Bob Padula's Internet Magazine

Telstra/PMG Engineering Training School and Line Depot, Doncaster - 1966 to 1998 - Pictorial Heritage

2021-04-13T13:42:00.001-07:00

Laboratory for Cable Jointing instruction 1968

Background

This is an on-line research project describing the former Telstra Doncaster Line Depot and Training School, which covered a total area of 9.3 hectares (approximately) with a main frontage to Tram Road.

The site was was approximately rectangular in shape, consisting of two portions:

a 0.7 hectare portion known as the Doncaster Line Depot;
a 8.8 hectare portion known as the Training School.

The site was originally acquired by the Commonwealth of Australia in 1950 with ownership later transferred to Telecom. Prior to 1950, the land was most likely used for orchard and/or grazing purposes. The training school was built between 1967 and 1968, the Line Depot was built in 1963.

The two portions were effectively delineated by an unnamed tributary to Koonung Creek running in a north-south direction and draining run-off into Koonung Creek. ’

The topography of the site was such that it was situated on the northern slopes oi the valley of Koonung Creek. Overall the site slopes gently southwards to the creek. The site is bounded by Tram Road and residential properties to the West, the Eastern Freeway to the south, Neil Street to the west and residential properties to the north. Parks and recreational areas are located along Koonung Creek.

Improvements on the total site (i.e. Training School and Line Depot) included office complex, store rooms, classroom, paved carparks, concrete cable junction training pits and various storage areas. A store yard of scrap metal and building materials was located on the land situated between the creek and the Line Depot. The site was zoned PPI Commonwealth and Telstra sought to rezone the land in 1996.

History

pre-1950 Commonwealth land - grazing and fruit orchards
1950 Site acquired by Telstra (PMG)
1963 Line Depot built on Tram Rd frontage
1966-1967 Line Training Section built in NW section on Neil (Neel) St frontage
1996 Structures and sub-surface features demolished
1997 Site sold to Gandel Developments
1998 Environmental Impact Audit Report commenced
2001 Audit Report completed
2002 Site clearing undertaken
2003 The watercourse/tributary was converted to a large diameter underground barrel drain
2005 Applewood Retirement Village construction commenced
2006 Applewood Village completed

Storage shed 1968

Storage Shed 1968

Main Lecture Room 1968

Canteen 1968

Training Centre under construction 1967

Training Centre 1968

Training Centre 1968

Training Centre under construction 1967

Training Centre nearing completion 1967

Training Centre under construction 1967

Conference Room 1968

Main Entrance 1968

Aerial view of training centre 1966 (red circle)

Nissen Huts used for Line Training 1960s, Adelaide

The author's group in early 1956, first year lectures

Line Depot aerial view (red circle) 1963

Training Centre and Line Depot (red circle) 1974

Applewood Village main building 2021

Training Centre under construction, Line Depot in distance (1967)

Applewood Vlllage in 2021 (Manningham)

Original Land Title 1950

Applewood Village 2021 (Google Maps)

Plan of Site 1996

Below: Lineman Training School, Fishermens' Bend (Victoria), in 1945. This was in use until the mid-1960s when it was closed and operations moved to Doncaster. The site was then used for the pre-installation of Telstra ARK telephone exchanges.

Principal References and Acknowledgements

Environmental Audit Report 2001

https://apps.epa.vic.gov.au/EnvAuditFiles/53X/36175-3/36175-3_a.pdf

Manningham City Council

Whitehorse City Council

National Archives of Australia

Google Maps

Telstra Australia

Appleview Retirement Village

National Library of Australia (Trove)

Gandel Developments

Author's Notes

The author joined the Australian Public Service in January 1956, fresh out of High School. and commenced as a Trainee Telecommunication Technician, successfully completing the five-year course in December 1960.

He undertook theoretical and practical training at various PMG centres in Melbourne, including four weeks at the Fishermens' Bend Lineman Training School. He retired in 1997.

Training in Telstra for the Future

In the early 1950s. the Commonwealth Gov. had commenced the rollout of a massive commitment to expansion of the Switched Network, with the progressive replacement of Manual Exchanges, Analogue Switching technology, and the introduction of computerized switching (such as 10C, AXE, System 12, Crossbar,etc.) This was associated with large-scale conversions of open wire systems to cable, some of which had been laid in the 1910s.

To support this expansion, the PMG's Dept. recruited thousands of young men fresh out of high school and adults (including returned ex-servicemen) for Technical and Lines appointments. Instructional staff were drawn from technical and lines ranks

Training Centres were set up in all capital cities and regional locations, many being converted factories, old mansions, disused warehouses and leased industrial properties.

Some readers may recall the "Open Tech", "Nine week", "12 weeks" and "16 week" fast-track training mature-age courses for Technician and Lines staff of the 1950s.

Ultimately, the PMG/Telstra moved away from teaching its own, in favour of Apprentice training, and modular specialised learning delivered from the TAFE system.

