Carlo and the St Kilda Botanical Gardens Gates

The Botanical Gardens in St Kilda, also known as the Blessington Street Gardens, were established in 1859. St Kilda Historian, J. B. Cooper wrote about the establishment of the gardens and the role played by Tilman Gloystein, in its design - 
At the St. Kilda Council meeting held on September 28, 1859, a motion was carried, affirming "the desirability of the reserve, bounded by Tennyson, Blessington, and Dickens Streets, in the neighbourhood of the swamp, being granted by the Government, for the purpose of a Botanical Garden, and that the proper steps be at once taken to procure the necessary conveyance." The motion brought forward by Councillor Tullett, and seconded by Councillor McNaughton, met with the warmest support from the chairman, the Hon. Alexander Fraser, M.L.C. Cooper....

The Council enclosed the Blessington Street land with a substantial picket fence, six feet in height, and then made the announcement to the residents, that it was proposed to form the land into a "public gardens, and promenade." Designs for the gardens, and promenade, were announced...... The design of Mr. Gloystein was adjudged the most suitable one in the contest, and he was paid the £10. The lines of the walks, and flower beds were "trenched out agreeably with the design, and a nursery commenced, in the gardens ready for the next season's planting." (1).

The Gardens in 1896. Dickens Street is on the left.

Detail of Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works plan, scale 160 feet to 1 inch. no.45 , Prahran & St Kilda.

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/143131

There is more detail about the Botanical Gardens in an Argus newspaper article from June 1860.  Tilman Gloystein's surname is incorrectly listed as Goldstein in the article. 
The Municipal Council of St. Kilda, at their weekly meeting yesterday evening, took two steps forward towards the establishment of a local botanical garden, by, in the first place, awarding the premium for the best design to Mr. Tilman W. Goldstein; and, in the second place, by accepting a tender from Mr. Kidner for the fencing-in of the gardens, at a cost of £424. Mr. Goldstein's design, although somewhat elaborate, is not marked by that formality so that frequently characterizes plans of a similar kind, and, whilst avoiding the mistake of dividing the ground into too small plots, for plants, &c., lays out ample space both for promenade and riding or driving, interspersed by numerous shrubberies. The only approach to formality is immediately in the centre of the gardens, where he proposes to place a pavilion for a band, and which is surrounded by circular walks and beds. Mr. Goldstein has adorned the place by a couple of fountains, and has selected spots for the erection of hot-houses, a lodge, a superintendent's residence, and other buildings, which it will probably be too costly to carry out at present. (2)

Tilman Gloystein was a tragic figure and this 1856 report gives us some insight into his life -  

a highly respectable-looking German, named Gloystein, was brought up at the City Court on Wednesday on suspicion of being a lunatic. The unfortunate man, it appeared, is an architect by profession and has been several years in the colonies. Recently, however, he has been without occupation, and during the last fortnight he has been residing in a boarding-house in Lonsdale-street west. His altered circumstances appear to have preyed on his mind and on two or three occasions of late his conduct to his fellow-lodgers has been such as to cause the charge of lunacy to be preferred against him. Gloystein was questioned by the Bench, and gave a very coherent and intelligent statement of his depressed circumstances. He alleged that his conduct to his fellow-lodgers was the result of some impropriety on their parts. Dr. O'Reilly was called and stated that Gloystein was a perfect gentleman when in sound health, but his belief was that at present he was suffering from mental anxiety. (3).

In the 1860s and 1870s there are numerous newspaper reports of him being charged with vagrancy or drunkedness for which he spent time in gaol or in the Asylum. He was admitted for the last time to the Sunbury Lunatic Asylum on December 1, 1879, where he died on January 22, 1894, aged 77. (4).

Over the years the gardens became neglected, so much so that in 1901 a person using the pseudonym, 'A. Ratepayer', wrote to the Prahran Telegraph -
....the name botanical must be looked into. As regards myself I call botanical gardens where all ornamental shrubs, trees, and flowers are named with large and small labels in writing. Our botanical gardens contains nothing but a few rough trees, common pelargoniums, common chrysanthemums and verbenas, and a few plants here and there of other species. There should be nice ornamental trees and flowers of all descriptions, and then the name botanical would then come in, and the public would have something to look at. (5).

John Watkins, Curator of the Gardens

The Herald, November 2, 1918 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242668651

It was the appointment of  John Williams Watkins as curator of the gardens which turned the gardens into a place well worth visiting. In 1919 the Prahran Telegraph reported that -

When we remember what the old rambling place of wild wilderness was until Mr. W. J. Watkins, the present curator, came along, and turned it with the spade of a true gardener, and transformed it into an abiding place of smooth, sweeping lawns, bordered with a fringe of many-hued lace made up of variegated flowers, and picturesque shrubs, we can well marvel at the change he has delved to bring about o'er the scene. We have had it suggested to us that a fairy wand was at work, and the results seems to give that impression, but we know better.  An inhospitable soil, filled with the metal screenings of streets, had to be taken in hand. The soil had to be so dealt with as to see that plant food took the place of metal screenings. The rose has been made to blossom in the desert, or something akin to that miracle has been performed by Mr. Watkins. The garden is now the home of exquisite flowers that in their season appear on the benches of flower shows, from there to bring awards of excellence, and prizes, and cause visitors to marvel that such beautiful blooms can be grown, if you know how, in St. Kilda-by-the-Sea. (6).

Not only did Mr Watkins perform miracles in the garden, but  -

every bush is labelled in bold letters, giving not only the name of the variety, but the class to which the variety belongs, which will make the display instructive to the amateur gardener as well as enjoyable to the ordinary flower lover. (7)  I hope the chap who wrote to the newspaper in 1901, lamenting the lack of labels, appreciated this.

The Blessington Street Gardens. 

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co, c. 1920s-1954.

