James George Membrey was born at Scotchman’s Lead, near Ballarat in 1862 and he resided for 20 years in the mining town of Napoleons where his parents carried on business as general storekeepers and post office. Membrey moved to Northcote in 1884, originally working as a plasterer and briefly as a builder before becoming Valuer […]
Fellows of Oakland Mickleham
John Fellows, when he died in 1876, was described as being “late of Oakland, Mickleham”. This was distinct from the property “Oaklands” north of the Old Broadmeadows township. In this sense the name was used as a locality name, and described a large area from Oaklands Junction in the south as far north as Mickleham. […]
Heidelberg’s favourite music teacher
Fitzroy-born soprano Mary Conly arrived virtually unknown in London in 1902, aged 27. Within a year she was well on the way to widespread recognition as a first rate professional concert and oratorio singer. She was a “dramatic soprano”, her voice noted for its beauty and sweetness of tone, coupled with immense power. For a […]
Viewbank, Heidelberg
James Williamson was born in 1816 at Viewbank, Trinity, 2 miles from Edinburgh, he was the son of James and Isabella Williamson, his father was a writer to the signet and solicitor in Edinburgh. Young James father had died in 1832 leaving his mother Isabella with 8 daughters and son James, named the son and […]
Greensborough Local Swimming Hole
From our first Greensborough house which was in Lorimer Street behind the School you could go down to Church Street and at the end of Church Street under the railway bridge was the river which had a deep hole for swimming. Church Street has now been cut off by the complex and the area under […]
O’Neill’s Greengrocer’s Main Street, Greensborough
My parents Mavis (May) and William (Bill) O’Neill had a Greengrocer’s shop in Main Street next to Bob Willett’s Butcher’s shop from 1953 until 1969 approx. Bill and Bob had a reciprocal deal whereby they provided each other with weekly supplies and no money needed to change hands. Dad got up at 2 am three […]
Greensborough Bushfire
In 1965 I was 15 years old and on my way home from Zercho’s Business College in Melbourne when the train was stopped at Macleod and the passengers told there was a fire and the train would go no further. No arrangements were made and we were expected to make our own way home so […]
Lochaber Farm
Lochaber cottage was home to two generations of the Smith Family, located at the present address of 45 Harvest Home Road, Epping. Two of the twelve Smith children are pictured here with their father in front of their bluestone farmhouse in c.1918. “Mr Robert Smith (pictured at right) spent his lifetime in this and surrounding […]
World War 1 : Women in Uniform
The City of Brunswick : Elizabeth Gertrude FLEMING Annie Frances GRIFFIN Mabel Lucy HUTCHINSON Linda FLOWER Alice Elizabeth KITCHEN/KITCHIN Blanche Catherine KILSBY Charlotte Joan McALLISTER (O.B.E) Flora MELVILLE Elvina Mary OVEREND BLANCHE Lily RICKETTS Sarah Jane PROCTER Olive Mary ROSE Florence WILLANS Blodywn Elizabeth WILLIAMS The Town of Coburg : Milanie Treleavan AMBLER Octavia Ione […]
World War 1 : Sister Rosalind Eva Ballard
Rosalind Eva Ballard Address : care Whittlesea Post Office Next of kin : Mother Mrs Charles E. Ballard, care Whittlesea Post Office. Father Charles died 13 August, 1915. Rosalind Ballard was the only nurse residing in the Shire of Whittlesea to volunteer for overseas service. She was 29 when she enlisted on 11 December, 1916 […]