Carlo and the issue of Mixed Bathing

In January 1911, The Argus published this report - 
Mixed bathing is now one of the attractions at Mount Buffalo. In the improvements made when the new hospice was being erected was provision for a lake, and in a letter which Mr. Catani has received he is informed that the lake has been greatly appreciated by the Christmas season visitors, both for boating and swimming. The ladies have made use of it for both recreations, and mixed bathing is already an established custom of the mountain holiday resort. The tennis courts, it is mentioned, are also now 
in readiness for players. (1)

The Hospice referred to is the Chalet, which opened in 1910. The lake, was a project of Carlo's and was created by the damming of the Eurobin Creek, with the construction of the weir forming a lake of 58 acres (23 hectares).  It was established to help make Mount Buffalo a year-round tourist resort - with swimming, fishing and skating, and named Lake Catani, in his honour. (2)

Lake Catani, c. 1910.

Photographer: F. Foxtrot.

Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/768834

Mixed bathing was a controversial topic at the time but the fact that it was an established custom at Lake Catani seems to have been met with equanimity, unlike the reaction to mixed bathing at the 1912 Methodist Conference where -

At the afternoon sitting of the Methodist Conference yesterday, Rev. T. Adamson moved, in accordance with notice - That in the view of the distinctly immoral conditions at present being created by the practice of mixed bathing, this conference protests against the continuance of the practice as at present prevailing, and urges upon the Government the necessity of using its powers to control municipal action in this matter.   

He said he was placed in a position by his circuit duties to understand the set of conditions created by mixed bathing. On the foreshores from Port Melbourne, through Albert Park, to St. Kilda, and beyond, a deplorable condition of things existed. Police officers who were watching the beach very closely were powerless to prevent the evil. Residents of Beaconsfield-parade - a residential area along the foreshore - had told him, and he had seen for himself, that on a summer's evening there was hideous immorality

along the beach. (3)

It wasn't just the Reverend Adamson who thought that mixed bathing in South Melbourne and St Kilda was immoral. Further around the Bay, Mr Lowther of the Chelsea Progress Association discussed the mixed bathing question and he expressed the hope that the beach at Chelsea would not be the scene of such displays as had occurred at South Melbourne and St. Kilda.... and he feared that Chelsea may get a reputation like South Melbourne if the foreshore trust does not exercise due vigilance. (4) 

We have no information about whether Carlo was in favour of mixed bathing, but I would have no reason to think that he would be against it, as long as the participants were decently clothed. He was fully aware of the matter as the issue of mixed bathing in the sea (as opposed to enclosed baths such as Kenney's Baths) was debated in February 1911, in Carlo's home town of St Kilda and was also discussed by the St Kilda  Foreshore Committee, of which he was a member.

The Prahran Telegraph reported on the debate - 

Mixed Bathing - The action of the South Melbourne Council in passing a resolution in favour of open bathing on the foreshore has resulted in thousands of people going down to the seashore for a dip, the practice being to wear a bathing dress under a dressing gown or other garment, the latter being dropped on the beach. There has, so far, been little which is objectionable, and much that is pleasant and healthy in the practice, though, as in other places, the authorities require to be constantly on the alert to prevent rowdies intruding. The influence of South Melbourne has extended to St. Kilda, and on Monday evening Cr. Pittard asked the foreshore committee to erect dressing sheds on the beach. He said it was no use getting away from the fact that they were going to have mixed bathing. He moved accordingly.

The Mayor: One shelter for the two sexes. Cr. Pittard: No. There should be screens put up for the benefit of each sex. Open sea bathing was going to be the rule, and it should be encour-ged by making it decently possible. Cr. O'Donnell : We have no resolution on mixed bathing. Cr. Gibbs, as a member of the Foreshore Trust, said he was sure that body would consider any request from the Council as favourably as possible.

The Mayor: What about shark-proof fencing? Cr. O'Donnell remarked that the resolution would be a very dangerous one to carry. He had heard several complaints about mixed bathing that was carried on. Cr. Gibbs: It is perfectly legal so long as the bathers are decently clothed. Cr. O'Donnell asked whether Cr. Gibbs would go regularly to see if people were properly clothed. He would like the Council, before carrying the motion, to give serious consideration to the whole question of mixed bathing and adopt rules for its conduct.