State Library of Victoria Image H32492/1935

The curator who worked his magic on the Botanical Gardens was John William Watkins. John was born in Brighton in Melbourne on October 18, 1872 to Richard and Emma (nee Best) Watkins; Richard was also a gardener. John married Caroline Godfrey Brown in Longford in Tasmania, on January 11, 1900. Caroline had been born in Launceston on July 2, 1881 to John William and Catherine (nee Owen) Brown. John and Caroline had two sons, both born in Launceston -  Albert Edwin on November 6, 1900 and Vernon Arthur on July 8, 1902. (8)

In 1911, John was appointed as the curator of the St Kilda Botanical Gardens. In 1914, Mr. Watkins was promoted to Head Gardener at the City of St Kilda, with the responsibility to supervise the gardening work throughout the city (9) In 1916 it was reported that at the Botanical Gardens he had the assistance of two elderly gardeners, men whom the curator has great faith in, preferring, from experience, men who are elderly. He is also charged with the supervision of the whole of the reserves and street planting in the city, having 13 men under his charge for that work. (10)

Sadly, Caroline died at only 40 years of age, on October 29, 1921. Her obituary in the Prahran Telegraph, described her -

as esteemed by a large circle of friends for the best of womanly qualities which she was gifted with in a marked degree. News of her death after an operation came as a great shock to them. It was some time before they could realise the sudden passing of such a bright spirit. Her obituary also notes that as well as being the mother of  Vernon and Bert that she was also the foster mother of Fred. (11)

On September 8, 1923, John remarried, to Doris Eileen Games. Doris had been born on January 3, 1894 in Richmond to Stephen and Martha (nee Bertrand) Games. John and Doris had two children, Jack and Nina.  He was still employed as the Curator at the Gardens in 1937, but I have no information when he retired. John died January 22, 1942, aged 69. January 22 was the same day that Tilman Gloystein died, so that's an interesting connection.  Caroline, John and Doris (who died September 13, 1970) are buried in the same grave at Brighton Cemetery. (12)

It was during the time that John Watkins was the curator that Carlo Catani, and others, donated money for the erection of gates at the Blessington Street Gardens.  The Prahran Chronicle of April 15, 1916 reported that the St Kilda Council had received donations of  £1 each... from Messrs Treichel, Baxter, Catani, Kendall and Davis towards the cost of erecting a gate to the same gardens at the corner of Blessington and Tennyson streets. (13)

At the time of this donation Carlo was living at 39 Blessington Street, St Kilda. I believe the other donors were his Blessington Street neighbours - Otto Johann Treichel, a jeweller of  No. 35;  Robert Baxter, independent means, of No. 37; Herbert Francis Kendall, a traveller, of No. 66a; Henry Davis or Henry Charles Davis, both chemists, of No. 68. (14)

To accommodate these gates the Council created a new main path twelve feet wide leading to what is to be the chief entrance at the corner of Blessington and Tennyson streets, where a pair of dignified looking gates are to be erected with money subscribed by certain appreciative rate-payers. This path was completed in October 1916. (15) It would have been a convenient entry for Carlo and his neighbours to enjoy the Gardens and admire the wonderful work of Mr Watkins and his team.

I have no information as to when the gates were erected but in November 1918 it was reported that -

The main entrance at the corner of Tennyson and Blessington streets, has been made more than ordinarily inviting by the erection of large ornamental iron gates. (16)

The gates on the corner of Tennyson and Blessington streets, 

the funds for which were contributed by Carlo and his neighbours.

Image: Isaac Hermann

As you can see from the photograph the gates are surmounted by the sign - St Kilda City Gardens. The Gardens were renamed the St Kilda City Gardens in June 1932, according to a report of a St Kilda Council meeting at that time. (17).  Does this mean that the name was a later addition to the original gates or were new gates made with the new name?  I don't know. I like to think they are the original gates and thus a tangible reminder of the generosity of Carlo and his like-minded neighbours of Blessington Street.

Acknowledgment -  I referred to St Kilda Botanical Gardens: a social snapshot of its first hundred years by Patricia Convery (St Kilda Botanical Gardens, 2014) for some background for this story. Thank you to my research colleague, Isaac Hermann, for alerting me to Carlo's donation towards the gates.

Trove lists

I have created  a short list of articles on John William Watkins and his time at the Blessington Street Gardens, access it here; and on Tilman Gloystein, access it here.

Footnotes

(1)  Cooper, John Butler The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a city and after 1840 - 1930, v. 1 (St Kilda City Council, 1931), p. 141. 

(2) The Argus, June 29, 1860, see here.

(3) The Argus, August 8, 1856,  see here.

(4) See my Trove list of articles on Tilman's life, here; His Inquest is available at the Public Records Office of Victoria, read it here.

(5) Prahran Telegraph, June 29, 1901, see here.

(6) Prahran Telegraph, April 12, 1919, see here.

(7) The Leader, October 11, 1913, see here.

(8) Index to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages;  Tasmanian Archives   https://libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives/ ; Brighton Cemetorians website https://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/

(9) Prahran Telegraph, February 21, 1914, see here.

(10) The Herald, November 2, 1918, see here; Prahran Telegraph, March 11, 1916, see here.

(11) Caroline's obituary - Prahran Telegraph, November 5, 1921, see here;

(12) Index to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages. Doris Games' birth entry in the Indexes says she was born in Richmond; the death entry in the Indexes says she was born in Muckleford.  John's death notice The Argus, January 26, 1942, see here; Prahran Telegraph, March 14, 1930, see here;  Marriage notice, The Argus, October 13, 1923, see here; Brighton Cemetorians website https://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/  The 1935 Sands and McDougall's Directory of Victoria, still list his occupation as Curator and his address in the cottage in the Botanical Gardens and the 1937 Electoral Roll shows similar information.

(13) Prahran Chronicle, April 15, 1916, see here.

(14) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com

(15) The Leader, October 14, 1916, see here.

(16) The Herald, November 2, 1918, see here

(17) The Argus, June 14, 1932, see here.

St Kilda City Council: Carlo's 1914 re-subdivision and Carlo urged to nominate in 1917

The City of St Kilda was re-subdivided from three wards into four wards in April 1914, the new boundaries being based on the plan devised by Carlo Catani.   

