HISTORY NEWS ISSUE 359 | APRIL 2022 - Inside this issue - Royal Historical Society of Victoria
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HISTORY NEWS
ISSUE 359 | APRIL 2022
Inside this issue
What’s on Around the societies Lawrence “Lawrie” Burchell
President’s report Bunyip HS: Perseverance pays (1929-2022)
Victorian Community History Awards Windows on history: German migration to Victoria and the
‘The Faithful Soldier’ establishment of Westgarthtown
Heritage Report: Parliamentary Inquiry
on Planning and Heritage and the Michael Cannon (1929—2022) Summer internship at the RHSV
John Curtin Hotel The Australasian Mining History Bookshop catalogue
Robert Menzies Institute Exhibition Association: Journal of Australian Books received
Vale Dr Leonie Foster 1928–2022 Mining History
History Victoria Support Group: Gordon Moffatt RHSV History
Adapting to change Fellowship 2021-22
What’s on We will be attempting to offer all our events as hybrid:
both in our premises 239 A’Beckett St, Melbourne
and via Zoom. Information on booking tickets to all
at RHSV our events can be found on our website.
KALEIDOSCOPE and holding events that engage primary Victoria is the only state offering
school aged children. We intend to have Australian History as a year 12 subject. In
Free
several case studies from historical 2022 a new Australian History curriculum
Mon-Fri 9am – 5pm societies who are already successfully
Kaleidoscope is was launched and Cambridge University
working with their local students. Publishing have produced the four
the RHSV’s major
exhibition in 2022 new textbooks which support this new
and it celebrates the curriculum. Richard Broome and Ashley
women who were Keith Pratt were the series editors and
crucial in building led a team of experienced teachers
the organisation and historians. They are an extremely
from its beginning readable set covering:
in 1909. This is biography imagined
through the lens of a kaleidoscope. The • From Custodianship to the
viewer is offered fragments of the lives Anthropocene (60,000 BCE–2010)
represented here. There is no linear • Power and Resistance 1788-1998
narrative. Each time the kaleidoscope • Creating a Nation: 1834–2008
turns, a different story emerges. There A G L SHAW LECTURE • War and Upheaval 1909-1992
are repeating patterns but different Rosalie Triolo, recently retired as Senior
emphases and new ways of seeing, new Tuesday 5 April, 6:30 – 8:30PM
Lecturer, History of Education at Monash
reflections, new refractions. No one story $35
University and as President of the History
dominates and one story does not fit all. The A G L Shaw
Teachers’ Association of Victoria, will
lecture, presented in
launch the series and we’ll be entertained
CONNECTING HISTORICAL partnership with the
by The Good Girls, a group of performers
C J La Trobe Society,
SOCIETIES AND PRIMARY who bring history to life through folksong
is one of our annual
SCHOOLS and music.
series of Distinguished
April 4 Lecturer series and we
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm are delighted that in 2022 historian and
Zoom, Free nephew of A G L Shaw, Dr Peter Yule, will
In 2022 the RHSV, along with many be speaking on The Barristers of the Port
other organisations, will be pulling out all
Phillip District 1839-1851.
stops to celebrate the sesquicentenary
of the Education Act 1872. This ground-
breaking legislation mandated that LAUNCH OF
primary education in Victoria would ANALYSING
be free, secular and compulsory. The AUSTRALIAN
Department of Education is encouraging HISTORY MARKETING CLINIC
primary schools to partner with their Thursday 7 April, 5pm Monday 11 April + Monday 9 May,
local historical societies; so, we are
Free 12pm–1pm
encouraging historical societies to
Speaker: Rosalie Triolo by ZOOM, FREE
contact their local primary school and
plan some activities. In this forum we will Performers: The Good Christina Browning, our new RHSV
be talking about all aspects of creating Girls Marketing Officer will be hosting this
series of lunch-time Marketing Clinics
on the 2nd Monday of each month.
History News Join Christina to find out how you can
maximise the use of free social media
History News is the bi-monthly newsletter of the RHSV
ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA INC. platforms. Bring your questions.
EDITOR Sharon Betridge PRESIDENT Richard Broome On 11 April Christina will discuss shaping
DESIGN & ARTWORK Centreforce Pty Ltd 5975 8600 EXECUTIVE OFFICER Rosemary Cameron a social media campaign around a
PRINTED BY Southern Impact 8796 7015 ADMINISTRATION OFFICER Emily Maiolo special day.
Items for publication should be sent to the Editor COLLECTIONS MANAGER & VOLUNTEER
EMAIL sbetridge@outlook.com COORDINATOR Jillian Hiscock
History News copy closes 2nd of the month: March, May, July, MARKETING CO-ORDINATOR Christina Browning
September, November, January unless in consultation with the PROJECT OFFICER Jade Koekoe What’s on is continued on page 8
editor. RHSV welcomes submission of articles for inclusion in COLLECTIONS OFFICER Helen Stitt
History News. Publication and editing will be at the discretion
of the editor and the Publications Committee as directed by BOOKKEEPER Noha Ghobrial
our Terms of Reference. History House
COVER IMAGE: The oldest operating Lutheran church in 239 A’Beckett Street Melbourne 3000
Australia was built in 1856 and is located in Westgarthtown. See Office & Library Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
pages 16-17, ‘German migration to Victoria and the establishment
of Westgarthtown, now Thomastown and Lalor’ Photographer, P: 9326 9288 W: www.historyvictoria.org.au
Stephen Kinna Photography, https://bit.ly/35LKOTi Email: office@historyvictoria.org.au
ABN 36 520 675 471 Registration No. A2529
PRINT POST APPROVED PP336663/00011 ISSN 1326-269
2 RHSV HISTORY NEWS APRIL 2022
President’s TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Report News and articles
Victorian Community History Awards. . 3
Robert Menzies Institute Exhibition. . . . 6
Vale Dr Leonie Foster 1928–2022. . . . 7
Bunyip Historical Society:
We take many things for granted in our in the financial assistance given out to Perseverance pays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
lives: peace and wellbeing important history and heritage organisations as
among them. The COVID pandemic opposed to other arts organisations. Michael Cannon (1929—2022). . . . . . . 14
which has now claimed 6 million lives This has happened again recently. The Australasian Mining History
worldwide and caused 400 million Creative Victoria has supported the Association: Journal of Australian
illnesses, and now the recent Russian RHSV to the level of 10-15 per cent of Mining History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
invasion of a sovereign Ukraine, has the Society’s annual income through Gordon Moffatt RHSV History
changed that complacency. grants over the past fifteen years. This Fellowship 2021-22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
History is important in understanding support will cease in two years’ time, after
Lawrence “Lawrie” Burchell
these changes. In December 2022 the two years of reduced interim funding.
