Carlo makes a road to the Garden of the Gods - Mount Buffalo

This is how the Herald newspaper of January 19, 1908 started a report about the new road to Mount Buffalo - One of Mr Bent's favorite expressions is that Victoria is "God's own country." Mr Catani, the Engineer for Roads and Bridges, has now discovered where the Garden of the Gods is situated. It is in the Buffalo Mountains, and if his anticipations are realised, it will be easy of invasion by mere mortals before next winter. 

The report continues with  Last session the State Parliament approved of a sum of L5000 being expended in making a road from Porepunkah to Buffalo, and yesterday tenders were received for the construction of the first three miles. It is intended to call for tenders for an additional two miles each week, until the distance, some twelve miles is completed. The steepest grade will be 1 in 17, and, to use Mr Catani's words, it ''will be fit for the most beautiful motor car in Australia."

Before we look at this road the idea of  creating a tourist resort on Mount Buffalo was investigated Edward John Dunn (1844 - 1937), who conducted a geological survey of the mountain in 1906 for the Minister of Mines.  I believe that he was the first to use the term Garden of the Gods to describe the region.  His geological report, with 53 photographs, can be found on-line at the National Library of Australia, it was published in 1908 as Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Victoria, and you can access it, here. This report does not include any tourist references, but they were reported on in the newspapers. Read, for instance, the report in the Leader of December 1, 1906, here. You can read Edward Dunn's entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, here.

One of the impressive granite formations, photographed by Edward Dunn in his report on the Geology of Mount Buffalo.

National Library of Australia https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/237367934?q=dunn+buffalo&c=book&versionId=264832763

Back to the Mount Buffalo road. On January 24, 1908 the first sod was turned by Mrs Mackey, wife of the Minister for Lands. Mrs Mackey performed this task with a suitably inscribed silver spade. This event took place at the foot of the foot of the Buffalo Falls, on the Eurobin Creek. Also present were William Davidson, Inspector- General of Public Works; Mr Reed - Surveyor General, some local and State politicians and, of course, Carlo Catani. (The Age, January 25, 1908).

The road construction created some controversy over the use (or non-use) of employed men to build the road. The Premier, Sir Thomas Bent, insisted that Carlo provide work for unemployed men from Melbourne on the construction of the Buffalo Road. In a  letter to the editor of The Argus, published February 7, 1908  Alfred Billson  wrote about this issue - I read with considerable surprise that Mr Bent had, in an imperious manner, directed Mr Catani to provide for the employment of a number of unemployed on the construction of the Buffalo-road. He then provided a number of  cogent arguments against using the unemployed, including providing jobs to city men at the expense of locals and that many lacked the required skills and he finished off with this question When is the interference by the Premier with responsible officers, who enjoy the confidence of the people, to cease?

The opening of the road to the Chalet, 1908. 

The Premier, Thomas Bent, is in front of the ribbon. Alice Manfield, is on the right, holding the ribbon. You will read more about her, below. 

State Library of Victoria Image H2003.96/84

There were further issues when some of the unemployed men complained to the newspapers about their conditions, lack of appropriate tools, rate of pay and the initial refusal of local stores to supply them with credit, before they were paid. Carlo disputed these issues. (The Age, March 7, 1908).  In spite of this rocky start, progress on the construction of the road continued. The road to the summit of Mount Buffalo was officially opened by the Premier on October 9, 1908. The Age of October 12 had  a detailed report of the opening and extravagant descriptions of the beauty of the scenery -  a region of awe-inspiring grandeur....... towering heights on the one hand and ever deepening abysses on the other, each turn in the road presented a grander panorama of space and distance.....  The official party stayed on the mountain overnight and the next morning standing on the great mass of granite on the edge of the gorge, looking away over the Eurobin Valley, the Buckland Valley and the Ovens Valley, far down in the distance, the morning light revealed the giant peaks of distant ranges capped with snow. These included the two highest mountains in Australia. Towering over intervening ranges, in the furthest distance, 90 miles away, could be seen the peaks of Kosciusko. This is the highest mountain in Australia, with an altitude of 7256 feet, and owing to the configuration of the country it is possible to see more of the earth's surface from the top of this mountain than from any other in the world. There also rose plainly to view in the breaking dawn the crest of Mount Bogong, one of the Australian Alps, which with an altitude of 6508 feet, is the second highest mountain in Australia and the highest in Victoria. (The Age October 12, 1908, see full report here)

