The above hand operated chaff cutter was used on the Friedensruh property to cut long stalks of straw and hay into small pieces of chaff able to be stored more densely and fed to horses more easily (e.g. throught he use of chaff bag more easily stored and ......
was donated by Eric Collyer (DTHS Foundation Member).
Need info re pictures... Need research.....
The horse’s digestive system has evolved to function best when it has a continuous supply of fibrous material. Chaff is a form of roughage and is produced by chopping up hay into smaller pieces. The principal advantage of chaff is that it can be mixed with the concentrate portion of a horses feed so that the horse consumes forage with the concentrate. This can increase chewing time and slow the intake of concentrate. The benefit of increasing chewing time is that concentrate then enters the digestive tract more slowly and in smaller amounts, this allows the simple carbohydrates to be fully absorbed in the small intestine. Chaff is also easier to digest than hay and so it is great for young and older horses.
It is important to consider the nutritional content of the chaff that you feed. There is a wide range of horse chaffs available that use different fibre sources, so the key is to find the right type/s of chaff for each individual horse. Even though chaff is usually fed in a small quantity; areas such as protein and sugar content may vary greatly between different brands of chaff and can influence your horse’s overall health. Additives such as molasses, oil, mint, and garlic are also sometimes added for various reasons, these additives may also impact your horse’s overall health and need to be considered.
Chaf is the dry, scaly protective casing of the seeds of cereal grains or similar fine, dry, scaly plant material (such as scaly parts of flowers or finely chopped straw). Chaff is indigestible by humans, but livestock can eat it. In agriculture it is used as livestock fodder, or is a waste material ploughed into the soil or burned
Bill Ling a local resident and enthusiast on gold in Victoria spoke on the fever that enveloped the country on the discovery of gold in Victoria in 1851.
Men from all over the world descended on Melbourne which grew from a isolated colonial town to a large and prosperous city in the 1880's due to the influx of money and population largely based on gold.
When the easy pickings of alluvial gold near the surface was taken, many people by 1855 were disillusioned and together with the problems caused by hardships, illness and the chaotic state of society on the goldfields, returned to the city.
Ballarat and Bendigo became large provincial cities with grandiose public buildings and opulent private homes which contrasted with the shanties and tents lived in by the ordinary miners.
Bill commented on gold in the Clunes area, also the Gaffney's Creek Wood's Point district as well as the Walhalla Goldfields.
In this edition, we feature another of the prominent residences built in Doncaster in the late 1800’s and one of the few homes of that era remaining and still occupied today as a residential dwelling at 131 High Street, Doncaster.
Kehre Weider was the home of Frederick Winter, his wife Christina (nee Finger) and daughter Rosina and her family. The home was built on 14 acres of land on the west side of High Street, purchased by Frederick in 1883.
Frederick and Christina cleared the land and planted fruit trees, the start of their orchard. They also owned an additional 20 acres on the opposite side of High Street.
The house was built in or about the year 1894, replacing an earlier weatherboard dwelling, using red bricks, has a slate roof and ornamental iron lacework along the verandah. Under the house was a cellar used to keep food stuffs cool. The rear of the present house was added around 1920 and outdoor buildings included a smokehouse, poultry pens, stables and a workman’s cottage.
It is believed the garden was designed by Frederick with input from Baron Von Mueller the designer of the Melbourne Botanical gardens. All that remains of the original garden are the “Buxus” box borders.
In the early 1970’s the surrounding land was sold and developed becoming “Winter Park” one of the first developments of cluster homes in Victoria. Daughter Rosina, who had married Henry Soderlund, had six children, lived at Kehre Weider until her death in 1973 when new owners bought the house.
The floorplan shows the room layout at the time of sale in October 2004
Your place in history. The original red brick slate roofed homestead from c1896, this distinguished 4 bedroom plus study home is magnificently built, beautifully maintained and painstakingly restored with its original splendour enhanced by beautiful décor and enriched by period treasures.
Numerous features include the original box hedge front garden noted by the National Trust, lace fringed return verandah at the front and north side, high and wide central hall with arch, 4 period fireplaces (hydronic heating), main bedroom with ensuite, period style family bathroom, modern kitchen with timber benches and an entertainer’s Eurolec stove, huge cellar. Formal livingroom, charming diningroom with floor to ceiling Victorian windows, and comfortable familyroom overlooking the rear deck shaded by a fig tree perhaps a century old, and the rear garden with workshop (lantern roof) and double carport with studio loft.