(1929-2022). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Victorian Historical Journal will be a Other history and heritage groups have
special issue on the 1919 pandemic. This suffered the same outcome. German migration to Victoria
will no doubt reveal many similarities and the establishment of
It is unclear whether any future funding
with the current pandemic, from which scheme will be put in place for history Westgarthtown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17
governments did not learn. Also, the and heritage, indeed the word ‘history’ Summer internship at the RHSV. . . . . 18
adventurism of Putin in Ukraine has many does not appear in Creative Victoria’s
precedents: in Georgia, Syria and the vision. We must convince governments
Crimea, which many seem to forget. His Regular features
that this should be the case. If not, we will
homefront grab for wealth and power and need to become even more self-reliant. What’s on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 & 8
his treatment of dissidents also revealed We have already been moving in this President’s Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
a disregard for the rule of law, which direction while expanding our staff and Heritage Report: Parliamentary
bizarrely he claims to uphold. the services we offer members and the Inquiry on Planning and Heritage
We live our lives in a web of history, but community. and the John Curtin Hotel . . . . . . . . . 4-5
mostly we do not see it. Everyday we Please tell family, friends, and those
check the stock news, which is enmeshed History Victoria Support Group:
with influence, how vital history is to the
in a world of prices, today as opposed to Adapting to change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
wellbeing and identity of each of us and
yesterday, last week and last year. Turn our communities. Around the societies. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11
to the sports pages and we read of team Bookshop catalogue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Richard Broome
and individual performances in great
Books received. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
historical statistical detail, which is added
to with every match played. The winter
Olympics and Para-Olympics earlier this
year were again replete with historical
statistics. The weather report is the same.
Our identity and sense of self is shaped
by our family history, a local history and
a wider national history into which we
Victorian Community
fit. We develop an idea of who we are
by an understanding of these contexts
of which we are a part. We tell stories
History Awards
about ourselves, reinforcing ideas about Entries are now open for the 2022 Victorian Community History Awards
who we are as Australians. Historians for projects which come to fruition between 1 July 2021 and 30 June
do this work for us as they write the 2022. Entries close 5pm, Friday 8 July 2022.
local, regional and national story. Other
creative people who write music lyrics, This year we are thrilled to announce a new award category, bringing
the scripts of plays, novels, operas and the number of categories to 10 plus, of course, the overall award, The
films often draw on history for their Premier’s History Award.
stories, especially those they tell for The new award is The Small Organisation History Project Award
Australian audiences. which recognises the best activity enhancing awareness of records
History is so ubiquitous in our lives that it of significance by a small group or historical society with an annual
tends to become unremarkable, almost operating budget of less than $10,000.
invisible, and often unacknowledged. This To learn more or to enter visit our website:
has happened on the part of governments historyvictoria.org.au/victorian-community-history-awards-2022/
at all levels in recent times. History and
heritage are often overlooked or given
short shrift in government planning or
RHSV HISTORY NEWS APRIL 2022 3
HERITAGE
Parliamentary Inquiry on Planning and
Heritage and the John Curtin Hotel
The Legislative Council Inquiry on Heritage Committee, has led our the scheme saying ‘please build to eight
Planning and Heritage was going campaign against this practice. As stories!’ These DDOs are proliferating
gangbusters, having received over he pointed out in a letter to The Age throughout the commercial areas of the
250 submissions, including the RHSV’s. (22/2), the John Curtin Hotel is only inner suburbs.
Hearings were scheduled for March. But the latest example of this problem. This is the situation which paved the way
on 16 February Clifford Hayes MP, who This historic hotel is covered by the to demolition of the 1857 Corkman Hotel,
led the push for the Inquiry, told us that Heritage Overlay, and by a Design and originally the Carlton Inn. Like the John
he had been bitterly disappointed by a Development Overlay calling for an eight- Curtin, the Corkman was subject to a
committee decision not to hold hearings. storey building on the site! As Ian Wight DDO, one that called for a twelve-storey
The Inquiry is mothballed unless the next puts it, ‘we have the planning scheme
Parliament takes it up again. on the one hand saying you ought to John Curtin Hotel, contemporary
conserve the hotel and another part of photo (courtesy Alamy Stock Photos)
The hearings would have enabled us to
shine a light on fundamental failings in
the protection of local heritage. Earlier
in this century, the state government Enhance your next book with an Index
abrogated responsibility for local heritage
protection with the closure of Heritage by Terri Mackenzie
Victoria’s Heritage Advisory Service.
More recently, the Department of
Environment, Land, Water and Planning
is actively undermining heritage by Professional Back of Book Indexer
imposing Design and Development Member of Australian and New Zealand
Overlays (DDOs) that invite developers Society of Indexers
to construct new buildings even on sites Honorary Victorian Historical Journal Indexer
covered by the Heritage Overlay (HO). terrianne@bigpond.com
Ian Wight, Deputy Chair of the RHSV
terrianne@bigpond.com
4 RHSV HISTORY NEWS APRIL 2022
It was one of the
last pubs built or
rebuilt before the
introduction of six
o’clock closing in
1916, a ‘reform’ sold
as part of the war
effort but also an
attempt to reduce
drinking.
Preferred Built Form for the Corkman Hotel under DDO 64A 4.1
(Drawing: Terence Nott)
building. With the prospect of multi-storey buildings, these remain. After the war, hotels were generally built or rebuilt
DDOs invite developers’ greed. In the case of the Corkman, ‘to a modernised neo-classical style with columns or a more
the developers’ greed got the better of them. They would have moderne/streamline style’.
done almost as well following the rules and that is what we fear Dr McConville also points out that the Hotel is distinctive in
for the John Curtin. Developers buy the property and prepare a Victoria’s social history. It was one of the last pubs built or
design that saves the front wall and behind it they plan to build rebuilt before the introduction of six o’clock closing in 1916,
an eight-storey apartment tower. If they don’t win at Council, a ‘reform’ sold as part of the war effort but also an attempt
they appeal to VCAT, where their barristers cite the DDO and to reduce drinking. Six o’clock closing meant that drinkers
argue, all too often successfully, that the proposal is in line with had a short time after work to drink enough to keep them
applicable planning controls. happy through the evening. To cater for this demand, the best
In the case of the John Curtin Hotel, HO protection is further arrangement was a big, open ’swill’. The John Curtin is one of
reduced because it is listed as ‘contributory’. Developers’ the last examples of earlier arrangements, when getting drunk
barristers have made this designation a guarantee of demolition. was a more leisurely affair.