The Mayor: If you object to it the motion cannot be put to-night. Cr. O'Donnell: Well, I do strongly object to its coming on without notice. Cr. Pittard then gave notice of motion for next meeting. (5)

In a follow-up report, two weeks later - 

Mixed Bathing at St. Kilda - At the St. Kilda Council meeting on Monday evening last Cr. Pittard moved: "That the St. Kilda shore committee be asked to consider the advisableness of providing dressing screens or shelters on the foreshore, to permit of bathing in the open."  Cr. Stedeford seconded the motion. There was no doubt that mixed open sea bathing would at length come into general vogue. The Mayor : We have it now.

Cr. Hewison said he did not know whether councillors had all come to the conclusion that mixed bathing at St. Kilda was desirable. He had indulged in it, and he was convinced of its advantages under proper conditions. The sending of a letter conveying the proposed resolution would suggest to the Foreshore Trust that the Council approved of providing for mixed bathing. The beach immediately in front of the Esplanade did not lend itself to open sea bathing. People came to St. Kilda to promenade and enjoy the sea air, and to have mixed bathing in front of the Esplanade was not desirable. There should be limitation, and the principal objection he saw was that people did not immediately dress when they came out of the water, but lay about on the sand. He did not know how far propriety would be ensured by erecting dressing screens.

Cr. O'Donnell said he had tried to keep an open mind on the matter, but what he had seen on the beach on the way to Port Melbourne on the preceding morning had not impressed him favourably. Mixed bathers stayed tumbling and cossing about the sand for an hour at a time. Cr. Billson : They are proud of their figures. Cr. Gibbs said the Foreshore Trust was about to give consideration to the subject, and would inform the Council subsequently of what it had in its mind to do. The motion was withdrawn by consent for four weeks, pending receipt of information from the trust. (6)

St Kilda Council were still debating this issue in March 1912 when they passed a motion controlling open-sea mixed bathing which included the clause -  No person shall bathe in the open sea at any such part as aforesaid of the seashore unless effectively and decently clothed from neck to knee in a bathing costume, kilted, or similar to that known as the Canadian costume. (7).  This motion was put, in spite of the fact that at that same Council meeting  - Councillor Gibbs said that the Foreshore Trust had been informed by the Crown solicitor that it had no power at present to make by-laws to control the open the open sea bathing. (8)

The Canadian costume, compulsory attire for mixed bathing.

Perth Sunday Times, February 17, 1924 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58070817

More regulations were introduced in January 1915 with both time and age restrictions and restrictions with the objective to control open sea bathing. (9)  The issue was still not settled in 1918 and the following report shows some of the issues that policing mixed bathing produced -

Bathers - mixed and otherwise -  will be interested in the recent decision of the South Melbourne Council to amend the bathing regulations so us to bring them more into line with those at St Kilda. This decision which will allow of mixed bathing between 5 a.m. and 10.30 p.m. on week days, and from 5 a.m. till 11 a.m. on Sundays, will make the regulations more liberal than those that obtain at St Kilda, where mixed bathing is only permitted in parts between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Last season the South Melbourne Council permitted mixed bathing only between 5 a.m. and sundown, whereas at St. Kilda the sexes could bathe together until much later in the evening. The result was that in the hot weather there would be a secession of Albert Park residents, men, women and children, over the border of the two municipalities, to enjoy a dip together in the free atmosphere of the St. Kilda foreshore. The border line was represented by an imaginary line running out to sea from Fraser street, which was the southern boundary of South Melbourne. In the circumstances, when once the water was entered, it was very much a matter of opinion as to whether a bather was within or outside the restricted area, and the confusion that resulted gave rise to many amusing situations and incidents. 

The report ends with - 

At Port Melbourne the hours of bathing are not restricted, but bathers, as elsewhere, must wear the neck to knee Canadian costume, and observe the laws of propriety. Neither are there any restrictions as to hours of bathing at Brighton or the new municipality of Sandringham. A strict watch is kept by the police to prevent anything in the nature of disorderly conduct, but there is seldom cause for complaint. (10).

