doncaster Mirror 22 February 1967
The Toll Gates Raised Money
To raise funds to form roads in the new Shire, toll gates were placed on the main road. One such toll gate , with house and stables, was at what is now known as "White's Corner "on the south west corner of Doncaster and Elgar Roads .The photographs show the cottage occupied by the first toll keeper, a man named Johnnie Callagan and the stables.
Doncaster Mirror, 22 February 1967
Spraying the fruit trees was not always as easy as it is today. This set up for spraying Bordeaux mixture is indicative of the ingenuity of the early orchardists. The photograph was taken on Mr. Webb's orchard property on the corner of Blackburn and Doncaster Roads.
Doncaster Mirror 22 Feb 1967
Mirror 22 February 1967
Lutherans Sought Freedom Here.
The Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Congregation of Doncaster had its formation in 1858 amongst a group of Lutherans who migrated from their homes in Silesia to a country where they could hold religious services free from State interference.
To Gottlieb Thiele went the honour of being the first Lutheran settler.
He was a tailor by profession, establishing a business in Melbourne, but after making a trip to the Bendigo goldfield, he settled in Doncaster, where he purchased land at $20 an acre .
The first church was an unassuming structure built on a hill for the total cost of $96.
Construction was wattle and daub, and the building was 40 feet long , 20 feet wide,12 feet from floor to ceiling, and had a shingle roof.
The old church served both Lutherans and , on Sunday afternoons other denominations, until 1891 when the building had become so dilapidated that it was decided a new church would be built.
The new Gothic style church, which still stands today was built for $2,078, with furnishings taking the total cost to $2606.
In 1860 Pastor Max Von Schramm accepted the office of school teacher, and in 1876 he was asked to take on the position of pastor of the Church as well .
After his resignation in 1906, the question of building a parsonage arose, and on a half acre plot of land, almost on the spot where the first church services were held before the first church was built, the parsonage was erected at a cost of $1500.
In 1917 the organ, used since the first church was opened, was replaced for $350, and then in 1932 a church hall was added.
This hall, without furnishings, cost $1290 and housed the Sunday School classes, the Ladies Guild and the Lutheran Young People's Society.
The first pastor of the church was Matthias Goethe, who conducted services in Melbourne from about 1853 to 1857. In 1868 Pastor Hermann Herlitz was installed as pastor of the Doncaster church at the same time being elected president of the Lutheran synodical convention, a post he held for more than 40 years.
Pastor Herlitz had as his assistant Mr. Max von Schramm, who, in 1876 took over the post and held it until 1908.
Immediately after his resignation, Pastor Richard Held took the post until 1912.
It was during his period as pastor that the parsonage was built, bible classes were started, and a choir formed.
After a short vacancy, Pastor Gottlieb Hegelau of Toowoomba, Queensland, took the ministry until 1915, when a notice in the church paper drew five applicants for the position of pastor advertised.
The man selected for the post was Albrecht Fehlburg, who held the position under difficult conditions until 1920 when Pastor J. Simpfendorfer was installed.
He held the post until he died in 1947. He payed special attention to the Sunday School and the Youth Society and he and Mrs Simpfendorfer organized the Ladies Guild.
After his death, Pastor Philipp Scherer who was trained at the Immanuel Seminary, North Adelaide, took over the post.
Pastor Scherer had served in the Finke River Mission, Central Australia, as the first resident Missionary at Areyonga out-station.
Pastor Scherer introduced regular children's services, increased communion services from four to eight times a year and began family communion .
He continued to serve congregations at Melbourne and Tinamba, started by Pastor Simpfendorfer and added preaching centres at Trafalgar and Croydon before resigning in 1954 to return to the service of the Finke River Mission.
From 1955, the Pastor was the Reverend H.Pech, who in turn was succeeded by the present Pastor, the Reverend Maurice Schild.
Pastor Schild, studied at Adelaide for an Arts Degree before going to Europe to study Theology.
He graduated in 1961 and went on to do post-graduate work in Theology for which he submitted a Thesis on church history for a Doctorate. Before
coming to Doncaster he was the Vicar at Murray Bridge.
East Yarra News 08 March1967
Half Holiday for Schools
A Half holiday to celebrate the proclamation of the new City of Doncaster and Templestowe is being considered for children in the district's 17 schools.
City officials had expected the announcement from the Governor, Sir Rohan Delacombe, at last week's ceremony.They are still awaiting confirmation of a date.
Two thousand medallions bearing the City crest, the same as the old Shire emblem -were presented last week to school children within the city.
Framed copies of the Proclamation were also presented to each school at special ceremonies.
Doncaster Mirror 22 Feb 1967
Doncaster's Hotels.
Doncaster, too, had it's fair share of hotels in the early days.
The old "Morning Star" Hotel, on the western boundary of the shire was a stopping place for coaches. It was de-licensed in 1917, but stood until 1939-40.
The photograph (???) shows one of the early coaches at the entrance of the hotel.
The Tower Hotel was the next stopping place on the route to Doncaster.The original weatherboard hotel stood back from the road with a coach approach to it.
This hotel was afterwards burnt down and replaced by a brick building adjoining the longest standing of Alfred Hummel's Three Towers.
Part of the new hotel is still standing as the shop occupied until recently by Doncaster Mower Services.
The other photographs show (above) the Old Morning Star Hotel with one of the early coaches in front of it and (below) the original Doncaster Hotel which is still standing.
This hotel was built by Mr. Burnley, who came out from England in about 1843, and named the area after the town of the same name in England.
Doncaster Reporter March 1967
From Bush To City in 130 Years
The proclamation of the Shire of Doncaster and Templestowe as a City comes just 130 years after the first white men travelled through the area.
This was in 1837 when survey parties and settlers going from Melbourne to Lilydale passed through the area and told of the promising district.
Two years later cattle runs, were well established along the Koonung Creek at Bulleen and Doncaster and Anderson's Creek near the present township of Warrandyte.
By 1847 wheat and barley crops grown at Bulleen were being exported to England, but in the years following ,these gave way to dairying interests.
By 1852 the Tempestowe township was being surveyed by the Government surveyer, Mr Foote, whose name remains in one of it's streets.
Gold, said to be the first discovered in Victoria, was found at Anderson's Creek in the vicinity of the present township of Warrandyte in
1851. Considerable gold was taken from the field in a number of mines through the Warrandyte area.A memorial cairn on Gold Memorial Road now marks the vicinity in which gold was first discovered.
Two years later gold was discovered at Lower Templestowe and this area was worked for a few years and reopened in the 1880's for a short period.
Orchards planted.
In 1853 the first orchards were planted in the Doncaster area , and this became the major fruit growing area in Victoria.
The celebration of a century of fruit growing in the district was marked by the construction of a commemorative gateway at the eastern entrance to the Municipal Offices where a bronze plaque is installed.
Soon afterwards fruit growing began in Templestowe in the vicinity of Church Road, and this added considerably to the area under orchard cultivation.
From the time of their arrival the pioneers held their own church services, and by 1857 records show religious services under the Presbyterian church had been set up in the Templestowe and Bulleen areas and in 1853 the Lutheran chapel was erected in Victoria Street, and this was also used by the Church of England.
Between 1860 and 1863 churches were established at East Doncaster (the Primative Methodist Church), Baptist chapel at Doncaster, and the Church of Christ at Doncaster.
School
One of the best known names in the district is that of Pastor Max von Schramm who established a school for German children at his home in
Doncaster in 1860.
His stone cottage still stands in the grounds of the municipal offices. Until the completion of the recent additions it was used by the building surveyor's staff.
Suggestions that it would be demolished with the widening of Doncaster Rd
were met by many local protests. However it is bound to be preserved, even if is to be removed and re-erected.
There is a proposal that it should be used as a museum to house historical records and items of local interest.
In 1870 one of the major difficulties in the Doncaster area was the setting up of a committee to provide a public hall, and this resulted in the erection of the first stage of the Athenaeum Hall in Doncaster road Doncaster in 1871. The original building was,of course,added to on a number of occasions over the ensuing years.
Of interest is the fact that in the 1860's David Mitchell, later of Lilydale, resided with his family, including the later famous daughter, Nellie Melba, at Tullamore Doncaster. This property is now the Eastern Golf Club.
The development of the area as a major fruit growing district resulted in
the erection of a number of cool stores. For instance, the first government cool store in Victoria was erected in Doncaster road in the vicinity of the present building erected by the Don Engineering Works, and in addition to this, three co-operative stores were erected, one at West Doncaster (demolished over the last few weeks), and two the Orchardists'Co-operative Stores at East Doncaster. These stores for many years were the largest fruit cool stores in the southern Hemisphere , and the East Doncaster Cool Store at the corner of Mitcham and Springvale roads, Donvale.
From its' stores and allied packing sheds a very large export market has developed with apples and pears, the Doncaster area being noted for its'prime export fruit.
Doncaster East Yarra News 1 Mar 1967
We're a city now
Historic, Unique -says Governor
"This historic, this unique occasion" was how the Governor, Sir Rohan Delecombe, described the proclamation of the new City of Doncaster and Templestowe and the robing of the Mayor, Cr S.K. Shepherd, at a brilliantly colourful ceremony at the Municipal Offices yesterday.
Here Sir Rohan admires Cr.Shepherd's gold chain of office at the conclusion of the outdoor ceremony. Mr Hamer, Minister for Local Government, left, and the Town Clerk, Mr.J.W.Thompson are interested onlookers. More than 2,000 residents and school children attended the ceremony in brilliant sunshine.
Doncaster East Yarra News 1 Mar 1967
Doncaster Mirror 1967
Proclamation is Step in History
The Minister of Local Government, Mr.Hamer, in a message to the people of Doncaster said:"The proclamation of the City of Doncaster and Templestowe is rightly celebrated as an important step in the history of the district"
Mr. Hamer said " It signifies far more than a change in title,or an elevation in status; it means that a district has reached a point in its development when it has the power---and the duty---of providing for its citizens all the services, amenities and advantages for which a modern urban community looks to its local authority.
A city has to comply with certain minimum requirements (all of which the new city easily meets):
1.It must have a minimum population of 10,000 (actually 31,800)
2.It must have a minimum revenue from general and extra rates of $160,000
(actually $667,000)
3.It must be substantially urban in character.
But this is merely the frame. It must be clothed with a true community spirit and civic pride, so that a city, because of its status, will reach out to new achievement in all the fields of community effort-- cultural, recreational, help for the very old and the very young---as well as providing for its district the physical things, such as roads bridges, parks, libraries and halls.
The new city has been growing fast and it administers one of the most beautiful and varied parts of the metropolitan area . The Government will help and co-operate with the new city in its important tasks to the utmost, and I wish it a fruitful and prosperous future.
The council will have many problems, but with the support and understanding of the citizens, it will see to it that Doncaster and Templestowe takes its proper and distinctive place among the other famous cities of the State."
Many activities in City Programme
All sections of the community are being brought into the programme of celebrations for the proclamation- past members of council,elderly citizens,the churches,newcomers to Australia,youth organisations and schoolchildren.
On Proclamation Day next Tuesday, a luncheon will be held at Eastern Golf Club, which will be attended by the Governor, Sir Rohan Delecombe, and Lady Delecombe, members of the council and their wives, former members of the staff of the shire and their wives, together with executives of the golf club.
The proclamation ceremony will be held in front of the shire offices at 2.30. Local Scouts will provide a guard of honour and children from all schools in the municipality will attend.
Immediately after the proclamation a special meeting of council will be held at which the robes of office and the mayoral chain will be worn by the mayor and town clerk.This will be followed by afternoon tea.
Residents who wish to attend this function are asked to apply at the shire office immediately for entree cards.
THE MIRROR SAYS THANKS
Although it would be almost impossible to name all those who contributed in part to the publication of this special issue, there are certain names which cannot be overlooked.
The Mirror would like to thank the Town Clerk- elect Mr. Jack Thompson, for the information he gave and his help.
We would like to thank Mr.Ian Morrison and Mrs. D. Whitten, of Doncaster, and Mr.Brian Mullens, of Templestowe for the loan of photographs.
Our thanks also to the many people who gave us information or leads to follow.---The Editor.
Doncaster Mirror 1967
FATHERS OF THE NEW CITY
When the Shire of Doncaster and Templestowe becomes a city next week these are the men who will guide its destinies:From left, Cr. B.S. Elms, Cr. K. Remington, Mr. F. Andrews(City Engineer-elect), Cr. K. May, Cr. G. Watson, Mr. J. Thompson (Town Clerk-elect), Cr M.Williams, Cr.A Kelly, Cr S. Shepherd (Mayor-elect), Cr. D. White, Cr. V. Rush, Cr. L. Cameron, Cr.R. Hardidge,Cr. R.Harle.
Doncaster Mirror 15 Mar 1967
FAMILY'S HISTORY STARTED IN 1853
Miss Selina Serpell has written to the Mirror with details of the history of her family in the city which started in 1853 with the arrival of her grandmother and her 4 sons and daughter.
Miss Serpell now of Williamsons Rd., Doncaster, said her grandmother bought a property in Doncaster which is now known as Jenkins and another property facing Tuckers Rd.
She says that at that time there was no direct route to Melbourne and her father was instrumental in getting what is now known as Serpells Rd. opened in 1884.
Miss Serpell's grandmother later built a large weatherboard home in Main Rd, Doncaster naming it" Mt Edgecombe".
Miss Serpell's father built a house in Williamson's rd.and both this house and the Main rd. home are still standing.
Miss Serpell's father was an original trustee of the Athenaeum and Library and gave the land that the old Doncaster State School was built on.
He also helped in the building of the Church of England by carting stone and was interested in the building of the old Shire Hall in 1892.
He was a member of the company formed to open the first electric tram in the Southern Hemisphere.
The tram ran from Doncaster to Box Hill and it was hoped it would start a boom in Doncaster.
Mr Serpell also built the two story brick shop at the corner of Williamson's and Doncaster Rd., now known as White's corner, which will soon be demolished to make way for a supermarket.
Doncaster Mirror 15 Mar 1967
HISTORY BY MEMBER OF PIONEER FAMILY
Mrs.T. A.Whitten, formerly Miss Lawford, of Broughton Ave., Croydon has written a short summary of the history of her family, who were early settlers in the district.
The first Lawfords home was just over the Koonung Creek in Box Hill.
Later their family each took up land and settled in different parts of Doncaster.
My grandfather, Edwin Lawford, who was a teacher at the Deaf and Dumb school, bought property and built a home in Williamson's Rd.
There he developed one of the largest pear orchards and later built the first privately owned cool store.
He was at one time President of the Rifle Club and was also on the committee of the Athenaeum Hall.
My grandfather, father and brothers were each shire councillors making three generations of Shire Councillors.
One of my grandfather's brothers Burkby Lawford, was a fruit tree nurseryman in Doncaster Rd., on and adjacent to what is now the Eastern Golf Course.
A sister of his, Mrs.Hummell, donated the land on which the Church of England now stands.
The Lawford family has played a part along with many others in the successful growth of Doncaster from a shire to city.
Doncaster Mirror 1 Mar 1967
"FRIEDENSRUH " REST IN PEACE.
Friedensruh--"rest in peace" was the name given by Gottlieb Theile to the two roomed wattle and daub homestead in Victoria St.(then Bismark St.), which he built in 1853 when he came to live in Doncaster.
Over the years other rooms have been added to Friedensruh, which still stands and is in an excellent state of preservation.
It has been in the family for four generations, and residing in it at the present time are Miss E.Theile (grandaughter of Gottlieb Theile), her sister and brother in law, Mr. and Mrs.L. Collyer, and their son, Eric.
Gottlieb came to Australia in 1848 on the sailing ship Wappaus with his wife Phillipina, and two children, Oswald and Adelaide.
He was a military tailor by profession, and until recently there was at Friedensruh a trunk containing the elaborate, glamorous epaulettes and trimmings used on the military uniforms of the times .
For some time after his arrival in Australia, Gottlieb was military tailor to Governor La Trobe.
Gottlieb's narrow tailor's iron, weighing ten pounds, is still to be seen at Friedensruh.
After a session on the Bendigo goldfields, Gottlieb's health suffered, and on medical advice he decided to go to the country. It was then that he bought land at Doncaster, on Ruffeys creek and built his pioneer home.
For a long time the creek served the family for their water supply, and the washing was also taken there to be done.
Their first living off the land was made from the sale of dairy produce, strawberries, eggs, grapes, wheat and oats.
Phillipina generally accompanied her husband on the 10 mile trip to take the goods by horse and cart to the city market. She maintained she needed to be there to see that a fair price was obtained for their produce.