Only the designation ‘individually significant’ gives a hope of The campaign to save the John Curtin is a sign of the broader
preservation. problem. Local heritage protection has been so eroded that
The John Curtin is distinctive because of its long association many cherished buildings are at risk. The Legislative Council
with the labour movement owing to its location opposite Trades Inquiry offered hope that we could reverse this alarming trend.
Hall. The John Curtin, however, justifies protection on other We urge all Victorians who care about our heritage to demand
grounds. Known as the Lygon Hotel until it was named after of candidates at this year’s state election that they pledge to
Australia’s wartime Prime Minister in 1971, it dates from 1915, restart this Inquiry and pursue it to the end, with full hearings
when it replaced the 1859 building. It is a charming design in and deliberations
the Arts and Crafts style and it is remarkably intact. Dr Chris Charles Sowerwine, Chair,
McConville of Victoria University, co-author of The Australian Heritage Committee, RHSV, 10 March 2022.
Pub (UNSW Press 2010), points out that few hotels of this style
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Robert Menzies Sir Robert Menzies during his visit
to blitzed London in 1941.
Institute Exhibition
The Robert Menzies Institute is a new achievements in the years of his Prime as a whole. An imposing and complex
Prime Ministerial Library and Museum Ministership, with specific focus on character, Menzies deserves a dedicated
located in the Old Quad at The University of Australia’s growing position as an place in the cultural memory of modern
Melbourne. The Institute was established international power throughout the middle Australia. Through fostering further
in 2021 to commemorate Australia’s of the twentieth century. Some items research into the career, times and life
longest serving Prime Minister, Sir Robert of note include a personal medical kit of Robert Menzies, the Robert Menzies
Institute hopes to encourage debate and
Menzies. The Institute’s mission is to given to Menzies by his physician prior to
develop new insights into this important
foster engagement with The University of leaving for Egypt on a diplomatic mission period of change in Australia.
Melbourne’s Menzies Collection through during the Suez crisis and the uniform
exhibitions and the promotion of research worn for his investiture as Lord Warden If you would like to visit the exhibition,
please call (03) 8344 3411 or email nina@
around the Menzies era through its of the Cinque Ports at Dover castle in
robertmenziesinstitute.org.au to book
annual conference and events. 1966. The exhibition will showcase many a tour.
Born in Jeparit, a small town in Victoria, of Sir Robert’s personal books from the
Samantha Rogers
Menzies attended The University of University’s Menzies Collection, some of
Assistant Curator
Melbourne where he studied law. He which contain inscriptions of important Robert Menzies Institute
became a successful Barrister working historical figures from the era, including
out of Selbourne Chambers in Bourke Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, and The
Street Melbourne. He entered State Dalai Lama.
Parliament in 1928, becoming Attorney- We can appreciate the importance of a Advisory War Council, 1940.
General in 1932. Menzies entered Federal figure like Robert Menzies in the study of Courtesy of John Curtin Prime
Parliament in 1934. Menzies served as the history of both Victoria and Australia Ministerial Library, JCPML00376/71.
Prime Minister from 1939-1941 and 1949-
1966, a total of eighteen years.
The exhibition is spread across two
spaces, each with its own narrative.
The first space explores Menzies’ early
years, including his family ties, education,
law career, and early political career.
The second room covers Menzies’s
6 RHSV HISTORY NEWS APRIL 2022
Vale Dr Leonie
Foster 1928–2022
Maritime
Historian and
former RHSV Dr Leonie Foster, 1992.
Courtesy Vanessa Craigie
Director
Leonie was born on 29 June 1928 to Herbert Van Joolen and On joining the Royal Historical Society of Victoria in 1978,
Alice née Browne; the Dutch surname came from her paternal Leonie encountered new perspectives on her home state. She
grandfather who had migrated from Rotterdam. Leonie attended was appointed Director in December 1990 and stayed until
Murrumbeena State School and then Methodist Ladies College December 1993 when she resigned largely owing to prolonged
from 1939–45. She completed Year 12 in business studies, which ill health. The RHSV was then located in the elegant Old Royal
her parents advised would be more useful than matriculation. Mint. Leonie tackled many challenges, assisted by two other
While working in the Flinders Street clothes trade, Leonie met paid staff, Joan Murphy, secretary, Lorenzo Iozzi, curator, and
Colin Craigie and they married in 1951. The couple had two a team of volunteers.
children, Rowen and Vanessa, but divorced in 1974. Leonie later With her customary warmth, courtesy and energy, Leonie
married Frank Foster and lived in Toorak. welcomed visitors to lectures in the gracious Bullion room of
While working part-time in an accountant’s office when her the Royal Mint, edited the newsletter, handled the accounts
children were young, Leonie yearned for a more fulfilling with precision and spoke to numerous local historical societies.
career, which she single-mindedly pursued. She studied HSC She oversaw the transition from analogue processes to the
in the same year as her son, then majored in History for BA digital world and secured approval under the state’s Museum
Hons at Monash University; her honours thesis in 1979 was Accreditation Program. In 1991 she commenced a long period
on ‘The Imperial Federation League in Victoria after Australian of service on the committee of the Prahran Mechanics Institute.
Federation: an analysis of its structures, personnel, aims and Emeritus Professor Weston Bate, then RHSV president, praised
decline’. Leonie extended her interest in Australian political Leonie’s promotion of the RHSV across Victoria.
history with her PhD thesis at La Trobe University. This was Following the death of her second husband in 1991, Leonie
published by Melbourne University Press and the Australian moved to Hawthorn in 1993. She continued her work in maritime
Institute of International Affairs in 1986 as High Hopes: the Men history and, always versatile, lectured on Jazz at the University
and Motives of the Australian Round Table. of the Third Age. She participated in stimulating discussion
Leonie then changed direction to become a pre-eminent scholar and card circles at the Lyceum Club, travelled in Australia and
in maritime history. She worked for the Maritime Archaeology overseas on garden tours and enjoyed family life with her adult
Unit of the Victoria Archaeological Survey which published her children and three grandchildren. Declining health forced her to
magnum opus, four volumes on Port Phillip Shipwrecks: An move in her final years to Kew Gardens Aged Care. A fervent
Historical Survey, 1987–90. supporter of the Melbourne Football Club, she celebrated the
When the maritime unit was absorbed into Heritage Victoria in Demons’ premiership in 2021 after a drought of 57 years. Leonie
1994, Leonie became a key member of the Historic Shipwrecks passed away on 5 January 2022.