We therefore by and with the advice of Our Privy Council have thought fit to issue this Our Royal Proclamation and We do hereby declare that on and after the First day of January One Thousand nine hundred and one, the people of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia shall be united in a Federal Commonwealth under the name of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Given at Balmoral 17 September 1900, the 64th year of Our Reign.
Hardly were the celebrations of the Proclamation of the Commonwealth over when on January 23rd 1901 the newspapers solemnly announced, 'The Queen is Dead. Her Majesty has passed away”.
Untold millions of people in her vast Empire spanning the globe had never known life under any other Monarch. The Empire s’ longest living Monarch had been on the throne for 64 years, during the height of Britain’s political and colonial power.
Coming to the throne after the turbulent years of the Reform Bill, Queen Victoria epitomised the expansionist years of the British Empire. While abroad the colonies experienced struggle and periodic resistance to British dominance, at home, the tranquillity of the Queen and her peaceful home life set the tone for what was known as, "The Victorian Age".
Large families with father as the acknowledged head of the house were the norm. During the next sixty or so years, the middle classes had an unprecedented rise in Britain and a period of steady advancement and prosperity was a characteristic of the age.
Lord and Lady Hopetoun, the Queen s’ representative in Australia declared mourning from January 25th. The universal sadness lasted until the day of the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament on May 9th 1901. People discarded their black mourning clothes for the gaiety of bright hues. Melbourne was ablaze with light and colour as the great day approached.
At 2pm on 6th of May, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York landed and a fanfare of gunfire sounded on St. Kilda beach. People from all over Australia gathered in Melbourne, the focus of the momentous event and the population swelled by 20,000 visitors, cheered lustily as dignitaries from home and abroad passed along the streets.
The 9th of May arrived and the new King’s son drove to the Exhibition Building to open the National Parliament. A State carriage, complete with footmen was used to convey the Duke and Duchess to the Opening. The streets were lined with thousands of citizens and at the Exhibition Building 12,000 invited guests had taken up their positions.
Newspaper articles later described the event in glowing terms - Extravagant, magnificent, splendid, glorious and brilliant were some of the adjectives used to, paint a picture of the scene, which was indeed an historic landmark in Australia s’ history.
The '’Bulletin'' said in an editorial - "Australia had the greatest opportunity which any nation has been blessed with to be peacefully united under one government by the will of the people, and the people almost wholly of one race and one language".
Source: 2001 06 DTHS Newsletter
Shire of Doncaster F Pickering President Queen Victoria 60th Year of Reign 1837-1897. Round Medallion.
Long Live the King
Shire of Doncaster Peace and Coronation Celebration June 27th 1902 A Zerbe President. Edward VII and Alexandra Crowned 26 June 1902
Throughout Australia, New Year's Day 1901 was celebrated as Commonwealth Day.
Hope and unbounded enthusiasm for a new era were the feelings of the entire population, which had survived the long years of bitter controversy on Federation Sydney was the pivot of most festivities, with a State Banquet, theatre, shows and grand balls to which a glittering brilliant assembly of important guests were invited... Ladies in carnival dress, in diaphanous fabrics embroidered in gold with Federation blue a favourite, drifted along brightly lit streets. A special feature were the wonderful arches erected to celebrate the momentous occasion.
As the sun rose on New Year's Day 1901, the excitement came to a crescendo. Newspapers printed laudatory accounts of the struggle to achieve a Federated land. Some printed their edition in Federation Blue. A euphoric belief in a new century of confidence and hope for the future flooded the country.
The major spectacle of the day was to be the proclamation of the Commonwealth by Lord Hopetoun, The Governor General, held in Centennial Park. A spectacular procession preceded Lord and Lady Hopetoun. Sydney was "A City of Arches" . A series of lovely commemorative arches spanned the route. "Ceres welcomes the Commonwealth." A yellow arc representing the wheat growing industry covered Bridge Street. Not to be outdone, an arch covered in white wool and bearing in gold the words "Land of the Golden Fleece" was next. An American arch in red with a huge eagle spread over it, a French one in gold and perhaps the most beautiful, a simple span with six white pillars representing the South Seas stood in Oxford Street. These were only some of the spectacles to thrill the people on the day.
The parade included military men from the Commonwealth, Indian and South African contingents, men from British regiments and many Victorian and Tasmanian soldiers recently returned from the Boer War.
Every facet of Australian life was included; workers, shearers, fire fighters, police, children and pressmen, all marched to the deafening cheers of the thousands who had gathered to enjoy the spectacle.
At Centennial Park, a 19-gun salute heralded the arrival of the Official party, Lord Hopetoun in his ceremonial carriage. He performed the official duty of Proclamation of the Commonwealth and as the flag was unfurled a 21-gun salute was fired.