There had been agitation for this increase in wards for years, as the Prahran Telegraph reported in October 1909 -

At the St. Kilda Council meeting last evening Councillor Stedeford moved - " That this council, at its next meeting, take the necessary steps to constitute a new ward, dividing the city of St. Kilda into four Wards, in lieu of three wards as at present constituted." The proposal had been before the council during the past nine or ten years, but had been postponed for various reasons, the main objection being that the vacant Crown land at Elwood had not been sold. Some of the land had now been sold. There had been a large increase of settlement in the South Ward. The area was twice that of the other wards, and the number of ratepayers was nearly twice the number of the other two wards. (1).

In October 1912 at a Council meeting Cr. Hewison moved that the public works committee be directed to take into consideration the advisableness of resubdividing the city into four wards, and report to the council. The number of ratepayers in the three wards was noted as 1400 and 1300 in the North and West wards, and over 2000 in the South. The motion was lost on the casting vote of the Mayor and this was his reasoning -

The Mayor (Cr. O'Donnell) stated that when the matter was previously discussed it was decided that nothing be done until the Elwood land had been sold. He would not vote for an additional ward being created until that eventuated (2).

John Butler Cooper, in his History of St Kilda explains how the four wards eventually came to fruition  -

The marvellous developments of the southern portion of the City of St. Kilda, that followed the subdivisional sales, by the Government, of the reclaimed lands at Elwood, was such that it disturbed the balance of municipal representation in the Council, and obviously suggested the advisability of resubdividing the city into four Wards, with the consequent increase in the number of councillors from nine to twelve. Prior to that the business of the City was carried on by nine councillors, representatives from three Wards, and that had been so from November 27, 1868, when it was proclaimed in the Government Gazette that St. Kilda was divided into three Wards, respectively, the North Ward, the South Ward and the West Ward.

The St. Kilda Council faced the position created by the development of Elwood. It received a petition from certain ratepayers desirous that a new Ward of the City should be created. A plan of the proposed subdivision, prepared in October, 1913 by Carlo Catani, at the desire of the Hon., the Minister of Public Works was approved at a conference held between the St. Kilda Council, and the petitioners. Copies of the petition were issued for signature, by ratepayers in favor of the resubdivision of the City of St. Kilda into four Wards (3). 

The Conference accepted Carlo's scheme of sub-division with the exception that the name of the Central Ward be substituted for that of the proposed Balaclava Ward, and South Ward for that of the proposed Elwood Ward. (4). 

The re-subdivision into four wards was gazetted on April 8, 1914. All nine councillors were stood down, and the first election under the new boundaries was held on August 27, 1914. The successful candidates were -

Central Ward : T. G. Allen, J. H. Pittard, J. J. Love; North Ward : H. F. Barnet, H.B. Gibbs, F. G. Hughes ; West Ward : E. O'Donnell, R. A. Molesworth, G. B. Renfrey ; South Ward : Burnett Gray, J. H. Hewison, H. McL.Duigan. (5).

Cooper published this interesting table of the statistics of the four wards in October 1913. The table was prepared by the Town Clerk, Mr. F. W. Chamberlin. 

Statistics of the four St Kilda wards in 1913. 

Carlo Catani also presented similar and extra statistics, see footnote 6.

Source: John Butler Cooper History of St Kilda  (7).

The well respected Carlo, was urged to stand for Council after his retirement from the Public Works Department. In March 1917, the In the Barber's Shop column of the Prahran Telegraph, which was written under the pseudonym of Figaro, reported this -
It has been suggested to me that Mr. Catani, who is retiring from the public service, and who is a resident of St. Kilda, would make a very fine councillor, from his knowledge of public works, if he could be induced to enter the council. I pass the suggestion on to those who are more actively engaged in electioneering than myself. (8).

The same paper reported in June 1917 -
A requisition was presented by a number of influential ratepayers to Mr. Carlo Catani, J.P., asking him to nominate for a seat in the St. Kilda Council for the south ward at the coming elections. After consideration, Mr. Catani declined. (9). 

The St Kilda Town Hall, as Carlo would have known it.

A portico and new foyer were added in 1925 and the brick was rendered in 1957 (10)

State Library of Victoria Image H84.346/75

It's a shame that Carlo never stood for election, he no doubt would have romped home at the head of the poll, however even though he had retired he was still involved in other civic activities such as the St Kilda Fore Shore Committee and from May 1917 he sat on the bench at the St Kilda Magistrates Court as an Honorary Justice (11). 

Trove list - I have created a list of articles on the lead up to the 1914 re-subdivision of the City of St Kilda, which will give some extra information on the process of the change, access it here. 

Footnotes

(1) The Prahran Telegraph, October 9, 1909, see here.

(2) The Age, October 2, 1912, see here.

(3) Cooper, John Butler The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a city and after 1840 - 1930, v. 2 (St Kilda City Council, 1931), pp. 178-179. 

(4) The Argus, October 28, 1913, see here.

(5) Cooper, op. cit., p. 179.

(6) From the Prahran Telegraph, October 4, 1913, see here. 

The figures attached to Mr. Catani scheme of re-subdivision are as follows:

West ward. — Rateable property, 345 acres, reserves 177 acres, total, 523 acres; valuation, £102,087; ratepayers, 1611, population, 9076, probable increase in ten years, nil ; valuation in ten years, £102,087.

North ward.— Rateable property 436 acres, reserves 62 acres, total 498 acres; valuation, £74,159; ratepayers 1580, population, 7204, probable increase in ten years to 10,686, probable valuation, £84,845.

Balaclava Ward. — Rateable property, 382 acres, reserves, 43 acres, total 425 acres, valuation £65,826; ratepayers, 1752, population 6740, probable increase in ten years to 17,667, probable valuation, £83,493.

Elwood ward. — Rateable property, 555 acres, reserves, 94 acres, total 649 acres; valuation, £49,898; ratepayers, 1444, population, 4466; probable increase in ten years to 39, 076 probable valuation, 

£88, 974.