On the return journey one day she had to stop over at a friends' place
in Abbotsford for a while--one of her sons had decided to be born a little earlier than expected! Altogether, Gottlieb and Phillipina had nine children--five boys and 4 girls.
A fine orchard was established at Friedensruh, and was one of the first commercial orchards in Victoria. Frederick Theile, a son of Gottlieb, was responsible for the planting of most of the trees-- a very keen orchardist, he would walk to Hawthorn once a week to study fruit growing from a Mr.Coles. One of the original trees, a black achan pear still grows and bears fruit.
The Theile family were the first people to successfully transport pears, under refrigeration to England.
Gottlieb was a deeply religious man, and was one of those who led the way to establish Church worship in the community.
Before the Lutheran Church was built, he held services in the livingroom
of his home on every alternate Sunday--the other week a service was held at the home of Mr. Carl Aumann.
Gottlieb's son, Oswald became the first Government teacher, and his home, next to the E.S.&A Bank still stands.
Another son Maxwell, was a keen artist , and he also used to walk to Hawthorn each week for drawing lessons.
Wandering through Friedensruh, it is not difficult to slip into the life of a century ago--indications of the life led then are still much in evidence.
Come into the room at the back of the house--the end wall is now bricked up, but it used to be open to allow the horse drawn vehicles to back in and unload the fruit, which was passed through a little door into the packing room behind. Packed ready for storage, the fruit was then transferred to the large cellar underneath.
This portion of the house is made from stone quaried on the property, and was constructed by Gottlieb's brother Gottfried who was a stonemason.
Glancing upwards in the unloading room,one sees a tiny doorway leading to an attic room with a shingle roof fixed to sappling rafters. Two well worn hollows are apparent on the doorstep, caused no doubt by many children's feet taking themselves to bed up there.
The only access to this room is by a Jacob's ladder.
The present kitchen at Friedensruh was added in 1898, when Alfred,the youngest son, married. Here one is brought back from the past by the sight of the most up to date gleaming oil stove--but it somehow takes its' place quite harmoniously with the kitchen utensils of one and two centuries ago.
One of the most interesting of these is a heavy brass pestle and mortar, dated 1747, which had belonged to Phillipina's family, Birkner.
Then standing in a corner, is a dainty Dutch dresser, made by the Rev.Cuzen, the first Congregational minister in Australia, and father to Oswald Theile's wife.
Behind the table is the "schlingelbank"(scamp's bench)--a long, white scrubbed form, on which generations of little Theiles have sat.
Friedensruh is set in a very lovely garden, laid out by Gottlieb, and now tendered with great care by his great grandson Mr. Eric Collyer- a school teacher at Middlefield State School (Blackburn)
Mr Collyer is also an accomplished musician and is the organist at the Lutheran Church in Box Hill.
Doncaster Mirror 5 Apr 1967
BACK TO DONCASTER--CHANCE TO TALK
Few organised entertainments have been arranged for the "Back to Doncaster" on April 30th, Final day of the City's Festival of Arts.
Basis of the reunion for pioneer families and former residents of the new City will be an opportunity for old friends to get together and talk.
This was decided at the public meeting at the Athenaeum Hall last Thursday, Chairman was Cr.Russell Hardidge.
Programme for the Back to Doncaster day will be:
2 p.m: Welcome by the Mayor, or his representative, at the Athanaeum Hall.
2.10p.m.-2.45p.m.: Musical programme.
3pm.: Afternoon tea.
4p.m.: Tour and Historical display at Schramms Cottage.
The last back to Doncaster was held in 1935 for 700 former pupils of Doncaster State School.
Past residents were being approached through local churches, relatives and friends, Cr. Hardidge said. Transport would be arranged for those who could not travel independently.
The committee elected at the meeting comprises former Cr. J. Hutchinson and Mrs. Lee, of Warrandyte: Mrs.Dulcie Crouch and Mrs. Rene Sullivan, of Templestowe:and Mesdames Vera Sell and Nell Elliott, of Doncaster. Crs. L.J. Cameron and R.J.Hardidge will represent the council.
Those coming to the reunion are asked to advise Mrs. Sell, secretary,842-1139, by April 20
Doncaster Mirror 5 Apr 1967
OLD LANDMARK TO GO?--
The historic old hotel building known as Finn's Upper Yarra Hotel,seems destined to be demolished within the next month. The Hotel is close to 125 years old and is in Templestowe Rd. near the Thompson's Rd.corner.
At the Doncaster and Templestowe City Council meeting held just before Easter, the committee of the whole council agreed to the Housing Commission issuing an eviction order on the occupants and an order for demolition within six weeks of February 23.
The Commission are issuing the orders on the instruction of the council.
The old building is on council property which has been planned as parkland. It is understood that plans have been made to widen the road at this point.
DANGEROUS CONDITION
The council say that the building is in a dangerous condition and is unfit for habitation. Mr.Peter S.Stoughton, chairman of the surveys committee of the National Trust, said that the building had been classified as "D" by the Trust. This meant that the building was of extreme interest. "It is a shame that it appears it has to go", he said.
Mr. Stoughton said that there should be the number of people both in and out of the district who would be prepared to do something to have the building retained and preserved.
He said that it had a lovely old world garden to one side of the building."I must say that I think it is a charming old ruin, but it has a lot of historic associations. It was a coaching station in its early days".
"If only it could be moved it would make a delightful setting for an Australiana restaurant"' he said.
Mr. Stoughton said that this would cost quite a deal of money, but was well worth exploring the possibility.
The Mayor of Doncaster and Templestowe, Cr. Stan Shepherd, said that if anything could be done to preserve the old building he would be all for it.
The building is a favourite subject for artists and among the entries in the forthcoming art festival are many paintings and drawings of the Upper Yarra Hotel.
HISTORY GOING
Well known Australian author, Alan Marshall, said that it should be preserved.
"A lot of our history is going in the so called march of progress. It would make an ideal folk museum,"he said
A survey last Saturday among residents of Templestowe and artists and writers showed that there is much oppostion to the building being demolished.
A few weeks ago, on the declaration of the city, the Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan Delecombe, made a special point of referring to the richness of history of the area.
One of the first acts of council on becoming a city is to destroy a historic landmark.
Doncaster Mirror 12 Apr 1967
Unknown Source
The Mirror certainly started something when it broke the news last week of the council's intention to demolish the hotel.
However, this week we are happy to report that the early demolition has been staved off.
So much opposition has been recorded by all sections of the community in all parts of the State, that already a committee has been set up by the newly formed Historical Society of Doncaster and Templestowe for the removal and restoration of the hotel.
With the future of Finn's pub in doubt, artists flocked to Templestowe Rd. over the weekend to paint the historic old hotel.
(above)Members of art societies from many parts of Melbourne held a field day on Sunday.
(Below) Mrs Nina Ryan, of Bayswater, settled into the paddock opposite the hotel to paint while her sister in law, Maureen Ryan, looks at her efforts.
The Mirror too, has received many phone calls with offers of assistance in the preservation and restoration plan. The aim of the council now is to move the stone part of the building back into the parkland of what is known as Finn's Reserve.
A public meeting is to be called within a week to form a representative committee of citizens from within the city and beyond to raise funds and seek the advice of architects and other specialists to make the old hotel the centre of a folk museum in the parkland.
Doncaster Mirror 12 Apr 1967
ORCHARDIST SENDS CONGRATULATIONS
A Doncaster orchardist, a grandson of Frederick Theile who was the first white child born in Doncaster, has written to the Mirror with congratulations on the proclamation issue.
Mr. Charles Bedge said he was sorry that no mention had appeared of Miss Ada Yewers who was one of the first school teachers in the district and later married Fredrick Theile.
The Theile and Yewers families did not know each other until Ada Yewers stayed or boarded at the Theile's. Commenting that there was no mention of the village blacksmith," without whom the village could not have got along", Mr Bedge recalled that Daniel Harvey of Box Hill was at one time head of the blacksmith shop. "All the same I think you did a great job" Mr. Bedge said.
Doncaster Mirror 12 Apr 1967
Family group taken outside the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bullen. The late Mr Bullen holds the horse and with him are his father, mother and five sisters.This original part of the house had 1868 on the floor boards when demolished to make way for Woolworths store, central Doncaster. All told 14 children were born in this house. Five boys and six girls. Six children did not survive.
Doncaster Mirror 12 Apr 1967
COMMITTEE TO HONOUR CITY'S PIONEERS.
At a recent meeting at the Doncaster and Templestowe City offices it was decided to arrange an afternoon to honour pioneer families and their descendants. A committee was formed and will arrange the afternoon for Sunday, April 30 from 2pm. to 5 pm.
The committee is hoping to reach people from Warrandyte,Templestowe and Doncaster who have since left the district. Any person wishing to attend should contact Mrs Vera Sell, Blackburn Rd.,East Doncaster, by April 20.
Doncaster Mirror 15 Mar 1967
ORIGINS OF CHRIST CHURCH TEMPLESTOWE.
The first Church of England service in Templestowe was held in a school owned by Mr.Ferguson in Serpells Rd about 1860.
The first church was built over one hundred years ago on a site opposite the present Templestowe Hotel, serving the community until the end of the century and was under the spiritual direction of the Vicar of Doncaster.
In 1900 a new church building was erected on the present site in Foote St.
The Rev.Geo. Hollow was vicar of the parish at the time and he had six chuchwardens and vestrymen Messrs R.Mundy, A. Mundy and Messrs Hewish, Aumann, Goodwin, Roth, Stacker, Bilson and Beale.
Christ Church as it is known today was dedicated and opened on November 9,1900, by the Bishop of Melbourne.
Some few years ago the two modern halls attached to the church were erected and in 1966 the house known now as the The Vicarage was purchased as a residence for the clergyman.
In April last year the Rev. Sydney Ball was placed in charge of Christ Church Templestowe , which is growing into an independant parish of the Diocese of Melbourne.
East Yarra News 13 Apr 1966
DESCENDANTS OF CHURCH PIONEERS.
A group of descendants of the founders of the East Doncaster Methodist Church pictured on April 3 the last day of the church,s centenary celebrations with a quilt bearing the names of many early Doncaster families. From left: Mrs.Henderson (nee White), Mrs McKenzie (nee Knee ), Mrs Richardson (nee Nellie Pyle), Mrs Barnett (nee Emily Pyle), Mrs C Sell, Miss Fay King, Mrs R. Sell ( nee Millie Johnston )and Mr R. Sell.
Doncaster Mirror 15 Mar 1967
CHURCH SERVICES HELD IN A BARN
The first Presbyterian service to be held in the Shire of Doncaster and Templestowe was at Bulleen where, at the invitation of the late Alexander Duncan, services started in his barn in Bulleen Road, overlooking the Yarra Valley.
Boards were placed on bags of wheat to serve as seating and a large butter churn with a table cover made a suitable lecturn .
The family bible brought from Scotland completed the sanctuary.
In 1845 the first church of solid material built outside Melbourne was constructed at Jika St., Heidelberg, where Presbyterians from Templestowe and surrounding districts travelled to worship.
By July 1895 a number of Templestowe people decided to commence services in the local Mechanics' Institute and in a few months the first Presbyterian Church in Atkinson St., Templestowe was opened. It was created on land given by the late Mrs.John Smith .
During this time Templestowe continued to be part of the Heidelberg charge but by 1953 Templestowe had begun to grow and more land was needed so the block was increased from a quarter acre to one acre.
In 1955 the second kindergarten building was opened but with the rapid growth of the congregation it was necessary to use this new building as a
church hall and in 1960 a Manse was built and a resident minister asked for.
Mr R. V. Merritt cared for this charge for several months before Dr.David Merritt became the first full time minister.
In March 1962 the fine new brick building of the Templestowe Presbyterian Church was opened- this was made possible largely by the generosity of the late Joseph Smith.
The Reverend John Howard is the present minister.
BULLEEN CHURCH STARTS AGAIN
On October 8, 1958 two ladies who lived alongside each other at Bulleen decided that rather than travel further afield they would hold services and start a Sunday School in their homes.
The same year a congregation was formally incorporated for both Methodist and Presbyterian residents to worship in one church.
In 1960 the first all purpose hall was built and so Bulleen once again held services, not in a barn as in the early days but in a fine building where young and old could go to worship.
The Rev.B.J. Bateman is the minister and the church hall is in Kenneth St. Bulleen, where services are held at 10.30 am. each Sunday with an occasional evening service.
The picture shows Mrs. Alexander Duncan standing outside her Bulleen Rd. house. It was in the barn at the rear of this wattle and daub cottage that the first Presbyterian Church services were held in this city.
Source Unknown
90 YEARS OF HISTORY
Mr. L.J. Blake, Doncaster District Inspector of schools and President of the Royal Historical Society, sees a relic of the 90 years old East Doncaster State School-- the original school bell. Showing him the bell is Ian McKenzie, the third generation of his family to attend the school, and a member of the school historical group.
The bell was originally mounted in the school yard on a high pole, but was removed in 1962 to make room for extensions to the building. The school hopes to remount it in a prominant place.
Doncaster Mirror 1 Mar 1967
A WELCOME STOP
Coaches stop outside the old Grand Hotel, Warrandyte for a welcome break in the journey to the Warrandyte picnic grounds.
Doncaster Mirror 1 Mar 1967
A FINE OLD VETERAN
This is the first bus of the Doncaster and Kew Motorbus Company Ltd.which was formed in 1919 to travel between Kew and Doncaster. Mr.W.A.Webb was secretary of the company and his daughter, Mrs. Douglas Whitten remembers travelling from Doncaster to Ruyton Girls'School daily on the bus. It made the round trip several times daily.
Doncaster Mirror 19 Apr 1967
STORY OF OUR HISTORY - Snap buy for $200.
The mosiac panel, below,tells the story of Doncaster, Templestowe and Warrandyte, from the earliest days to the proclamation of the city. Councillors saw it at the opening of the Festival of Art last Friday night and snapped it up-for $200.
It was a rare purchase, they said. And when confirmation was sought by Cr. Viv Rush in council on Monday night everybody agreed.
The panel will be hung inside the entrance of the Municipal offices where it will be seen by ratepayers and visitors alike.
It is the work of local residents, Virginia Linton Smith and Marjorie Beecham, and is made from locally dug clay. Principal figures are unglazed terra cotta and the background is a mosaic of handmade tiles and fragments of century old bricks incorporated for sentiment, colour and texture.
The Scene.
At left is the virgin forest with the shadowy figure of an Aborigine standing among white trunked gums watching a gold prospector panning at the water's edge.
At Finn's Upper Yarra Hotel is a stage coach drawn by two horses.
Next comes an early orchardist resting on a shovel with a pattern of formalised orchard trees behind.
In the foreground of this section is a frieze of fruit----apples, peaches, pears, lemons and cherries. There is also a modern tractor.
A line of pine trees, typical of the area, line the hills.The orchards give way to bare paddocks dotted with power pylons.
A family group of father, mother, son and daughter survey their contemporary home. In the distance, the city skyline looms, while still in the picture a tall gum tree reminds them of their heritage.
The mosaic took 90 man hours to complete.
1967 Source Unknown
HOW SCHRAMM'S COTTAGE ESCAPED DEMOLITION.
Pastor Schramm's Cottage in Doncaster, soon to be the venue of an historical reconstruction and exhibition, was all but doomed to demolition seven years ago.
Only chance that it would remain to remind Doncaster's newer generations of the past rested in the odd hope that it's attractive Ruffey's Creek stone would one day adorn the foundations of some future municipal building.
But the voice of the people---and the readiness of the council to hear it---saved the day and the house.
In November,1960, hopes that the cottage could be renovated for use as a municipal library were dashed by a report that reconstruction would cost between $3600 and $4400.
Advising council to abandon any idea of reconstruction, the then Shire President, Cr.A.P.Withers, said its atmosphere would be lost if modern windows and doors were installed and a tiled roof added, as had been proposed.
Cr. A. E.Ireland agreed, adding that the cottage would be in the way when Doncaster Rd.was widened.
Cr.Ron McKenzie, warning his colleagues to tread warily, said feelings at Doncaster Progress Association meetings had been strongly in favour of the building's preservation.
The council adjourned a decision on demolition until after the Christmas recess, to permit time for full expression of public opinion.
Led by Mrs.D.C.Whitten, this opinion was expressed to the extent of 754 signatures to a petition "for the restoration of Schramm's historic home, which will probably be the last link with early Templestowe".
The house was built in the 1860's by Max von Schramm from the local stone from Ruffey's Creek.
In a room at the rear he taught Doncaster's children, Lutheran and English alike, in the district's first common school.
So keen was local interest, that extra chairs had to brought into the public gallery of the council chambers for the hearing of the petition.