Advisory Committee. She served on the Heritage Council from The RHSV’s farewell to Leonie is best expressed in words
2005 to 2008 as ‘alternate member’ to Peter Hiscock, who by her former colleague Warren Perry, distinguished military
was appointed Deputy Chair. Her book The Wild Coast Wrecks, historian. Warren told Leonie on her retirement in 1993 that
about shipwrecks on the western coast in a social context, she had adorned the RHSV office with scholarship and dignity
was published by Heritage Victoria in 1996. Leonie served combined with ‘a deft touch of diplomacy’. He wrote ‘You have
on the International Commission for Maritime History and in added lustre to the office of Director … Thereafter, the sun will
2009 received the Jack Loney Award for ‘groundbreaking shine less brightly through the windows of the Old Royal Mint’.
research, long-standing committee membership and mentoring Carole Woods
of maritime heritage professionals in Australia’. She wrote
various articles including the significant ‘Shipwrecks and the
White Australia Policy’ in The Great Circle, 2014.
RHSV HISTORY NEWS APRIL 2022 7
What’s on We will be attempting to offer all our events as hybrid:
both in our premises 239 A’Beckett St, Melbourne
at RHSV and via Zoom. Information on booking tickets to all
our events can be found on our website.
⊲ continued
PRISONERS OF THE LAUNCH OF ACROSS BASS government’s institution of free university
JAPANESE: PERSONAL STRAIT education, Victoria was ahead of the
STORIES FROM WW2 SERVICE Thursday 28 April, 5:30pm
game and flew the flag of progressive
RECORDS liberalism. The Education Act 1872 made
FREE
Victoria the first Australian colony,
Tuesday 26 April, 10:30am – 12noon Speaker: The Hon Barry Jones AC
and one of the first jurisdictions in the
by Zoom, FREE Barry Jones will be launching Dr Jane
world, to offer free, secular, compulsory
Speaker: Patrick Ferry Lennon AM’s book, Across Bass Strait.
education to its primary-school children.
This seminar is presented by the National Publisher at Anchor Books and historian,
Archives of Australia in partnership with Liz Rushen, says, “I’m thrilled to be History Month is a wonderful opportunity
the RHSV and GSV. involved as I first came across Jane’s MA for each historical society to hold an
in the RHSV library…” event with a local primary school - or
Anzac Day 1942: As Australia stopped
two or three! Take in a box of historical
to remember the sacrifices of war, over Across Bass Strait is a history of the
objects, perhaps some antique toys or
22,000 Australian service personnel connection which commenced in the
photos of your area. Or play a game
were prisoners of the Japanese, having 1840s between squatters, merchants and
you used to play as a kid! The list of ideas
been recently captured in Malaya, mariners to develop the livestock trade
is endless.
Singapore, Timor and New Guinea. Their from the mainland to Van Diemen’s Land.
families back home waited anxiously for The trade established nineteenth-century So put the dates in your diary, and start
news, which often never came. In this Gippsland as a prime beef producer planning! We’ll send more event ideas
webinar, Patrick Ferry draws on original exporting through Port Albert, a now- and the Department of Education and
defence service records and treasured forgotten port, and this account is based Training Victoria is developing curriculum
family archives to tell the personal stories on merchants’ records and letters from suggestions for release in term 3.
of several POWs from one small rural two families who were major players in Activity resources:
Victorian community. this trade. https://www.carnamah.com.au/education
https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/stay-
CATALOGUING CLINIC CRAIG SANDY, SURVEYOR-
at-home-festival/
Thursday 28 April + Thursday 26 May, GENERAL OF VICTORIA
https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/
11am–12noon Monday 2 May, 5:30 – 7pm
societies/other-resources/
by ZOOM, FREE $10/$20
Jillian Hiscock, RHSV Collections Joint presentation with GSV. Funding resources:
Manager, hosts these monthly hour-long As well as being Victoria’s Surveyor- The 2022 Children’s Week Grant ($1000)
clinics which are a relaxed gathering General, Mr Sandy is a member of the is an option for the last week of History
of people who are finding their way Registrar of Geographic Names, Victorian Month. For more information email
through the intricacies of cataloguing Electoral Boundaries Commission and childrens.week@education.vic.gov.au
material in historical collections which, the Intergovernmental Committee on
as we all know, fall between a library and Surveying and Mapping. FLAGSTAFF GARDEN GUIDED
a museum with sometimes a bit of art WALKING TOURS
gallery thrown in. Jillian always prepares AGM and Chris Manchee is taking his very
some material on a specific topic and WESTON BATE entertaining guided walking tours of
questions are encouraged. If you are new ORATION Flagstaff Gardens again. The tours are
to cataloguing or an old hand you will find at 11am or 2pm every Monday and cost
plenty to interest you in these sessions. Tuesday 17 May,
5pm – 7:30pm $10. Chris can often accommodate larger
Look on our website for 2022 dates and FREE groups on other days too.
Zoom log-in. Speaker: Dr Visitors will climb Flagstaff Hill to consider
Andrew Lemon AM its place in Melbourne’s topography
Following our AGM and pre-European history as well as its
at 5pm, historian and now novelist, early roles as a burial ground, flagstaff
Andrew Lemon will be discussing signalling station and magnetic and
Australian History as Literature: meteorological observatory.
Australian Literature as History at 6:15pm. These are great tours for groups like
Probus and U3A. To find out more
OCTOBER IS HISTORY MONTH please contact Emily on 03 9326 9288
2022 | office@historyvictoria.org.au Tours can
Celebrating 150 years of free secular be combined with the exhibition or a
and compulsory education for morning and afternoon tea.
Victorian primary school kids!
A century before the Whitlam
8 RHSV HISTORY NEWS APRIL 2022
History Victoria
Support Group:
Adapting to change
What do we do when we cannot
Painting
welcome visitors to our museums? Trentham’s
During COVID, we learnt about coping portable archive
with many restrictions: some of us were room: Alice
lucky enough to still have access to Petherbridge,
Susie Spence
our collections, although many were (Vice President),
completely cut off from everything. Michael
Although many online resources are Worthington
widely available, it was the expertise of (President), Tony
society members that enabled them to van Rensberg
still assist those with queries. (Past President
and current
At Trentham, a tiny community surrounded Buildings
by the Wombat State Forest between Manager).