The Truth newspaper headline

Truth, November 16, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130174264

Truth newspaper also reported on these absurd rules where mixed bathing was allowed in Port Melbourne at all hours, but once over the border at Pickles Street and into the City of South Melbourne, restrictions applied. (11)  This, above, was the amusing head-line of the Truth article, which can be read here.

The bathing costume on the right is a two-piece Canadian, made of wool, under a towelling gown.

Graphic of Australia, December 28, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153080029 

Carlo's Lake Catani, at which mixed bathing was accepted at a time when it was still the subject of  much debate and restriction even in St Kilda and other the pleasure spots of Melbourne, makes it a trail blazer in Victoria.  I will go so far to say that Carlo, through his construction of Lake Catani,  led the way in Victoria in regards to mixed bathing. 

Footnotes

(1) The Argus, January 7, 1911, see here.

(2) https://victoriancollections.net.au/stories/carlo-catani-an-engineering-star-over-victoria/mount-buffalo

(3) The Age, March 6, 1912, see here. 

(4) The Age, March 11, 1912, see here; The Australasian, March 16 1912, see here. 

(5) Prahran Telegraph, February 11, 1911, see here. 

(6) Prahran Telegraph, February 25, 1911, see here. 

(7) The Argus, March 5, 1912, see here.

(8) Ibid. 

(9) The Argus, January 19, 1915, see here. 

(10) The Herald, October 29, 1918, see here.  

(11) Truth, November 16, 1918, see here. 

Carlo's neighbour, Otto Treichel

Otto Treichel was a neighbour of Carlo Catani -  Carlo lived at 39 Blessington Street and Otto at 35 Blessington Street (re-numbered as 61 and 57 Blessington Street in 1935). I first came across Otto when he, Carlo and other neighbours donated money towards a gate for the St Kilda Botanical Gardens (also known as the Blessington Street Gardens). I have written about this here.

Carlo and his neighbours including Otto Treichel, donate towards Garden gates. 

Malvern Standard, April 15, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66402722

Then recently I came across the following postcard addressed to Otto Treichel at 35 Blessington Street, and given my obsession with Carlo, you can imagine how excited I was to see this card posted to his neighbour. They knew each other, maybe chatted to each other whilst promenading around the Botanical Gardens, maybe had morning tea together or attended the same functions at the St Kilda Town Hall. 

The postcard addressed to Otto Treichel from the Tasmania Philatelic Society

The postcard was sent from the Tasmania Philatelic Society in 1924, regarding Otto's purchases. Postage stamps were a long term interest for Otto, whether his interest was collecting, dealing or both, I cannot say, but I found this advertisement from 1887, where he seeks postage stamps and post cards from Western Australia.

Otto seeks postage stamps from Western Australia

Perth Daily News, April 28, 1887 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article76068742

As you can see from Otto's address he was in South Australia and this is where he began his life in Australia. Johann August Otto Treichel was born in 1854 in what is noted in his Naturalization papers as Doersetnhen, Pomeria, in the old German Empire. Pomeria is actually Pomerania; but his death certificate lists his birth place as Koslin, Pomerania. Otto arrived as a 29 year old, his occupation was a watchmaker, and four months after arrival he was naturalized in December 1883.  His address at the time was c/o J. M. Wendt, Rundle Street Adelaide. (1) Joachim Matthias Wendt had established his Jewellers and Watchmakers business in 1854 and it traded for 150 years until it closed in the late 1990s. (2)

Along with Philately, Otto's other past-time was playing the zither and there are numerous reports of his performances in concerts in South Australia, in both the English language newspapers and the German language Australische Zeitung. (3)

Otto, the zither player

Adelaide Evening Journal, November 18, 1884 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197805174

On July 13, 1884 Otto, the son of Jakob Treichel, married 24 year-old Johanna, the daughter of Jurgen Rix, in a Lutheran ceremony at his house in Kent Town. They had three children - Max Arthur born April 25, 1885; Grete Gertrude Adelaide born April 11, 1893 and Elsa Margot on September 27, 1894. (4)

Otto continued his career at Wendt's Jewellers until 1899, when the family sold all the contents of their house and left  for Europe. Amongst the items which were offered at auction held December 22 were a walnut pianoforte by Stainer of  Stuttgart and a rosewood pianoforte by H.J. Schwart, of Hamburg. (5)

