Monbulk Historical Society

22/06/2026

KALLISTA PRIMARY SCHOOL PICTURES 1962-1964

When Kallista Primary School celebrated their centenary in 2019 many former students turned up to participate in re-unions. Some of these brought along mementos, such as old photos, and some of these were donated to the school archives.

On a recent visit to the school to copy their pupil registers from 1919-1999, which are about to be donated to PROV, we came across some of these donations. This included some 1960s class photos that we had not seen before, along with 17 colour slides and 17 b&w photo reproductions. The b&w photos were donated by Lois Sinclair (described as Grade 3 1963) while there was no provenance for the colour slides, dated as 1962-1964.

The colour images are the oldest colour pictures we have seen of the school. The fourth image shows the middle steps from the top basketball court leading up to the asphalt area that had two portables on it then. This became the area where the library, art room and new classrooms were added in 1977.

Here are some images of Kallista Primary School from over 60 years ago.

17/06/2026

A STATUE FOR JEANNIE GUNN

Moves are underway to erect a statue to commemorate Jeannie Gunn at the Monbulk RSL. This is to recognise the assistance given by Jeannie to Monbulk's service personnel from WW1 through to WW2 and up until the time she passed away in 1961. Jeannie laid the foundation stone for Monbulk's RSL building.

A meeting will be held at the Monbulk RSL this Saturday, June 20, at 11am to formulate plans. Anyone interested in assisting this most worthy project is encouraged and most welcome to come along.

A life of dedication shown to the town of Monbulk by one woman will help celebrate the 80th anniversary of the town’s RSL. Former Monbulk RSL president Dooley O’Donohue remembered Jeannie Gunn as ‘the greatest lady who ever entered Monbulk’. She spent decades supporting and tending to soldie...

15/06/2026

WELLINGTON COTTAGE
SERVING MONBULK FOR 92 YEARS

Last week Monbulk's Margaret Brooks was awarded for her services with an OAM in the King's Birthday Honours. Margaret joined the Monbulk Brownies in 1962 and became a guide leader in 1971 and has had an overall association with the Monbulk Guides for over 60 years. She has also held a number of state and regional positions serving the organisation, receiving the Grey Kangaroo Award from Guides Victoria in 2022 to recognise her service.

Much of that time was spent being associated with Wellington Cottage, where the Monbulk Guides are based...so this week we will have a look at the history of the small unobtrusive little structure on Moores Road between the Recreation Reserve and Hub (Living & Learning Centre).

Back in the 1920s mothers would go to Belgrave for infant welfare. When an afternoon bus service was cancelled, making the trip impossible, the Monbulk Mother's Club, along with other associations, sprung into action. In September 1931 they enlisted Sister Muriel Peck, Assistant Director of Infant Welfare from the Public Health Department, to lobby the Ferntree Gully Shire to agree to setting up a service in Monbulk. It would cost £10 per annum for the once a month visit by Sister Dunn and the Lillydale Shire had already agreed to pay half the expense. This was unanimously passed and a room in the Mechanics' Hall was made available with a cupboard added for their needs.

Members of the CWA along with members of the Mothers Club then formed a building committee to draw up the plans for a room 18 feet by 24 feet (5.5m x 7.3m), complete with a chimney, and to organise its er****on. Social nights were organised to raise the money required.

By May 1934 building had commenced and it was announced that the building would be called the Muriel Peck Cottage. The fourth day of July 1934 was cloudy but fine when Lady Huntingfield turned the key in the lock and said, "Now on behalf of the Governor and myself, for the continued success and progress of the Monbulk Baby Health Centre, I have the honour to open the Muriel Peck Cottage."

Attendances continued to be quite good and by 1937 the Centre was open half a day a week. Electricity was connected to the Cottage in 1937, and the Committee looked to extending the building at a cost of £17/7/-. This extension was completed in 1939 and a further extension was added in 1947.