The Age report mentioned that the Premier thanked Carlo for his organisation of the opening event, but The Argus quoted the Premier as saying  So far as the new road was concerned it was the finest piece of work of its kind he had seen in any part of the world, and great praise was due to Mr. Catani, who was in charge, and all those who assisted in its completion. (The Argus, October 12, 1908).

With the opening of the new road, accommodation had to be provided for the tourists.  There were already two accommodation buildings on the mountain - Carlile's Hospice and Manfield's Chalet. Carlile's Hospice was operated by Ted and Mary Jane Carlile and Manfield's by James and Jane Manfield. Their daughter, Alice, was a noted naturalist, tour guide (she was known as Guide Alice) and photographer. You can read more about the Carlile and Manfield familes in the book, The Mount Buffalo Story, 1898-1998 by Dan Webb and Bob Adams.*

Alice Manfield, wrote of her memories of the day the Mount Buffalo Road was officially opened in a wonderful letter to The Argus, published May 25, 1940 - Guide Alice Manfield (formerly of Mt. Buffalo) writes:- Publication of the picture of the opening of the Mt. Buffalo road in "The Argus" Weekend Magazine on May 4 was particularly interesting. I well remember the opening of the road. Among many honours bestowed on me that eventful day was holding the ribbon at the opening. I was the first woman to drive a buggy and pair to the summit. Because of a heavy snowstorm, vehicles could not cross to the plateau, and the remainder of the journey had to be made on foot, each person having to carry his luggage to Manfield's Chalet for the banquet in honour of Sir Thomas Bent, the Premier and many other distinguished visitors. Because my parents were pioneers of the mountain, I was invited, and was the only woman guest. After the ceremony, I pulled the official party, including Sir Thomas Bent, Sir John Mackay, Mr. Billson, and Mr. Catani, to a selected position overlooking Echo Rocks, when they investigated the building of a chalet from Buffalo granite. Sir Thomas Bent died before this was done. (The Argus, May 25, 1940)

The Mount Buffalo Chalet, 1930s. The catalyst for the building of the Chalet was the opening up of Mount Buffalo by the construction of Carlo Catani's road and several scenic tracks.

State Library of Victoria Image H92.318/29

However, the Government decided to build a hospice and initial plans were drawn up by Mr G.H. B. Austin, of the Public Works Department. This was to be built of local granite, at an estimated cost of £10,000 but the building material was soon changed to weatherboard for financial reasons. The site for this new hospice had been surveyed by Carlo on September 19, 1908 (Yackandandah Times, September 24, 1908).  The Chalet was opened around August 1910, I believe, I cannot find the exact date (even though I like to know these things). The full history the Mount Buffalo Chalet can be read in The Mount Buffalo Story, 1898-1998 and there is a short history of the building on the Victorian Heritage Database, here.

The magnificent scenery was not the only attraction on Mount Buffalo. On Saturday, February 25, 1911 a  nine hole golf course was opened on the plateau near the Chalet. The idea for the course came from the Minister for Public Works, William Baillieu, according to a report in the Leader of March 4, 1911. It was Carlo's project to carry out this work and he engaged the professional golfer,  Richard 'Dick' Banks to advise as to the feasibility of the project reported favorably on the proposal...Banks, under Mr. Catani's direction, commenced about three months ago to lay out a nine-hole course.  (Leader, March 4, 1911)  Dick Banks, died in Melbourne in January 1930 at only 53 years of age. The fairway was sown down with alpine grass, imported from Italy.