Sale of Otto's Household Furniture and Effects

The Adelaide Advertiser, December 21 1899 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73229401

Otto's business in Chapel Street, Prahran
When the Treichel family returned to Australia they established themselves in Melbourne. As the Prahran Telegraph of February 2, 1901 reported -
Mr. O. Treichel notifies in another column that he has purchased the watch-making and jewellery business lately carried on by Mr. Geo. Roberts, at 173 Chapel-street, Windsor, opposite Savings Bank. Mr. Treichel comes with splendid credentials as a first-class workman, being 17 years with the old-established firm of Wendts, in Adelaide, and 13 years with some of the best firms in London, Paris, and Berlin. Mr. Treichel has recently arrived from the old country with some exquisite novelties in jeweller's art and his window is replete with beautiful opera glasses and clocks. (6)

Otto's shop at 173 Chapel Street, with the large clock on the verandah, between the Druggist and the Ironmonger, c. 1908

State Library of Victoria image H33677/9. 

Initially, Otto and family lived on the premises at 173 Chapel Street; Max, who was an Optician, worked with his father and the two daughters attended Methodist Ladies College. In 1911 the business moved to 197 Chapel Street, Prahran. (7)

Otto's business moves to 197 Chapel Street

Prahran Telegraph, July 22, 1911 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165106125

As with many German born citizens during the First World War, Otto came under suspicion of being disloyal to the Australia and the Empire. He wrote the following letter to the editor of The Argus in May 1915 after the sinking of Lusitania

Sir - As a colonist who landed here in the year 1883, and having given in the same year my oath of allegiance to Great Britain, I heartily endorse the remarks of Mr. C.T. Werner and others. I also wish to express my heartfelt sympathy for the victims of this latest tragedy of the war, and my intense abhorrence of the inhuman methods of warfare as conducted by the German authorities. Trusting that other German Australians who, I feel sure must have the same thoughts of regret and disgust, will come forward and express their feelings in a fitting way. I take this opportunity of enclosing another cheque for Red Cross fund of £3/3/. - Yours &c, O. TREICHEL St. Kilda. May 12. (8)

The same month, Otto wrote this letter to the Prahran Council-

In view of the recent outrages by the German Government, I, as a citizen of long years' standing  in  Prahran feel that I was to express my profound disgust with that Government's warfare and the more recently perpetrated crime of wilfully sinking the passenger steamer Lusitiania. Born in Germany, I left for obvious reasons 32 years go for our fair Australia, took one year later the oath of allegiance to our then reigning Queen Victoria, and it has since been my endeavour to be a true and useful citizen to this my adopted country and wish to assure you of my deepest sympathy and loyal support whenever necessary. (9)

No doubt in response to this anti-German feeling the firm was sold to J.W. Munckton - the father of Otto's daughter-in-law, Marie. This was still not enough to dampen suspicions of disloyalty and in January 1916, the director of  J.W. Munckton P/L, Mr H. Ripper wrote to The Age - 

In view of public sentiment at the present time, we desire to point out that our business belongs entirely to J. W. M.Munckton and myself, both of full British parentage, and that no alien capital whatsoever is used in the business, and that our firm is entirely a British-owned concern. (10)

Yet still in September 1916 the following paragraph appeared in the Mirror of Australia, under the headline - A Choice of Names, suggesting obliquely that the business had a change of name only, rather than a change of ownership.  The firm, however, survived the War Years and J.W. Munckton continued to trade at 197 Chapel Street to the mid 1920s. (11)

Suggestions that J.W. Munckton is really Otto's business

Mirror of Australia, September 9 1916  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105137629

35 Blessington Street, St Kilda

In 1910, Otto purchased 35 Blessington Street and as noted in the City of Port Phillip Heritage Review -

This property, at the east corner of Blessington and Tennyson streets once formed part of the grounds of a house known as Woodlands that was erected prior to 1873 and occupied a large allotment with deep setbacks to both streets. In the early twentieth century the Woodlands estate was subdivided creating building allotments along Blessington Street. Otto Triechel purchased this allotment and in 1910 had this house erected as his own residence. A. Kenley, who was the builder, also carried out ‘brick additions’ to the house in 1919. (12)  Carlo's house, Wyndham, 39 Blessington Street, which was built c. 1912 was no doubt part of this same subdivision (read more about Wyndham here.) 