Massive national Recruitment of trainees for Technical and Lines appointments occurred until the late 1990s when major policy changes resulted in Telstra closing most of its in-house training schools. Future mass intakes were scaled down in favour of modular on-demand short courses.

The Year of 1956

This photo above is of the author's group in 1956, at the PMG Technicians' School at Batman St, East Melbourne (converted factory!)

Trainees were expected to dress neatly (with ties!)

Top left L-R: author, Malcolm Atkinson, Laurie Phillips, Alex Lancefield, Graham Gall (at rear), Graeme Terry

Second row L-R: Stuart Whitechurch, Keith Campbell, Ken Hosking (Group Leader), Norm Shallard, Ken Denison

Front row L-R: Dave Ashley, Ian Williams, Barry McPhee

(Note: Trainees from the Victorian Railways and Dept of Civil Aviation participated in the PMG scheme)

The following is an extract from the author's autobiography, describing life as a Trainee from 1956-1960

In late 1955, whilst in Form 5 at Camberwell High School, the time was approaching to decide what to do for a full time living. It was not possible for me to continue on to Form 6, and ultimately University, as my parents could not afford the fees. I underwent a vocational guidance assessment, and the results were somewhat vague, suggesting that my career path should be “something technical”!

I decided to contest the Australian Public Service entrance examination, along with thousand of other kids,.

In late 1955, I was offered a position in the Postmaster’s General’s Department as a Trainee Technician, a five year course in Telecommunications, and commenced on January 9, 1956, aged 16 years.

This was not really my first preference, as I had wanted to join the Department of Civil Aviation as a Trainee Technician in radio, but there were very few vacancies there.

So I entered the PMG’s Department, completing the course in December 1960, and gained an award for Dux of the school in my final year .

1956 was Melbourne’s Olympic Games year!

I would remain in the Department, for 41 years, through its various transformations, to the present-day entity Telstra, ultimately leaving in 1997 as the beneficiary of a very generous voluntary redundancy package.

On leaving the Company, my substantive designation was Professional Engineer, Level 4, and I had been employed as an Engineer since January 1965, across many areas of involvement..

Background

From the early 1950s, the Government had embarked on a massive Telecommunications expansion program, nationally.

This included the replacement of all magneto and Central Battery "CB" telephone exchanges and telephones, the conversion of old Strowger exchanges (dating to early 1900s) to the modern 2000-type system, the introduction of direct dialling of trunk calls without the need for an operator, the construction of hundreds of small automatic Crossbar exchanges in rural and semi rural areas. and the laying of new pit and pipe to support the program..

It also saw the phasing out of aerial/overhead wires with underground cable, and the replacement of old dial-type telephones with modern push-button instruments.

New switching systems were becoming available, such as Stored Program Control (SPC) which used the Swedish Crossbar system instead of the older archaic electromechanical "step" switches.

New National Training Scheme

To assist in managing the massive increase in network capacity, a huge commitment was made to the recruitment and training of technical staff, mainly through the introduction of the five-year Trainee Technician program, which ran from the early 1950s into the 1960s.

Trainees were 15 or 16 year olds, many from country areas.

Selection for training required passing of the annual Commonwealth Pubic Service entrance exam.

Thousands of Trainees passed through the scheme, who after graduation were appointed to disciplines of telephone exchange maintenance, telephone exchange installation, telephone maintenance, long-line equipment installation and maintenance, radio, or PABX installation and maintenance.

Since the late 1940s, shorter training schemes for adults had been operating where returned servicemen and other adults could undertake training for up to four or 18 weeks.

To manage this massive "TIT" program, training schools were set up in major capitals, some housed in converted factories, stores, Victorian era mansions, or warehouses.

In 1956, there were three schools in Melbourne - two in West Melbourne (Batman St and King St), and in South Yarra (the former "Grong Grong" mansion)

In 1964, these schools were discontinued as part of a site rationalization program, in favour of a refurbished larger establishment in East Hawthorn, in Auburn Rd, the former Westclox factory.

The first year of training was at the schools where trainees would learn basic practical skills specific to the Dept's needs, and theoretical training.

My wages, in 1956, were 25 shillings a week!

In the second and following years of training, field training to various work centres would be arranged, usually close to trainees’ places of residence, and supervised by senior technical staff and Field Supervisors.

Some school attendance was also required.

These field visits would range from one to four weeks and trainees’ work and performance would be closed monitored and assessed.

In parallel with the TIT scheme, a Lineman-in-Training scheme was operating, offering training in eternal field practices for several weeks, which would include cable jointing, external plant construction, and pit and pipe work.

LIT schools had been set up in various capitals.

In Melbourne, the main Lineman’s School was located at Fisherman’s Bend, adjacent to the Yarra, and we, as TITs had to survive a four week stint here in mid winter to gain an appreciation of skills and practices relevant to external plant.

The Fishermens’ Bend centre had its origins in the war years, and was on land owned by the nearby Commonwealth Aircraft Company and the former Fisherman’s Bend airport.