In 1929 Mr Wellington had built a "Kipsie Hut" for the Guides where the Community Centre is now, and in 1939 this was moved into the garden of the cottage to be used as a play house by the bigger children visiting the Health Centre. In 1948 this "Kipsie" was joined on to the Cottage to provide an extra room.

The Muriel Peck Cottage was not just used as a Baby Health Centre. The C.W.A. met there, as did the Red Cross and the Junior Red Cross, the R.S.L., the William Angliss Hospital Auxiliary, and the Kookaburra Club, a group of ladies who kept in touch with, and sent parcel to, the Monbulk men fighting overseas in the World War of 1939-45. It was a sort of Community House long before that concept became a thing.

Mrs Lane had started a Play Group in the 1940’s which was later taken over by the Health Department, with a paid leader. In 1966 the new Pre-School and Baby Health Centre opened just across the road (now Moores Road Medical Centre).

The newly formed Senior Citizens group used the Cottage from 1966 until 1973 when their own rooms were opened next door (later demolished about 2008 to make way for the Hub).

By 1973 there were too many Guides, Brownies, Rangers, Scouts and Cubs for them all to continue sharing the Scout Hall in Silvan Road, so the Guides, Brownies and Rangers moved into the Muriel Peck Cottage. At the same time the Lillydale council condemned Muriel Peck Cottage due to major failings as required by the Health Department. Locals rallied to save their building and voluntary labor was supplied to rectify the faults at a cost of about $12,000.

In 1975, a very important event took place – the renaming of the cottage. Mr and Mrs Wellington were both honoured for the work they had done with the Guides, the Health Centre, the CWA, and indeed the whole community. The plaque inside the Cottage, which was donated by the 1st Brownie Pack, says:

"Wellington Cottage - This building, previously known as Muriel Peck Cottage, has been renamed to acknowledge the work of Mr and Mrs Wellington in its building and maintenance, and their involvement in the Monbulk Girl Guides and Country Women's Association. Renovations carried out by Girl Guides commenced 1974. Saturday 11th October 1975."

A front verandah was built, and steps, the exterior walls were covered with Hardiplank, which was painted, big windows were fitted in the front and back wall, vinyl was laid on the kitchen floor. The C.W.A. made new curtains, but the old were kept as well. More money had been raised through Stalls at the Monbulk Mountain Festival, casserole lunches, fashion parades, Christmas stocking raffles, and hand painted china sales. The Guides Local Association obtained a dollar-for-dollar grant from the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation for $4,500.

Of the original users of the Cottage, only the C.W.A. was still there, but the Guides met there, the Get Together group, the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind craft group, the soccer club sometimes, Safety House committee and the Australian Labour Party. A roof was built over the front door, the interior was painted, and a new, lower ceiling fitted. Cupboards were added to the kitchen, heaters bought for the main room, and the drive and rear parking area were formed. On November 6th 1977 the builder completed the renovations. And then, somebody pinched the chairs!

In the mid 1980s further changes were made as Wellington Cottage was adapted for occasional child minding. Today it is the home of the Monbulk guides and after 92 years the little cottage still continues to serve Monbulk well and will produce the next generation that will follow in the footsteps of Margaret Brooks.

08/06/2026

THE JUNE 9 2021 STORMS

Not all history that we cover is from long ago. On June 9-10 2021, 5 years ago today, the Dandenongs were hit by a strong wind of up to 120km an hour. That in itself was not the most unusual aspect, it was that the wind came from the east and south-east, which it rarely does.

At the time it was mentioned that about 10,000 trees had been uprooted or broken off in the storm in the Dandenongs between Croydon and Emerald, although figures were later adjusted to 25,000. The ridge and eastern slopes of Mt. Dandenong copped the brunt of the storm damage.

Just about every road was blocked by multiple trees having fallen. One report says 112 homes were destroyed and hundreds of others damaged. Power was out for weeks in some places.