Woodlands was built for John Whitney, of the firm of Whitney, Chambers & Co., wholesale Ironmongers. The firm went into liquidation in 1876 (13)  Perhaps this was the reason that in 1877 John Whitney put Woodlands up for auction. The advertisement, below, describes it as a comfortable family dwelling of eleven main  rooms on just over four acres of land.

Woodlands for sale

The Argus, November 26, 1877 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5946474 

Woodlands, 1897, on the corner of Blessington and Tennyson Streets.

Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works detail plan. no. 1382, City of St. Kilda 1897. Click on image to enlarge. 

State Library of Victoria image - see full plan here  http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/122577

As we know, the grounds were subdivided around 1910 and Otto and Carlo built their houses, and the Woodlands mansion was demolished some time between 1925 and 1930. (14)

Otto Treichel's house, now numbered 57 Blessington Street.

Google Street View, 2022

Back to Otto's house. The City of Port Phillip Heritage Review describes his house as - 

Well-detailed, the house has elements demonstrative of the style, including an asymmetrical composition, layered with Queen Anne-style elements of complex hip and gable roof forms clad in unglazed terracotta tiles complemented with terracotta embellishment including ornate finials, ridge cappings, and chimney pots; and a curved bay topped with a candlesnuffer roof. The prominent corner bay positioned at the corner of Blessington and Tennyson streets gives the house a landmark quality.

Other elements, associated with the Queen Anne style are pressed red brick walls and chimneys relieved in roughcast render, exposed timber eaves brackets, groups of timber casement windows, some sashes with Art Nouveau-style leadlighting, and timber fretwork on porches. Contributing to the aesthetic value of the house is its garden setting, making a visual reference to the Botanical Gardens opposite. (15)

The builder was was Alexander Kenley. He was listed in the Electoral Roll, with his wife Clara at Brickwood Street, Elsternwick in 1909 and three years later at Cole Street, Elsternwick. (16) We are very fortunate that this lovely house is still here as in 1975, then divided into thee flats, it was advertised for auction as a development site. It sold for $62,200. (17)

57 Blessington Street up for auction

The Age, December 6 1975, p. 51 from newspapers.com

The Treichel family settled into their home in Blessington Street, which was named Koslin, after Otto's birthplace. The daughters are listed in reports of various social activities. This report, as an example, is from 1912 and involved an 'At Home' at All Saints Hall, East St Kilda -

A most enjoyable "At Home," now popular was given by the Misses Greta Treichel, Elsa Treichel, Gladys Levey, Eva Meyers, Gertie Marks, Stella Marks, Marjorie Hunter, Alma Stubbs, Elma Marks, Vere Tewksbury, to the number of 130, on Thursday evening, July 4th. America's great independence day, which was signalised by the draping of a large American flag over the door. The guests were received by the hostesses at the entrance... (18)

On March 5, 1913 Max Treichel married Miss Margaret 'Marie' Munckton at All Saints Anglican Church, the daughter of John Webber Munckton and his wife Christina (nee White, who died in 1899). As we found out before, John was the man who purchased Otto's business in 1915. The Munckton family home in Williams Road, Windsor was named, by coincidence, Woodlands, the same name as the original house on the land where Otto and Johanna now lived. The marriage of Max and Marie produced two children, Gilda and Geoffrey,  but it did not last and in 1936 the couple divorced, on the grounds of his desertion. By the time of the divorce Max had Anglicized his surname to Trythall. He died on March 18, 1972, aged 86. (19)

In March 1914 the family left for a holiday overseas, as The Herald reported - 

Mr and Mrs Treichel and daughters, of "Koslin," East St. Kilda, left Melbourne by the Imperial German mail steamer, Friedrich der Grosse to-day for Great Britain and the Continent. They expect to be away until the end of November. (20) I'd be interested to know when they returned to Australia, with the start of the Great War adding to the complexity of their touring. 