Woodend and Daylesford, COVID
coincided with a tranche of new members
and a renewed vigour in the society.
The Trentham and District Historical
Society has completed the digitisation
of thousands of photographs and ‘functional’ buildings still in situ onsite; modern house for its time, reportedly ‘one
catalogued its collection although, like they are open weekends. They have of the most magnificent and costly seats
many, they are still trying to find the ideal recently added a portable archives store in Gippsland’. Then Askin diversified from
cataloguing program. For now, the items building through a Bendigo Bank grant. grazing to dairying, leasing 120–260
have been entered in Excel and uploaded Although not part of the original complex, acre lots complete with a house, milking
to a shared drive accessible to all the next on their project list is a landscaping shed, stables, tools and even dairy herds.
Society’s researchers and volunteers. plan with screening plants, and a signage These were later allocated under a share
Curator Sue Worthington explains the timeline to explain the original buildings system. The original homes were timber
society had a catalogue system but, like and their place in the local history and to but later ones were brick, from a brick kiln
many, it had access restricted to just one ‘disguise’ the new building. The Society built on the main property.
or two volunteers, which she quickly also received a PROV grant and has a The township was built around the
recognised as a risk. “Many societies website in design phase to complete its Foster’s Butter and Cheese Factory
are susceptible to people gathering upgrade to become more innovative and including those distinctive brick homes,
information to their chest with the risk accessible, while continuing to respond several shops and eventually a hall.
of losing so much knowledge as people to research enquiries as it did during There are also a couple of hollow-
move on,” she said. COVID. Its future is looking bright. concrete block homes, reflecting another
In late 2019 Sue and her husband Michael From another lockdown angle, in Foster innovation; the bricks were left
moved to Trentham and she joined the Maffra both museums have closed for over from the Foster Building, a retail
Society. Her background included a maintenance works. The Sugar Beet and office complex built in Maffra in
long-ago stint in librarianship with the Museum is undergoing restoration work on 1908 and now listed on the Victorian
University of NSW. Although she knew damaged weatherboards and foundations, Heritage Register as ‘a very early, intact
little about museums and collections, she and re-painting. The Gippsland Vehicle and unusually ornate example of hollow
attended online courses and researched Museum has roofing works underway to concrete block construction, using blocks
numerous studies to help guide her work remove asbestos material. made on site’.
and assess the options available. So, when a bus tour hits town, where do Showcasing the town’s unique story, the
The society had called for new volunteers they go? Maffra and District Historical local Boisdale history group has provided
through the local media with good response, Society developed a local tour to illustrate a self-guided tour for visitors by installing
including two particularly well qualified the town’s history. Interestingly, the tour a series of plaques along its single main
new members: audio specialist Rosie Hill begins at nearby Boisdale which is where street marking the history of the houses
and Alice Petherbridge who has skills in European settlement of the area started. and original occupants: factory manager,
working with digital photographs. The new Maffra was originally the Boisdale estate school teacher etc.
volunteers provided huge momentum to ‘sheepfold’ with a hut for shepherds and Boisdale was also a sugar beet growing
projects the society had in the pipeline, sheepyards. Unusually for Australia, area when the industry was a feature of
including the cataloguing work. Boisdale resembles the English style of the Maffra district from the late 1890s until
South Yarra historian and writer Vicki village built on the local Squire’s estate. just after World War II; but that’s the story
Steggall also provided strong support The estate came into the Van Diemen’s the Sugar Beet Museum, in the factory’s
for the Trentham Society during COVID. Land-based Foster family in 1850 as former office and weighbridge building,
They have a valuable database but they expanded their mainland holdings will tell when it re-opens.
finding a program able to include some to provide stock to meet government Pauline Hitchins
of the extensive documents is the next contracts. The first innovation was in 1892 Convenor HVSG (RHSV)
challenge. The society is based at the when Askin Morrison Foster built the Phone: 0437 296 925
Old Police Station, an 1866 collection of Guyon Purchas designed homestead, a Email hvsg@historyvictoria.com.au
RHSV HISTORY NEWS APRIL 2022 9
Prepared by volunteer Glenda Beckley on
Around the behalf of the History Victoria Support Group.
We welcome societies to submit an article/event of around
societies 50 words, or email your Newsletter to us and we will write
up around 50 words for you around twice per year.
FOR THE JUNE 2022 ISSUE please send details to
office@historyvictoria.org.au by 2nd May 2022.
BACCHUS MARSH: The Society was COLAC: Wednesday 27 April - Colac more than 40 stalls plus the opportunity to
established on 4 October 1968 by a History Centre. 7.30pm speaker Alan buy from lots of collecting areas: sports,
small group of community members Doyle on ‘Lewis Lasseter and the Colac swap cards, badges etc. Refreshments
concerned about the fate of the historic Connection’. Alan has uncovered more will be available. It’s in the foyer, and
police cells built from local sandstone. Lasseter information that has not been Parkview room, at 340 Camberwell Road,
Bacchus Marsh Police were originally revealed until now. He believes Colac Camberwell. For more information about
stationed at the Police Paddocks south is also very central to the tale of the our society: https://www.facebook.com/
of the Werribee River in Maddingley. fabled gold reef in Central Australia and EphemeraSocietyAus
The sandstone Police Cells were moved has put up new theories to ponder over. HAWTHORN: Upcoming functions at
from there to 119 Main Street, around colachistoricalsociety.org.au Hawthorn Community Precinct, 584
1857. Numbers on the stone blocks are
CORNISH ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA: Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn: Sunday 15
evidence supporting the movement of
the cells. The two-cell lock up, built from If you live in Victoria you might like to May, at 2.00pm, Dr Adrian Jones OAM,
dressed local sandstone with sawn plank join our vibrant association. We meet ‘Hawthorn’s Ernest Peacock and Mustafa
lining, are the oldest on the Heritage at the Oakleigh Baptist Church Hall, Kemal Ataturk in 1918’. Dr Jones is Adjunct
Victoria Register. https://www.facebook. on the corner of Warrigal Road and Honorary Senior Research Fellow in
com/Bacchus-Marsh-District-Historical- Moorookyle Ave, Oakleigh. Monthly History, and in Classics and Ancient
Society-Inc-2320242078040055 meetings are held the 3rd Saturday, History, and former Associate Professor
between 1.30 pm and 4.30 pm, February of History, at La Trobe University. He is
C J LATROBE: The Society’s 2022
to November and the 2nd Saturday researching a proposed book on Mustafa
Fellow, Ashleigh Green, is researching
of December. The complete CAV Kemal Atatürk’s speech directed to
the construction of gaols, prisons
Library Collection has been re-located the mothers of the Anzacs. On Sunday
and asylums during the La Trobe
administration, examining Melbourne to the Castlemaine Historical Society 26 June at 2.00pm: Dr Gary Presland,
Gaol (1845), Yarra Bend Asylum (1848), Inc. at former Court House, 7 Goldsmith pre-European Aboriginal culture in
Pentridge Prison (1850) and Geelong Crescent, Castlemaine, Victoria 3450. Boroondara. Dr Presland is an historian,
Gaol (1853). Fellow for 2018 Monique For full details follow the ‘Library & archaeologist and author, and a Fellow
Webber’s report on ‘La Trobe’s Garden Resources’ tab on our website: http:// of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria.