Some areas that were particularly hit include the Silvan Reservoir forest where several acres were flattened beside McCarthy Road. Also along the Mathias Track in the Hamer Arboretum where limited views over the Yarra Valley were suddenly wide open above the Valley Picnic Ground. Around the Mt. Dandenong Primary School was heavily impacted.

At a time when Covid movement restrictions were still in place this gave the hills residents an extra hurdle along the way.

03/06/2026

HARD TIMES IN THE FAIRY DELL

There were many names given to places in the Dandenongs that attempted to capture the beauty of the area by words. One of the most evocative was that of Fairy Dell, which could conjure up the quiet serenity of an enchanting corner at the back of The Patch on a lazy summer day.

When the Monbulk Village Settlement was first established in 1893 this portion was considered anything but enchanting. The lower end of what is now Fairy Dell Road had some blocks that were not highly regarded as the soil was poor. These particular 10 acre blocks were in Section K, numbered 31 to 37.

In September 1893 Thomas Champion, a laborer with a wife and two children from South Melbourne, selected block 35K. Almost at the same time Thomas O'Don also claimed the block, having been recommended by his friend William Maloney M.L.A. O'Don was a confectioner from 3 Emma Street Collingwood, a suburb that was particularly hard hit in the 1890s depression and many Collingwood residents moved to the new Monbulk settlement.

O'Don queried Mr Thomas, of the Lands Department, as to who had been given the block. On October 22 O'Don stated "I beg to inform you that Champion was in possession of Block 35 Section K but has left our Party and I have taken possession of 35 K Section." Champion then declared on November 10 that "I have given up Block 35 Section K of the O'Don Party Village Settlers Dandenong State Forest."

Thomas O'Don did not come out alone as a selector and was one of five that were a part of the "O'Don Party". Of this group only Thomas O'Don, Thomas Champion and William Follows were identified by name. Follows selected block 36K. The other two from the O'Don Party were possibly either William Edwards (32K), Alexander Campbell (33K) or Frederick Smale (34K), the only other settlers noted on neighbouring blocks at that time. Groups of selectors would, in several instances, select a number of adjoining blocks and create what was known as a Homestead Association, which would supposedly benefit them as a combined entity. Homestead Associations were not a success and within a few years all the ones in Monbulk had disappeared.

In November O'Don had started clearing the block and began erecting a slab hut. By January 1894 it was noted that the hut "has tumbled down quite recently"...O'Don was probably a better confectioner than a builder. In February the Crown Lands Bailiff noted "this man has [worked] hard since he came, built one paling hut that fell before it was finished, the one at present is better, it will stand but the man does not [suit] the country."

On March 11 1894 Thomas O'Don stated he had given up block 35K "on the instructions of the Hon. Minister" and moved to the Labor Colony. Several Monbulk selectors were moved as they had selected very poor blocks which they were unable to cultivate. The Labor Colony was at present day Ferny Creek in the Parish of Scoresby and was then known as the Scoresby Village Settlement. The wider area was known as One Tree Hill by 1895 however by about 1905 a part of it changed its name to Ferny Creek.

Thomas O'Don helped with the surveying of the Labor Colony during March and April 1894, which was surveyed nearly a year after Monbulk had been. O'Don settled there on block 29A (and later also added 28A and 31A), where he was to be a leading and at times controversial citizen. Frederick Smale (Lot 4A) and William Follows (Lot 30A) also joined O'Don and transferred to the Labor Colony from Monbulk, as did a number of other Monbulk settlers on poor land. Smale was likely a member of the O'Don Party.

O'Don had his permit for 35K revoked in May 1894. By October that year 35K was occupied by an Italian named Andre Santanocci, who claimed to have been there three months. Santanocci, apparently an unemployed bootmaker with a wife and four children according to a newspaper report but only listed 2 children on his application (aged 7 and 5), was even less suited to the country than his predecessor. He was denied any aid on account of having failed to make any improvements. He claimed that he had sold some of his clothes to get some food. The CLB reported that he was off looking for gold in the nearby creeks and not working on his block. About May 1895 Santanocci had the misfortune to also break his leg which left his family in a destitute and starving state that garnered a newspaper report in The Herald about the plight of the family. His permit was eventually revoked in February of 1897 although he is likely to have left much earlier. Santanocci previously had a record of stealing a horse in NSW in 1882 and was charged with stealing cows in 1901, by which time he was at Coburg.