Totals. — Rateable property, 1719 acres, reserves, 379 acres, total 2009 acres; valuation, £291,970; ratepayers, 6387, population 27,436; probable increase in ten years to 67,429; probable valuation, £359,399.

(7) Cooper, op. cit., p. 179.

(8) Prahran Telegraph, March 17, 1917, see here.

(9) Prahran Telegraph, June 30, 1917, see here.

(10) Town Hall history http://skhs.org.au/SKHSbuildings/33.htm

(11) St Kilda Fore Shore Committee - https://victoriancollections.net.au/stories/carlo-catani-an-engineering-star-over-victoria/st-kilda-foreshore-gardens St Kilda Magistrates Court - http://carlocatani.blogspot.com/2022/03/carlos-time-as-honorary-justice-at-st.html

Carlo and the St Kilda Patriotic Carnival, December 1917

The St Kilda Patriotic Carnival was held at Luna Park from December 8 to 15, 1917. It was officially opened by Sir John Madden, who was introduced by the Mayor of St Kilda, Cr O'Donnell - 

Some ceremony was observed at the opening, which was conducted from a large central platform, around which many leading citizens and their wives had assembled. Sir John Madden, the Chief Justice; Lady Madden, Brigadier-General Hughes, Miss O'Donnell, daughter of the mayor: the mayor and councillors and town clerk gathered thereon with Mr. Catani, late engineer in chief of  public works, and Mr. Mackenzie, Melbourne city treasurer. (1).

The badge produced for the St Kilda Patriotic Carnival. 

Admittance to the Carnival was 6 pence, but the purchase of this badge for 2 shillings

gave free on-going entrance. (2). 

The Patriotic Carnival raised £6,985/15/6 and after expenses £5,910/1/6 was left and was distributed thusly - Australian Comforts Fund - £2,955/0/9; Victorian Division Red Cross - £738/15/2 and the same amount went to the 'local fund for material'; the St Kilda Soldiers' Lounge received the balance of £1477/10/5 (3). 

On the opening day alone 25,000 people visited the Carnival and The Australasian reported on the event - During the afternoon half-hour programmes were given in the theatre by the Bon-Bons, the Serenaders, and the Troubadours. The evening's programme included a fancy dress competition, a court of injustice, an exhibition of stock-whip cracking, and balloon battles in the open air, whilst in the theatre the Zingari Orchestra and Madame Evelyn Ashley gave a concert. (4).

Helpers at the Cake Stall at the St Kilda Patriotic Carnival

Photographer: F.W. Tolra. Punch, December 27, 1917

 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/121084046#

There were also many stalls and the stallholders have vied with each other in doing that which they consider the most artistic and aspiring. (5). Judging by the photographs, the stall holders went to great effort in their choice of outfits. A comprehensive list of stalls was published in the newspapers - 

A well-equipped produce stall is presided over by Mrs. Sibbon and Mrs. George Baillieu, whilst Mrs. Agar Wynne is among the saleswomen. Miss Spottiswood has a charming art stall, which displays some beautiful oil paintings others. In the centre of the grounds is a pretty pavilion in pink, black, and white. The mayoress of St. Kilda (Mrs. O'Donnell) was to have presided there, but she is ill, and her daughters have taken her place. Others in charge of stalls are Mesdames Ingham, Lilley, and Thomas (fruit), Wertheim, Ormiston and Pirani (cakes), Myers and Harris (St Kilda trades' jumble stall), Mr. Le Plaistier (toys made by locals patriotic woodworkers), Mrs. Potton (pot plants), Mrs. H.A Embling and Miss Esme Allee (Christmas tree, gifts, and snowball), Mrs H.S.K. Ward (kitchen), the Misses Shmith (balloons, confetti, and kewpies), Mrs. J. H. Hewison (Our Boys), Mrs. Gudgeon (sweets), Mesdames Stephen and Barlow (ices and raffles), and Mrs Tong (ices). (6). 

St Kilda Red Cross workers, in charge of the Stall.

Photographer: F.W. Tolra. Punch, December 27, 1917

 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/121084046#

A refreshment pavilion, where Mrs. R. Hallenstein and Mrs. J. McD. McKenzie have charge of the arrangements, and the afternoon tea, high tea, and light supper are equal to the best obtainable in the city. The room will seat about 400 people, and is beautifully decorated, with, garlands of evergreens and panels and clusters of pink Japanese blossom. Among those assisting here are Mesdames A. Couchman, Nahum Barnet, Lockyer, D. Swanson, Phillips, Zeltner and Miss Swan, whilst 50 girl friends act as waitresses, and all are frocked in white. (7).

A striking group of helpers at the Sweets stall

Photographer: F.W. Tolra. Punch, December 13, 1917 

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/121083733

A bevy of Produce stall assistants

Photographer: F.W. Tolra. Punch, December 13, 1917 

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/121083733

It was indeed a very successful and well attended event and a credit to the organisers, the St. Kilda Patriotic Committee of which Carlo Catani was a member, with the official role of Manager of Grounds. (8). In fact The Australasian  gave Carlo much credit for the success - as owing to the practical interest of Mr. C. Catani in designing a plan and seeing to the arrangements wonders were achieved. (9).

The venue, Luna Park, had opened on December 13, 1912 and operated until it closed for the season in May 1915. The next season, starting with the summer of 1915/1916, and no doubt due to the war it was practically closed ... except the section devoted to the scenic railway and it did not open at all over the Summer of 1916/1917. (10).

Luna Park had thus laid in an unused state for a long time, and it was with feelings of apprehension, that a band of voluntary workers undertook the task of making preliminary preparations for the Carnival the difficulties in the way at first appeared insuperable, but by a strenuous application to the work, they have transformed the park from a place of weeds and neglected buildings into a picturesque and happy looking village of oriental originality. (11).