It was presented by Cr. Les Cameron, whose family had been in the district for the past 100 years.
Support was given by the Royal Historical Society and the National Trust.
(The Trust has now classified the cottage "C")
Council carried the motion to preserve the cottage unanimously, and ageed to share the estimated cost of $6,000 for restoration between the (then) three ridings.
The Shire Secretary was asked to record the petition, correspondence and council's viewpoint in the minutes for the guidance of any future council faced with a similar decision.
At a meeting of the Doncaster- Templestowe Historical Society tonight Col.E.G. Keogh, City Historian, will speak on the history of the City.
1967 Source unknown
Residents to see Pastor Schramm's own piano.
Local residents are responding generously to the appeal by the Doncaster - Templestowe Historical Society for articles suitable for display in Schramm's Cottage from April 21 to April 30.
Articles of great historical value already offered include Pastor Schramm's own piano, a 90 year old wedding dress, a flat iron used to press the clothes of Govenor La Trobe, a moustache cup, a christening robe used for 23 children,a buggy and a what not.
A whatnot is described in Webster's Dictionary as a "piece of furniture having shelves for books, ornaments,etc."
The committee is anxious to reconstruct the Cottage kitchen, sitting room and bedroom to conform to the period and the council has made a grant of $30 for urgent renovations.
The National Trust has offered to co-operate in presenting the display.
A fourth room in the cottage will be used to display indigenous items and old photographs.
Pastor Schramm arrived in Melbourne in 1852, bought a lighter and traded in the bay, transporting cargo from shore to ship.
Mr.Schramm met Mr.Thiele, of Doncaster who regarded him as an educated man and induced him to become a school teacher.
In 1863 he was appointed as first State School Master in Doncaster,and subsequently he opened a private school in the district.
In 1876 he was ordained a Lutheran Pastor and was appointed resident Lutheran Pastor in the Doncaster district, a post he held for about 30 years.
Prior to his ordainment as a Lutheran Pastor he held the position of first secretary of the Doncaster Church of England.
He was also the founder of the Athenaeum Hall and Library and its president for more than 30 years.
Pastor Schramm died in 1908, and Mrs.Schramm in 1928.
1967 Source unknown
MAKING GOOD NIGHT A CERTAINTY
-in the Great Grandmother way.
Mrs. Loris Webster, of the Doncaster-Templestowe Historical Society, isn't really about to bed down in Schramm's Cottage.
Her night attire is displayed on models at the Historical Exhibition
which is being run in conjunction with the Festival of Arts
The nightgown is from the estate of the late Mrs.A.A.Goodson. The cap was lent by Guide leader Mrs.O.Soderland, and the warming pan, gin jar, hot water bottle, and silver candle stick complete with snuffer by Mrs.D.C. Whitten.
Once the warming pan was filled with live coals and placed in the bed before retiring----cheaper, perhaps, than an electric blanket.
1967 Unknown Source
The old spinning wheel
Children at the Historical Exhibition, run in conjunction with the Doncaster and Templestowe Festival of Arts, watch with interest as Mrs.A.B.McInnes works at a spinning wheel at Schramm's Cottage. The Festival ended last week.
Source Unknown 16 Apr 1967
1,000 see cottage and city relics in first 10 hours.
A century old cottage, wreathed in the legends of its owner, came to life in Doncaster this week.
It was the home of Pastor Max von Schramm. In its new role it houses many of the city's most highly prized historical pieces.
The scene of an exhibition which the newly formed Historical Society is conducting in conjunction with the Festival of Arts, more than 1,000 people flocked to see the building and its contents in the first 10 hours of the show last Friday.
None of the atmosphere was missing. Walking through the door of the low yellow and white stone cottage, the illusion was so real that one almost expected to meet the learned Pastor in the passageway, polishing his reading spectacles.
The cottage is open for the exhibition each week night from 7pm until 10 o'clock and from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday when the Festival ends.
The display has something for every body--young and old alike.
In the grounds of the cottage's original home orchard, three orange trees are obligingly laden with fruit.
In the bedroom complete with beribboned four poster bed (hand painted with pink roses on black wood), stands "Hannah", a National Trust model in calico nightdress and cap, her auburn hair let down in a long plait.
Half close your eyes and you'd swear she was about to use the giant washstand at her side.
The nearby "maid"( with key to the tea caddy and other mysteries safely chained to her apron) has obviously just folded her mistress's day clothes away in the chest of drawers.
A pair of knickers and a whalebone corset can be seen demurely closeted.
A doll's corner has been utilised by room arranger Mrs. Loris Webster, to display christening robes, a copy of "Pears Journal" lies on a plush chair.
Across the passage in the sitting room a large portrait of Pastor Schramm looks down from above his own piano at a bride in limerick lace veil, about to serve tea from a silver service.
An intricate music box plays hymns. This belongs to the pioneer Templestowe family of Chivers, forebears of Mrs A. Poulter who is responsible for the arrangement of this room.
In Mrs. Alice Latimer's kitchen, family portraits, a cut throat razor, pipe rack on the mantlepiece and set of knucklebone jacks in the crockery cupboard give the room a "lived in look".
A butter churn stands beside Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management, copper pans, clothes irons with chimneys (they were filled with hot coke) bear testimony to the housekeeping skills of the "lady"in the black lace frock with bustle.
A popular painting of the times, "The Homestead Saved" hangs above the mantle, beside a German text,"God is in this house day and night".
Above a doorway another text asks "What is a home without a mother?"
The transformation from Council storehouse to a mid Victorian home, was achieved in three days by a nucleus of about half a dozen enthusiastic women who painted walls, scoured benches, collected, shifted, polished and arranged furniture, made curtains and laundered yellowed linens.
They had been collecting for about a month, but from last Wednesday until the opening on Friday, worked at the cottage until the early hours of the morning, adding loving care to their authentic arrangements.
Mrs. D. Whitten, her sister, Mrs. Grover, Miss Audrey Walsh , Mrs. Nell Elliott, Mr And Mrs. G. Huggins and Mr Brian Mullens assisted those in charge of rooms.
Floral arrangements were by Mrs Joan Norbury.
So great was the response to requests for historical articles that three other rooms have been filled with displays of documents, photographs and indigenous items by, Mr. Mark Wierbowski.
Among them are a gold pan with quartz, the flagpole from the Doncaster Tower, aboriginal implements dug up on local properties, a lace making machine, spinning wheel, Mrs. Schramm"s pen and-- weird remedies for horse ailments written in copperplate.
1967 Source Unknown
Historical Howlers
Comments of some of the 500 school children who saw the historical display at Schramm's Cottage as part of the Doncaster and Templestowe Festival of Arts could make history themselves.
Examining a century old double ended infant feeding bottle, one child declared "It must be for twins".
Of a patchwork quilt, another commented;"That must be very old, look at all the patches in it".
A hymn playing music box brought the request "Would you turn the volume up please?"
A clothes iron with chimney for the escape of smoke from the hot coke inside was knowingly described by a woman visitor to her friend:" I remember them. You put meat in the bottom and it comes out the top as sausages."
More than 1,500 people went through the cottage in 10 days. It was the most applauded section of the festival.
Receipts were $194.Most of the money will go to the steering committee to help offset losses in other spheres. Virtually the only expenditure was on the cottage display was insurance.
1967 Source Unknown
Don't miss it this time.
Those interested in pioneer homes will have another opportunity to see inside Pastor Schramm's cottage, on August 2.
The Doncaster -Templestowe Historical Society will hold it's meeting that night, at 8 pm.,in the drawing room of the cottage, which adjoins the City Hall.
Those in possession of old letters or other written relics relevant to the history of the cottage who are willing to lend them to the society for copying and return may now do so. At Wednesday's meeting a "Know your city" discussion will be held.
1967 Source Unknown
A love of dolls and history.
Mrs. Judith Leaney, of Lower Templestowe, loves dolls and history and a combination of the two give her a satisfying hobby.
Mrs Leaney has a collection of 60 period dolls, some of which she dresses herself.
She shows her collection and gives talks on the history of the dolls for charity and to schools and clubs.
Mrs. Leaney, who was a history teacher before her marriage, says that most people don't realise that until the middle of the last century there were no baby dolls.
Originally dolls were replicas of grown women dressed in fancy costumes, she said.
She has dolls made of china, wax, celluloid, cloth, wood and an old German doll with a tin head.
Pictures show Mrs Leaney, left, with a doll, sent by a friend in New Zealand, which she has dressed as a debutante of the early 1900s, and above Mrs. Leaney with her children, Jennifer 4, and David 2, and Monique, a French child doll dressed in clothes of the 1890s
Source Unknown 26 Apr 1967
A century of use
At the Historical display at Schramm's Cottage, Mrs. L .Webster and Claire Seppings, four, are adjusting a 100 year old bedspread on a bed loaned by Mrs.Winnie Zerbe from Goodsons old homestead.
Source Unknown
PHOTOGRAPHED AT THE FIRST MAYORAL BALL>
Banks of shrubs and massed yellow chrysanthemums greeted 500 guests who attended the first Mayoral Ball given by the Mayor and Mayoress of the newly proclaimed City of Doncaster and Templestowe at the Kew City Hall last Thursday night, May 4.
The stage was transformed into a garden setting with tall gums and pinetrees in the background--beautiful bright yellow chrysanthemums were massed in the foreground and the fresh white fence, with the miniature water fall behind, helped to make the scene truy realistic.
The curator of the City of Doncaster and Templestowe designed the setting.
To a fanfare of trumpets, the six entrants in the proclamation princess quest entered, and the mayor Cr.K. S. Shepherd presented the two runners up, Cherie Salter and Marlene Marks, with silver medallions.
The winning princess, Miss Pam Tully, who was sponsored by the Doncaster auxilliary of the Box Hill and District Hospital, and raised the grand total of $1,300, was presented with a gold medallion.
The mayoress, Mrs.K.S.Shepherd looked elegant in her bone embossed brocade gown, with its gold and bronze beaded bodice.
Official guests included Mr. W.V. Houghton MLC, member for the new Templestowe province, and Mrs.Houghton who wore an oyster Thai Silk frock with a crystal and pearl beaded neckline. Mr.W.R.Garrett, MLC.and Mrs Garrett whose Oyster satin gown was embroided with grey, silver and bronze flowers, and Mr. George Reid , MLA, and Mrs. Reid whose blue satin gown was trimmed at the neckline with blue satin flowers and pearls.
The chairman of the Board of Works, Mr. Alan Croxford was accompanied by his wife, whose aqua Thai silk frock featured crystal and pearl beading.
Other guests included Cr.L. Cameron and Mrs. Cameron who wore a blue crepe frock with a beaded neckline, Cr.R. Harle and Mrs. Harle in a midnight blue A line frock with self coloured beading, Cr. Rush and Mrs. Rush, who wore a champagne gold embossed brocade frock and full length coat, Cr. M. Williams and Mrs. Williams who was wearing a gold top embossed with black flowers and a black concertina pleated skirt, Cr.K. Mckay and Mrs McKay, whose white Thai silk frock had a swathed chiffon bodice finished at the waist with a teal velvet sash, Cr.A. Kelly and Mrs. Kelly in a chintzy sand guipure lace, beaded top and a heavy white corded silk skirt.
Source Unknown
Cr.K.Remington and Mrs.Remington, whose lemon chiffon frock had a silk braid embroidered bodice, Cr. B.Elms and Mrs. Elms who wore a taupe skirt with a bronze evening top, Cr.D. White and Mrs. White, who wore a high necked salmon pink and silver brocade gown which featured short bell sleeves. Cr. G. and Mrs. Watson whose slim fitting emerald green frock was trimmed at the neckline with flowers of the same material, and Cr. Hardidge and Mrs.Hardidge who wore a pale blue silver brocade gown.
The wife of the Town Clerk, Mrs. J. Thompson chose blue French brocade which was embroidered with aqua and crystal beads.
Source Unknown. 1967
SHADES OF A CITY'S PAST.
Schramm's Cottage, Doncaster, classified "C" by the National Trust of Victoria, is a "natural" for a folk museum to house relics of the city's pioneering days.
Dating back to the early 1860's, it is built of local stone from Ruffey's Creek.
To celebrate Doncaster and Templestowe's elevation to city status in March, the interior of the cottage was furnished in the style of the last century.
More than 4,500 visitors passed through the cottage in the 10 days it was on display, 1,000 in the first 10 hours.
In 1960 Shramm's cottage was threatened with demolition, but reprieved on a petition of ratepayers.
Its future is uncertain. Subsequently the Historical Society was granted permissive occupancy for the storing of relics and records, but less than a month later Council office staff moved into the building.
The proposed widening of Doncaster Rd casts doubts on whether it can stay in its present site as a museum and Council is unlikely to grant money for restoration until this is known.
Place in pioneer park?
A covenant on its sale to Council some years ago was that it stay where it is but a compromise suggested is that it become part of a future pioneer Garden in the proposed Ruffey'c Creek Park.
At Eltham the Shillinglaw 1859 Settler's Cottage was saved from demolition by public subscription, and ultimately will be open for viewing. Artist Peter Glass, a member of the Preservation Committee, says it is hoped to display in the cottage furnishings and household articles of the period.
Many interesting and some quite rare items have been given for this purpose.
Publication of a book of recipes and anecdotes titled "The Flavour of Eltham, raised most of the money needed for the Shillinglaw fund .Over 7,500 copies were sold.
Regional folk museums in Bundoora Park and elsewhere would be visited and
photographed by thousands, especially if they were housed in historic cottages of early brick or bluestone.
Schramm's Cottage, in Doncaster Road Doncaster.
Doncaster Mirror 3 May 1967
PUPILS OF 81 YEARS AGO
The two photographs are of combined grades 1,2 and 3(above)and 4, 5 and 6 (below) at Warrandyte (Anderson's Creek)State School in about 1886.
Parents and grandparents particularly may remember some of the boys and girls in the picture and many of the names are still connected with the area.
Only four boys have been identified in the picture of the junior grades. They are Vernon Thomas (seated third from left), his brother Rhys on his left and next to him Arthur Berry.
The boy on the far right of the picture is Robert Belzer, father of Mr. Ron Belzer, the Warrandyte Taxi proprieter.
In the senior class the children are, front row left to right, Fred Bradley, Tom Logan, Bert Lewis, Jack Cargill, Jack Thomas, George Sloane, Alf Tindall, Henry Belzer and George Ellis. Back row, left to right, Mrs Lewis, wife of the teacher, Eva belzer, Dora Ayton, Beth Thomas, Ettie Hutchison, Lizzie Holloway and the teacher Mr.Lewis.
The pictures are reproduced from two sepia enlargements of original dageurreotypes taken in 1886 and those named were identified by Mr. Vernon Thomas who still lives in Warrandyte.
The school itself was built of local stone with a stringy bark shingle roof and was already 30 years old when these photos were taken. About 30 years after these photos were taken a porch and classroom were added extending out where the children were standing.
The photographer was facing west looking across Pound Bend Road. and the track which can be seen to the left at rear is Melbourne Hill Rd.
The yellow box gum tree standing in the immediate background still stands today on the other side of Forbes St. and it is believed that the school bell was once installed in its branches.The little white cottage which can be seen behind Mr. Lewis belonged to the Stight's and was surrounded by vineyards.
Source Unkown 26 Apr 1967
FINN'S PUB AT RUFFEY'S CREEK?- Councillor 1967
" I would have liked to see a folk museum established on Finn's Reserve, but the local Progress Association are opposed to attracting people to the area ".
However a site could be set aside on Ruffey's Creek Reserve for a historical museum, to which Shramm's Cottage, Finn's Hotel and other historical buildings could be removed.
Cr. Morrie Williams told council this at Monday night's meeting of the Doncaster and Templestowe Council.
He said that the Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society deserved the highest praise for their interest in wanting to preserve Finn's.
"I hope that they will sufficiently arouse public opinion in our city to encourage this council to maintain our cultural and historical heritage for generations to come." Cr. Williams said.
The Ruffey's Creek Reserve will cost this council millions of dollars before it is is finished ,40% of which will be borne by the Templestowe ward.I for one want to see it earning money and a folk museum would be the ideal way.
Source Unkown 1967
FINN'S PUB TO BE MOVED? 1967
Finn's Hotel could be moved to Ruffey's Creek Reserve to become part of a folk museum. Shramm's cottage would be included.
Cr. Morris Williams presented to the Doncaster and Templestowe Council on Monday night a proposal that would protect the future of the two historic buildings. He said the reserve would cost millions of dollars before it was completed and he wanted to see it earning money.
A folk museum would help to offset the cost.