Block 35K appears to have been unoccupied from 1895 until H. G. Neill inquired about it in 1902. In March 1903 James Bally selected it, along with the adjoining 36K. James was living on Block 34 opposite but found that blocks 35 and 36 were "Horribly poor" and abandoned them in September 1904.

In February 1905 a Richmond furniture dealer named William White Fraser selected 35K, the block that had caused nothing but hardship for over 10 years. He continued to live at Coppin Street Richmond and held it under a non-residence licence. His son William Francis Fraser selected 36K and would he also look after 35K. In 1906 the Shire of Ferntree Gully deviated the end of Fairy Dell Road to it's present course, whereas it had originally continued fairly straight to the Ti-Tree Creek. This inconvenienced Fraser as a portion of his block was now between Ti Tree Creek and the deviated road. This deviation would connect up to a new Monbulk to Emerald road along the creek in 1908.

W. W. Fraser died on November 17 1908 at the age of 55 and left 5 blocks in Richmond and the Monbulk property to his wife F***y. F***y is likely to have sold some of the Richmond property as a larger house was built on 35K. This was named Fairy Dell, and the name was said to be inspired by a wagon that William Fraser had bought with the words Fairy Dell painted on it.

F***y began advertising the 12 room Fairy Dell as a guest house in October 1909. It consisted of two adjoining buildings with six acres of fruit trees and small fruits and two acres of garden and continued in this use until July 1934 when it burnt down.

The district at the back of The Patch beyond Priors Road became known as Fairy Dell. When a progress association was formed it was known as The Patch & Fairy Dell Progress Association. Today the name is only remembered by the road bearing the name of the former guesthouse that it once went to.

25/05/2026

GEORGE MURRAY IN SHERBROOKE FOREST

One of our favourite photographers was a man named George Gillespie Murray. He was born in Edinburgh on November 28 1858 and came to Australia at some point. On January 4 1884 he married Mary Anne Odgers in Mackay, Queensland. The couple came to Melbourne and are known to have lived at 25 Union Street, Brunswick, for some time. Mary died in 1936 and George remarried in 1937 and moved to Sydney, where he died on September 11, 1938.

Overall we don't know too much about George but have a wonderful legacy that he left with his vast array of photos, which grows as additional postcards turn up. The photos often survive in the form of postcards with his mark on the front - "G. G. M. Photo". One of the aspects that made his photography interesting was his propensity to include people in his photographs of scenery, which captured the pre-WW1 era beautifully.

George was active around Melbourne as a travelling photographer in the early 1900s. He took many photos in the Dandenongs, primarily around 1905 until 1914. Many images are known from Monbulk, South Sassafras (now Kallista), Belgrave and Sassafras in particular, but most of the Dandenongs districts appeared to have be visited. He was even privately engaged by John and Roberta Roberts of South Sassafras to take many photos of the artists at Sunnyside and around the present Kallista area, capturing the likes of C. J. Dennis at work (he wrote most of The Sentimental Bloke at Sunnyside), Mrs Aeneas (Jeannie) Gunn and many others which appear in family albums.

For this week's post we will focus on just a handful of George's picture postcard images taken in Sherbrooke Forest. Many of these photos would have been taken on the same day with the same man and woman featuring in them. George and his companions visited the two main attractions in the forest at the time, being the Giant Tree and Sherbrooke Falls. At the time Sherbrooke Falls were visited at the base in the gully rather than at the bridge as has been done for the last 50 years. The track to the base was closed off in the early 1970s for environmental reasons and the bridge at the top was built in 1976. The postcards, when postally used, have 1909 dates or cancellations on the backs, suggesting that they were likely taken in 1908 or 1909.