Opening of the Mount Buffalo Golf-Links - Mr M'Kenzie (Minister for Lands) driving the first ball. Carlo Catani is second from right.

The Australasian, March 11, 1911

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article142940624

There was  a report in The Argus of February 28, 1911 about the opening of the golf course, and it was titled Mr Catani's enthusiasm and it is a great tribute to Carlo and his passion for the tourist potential of Mount Buffalo. While the others were playing golf the Minister for Lands was driven round in one of the State motor-cars. Mr Catani, who opened up the Buffalo to tourist traffic with his road up the Buffalo - an engineering feat which calls forth the admiration of all who see it - acted as guide, and with relentless enthusiasm insisted upon Mr. M'Kenzie leaving the car at frequent intervals and climbing up and down the slopes to inspect the various wonders of the mountain..... Wherever Mr Catani took the Minister he pointed out alluring schemes for further expenditure. About £300 would, he said, add 3ft. to the height of the weir, and make perfect the already magnificent artificial lake he has created. Less than £500 would make the golf links fit for champions. Twenty new bedrooms could be added to the chalet for £2,000. The road to the Horn could be taken almost to the top along a route already surveyed for no more than two or three hundred pounds. An additional circular road on the mount could join up several famous "attractions" for so-and-so. The suggestions were innumerable. Mr M'Kenzie, however, declined to commit himself to do more than "consider" these proposals. (The Argus, February 28, 1911, read full article, here)

Lake Catani, Mt Buffalo, c. 1914. Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co.

State Library of Victoria Image H93.456/24

There was also a lake for skating, fishing and water sports. This lake had been suggested by Edward Dunn in his report referred to above. The Leader of December 1, 1906  quoted Mr Dunn -The boldest and grandest mass of granite in Victoria.....is comprised in the Buffalo Range, which rises as a great dome to an elevation of over 5000 feet above sea level.....either a road for wheeled traffic, or an electric tram line, is required to render the mountain available to all classes of tourists....At the top of the falls there is a large area of swampy ground that could be converted into a lake at small expense. This would do for skating on in winter and as a storage for water to feed the falls in summer. As a source of electric energy these falls, with 700 feet of "head," should supply motive force enough to work an  electric tramway up the mountain, and also all the electric lights required.

The Eurobin Creek was dammed and the lake of 58 acres (23 hectares) was created. In June 1908, George Clowser, who was the paymaster at the Public Works Department, visited the men working on the road, in order to pay them and there was an interview published in the Herald of June 6 1908, about his experiences and amongst other things he was quoted as saying I am 15st. 6lb., and when I walked on the ice pond - or skating rink which Mr Catani, our engineer, has prepared near the hospice as an additional attraction to tourists, I made no impression on it - so thick is the ice. In June 1911, it was reported that the ice was five inches thick.

Lake Catani. Photographer: Alice Manfield. 

The inscription reads: Lake Catani. Guide Alice.

State Library of Victoria Image H2003.97/5

In January 1911, this lake was named in honour of Carlo. The Argus of January 24 had this report Acting on the suggestion of the Bright Shire Council, the Government has decided that the picturesque lake on the top of Mount Buffalo shall be named Lake Catani. This is considered to be a well-deserved recognition of the work done by Mr. Catani, chief engineer of the Public Works Department, in connection with the opening up of Mount Buffalo as a tourist resort. 