It consisted of a large open paddock, with a central admin block where lectures were conducted. The practical work was done in converted "Nissen huts" - wooden floors, and curved tin walls and roofs.

In the third year, the amount of time spent in the Technicians school was reduced, and field visits were extended.

In fourth and fifth year, Trainees were allocated to their final "stations" with only minimal attendances at the schools.

Copyright 2021. Unless indicated otherwise, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise without the prior written permission of the author

The former Flower Farm - Blackburn Lake Park

2021-01-20T22:37:00.001-08:00

This short silent movie was made in 1912, showing the Deaf Mutes Flower Farm, in Central Rd, Blackburn. This was produced by the Adult Deaf Mutes Society of Victoria, which later became the Adult Deaf and Dumb Society of Victoria and later VicDeaf. The film shows the original Administration building, built in 1909, demolished in 1969. The land is now partly occupied by the facilities of the Blackburn Lake Park, managed by Whitehorse City Council.

Acknowledged to Expressions Australia website

The Hotels of Manningham - a Pictorial History Research Poject

2020-12-06T10:03:00.003-08:00

The Hotels of Manningham

This new Research Project may be of interest!

http://bpadula.tripod.com/thehotelsofmanninghamapictorialhistory/

New Book - Short Walks around Bright and the Upper Ovens Valley - by Mick Ogrizek

2020-09-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

This new self-published 167 page book, provides comprehensive information about undertaking 35 short walks (under three hours) in the Ovens Valley in north east Victoria (in Australia).

It describes walks in and around the towns of Myrtleford, Porepunkah, Bright, Wandiligong, Germantown, Freeburgh and Harrietville. Walk descriptions include starting and finishing points, distances, surface, difficulty, things to see, how to get to the start of the walk, and detailed route notes.

Many excellent colour photos complement the text. All of the walks were personally checked and researched during 2019 and 2020. The walks are arranged in order of towns.

An excellent resource!

Pricing and ordering details are available from this link:

https://tinyurl.com/Short-Walks-from-Bright

The book is also available through several on-line Australian retailers - pricing, availability, and delivery times are at the booko.com.au Book Price Comparison website:

https://tinyurl.com/y2wb46qn

The Hargicourt Orchard in Early Spring!

2020-09-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

Pictures of September 13, 2020.

"Hargicourt" is the name of my home here in Mont Albert, built in 1925, in Melbourne's east. In that era, the district was mainly market gardens, orchards, farms, and dairying, Some of the fruit trees shown in the photos are the descendents of those which were planted in the 1920s. There are bushland grottos, a pond, lawns - birds love it, and miners, wattle birds, crows, magpies, parropts and turtle doves have their homes here!

My Garden

2020-08-16T00:07:00.002-07:00

Pix of August 15 2020 - many late winter blooms!

The Doncaster Coolstores - History - 1902 to 1972

2020-08-08T19:06:00.003-07:00

Author's Note:
This paper was composed using the recently released Beta version of the redesigned Blogger interface. Display options may be varied from the user's browser.

Opening of First Govt Cool Store in Doncaster, March 16, 1905 (NLA)

Introduction
This article looks at the planning, history, construction, operations and closure of the principal Cool Stores which existed in the Doncaster, Box Hill and Templestowe areas in the years 1902 to 1972. It is essentially a compilation of images and supporting text.

Author
Bob Padula OAM, MIEAust, CPEng, ARMIT (communications) published August 2020

CONTENTS

1. EARLY HISTORY
2. COOL STORE ERA
3. GOVERNMENT COOL STORE

3.1 CONSTRUCTION

3.2 EQUIPMENT

3.3 DISASTERS

3.4 REBUILT

3.5 CLOSURE
4 DONCASTER COOL STORE

5. WEST DONCASTER COOL STORE COMPANY
6. BOX HILL ICE AND COLD STORAGE PTY. LTD
7. TEMPLESTOWE ORCHARDISTS COOL STORE
8. LAWFORD'S COOL STORE AND ORCHARD 9. PETTY's ORCHARD

Land sale poster of Jan 14 1888 for the Doncaster Heights Estate; the West Doncaster Cool Store was later built on the NE cnr of Main Doncaster Rd and Beaconsfield St, (SLV)

Land sale, Doncaster Heights Estate, Jan 14, 1888. Doncaster Tower in distance (SLV).

Early History
In 1841 Frederic Unwin, a Sydney solicitor, bought 5,120 acres (20.7 km2) of land, including most of the present suburb of Doncaster, from the Crown for one pound an acre under the terms of the short-lived Special Survey regulations. The area was sometimes known as Unwin's Special Survey.

The Doncaster region was settled in the 1860s and 1870s, predominantly by German settler orchardists. The German community was named Waldau, but the name Doncaster gradually became commonly accepted. A Lutheran church was the first one in Doncaster in 1858. A Lutheran school opened in 1860 and a denominational school in 1861. Doncaster Post Office opened on 17 May 186

Cool Store Era
In 1841 Frederic Unwin, a Sydney solicitor, bought 5,120 acres (20.7 km2) of land, including most of the present suburb of Doncaster, from the Crown for one pound an acre under the terms of the short-lived Special Survey regulations. The area was sometimes known as Unwin's Special Survey.