At the northern end of Blackburn Rd, past the Manningham Council Depot and Quarry is a new pathway recently opened by the Mayor Cr Julie Eisenbise.
Image from many Templestowe Hill Climb Program covers. See Program Covers
The land, a very historic area near the old home Pontville and Tikalara Park, until lately remained much as it had been since Major Newman had his pastoral run. Now a new fashionable housing estate named The Parkway is being built near the bridge spanning the Mullum Mullum creek.
Part of this estate where large houses are being erected is on the site of the historic hill climb. Taking a walk around the wetlands near the Parkway, you can see that some sections of the old hill climb track remain.
The Heritage architect of Manningham, Richard Peterson some time ago expressed concern that the hill climb site was disappearing and suggested that some research should be done into its history, a map of the course be prepared and some photos taken.
This material could then be placed in the Historical Society's archives to appropriately record it for the future.
To this effect I conducted some investigations into the history of the site, interviewing Mr Simon Kearney, present owner of the land and Margaret Hodgson of ‘Templestowe a descendant of one of the oldest pioneer families of the district, who also has adjoining property in the area.
These people had quite a few anecdotes about the Hill Climb era. Then I contacted the MG Car Club who suggested the name of Mr Graham Hoinville a former competitor on the track who was a mine of knowledge on the background of the Hill Climb.
The following are excerpts from Graham's recollections of the history of the Templestowe Hill Climb.
In the early post World War II era, there was a great shortage of permanent race circuits and hill climb tracks in Victoria. The Victorian Sporting Car Club which had existed since the early 1930's, identified farming land at Templestowe which had potential as a hill climb venue. The land was owned by a farmer Mr "Andy" Andrews and was situated to the north of the northern end of Blackburn Road and extended to the Yarra River, including a portion of the Mullum Mullum Creek. The topography included steeply rising land, almost escarpment like. It was an ideal site for a spectacular hill climb course.
The VSCC entered into a lease arrangement with Mr Andrews under which the club could construct the
track and associated improvements and have access to the venue on an agreed number of occasions per year.
On those days the cattle normally grazing on the property would be moved to a "river" paddock to allow the hill climb meeting to be conducted.
The original track layout is shown in the sketch and featured an extremely steep section, known as "The Wall", with a gradient identified as 2 Vi to 1. The original plan also envisaged the venue could be used as a race circuit, running in the opposite direction. Sufficient to say the prospect of several cars racing in company down "The Wall" was beyond imagination - the concept of circuit use was never to be realised!!
The nearest situation to multiple car competition were occasional "demonstration" runs where two selected cars would undertake a run together where passing was "orchestrated" to entertain the crowd. On several occasions Harry Firth and I were involved in these runs in our MG TC’s.
This diagram shows the plan of the course. The hill climb section is over 1,200 yards and runs in a clock-wise direction. When the full circuit is used for road racing the events will be run in an anti-clockwise direction, the full lap distance being 1.1 miles.
Source: Judith Leaney writing in 2002 04 DTHS Newsletter
The VSCC members put in much effort to form the track and the inaugural meeting was held on 12th of March 1951. It was quite a dramatic meeting as the track was not sealed and the dust problem was enormous. Additionally many cars were unable to descend the wall due to the unsealed surface and rather ignominiously had to retreat from the wall and drive back to the start. The late Cec Warren recorded the fastest time of the day in his Ford Speedcar and set the initial record of 70.6 seconds.
View of Templestowe Hill Climb Track 1950’s. Photo from Betty Hill [Andrew]. Image source unknown.
Somewhat chastened by the dust problem the VSCC resolved that the track would have to be sealed before any competition could be held. Over the next 15 months considerable expense and member effort was devoted to the sealing process and the first event for the venue in bona fide sealed form was held on Queen’s Birthday weekend in June 1952. A new hill record was established by Reg Nutt in Jack Day’s Talbot - Darraq with a time of 66.2 seconds.
The Templestowe Hill Climb venue was accepted by hill climb competitors with enthusiasm. It rapidly joined the LCCA's Rob Roy as the leading Victorian venues, indeed in terms of competitor and spectator interest Templestowe clearly was the preferred track. By the mid 1950’s Templestowe had become the preeminent Victorian hill climb venue and it was the keystone to the competitions which were enjoying a high level of popularity in the area.
Templestowe continued to be viable as a hill climb until well into the 1960’s, but in the latter portion of the decade it could be fairly said to be in its declining years. The Australian Hill Climb Championship was last conducted at Templestowe in November 1968. No single factor, but rather the combination of a number of factors appeared to be the cause of the decline of Templestowe and its eventual demise. Hill climbing as a discipline of motor sport was losing popularity and remember that Rob Roy had been lost as a result of the 1963 bushfires.