Ruffey's Creek Reserve could become a world famous tourist attraction if council went about things the right way.He praised the Historical Society for its interest in wanting to preserve Finn's Hotel.
The society has informed council that a sub committee will investigate the the preservationof Finn's Hotel.
Council was asked to postpone the demolition of the building until the committee presented a full report.
Council will inform the society that if sufficient funds are raised to move the hotel buildings it will provide a suitable site for its re-erection. But it will not contribute to costs.
East Yarra News 10 May 1967
HISTORIANS READY TO MOVE IN ON FINN'S HOTEL.
"When Ned goes out we go in".
This is how Historical Society President, Mr. Frank Rogan, describes latest moves in the "Save Finn's Pub" drama in Doncaster and Templestowe.
Mr. Rogan outlined problems associated with the restoration of the hotel at the Historical Society's annual meeting last week.
Finn's Upper Yarra Hotel, at Templestowe, is under threat of demolition and the Council has obtained an eviction order against occupants, Mr Ned Finn and his relatives.
Council has given the Historical Society the right to enter the hotel, when it is vacated, to examine, search for and collect historical relics.
The Council has has also agreed to postpone demolition until the Historical Society, aided by experts from the National Trust of Victoria, thoroughly investigates the prospect of restoration.
Face Reality.
"There has been a great deal of emotionalism about Finn's Hotel, but we must face reality", Mr Rogan said.
"There is no doubt it should be saved, but there is considerable doubt whether this can be done."
The rear of the building is said to be in poor condition. If restoration is possible, the Historical Society will obtain two costings- one for restoration on the spot, and one for restoration elsewhere.
If the hotel can be saved the Society will sponsor a public meeting to form a Finn's Upper Yarra Hotel Public Trust.
Mr Rogan told the meeting that this would be far too big a project for the Historical Society alone.
If undertaken at all, it would have to be by the public,chiefly, but not exclusively of this area.
Minimum estimated cost of restoration is said to be $20,000.
Office bearers elected at the meeting were: President Mr. F.Rogan: vice president: Cr. Les Cameron, Secretary: Mrs Muriel Green, Treasurer: Mr. J. Hobill: committee Mesdames W. Latimer, A.Poulter, V Rush, E.Seppings and J. Webster, Messrs Eric Collyer and Co.and E.G.Keogh.
Source Unknown
Finn's Pub-One of the Many
Mr MACDONALD ROBY,of Ivanhoe, and Miss JAN PICOT, of East Ivanhoe, were visitors at the opening of the Doncaster and Templestowe City's Festival of Arts. Here they study one of the many paintings of Finn's Hotel which seemed to have captured the imagination of local artists.
Doncaster Mirror 24 May 1967
An artist and his subject.
Geoffery Watson,18, of Atkinson Street, Templestowe, could be one of the last to paint Finn's Upper Yarra Hotel. Geoff, still at school, took up painting 12 months ago as a hobby. He has spent his holidays putting the finishing touches to the painting.
Source Unknown
Looters on Finn's.
The ashes of Finn's Upper Yarra Hotel were still warm when looters moved in on Monday morning.
The historic 125 years old brick and timber building was gutted by fire late on Sunday night.
About 30 men from 6 brigades fought the blaze.
Heidelberg C.I.B.and the Arson squad are investigating the cause of the fire.
The hotel which had been delicenced for many years, was recently aquired by Doncaster and Templestowe Council to make way for road works.
The occupants of the hotel- Miss Marie Finn and her brothers, Ned and Andrew- are said to have vacated the premisis earlier that day.
Several approaches had been made to council to preserve the building.
The Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society was attempting to raise funds to remove and restore the hotel.
Souvenirs.
As news of the fire spread on Monday morning dozens of onlookers flocked to the scene. Many came looking for souvenirs of the historic building. The firemen left on duty after the fire, caught one souvenir hunter removing the locks from the front door.
Another was detected searching the ashes for the brass door knocker which she said had been promised to her by Mr. Ned Finn.
One even ripped the copper tubing from a burnt out refrigerator and took it away in the boot of his car.
Torn down.
Soon after the arson squad finished its investigations council workmen used a truck to tear down the remains of the building which were considered dangerous.
After the building came down members of the Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society sifted the debris for items of historic value.
Society members have also arranged to collect many of the handmaid bricks which formed part of the original building.
Source Unknown
Geoffrey, the student painter on the front page, has almost completed his workon the subject before him.
East Yarra News 31 May 1967
ALL THAT"S LEFT OF LANDMARK.
FINN'S HOTEL as it stands today-A gutted, desolute ruin. The interior was burnt out, leaving only a charred shell and the original brick work which is believed to be beyond restoration.
Source Unknown
Finn's pub lives on in stoneware glaze.
Where there's smoke there's fire, and where there's fire there could be an exciting new stoneware glaze for Doncaster potter Mrs. Jean Shore.
WHAT's SO SPECIAL about this bowl?,asks Ming, the cat,as he sniffs inquisitivly at the unique piece of pottery his mistress, Mrs. Jean Shore, has produced.
Mrs Shore, of Walker St.,Doncaster, glazed the bowl with ashes from the remains of Templestowe's historic Finn's Pub.
When Templestowe's historic hotel burnt down early this year Mrs.Shore raced to the ruins and with ashes salvaged from under the nose of a bulldozer, glazed some of the bowls and vases she is exhibiting this week at a contemporary art exhibition to aid the St.John's children's homes.
Mrs. Shore exhibited for a time at Potter's Cottage Warrandyte, but now works an electrically fired kiln under her kitchen.
Proceeds from the contempory exhibition of art and pottery will go to East Doncaster cottage as well as other homes.
It will open at the Canterbury Homes, Balwyn Rd.this Friday, with a preview and dinner.
Other local exhibitors include Marjorie Beecham, who won the pottery prize at the Doncaster- Tempestowe Festival of Arts with a mural depicting the growth of the city,and William Ferguson, winner of the major prize.
Source Unknown 28 Jun 1967
TRUST ANSWERS ON FINN'S PUB
Sir,- I thoroughly endorse the remarks of your correspondent, Mrs.E. Fullarton ( Mirror, June7, 1967), concerning Finn's Hotel. However, the criticism of the National Trust is both untimely and unjustified. The task of the Trust is, first of all, to survey and classify historic buildings. This it had done in the case of Finn's by awarding a "D"- "Interesting. Preservation Desirable" classification. The next step is up to the owners or local authorities.
However when the Trust was informed (through the Press) of the intention to demolish Finn's, it took what action it could. Firstly it assured all interested parties of it's support. Secondly the administrator formally interviewed the deputy town clerk ( in the absence of the town clerk ) and confirmed Trust interest. Thirdly it produced it's June Newsletter to feature Finn's. This Newsletter was printed on May25 and distributed on May 29- the day the hotel was burnt down. Arrangements had been made with the city council to send them 50 copies, gratis, for them to use as thought best, and many other copies were ready for distribution to other interested organisations.
In actual fact, the National Trust was never consulted by either the owners of Finn's or the city council concerned. It is still a young organisation and all it's resources are limited. It cannot be everywhere at once, and must rely on owners,civic authorities and the public (particularly the local public) to take the necessary holding measures until the Trust's advice and efforts can be requested and made available.-Rodney Davidson, Chairman, National Trust of Australia. (victoria)
Finn's Hotel, Templestowe, a rare example of a multi storied verandah.
Source Unknown 31 May 1967
Finn's gutted
Source Unknown 27 Sept 1967
FINN'S WORTH $365
The council of Doncaster and Templestowe have received a cheque for $365.95 in full settlement of a claim for Finn's Hotel.
The historic old hotel was destroyed by fire earlier this year.
Council had purched a large area of land on which the hotel stood for park development.
At the beginning of this year council placed an eviction order on the occupants, so that the building could be demolished for the widening of Templestowe Rd.
On the night the occupants left the building it was destroyed. To date work has not commenced on the widening of the road.
Doncaster Mirror 10 May 1967
Early view from tower
This must be one of the earliest photographs of Doncaster Rd., ever taken. It was taken in about 1884 from the first tower, a 160 ft. structure, built by Alfred Hummell.
The buildings on the left are Pastor Max Schramm's cottage, the first state school (now theE.S.&A Bank)
The buildings in the centre of the picture were on the site of the Central Arcade, while on the right is the Church of Christ chapel. Doncaster State School now occupies the foreground.
Doncaster Mirror 16 Aug 1967
"FRIEDENSRUHE"-STORY OF A FAMOUS HOME
For more than a century the kitchens of "Friedensruhe"- historic Doncaster homestead of the Theile family were managed by only two mistresses.
The first was Phillipine, who from 1853 cooked in a stout stone outhouse some distance away from the living quarters. Then followed by her daughter-in-law Minna, who died only a few years ago.
Mr. Eric Collyer, great grandson of early settlers Gottleib and Phillipine Theile, recently recounted to the Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society the story of the historical homestead, (which is classified by the National Trust) from it's primitive beginnings.
Mr. Collyer's mother and Aunt, Miss Elsa Theile, now control the culinary department in a large room with modern appliances.
The original kitchen has gradually been enveloped by additions to form part of the whole house and is in use as a laundry, though it's huge mangle is seldom turned. The two roomed, wattle and daub cottage, built in 1853, is intact and in use as bedrooms, the plaster daub protectively encased by stucco on the outside and wallpaper on the inside.
Over the wooden shingle roof, galvanised iron has been laid, but the shingles can still be seen from within the attic.
From the original verandah -now an internal passageway- can be seen a hole high in the wall. Children climbed a ladder to reach their attic sleeping quarters.
Pumps water.
A well under the house still pumps water.
In the shingle roofed barn is a grain flail, proving that wheat was once grown and harvested on the property.
Frederick Theile, great uncle of Mr.Collyer, and son of Gottleib, was a driving force in supplanting general farming and berry growing by orcharding in Doncaster.
Though his father scoffed that not enough people were in the colony to eat the fruit Fredrick would grow,Fredrick persisted in his belief in the commercial possibilities of fruit trees.
Each time his father was absent from home on a trip to the Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Melbourne Town, Fredrick uprooted grapevines and planted fruit seedlings in their place.
In "self defence" Gottleib sent his son to learn the care and propagation of fruit trees from Mr.H.U.Cole who conducted an experimental nursery in Burnley on the site now known for it's "Skipping girl" sign.
Much of the orchard around "Friedensruhe"has been set aside as part of the Ruffey's Creek municipal parkland development. - Joan Seppings
East Yarra News 20 Sep 1967
HISTORIAN ASKS: WHY WHITE'S CORNER?
The story of White's corner as told by Mr. Irvine Green in an illustrated address at the last meeting of the Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society led members to ask why it should not have been named Serpell's, Lauer's, Tuchebraund's or Gallus' Corner.
For all would have been more appropriate, it was claimed.
If a name is commemorated when the corner site is developed as a modern shopping centre, it should be that of a pioneer who lent colour to Doncaster's history.
White had little to do with any of this.
The store was built in the 1880s by Richard Serpell, a shareholder in the BoxHill-Doncaster tramway which had it's terminus at the corner.
Mr. Green said Lauer the baker, kept a toll gate there at one time.
And Gallus, in 1887 ran the first dairy on the site where horses of the Kew Model Dairy now graze, although he did not buy his first delivery horse until 1918.
Until then the Gallus children delivered milk by hand in billycans before school each day.
Church site?
The corner is also believed to have been the site of Doncaster's first church, built by the Baptists.
With slides made from old photographs and some of his own paintings, Mr. Green took viewers from the Morning Star Hotel at Koonung Creek boundary, past a shingle roofed toll house, Smedley's Forge with a door so low that one had to stoop to enter, the "two storied house" of Tom Petty who produced a whole range of implements to help the orchardist, and then to pause a a while at the home of Dr.Thomas Fitzgerald- now the Eastern Golf Club house.
One of the doctor's grooms was a Shakespearean actor, David Mitchell, father of Nellie Melba, and on this land Melba lived and played as a young girl.
Pastor Shramm.
The E.S.and A. Bank was pictorially peeled of it's enveloping layers of building additions to reveal the first home of Pastor Max Von Shramm as it's core.
This was where he became the first headmaster of the Doncaster State School before moving to the well known stone building where the Historical Society meets.
A little known picture of the original Tower Hotel as a wooden boarding house of 39 rooms and 20 stables was witness to the fact of Doncaster's early popularity as a resort.
After the boarding house was burnt down in 1885, the well known solid structure with arched entrances, part of which still stands, was built and converted to a hotel.
Builder Alfred Hummel claimed that after visitors climbed his 185 ft. oregan tower to see the breathtaking views, they needed more the amenities offered by a hotel than a boarding house, Mr. Green confided to the audience.
Rifle shooting, teenage dances in the upper room of Serpell's corner store, a racecource in a hundred acre paddock behind the Doncaster Arms Hotel (described by the contemporary press as "the most picturesque racecourse in Melbourne")were among the entertainments which drew people to Doncaster.
Horse races.
Before this course was laid, horse races were run up and down the Main Road from the 1860s, between the hotel and the Methodist Church.
They were organised by licensee Robert Wilson, one of the earliest pioneers who named Doncaster after his home town in Yorkshire.
The church itself was shown in its original state- a disused butcher's shop carted from Warrandyte by bullock dray by pioneer Henry White (no relation to the corner of the same name).
At the turn of the century, this building marked the "end of the road".
Beyond the intersection of Doncaster and Blackburn Rds. now equiped with traffic islands and automatic lights, were only rough tracks and a few wattle and daub huts.
The land was poor, so infertile that one old couple, trying to farm at the corner of what are now Doncaster, Mitcham and old Warrandyte Rds., starved to death, and gave that intersection its name- Starvation Corner.
Grew like Topsy.
Unlike Templestowe, Warrandyte and most districts, Doncaster was never officially laid out as a township. It straggled along its main rd.
And when boom times came, as in 1880-90 when the Box Hill train brought subdivision and a doubling population, and as now, it grew like topsy.
East Yarra News 11 Oct 1967
"Pull down cnr.store"
Cr. Harle says it's a traffic hazard.
Doncaster may lose yet another of its historic landmarks.
Cr. Roy Harle wants the old White's Corner Store building demolished because he considers it a traffic hazard.
The building, at the intersection of Doncaster, Williamson's and Tram Rds.,was used as a self-service grocery until a few months ago. It is now unoccupied.
The Box Hill - Doncaster tramway had it's terminus at the corner when the late Mr. Richard Serpell, a shareholder, built the store in the 1880s.
A baker named Lauer once kept a toll gate there.
Cr. Harle said the rearrangement of Elgar Rd.had greatly increased the traffic flow. This was a prerequisite to traffic lights at the intersection.
It would also permit a special lane for motorists turning east from Williamsons Rd.into Doncaster Rd.
This would provide a better road arrangement when traffic lights were installed.
Cr.Les Cameron said during discussion in council that the southeast corner needed attention as well.
He asked the City Engineer, Mr. Fred Andrew, to prepare plans for the intersection.
Doncaster Mirror 1968
One theme was consistent in the story of Doncaster and Templestowe throughout 1968. That was the theme of the district's development " explosion"
The year began with the drought and ended with the council producing its own officially inspired news-sheet at ratepayers expense.
This was to be an organ without dissent in which a choir of councillors could sing of themselves:" For they are jolly good fellows".
But above all, 1968 was Doncaster and Templestowe's first full year as a city.
JANUARY
The theme of development was reflected in the very first issue of the Doncaster-East Yarra News. Business interests behind three big supermarket projects had been told to go ahead with their plans
These were projects planned for White's Corner, a corner of Manningham Rd.and Grant Olsen Ave, and Tunstall Square.
The council had granted permits before going into recess for the holidays.
HUB OF THE CITY
White's Corner development will be the greatest single factor in the development of the city and it's effect on expansion will be almost unlimited.
He believes the opening of White's Corner will force council to solve it's dilemma over Elgar Rd.
It would be quite ridiculous to leave it in it's present state when it will be a main access road from Camberwell and North Balwyn, he says. The same applies to Tram Rd.
He regrets that council has not persued a complete development plan for the corner to make it a real community centre with parks, gardens and lawns.
Melbourne Sun 18 Jun 1968
IN 1926 the Doncaster school swimming team had to train in a dam. Today the school has it's own swimming pool.Here at the pool with a picture of that 1926 team are young historians (from left) Alison Prowse, Bruce Bell, Ross Cornell and Brent Borrell.
Melbourne Sun 18 Jun 1968
The Sun 18 June 1968
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
History is fun when you are helping to make it.
That's what children are finding out in schools throughout the State.
They are part of a project involving thousands of adults and children
to write a three volume history of the Education Department.