Government Cool Store
The first large cool store was the Government Cool Store, in Main (Doncaster) Rd, Built in 1905, it was not run efficiently and was later taken over in 1913 by a private co-operative of Doncaster orchardists. It was located in an orchard.opposite the extant Athenaeum Hall.

Construction
This was carried out in four stages.

The engine room and six chambers at the front of the East store were erected. During succeeding years, six more chambers completed this building then stage 3 consisted of six chambers at the front of the west building. Finally, ten chambers were added at the rear.

A local builder, Mr May, was selected by the cooperative. May lived in Doncaster Road in the solid Queen Anne house he had built next to the Church of Christ. It was on May's recommendation that the architectural firm of Purchas and Teague designed the building. They introduced some character into the design of the massive structure. This was the age when complicated Gables were a feature of house design. By putting a third gable at the front to join the two ridges on the west building, he avoided what could have become an uninteresting large shed.

Equipment
The refrigeration equipment was supplied by The Firm of RH Werner and Co Pty Ltd. It is interesting now, when natural gas is making gas engines popular for industry, to note that the cool store was equipped with a gas engine. A Ruston-Hornsby suction gas engine drove the compressor. Gas was produced from charcoal and during the height of the season, four Stokers were employed working two a shift. Cool air was circulated through the stores, with timber flaps controlling the flow of air into the chambers.

When completed the store was a show piece. In fact, for many years, it was the largest cool store in the southern hemisphere. Visitors from interstate and overseas came out to inspect the building. Mr. May's reputation was made, and won him contracts to build stores in New South Wales and New Zealand. The first engineer, Rod Sutherland, who had supervised the installation of the equipment, also gained a reputation as an engineer.

William Webb was secretary of the Orchardists' Cool Stores till he resigned in 1924. His son-in-law, GA Grover was appointed secretary, a position he held till the co-operative was dissolved. Mr. Grower's first task was to convert the Co-operative from a proprietary to a public company. Membership of the Co-operative had grown to 104 shareholders, which was higher than the law allowed for a proprietary company.

It was renamed "Doncaster Central Cool Stores". but was also locally known as the Orchardists' Cool Stores.

Disasters
Orchardists were accustomed to disasters. Pests, drought, and hail were a constant threat, but in 1931 they were not prepared for a new disaster. In February of that year a serious fire badly damaged much of the stores, which were subsequently rebuilt at the same location. Then on Good Friday, March 1937 a hot north windy day, fire destroyed the east building which housed the refrigerating plants.

Rebuilt store opened
In 1938 the store was reopened after the 1937 fire. In the new building the chambers were 54 feet by 28 feet, each capable of holding 6,800 cases, giving the store a capacity of 140,000 cases. Two horizontal oil engines with a total horsepower of 246 operated the plant. The direct expansion system was used making the new store the more popular of the two.

Closure
In 1972, after 59 years of service, the Orchardists’ Cool Store closed, symbolising the end of Doncaster as an Orchard District. The buildings were demolished and the site redeveloped for residential and commercial usage.

E. Doncaster Cool Store
This was built in 1913 on three and a half acres of land in Main Doncaster Rd, on the SW corner of Blackburn Rd.The site is now part of the Devon Shopping complex, 958-960 Doncaster Rd,which includes Nando's Portuguese Restaurant! An information board, showing early photos and details of the store, is located just off Doncaster Rd, adjacent to the car park

It closed down around 1968 and the site was subdivided and redeveloped for residential and commercial ventures.

The West Doncaster Cool Store Company
This was built in 1911 and was the first cooperative fruit cool store in Australia, holding 16,000 cases. The capacity was increased to 36,000 cases in 1916.

W. Doncaster store - engine room 1920s (NAA)

W. Doncaster store in demolition phase 1965 (NAA)

iI closed down on November 30 1965 after negotiations for the sale of the building and land had been concluded and the facility demolished. .The store was located on the NE corner of Main Doncaster Rd (present-day 593 Doncaster Rd) and Beaconsfield St. The site is now occupied by a car sales' company.

The Box Hill Ice and Cold Storage Pty Ltd
This was sited at 40 Doncaster Rd, Box Hill, now 40 Dorking Rd. It was built in 1912. In 1947, most of the store was destroyed by fire and was progressively restored. It closed in 1966 and demolished..

The site was then used for residential accommodation, and is now an Aged Care facility.

Note:There were two Doncaster Rds in the early days! They were Doncaster Rd (Box Hill), which ran from Whitehorse Rd to a dead end, later renamed Dorking Rd and extended in 1965. The original Doncaster Rd was known as the "Main Doncaster Rd" (Doncaster).