As well as having a Lake named after him, Carlo and his contribution to the development of Mount Buffalo as a tourist resort, was marked by the unveiling of  a plaque, mounted a a large granite rock with the inscription Carlo Catani, Chief Engineer of Public Works, 1910-1917  Ye who seek his memorial look around. The plaque  was unveiled by the Minister of Public Works, Mr Jones, on October 25, 1930. The Age of October 27, 1930 reported on the occasion and the tribute which was paid to Carlo The Minister, before unveiling the tablet, referred to the great public service that had been rendered by the late Mr. Catani, particularly in the development of tourist resorts, and stated that probably to no other individual was so much credit due for the opening up and development of such tourist resorts as Mt. Buffalo, the Grampians, Mt. Donna Buang, and the Warburton, Healesville and Marysville districts. To his energy and enthusiasm were also due the improvements to the St. Kilda foreshore and Alexandra-avenue. (The Age of October 27, 1930, read full article, here)

The Catani Memorial tablet, Mount Buffalo

Photo: Martin Wurt - Working Photos (courtesy of Isaac Hermann)

The Catani Memorial on the granite rock

Photo: Martin Wurt - Working Photos (courtesy of Isaac Hermann)

We will end this post with this wonderful tribute to Carlo and his contribution to making Mount Buffalo a tourist destination. It was written by Donald MacDonald and published in The Argus of December 2, 1922 And satisfied with a first view of Buffalo as a tourists' home and pleasure place, one should turn a thought to the man who largely created it, and whose enthusiasms were never chilled by red tape or routine - the late Mr. Catani. The mountain lake has been named in his honour, but the whole place is the memorial of the kindly, lovable, Italian gentleman who was, above all things, the man of vision and of action. (The Argus  December 2, 1922, read the full article, here.)

* The Mount Buffalo Story, 1898-1998 by Dan Webb and Bob Adams (Miegunyah Press, Melbourne University Press, 1998)

I have created a list of articles on Carlo Catani and his involvement with Mount Buffalo, you can access the list, here, on Trove. All the articles referred to in this post are on the list.

Catani Memorial Tower: a review of competitive designs

A memorial was unveiled for Carlo on August 22, 1932 on the Upper Esplanade in St Kilda, you can read about it, here. The Building: the magazine for the architect, builder, property owner and merchant, Vol. 46 No. 276 (12 August 1930)  had a 'review of the competitive designs' of a total of 46 entries - the winning entry was designed by Norman Schefferle. The author of the article has some forthright opinions of some of the other designs - I especially liked his reviews of No. 5 - Here pretentiousness runs riot; No. 25 - shows crudity in the extreme; No. 27 - offers a superfluity of architectural bits unhappily blended and No. 34 - this is the order of the crude. You can see the original article here, but it is also transcribed, below.

The competition was organised by the Royal Victorian Institute for Architects, with the proviso that the cost of the memorial could not exceed £2500. The winner of the competition received £50 and the runner-up £25.

The Catani Memorial clock tower, designed by Norman Schefferle and officially unveiled August 22, 1932. 

Photographs chiefly of Manly, N.S.W., Melbourne, and Victoria, ca. 1900-1932. Photographer: Henry Edwin Quick. 

State Library of New South Wales Image FL345971

Catani Memorial Tower

A REVIEW OF THE COMPETITIVE DESIGNS

The Catani Memorial Clock Tower, St Kilda (Victoria), competition, the location of which is the Bay Esplanade, has been obviously won, not by the presentation of the great monumental things in architecture but by the presentation of a profusion of enrichment meticulously designed and drawn. Further the competition affords another of those singular instances in which the design that reaches second place is on totally diverse lines to that placed first. The pathos of the position, however, is that with the conditions requiring  drawings to so large  a scale as half-inch, there has been so great a proportion of  work expended in the pursuit of ideals which apparently, judging by the final result, had no chance comparatively of success. Surely it was not justifiable to ask for so much mechanical work as half-inch scale drawings involve, in  a competition of the monumental nature of this one. It is also obvious that the limit of £2500 proved highly perplexing, resulting in the conflict of large dimensions of external surfaces in cement or synthetic stone with much enrichment, and designs showing smaller dimensions for stone or terra cotta, or simplest treatment. 