The Department wants the history completed for it's centenary year in 1972.
Every school in Victoria is searching it's records to compile its own history.
It involves about 5400 schools. Some schools, such as those on old gold diggings, no longer exist.
Pupils at several schools have organized their own junior historical associations
The school that has done the most research so far is Doncaster East State School, in Blackburn Rd., which still has its original buildings of 1886 as part of the school.
The 40 children in grade six have assembled a large collection of old documents, photos, maps,textbooks and badges.
The children got most of their information from interviewing old residents.
The family of 11 year old Julie White settled in the area about 100 years ago.
Her best source of facts was her great aunt: Mrs Alice Henderson, 75, who attended the same school.
Mrs Henderson visited the school to see what the children had collected.
She smiled when she saw the old school bell again.
HAD TO RUN
"It could be heard for miles and I always knew when I was late for school and when to start running",said Mrs Henderson, who had to walk 3 miles to school each day.
Mr Edgar Seppings, the school historian, said:"We found a lot of interesting books under the school, where former students had apparently pushed them through cracks in the floor.
"Some of the text books we have got date back to the 1880s and there is a School Paper for 1912.
The children have enjoyed doing this and I think we will keep the club running after the work for this project is finished."
The person who will edit the collcted materials is Mr Les Blake, chairman of the State Education History Committee.
He said:"The historian-teacher at each school will submit a summary of the school's findings to 50 district committees. Then it will go to 14 regional editors.
A lot of people will be working many long hours before the project is finished."
He said two education department officials were working full time in the State archives and the La Trobe library supplying information to the schools.
REPORT; IAN ANDERSON
PICTURES; JOHN CLASPER
Melbourne Sun 18 Jun 1968
It's all there, Susan Ferriman is surrounded by historical material collected about Doncaster East State School.
Melbourne Sun 18 Jun 1968
Schoolgirl of 1903 Mrs Alice Henderson, talks to schoolgirl of 1968 Julie White about the old school bell.
Melbourne Sun 18 Jun 1968
School historian Mr Seppings and some of his researchers with material they found under the school building.
Unknown 2 Jul 1968
Buggy now part of our history.
Many children accompanied members of the Doncaster- Templestowe Historical Society who visited a collection of early Australiana at Croydon on June 22.
The secretary of the Society Mrs.Muriel Green, said that this type of collection provided the only opportunity the coming generation would have to actually see horse drawn vehicles and other early means of travel.
One small boy pointed to the first buggy he had seen."Look at the big wheel chair," he said.
The collection, owned by Mr. Gavin Ladson, must be one of the biggest in Victoria.
It is contained in five Nissen huts, house cars, and tractors, and includes household articles, ancient "mod cons", pieces of architecture saved from demolished buildings, articles of clothing, toys and thousands of old newspapers and magazines.
One hut is filled entirely with brass and copper ware, music boxes and ancient photographs.
Doncaster Mirror 17 Jul 1968
It won't look like this for long.
A busy $12 million regional shopping centre, Doncaster Shopping town, will dominate this intersection by the end of 1969.The rural look is misleading , the intersection is hazardous for vehichles and pedestrians.
The brick building, from which "White's Corner" gets its name, has been a landmark for generations. It is soon to be demolished to make way for a six lane highway which will make the setting of this picture only a memory.
The road construction and work on the new shopping centre will make the Doncaster- Williamson's Rds. intersection a hive of activity in the months ahead.
The early history association of the old building with the pioneering days of Doncaster will not be lost entirely. Westfield Corporation, builders of the shopping Centre, plans to set up a permanent historical display with the co-operation of the historical societies of the district.
Both highway and shopping centre, which will occupy 30 acres, are scheduled to be completed late in 1969.
Unknown 14 Aug 1968
The death occurred on July 30 of Mrs.Hilda Susannah Mundy, wife of the late Henry Arthur Mundy, she was 87.
Mrs. Mundy's parents Mr. and Mrs.W.A.Pullen were among the early settlers in Templestowe. In 1907 she married Henry Mundy and went to live at "Glendessary",Templestowe. In 1918 they moved to "Stella Park" Templestowe.
Mrs Mundy was foundation president of Templestowe Christ Church of England Ladies Guild a foundation member of the Templestowe State School Mothers'Club, and also among those who worked for the establishment of the Templestowe Memorial Hall.
In the early days of her marriage, Mrs. Mundy used to drive a jinker to Clifton Hill each week to do the weekly shopping and to visit her mother.
She had 8 children - Hedley, Adelaide (mrs. C. Clinton), Ada(Mrs C. Oliver), Eileen (Mrs.C.Houghton), Robert, Margery (Mrs. N.Fayer),Mavis (Mrs. K. Macaulay),and Sylvie ( Mrs Hicking).
After a service at Christ Church Of England, Templestowe , the funeral went to Templestowe Cemetery.
Doncaster Mirror 14 Aug 1968
Giant earth moving machines are busy flattening the old historic orchards of Doncaster to make way for the big Westfield shopping complex at White's corner. ( SN40 )
Doncaster Mirror 27 Aug 1968
Out with the past -- in with the new.
The old store at White's Corner, for many years a landmark, will soon be only a memory.
IT is being demolished to make room for road widening that will give better access to the Westfield Corporation's $12 million shopping development.
Left , the old store pictured on Friday in an advanced stage of demolition.
Already the framework of a building underlines the vast changes that will occur when the new centre swings into action towards the end of next year.
Picture above shows initial framework and extent of siteworks . Centre will incorporate Myers, McEwans, Waltons, Coles, Dickens. Split level centre will be 970ft long. A restaurant in a seven story tower will give customers a view of the city and Port Phillip Bay.
Doncaster Mirror 10 Oct 1968
$12 million " Doncaster Shopping Town "in 1969
This is the new look planned for White's Corner, Doncaster. Work began last week on the first stage of the $12 million air conditioned regional shopping centre, to be known as "Doncaster Shopping Town".
The vast project is expected to be completed late next year.
The centre will cover 30 acres with 370 square feet of enclosed shopping area. It includes a 3 story department store for the Myer Emporium with provision for a fourth floor, a Dicken's Supermart, Walton's, McEwan's and 75 specialty stores.
The building will feature a seven story tower to accomodate professional offices.
There will be car parking for 2,700, a covered bus station and a taxi rank.
Planning of the centre has taken into account the widening of Doncaster and Williamson's roads to six lane highways.The completion of the roadworks is scheduled to coincide with the completion of the centre.
The preparation of the site in itself is an immense task. Big machines will shift 270,000 cubic yards of earth to landscape the area. The Westfield Corporation which is in charge of the project, intends to use as much local labour as possible.
Westfield has built 18 suburban shopping centres in N.S.W.
The "Shopping Town"at Doncaster will cater for local activities . A spokes person said this week that the company was particularly interested in setting up an exhibit of historical interest, with which the district abounds.
He said he would be glad to hear from any people or committee which might have suitable material.
Unknown 12 Nov 1968
Westfield taking shape.
Progress on the big Westfield shopping project at White's Corner is well on schedule. Pictured is portion of the Myer section of the complex where work has started on the third floor above the ground level. The tower building is also rising rapidly and already the complex can be seen from many miles. Construction is expected to be finished next September. (S.N.)
Unknown
Home for "ladies"- sanctuary for birds.
SPINSTER'S WILL SETS PUZZLE
Doncaster and Templestowe City Council may investigate further the implications of a will made in 1959 before it agrees to use a large property in Doncaster Rd.as a home for elderly women.
The Church of England Trusts Corporation, acting for the Diocese of Melbourne, had also asked that land east of the dwelling be used as a bird sanctuary and for the growth and preservation of Australian native trees and shrubs.
Under the terms of the will of the late Miss A.A. Goodson the three and a half acre acre property known as Mt Edgecombe is understood to have been bequeathed to the Church for these two uses.
But the chairman of the Town Planning Committee, Cr Roy Harle, said at the last meeting of the Council that this information was insufficient under the terms of the Act.
Council denied his request that a copy of the will be attatched to the application. Instead, the will is to be made available for inspection at the Municipal Offices by those who may object to the application. Cr. Harle said in some respects the will was unusual.
He understood it was the late owner's wish that the property be used as a home for refined elderly ladies and that such ladies should be born either in England or Scotland.
Moreover, they should not have been reduced to poor cicumstances through drinking, gambling or bad living.
There were also conditions that those selected must be non drinkers, non smokers and non gamblers and that they must not be Communist, Fascist or Roman Catholic.
Won't insist?
He did not think the Church of England would insist on all the terms of the will being carried out,however.
A Council report on the application says the use of portion of the land for a home for elderly women is not considered to be the best use from the viewpoint of the future occupants or when considering the possible future development of the adjoining land.
But the proposal to create a sanctuary on the land to the East has considerable merit whether or not the elderly women's home is established.
Unknown
COUNCIL TO MOVE IN ON COTTAGE?
Use of Schramm's Cottage to accommodate a section of the Engineering Staff would be a retrograde step, Cr. Ken May told colleagues at a council meeting last week. He was commenting on a proposal to house in two large rooms of the cottage additional staff required to cope with private street schemes because of lack of space in the municipal offices.
Cr.Roy Harle said the council staff was not expanding, but exploding.
When the present offices were planned a few years ago business consultants were asked to advise on the office space needed, he said.
Their prediction was wrong and the buildings had to be altered before they were completed.
The private streets programme had exceeded all expectations and more staff was needed to administer the schemes.
Because there was not enough room in the municipal offices this staff had to be housed in the nearest available space.
This was Schramm's Cottage
He agreed relics of the past had to be preserved, but said council also had to think of the future.
Cr. Viv Rush suggested council engage staff before moving into Schramm's Cottage again. He said difficulty had been experienced in the past in getting the necessary staff.
The Mayor, Cr. Stan Shepherd, agreed it was a retrograde step, but council had burst it's seems again and room had to be found.
Unknown
SAVE COTTAGE PLEA TO CRB
Doncaster-Templestowe Council has asked the Country Roads Board to contribute to the cost of moving Schramm's Cottage when Doncaster Road is widened at that point.
Schramm's Cottage, the 19th century pioneer home adjacent to the municipal offices, has been classified "C"- worthy of preservation- by the National Trust of Victoria.
Country Roads Board plans for the widening of Doncaster Rd. show the new alignment of the pavement to be only 8 inches from the wall of the cottage.
The foundations protrude 6 inches from the base of the walls.
Minimum set-back for houses in the City of Doncaster and Templestowe is 25 feet.
Homes affected by widening projects within the city previously have been required to move back to 15 feet from the new alignment.
Once the permanent site of the cottage is known, the Doncaster-Templestowe Historical Society hopes to furnish it as a Folk Museum, and gradually restore the old home.
Experts say the only way it could be safely moved would be to dismember it stone by stone and number these for re-erection, as was done with Captain Cook's Cottage and others---a costly process.
Unknown
Plan to beautify cottage.
Schramm's Cottage, the century old home in Doncaster Rd., of pioneer teacher Pastor Max von Schramm, will have it's surroundings restored to those of an old world garden, if the Doncaster-Templestowe Historical Society is given permission by Council.
It has written to Council, asking for permission to discuss a landscaping plan with the curator. Century old camellia bushes have been offered from the garden of the nearby old Goodson home, and trustee Mrs. Nell Elliot has offered the society the use of a bulldozer if transplanting is found to be practicable.
If anyone has a hand pump, such as those used to draw water from house wells, the society would like it to fit it in the garden plan. Secretary, Mrs I. Green (842 1847) would be glad to arrange it's collection.
Unknown
He wants it for folk museum.
Schramm's Cottage would be ideally suited as a folk museum, a member of the National Trust said last week.
Mr Noel Goss, a Trust Council member, was speaking to the Doncaster- Templestowe Historical Society.
Preservation of the historic buiding would have important consequences not only for the present day community, but for those who would follow, he said.
Mr. Goss hoped that in 2067 the cottage with it's restful symmetry would still be a reminder of the past.
It was one of the few Victorian buildings possessing the clear, squarecut stonework and a type of architectural shape that were already on their way out before the birth of the colony, he said.
Weekly Times
Move to have old cottage re-erected.
Dear Miranda.- As a member of the Doncaster-Templestowe Historical Society for some years, I thought you might be interested in a display we are holding at Schramm's Cottage, Doncaster Rd. It will continue until February 27.
Pastor Schramm's cottage, which was built in the 1870's is classified "C' by the National Trust, but must be pulled down to make way for the widening of Doncaster Rd. near Shopping -town.
We wish to re-erect this historic home in another position later on and are holding the display to raise money for this gigantic tasc.
the cottage is to have one room decorated as a Victorian living room, one as a Victorian child's nursery and toyroom (this is my particular task)
and the other rooms will be full of photographs of the early orchards, blacksmith shops and the past.
There will also be a room devoted to relics of the early gold diggings of Warrandyte.
My doll collecting is coming along slowly. The old dolls are difficult to obtain these days as there are so many folk collecting them now.
"Bush Banksia"
(Vic.)
Unknown
He knows , but can't tell all.
" If I told you all the things I've learnt about Doncaster East State School in searching for it's history, I could be facing a libel," Mr. Edgar Seppings, a local teacher, told the Doncaster-Templestowe Historical Society.
"There was a teacher who was dismissed by the Education Department, another who burnt the school records, even trouble after the burning of an effigy," he said.
During the troubled times preceeding the dismissal action , many parents kept their children at home, so disturbed were they over the conduct of the school.
When a replacement teacher was appointed --a young enthusiastic fellow-- he rode around the district on a"new fangled" motor cycle, knocking on doors and begging parents to send their children back to school. Six months later he was dead.
It was during the First World War. The teacher, who had enlisted, contracted a fatal disease before he saw service.
Many of the anecdotes told and relics displayed were brought to light by present pupils who are helping Mr. Seppings compile the history for the coming centenary of State Education. They had canvassed the district for information.
Biggest haul was a suitcase full of old school books, school papers and other items from Mrs. Emma Atkinson (nee Ubergang).
Mr. Seppings said the task of researcher for the Doncaster East school had been made more difficult because many records and files had been burnt or thrown out during over-zealous clean-ups.
The only official school record in existence before 1945 was an inventory of the toolshed.
The attitude of the Education Department to the head teacher had changed since the days when one had been billed for the cost of clearing the grounds.
Anticipating departmental approval for a request for removal of some trees, he had tried to save public money by having the work done by a contractor already working at the school. The account was finally paid by the department.
Doncaster East School, No, 2096, now situated at the corner of George St. and Blackburn Rd., began life as the Deep Creek school, in 1877, at the corner of Reynolds Rd. and Andersons Creek Rd.
Unknown 15 Apr 1969
Local Society hosts regional meeting.
The Memorial Hall, Templestowe, was decorated with shrubs, flowers and large baskets of apples and pears for the meeting last week of the Eastern Suburbs Regional Group of Historical Societies, hosted by Doncaster and Templestowe.
There was a collection of dolls dating back to the early 1800s and in the supper room was a large display of historical items collected by the children of the East Doncaster State School.
Many large photographs of the area as it was years ago and a model of the proposed Botanic Garden Reserve and White's Corner were also displayed.
Official guests included the Attorney General and local M.L.A. for Box Hill, Mr.G.O. Reid and Mrs. Reid, the Mayor of Doncaster and Templestowe, Cr.R.A.Harle and Mrs. Harle, vice President of the Royal Historical Society, Mr. Harley Foster and members from historical societies at Camberwell, Box Hill, Nunawading ,Croydon, Ringwood, Lilydale and Knox.
Mrs. Muriel Green, secretary of the Doncaster and Templestowe Society, gave an interesting lecture on pioneer women of the district, illustrated with colour slides.
Under the direction of Mr. Edgar Seppings, headteacher at East Doncaster State School, some of the school children dramatised two episodes from Mrs. Green's short incidents in the lives of early settlers, Mary Anne and John Chivers and James and Annie Read.
Mr. Reid expressed appreciation of Mrs. Green's address."I think also", he said,"it was fitting that the school children taking part in the tableaux should have been given a part in this meeting, because it is important that young people carrying on the traditions of the district, should be given an active part in the events of the past".
East Yarra News 13 May 1969
Honor for Colonel Keogh.
For his services to the history of the city, Col.E.G.Keogh was elected the first honorary life member of the Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society at it's annual meeting last week.
Col. Keogh, who had been senior vice president of the society, resigned because of the pressure of duties to Legacy and Civil Defence.
He has recently completed writing the official history of the district,which is in the hands of council, preparatory to publication.
East Yarra News 13 May 1969
Dolls have quite a history
by Joan Seppings
The most famous doll collector in the world was a man- a New York industrial magnate- Mrs.R. Leaney, well known collector from Templestowe,
said last week at Doncaster.