Templestowe Orchardists Cool Stores

This was built in 1913 on three and a half acres of land in Main Doncaster Rd, on the SW corner of Blackburn Rd.The site is now part of the Devon Shopping complex, 958-960 Doncaster Rd,which includes Nando's Portuguese Restaurant! An information board, showing early photos and details of the store, is located just off Doncaster Rd, adjacent to the car park

Lawford's Cool Store
Edwin Lawford senior was born in Box Hill in 1858, was educated at Scotch College, and for a short time became an assistant teacher at the Melbourne Deaf and Dumb Institution. He then established an orchard and nursery business in Doncaster in partnership with his brother John Birkby Lawford. After the partnership was dissolved he purchased more land and decided to specialize in pear growing. He built a small cool store and was an originator (with John Petty) of the West Doncaster Cool Storage Company.

The orchard and cool store were ultimately closed to makeeway fr rsidentil development. A legacy is Lawford St, connecting Carnavon St with the scenic Lawford St Reserve, adjoining the expansive golf club.

c1910 Edwin Lawford house and sheds (built 1881) at north end of Carnarvon Street alongside Williamsons Road.

In 1904 Edwin Lawford built a cool store, and this is thought to be the building that can be seen at the rear of the house.

The house in the far distance belonged to Henry Crouch.

TIMELINE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT

1841	Edwin Unwin buys 5120 acres of crown land in what would later become part of Doncaster-Box Hill area.It was known It was known as the Unwin Special Survey
1860	Lutheran School commenced
1860s	Settlement commenced in the Doncaster region
1858	Lutheran Church built
1860	Doncaster Post Office commences
1861	Denominational school commences
1890s	Many cool stores built
1905	First Government colol mstiore built
1913	Government cool store ownership transferred to a Cooperative - renamed Doncaster Central Cool Store


Wetherby and Main Doncaster Rd, Orchard Implement Workshop (NAA early 1900s)

West Doncaster cool store 1945

Box Hill Cool Store (1945)

Daily Life

1904 Box Hill Show, apples for export (Argus)

Cool Stores played a large part in the lives of the orchardists. They became more than just a place to keep fruit. The stores became centres of community life, filling roles similar to the English village pump or marketplaces. There was always activity there. During the picking season, there was the excited activity of fruit coming in from the orchards. After the season, there were always groups sorting fruit or preparing loads for market. These were the communication centres for news of orchards and orchardists.

In the 1960s and early 1970s new methods of fruit-handling rendered the cool stores obsolete. The old rocking horse fruit trolleys and fruit cases, designed for hand loading, were replaced by front-end loaders and bulk containers. Doorways and openings, kept small to keep out hot air, would not take the new containers and front-end loaders.

Information Board - Doncaster Rd (2020)

Orchardists' Cool Stores, Doncaster Rd (date unknown - NAA)

1948 fire (Argus)

Information Board - Doncaster Rd (2020)

Orchardists' Cool Stores - Fire 1948 (Argus)

1906 Central Store (NAA)

Central Store - date unknown


Central Store - 1945

Pettys Orchard - School Demonstration Day - c1964 (Petty's Website)

Central Store c1905

c1964

West Doncaster Store - date unknown

Petty's Orchard

Petty’s Orchard is beautifully positioned along the Yarra River.The orchard harvests over 200 different types of apples, pears and nuts. There are also several wetland areas throughout the orchard and an old packing shed which displays the history of Petty’s Orchard.

In 1853 Thomas Petty arrived in Australia from England and selected land in the Doncaster and Templestowe area.

The Petty Family continued to manage the Orchard until 1981 when Parks Victoria purchased the property. Now (2020), part of it is leased by PV to a private company

Lake at Pettys Orchard(Author May 2020)

Petty's Orchard buildings (Author May 2020)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Acknowledgement is extended to the following organizations for material used in the compilation of this article:

National Library of Australia (Digitised newspapers - Trove)

Museums Victoria

Picture Victoria

State Library of Victoria

National Gallery of Victoria
Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society

Eltham Historical Society

Manningham Council

Nillumbik Council

Banyule Council
Whitehorse Council

Yarra Valley Water

Earth Google

Google Maps

Melbourne University Mapping Collections

Melways

Landshare Vic

Wikipedia

THE END

Copyright 2020. Unless indicated otherwise, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise without the prior written permission of the author.

The Livermore Farm and Orchard - Vermont (Pictorial History of Victoria)

2020-04-12T15:53:00.003-07:00

Livermore Farm 1947 (Picture Victoria)

Early History of Vermont

Prior to the first European colonialists, the landscape was thickly timbered bushland, occupied by the Wurundjeri, Indigenous Australians of the Kulin nation, who spoke variations of the Woiwurrung language group. They were hunters and gatherers, camping near the creeks and gullies of the area now known as Bellbird Dell. The creek flowed from immediately north of the Dell, through it and on to join the Dandenong Creek.

Livermore Farm 1947 (Picture Victoria)

1850s

The first settlers, who were woodcutters and charcoal burners, came before land sales. Selectors followed and they marked out, leased and improved allotments, which would enable them to gain freehold titles from the Crown. Temporary wattle and daub huts were erected and later substantial timber cottages.