The first report we read of Carlo's involvement is this  - 

Preparations on an extensive scale are being made for the holding of a great Patriotic Carnival in Luna Park in December next. Under the direction of Mr Catani, a number of voluntary workers commenced operations at the park on Saturday.... The work of levelling up and levelling down, and removing material that is no longer useful is being energetically pushed forward. (12)

A further report which mentions the work of Carlo -  The renovation of Luna Park (which is lent to the St. Kilda Patriotic Committee by the generosity of Luna Park Ltd.) is being carried out under the supervision of Mr. Catani. The whole of the renovation work, which was estimated to cost £1500, is being done by voluntary workers on Saturday and Thursday afternoons. (13).

The practical work undertaken by Carlo was noted by the newspapers - From all sides one hears nothing but praise for the help given by Mr Catani in the work of preparing and otherwise decorating Luna Park for the Carnival. It is more than evident that Mr Catani has done a giant's work. (14).

After this successful event, the St Kilda Patriotic Committee held an open air carnival on March 22 and 23, 1918 in the grounds of the St Kilda Town Hall. It was reported that - 

Owing to the untiring efforts of Mr. Catani, the scene was a brilliantly attractive, for the grounds were encircled by festoons of gay pennants and electric lights hung from Venetian masts, whilst about were dotted a large number of kiosks prettily decorated with flowers and foliage, interspersed with electric lights. (15). This is another report on the brilliance of Carlo - A brilliant scheme for illuminating and decorating the grounds has been evolved by Mr Catani, and in addition to a number of decorated kiosks about the grounds there will be a flower show, picture shows, and concerts; whilst in the main hall there will be a "palais de danse."  (16). Around £300 was raised at this event,

As a matter of interest, Luna Park remained closed after the Patriotic Carnival and did not reopen until November 2, 1923. (17). 

Trove list - I have created a short list of newspaper articles on Carlo Catani and the St Kilda Patriotic Carnival, access it here. There are photos of the Carnival in Punch, December 13, 1917, here and Punch, December 20, 1917, here and Punch, December 27, 1917, here; and Table Talk, December 13, 1917, here and here.

Footnotes

(1) The Age, November 10, 1917, see here.

(2) Table Talk, November 15, 1917, see here. Malvern Standard, December 1, 1917, see here. The Badge was made by Stokes & Sons, Melbourne and it was given to me by my fellow Carlo Catani researcher, Isaac Hermann. 

(3) Audited account of Statements and Receipts - The Argus, April 19, 1918, see here and here [public notice, top p. 4]

(4) The Australasian, December 15, 1917, see here.

(5) Prahran Chronicle, December 8, 1917, see here.

(6) The Australasian, December 15, 1917, see here.

(7) The Australasian, December 15, 1917, see here.

(8) Prahran Chronicle, December 15, 1917, see here.  The report listed  - the rest of the Committee - President, His Worship the Mayor (Cr E. O'Donnell). Vice-Chairman, Mr F. S. Ormiston. Treasurer, Mr F. Chamberlin. Assistant Treasurer, Mr J. F. Jeans. Organisers, Cr A. Sculthorpe and Mr. W. F. Swanson. Advertising Representative, Mr J. Cowley. Stall Secretary, Mrs G. Lorimer. Badge Secretaries, Messrs D. Moulden and R. J. Devereaux. Raffle Secretary, Mr M. J. Porter. Manager of Grounds, Mr Catani. Traffic Managers, Cr H. F. Barnet and Mr J. M. A Spottiswood. Manager of Bands, Mr G. Tucker. Typists, Miss Ivy Kitching and Mr F. O'Neill. Executive Committee-These include names already mentioned, with the addition of Messrs. A. R. Kelsey, H. M. Knox, J. McD. McKenzie and E. A. Walker.

(9) The Australasian, December 15, 1917, see here.

(10) The Argus, December 14, 1912, see here; Prahran Telegraph, July 1, 1916 see here;  Prahran Telegraph, December 9, 1916, see here.

(11) Prahran Chronicle, December 8, 1917, see here.

(12) Malvern Standard, October 13, 1917, see here.

(13) Table Talk, October 25, 1917, see here.

(14) Malvern Standard, December 8, 1917, see here.

(15) The Australasian, March 30, 1918, see here.

(16) The Australasian, March 23, 1918, see here.

(17) The Argus, November 2, 1923, see here and Cooper, John Butler The History of St Kilda from its Settlement to a City and after 1840 to 1930, v. 2 (St Kilda City Council 1931), p. 207.

Catani Memorial Clock Tower in photographs

The Memorial Clock Tower to Carlo Catani was unveiled on August 22, 1932  and it had become a landmark in St Kilda and the subject of many photographs and postcards, some of which you can see here. For a history of the Clock Tower and an account of the unveiling, see here.

Many of these images are Rose Stereographic Co. images, and date from the 1930s to the 1960s.

At the foot of the clocktower was a bust of Carlo, by Paul Mountford, and this is the only historic photograph, I have found of it. 

In Honor of Carlo Catani. St. Kilda, Upper Esplanade, Base of Clock Tower.

Melbourne Harbour Trust Commissioners, 

Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 8357/P0001/61, Photograph [037]

Catani Clock Tower, St Kilda.

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/4600

Catani Memorial Clock Tower and Esplanade, St Kilda.

Photographer: Valentine Publishing. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/8945

St Kilda Esplanade, 1950. Photographer: Mark Strizic.

State Library of Victoria Image H2008.11/2162

The Gardens and Esplanade, St Kilda.

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/6786

The Catani Clock Tower, St Kilda

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/5664

The Beach, near Baths, St Kilda. 

Love the bikes, this looks like the 1960s. 

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image  H32492/6941

Crowds on the Beach, St Kilda.
Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image  H32492/4913

Crowds on the Beach, St Kilda, same name as above.
Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image  H32492/3404

A view on the Beach, St Kilda
Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image  H32492/6780

The Beach and the Baths, St Kilda.

An almost identical view to the postcard, above.

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image  H32492/5591

The Lower Esplanade, St Kilda

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/3635

Lower Esplanade and Lawns, St Kilda

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/8166

Upper and Lower Esplanade from St Kilda Yacht Club

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/2936

The Upper and Lower Esplanades St Kilda. 