In 1919, Otto and Johanna's eldest daughter Grete married Colin Leslie McDonald on April 24 at Christ Church, St. Kilda. Colin worked for the firm Berliner and McDonald, crockery merchants. They lived with Otto, Johanna and Elsa at 35 Blessington Street and had two children, Jill and Gavin. Grete died on January 7, 1972 (same year as her brother), aged 78. (21)

A significant event in the life of the family took place on February 10, 1926 when Johanna Treichel passed away.  (22)

Johanna Treichel's death notice

The Argus, February 11, 1926  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3734024

The social activities of the family were still mentioned on occasions in the papers from the 1920s - in 1928 Elsa attended a  Methodist Ladies' College Old Collegians' Club 'At Home' at the St Kilda Town Hall; the next year Otto and Elsa, left Melbourne in the Nieuw Zeeland on a holiday trip to Java and Singapore. (23)

Ten years and one day after the death of Johanna, Otto passed away on February 11, 1936. (24)  Elsa, who never married, continued to live in the Blessington Street house.  She is listed there in the Electoral Rolls right up until 1980, even though, as we saw before, it sold in 1975. It does appear then that house remained in the Treichel family for 70 years (even if I cannot explain why she was living there after it had sold).  Elsa died November 18, 1983 aged 89. (25)

Otto and Johanna are buried together at the Brighton General Cemetery, which is where Carlo and Catherine Catani are buried, so they are neighbours for eternity. 

Trove list - I have created a list of articles from Trove, connected to Otto Treichel and  his family. Access it here.

Footnotes
(1) Johann Augus Otto Treichel - Memorial of Naturalisation - National Archives of Australia  https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3181852; Index to the Victorian Births, Deaths and marriages.
(2) https://sahistoryhub.history.sa.gov.au/people/joachim-matthias-wendt/; https://www.jwire.com.au/from-australias-jewish-past-joachim-matthias-wendt-silversmith-extraordinaire/ 
(3) See my Trove list, here.
(4) SA Genealogy - https://www.genealogysa.org.au/ 
(5) Prahran Telegraph, February 2, 1901, see here; The Adelaide Advertiser, December 21 1899, see here.  
(6) Prahran Telegraph, February 2, 1901, see here.

(7)  Sands and McDougall’s Melbourne, Suburban and Country Directories available on-line at the State Library of Victoria (SLV);  Max Treichel's Divorce papers list his occupation as an Optician (see footnote 17 for link);  I am assuming both girls went to M.L.C, based on article in Table Talk, June 28, 1928, see here; Prahran Telegraph, July 22, 1911, see here. 

(8) The Argus, May 14, 1915, see here.

(9) The Argus, May 18, 1915, see here.

(10) The Age, January 17, 1916, see here.

(11) Mirror of Australia, September 9, 1916, see here.; J. W. Munckton was listed in the 1925 Sands and McDougalls but not the 1930 edition. 

(12) https://hdp-au-prod-app-pp-haveyoursay-files.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/4516/5276/3361/57_Blessington_Street_St_Kilda_citation_no._428.pdf

(13) St Kilda Historical Society - https://stkildahistory.org.au/our-collection/houses/tennyson-street/104-woodlands; Insolvency - Weekly Times, October 7, 1876, see here.

(14) St Kilda Historical Society - https://stkildahistory.org.au/our-collection/houses/tennyson-street/104-woodlands
(15) See footnote 12

(16) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com

(17) The Age, December 6, 1975, p. 51; The Age, December 8, 1975, p. 20 -  from newspapers.com

(18) Punch, July 11, 1912, see here.

(19) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Index to the Victorian Births, Deaths and marriages; report of the marriage - Table Talk, March 27, 1913, see here; the Treichel Divorce file can be read at the Public Records Office of Victoria (PROV) here - 

https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/ED3497A8-F379-11E9-AE98-E56900AD6EFF?image=1  Max - death date from Probate listing at PROV.

(20) The Herald, March 21, 1914, see here.

(21) Marriage notice - The Argus, June 7, 1919, see here; Colin's death notice - The Argus, October 25, 1940, see here; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Grete's death notice - The Age, January 10, 1972, p.10.

(22) The Argus, February 11, 1926, see here.

(23) Table Talk, June 28, 1928, see here;  The Herald, June 14, 1929, see here.

(24) Death date from Probate listing at PROV.