Apart from some general farming, orchards dominated the landscape until the 1950s when the demand for new housing areas led to the subdivision of orchards. Nunawading Council (now Whitehorse Council) began the acquisition of property in 1966, with the purchase of a large block (7.26 hectares) from local orchardist Cecil Rhodes to form Bellbird Dell.

In the early years, .land allotments of about 50 to 200 ha were offered to settlers. The first primary school in the district opened in Mt Pleasant, near the present Uniting church in Canterbury Road at the border between Forest Hill and Vermont. In 1872 a permanent school was functioning in Vermont proper, and the single room structure remained in use 100 years later.

The Farm - 1947 (Picture Victoria)

Vermont was also known as L.L. Vale, after the model farm owned by Dr L.L. Smith, medico and parliamentarian. The name persisted for a while, despite the school being named Vermont: the post office was L.L. Vale from its opening in 1881 until 1885.

By 1913 Vermont had a general store and post office, a school, an Anglican church, a mechanics' institute and a public hall. It was described as a prosperous fruit-growing district. The area's relative remoteness from land-subdivision activity kept it a mainly rural area with local organisations such as the football club, scouts and a horticultural society (1937). Its population in 1933 was 711 when described in the Victorian municipal directory:

Aerial view of farm in 1945 (Whitehorse Digital Maps)

The Livermore Orchard

One of the larger properties in the distriot during the 1940s was the Livermore Orchard. This was 28 acres, (11.3 ha) occupying the flat and undulating and bounded by the Dandenong Creek and Morack Rd. It was primarily a supplier of apples. It was managed by Clem Livermore and his sons, with the main entrance on Morack Rd opposite is now East Rd...

The orchard was known for its innovative use of new irrigation technology, which included overhead sprinkler networks.The orchard closed down around the mid-1970s – the Morack Public Golf Course was opened in 1984 on land previously used by the orchard.

Aerial view 1945 - Whitehorse Digital Maps)

Morack Golf Course 2004 (SLV)

Morack Golf Course (Google Maps 2020)

A legacy of the orchard is present day Livermore Close and the adjacent Livermore Close Reserve.

Livermore Close 2020 (Google Maps)

Livermore Close Reserve 2020 (Whitehorse Digital Maps)

Livermore Close Reserve 2020 - (Whitehorse Digital Maps)


Livermore arm and Orchard 1945 (Whiitehorse Digital Maps)				ps)

Livermoe Close and Verona St 2020 (Google Maps)

Morack Golf Course (Morack Rd Golf Club 2020)

Acknowledgements:

National Library of Australia
Trove
State Library of Victoria
Picture Victoria
Morack Public Golf Course
Whitehorse City Council
DEWLP

The Blue Moon Jam Factory - Blackburn

2020-04-08T13:41:00.000-07:00

Early photo of Doncaster orchard region (SLV)

Early settlement.
When settlers arrived in the Blackburn area in the 1840s they found it to be thickly wooded and inhospitable.but many made a modest living by establishing orchards and small farms.

Doncaster - loading cherries for packing shed (Australasian Dee 22 1906)

1882
The Blackburn Railway Station opened.

1918

Local orchardists built a cool-store in Doncaster

1932
Doncaster growers formed the Southern Victorian Pear Packing Pty. Ltd., to organise and standardise the export of pears and apples to the United Kingdom and Europe.

1946
The Coop.purchased the Blackburn Case Making Pty Ltd business and it became the Blue Moon Fruit Co-operative Limited. This was located at what is now 11 Solwood Lane, Blackburn (site now occupied by Maddocks Sports Manufacturer) with facilities for storage, fruit packing, manufacture of cases, and the sale of spray materials and other orchard supplies. It backed on to the railway line, opposite present-day Morton Park.

Image from Weekly Times, August 14.1937

The former factory, looking east towards Mitcham. The photo, from "Places in Victoria" is dated 2003.The words" Blue Moon Fruit Coop" are visible on the near wall.

Former Blue Moon factory, looking east in 2007

Box Hill to Ringwood Rait Trail, April 2020, looking east from Morton Park

Former Blue Moon building, March 2020. Original signage still visible left centre.

Original signage, 2003 photo enlargement (from "'Places in Victoria")

Former Blue Moon building - now Maddocks Sports (Google 2020)

Blue Moon factory - aerial photo of 1945 (Whitehorse Digital Maps)

Solwood Lane (Blackburn Central business area) (Google 2019)

Note: This is an article in the series "Victorian Pictorial Heritage", published April, 2020, author Bob Padula OAM.

Daniel Robertson Brickworks - Nunawading - Victorian Heritage Series

2020-04-05T00:17:00.000-07:00

The Daniel Robertson ceramics company was established in 1853 as a shale roof-tile importer. The Australian company continued to import English shale roof-tiles in the ballasts of ships until 1923, when local manufacturing began from a site at 54-76 Station St Nunawading.