Taken from the St Kilda Yacht Club, like the one above.

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/8168

View from the Pier, St Kilda

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/6783

The Beach and Catani Clock, St Kilda. 

An almost identical view as the above.

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/8945

The Beach, St Kilda. 

Another view from the Pier.

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/8208

Fathers and sons: mateship and monuments

In Alfred Square, St Kilda, there is a Boer War Memorial designed by Arthur Peck; on the Upper Esplanade opposite is the Clock Tower Memorial designed by Norman Schefferle in honor of Carlo Catani.  It was my research colleague, Isaac Hermann, who told me about the Boer War Monument (1) and because we both like historical connections, I wondered if there was some connection between either Carlo Catani and Arthur Peck or Norman Schefferele and Arthur Peck. As it turns out there is a connection between Carlo's son Enrico and Arthur's son Archer. Hence the title of this post - Fathers and sons: mateship and monuments. 

The Arthur Peck Boer War monument in Alfred Square, over looking the Carlo Catani Clock Tower Memorial on the Upper Esplanade, St Kilda. 

Photo: Isaac Hermann.

We will start by having a look at Arthur Peck, the architect. Arthur was born in 1855 to Hugh and Emma (nee Buswell) Peck. According to various newspaper reports  he attended a boarding school in England for four years from the age of 14. When he returned to Melbourne he entered an Architect's office, Lloyd Taylor and Wyatt. He was an adventurer, went off  to find gold in New Guinea in 1879 (read about this here), learnt how to fly  a plane when he was 80 years of age, was still practising architecture at 82, was a keen sailor and held various positions at the Royal Yacht Club, the Davey's Bay Yacht Club at Frankston and also founded what was to become the Sandringham Yacht Club. It was quite an interesting life, I will write a post on him some day.  His father Hugh, who died in 1904,  was a financial and real estate agent who lost his considerable fortune in the collapse of the land boom according to his obituary, see here.

Arthur Peck's parents, Hugh and Emma, have a memorial plaque at All Saints Anglican Church in East St Kilda. I wonder if this was installed when Archer and his brothers Hugh and Ronald were still serving overseas or did they wait until the boys returned home, so they could be there to see their grandparent's plaque installed.

Photo: Isaac Hermann.

Arthur Peck married Mary Frances Archer at the Christ Church Anglican Church in  Longford in Tasmania on Dec 21 1887. She was Tasmanian gentry - her father was Joseph Archer of Panshanger, Longford. Joseph inherited the property from his uncle of the same name.  You can read about Joseph snr, here  and Mary Peck's father here. Arthur and Mary had four children - Hugh born September 1888, Ronald born December 1889, Olive born January 1891 and Archer born June 1892. Mary died in 1923, aged 65 and Arthur died in 1945 aged 90.

The boys attended Melbourne Grammar School for various lengths of time, which is the same school Carlo's sons Enrico and Ettorre attended and this is the first connection that can be found between the families.  I am not saying that any of the boys were best friends but we can place them there together. I own the book Liber Melburniensis, 1858 - 1914 which contains a list of Melbourne Grammar students and it tells me that Enrico (born January 1891)  was at the school 1905 to 1909; Ettore (born April 1893)  1905 to 1912; Hugh 1903 only; Ronald 1904 to 1905 and Archer 1908 only. After leaving school Enrico and Archer then attended Dookie Agricultural College, where they obtained a Diploma.

The boys did battle on the sports field whilst they were at Dookie College - Enrico competed in the  100 yards handicap, sack race, 100 yards hurdles, where he came third and the obstacle race, whereas Archer was more of a distance runner and competed in the one mile handicap.  Enrico was also on the football team at Dookie.

Enrico graduated in 1912 and took up  a farm Glenvale at Pastoria East, near Kyneton and Archer, who graduated in 1911, became an overseer at Urana Station, in Urana in New South Wales according to Liber Melburniensis, 1858 - 1914 but when he enlisted he was an orange grower at Lake Boga. Sadly for the men their farming life was put on hold with commencement of the War and the halcyon days of battles on the sports field was swapped for the horrors of the battle field.  They were not of course, the only 'old boys' from Dookie who served, as the Principal said The college has sent more than its quota to the front, and it is still sending. The lads from the college have the right Qualifications - pluck, healthy blood, good and trained brains, and hard muscle. (Dookie and Katamatite Recorder  January 6, 1916)

This photo, taken by Isaac Hermann, shows St Kilda's classic palm trees, a feature of Carlo Catani's garden designs - the rugged trunk of  a palm tree is on the right edge of the photo; the Carlo Catani Clock Tower Memorial; Alfred Peck's Boer War Memorial and the white marble statue  to the right is the St Kilda Victoria Cross sculpture (2). 

Enrico and Archer enlisted and served in the 21st Batallion, 6th Infantary Brigade and they embarked on the HMAT Ulysses on May 10, 1915. They arrived in Egypt and then left Alexandria in the Southland for the Gallipoli Peninsula. On the morning of September 2, 1915 the Southland was torpedoed.  There were over 1,800 men on board, with around 40 that died in the attack. The Southland managed to make it back to a port under its own steam. You can read more the Southland here and here.

We know what Enrico and Archer were doing the moment the Southland was hit as two other Dookie boys were also on board, William Carroll and Harold Nathan (3) and William wrote a letter to the Principal of the College, a report of which was published in the Dookie and Katamatite Recorder. W. E. Carroll and Harold Nathan, who used to amuse us in the art of legerdermain, have written from the front. The former writes to say he was delighted and grateful for the principal's newsy letter - just what is wanted by the boys. Archer Peck and "Puss" Catani were listening to the news about the old college when the torpedo smashed into transport. Needless to add, it interrupted me some, but I displayed sufficient presence of mind to stow the letter away for a more favorable opportunity. Archer took ill a few days after we landed, and has been in the hospital since. We had been in the trenches for seven weeks. The main thing is to be able to shoot, and to use a pick and shovel. (Dookie and Katamatite Recorder  January 6, 1916, see here)

William Carroll was not the only soldier on board the Southland who displayed a calm demeanor after the torpedoing. This report is representative of the many reports in the Australian newspapers about the incident and starts with a quote from Lieutenant Sir Michael Bruce - "I should like to write to every paper and say that never could men have faced death with greater courage, more nobility, or with a braver front than the Australians and New Zealanders aboard the Southland. At the last they sang, 'Australia will be There !' By God, she was! We knew them brave in a charge. Now we know they are heroes. Long live, in honor and glory, the men of the 21st and 23rd Australian Infantry!" 

