Elizabeth Austin was a Victorian pioneer and philanthropist during the late nineteenth century, driven to improve the lives of older and poorer women. Elizabeth, along with twenty exceptional women was inducted in 2012 on to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, as a part of International Women’s Day activities. Elizabeth and her husband Thomas built Winchelsea’s […]
A Cricketer’s half- century
THIS is a story about my Dad, Cyril Whitely, born 14 December. 1910, in Albury, NSW. He was a great cricketer. Dad felt lucky having three older brothers all in different sports. His eldest brother Bert played football in Albury, Harold played tennis in later life and was quite good at it and Charlie, directly […]
A Child’s memory of Warrandyte
Growing up as a child in Warrandyte during the 1960s was a wonderful time. We had a river frontage property on the Yarra. Koornong Crescent was like a private retreat at the end of a windy, dusty road about a mile and a half north of the village. There were ten houses and twelve properties, […]
Partington Family
The following article is reproduced by permission of Noel Withers and extracted from “Banyule City Council Spring Outdoors Programme 2008: Greensborough & the Plenty River Pioneer Trail with Dennis Ward & Noel Withers. A ramble from the lower part of town and along the river bank learning about historic sites and the pioneering families that […]
Joseph Anderson Panton 1831 – 1913
Panton Hill is named for Jospeh Anderson Panton who in the 1860’s became the Assistant Commissioner of goldfields in Bendigo. He came to Kingstown with troopers to quell trouble between Chinese and European miners, : restored good relations – Goldrush town renamed Panton Hill in 1859 by grateful people. Joseph was born in Knockiemil Aberdeenshire Scotland […]
John Bear on the Plenty
John Bear with his wife Ann (nee Hutchins), sons John Pinney and Thomas Hutchins and daughter Ellen Ann arrived at Williamstown in the 550-ton ship “Brothers”, ‘with their good friend’ Captain Dunsford of Tiverton, Devon, on 20 October 1841. Soon after his arrival John Bear purchased from the Crown for one pound per acre, the freehold of […]
Eliza Smith (Band) Hotelier of St Andrews
Eliza Knell/Smith came to Australia as Eliza Band in 1854 from St Andrews, Scotland. Eliza lived in St Andrews, formerly known as Queenstown, (Shire of Eltham, County of Evelyn), for over fifty years. Eliza and her family owned the St Andrews Hotel and the Post Office for over sixty years. Eliza was a well respected […]
Sauro Antonelli
The following has been reproduced with permission from “Banyule Banner” July 2007 City of Banyule Council’s Director of Community Programs, Sauro Antonelli, has been named a Member of the Order of Australia in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Mr Antonelli, 59, who lives in Hurstbridge, is in charge of Council’s human services, a budget […]
Arthur Edward Griffiths : World War 1 veteran
WW1 Veteran: Arthur Edward Griffiths Lance Corporal No: 920 Born in Victoria ~ August 1893 (Narioka near Echuca) Died in Victoria ~ October 1945 He lays to rest at Fawkner Cemetery (Victoria) Garden of Remembrance 1 Compartment 34 Niche 23 Arthur enlisted in Echuca on 19 August 1914 & was discharged in Melbourne 23 September 1919. He […]
Bomb Shelter
I first became aware that there had been an air raid shelter in my Grandparents backyard at Waiora Rd Heidelberg Heights, when I developed a negative of a photo I hadn’t seen before. It shows my Father’s parents Ilma and Herbert Douglas with their Pomeranian dog Rex, standing on the steps of the shelter my […]