Due to several factors, the ongoing tenure of the VSCC was not assured, and as always the inevitable encroach of suburbia into the area was a threat.
For unrelated reasons, the VSCC was falling into decline as a motor sporting club and eventually the remnants were absorbed into the Light Car Club of Australia. Ironically, the LCCA was itself to die within a decade or so thereafter.
Thus in the 1970's the Hill Climb track had fallen into disuse, the VSCC was no longer associated with the venue. The current owners had set up a Pet Park featuring domestic and native animals to attract children to the park. In actual fact the Austin 7 Club used the area several times in the 70's to conduct Observed Section Trials, popularly known as "Mud Trials". Of course the hill climb track was not used in these activities, but it was still very much in evidence.
In the 198C,!s Templestowe Hill Climb was in a state described as "no longer in use". However the MG Car Club was aware the track itself still existed and while no longer licensed as a hill climb track it was feasible that a "one off" licence could be obtained to allow a last Templestowe to be run.
Agreement was reached with the property owner for such an event, the expectation being that the event would indeed be the ’last’ as the area was expected to be swallowed up by housing in the immediate future. That event was on 27 February 1973.
Surprisingly the expected land development did not occur and the MG Car Club was able to conduct further runs in 1985 and again in 1987. The last meeting was held on the oth of December 1987. At that meeting the track had to be shortened slightly for safety reasons as the first stages of construction of a residence had begun on the end of the traditional finishing line.
The meeting in December 1987 w7as to be the final hill climb conducted at the venue - nearly 37 years after that dusty inaugural meeting. Later the MG Car Club arranged for the acquisition of the massive pair of brake shoes which had defined the start of the hill climb since the early 1950’s, These were donated by Patons Brake Replacements which Company actively supported Templestowe and it is understood the MG Car Club has the shoes safely stored for some appropriate use in the future.
Betty Andrew with cars - 1950's. Photo from Betty Hill [Andrew]. Image source unknown
Addendum
After reading our April issue newsletter we had a letter from a member Mrs Coral Harbour concerning the article on the Templestowe Hill Climb. Coral, who was closely connected with the hill climb area, having spent holidays with Mr Ewen James (Hughie) Andrew, son of the original owner James Andrew of Whittlesea.
Coral was able to provide us with the correct name of the original owner of the land and some details of its connection with the Victorian Sporting Car Club. Thank you Coral for this information which will be added to our file on the Templestowe Hill Climb.
We are always pleased to have any material we possess corrected if erroneous or added to, by members or other readers of our newsletter. We depend largely on the public for knowledge of local history and any help, on factual material of the past, photos, newspaper cuttings or any aspect of our history, is always appreciated and are always grateful for any additions to our archives
Source: Judith Leaney writing in 2002 08 DTHS Newsletter
1987 Last meeting of Templestowe Hillclimb. Tracks used for Hillclimb to north
of the Mullum Mullum Creek still evident today.
Source: Timeline published in Pertzel, Barbara & Walters, Fiona 2001, Manningham : from country to city, Arcadia, Melbourne. National Library Record: https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1552022/
Templestowe Hill Climb - Manningham Information Board
This tranquil bushland setting was once the scene of the Templestowe Hill Climb motor-race meetings, where up to 20,000 spectators thrilled to the sound Of high-revving engines as drivers tested their skill on the bends and rises of this challenging circuit.
After World War H, a general scarcity of race circuits in Victoria led the Victorian Sporting Car Club to enter into a lease arrangement with farm owner Mr "Andy" Andrews to construct a hill climb track and operate an agreed number of race meetings each year. On these days, the cattle that normally grazed on the property would be moved to a nearby paddock by the Yarra River.
Described in 1951 as Australia’s, most spectacular hill climb course, the 969-metre-long Templestowe circuit featured an incredibly steep rise at its halfway mark.
Known as ‘The Wall’, this 100-metre section with a gradient of 1 in 2.5 was the steepest bitumen road in Australia, and today can still be walked by the energetic.
The first Templestowe event, held on the unsealed track on 12 March, 1951, was won by Cec Warren with a time of 70.6 seconds.
To overcome severe dust and traction problems, the track was sealed for the next meeting in June 1952, won by Reg Hunt in his supercharged Hunt-Vincent with a time of 61.6 seconds.
