ORIGINS OF MOUNT ELIZA STREET/PLACE NAMES IN THE PARISH OF MOOROODUC, MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE, MELWAY MAP 105.
Canadian Bay Rd, originally Boundary Rd, was part of the southern boundary of the parish of Frankston which continued along Eramosa Rd to Grant Rd at Somerville where it adjoined the the parish of Tyabb. The parish of Moorooduc was south of this boundary, extending to the parish of Kangerong which Started at Ellerina-Bruce Rd, Safety Beach. Mount Eliza was in two parishes and origins of street names within the parish of Frankston and the present Mornington Peninsula Shire are discussed in my journal HOW MT ELIZA STREETS AND PLACES WITHIN MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, ACQUIRED THEIR NAMES.
THE BOUNDARY of Mount Eliza, according to Wikipedia is indicated by "Kackeraboite Creek, Humphries Road, Moorooduc Highway, Wooralla Drive*, the Mornington railway line, Oakbank Road, Manyung Creek and Port Phillip" so the portion of Mt Eliza in the parish of Moorooduc is on Melway 105 south west of Canadian Bay Rd to Mount Eliza Regional Park (105 K9), the Mornington railway line, Oakbank Road, Manyung Creek and Port Phillip.
*Both sides of Wooralla Drive are labelled Mt Eliza on Melway.
The part of Mount Eliza on map 106 is in the parish of Frankston and streets therein have been discussed in HOW MT ELIZA STREETS AND PLACES WITHIN MORNINGTON PENINSULA SHIRE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, ACQUIRED THEIR NAMES.
HOWARD PARKER RESERVE. (Just north of 105 E 1.)
This was one of many reserves included in the plan of the Ranelagh Estate. No street names seem to be linked to Walter Burley Griffin, planner,or Tuxen (surveyor)so they may have been linked to John Taylor (of Sequoia Company Ltd) who bought the Nyora Estate. It's a pity there was no Nyora St.
The Howard Parker Reserve seems to have been named in honour of H.E.Parker of "West Point", Mt Eliza, who was prominent in the DAD'S ASSOCIATION which worked hard to ensure that servicemen and their families had somewhere decent to live. There's no Wiltshire St in Mount Eliza but there is one in Somerville. Gerald E.Parker who'd just returned from Japan in 1946 was probably Howard's son. Mrs Parker, active in the Red Cross, may have been Howard's wife.
DADS' ASSOCIATION- (GOOGLE: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/75055048)
PARKER-WILTSHIRE.-Maureen Winifred, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Parker, Mt. Eliza, to Jack Alwyn, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. -Wiltshire, Mt. Eliza.(P.8, Argus, 25-7-1847.)
GERALD'S LETTER- (GOOGLE: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22253171)
MRS PARKER OF MT ELIZA- (GOOGLE: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/75052562)
J.T.SMITH RESERVE (105 E-F 1.)
I just about flipped when I read in the old Mechanics' Hall Library at Rosebud over two decades ago that John Thomas Smith was a pioneer of Mt Eliza. He built one of the oldest surviving houses in Melbourne according to Muzza of McCrae and later he built Ascot House in Fenton St, Ascot Vale which the Fentons later bought and started its use as a reception centre. He bought two sections at the northern extent of the parish of Moorooduc.
From my journal JOHN THOMAS SMITH AND HIS ELECTORS.
SMITH.
J.T.Smith, seven times Mayor of Melbourne,arrived from Sydney to teach at George Langhorne's mission for the aborigines on the Botanical Gardens site. He soon became a businessman and received grants for land at Green Gully near Keilor in the parish of Maribyrnong; North Essendon,and Kensington (including the State School site) in the parish of Doutta Galla and what became the Ranelagh Estate, Mt Eliza, at the north west corner of the parish of Moorooduc.
At the time of this meeting, he was probably living in Melbourne,possibly in the oldest surviving house in Melbourne, photographed by the wonderful MUZZA OF McCRAE. He later built Ascot House in Fenton St Ascot Vale. In the early 1860's, he was a foundation member of the Borough of Essendon and Flemington and became one of the three M.L.C.'s for West Bourke. He was accused of bribing voters with inducements such as oranges that he grew; his orchard was probably near Cranwell St, North Essendon not far east from the Irish Dr Harbinson's orange grove (Melway 16 E12.)The Fitzroy Historical Society website states that he was also an alderman in that area.His portrait can be seen on the internet. Edward Wilson, editor of the Argus, constantly criticised J.T.Smith.(Sources: The Stopover That Stayed" Grant Aldous;parish maps; Keilor Centenary Souvenir 1950? eMelbourne past and present website under Mayoralty etc.)