Mrs. Leaney was speaking on the history of dolls, to the Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society at it's annual meeting in Schramm's Cottage.
Some of the earliest doll like figures had been found in graves in India, she said.
Although these had been found in the graves of children,they had proved to be not toys, but sacred images, known as the "answerers", for the dead child.
Ancient images were sometimes passed on to children to play with, however, after their religious signifigance had faded.
In China and Japan, toy figures had been made for centuries, depicting ritual dancers or children performing traditional tasks.
Nuts, Husks and apples
In poor and primitive areas dolls were made from whatever raw materials were easily obtainable, she said.
A knotted handkerchief or a painted bone was often craddled in a child's arms.
In various parts of America, dolls heads had been fashioned from hickory nuts, from corn husks, or dried apples
These apple head dolls always looked like old people. An apple would be set beside the fire stove for a month, gradually shrivelling until its wrinkled skin resembled the weatherworn features of country folk. A body and limbs were added from pulped and stiffened dough.
Mrs. Leaney showed samples of these dolls from her collection.
Nurse on a Sunday.
It was not until celluloid had been invented that life like dolls were much played with by small children, she pointed out.
The original "Barbie"
When the fashion they wore was "out", they would be passed on to some wealthy child- to become the original "Barbie".
Dolls displayed which drew nostalgic sighs were kewpies, "Tin heads", and a cloth doll, popular once in country districts when her design was printed on sugar bags.
Mrs. Leaney who hopes to write a book on early Australian dolls, says she is finding information scarce on purely local toys.
Most of those coming to the early settlements were French or German imports, she has found so far.
Anyone with a story to tell of a typical Australian doll may contact her at 850-4419.
The dolls of last century, with heads made of wax or china, were so fragile a little girl lucky enough to own one would perhaps be permitted to nurse it for one hour on Sunday only.
Because of this extreme care more examples of these dolls have survived than will those of the present day, she believes.
Many 19th century dolls were not originally made as playthings at all, but by fashion houses to advertise their model designs to copyists
These china figures immaculately dressed,would be shipped carefully from Paris to England, complete with small trunk of accessories.
Unknown 1969
TRUST BID TO SAVE HOUSE
The National Trust is to reopen its fight to save from demolition a century-old house at Doncaster.
Pastor Schramm's house in Main Rd. has been classified "C" by the Trust-an original building worthy of preservation.
The current issue of the trust newsletter says plans by Doncaster and Templestowe City Council to widen Main Rd.will mean demolition of the house.
"The council has had an estimate for removing the house to another site but it feels that the cost of $20,000 is excessive unless interested parties are willing to put up money", the newsletter says .
Plans to demolish the house 10 years ago were dropped by the council after strong opposition from local residents and the National Trust.
The rough cast stone house was built by Pastor Max von Schramm soon after his arrival in Melbourne in 1853.
The Doncaster and Templestowe Town Clerk Mr. J.W.Thomson, said last night he expected the house to be demolished early next year.
" Council has already called tenders and hopes to get work started as soon as possible", he said.
Mr. Thomson said the building had not been used as a home for about 8 years and was used only occasionally as a meeting place for the Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society.
"Traffic has increased by more than 6000 vehichles a day along Main Rd. since the council last dropped demolition plans,"he said.
Mr.Thomson said the council would allow the building to be moved from the site by anyone who could raise the necessary money.
Unknown 1969
Save Shramm's Cottage
"It would be better to re-inter the stones of Shramm's into the quarry from whence they came rather than for any man to presume to re-enact the love of craftmanship so obviously devoted to this building", says Mr. Horace J. Tribe in a plea to save the cottage from the ravages of road widening.The century-old building is considered worthy of classification by the National Trust. Mr.Tribe, an architect and town planner says.
The CRB and Doncaster and Templestowe Council share the joint responsibility of exhausting every alternative before proceeding with road widening proposals that threaten the existence or stability of Shramm's Cottage.
As a practical solution the simple expedient of dividing inward and outgoing traffic into separate two lane streams would guarantee the permanent stability of the cottage and save the giant trees that are so much a part of its environment.
Comparative costing of all aspects of this proposal, including a fair allocation for avoiding the disruption, dangers and delays to traffic-experienced at Wetherby Rd.- could undoubtedly favour the alternative.
One aspect alone, namely the proposal to move the building stone by stone after numbering and reversing the process to another chosen site, would be a fantastically costly undertaking.
Has the cost of a similar process been investigated for Captain Cook's Cottage which has been cited as a precedent !?
Worthy as the spirit of this munificent donation to Victoria was at the time, it is not a good precedent to quote because Cook's Cottage is nothing really but a reconstructed museum piece transplanted into a foreign environment, with it's original aura remaining on England's soil.
Mr Tribe's plan shows how inward and outgoing traffic would by pass the cottage and create an attractive civic centre.
A landscaped civic centre.
Favourable aspects of the suggested alternative which cannot be matched by the planned proposal are :
*the space to the south of the cottage would be enlarged rather than reduced.
*The resulting island of garden and trees measuring 300 feet by 100 feet would create a shady precinct for elderly shoppers and visitors.
*Urgently needed and safe U turns, in either direction,could be provided immediately in front of the shops. Less convenient turns would drive customers away from the area.
*The 1000 feet long double converging island system will accommodate about 40 additional parking spaces and safer pedestrian crossings;
* It will unify the whole area from Council St.to Schramm's Reserve as a potential landscaped Civic Centre.
Objections could be raised to the encroachment of one traffic lane by an average 50-60 feet into the Municipal Offices forecourt, but no trees would be lost and 75 feet would be gained on the south side of the cottage in compensation.
The implication that the cottage would have to be moved away, because of infringment of the Council's 25ft. setback requirement for houses, is untenable.
Now Public building
Schramm's has ceased to be a house within the meaning of the law. It is now a public building.
However this question need not arise and the council would be relieved of any embarrassment with the alternative proposal presented.
The question that requires answering is: has the council made sufficiently strong representations to the CRB for saving Schramm's, or has it been more concerned with obtaining a financial allocation for removal in the vain hope of being able to fulfil this removal and reconstruction?
Or is it more likely that the basis is unperturbed official acceptance of the CRB road widening proposals?
These questions must be answered before a hand is laid on those stones or those two trees.
Unknown 1969
CASES ON COTTAGE AND TIP
The largest public gallery seen at Doncaster- Templestowe City Council chambers for a long time attended on Monday night when three deputations put their cases before Council.
ONE DEPUTATION dealt with the proposed removal of Schramm's Cottage, on Doncaster Rd.; one dealt with Council's plans for a rubbish tip in Bulleen, and the third with an application to build reception rooms in Lower Templestowe.
The first two cases are reported here; the third also appears on this page.
The public gallery,foyer and even stairways were packed as the cases were presented. Many of those present were women. Some children accompanied their parents.
The case for retention of Schramm's cottage was put by the secretary of the special committee appointed at a large public meeting, Mrs. M. Green, and a member of the committee Mr. M.Wierzcowski, an architect.
Mr. Wierzcowski said the humble cottage was one of few surviving links with the past, and was a challenge to everyone to do something to preserve
something of our heritage.
Mrs. Green said that since the public meeting it was evident that the majority of the residents wanted the cottage retained and if possible near its present vicinity.
This view was also that of the National Trust, and she felt the issue was a challenge to Council to see that it was in tune with its residents who were searching for a common identity with regard to the cottage.
Mrs. Green said she would like to see the project undertaken by a community effort.
She said in answer to a councillor's question that the committee did have in mind an alternative site but it was not prepared to reveal it at this stage.
(The cottage must be moved for road widening which will begin next Easter.)
Council received a letter from the National Trust urging that the cottage not be demolished but dismantled and re -erected on an appropriate site, should it be impossible to retain it on the present site. It suggested Council should arrange for re-siting and maintenance as a civic matter.
But not all are for the preservation of the cottage.
Council also received a letter from Mr.R.D. Arnold, a local resident, objecting to the expenditure of council funds on the removal,rebuilding or restoration of the cottage.
He believed that the cottage was of doubtful work and that any funds so expended could be more suitably channelled into works of a higher priority.
East Yarra News 1970
SCHOOL GROUND TAKING SHAPE
Extensive ground works are now well advanced at Templestowe High School.
The $50,000 development, which will make the Templestowe grounds equal to any other school in Victoria, are expected to be completed by early next year.
The steep sloped site has been landscaped to make a more workable arrangement.
The principal, Mr.W.Meehan, said the previous four-tier ground layout was impracticable.
The new two-tier design would enable maximum use to be made of the grounds.
Tree stays
Included in the development are cricket wickets, a football oval, boys and girls basket ball courts and an athletics training centre.
Tennis courts may be also be included.
But while the big development has been taking place, special attention has been paid to saving an old gum tree, and landmark of the school and the Lower Templestowe area.
* Mr. Meehan is pictured with a peg used to mark the new oval. THe old gum tree is in the background.
Unknown 1970
Canoe tree stays
Unknown 1970
The old gumtree in Gisborne Street Bulleen. Counsellor Morris Williams said last week that corroborees were held under the tree.
An old gum tree provided a lesson in history, humour and finally sentiment at last week's Doncaster and Templestowe Council meeting.
The 45ft,high tree is right in the middle of where a footpath will go in a new Bulleen subdivision.
The city engineer, Mr. Fred Andrew, brought the tree to council's attention and suggested it should be saved.
The first mention of history brought laughter from both gallery and councillors.
Cr. Morris Williams said he believed aborigines held corroborees beneath the tree and a canoe had been cut out of its huge trunk.
"SAVE IT"
"It should be saved for posterity," he said
Cr Williams suggested in future, parties of school children would be able to visit the tree as a historical exercise.
Mr. Andrew said the tree was about seven to eight metres around and stood right in the middle of the footpath in Gisborne St.
He said he believed the tree to be of particular historical significance
"Under the circumstances, I didn't believe it should be pulled out without reference to council", he said.
"EMOTIONAL"
Mr. Andrew said there would not be heavy foot traffic in this area and suggested that if the tree did cause a hazard in the future,"it could quite easily be pulled out".
Cr Keith Remington claimed council was becoming too emotional over the matter. "It is right in the middle of a footpath and it will cause an obstruction" he said. "Many other trees have had to fall to the bulldozer for similar reasons and I don't see that this tree is any different". Council decided to leave the tree where it stands.
Fine old gumtree is saved.
A fine old gumtree right in the middle of a proposed footpath construction in Templestowe will not be removed. Doncaster Templestowe Council, which agreed to this on Monday, was told by counsellor Morrie Williams that the tree had a long link with the past. "I believe the blacks held corroborees near it and there's evidence a canoe has been cut out of its bark", he said. Counsellor Williams said the tree was near a school and kindergarten and he hoped teachers would take pupils to the tree until them of its history. City engineer, Mr Fred Andrew, was all for saving the tree. He said it was attractive and it would be a pity for it to be moved. He sought councils opinion before taking action. Mr Andrew said the tree was about 45 feet high, 7 to 8 feet across the butt and was a foot inside the building line and ran across to the curb and channelling. "Another reason for its preservation is that it is at the bottom end of the Mount Eagle subdivision where there is little foot traffic." Mr Andrew added that if it were subsequently found the position was unsatisfactory the tree could then be removed. If the tree became a danger to motor traffic or a danger through old age then other thoughts could be given to its preservation. As to the age of the tree, he said that, comparing it to those on the Murray River, he would say it was well over 100 years old. Counsellor Utan opposed preservation. He said there was an odd situation of a footpath with a large tree slap bang in the centre of it. "Every other day there are trees falling to the blade of the bulldozer within this municipality" he said, adding that in the years ahead of development this street would be no different to "the street that you and I live in". Counsellor Remington claimed that council had been carried away in this case and felt the $800 cost to remove the tree should be a cost to the developer "to have the thing pull down".
East Yarra News 20 Oct 1970
MINUTE BOOK FROM 1870
At the recent centenary of the Doncaster Independent Order of Rechabites, Mr. L. Hobbs read the minutes of the first meeting held in 1870.
The original minute book is still in the possession of the secretary.
One hundred and thirty people celebrated the centenary on October 4.
East Yarra News 17 Nov 1970
ast Yarra News 17 November 1970
70th year at Christ Church
The 9.30 a.m.Service at Christ Church, Templestowe, on the second Sunday of November will long be remembered.
It was the 70th anniversary of the opening service in Templestowe's second Anglican Church building.
At 3p.m. on November 8, 1900, a Thursday, Bishop F.F. Goe, the then Lord Bishop of Melbourne, came to the new "Church on the hill" and preached at the service.
Present in the Anniversary congregation at morning prayer were not only members of some of the early pioneering families , but also Miss Ethel Aumann, who in 1900 as an infant was the first person baptised in the new Christ Church.
Mr R.W.Mundy and Mr A.W. Mal read the Lessons.
Mr Mal,as a lay reader, has been taking services at Christ Church for 36 years.
He said that Mrs B. Ubergang, who was at the anniversary service was probably in the first congregation that he led in worship.
The vicar, the Rev.Edwin Richardson, gave some interesting and even amusing sidelights on the history, referring to the vestry minutes, which were on display, dating from 1877.
He made a special point of thanking the large group of choristers from the Bulleen Presbyterian- Methodist Church, who assisted in singing the magnificent musical settings for parts of morning prayer.
Doncaster Mirror 8 Apr 1971
DONCASTER GROUP TOUR OF PARLIAMENT
Members of the Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society
visited Parliament House as guests of the President of the
Legislative Council, Mr. R.W. Garrett, and Mrs.Garrett. Both
Houses in session were visited and members were hoping they might be able to have access to the wonderful library and collection of books. The president of the society, Mr Irvine Green was given information, by the librarian, concerning his grandfather who was a Member of Parliament in the ninth, 10th????? from 1878. Pictured in the President's ????
Left to right, Miss V. Crouch, Mr.W. Read, Mrs Green, Mrs.A.Craig, Mrs.R.W.Garrett, Mrs. M. Stace, Mr.K. Smith, Mrs. T. Mullens, Mrs.McMillan, Mrs L. Sargent.
East Yarra News 8 Jun 1971
Cairn restored at gold spot.
A restored cairn marking the first discovery of gold in Victoria, at Warrandyte, was unveiled last Saturday at the opening of Jaycee Week.
Present at the opening ceremony was Mr. Louis Michel, great- great grandson of the Louis Michel, who discovered the gold on June 30,1851.
Doncaster Jaycees, with financial assistance from Mr. Michel's mother, restored the plaque on the cairn and renovated the vandal-damaged cairn.
Mr Michel travelled from Nathalia for the ceremony performed by the Mayor, Cr. Ken Buxton.
Jaycees have also cleared a picnic area around the cairn, built steps leading to it, erected a barbecue and graded the road.
At the time of the discovery of gold, much controversy surrounded the claim of "first", with counter claims coming in from Clunes, near Ballarat and other areas.
However, Louis Michel shared in the reward offered by a Melbourne committee of business men for the first discovery of a workable gold field in Victoria.
Unknown 1971
TOWER FLAGPOLE IS UNEARTHED
Guide Sandra Neal stands between the top of the flagpole and an ironbark log from the foundations of the Doncaster Tower.
East Yarra News 14 Dec 1971
Save this Homestead
The National Trust has asked Doncaster and Templestowe Council"to give a lead" in the preservation of Finger's Homestead in George St.,Doncaster
The Finger homestead in George St.
The trust has given the building a "C" classification, denoting a building of considerable interest; preservation should be encouraged.
In a letter to council the trust asked for early warning of any proposal to sell the site for subdivisional or other purposes.
It expresses the hope that the city will lead the way in preserving the house.
The homestead is withn the Reserved Living Zone in the Metropolitan Planning Scheme and in the Residential Medium Density Zone in the council's scheme.
East Yarra News 21 Sep 1971
3 3/4 acres sold for $330,000
One of Doncaster's historic landmarks was sold at auction last week for $330,000
The T & G Mutual Life Society was the successful bidder for the 3 3/4- acre site in Doncaster Rd., just east of Doncaster Shoppingtown.
Included in the sale is the Historic Serpell house (pictured) built in 1883.
Assistant general manager of T and G, Mr. Douglas Coventry, said last week that the property would be used for future extensions to Shoppingtown.
T and G own the Shoppingtown development.
An official of the Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society said yesterday there were no plans to have the house restored.
The house is in a run-down condition.
Unknown 1971
Lutheran special services.
In connection with the open day visit of the National Trust on October 24 to places of historical interest in Doncaster,the Lutheran Church of Victoria St. is holding a special service of thanksgiving for blessings which have come to the area through the pioneers.