Victorian Sporting Car Club 29th Templestowe Hill Climb Sunday June 29th 1958 Meeting held under the international sporting code of the FIA and the National Competition Rules of the CAMS Souvenir Program 1/- Image Source: https://austinhealey100s.com.au/Jim-Goldfinch-1958. VSCC hill climb program cover showing the huge plate steel Brake Shoes at the Start of the Templestowe circuit. donated by Pattons Brakes in 1958
Bruce Walton 6 time austrailian Hill Climb Champion in his supercharged cooper JAP. Source Manningham Information panel at Templestowe Hill Climb
The Templestowe venue rapidly became the preferred Victorian hill climb track and hosted the Australian Hillclimb Championship in November 1968, which was won by Dick White.
As public interest in hill climbs declined and suburbia encroached, the ‘Last Templestowe Hill Climb’ was finally held on 6 December 1987, after 6 previous supposed ‘last’ events.
Graham Hoinville in 1953, driving bis supercharged 1100cc MG-TC, which raced at the first and each of the 7 "last" Templestowe events. Source: Manningham Information panel at Templestowe Hill Climb
Templestowe Hill Climb Records
Date; Driver (Owner); Vehicle; Time
Mar 1951; CR Warren; Ford Special; 70.6 sec
Jun 1952 R Nutt (JA Day); Talbot Darrag; 66.2sec
Sep 1952; BS Stillwell; Cooper; 63.18sec
Nov 1952; SJ Jones; Cooper; 62.04sec
Mar 1953; SJ Jones; Cooper; 60.87sec
Sep 1954; SJ Jones; Cooper; 57.41sec
Feb 1956; AN Davison (Ecurie); Cooper Vincent s/c; 56.85
Apr 1956; BA Walton; Walton Special; 56.45sec
May 1956; AN Davison (Ecurie); Cooper Vincent s/c; 55.14
KenRa Films presents Templestowe Hill Climb 1957/59
Reel 12 of a collection of home movies made by Kenneth Carruthers Rankine (1890 - 1968). In this reel we see the family at a number of motor sports events held 1957 - 1959 at Templestowe, Albert Park and Phillip Island. This title is just one of the many films that we are digitising. Discover more about the process on our website.
Mokes at the Templestowe Hillclimb Track
The Templestowe Hillclimb Track, built in 1951, had a reputation in it's day as Australia's most spectacular Hillclimb. In 1987, Members of the Moke Owners Association tested their vehicles and driving skills at Templestowe. A lot happened that day.
To Do: Seek permission to add images from Ben Frawley
Death on the Hill Climb
Complete name: Charles Joseph Bartolo
Birth date: 27.Jan.1939
Birth Place: unknown, unknown
Death date: 28.Oct.1962
Death Place: Templestowe, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Nationality: Australia
Gender: male
Age at death: 23
Event date: 28.Oct.1962
Series: Victorian Hillclimb Championship
Race: Templestowe Hillclimb
Event type: hillclimb - practice
Country: Australia
Venue: Templestowe
Variant: 969-meter hillclimb (1951-1987)
Role: driver
Vehicle type: car
Vehicle sub-type: touring car
Vehicle brand/model: Austin-Healey Sprite
Vehicle number: ??
Notes:
Between March 1951 and 1987, the Templestowe Hillclimb hosted almost 100 cars and motorcycles hillclimb meetings, organised by the Victorian Sporting Car Club. Located nearly the Mullum Mullum Creek in Templestowe, a suburb of Melbourne, state of Victoria, Australia, the hillclimb course was 969 meters in length. The final hillclimb was held on 06 December 1987.
One death was recorded at the hillclimb after an accident, when the Australian driver Charles Bartolo, 23-year-old, crashed during a practice run, on the approach to the Esses. His Austin-Healey Sprite overturned and crushed him. Although at the time seat belts were already used, rollover protection was not compulsory.
Charles Bartolo lived in Bowen Street, Prahran, an inner suburb of Melbourne, at the time of his death. Burial was in Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Springvale, Victoria, Australia.
Sources:
Newspaper The Canberra Times (Canberra, ACT, Australia), issue of Monday, 29 October 1962, page 3, article "Coroner's Wife Killed", retrieved by website https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/104298830 .
Website The Age, article "Hitting The Wall In Style" by Paul Daffey, published on 08 March 2003, page http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/07/1046826528573.html .
Website Speedway and Road Race History, page http://www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com/melbourne-templestowe-hill-climb.html .
Website AUTOSPORT → Forums → The Nostalgia Forum, thread "Templestowe Hill Climb - Melbourne, Australia", page https://forums.autosport.com/topic/108148-templestowe-hill-climb-melbourne-australia/ .
Website Find-A-Grave: Charles Joseph Bartolo [incorrect date of death: 30 October 1962].
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