JOHN THOMAS SMITH OBITUARY (google: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/smith-john-thomas-4609)
MOOROODUC PARISH MAP (GOOGLE: MOOROODUC, COUNTY OF MORNINGTON)
See his bust and the plaque in J.T.Smith Reserve. Nearby are history boards which contain much information about the Ranelagh Estate. Hopefully these mention Henry Slaney's ownership of Nyora which seems to be ignored in heritage studies*, which only mention Smith and J.L.Purves, the lawyer son of James Purves, the absentee owner of "Tootgarook". (*Perhaps these studies relied only on the article about TOURIST RESORTS. MOUNT ELIZA. There is not one trove result for "Purves, Nyora" and only one for "Purves, Ranelagh". Another heritage study stated the J.L.Purves was a frequent guest at Nyora (or Ranelagh, not sure which.)
TOURIST RESORTS. MOUNT ELIZA. (GOOGLE:https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204204733)
HENRY SLANEY.
From Henry Slaney, Nyora, declining to quote a price for an acre of land on his property, which the council desired to purchase in order to secure gravel, but agreeing to allow the council to remove gravel from, say, a
chain (20 metres)on the north side for £5 per annnum for five years, on condition that the excavations were properly fenced. (P.5, Mornington Standard, 11-2-1905.)
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 1 o'clock,
IMPORTANT CLEARING SALE of LAND, STOCK, FIRST-CLASS IMPLEMENTS, Etc.
In the Estate of the late Henry Slaney, "Nyora," Pt. Nepean Rd. Midway between Frankston and Mornington
W. A. WAUCHOPE has been favored with instructions from The Equity Trustees Company and Messrs. H. B. and T. .B. Slaney, executors to the estate of the late Henry Slaney, to sell on the property, "Nyora," Point Nepean Road,
(midway between Frankston and Mornington)etc., (P.2, Frankston and Somerville Standard, 8-9-1922.)
CONFIRMATION THAT NYORA WAS CROWN PORTION 1, PARISH OF MOOROODUC. 21-11-1903 ADVERTISEMENT.
(GOOGLE: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10583473)
The truth of the matter is that J.L.Purves had only leased Nyora.
PROPERTY SALE.-The well-known property, "Nyora," containing 286 acres, situated on the Mornington road, at the junction of the Frankston and Hastings and Mornington shires, formerly leased by Mr J. L. Purves, has changed
hands. The purchaser is Mr Henry Slaney, of the Haymarket, Melbourne. (P.2, Mornington Standard, 15-10-1904.)
Henry Slaney's executors must have sold Nyora to John Thompson.
Nyora Estate, Mount Eliza, has been sold. It is proposed to put down bowling greens, tennis courts and golf, links* on the estate. (P.15, The Age, 21-8-1923.)
* The golf links were built on the site of the Peninsula School.
JOHN BUTLER RESERVE (105 F 2.)
John H.Butler was a resident of Mt Eliza by 1953 when he wrote a letter about Wilson Hall at Melbourne University. (GOOGLE: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206439376)
That is the only mention of Butlers at Mount Eliza but the reserve was definitely named after the 1953 resident.
John H Butler Reserve - Mornington Peninsula Shire
https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/Parks-Recreation/John-H-Butler-Reserve
Perhaps a long-time Mt Eliza resident can shed some light on why John was so-honoured.
Ian Morrison suggested a council connection. I had noticed that James S.Butler was the secretary of Frankston and Hastings Shire in the early 1900's and just now discovered that he'd become the engineer for Mornington Shire by 1908 when he died of a heart attack. His death record may help to discover if John H.Butler was his son.
EventDeath Event registration number3804 Registration year1908
Personal information
Family nameBUTLER Given namesJas Saml SexUnknown Father's nameButler Jas Wm Mother's nameEliza (Horn) Place of birth Place of deathSchnapper Pl Age54
It seems that James and Ellen had no children. That theory's down the plughole!
BUTLER-On the 21st March, Ellen widow of the late James S.Butler of Mornington and dearest aunt of Melda (Mrs T Pennefather, East Camberwell), and little Noel, aged 55 years. (P.1, Argus, 30-3-1921.)
After an extensive " John H.Butler" search on trove, my next theory is that John was a semi-retired architect who travelled abroad to visit his father in New Zealand and to develop his professional knowledge and had lived at South Yarra.
SECRETARY.