The report goes on to say In the burning words above, the officer named [Bruce] who was with the Australasian troops being conveyed to Lemnos aboard the Southland when she was torpedoed on September 2, expressed his intense admiration for the manner in which the Australasians aboard the doomed troopship awaited the outcome. There was no screaming of panic-stricken men when the deadly missile tore into the bowels of the vessel. No sign of fear was writ upon the faces, or shadowed forth in the demeanor o the untried troops from the Lands of the Southern Cross. (The Globe November 27, 1915, see here)

The men on the Southland, just after it was torpedoed. The photograph was taken at the time by Lieutenant-Colonel J. F. Hutchinson and published in the Herald on December 12, 1916. "It was a remarkable sight to see the steadiness of the men," he said when, speaking of his experiences. "It was a grand sight, and I never felt prouder, of the boys."

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242466488

Enrico had also sent a letter to the Dookie College Principal, which was reported on in the same article as William Carroll's letter - The principal had a long and interesting letter from E. Catani, giving an account of his adventurous experiences of being torpedoed whilst on the transport in the Mediterranean. The letter was read to the students, who were glad to hear from their old jovial fellow-student. "Puss" Catani has not lost any of his sense of humor or modesty. He does not tell us he had been made a lieutenant, but letters from his old mates supply the information. (Dookie and Katamatite Recorder  January 6, 1916)

The Southland with list to port and down at bow. 

The caption reads: Hospital ship, Neuralia, and French destroyers rushing to rescue. 

Drawn by an eye-witness and referred to in the letter from Captain F. Johnston.

Image courtesy of Janice Caine.

After the Southland incident, Enrico served at Gallipoli and was then Killed in Action at Pozieres on July 29, 1916.   You can read about his war service here, which I had taken from the book War Services of Old Melburnians (4) published by Melbourne Grammar School in 1923. As we are on the subject of monuments, Enrico was buried at the Cemetery Post Station, near Pozieres. However in 1932 Enrico's sister, Enid, received a letter from Army Base Records which noted that during the course of recent exhumation work in the vicinity of Pozieres, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was successful in recovering the remains of this Officer which have since been re-interred with every measure of care and reverence in the Serre Road Cemetery, with a new headstone.  Enrico had been identified through a disc and other effects. Enrico's former headstone at the Cemetery Post Station was replaced with one inscribed with "Unknown Australian Lieutenant." (5)

This is Archer's entry from War Services of Old Melburnians - 

A. PECK enlisted on 25th March and embarked as Private in 21st Battalion on 8th May 1915. He duly arrived in Egypt and on journey from there to Anzac was on board the transport 'Southland" when torpedoed on 2nd September 1915. He arrived in Anzac on 17th September 1915 and remained there till Evacuation on 19th December, being one of ten Privates of his Battalion selected to remain in Steele's Post trenches till 3.30 in the morning of Evacuation. On return to Egypt he took part in operations in Sinai Desert during January and February 1916 and on 21st March arrived in France. He took part in the Battles of Pozieres and Mouquet Farm in 1916 being wounded in left knee and in hospital for two months and in September was promoted to Corporal. In 1917 he took part in the Battle of Bapaume and on 31st August obtained his Commission. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 2nd January 1918 and took part as Scout and Intelligence Officer for his Battalion in the Battles of Villers-Bretonneux, Ville-sur-Ancre, Hamel, Amiens, Cappy, Mont St. Quentin and Montbrehain in which he was gassed and after which he was transferred to 24th battalion from 21st battalion which was broken up owing to lack of reinforcements. He returned to Australia on 17th July and his appointment was terminated on 26th October 1919. (War Services of Old Melburnians)

Notice in the local paper of Archer being wounded at Pozieres.

Swan Hill Guardian and Lake Boga Advocate September 7, 1916

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92121363

Archer's brothers Hugh and Ronald had also enlisted and they both returned home during 1918. Hugh became an Architect and worked initially with his father and died in 1965, aged 76 years old. Ronald may have survived the War, but like so many men he never physically recovered and died in 1933 at the age of 41. There was a short obituary in The Argus Mr. Peck, who was educated at Melbourne Grammar School, was seriously wounded and gassed at Messines while serving with the 29th Battery, 8th Brigade, Field Artillery, in the Great War. Until about two years ago Mr. Peck was employed by the Lothian Publishing Co. Pty. Ltd., but ill health caused by his war injuries led to his retirement. (The Argus, October 14, 1933).  Ronald  had only been married in 1924 and had three sons, it's all so sad. Their sister, Olive, died in 1982 at the age of 91.

The War Service of the Peck brothers 

The Great War: the RVIA Record of Service from The Royal Victorian Institute of Architects Journal, March 1921.

Digtised on Trove https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-402122138

After his return to Australia Archer married Grace Ethel Ellis in 1932, I don't know if they had any children. We can get some idea of what Archer did after his return from the War from the Electoral Rolls. He did not return to Lake Boga, in 1924 he is listed as a grazier living at New Gisborne. In the 1937 and 1943 rolls Archer and Grace are living in Mont Albert and his occupation is that of Librarian. I don't know if he worked at the State Library of Victoria or some other Library or if he actually operated a 'Circulating' Library, a small private library where people would have to pay to borrow. Either way, I was a bit surprised to see this as his occupation (and nothing wrong with being a Librarian, of course, I am also a Librarian). By 1954 Archer and Grace had moved to Mount Eliza and he had taken up farming again, his occupation being  a grazier.  Archer died in 1967 at the age of 75.