(25) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Elsa - death  notice - The Age, November 23, 1983. p. 62.

The sale and demolition of Carlo's house in Blessington Street

On September 18, 1926 Carlo's house Wyndham, at 39 Blessington Street was sold. It had been the Catani family home since 1912, and after Carlo's death on July 20, 1918, his widow Kate lived there with her three surviving children Elvira, Ettore and Enid.  It was Kate's death on August 6, 1925 which prompted the sale of the house. If only I could go back in time, I'd buy the house and make it a permanent shrine to Carlo.

Sale advertisement for Wyndham

The Argus, August 7, 1926 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3800647

Sadly, we don't have  a photograph of Wyndham but this auction notice has a description of the house -That very nice brick villa, known as Wyndham, 39 Blessington st., St. Kilda, containing nine (9) rooms, including large dining room, all the rooms are in perfect order. The house is particularly well built, and on good foundations, and is situated in one of the best positions in St. Kilda, being near the tram, post-office, and town hall, and close to a splendid shopping centre. There is also a brick motor garage, with cement floor, for two (2) cars. Paths all asphalted. This villa is particularly well suited for a home, and in addition to this it is in an admirable position for letting purposes. It is only being sold to wind up the estate of the late Mr. C. Catani. Those in search of a good home, or investors. will do well to inspect this property, as it is for absolute sale. (1)

Sands and McDougall’s Melbourne, Suburban and Country Directories (2) indicate that Wyndham was built after 1910 and thus the land was likely to have been part of the Woodlands estate. Woodlands, built in the 1870s, occupied a large allotment on the corner of Blessington and Tennyson Streets and was sub-divided around 1910. (3)  Carlo was almost certainly the first occupant of Wyndham, when he and his family moved there around 1912 - the year his former house Glenluce in Elm Grove, Armadale was demolished for railway works. Read about Glenluce here. 

In 1910 there were only two properties in Blessington Street, south side, between Tennyson Street and Brighton Road. 

Sands and McDougall’s Melbourne, Suburban and Country Directory for 1910 (on-line at the State Library of Victoria)

In 1915 there were six properties in Blessington Street, south side, between Tennyson Street and Brighton Road, including Carlo's house.

Sands and McDougall’s Melbourne, Suburban and Country Directory for 1915 (on-line at the State Library of Victoria)

Wyndham was sold to Mr E. Shannon, as The Age reported - W.S Keast also begs to report having sold, on behalf of the trustees in the estate of the late Mr. C. Catani, a brick villa situated at 39 Blessington-street, St, Kilda. For this property there was also keen competition, and it was purchased by Mr. E. Shannon for the sum of £2075. (4)

Who was Mr E. Shannon? He was actually Mr Shannos. The 1930 Sands and McDougall's lists the occupant of 39 Blessington Street as Efstathios Shannos. His first name is spelt various ways - in the 1937 Electoral Roll, when he was still at Blessington Street, he is Epstathios and a later Electoral Roll when he was living at 244 Orrong Road, Toorak he is called Efstatheos. Mr Shannos was at one time a cafe proprietor and then a caterer. Efstathios was born on January 30, 1896 in Greece and was married to Athena; he was living in Athens in Greece when he died in 1978. (5)

In 1930 there were 13 properties in Blessington Street, south side, between Tennyson Street and Brighton Road,  including Mr Shannos at No. 39, as well as a new street Irymple Avenue. 

Sands and McDougall’s Melbourne, Suburban and Country Directory for 1930 (on-line at the State Library of Victoria

On June 12, 1930 Mr Shannos put the contents of Wyndham up for auction owing to his departure Abroad. The furnishings and effects included - 

Maple and Oak Bedroom Suites, Blackwood Dining-room Suite, Oak Breakfast-room Suite. Very fine Jacobean Standard Chairs. Blackwood Column Pedestals, Splendid Comb, Easy Chair and Couch, in Damask; splendid Blackwood Sideboard, Two Extra Fine Easy Chairs in Moquette; Plate-glass Top Tables, Cabinet Gramaphone, Electric Fans, and a Host of General Furniture - the Contents of a 10 roomed Villa. He also auctioned his late model Auburn 6-cylinder touring car. (6)