If you visit the Public Records Office Victoria at North Melbourne there is a large photo of the 1906 North Melbourne Locomotives Football Club premiership team in the room by the entrance, with the G.G.M. Photo identification on it.

18/05/2026

KALLISTA-THE PATCH BROWNIES AT THE MONBULK ANIMAL KINGDOM

This week's post is of a pictorial nature. We are currently digitising the Monbulk Guides archives and continually find ourselves coming across interesting photos.

Here are some images of the 1st Kallista-The Patch Brownies visiting the Monbulk Animal Kingdom in the 1980s, which was run by Fritz Maaten and Andy Stevens.

12/05/2026

MORE DUTCH HISTORY
THE CONSUL & THE CABIN

About 10 years ago the Monbulk Historical Society was invited to a Log Cabin home in Ridge Road, Kallista, where the owner was intrigued by the apparent history associated with the property. It had apparently once been the weekend property for a Dutch Consul according to a previous owner. We had no records of this in the Ferntree Gully Shire Ratebooks which covered the years 1892-1935, nor anything else to go on.

The owner was interested to know how old the cabin might be. We were only able to supply some basic property information, such as Samuel Willis had been the original selector. The cabin was not an early settler home but rather in the style sometimes built in the 1920s and 1930s. With no more information we left it at that.

More recently the same person had contact with our friends at the Sherbrooke Foothills Historical Society (who primarily cover the Upper FTG to Belgrave area) and the same story cropped up again. Annie Hills, who is a remarkable researcher with the SFHS, as readers of her stories on the Sherbrooke Foothills History page will know, passed on the information. We had forgotten the bit about the Dutch Consul and with our recent Dutch Exhibition thought that it definitely warranted another look.

As we are in the process of downloading 1000's of titles at PROV for our district, we grabbed the relevant titles of the property and passed them on to Annie to do her magic. The result has solved the questions that had not been answerable 10 years ago prior to our access to Titles.

The property on Ridge Road was originally part of Lot 13A, a 271 acre block, which extended down to Kallista-Emerald Road and Frond Drive in The Patch. It was made available for selection under lease in 1878 and 11 years later Samuel Willis then bought it in 1889. Although the land is now in Kallista it was then a part of Menzies Creek.

The property had begun to be subdivided in 1930. After Samuel Willis died in 1933 the land was left to his sons, Samuel James Willis and Ernest Horatio Willis.

The title shows that Samuel James Willis retained this part of the estate until 1938, when it was bought by Isobel Maud Sinclair. She resided at 9 Harcourt St Hawthorn with her husband Harold Patrick Sinclair. They were recently married, and he was a "manufacturer". She, however, had inherited a fortune 10 years earlier, possibly explaining the Harcourt Street address. Where her money came from was from her father's Tar Distillery fortune. She featured in Table Talk both for her engagement and marriage. Unfortunately they went downhill from there...respectable, but not in the high echelons of society.

Now that a name had been found via the title, Annie was able to concentrate her search on Trove, and it revealed a stroke of luck. The Ferntree Gully News in August 1938 showed that H. P. Sinclair applied for a building permit for a Log Cabin at Aura (as Menzies Creek was then known). It is uncommon to find information relating to when houses were built.

The Sinclair's retained the property until 1942 when it was sold to Jan Van Holst Pellekaan, and the Dutch connection had been found. Without the Title revealing the name of the consul it would have been like a needle in a haystack. A search showed that Pellekaan had been a trade consul in Sydney, and had moved to Melbourne earlier that year.

Annie found quite a bit of information on him, an interesting time he had during the WW2 years in Melbourne, with Holland under occupation, and the Japanese occupying Netherlands East Indies. He was trade commissioner for NEI and was involved in supporting refugees from both Holland and NEI. Pellekaan retained the property until 1946, when the war had concluded.

So here is another addition to the Dutch history of our district, able to be put together via Title information and the wonders of Trove.

11/05/2026