Architect having small practice of mostly country work requires experienced and competent secretary stenographer to take charge of his Melbourne office.
JOHN H. BUTLER. Queen's Road. S.C.2. BM2367. During Weekend Ring BY1754.(P.29, Argus, 13-11-1954.)
I'd hoped to find mention of projects near Mornington but perhaps he employed architects to carry out such as this one.
JOHN H. BUTLER,ARCHITECT. 2 Queens Road, Melbourne, S.C.2. BM2367.
Invites Tenders For The construction In Brick and Concrete of an additional Factory area of approximately 35 squares to: BUTTER FACTORY AT NOORAT (Near Camperdown). For Glenormiston Butter and Cheese Company.
(P.26, Argus, 9-2-1955.)
It seemed hopeless but there was a voice in my head saying never give up. Was it Charles Coleman, the late Rosebud dynamo?
BINGO!
MOUNT ELIZA
JOHN H BUTLER ARCHITECT, 2 Queens Road (Windsor 6467) Tower Road (Mount Eliza 469)
Invites Tenders for ALTERATIONS & ADDITIONS TO TIMBER COTTAGE AT ROEHAMPTON CRESCENT RANELAGH, MOUNT ELIZA
(P.32, Argus, 5-12-1953.)
Still no reason found to explain why the reserve was named after John. He'd obviously done his architecture degree at Melbourne Uni.
Having discovered that John was an architect, it was worthwhile attempting a google search. I don't know whether his 1959 house was on the same site he'd occupied in 1953 but we now know which street he lived in from 1959.
FROM: http://www.livelovemounteliza.com.au/stories-from-mt-eliza/2017/1/9/mid-twentieth-century-architectural-gems-of-mount-eliza
BUTLER HOUSE, 1/32 WIMBLEDON AVENUE, RANELAGH ESTATE, MOUNT ELIZA (RANELAGH ESTATE)
Architect: John H. Butler
Built: c. 1959
This would appear to be John's death record.It's a pity that his death notice is not on trove so I can check that he had a son named Adrian who was Town Clerk of Frankston according to Ian Morrison.
EventDeath Event registration number24544 Registration year1968
Personal information
Family nameBUTLER Given namesJohn Harding SexMale Father's nameBUTLER Richard Harding Mother's nameEvelyn Mary Maud (Austin) Place of birthMelbourne Place of deathMornington Age64
"MANYUNG" 105 B5.
MANYUNG
Another source, probably a heritage study, stated that the name of the mansion was coined by combining the start and end of two nearby creeks, Manmangah and Gunyong.
The 279 acres that Richard Grice purchased from the grantee William Robertson in 1860 was crown portion 4, bounded by the bay, Gunyong Creek, Pt Nepean Rd and Sunnyside Rd.
See MOOROODUC PARISH MAP
(*ROBERTSON DRIVEin Mornington was named after William Robertson, grantee of crown portion 13 of 475 acres bounded by Pt Nepean Rd, Bungower Rd, Racecourse Rd and Pentacost and Watt Rds.)
SUNNYSIDE RD.105 A6 to B8.
This road was the northern boundary of John Yewer's 159.8 acre grant which became Francis Gillett's "Sunnyside", whose other boundaries were Pt Nepean Rd, Manmangur Creek and the bay. A SUNNYSIDE, MORNINGTON search (google or trove) will produce many results, two of which (about George Tallis's plans for Australia's first Country Club and the details of the estate's purchase by St Vincent de Paul's) have not been seen in any citations for the property; links to them are provided in a comment about Sunnyside under this journal.
TO BE CONTINUED.
on 2018-07-02 04:35:31
Itellya is researching local history on the Mornington Peninsula and is willing to help family historians with information about the area between Somerville and Blairgowrie. He has extensive information about Henry Gomm of Somerville, Joseph Porta (Victoria's first bellows manufacturer) and Captain Adams of Rosebud.
Comments
After a lengthy interruption while I organised the PENINSULA SHOWCASE, this journal is being resumed.
SUNNYSIDE, MORNINGTON.
I was trying to find some mention of the sale of Sunnyside (115 acres being c/a's 68AB, Balnarring at Red Hill South) when I stumbled on some great articles about Gillett's "Sunnyside" especially its purchase by St Vincent de Paul's.
[url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/171684474]HOME FOR
DELINQUENT BOYS[/url]
I don't think I've seen any mention of the plans for Australia's first country club in any articles about Sunnyside's history. It was the brainwave of George Tallis.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS
CAPTIONED PHOTOS