City and the Lost Sculptures of Fitzroy www.cornishvic.org.au/index.html He is an authority on Aboriginal history in
Gardens’ was published as a supplement Melbourne. He is currently President of
Videos of a number of meetings held
to the journal La Trobeana in December the Box Hill Historical Society.
during the recent Victorian lock-downs
2021. Member Helen Botham has can also be watched by following the link HEALESVILLE: The Society’s rooms are
researched the extent of La Trobe’s to The Latest News web page. located in the Healesville Community
botanical specimen collecting, identifying Link, at the rear of the Memorial Hall, 110
four major collections in Switzerland, DONCASTER TEMPLESTOWE: ‘The
River Street. This is the same building
London and New York. Details are all Sloyd Room’ has a long and interesting
as the library; please ask the library
accessible via the society’s website: history and is a building which started
staff for directions once entering the
www.latrobesociety.org.au. life at another location at the Doncaster
building. We are open to the public from
East Primary School. Built in 1921 we
CASTLEMAINE: The Society was formed 1.30-4.00pm every Monday and Friday
understand it started life as a shelter shed
in 1965 to study, record and promote or else by prior appointment. We are
the historical heritage of Castlemaine and with the introduction of Sloyd into the
closed on public holidays and also on all
and District. In 1996 the Society was school curriculum it was converted into a
Code Red days. Meetings and outings are
granted a lease to its present home classroom to accommodate the program.
held on a regular basis and are normally
in the historic former Court House at Sloyd was a system of woodwork training
held in the Healesville Community Link
7 Goldsmith Crescent. Meetings, with to develop manual skills of boys, that
Meeting Room. All volunteers interested
interesting guest speakers, exhibitions, originated in Sweden and was introduced
in the fantastic history of our town and
a monthly newsletter, guided tours, into Victoria in 1900. By the 1960s Sloyd
district are always welcome, as are
the development, cataloguing and ceased to be taught and the room was
contributions of historic material. Our
maintenance of an historic archive then used as an additional classroom.
Facebook page also contains photos
collection, indexing of records and the Doncaster East Primary School was
and more information. www.facebook.
provision of a research service are closed in 1997. Prior to that time the
com/Healesville-and-District-Historical-
the major activities of the members. building was temporarily relocated and
Society-1918494825145936
Upcoming events: 4 April: General in 1993 was, along with the school bell,
Meeting Speaker: Brian McCormick relocated to Schramm’s Cottage complex LILYDALE: February saw the launch of our
‘Castlemaine Men’s Shed’; 2 May: in Mitcham. first new display in two years, ‘Working
General Meeting Speaker: George Together 150 Years of Local Government’,
EPHEMERA SOCIETY: The ephemera
Milford, ‘Granite Buildings of Harcourt’ which was attended by various members
and collectables fair is on Sunday 22 May
of the community groups that contributed
V i s i t o u r w e b s i t e : h t t p s : / / w w w. at 8.15am for members, and 9.45am for the
a story and images to the display. Each
castlemainehistoricalsociety.com/ general public, until 2:00pm. There will be
had the added responsibility of unveiling
10 RHSV HISTORY NEWS APRIL 2022their display board. Now, everyone is information, email: murchison-historical- Society’s 2021 publication, Seymour
welcome to visit our home at the Old society@hotmail.com Visit the website: Cottage Romsey: 165 years of History
Lilydale Court House and learn more murchisonhistoricalsociety.wordpress. and Heritage, as well as a selection of
about 18 groups from Seville, Coldstream, com or phone 0475 018 743 the society’s other publications. One of
Lilydale, Montrose and Kilsyth. Each PHILLIP ISLAND AND DISTRICT: only 104 portable buildings remaining
responded to our invitation to be part of Heritage Festival 2022 The lifting in Australia. Seymour Cottage may
the display via their local township group. of restrictions paves the way for our be added to the World Heritage list,
The display is their stories of working involvement in the National Trustʼs emphasising the Cottage’s heritage
together with the council to support and Australian Heritage Festival which significance locally, in Australia and
develop their group. Also on display is commences on 1 April until 31 May. This internationally. This year for our History
our belated 50th anniversary originally year the theme is ʻcuriosityʼ. The Society Tea we will be offering two sessions:
scheduled for 2021. The society’s display is designing ʻA Walk around the Block in from 11.30am-1.30pm and from 2.00pm-
traces the stories of some key activities Cowesʼ. More information will follow as our 4.00pm. This will be a ticketed event;
the society has been involved in during plans are refined http://www.pidhs.org.au the gates will open at 11.00am. Cost
its 50-year history. See more: https:// for food and other activities is $25 per
PORT MELBOURNE: The Society has
lilydalehistorical.com.au person and bookings will open soon
a new website. The former website
MORNINGTON AND DISTRICT: Our via TryBooking. Watch our website:
design had been in use since 2013 and
Society manages the Old Post Office https://www.romseylancefieldhistorical.
it was time to freshen it up to create
Museum on the corner of Main Street org.au/
a new contemporary looking site with
and Esplanade, opposite Mornington easier navigation that would show off STAWELL: The Society Research Centre
Park. The Museum houses the collection our stories, exhibitions and projects and and Museum are re-opening to visitors
of memorabilia covering the history of work better on mobile devices such as and for direct consultation with our
Mornington, Mt. Eliza, Mt. Martha and smartphones and tablets. In conjunction Research Team at our usual opening
Moorooduc. We have photographs, with the new website we are pleased hours of 10.00am-4.00pm Wednesdays
maps, documents, clothing and other to launch a special project ‘Decade by and Thursdays. For those unable to
artefacts. Visitors will also see some Decade’ It provides visitors to the site attend in person, you can email your
interesting pieces of postal, telegraph with a quick overview of Port Melbourne research enquiry to our Research Team
and telephone items. Our museum history from European settlement in the at stawhist@bigpond.com. We also have
opening hours are Sundays and Public 1830s through to 1960. It’s accessible, available our 2021 Stawell Historical
Holidays 1.30-4.30pm Wednesdays along with other PMHPS projects, via the Society Calendar which includes the topic
in school holidays 11.00am-3.00pm. PROJECTS menu option at the top of the ‘Schools of Stawell and District’. This will
Children accompanied by adults are free. home page. https://www.pmhps.org.au/ be of interest to many, so pop down and
Entry is by gold coin donation per person. collect a calendar or phone us on 5358
ROMSEY LANCEFIELD: On Sunday 10
https://www.facebook.com/ 3789 to have one sent to you. Calendars
April 2022, the grounds of Seymour
morningtondistricthistoricalsociety are $5.00 each + postage.
