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 […]
Tag: Northcote
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 […]
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 […]
Racecourses of the north – Fitzroy
This entry may seem a little outsie the scope of WikiNorthia, but the so-called “Fitzroy” course was actually in well and truly in Northcote. In 1891, Messrs Byrne and Callahan, two private investors, purchased 30 acres of land on the west side of St. Georges Road in Northcote (between today’s Gadd Street and Wootton Avenue) […]
World War 1 : Nurse Harriet Mary Hazel Bain
Harriet Mary Hazel Bain Address : 13 Darebin Street, Northcote Next of kin : father, Mr John Bain (mother, Winifred Louisa,nee Jones) Although Hazel Bain was the last of the nurses connected to Darebin to be uncovered, hers was a significant tale to tell in that she was the only one of the Darebin group that was forced to resign due to her […]
Preston and Northcote School Sports
The Preston and Northcote School Sports While recently researching the history of Preston and Gowerville Park (aka Preston City Oval), I came across a long forgotten phenomenon of the 1950s and early 60s that I’m sure will strike a chord with many readers of “a Certain Age”. With a drop-off in interest and attendances in Association football in those years, […]
James George Membrey, M.L.A.
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 […]
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 Edith Cornwell
Sister Edith Cornwell Address : “Cleadon”, Westgarth Street, Northcote Next of kin : brother, Alexander Cornwell, “Cleadon”, Westgarth Street, Northcote. Parents Henry and Isabella Cornwell, nee Winter. As Matron Edith Cornwell and at 46 years of age (possibly 48 when she joined a second time), she was the most senior of the women from the […]
Darebin’s Boer War
The Preston Contingent ”Three Musketeers” in the persons of Messrs Chas. Patterson, Steve Prowse and Fred Michell – all Preston boys – called at this office in a high state of jubilation on Thursday, having been picked the day before to go with the Victorian contingent and fight for the liberties of their fellow Britishers […]