The mayor of Doncaster Mr. Les Cameron and the Mayoress Mrs. Cameron as well as the councillors of the city of Doncaster-Templestowe, have been invited.
On that day Catherine Aumann, a fifth generation descendant of the pioneers of the district will be baptised.
The service is scheduled to start at 10.30, and visitors, particularly descendants of the pioneers will be welcome.
The first Lutheran Church was built in Victoria St.in 1858 and the present church in 1892.
Unknown 1971
COTTAGE FATE IN BALANCE
'Save Schramm's'
The future of historic Schramm's cottage could hinge on the outcome of a public meeting at the Athenaeum Hall tomorrow night.
The cottage, which has stood on its present site adjacent to the municipal offices since 1874, will have to be moved because of the widening of Doncaster Rd.
The Mayor, Cr Ken Buxton, will chair the meeting which starts at 8p.m.
There appear to be two factions in the fight to save the cottage.
*those who want Doncaster Rd. re-routed to allow the cottage to remain where it is, and
*A group who want the cottage rebuilt on another site and used as a local museum.
The cottage, classified "C" by the National Trust, is named after Max von Schramm, one of the first teachers in Doncaster.
Mr Schramm came to Doncaster to teach at the Lutheran Church school, in 1860.
By 1863, a larger school was needed.
Mr. Schramm built a combined school and house on Doncaster Rd. This later formed part of the old E.S.& A.bank.
The Education Department took over the building in 1876 and used it as a State School.
When the department took over, Mr.Schramm conducted a private school in his own home, now known as Schramm's Cottage.
Mr. Schramm was made a Pastor of the new Parish of Doncaster in November 1876, and ministered at the Lutheran Church until 1907.
The secretary of the Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society, Mrs. Muriel Green, said she would like to see a big attendance at Wednesday night's meeting.
"GO ALONG"
She she had received many inquiries from people wanting to know the future of the cottage.These people should go to the meeting and voice their opinion.
Mrs. Green said it would be a shame if the cottage was demolished and forgotten.
Sir,-I would like to give my view concerning Schramm's cottage.
This fine piece of craftsmanship and architecture of the early settlers, should remain on it's present site, along with the big Bunya-bunya pine tree growing nearby.
A good example of what could be done with this historic building, can be seen at Schwerkholt's cottage in Mitcham.
About 20 feet could be added to the road by building the footpath up alongside the cottage and moving the embankment in closer.
If the road is to be widened to the extent that the cottage must be moved, can this width be maintained for any great distance without cutting a slice off property further along the road.
A wider road at this point would not be much advantage if it only went a few hundred yards.
Thank you for invitation to write on this question. K.Rowe, 193 Dorking Rd., Box Hill North.
Unknown 1971
IN MEMORY OF A TREE.
This near century-old Bunya Bunya Pine tree, below, growing near Schramm's cottage, will have to to make way for the re-making of Doncaster Rd.
But council may use the wood from the tree to erect a memorial, possibly in the municipal gardens, to it's historical signifigance.
The first suggestion that this could be done came from the secretary of the Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society, Mrs Muriel Green.
As a result, the Mayor, Cr.Ken Buxton, has asked the curator, Mr.Max Holmyard , to investigate the possible uses of the wood from the tree.
Mr. Holmyard said last week that the thickness of the bark would have to be known before he could say what the timber could be used for.
He said Bunya Bunya pine grows mainly in Queensland, and its timber was generally used for interior furniture.
He said it could be teated for use outdoors but it would loose its colour and texture.
The city engineer, Mr. Fred Andrew said that council had no intention of removing three 100 year old orange trees growing behind Schramm's Cottage.
It had been reported that council needed the land on which the trees are growing for a car park.
Unknown 1971
FEW BUNYA BUNYA LEFT.
Along with the announcement that Schramm's Cottage must be moved from Doncaster Rd. to make way for a new road,is the news that one of the few
Bunya Bunya pine trees in the location will also go.
Mrs. Muriel Green, writing in the current issue of the local historical society's newsletter says there are seven such trees in the district and all are closely related to the history of the district.
But she fears that next year only five will remain and in a few years maybe there will be only three or none at all.
One such tree stands outside the municipal Offices.
It was in the garden of Schramm's Cottage and its history goes back to the days when Baron von Mueller, the designer of the Royal Botanical Gardens, lived in Doncaster.
Mrs. Green says other bunya bunya trees are east of the Eastern Golf Club link clubhouse, at the corner of Bayley Grove, in front of Mr E. Theile's home in Church Rd., one in Waldau Court and there are two in Ruffey's Creek area that is now the municipal gardens.
The tree near the golflinks clubhouse marks the spot where David Mitchell, father of Dame Nellie Melba, built a cottage in 1860 says the article.
Mrs. Green makes the suggestion that if the tree must go that some suitable memorial be made of its timber. A seat or a piece of furniture suitably inscribed.
Mrs green is secretary of the historical society, and is currently leading the fight to save Schramm's Cottage.
Doncaster Mirror 1971
When will it be moved ?
Who will move Schramm's Cottage and when?
The cottage on Doncaster Rd. must be moved soon to make way for road widening.
Schramm's Cottage Preservation Committee says it is waiting on the answer from the city council.
In the meantime, the committee will seek expert advice of such removals.
It will write the director of Swan Hill Museum, Mr. R. Holloway.
Site for the cottage at the Lutheran or Waldau Cemetery has been approved.
Council has set aside $2,500, and the committee is raising funds through a public appeal and other means.
Latest donations include $10 from Mrs Gertrude Petty and $3 from Mr.David East.
The total in hand is $311.
The committee appeals for more donations and asks citizens to support the appeal.
Establishment of the cottage in the cemetery grounds is part of a plan to establish a museum.
The committee plans a visit to historic homes in the district later in the year to assist proceeds.
One such home is Friedensruh, the Theile family home in Victoria St.
Unknown 1971
Unknown 1971
Dame Mabel at Schramm's
Dame Mabel Brookes will open an historical display at Schramm's Cottage on Feb.14, at 2.30 pm.
Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society is holding the display to raise funds for the preservation of the building.
A new site for the cottage must be found because of road widening to Doncaster Rd., due to start in April.
Most rooms of the cottage will be fitted to resemble the pioneer days of the area, while in other rooms, pictures and details of the city's history will be on show.
To gain further interest in the preservation of the cottage, the society is running an essay competition for high and primary school students.
Cash prizes will be awarded for the two best essays titled "Why I wish to see Schramm's Cottage preserved".
Unknown 1971
Unknown 1971
This was the beautiful setting outside Schramm's Cottage on Sunday when Dame Mabel Brookes opened the historic display.
It will be the last function held in the cottage which must make way for road widening of Doncaster Road.
This photograph, like the one on page 3, was arranged by Mr.Irvine Green, a professional photographer, who is also president of the Doncaster Historical Society,for the Mirror
Dame Mabel is seen at the microphone performing the opening.
The dais was arranged under the 90 year oak tree that was once part of the garden of Pastor Max von Schramm.
To the right of Dame mabel are the Mayor, Cr.K. Buxton, The Mayoress, Mrs.Buxton, and on her left the President of the society, Mr. Green.
Dame Mabel later inspected the display and had afternoon tea with the official guests.
Unknown 1971
300 AT FINAL DISPLAY IN SCHRAMM'S
Two great grand daughters of Pastor Schramm were among guests of Doncaster Historical Society at the opening of an historic display in Schramm's Cottage on Sunday.
They are Mesdames Craig, Doncaster, and Hone, Nunawading.
There were between 250 and 300 persons at the opening of the display which will be the last in the cottage. It is being moved to make way for road widening.
The opening was performed by Dame Mabel Brookes, who said that one of her forefathers had a close association with this district.
Dame Mabel stressed that the building would be of the utmost importance to the district in the years to come.
Dame Mabel was presented by the society secretary, Mrs. Muriel Green, with a basket of fruit, most locally grown, and all of which represented a product of the past of this area.
THE GUESTS
The official party and guests were welcomed by the society president, Mr.I. Green.
The party included the Mayor, Cr.K. Buxton, Mayoress Mrs. Buxton , Mr N. Brown, MHR, Mr R. Garrett, MLC, and Mrs Garrett, Mr.J.W. Manson, seven Doncaster-Templestowe councillors and their wives, members of the National Trust, representatives of historical societies throughout the metropolitan area, relatives of pioneer families, and the Town Clerk, Mr.J. Thompson, and Mrs.Thompson.
Mr. Garrett thanked Dame Mabel and recalled the fight for the preservation
of the cottage when he was a Doncaster-Templestowe councillor about 10 years ago.
APPEAL OPENS
Dame Mabel also opened an appeal for funds to help finance the preservation of the cottage, and the society on Monday acknowledged donations from Carlton & United Breweries, $100;Padbury Funeral Parlors, $90, Cr. Buxton $25; The Rev. Father J. W. Spillane, $10; Mr. F. Rogan, first society president who was unable to attend the ceremony, $3.
The official party then inspected the cottage which was furnished as in the early days.
One was a sitting room or parlour, another a child's bedroom with a magnificent display of dolls, photos were featured in another room, and in others were photos of the women pioneers of the district, hotels and Local Government.
Of intense interest were possessions of Louis Michel, the first man to discover gold at Warrandyte.
Members of the official party were guests of the society at afternoon tea served in the council building opposite.
Hosts were society members and girls from 1st Doncaster Rangers.
DISPLAY TIMES
Society officials were high in their praise of the co-operation and work of the city council, its officers and employees.
The display will continue this week and next.
Times are week days 7.30 pm.to 9.30 and on Saturday and Sunday 2pm. to 5pm.
It is expected that many school children will be taken on a tour of inspection of the cottage.
Unknown 1971
Show at Schramm's is popular
More than 750 school children are expected to have visited the historical display at Schramm's Cottage by the end of this week.
The secretary of Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society, Mrs. Muriel Green, said she had been surprised but delighted at the number of schools interested at sending parties of students through the cottage.
RIGHT: Peter Craven and Julie Butler, of grade 5 at Doncaster Primary School, play at cooking on an old wood fire at Schramm's Cottage last week.
Unknown 1971
Schramm's cottage is open.
Schramm's Cottage will be open for a further week to enable more to see the historical display. It will end on March 7. The Cottage opens at 7.30 at night. On Saturday and Sunday it is open all afternoon.
AID FOR SCHRAMM BUILDING
Cr.Ivan Peter-Budge told Doncaster- Templestowe City Council last meeting that the Country Roads Board had provided $9,000 towards the re-erection of Schramm's Cottage.
The cottage was moved from Doncaster Rd. near the Municipal offices to make way for road widening.
Schramm's Cottage project
Sir,- We would like to extend thanks to the Doncaster-Templestowe Historical Society for the wonderful co-operation received in respect to the Schramm's Cottage project.
In the first instance, the society raised $476 from a display in Schramm's Cottage in February.
A further $425 has been donated by individual members and, as a result of a recent display mounted by members at an arts and crafts day, $93,70 has been received.
Further thanks are due to Pastor Zweck, who conducted an Easter service; Mrs Loris Webster, who gave a luncheon; and Irvine and Muriel Green, who organised two tours in the district.
The amount due to their efforts was $1,149.70. Thanks and congratulations to the society and other voluntary helpers.
Muriel Green, -hon. sec., Schramm's Cottage, Project Committee.
Expert for Cottage
A local stonemason has been engaged for the removal and restoration of Schramm's Cottage.
This was announced by a committee official.
The official also revealed a donation of $100 from a local resident who wished to remain anonymous.
The donations, together with a city council grant, will go toward meeting the cost of the work.
Further donations would be appreciated.
Upward of 20 people have attended the various weekend working bees to pull down the cottage and prepare it for removal.
Volunteers should contact Mr. I. Green or his wife Mrs. M. Green, and indicate their willingness to assist.
The cottage, former home of Pastor Schramm, must go to make way for road widening of Doncaster Rd.
Unknown 1971
"This way, please", said the photographer, and Dame Mabel Brookes obliged.
Dame Mabel was accompanied by the Mayor Cr. Ken Buxton, on a tour of inspection of Schramm's Cottage historic display on Sunday.
They were looking at the section set aside for the pioneer women when the photo was taken.
Unknown 1971
SCHRAMM MEETING FRIDAY
Doncaster -Templestowe Historical Society will ask the Mayor, Cr. K. Buxton to call a public meeting to hear a progress report on Schramm's Cottage removal.
A special meeting between Doncaster-Templestowe City Council and Schramm's Cottage preservation comittee will be held at the council chambers tomorrow, Friday.
The meeting will finalise plans for the removal of Schramm's Cottage on Doncaster Rd. in front of the council offices.
The cottage must go to make way for road widening, and work will start within a few weeks.
The preservation committee recently received a letter from council advising that the cottage would have to be moved and asked the committee to get the work done.
Council has offered $2,150 toward the cost of removal.
At a largely attended public meeting to discuss the future of the cottage, and in all discussion since, a figure of about $30,000 has been mentioned as the likely cost of removal, storage and re-erection of the cottage.
But now the preservation committee has stated that, from information received, with careful study and planning the work could be done for between $6,000 and $7,000.
Don't store.
But one strong point that the committee will put to the Council tomorrow is that the cottage not be stored but dismantled and taken straight to the cemetery site and re-erected immediately.
It is looking forward to- and is confident it can get- strong public support in the way of volunteer workers for the project.
The work would be done under supervision of an expert.
It is expected that the service clubs and others in the city will be approached for assistance.
No Date
Until tomorrow's meeting , no date for such a monster working bee will be known.
But the Mirror will give wide publicity to the date when it is known.
The preservation committee also seeks strong financial support to help finance the removal and re-erection of the cottage.
It acknowleged recent donations of $200 from Westfield, $25 from Eastern Golf Club, $10 from Mr. and Mrs.R. Lane and $5 from W.K. Tierney.
The total is $1,082 plus the $2,150 from the council.
Schramm's Cottage is the former home of Pastor Schramm.
Recently it was thrown open for an historic display and attracted visitors from right throughout the metropolitan area.
Unknown 1971
THE LAST MEETING
The last meeting of Doncaster-Templestowe Historical Society to be held in Schramm's Cottage was well attended. Mr. Peter Williams, President of Heidelberg Historical Society, can claim the distinction of being the last guest speaker. He gave an interesting and informative outline of the history of Heidelberg. A vote of thanks was extended by Cr.Ivan Peter Budge. Mrs Green thanked everyone for their support during the last four years, and reported that the society now has 59 financial participating members, including four junior members, an honorary life member and four life members.
MIRANDA AT HISTORICAL EXHIBITION AT DONCASTER COTTAGE.
Dear Readers-I wonder if any of you managed to get along to Schramm's cottage at Doncaster last month to see the historical exhibition "Bush Banksia" told us about in a letter to our pages recently?
It was a most interesting display, and I especially enjoyed seeing the children's room which "Bush Banksia" herself had arranged.
There was one of those quaint old teddy bears on wheels-a muched loved toy in the late 19th century.
Another interesting feature in the children's room was a quilt that had been made in 1909 to raise money for a kindergarten.
People paid 6d each at the time to have their names embroidered on the quilt which was completely covered with names.
There were children's books by Raphael Tuck, of 1899 vintage, and a set of Victorian miniature furniture, brought to Australia originally by sailing ship.
Several antique dolls from "Bush Banksia's well known collection were on display. One, a wax doll made in 1838 lay in an antique iron cot with a coverlet of knitted white cotton, 80 years old.
In other rooms of the cottage, relics of early Doncaster were on show.
There were photographs of early schools, churches and homes in the district, and the first minute book of the Athenaeum Hall,Doncaster dated 1870 was there to see.
The history of Doncaster's original store was also told in pictures, starting with a photograph taken in 1890 when it was called "The Corner Store". By 1910 it was known as Serpell's Store.
Eventually, when the building was pulled down, the Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society paid $20 for 1000 of the bricks and gave them to Shoppingtown for a commemorative walk.
Final touch
A picture of the walk, hung alongside those of the old store, added a final touch to the story.
Portraits of pioneer women of the district also formed part of the display, and it is interesting to note that quite a few members of the present Historical Society at Doncaster are among their descendants.
Families like Serpell, Read, Pickering, Petty and Crouch all have descendants still living in the area.
Lace handkerchiefs belonging to pioneer women,and lent by present members of their families, were on show, and a lace making machine lent by the Serpell family, and still with a piece of work on it, attracted the attention of visitors to the exhibition.
Pastor Schramm's cottage, which is classified"c" by the National Trust is to be pulled down for the widening of Doncaster Road near Shoppingtown.