Cottage, Romsey will be opened by the
MURCHISON: ‘Lizzies Legacy’, a special Society as part of the Macedon Ranges ST JOHN AMBULANCE: At our next
exhibition of painting and ceramics by Autumn Festival. When we celebrate meeting on 21 April, Peter Neylon will
renowned local artist will be staged in Seymour Cottage’s 165+ year history, present the second part of his proposed
May at the Murchison Heritage Centre. we are aiming to raise $1,000 for urgent trilogy on the development of pre-hospital
To be opened by well known ABC works to the Cottage. We will offer emergency care. This paper will describe
presenter Heather Ewart on Saturday 7 sandwiches, scones, jam & cream and tea the advances in communications systems
May and continue each day from 10am- or coffee, and possibly a Sausage Sizzle! from the earliest telephone calls to the
2pm until Sunday 22nd May. The show Guests will be welcomed to the energetic latest broadband internet technology.
will feature a wide variety of creative and creative sounds of Uptown-Brown, Meetings are open to the public at
pieces crafted by Liz Ewart before Melbourne’s marvellous one-man-band! no charge, and begin at 10.30am at
her untimely death in 2017. For more Visitors can purchase a copy of the the St John Museum, the Esplanad e,
Williamstown Beach.
Bunyip Historical Society:
Perseverance pays
In late 2018 the Bunyip Historical Society received a grant through the Cardinia
Shire to record oral histories of the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009. Invitations to
participate were sent, and venues booked when the Bunyip complex fires of 2019
struck our region. With many members either fire affected or involved in community
recovery, and many of the invited participants affected by the fires a second time
around, the society felt that the time was not appropriate to proceed. Early in 2020
when the group was preparing to send out invitations to restart the project, COVID
made an appearance and social distancing and lockdowns made the project difficult
to continue in a face-to-face setting. Gerald Callinan of Gippsland Oral Histories Pictured from left are Gerard Callinan
devised a process where he could interview the participants by phone, and the project of Gippsland Oral Histories and John
commenced and was completed in 2021. Legione, participant and member of
Bunyip CFA and Sue Neilson, member
The Bunyip Historical Society would like to thank all those involved in the project and
of the Bunyip Historical Society.
Gerald Callinan for working with us during a much ‘on off’ project.
Photo by Roman Kulkewycz
RHSV HISTORY NEWS APRIL 2022 11Windows
on history:
‘The
Faithful
Soldier’
1914 had not been a good year for Murchison
in North-East Victoria. Not only had the area
been suffering a devasting drought for three
years, but the British Empire had declared
war against Germany where the winter battle
in Europe was not going well.
But this was all put aside on 11 December
1914 when locals from across the North-East
overflowed Murchison’s Mechanics’ Institute
Hall to farewell popular local identity, Captain
Ernest Gregory. “God-speed and a safe
return”, was a feature of the speeches, with
little recognition of the brutal toll that this war,
and all wars, demand. The only warning was
sounded by his father, Mr E J Gregory, though
intensely proud of his son ‘going to fight for
his country’, knowing that ‘if ever placed in a
tight corner he would die game’.
Ernest Albert Edward Gregory (1882-1915)
knew more of military life than many others,
having joined the Victorian Mounted Rifles
soon after leaving The Geelong College
in 1899. In 1901, aged only 18, he was
commissioned Lieutenant. His leadership
and military abilities were immediately
recognised and promotions followed before
his selection for specialist training in India in
1912. Now, as he explained to the assembled
crowd, he was privileged to be able to
serve with the 8th Australian Light Horse, in
The Gregory family erected a stained-glass command of A squadron, 180 mounted men,
window, ‘The Faithful Soldier’, in Christ Church all equipped and ready for service. Promoted
to Major, Gregory’s unit disembarked on
in recognition of Major Gregory’s Christian and the Gallipoli Peninsula in May, no longer
military ideals and as a memorial to his sister. a mounted unit. Only weeks later, Major
Gregory was killed by a shell at Walker’s
Ridge, during a deadly bombardment that
killed or wounded several senior men, among
many others.
12 RHSV HISTORY NEWS APRIL 2022When news reached Murchison, flags flew at half-mast and a
memorial service held in Christ Church Anglican, his family’s
church. This sad blow to the Gregory family was compounded
three months later when Ernest’s youngest sister Muriel,
an 18-year-old teacher, died suddenly. She had attended
orchestra practice on Tuesday evening as usual, but felt
increasingly unwell later the same night, gradually dropping
into unconsciousness before dying in the early morning of 16
September. School children led the long sorrowful procession
to services in both church and cemetery the following day.
A press report noted that ‘the hand of trouble has fallen
exceptionally heavily of late’ on the Gregory family, referring
to the loss of Ernest and Muriel, but also to a fire earlier that
year that destroyed goods, ironmongery, stables and harness
at Gregory’s Hotel and Store stables, and possibly also Mrs
Gregory’s tragic death in a buggy accident in 1910. Mr Gregory,
despite not being at all well himself in 1915, continued his
extensive community activities, which, at that time included
presidency of the Mechanics’ Institute and of the State School
Committee, and churchwarden at Christ Church Anglican.
Within months, the Gregory family erected a stained-glass
window, ‘The Faithful Soldier’, in Christ Church in recognition of
Major Gregory’s Christian and military ideals and as a memorial
to his sister. It was dedicated on Boxing Day 1915 by Chaplain
Lieutenant-Colonel, the Reverend Frederick Wray, who was
recuperating from illness at his Rushworth parish. Wray had
attended Gregory’s farewell social in December and wrote to
Mr Gregory after attending his son’s burial at Anzac Cove. He
had seen him several times in the trenches and knew ‘how
brave and cheerful he was in the performance of his duty’. Wray
deemed the window a lasting legacy to Gregory’s heroic deeds,
‘holding the trenches constantly under rifle and shell fire and
Major
bomb attacks on Walker’s Ridge … and of the hour he lost his Ernest
life in hurrying up succour for a wounded man’. He contrasted Gregory
Ernest’s strength of manhood’ with ‘his dear sister… taken… in
the sweetness and bloom of youth’.
