Mornington News 10-9-2013. "100 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK."
A meeting of the Beachdale Progress Association was held at Latimer's store etc.

Where the hell was Beachdale? Beachdale was the original name of Seaford!

Moved by Mr Hall, and seconded by Mr Erwin, " that the name of the
Association be changed from Beachdale to Seaford, which is the name of the new station." Carried.
(P.3, Mornington Standard, 8-11-1913.)

How long had residents called the area "Beachdale" and who were they? This was the article reproduced in the Mornington News,which would have been useless for family historians researching Seaford pioneers unless they knew the area's original name.

Beachdale Progress Association.
A meeting of the above association was held at Mrs Latimer's store on the 6th inst, when there was a large
attendance of members, and the following business was transacted:
Mr Martin moved that the secretary (Mr Wilson) interview Cr Ritchie, and point out that the Government reserve between the railway line and Kananook Creek may be suitable for an approach to the new railway station, from Martin's road, instead of a road to the east of the line; also to urge the opening up at once of the entrance to the station from Broughton's road. Mr McInnis seconded the motion, which was carried.
Mr Hall moved that the Hon. A. Downward. M.L A., be asked to assist in securing a school for the district. Mr McInnis seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Klauer moved, and Mr Martin seconded, that the secretary write to the secretary of the Carrum Downs Progress Association, requesting a delegate to attend next meeting, to confer to Abbott's road, which is a new outlet to the new station.Carried.

Mr Klauer moved, and Mr Roche seconded, that the secretary write to the proper authorities, and ask that a
quantity of scrub cut and stacked on the Government reserve, between the creek and railway line, near the new
station, be removed, as it is a harbour for fires.-Carried. Mr Wilson drew attention to what he considered a criminal neglect on the part of the authorities in allowing such a quantity of dry wood and rubbish to gather on the foreshore, between Frankston and Carrum. Should a fire start through some careless person there would be no possible chance of saving the whole of the reserve. Houses are now being erected on the opposite side of the road to the reserve, and the owners are in constant dread for fear of a fire starting in the reserve and sweeping all before it. Other members spoke, supporting Mr Wilson's contention.
Mr Wilson then moved that the Frankston Council be urged to form a deputation and wait on the proper authorities, with the view of having what is now a wilderness transformed into a beautiful seaside park of Mel-
bourne, of which thousands of city people would gladly take advantage of during the summer months. Mr M'Innes seconded the motion, which was carried. (P.3,Mornington Standard, 13-9-1913.)

Beachdale Progress Association.
On the 2nd inst the Beachdale Progress Association again met at Mrs Latimer's store. The President, Mr.H. Broughton, occupied the chair. Mr Martin moved that the secretary write to the Frankston council and ask that their officers pay a visit of inspection to roads leading to the new station between Carrum and Frankston.-Mr McInnis seconded the motion, which was carried. The President (Mr Broughton) moved that the Railway Commissioners be asked to erect a milk dock at the new station.--Mr Martin seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Wilson (secretary) moved that a letter of thanks from the association be forwarded to the-Hon. A. Downward, M.LA., for the great amount of work and trouble he had to secure the erection of the new station between Frankston and Carrum.-Mr McInnes seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Wilson (secretary) moved that the Frankston Council be written to with the view of urging the Government to clear all dead timber and
rubbish from the Government Reserve, which extends along the beach between Carrum and Frankston, and thereby make it a beautiful seaside park, which would be visited by thousands from the city every summer. Also to have notices posted cautioning persons from lighting fires. The cost of clearing the dead timber would be paid for by selling the timber gathered for firewood. Also, it would give employment to numbers of persons.-Mr Klauer seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Martin moved that the Education Department be again written to,
with the view of obtaining land for a school -Mrs Latimer seconded the motion, which was carried.
(P.3, Mornington Standard, 9-8-1913.)

No wonder the progress association was willing to change its name. Beachdale was not a traditional name for the area and was only used for about two months. It would seem that the council was allowed to choose the name of the new council and decided on the one which recalled Assistant Aboriginal Protector, William Thomas, wading waist deep across the Kannanook Creek, at the north end of Long Island, in 1839 on the way to his protectorate at Kangerong.

BEACHDALE PROGRESS ASSOCIATION.
TO THE EDITOR.
Sir,-As secretary of our newly formed Beachdale Progress Association between Frankston and Carrum I have been instructed to furnish you with a few particulars. The new railway station between Frankston and Carrum will be completed in about 6 weeks. It will be the means of opening up without exception the finest beach in the Commonwealth. The public during the summer months will find the benefit of 2 miles of beautiful shelter, the ti-tree being all Government reserve. No such advantages are to be had at other watering places. Therefore, this new station should be one of the busiest on this seaside line. I might state that a name has not yet been selected for the new station, but several names are at present being considered by the Frankston council.

A very large gathering of residents met on the 11th last at Mr Latimer's store and a progress association was quietly formed, Mr Harry Broughton being elected first President and Mr W. Wilson secretary and treasurer. The name of Beachdale was selected as the name of the progress association,pending the naming of the station. Business was gone into and the Education Department is to be urged to open a school. Aspendale, Chelsea and Carrum Progress Associations have done a great deal for those parts, and before very long our Beachdale Association should be one of power.
Yours, etc., W. WILSON, Secretary of Progress Association.
(P.2, Mornington Standard, 19-7-1913.)

The Seaford Post Office opened on 6 March 1914.[3] (Wikipedia.)