The Catani family and the Peck family - on paper two very different families - the Peck family has long  links back to the early days of white settlement in Australia, whereas Carlo Catani was a more recent migrant from Italy. The Pecks and the Archers were also migrants of course, but being English, they would never have considered themselves to be such, Tasmania and Victoria were after all British colonies, just another part of the Empire. Yet both Carlo Catani and Arthur Peck made their mark in Victoria - Carlo was a man who achieved so much that a monument was erected to him by the people of St Kilda and Arthur was respected enough in his field of architecture to be given the honour of designing a monument to the men from St Kilda who served in the Boer War.

Arthur Peck's name on his Boer War Memorial (1) in St Kilda. The tiles were constructed by the Australian Tessellated Tile Company. 

Photo:  Isaac Hermann

Did Carlo Catani and Arthur Peck know each other? Did they meet each other at Melbourne Grammar speech nights or sports days? Did they meet at the unveiling of Peck's Boer War Memorial in St Kilda on March 12, 1905? Did they meet at Dookie College if they went to visit their sons when they were both studying there? Did they meet on May 10, 1915 when they were seeing their sons off on the HMAT Ulysses?  I cannot tell you, but we do know that their sons, Enrico and Archer, knew each other, that even though they had left their College days behind them they were both keen to hear the news from Dookie College on their way to Gallipoli on the Southland, with their other College mates.

Next time you are at the Carlo Catani Memorial in St Kilda, gaze across to the Arthur Peck designed Boer War memorial and think of their sons - Enrico and Archer, mates from College, brothers in arms.

..........................................................................................................................................
Acknowledgement
Once again, I am indebted to fellow Carlo Catani enthusiast and my research colleague, Isaac Hermann, for, as I have already mentioned, alerting me to the St Kilda Boer War Memorial, which led me down this research path which connects Enrico and Archer. Isaac also told me about the St Kilda Victoria Cross Memorial and supplied me with some great photos and the blog post title Fathers and sons: mateship and monuments. Thanks, Isaac.

Trove list
I have created a list of articles on Trove relating to the Peck family, Enrico's time at Dookie College and few other Dookie College articles and the Southland.  You can access it here. All the articles referred to in this post are on the list.

Footnotes
(1) For more information about the St Kilda Boer War Memorial, see the Victorian Heritage Database (VHD) citation, here.  The Memorial was unveiled on Sunday, March 12, 1905 by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Reginald Talbot. The VHD citation says that it was designed by Arthur Peck, although it is probable that Robert Haddon, who did work for other architects including Peck, was largely responsible for the design. There are no sources listed for that statement but Haddon and Peck did work together. In 1905 they designed the Malvern Presbyterian Church. A report in The Age of July 31, 1905 (see here) says that Mr. R. J. Haddon, assisted by Mr. Arthur Peck, had drawn up architectural plans for a handsome building to cost about £3000, and these plans were submitted to the meeting and approved. The Memorial also has a life-size figure of a soldier on one side, sculpted by Charles Douglas Richardson -  I have written about him, here.

 C.D. Richardson's soldier on the St Kilda Boer War Memorial.  

Photo:  Isaac Hermann.

The Memorial honors local men who volunteered to fight with British forces against the Boers, or Dutch-Afrikaner settlers in South Africa from 1899 until 1902. It is also called the South African War and referred to as the Second Boer War. The First Boer War, fought between the Boers and the British, took place in 1880-1881, but no Australian troops were officially involved. You can read more about Boer War on the Australian War Memorial website   https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/atwar/boer

Robert Patrick Norton Robertson is listed on the St Kilda Boer War Monument and he also has a plaque at All Saints Anglican Church in East St Kilda. It is located right below the plaque to Hugh and Emma Peck, which is an interesting connection. You can read about Robert's family and his sister Muriel, here, on the East Melbourne Historical Society website.

Photo: Isaac Hermann.

(2) The Victoria Cross Monument was unveiled April 21, 1985. It was designed and sculpted by Peter Schipperheyn. You can read about the monument on the Monument Australia website, here. The monument honours four men who received the Victoria Cross.
Captain Albert Jacka (1893 - 1932) - received the first Victoria Cross awarded to the A.I.F in the Great War, was later the Mayor of the City of St Kilda. Jacka Boulevard in St Kilda is named for him. Read his Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB) entry here. 
Major William Ruthven (1893 - 1970) - had a distinguished military career in both World Wars, was a member of the Legislative Council and Mayor of Collingwood. The railway station of Ruthven, near Reservoir is named for him. His ADB entry can be read here.  
Lieutenant Lawrence Dominic McCarthy (1892 - 1975) - had a sad start to his life as his parents died when he was young and he was raised in an Orphanage. Lieutenant McCarthy was also awarded the French honor, the Croix de Guerre avec Palme. Read his ADB entry, here.
Flight Lieutenant William Ellis Newton (1919 - 1943) - born in St Kilda. Was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross; he was captured by the Japanese and beheaded March 29, 1943, Read his ADB entry here.
Interesting to note that Enrico, Archer and the three Great War V.C recipients Albert Jacka, William Ruthven and Lawrence McCarthy all fought at the Battle for the Somme.

(3) W.E. Carroll was William Edward Caroll - Service number 815 - he was a farmer. Harold Nathan - you would think Harold Nathan would be easy to identify, but no. There was  a Harold Nathan who enlisted twice, but he wasn't in the 21st Batallion and was still in Australia when the Southland was torpedoed.  The article (see here) which published William Carroll's letter also includes this Harold Nathan writes that two of his brothers were killed and two cousins and another brother are leaving for the front. He is anxious for news from his old college.  I can't find two men with the surname of Nathan who were killed in 1915, so I believe Harold 's surname was listed incorrectly.

(4) Melbourne Grammar published War Services of Old Melburnians in 1923. You can also access the same information on their website here
 http://dbtw.mgs.vic.edu.au/dbtw-wpd/textbase/war_services.htm

(5) Enrico's  file at the National Archives of Australia; the official name of these files are the First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920. Read his file here https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3219509