‘The Faithful Soldier’ depicted a Roman soldier, gazing towards
heaven as he stood at his post, a popular subject in the early
stage of the First World War. Designed by William Wheildon,
senior artist at Brooks, Robinson & Co, Melbourne, with the
cartoon, full-scale drawing, prepared by George Dancey, it was
Founded
adapted in 1916 to commemorate Private Henry Norman Rothery
in St Paul’s Church, Myrtleford, killed in action at Gallipoli, Over , items of Victorian
November 1915. Another window, commemorating Private E Over 30,000
and interstate items
history, of for
resources
family history and much more
Roy Stanford, killed at Gallipoli in August 1915, was installed at Victorian andforinterstate
available loan.
Holy Trinity, Orange (NSW). Here, the sword was replaced by history, resources for family
www.pmi.net.au
a Union Jack, held aloft by the Roman soldier, maybe a call to history and much
St Edmonds more
Road, Prahran
arms as well as a promise of victory. available for loan.
Despite the loss of his eldest son, Mr E J Gregory maintained
his support for the war by chairing recruitment meetings and 9510 3393
presenting wallets at farewell socials for new volunteers going www.pmi.net.au
to the front. In years to come, long after the rains came, he 39 St Edmonds Road,
would present the Gallipoli Star to all those who survived and Prahran
returned home to Murchison.
Bronwyn Hughes OAM
With thanks to Kay Ball, the Murchison & District Historical
Society Inc. and Christ Church Anglican.
RHSV HISTORY NEWS APRIL 2022 13Michael Cannon
(17 August 1929—24 February 2022)
Academic historians, being human, are inclined to be jealous illustrated newspapers and photographs readily into the public
of journalists who turn their hand to history and achieve sales domain. Long before that, Cannon saw the storytelling potential
and celebrity. The animosity, sometimes deserved, sometimes of original documents. He harnessed new printing technologies
not, is most often expressed not by direct attack but, rather, by to produce publications at affordable prices. He wrote general
the cold shoulder: by exclusion of the gilded authors and their histories based on what he had learned.
books from mainstream academic discussion. Undergraduate Cannon brought his flair to another significant project, which, by
students quickly learn of the gaucherie of footnoting such works any yardstick, deserved academic recognition. In the late 1970s
in history essays. Yet, the amateur historian, the journalist and he was enticed back to The Archives (by then the Public Record
the populist more often than not have been leaders of public Office of Victoria) to become foundation editor for a handsome
discussion in matters historical. nine-volume series Historical Records of Victoria 1836–1839.
Journalist Michael Cannon, as he was in 1966 when Melbourne Insights from this research, especially from the records of the
University Press published the first edition of his runaway Protectors of Aborigines, furnished his revisionist book Who
bestseller The Land Boomers, instantly became a popular Killed the Koories?, later reissued as Black Land, White Land.
historian who could not be ignored. The originality of his His signature work The Land Boomers went through several
research, his uncompromising view of the world and the revisions and editions. Cannon was determined it would not go
boldness of his writing were evident from the outset. At the out of print. The State Library now holds its copy of the 1966
time his book appeared, the teaching of Australian history first edition in its Rare Books Collection. History students at
concentrated on a few key themes: the exhilarating, appalling the university can cite the work with impunity. More than half a
story of Melbourne in the land boom of the 1880s and the century after its first appearance, it is a recognised classic, and
financial bust of the 1890s had not been one of them. can truly claim to have changed the way we see our history.
Thanks to Cannon the expression ‘the land boomers’ entered Apart from popular recognition, Michael Cannon received
the Australian vernacular. Fifty years later, retiring from an several accolades for his work, including a Commonwealth
extraordinarily productive career as journalist, writer, researcher, Literary Fellowship and an Australia Council Writers’ Emeritus
historian, editor and publisher, Michael Cannon turned his hand Award. In 2016 the Royal Historical Society of Victoria marked
to memoir. In 2016 he favoured the State Library of Victoria, ‘Fifty Years since The Land Boomers’ with a celebratory event
through the La Trobe Journal, with a preview. The full memoir and exhibition, with Michael and his family as guests of honour.
will appear later this year. Tributes flowed. Geoffrey Blainey sent congratulations: “He must
The Library was where The Land Boomers began. At the time of have written several million words, all in clear prose, about many
Cannon’s research, it was the dusty basements of the Archives facets of Australian history”. The words have ceased now. The
Section that held his treasure trove. These were Supreme Court RHSV mourns the passing of a distinctive Australian historian.
insolvency files, records of the ‘secret compositions’ of the Andrew Lemon AM
1890s: legal instruments that allowed failed investors to pay
* This article is adapted from Andrew Lemon, ‘A Historical
a tiny fraction of their debts to avoid bankruptcy and resume
Cannon’, La Trobe Journal no.97, March 2016.
business without full disclosure. These public records had never
been made public.
The youthful journalist, way ahead of academic counterparts,
had the perspicacity to see that these files, barely seventy years
old when he started writing, had the power to illuminate not only
late-Victorian Melbourne but also his contemporary society.
Descendants of the entrepreneur boomers, and the institutions
they supported, still wielded real power in the Melbourne of the
1960s. Unease at his revelations brought threats of censorship,
suppression and libel actions. Such threats did wonders for
sales, and The Land Boomers boomed.
The success won him freedom from the daily demands of
journalism, but Cannon faced the challenge of following a
bestseller first book. The next milestone was The Vagabond
Papers: his edited collection of the newspaper reportage of
colonial Melbourne underlife by the enigmatic reporter who
shielded behind this pen name. Cannon, himself the grandson
of illustrious Australian journalist Monty Grover, and ‘The
Vagabond’ had a strange synergy, He kept the peripatetic
Vagabond’s work in front of contemporary audiences, later
collaborating with specialist historians to uncover the full story.
As an independent researcher, Michael Cannon channelled
his prodigious energies into a succession of historical projects
including reprints and facsimile editions of nineteenth-century
publications. The internet revolution has since placed old,
14 RHSV HISTORY NEWS APRIL 2022You can also read