In 1961 a petition signed by 754 local residents saved the old home from demolition.
In 1970, eight people including five members of the Doncasteer -Templestowe Historical Society, formed a Schramm's Cottage Committee. Since then they have been negotiating to have the cottage moved to another site.
To raise funds.
The exhibition was put on by the Historical Society to help raise funds that will be needed for this project.
Mr. von Schramm lived in the cottage for over 30 years and during that time history records that he did more than anyone else for the good of the district.
He originally came there to teach the settlers'children, and for years he conducted a school in his house.
In 1876 he was ordained as the first pastor of a new parish the Lutheran Church formed at Doncaster, and he was also Honorary Secretary of the Doncaster Church of England.
In 1870 Mr.von Schramm called the inaugural meeting of the Doncaster Athenaeum and Library and became its chairman, a position he held for over 30 years .
Weekly Times 1971
Births ,deaths.
In addition he was the Registrar of Births and Deaths at Doncaster for many years.
How fortunate that we have organisations like the Doncaster - Templestowe Historical Society and the Schramm's Cottage Committee to help us preserve the story of towns and the people who helped to shape them.
By all means let us have magnificent places like Shoppingtown, which has given such a boost to the district. But in doing so, don't let us destroy the few valuable relics we have left of places as they were long ago.
Goodbye now Miranda.
Births ,deaths.
In addition he was the Registrar of Births and Deaths at Doncaster for many years.
How fortunate that we have organisations like the Doncaster - Templestowe Historical Society and the Schramm's Cottage Committee to help us preserve the story of towns and the people who helped to shape them.
By all means let us have magnificent places like Shoppingtown, which has given such a boost to the district. But in doing so, don't let us destroy the few valuable relics we have left of places as they were long ago.
Goodbye now Miranda.
Unknown 1971
A HANDSOME TREE REDUCED TO THIS
LEFT:The Bunya pine as most Doncaster residents knew it. The tree grows mainly in Queensland
ABOVE: Now only the stump remains. The Bunya pine stood proudly near the old Schramm's Cottage. Council workmen cut it down last week to make way for the widening of Doncaster Rd.
A near century old Bunya pine tree was cut down by Doncaster and Templestowe council workmen to make way for the widening of Doncaster Rd.
The tree which stood near the old Schramm's Cottage, was a landmark in Doncaster.
Deputy City Engineer, Mr. Bob Craigie, said the tree had been milled at the council depot.
When the wood dried out it would be used for a council project, he said.
It has been suggested that the wood be used to build a memorial in the municipal gardens or the historical park planned for the old Lutheran cemetery.
The Bunya Pine is uncommon in Melbourne. It grows mainly in Queensland and its timber is generally used for interior furniture.
Unknown 1971
EXPERTS FOR SCHRAMM"S
The stage had been reached where expert advice and assistance was required with the removal of Schramm's cottage, Cr.Ivan Peter-Budge told Doncaster-Templestowe Council.
He said that the work had progressed satisfactorily.
The committee had about $3,600 in hand to help finance the work.
Cr. Peter-Budge was speaking to a report of a meeting between Council and Schramm's Cottage Committee.
That meeting agreed that Council accept trusteeship of the Lutheran Cemetery site to where the Cottage will be moved when asked to do so by the Public Health Commission. It will conduct the area as a memorial to the pioneers; meet legal costs related to the transfer of the title certificates; sponsor a public appeal for $25.000 to finance the work and the laying out of the new site as a pioneer memorial; make formal appliction to the National Trust requesting tax deduction for donations.
Cr. Peter-Budge is shown on the roof of the building at left wearing a hat during a working bee. Next to him is Eric Collyer, vice-president of the Historical society, and Mr.J.Young a Tempestowe builder.
Below is ANZ Bank manager Mr I.Bruns talking to Ken Andrew, son of the city engineer.
Unknown 1971
Schramm's should draw the tourists.
The Schramm's Cottage and pioneer garden project could become a tourist drawcard.
Council is expected to call tenders soon for re-erection of the cottage. Work is planned to start early in the new year.
When complete, the project will include the cottage, furnished as a live museum; an outdoor kitchen and bakehouse, stables, blacksmith shop, orchards' museum and a pioneer memorial with winding pathways restored through the old burial grounds.
The site of the old Lutheran Church and cemetery was donated by the Trinity Lutheran Church.
Fine View.
The land is on a hill at the head of the new municipal gardens, commanding a magnificent view along the valley of Ruffey's Creek.
The first wattle and daub Lutheran Church was built there in 1857.
When the cemetery was closed in 1888, it contained the graves of more than 100 adults and children.
The stones of the cottage, cut from Ruffey's Creek in 1874 are numbered and laid out on the site ready for re-erection.
$25,000 job.
The restoration and pioneer garden project has been estimated to cost $25,000.
The committee has more than $2,000 in hand.
The National Trust has agreed to contduct an appeal for funds. Gifts of $2 or more are tax deductable.
Unknown 1971
HISTORICAL COMPETITION
Details of the competition to be conducted by Doncaster -Templestowe Historical Society have been announced.
The competition is for models of the old tram which used to run to Doncaster or the lookout tower.
There will be three sections, under 13, under 18 and open.
The models may be made from any material.
Another section will be for anything of historical interest in any area of this district.
Some ideas are Pound Bend, Gold Memorial, Finn's Pub, which is now demolished, Blacksmith's shops, Warrandyte Hotel, schools, mines, Schramm's and other houses, the Athenaeum Hall and the municipal Offices.
Models can be in any media, paintings, models, pottery, wood, meccano, clay and blocks etc.
Prizes so far have been donated from Mr.W. Read, $50, Mrs E. Collyer, $25 and three third prizes from Mr O'Neill, Collins Book Shop ,Shoppingtown.
All schools are being notified.
Judjing will be held next June and winners will be announced next July.
Judjes will be representatives from the Council, Historical Society, and the arts and crafts group, as well as a teacher and an engineer.
Doncaster Mirror 26 May 1971
The Mirror 26 May 1971
"NEW GOLD CAIRN TO BE UNVEILED"
This completely renovated cairn marking the discovery of gold in Warrandyte will be unveiled on June 5 at 2.30.pm. by the Mayor, Cr. K. Buxton.
The ceremony will mark the opening of Jaycee Week.
Doncaster Jaycees have devoted many man hours to renovating the memorial and cleaning up the area surrounding it.
Mrs. Michel, a direct descendant of Louis J. Michel, who made the discovery, forwarded a substantial donation toward the renovation work.
Her son Mr. Louis Michel will come from Nathalia for the occasion.
A spokesman for the Jaycees extended an invitation to the public to attend.
Barbecue facilities will be available.
Louis J. Michel came to Port Phillip from London in 1839. In 1851,he was leasee of the Rainbow Hotel, Swanston and Little Collins St. Melbourne.
He led two parties seeking gold.
When returning from the second to the plenty Ranges he found a quartz near a creek on Major Newman's land.
It showed traces of gold but the assayer could not determine whether the reef contained gold.
Michel returned later with a man named Haberlain and made the discovery on June 30,1851.
Doncaster Mirror 30 Jun 1971
Doncaster Mirror 30 Jun 1971
FAREWELL TO DONCASTER RD.
The last orchard on Doncaster Rd., Doncaster, is slowly disappearing this week.
It is the 2 acre holding of Mr. George Beavis who is seen driving his axe into one of the last remaining, still fruit bearing peach trees. The land was originally bought by Mr. R. E. Petty, now deceased.
The land bounded by Doncaster Rd. Church St. and Queen's Avenue will be subdivided into 10 blocks.
The story behind the decision of Mr. Beavis to clear the land is one of history, progress, romance, and sadness as another link with the past disappears.
Mr. Beavis, now 68, went to work on the orchard in 1933.
The property was owned by Mr. R.E. Petty, now deceased, who had paid 15 shillings a foot for it.
Today the value of the land has been mentioned round the $ 90,000 mark.
Young George Beavis was paid 3 shillings a week, and he got nothing extra for rising at 2 am.and driving the horses to Melbourne market.
There were orchards everywhere then. Some of his neighbours he recalled, were Bill Darcy, Len Bullen, Fred Petty, McDowell's, Zanders and up opposite Shopping town, were Serpells.
George Beavis used to plough the land from the present two acre site right up to opposite Toll's estate agency.
TO WAR
War intervened and George Beavis went away with the 8th Division in the 4th Motor transport.
He was a prisoner of war, he worked on the Burma Railway and he was in Nagasaki when the bomb was dropped.
It was only this week that he went to Shepparton to meet up with some of his POW friends at their annual reunion.
George Beavis returned to Australia to carry on his work on the land.
Romance had blossomed over the years, and in 1948 he married the boss's daughter, Jean Petty.
They have no children , but with them is Mrs.E.L,Petty, who is in her 92nd year.
OLD TREE
That's a grand old age, but George Beavis showed a Mirror reporter and photographer a tree much older and which is still bearing fruit.
Also to go with the fruit trees are the old barn and stables.
Some old harness hanging on the wall is over 70 years old. That is some of it hanging on Mr. Beavis's shoulder.
Just how long it hung in the barn was evidenced by the great cloud of dust
when he agreed to get it down.
And that single furrow plough was virtually the first one made by Dan Harvey at Lower Templestowe.
The first actual one was scrapped; The second one was bought by Mr. R.E.Petty.
There are other farm implements in that old barn.
RETIRE?
They won't disappear, Mr. Beavis has donated them to the local historical
society.
And Mr Beavis, will he retire?
"Not on your life, I've got 4 acres of land out at Park Orchards where I'll grow lemons," he said with emphasis.
Doncaster Mirror 24 Aug 1971
This is not unknown to many of the senior citizens of Doncaster-Templestowe.
It's Beaconsfield Tower, Doncaster Hill.
Those same residents have probably not only seen the actual tower but have since seen hundreds of photos of it and read thousands of words about it.
What they will be pleased to learn is that another photo and story has earned space in The Australian Sketcher of 1880.
It has just been reprinted and is available at Collins Book Depot, Shopping town.
And the price has been slashed from $19 to $9.99.
The sketcher, noted for its brilliant reproduction, particularly of its illustrations done on wood, is also noted for its lengthy but accurate
accounts of happenings in our history.
The Kelly gang gets its share of the space, so do world wide events of the year.
The story of the tower at Doncaster appears in the issue of Saturday, August 14 and tells of the "immense wooden construction 200 ft. high erected by its proprieter Mr Hummel for the sole purpose of obtaining the extensive and magnificent view which it commands".
It is also interesting to read in the report that "cabs run from Kew to Doncaster two or three times a day in the season, but good pedestrians will find the distance ( five or six miles) a pleasant and exhilarating walk through grassy undulating country about."
One of the most outstanding works in the Sketcher is a double page illustration of the Exhibition Building in Melbourne.
The detail is outstanding. It must have taken hours to prepare.
East Yarra News 13 Jul 1971
An old style musical evening was held by the Doncaster-Templestowe Historical Society last Wednesday at "Friedensruhe", Waldau Court, Doncaster.
"Friedensruhe" was built by Gottleib Thiele in the 1850s and the Collyer family, direct descendants, live there now.
Further programs for the year will include speakers, film night, a talk on paddle steamers and dinner at Potter's Cottage.
Doncaster Mirror 21 Sep 1971
A TALK ON MURRAY STEAMERS
Anyone who has lived along the Murray River and who knows of the paddle steamers like the Marion, Gem, and Ruby of days gone by will be interested in a talk to Doncaster-Templestowe Historical Society next meeting.
Meeting is in the lodge room of the Athenaeum Hall on October 6th.
The speaker is Mr.A.E.Tonkin, of Mont Albert.
He will illustrate his talk with slides.
Details from 846-1091.
Melbourne Herald 25 Sep 1971
THAT'S HOW IT WAS
This is how White's Corner looked until a few years ago when the 80-year old general store was pulled down to make way for Shoppingtown. The "emporium" on the corner of Doncaster and Williamson's Rds., was a well known landmark.
Unknown 1971
Open day for Schramm's
The Schramm's Cottage Project Committee will hold an open day in Doncaster on Sunday, October 24.
Features of interest will be the old German Settlement of Waldau and two old homesteads both classified "C" by the National Trust.
Parking directions will be given at the corner of Victoria and George Sts.,Doncaster.
Proceeds will go to the Schramm's Cottage Appeal.
Unknown 1971
WALDAU OPEN DAY PLANNED BY SCHRAMM COMMITTEE.
An open day will be held by Schramm's Cottage Project Committee on Sunday, October 24, from 1.30 to 5.30 at Waldau, the German Lutheran Settlement, Victoria St.,Doncaster.
Two homes classified by the National Trust as "c", will be open, as will the site for Shramm's Cottage and Lutheran Church.
There will be a display by the Historical Society in the church hall.
Devonshire tea and a festival style stall will be arranged.
Visitors should travel to the corner of George and Victoria Sts., for directions and to pay a small admission.
The organisers ask that drivers exercise care when pulling up at that corner.
They say there is ample parking at the corner, and that officials will be on duty to direct traffic.
Secretary of the project committee, Mrs. Muriel Green, said, "we are hoping that this will prove to be a day people in our community will feel proud of our district as we welcome visitors including National Trust members and those from other historical societies".
Mrs. Green said that donations of cakes or other items for the stall would be appreciated.
In 1853, German pioneers formed a settlement in the vicinity of Victoria st.
They called the area Waldau.
Four years later a wattle and daub Lutheran church was built on the hill at Waldau.
The north west corner of the church grounds was set aside as a burial ground.
By 1888, when the cemetery was closed, over 100 children and adults were laid to rest there.
The old church began to fall into disrepair, so in 1892 a new brick building was erected on a more central site. Only the cemetery was left in the church grounds.
In this photo by Irvine Green, Mr Clive Green checks barbeque equipment in readiness for the barbeque to follow the open day at Waldau. Full details of the day are available from Mrs Green, 842-1807.
Unknown 1971
Here you'll see local history.
A conducted tour of places of historical interest in Doncaster and Templestowe next Sunday will feature a visit to the new site of Schramm's Cottage in the old German cemetery.
The cottage, now in Doncaster Rd., is being dismantled to make way for road widening.
The two hour tour is now being organised by Templestowe Jaycees in conjunction with the Historical Society during Jaycee week(June 7 to 13.)
Unknown 1971
Unknown 1971
Crowds flock to Waldau
Cars carrying nearly 1000 visitors converged last week on the Victoria St-George St intersection, Doncaster, for "Open Day at Waldau"
THE FINGER homestead in George St. People flock to see it.
Two old Homesteads, both classified by the National Trust as category "c", the Trinity Lutheran Church and the site of the Waldau Church and cemetery where Shramm's Cottage will be re-erected, were open to inspection.
Friedensruhe, in Victoria St., the home of the Collyer family and Miss Elsa Thiele, was built in 1853 by Johann Gottleib Thiele.
Nestling in a glorious garden setting still almost encircled by orchards and adjacent to Ruffey's Creek Botanic Gardens, this well preserved and beautifully furnished old homestead was a showplace worthy to draw the crowds it did from all over Melbourne and even as far as South Australia.
Some of the trees and shrubs were presents of Baron von Mueller, who designed the Melbourne Botanic Gardens and was a friend of the first Thieles.
To add even more atmosphere, Miss Annette Radke, Mrs. Dell Haake and Penelope Webster wandered through the house and gardens in heirloom gowns.
A horse and cab waited by the entrance gates and trotted between the display sites.
The house consists of two merged sections- the original wattle and daub, shingle-roofed hut of two rooms,attic and detached kitchen and the later additions which now form drawing and dining rooms.
Some of the later section was built from stone quarried from Ruffey's Creek.
Inside the house itself visitors were intrigued by the everyday household gadgets of yesteryear- a warming pan, mangle, a variety of ironing implements, rose painted wash basin and jug, jars used as hot water bottles, bread crocks, candle makers and a pestle and mortar used for preparing do it yourself drugs brought from Germany's Upper Silesia by the first pioneers.
A short drive away in George St., once known as Walau Lane, is the Finger Homestead,now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Rieschek, grandson of Carl Henry Finger who built the house from bricks he baked on site in 1870.
In the living room, peple crowded round the huge dining table to browse through "Dr. L.L. Smith's Medical Almanac" of 1898.
Miss Annette Radke and Mrs Dell Haack stroll through the garden of "Friedensruhe" in wedding gowns 60 years old, with Miss Penelope Webster who wears a 70 year old frock.
Waldau was the name given to the pioneer German settlement grouped around the Lutheran Church.
Source: Various Newspapers. Transcription: Marion McNeil (2021)
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