→ Header image: from Property Developer, during demolition 2013.

Main Gate - Norcal Rd (2012)

Site boundary in 2014

The 4.9 hectare facility originally only produced roof-tiles until the 1960's when stylish bricks were added to the menu. Their new range of bricks quickly stole the spotlight from their tiles due to their bespoke artisan finish, range of sizes and distinctive unique rustic look which they gained from their less mechanized and controlled manufacturing process compared to other uniform looking cheaper bricks on the market at the time.

Clay for the factory was obtained from an on-site quarry.

The Chimney (January 2020)

Extract from Concept Plan - 2014
(Whitehorse Council)

No brick was the same, giving whatever building they were used on a timeless patchwork textured look. In 2012, multi million dollar Australian owned company, Brickworks Limited finally purchased the last 50% of the ownership of the company and the expansive site was sold to AusGroup Property and Development in late 2013.

The factory closed in early 2014 ending 91 years of operation at the site and joining the now many crumbling ghostly reminders of Australia’s once mighty brickmaking past.

The chimney has been retained as a protected heritage feature.

The site is zoned "Industrial".

As at April 2020 the site is a waterlogged, weed infested wasteland, protected by a chain fence.

Google maps view 2019

➧ Below - YouTube Video of Jan 2020, produced by "Fogarty Avenue"

→This is a link to an article in the Herald-Sun of early 2014.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/nunawading-brickworks-site-set-for-major-redevelopment-with-homes/news-tory/18f520facbe5ed06eeedacc697ed1c55

Aerial view 2013, north at bottom

Autumn Garden

2020-03-15T21:47:00.000-07:00

Autumn photos in my back-garden, here in Mont Albert.

Australian DX Report Podcast - published Jan 31 2020

2020-01-30T18:53:00.001-08:00

Australian DX Report edition 686

Melbourne Victory vs Liverpool FC, MCG, July 12 2013

2020-01-30T15:24:00.002-08:00

Sadly, Victory lost.

Australian DX Report 685

2020-01-29T14:02:00.001-08:00

Australian DX Report 685

2020-01-29T14:01:00.001-08:00

Black Sunday 1926

2020-01-13T17:11:00.004-08:00

World Scout Jamboree 1964-65 - Dandenong, Victoria

2020-01-13T16:45:00.001-08:00

Melbourne - Olympic Games Preview - 1956

2020-01-13T16:36:00.000-08:00

Melbourne early 1940s - video from National Film and Sound Archives

2019-12-19T22:02:00.000-08:00

2019-12-19T11:31:00.001-08:00

Volunteers Celebrate 98th Anniversary of ARRL Transatlantic Tests at W1AW 12/18/2019

A group of radio amateurs gathered on December 11 at W1AW to mark the 98th anniversary of the successful ARRL Transatlantic Tests. On December 11, 1921, a message transmitted by a group of Radio Club of America members at 1BCG in Greenwich, Connecticut, was copied by Paul Godley, 2ZE, in Scotland. Reporting on the accomplishment, ARRL Secretary Kenneth B. Warner, 1EH, declared “Excelsior!” Clark Burgard, N1BCG — who lives in Greenwich and fashions his call sign as n1BCG to honor the original 1BCG — was among those on hand at the Maxim Memorial Station. “We completed a successful special event yesterday at W1AW commemorating the 98th anniversary of the Transatlantic Tests,” Burgard recounted. “This was particularly important historically to amateur radio as it was originally organized by the ARRL in 1921 to determine if low-power amateur radio stations using shortwave frequencies could actually be heard in Europe. Until then, it was thought impossible.”

Burgard pointed out that the 1921 event changed radio history, took three issues of QST to cover, and opened the door to the first two-way transatlantic tests a couple of years later. The 1921 transatlantic success marked the beginning of what would become routine communication between US radio amateurs and those in other parts of the world — literally the birth of DX. Those pitching in to take part in the day-long anniversary celebration were Michael Pfaeffle, K3FEF; Lisa Kress; Brian Kress, KB3WFV; Bob Allison, WB1GCM; Blaine Morin, N1GTU; Clark Burgard, N1BCG; Chris Codella, W2PA; Glenn Cooper, W2BK, and Greg Fiozzo, KD2HRD.

(ARRL News Release Dec 20 2019)

2019-12-18T01:21:00.001-08:00

Image: The Box Hill Show, 1911

This is a summary of notable frequency usage in the window 0600-0630 UTC on December 18, 2019, from Melbourne. Propagation was a combination of long path Europe/ME, and short path (daytime) Asia

9330 USA WCBQ English

7360 ROMANIA RRI French

9635 VIETNAM domestic

9700 TURKEY Turkish

11725 RNZI

11735 N. KOREA French

11745 S. ARABIA Arabic

11760 CHINA CNR1

11960 CHINA CNR1

11980 TAJIKISTAN RFA-Dushanbe Chinese

12035 IRAN Dari

12045 CHINA CNR1

AustXalian DX Report - edition no. 690

2019-12-17T19:51:00.000-08:00

Sailing (Rod Stewart)

2019-12-14T17:35:00.002-08:00

I am, you are, we are Australian (Seekers)

2019-12-14T17:32:00.000-08:00

Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport (Rolf Harris)

2019-12-14T17:24:00.005-08:00

Bob Padula's Internet Magazine

Telstra/PMG Engineering Training School and Line Depot, Doncaster - 1966 to 1998 - Pictorial Heritage

The former Flower Farm - Blackburn Lake Park

The Hotels of Manningham - a Pictorial History Research Poject

New Book - Short Walks around Bright and the Upper Ovens Valley - by Mick Ogrizek

The Hargicourt Orchard in Early Spring!

