Virtually anyone who has lived in Northcote for any period of time could fail to notice the impact of the Merri, and to a lesser extent, Darebin Creek on the suburb. But few will be aware of the third and probably fourth major waterway – which may or may not have existed – and may […]
Author: ozsportshistory
Brian Membrey ; Local historian for Darebin area and sports of all sorts
Northcote’s Charlie Vaude : Radio and Vaudeville Star
Charlie Vaude, a Northcote resident for many years, was a very successful live theatre and later popular radio personality and comedian before his death at his Clarke-street home on 29 October, 1942. An archetypical “Cockney”, he was born in London circa 1882, his real name Charles Joseph Ridgway (sometimes shown as Ridgeway). In his youth, he […]
1918 : Northcote Under attack!
During the First World War, there were many references in the local Leader newspapers to the 54th Merri Infantry Battalion and the Volunteer Forces unit base at the Drill Hall in Simpson Street in what was invariably referred to as Westgarth. There was no secret that the Battalion encompassed companies of volunteers from Northcote, Preston and Heidelberg, the latter then […]
1888 : The Battle for Preston Station
Although the locals along with their neighbours in Northcote had fought for many years for a railway service, there was certainly no consensus of opinion as to where Preston actually was! Then classified as a Shire (the lowest level of local governmant authority), Preston was effectively split in two: residents of the area around Regent […]
Dr. Wilfred Kent Hughes of Eltham
Dr. Wilfred Kent Hughes and his second wife Constance came to Eltham around the end of 1925, ostensibly for a six-month break, but stayed for over ten years. He enlisted at 50 years of age while in Bruce-street, Toorak, shown as a medical practitioner and with a brother, Rev Canon Ernest Selwyn Hughes, St Peter’s […]
The Rutter Family of Eltham
The name of “H. Rutter” (Hubert) appears as one of 74 on the St. Margaret’s Church of England non-denominational World War One Roll of Honour in Eltham. Hubert Rutter returned safely from the conflict, but research into two names – “D. Rutter” and “D. H. Rutter” – honoured at the Eltham Memorial Hall as casualties […]
Dr. Mary Ethel Thornton : Radiologist of Warrandyte
After earlier connections to Preston shortly after what appears to have been an unsuccessful first marriage, Dr. Mary Ethel Josephine Thornton, nee Cantwell established a further connection to the north and north-eastern suburbs when in 1937 she married Dr. Wilfred Kent Hughes, a prominent Eltham resident for over a decade before moving to Warrandyte circa […]
Thomas Noble Field Swinton
The name of Thomas Noble Field SWINTON does not appear on either the Australian War Memorial’s Roll of Honour or the Commemorative Roll that records the sacrifice of Australians that died while serving with armed forces of Allied countries. He was, however, one who gave his life in the service of his country. He was […]
Northcote’s Underground River
Virtually no-one who has lived in Northcote for any period of time could fail to notice the impact of the Merri, and to a lesser extent, Darebin Creek on the suburb. But few will be aware of the third and probably fourth major waterway – which may or may not have existed – and may […]
WW1 Casualty : Harold Alexander Letch (Military Cross) (Donnybrook)
Harold Alexander Letch was the sole servicemen killed in the war to be linked to Donnybrook where he was born in 1894. Although Donnybrook does not appear to have been included within the Shire of Whittlesea when the Great War broke out, the little hamlet does form part of today’s City of Whittlesea – even […]