It appears that Wyndham was rented out  whilst he was away and it was occupied for a few years by Thomas Sydney Jackson and his family; he was  the manager  of William Peatt P/L Boot Manufacturer of Collingwood, an active member of the Collingwood Technical School who was constantly endeavoring to improve the standard of skill in apprentices and trainees. (7)  

In 1935 three things happened - Wyndham was demolished, flats were built on the site and Blessington Street was re-numbered and thus No. 39 became No. 61. The 1935 Sands and McDougall’s Directory still has Thomas Jackson at No. 39.  However, as the advertisement (below) from October 1935 shows, flats now occupied No. 61 Blessington Street, so I feel we can safely say that 1935 was indeed the year of the demolition of Wyndham, the erection of the existing  block of flats and the year of the street re-numbering. (8)

1935 - The first advertisement I can find for the new flats.

The Herald, October 30, 1935 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244792242 

1935 - Blessington Street, south side, between Tennyson Street and Brighton Road, including Mr Jackson at No. 39, as well as a new street Irymple Avenue. 

Sands and McDougall’s Melbourne, Suburban and Country Directory for 1935 (on-line at the State Library of Victoria)

1940 - Blessington Street, south side, between Tennyson Street and Brighton Road.  The Panonena Flats at No. 61, still had the same neighbours as in 1935 - the Baxters and the Abercrombys. Mrs Julia Israel is still on the corner of Irymple Street and Mr Harvey on the Brighton Road corner. 

Sands and McDougall’s Melbourne, Suburban and Country Directory for 1940 (on-line at the State Library of Victoria)

I am certain that Mr Shannos was the developer and in the 1937 Electoral Roll  his address was 61 Blessington Street; in 1939 he lived in Hawthorn and then, as we said, later moved to Orrong Road. There is one small mystery - were the flats named Tanonena Court  as listed in the advertisement or Panonena, as listed in Sands McDougall's?  I do not know. Nor do I know how long Mr Shannos owned the flats, however they remained in single ownership until 1997 when these older style apartments for connoisseurs of fine living, were sold off individually. (9)

1997 - The flats at 61 Blessington Street for sale

The Age October 11, 1997 p. 159 from newspapers.com

What is interesting is that Wyndham was only 20 years old when it was demolished however as its location was in one of the best positions on St Kilda, being near the tram and a splendid shopping centre (10) its fate was sealed like so many other beautiful houses and the site was redeveloped.  However, Carlo's connection to No. 39 /No. 61  Blessington Street is recognised by a plaque on the gate post of the flats. 

The plaque commemorating Carlo at 61 Blessington Street.

Image: Isaac Hermann.

The plaque commemorating Carlo at 61 Blessington Street.

Image: Isaac Hermann.

Footnotes

(1) The Argus, August 7, 1926, see here.

(2) Sands and McDougall’s Melbourne, Suburban and Country Directories available on-line at the State Library of Victoria (SLV)

(3) What is now No. 57 Blessington Street (2 doors down from Wyndham, on the corner of Tennyson Street) is Heritage listed with the City of Port Phillip and the Woodlands information comes from their citation - https://hdp-au-prod-app-pp-haveyoursay-files.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/4516/5276/3361/57_Blessington_Street_St_Kilda_citation_no._428.pdf  This house was built for Otto Treichel, I have written about him here. 

(4) The Age, October 18, 1926, see here.

(5) Electoral Rolls available on Ancestry.com;   Sands and McDougall’s at SLV;  The Herald, December 13, 1946, see here, lists him as Cafe owner; the Incoming Passenger Cards at the National Archives of Australia list his birth date and place   https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9788154&S=971 and https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9788985&S=983 

Probate notice for Efstathios Shannos

The Age, July 4, 1978 p. 25., from newspapers.com

(6) The Argus, June 7, 1930, see here.

(7) Electoral Rolls available on Ancestry.com; Sands and McDougall’s at SLV;  The Age, June 17, 1954, see here.

(8) Sands and McDougall’s at SLV; The Herald, October 30, 1935, see here.  Another early advertisement here - The Herald, November 30, 1935, see here.

(9) Electoral Rolls; The Age October 11, 1997 p. 159 from newspapers.com

(10) The Argus, August 7, 1926, see here.