My Garden

The Doncaster Coolstores - History - 1902 to 1972

Introduction This article looks at the planning, history, construction, operations and closure of the principal Cool Stores which existed in the Doncaster, Box Hill and Templestowe areas in the years 1902 to 1972. It is essentially a compilation of images and supporting text.

Author Bob Padula OAM, MIEAust, CPEng, ARMIT (communications) published August 2020

Government Cool Store The first large cool store was the Government Cool Store, in Main (Doncaster) Rd, Built in 1905, it was not run efficiently and was later taken over in 1913 by a private co-operative of Doncaster orchardists. It was located in an orchard.opposite the extant Athenaeum Hall.

Construction This was carried out in four stages.

It was renamed "Doncaster Central Cool Stores". but was also locally known as the Orchardists' Cool Stores.

Closure In 1972, after 59 years of service, the Orchardists’ Cool Store closed, symbolising the end of Doncaster as an Orchard District. The buildings were demolished and the site redeveloped for residential and commercial usage.

The West Doncaster Cool Store Company This was built in 1911 and was the first cooperative fruit cool store in Australia, holding 16,000 cases. The capacity was increased to 36,000 cases in 1916.

W. Doncaster store - engine room 1920s (NAA)

W. Doncaster store in demolition phase 1965 (NAA)

The Box Hill Ice and Cold Storage Pty Ltd This was sited at 40 Doncaster Rd, Box Hill, now 40 Dorking Rd. It was built in 1912. In 1947, most of the store was destroyed by fire and was progressively restored. It closed in 1966 and demolished..

Templestowe Orchardists Cool Stores

The orchard and cool store were ultimately closed to makeeway fr rsidentil development. A legacy is Lawford St, connecting Carnavon St with the scenic Lawford St Reserve, adjoining the expansive golf club.

c1910 Edwin Lawford house and sheds (built 1881) at north end of Carnarvon Street alongside Williamsons Road.

In 1904 Edwin Lawford built a cool store, and this is thought to be the building that can be seen at the rear of the house.

The house in the far distance belonged to Henry Crouch.

TIMELINE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS DESCRIBED IN THE TEXT

Daily Life 1904 Box Hill Show, apples for export (Argus)

The Livermore Farm and Orchard - Vermont (Pictorial History of Victoria)

The Blue Moon Jam Factory - Blackburn

Daniel Robertson Brickworks - Nunawading - Victorian Heritage Series

Autumn Garden

Australian DX Report Podcast - published Jan 31 2020

Melbourne Victory vs Liverpool FC, MCG, July 12 2013

Australian DX Report 685

Australian DX Report 685

Black Sunday 1926

World Scout Jamboree 1964-65 - Dandenong, Victoria

Melbourne - Olympic Games Preview - 1956

Melbourne early 1940s - video from National Film and Sound Archives

AustXalian DX Report - edition no. 690

Sailing (Rod Stewart)

I am, you are, we are Australian (Seekers)

Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport (Rolf Harris)

Introduction
This article looks at the planning, history, construction, operations and closure of the principal Cool Stores which existed in the Doncaster, Box Hill and Templestowe areas in the years 1902 to 1972. It is essentially a compilation of images and supporting text.

Author
Bob Padula OAM, MIEAust, CPEng, ARMIT (communications) published August 2020

Government Cool Store
The first large cool store was the Government Cool Store, in Main (Doncaster) Rd, Built in 1905, it was not run efficiently and was later taken over in 1913 by a private co-operative of Doncaster orchardists. It was located in an orchard.opposite the extant Athenaeum Hall.

Construction
This was carried out in four stages.

Closure
In 1972, after 59 years of service, the Orchardists’ Cool Store closed, symbolising the end of Doncaster as an Orchard District. The buildings were demolished and the site redeveloped for residential and commercial usage.

The West Doncaster Cool Store Company
This was built in 1911 and was the first cooperative fruit cool store in Australia, holding 16,000 cases. The capacity was increased to 36,000 cases in 1916.

The Box Hill Ice and Cold Storage Pty Ltd
This was sited at 40 Doncaster Rd, Box Hill, now 40 Dorking Rd. It was built in 1912. In 1947, most of the store was destroyed by fire and was progressively restored. It closed in 1966 and demolished..

Daily Life

1904 Box Hill Show, apples for export (Argus)