Building: the magazine for the architect, builder, property owner and merchant, 

Vol. 46 No. 276 (12 August 1930)

http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-347135893

With the exception of the two premiated designs, the following notes were made before the author's names were affixed to the various designs; and there is much regret that in the presence of so many designs evincing traditional and up-to-date scholarship, including jealous regard for proportional values and pressure for simplicity combined with strong sense of monumentality, and very full suitability for the exposed foreshore, and, moreover, for a memorial to the work of an engineer, it is impossible for the writer of this review to congratulate either promoters, the assessor, or the author of the selected design. 

The design placed first, 16 (N.E. Schefferle) is of the storeyed order, the great bulk consisting of a shaft of brickwork some 12 feet square and 36 feet high on  a low stone base. Above this shaft,  which has a recessed panel on each face, is the clock storey pedimented with piers and capitals towards canted angles forming an irregular octagon. The clock faces are set amid an embarrassment  of decoration of synthetic stone. The terminal is somewhat domical copper-covered, and concludes with a weather vane cross. The entire height from the Upper Esplanade is about 56 feet. The author in his report states 'the poetical charm of the Italian Renaissance style may be regarded as being expressive of the virile life of this great man and his aesthetic aspiration." In common with other designers, there is a claim that the style is "appropriate in view of the late Carlo Catani being of Italian birth."

The second prize design by J. Smith and R. Vernon Francis was pictured

 in The Herald on July 19, 1930.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/26371419

The design placed second is (J. Smith, R. V. Francis) is an octagonal shaft rising from a specially well designed base. The summit consists of the four clock faces tilted outwards and is linked up to the shaft with carved and heavily moulded masses of detail.

1.  (Smith, Ogg & Serpell)  shows a plain shaft relieved with Renaissance recess on each side towards the ground, and possesses quite a touch of refinement. One of the very good. 

2.  (Smith, Ogg & Serpell)  Gothic in temperament and expression, revealing much ability but the detailing to be worthy of the mass would require to be far more ably handled than is the tracery shown. 

3.  (C.E. Alexander and W.L. McGowan)  is a vigorously dramatic campanile of exhibitional order, in which some features could well be wiped out to advantage.

4.  (A.W. Purnell, Round and Graham)  has the inventive spirit of freshness throughout allied with engineering touch, though the massive detailing in conjunction with the clock faces would conflict. There is   a weakness in the chamfered sides and panel at base. 

5.  (A. C. Leith)  Here pretentiousness runs riot.  "Four structural figures enclose the tracery, and each is crowned with  a modelled figure bust of Mr. Catani." These figures grow out of the angles in the style of some American work.

6.  (W. L. McGowan and C. E. Alexander)  This design is among the best, being a study in pure verticality and well handled by a master of design. The battered buttresses powerfully enhance the composition. 

7.  (C.L. Gumming)  the outstanding point of this design is the sculptural base which enshrines the memorial tablet. As in the case of several other schemes, the designer has come to grief in the terminal treatment.  

8.  (Alex N. Henderson)  An instance in which simplicity of outline and fewness of units score the absence of redundant features being very marked. There is a measure of weakness in some of the proportional values, and a general want of vigour. It, however, well embodies the sense of resistance to the elements which would prevail.

9.   (H. Desbrowe Annear)  Though on different lines, this has much in common with No. 3, being of the universal exhibition order which can hardly claim for position or memorial purpose.

10.  (Alec. S. Hall)  This is of the ponderous order throughout, heavily glazed and with a specially restless base.

11.   (Sale and Keage)  is expressive of lack of harmony between base, shaft and summit.

12.   (Sale and Keage)  A design of considerable ability, the work of a master mind throughout, and ranks as one of the very ablest. The manner in which the base is treated is admirable, while the clock well expresses itself as a distinctive timepiece above a slightly tapering shaft pierced in four directions and terminating in a bit of  festooned enrichment; the heavy mouldings would , however, interfere with the clock faces.

13.  (I.G. Anderson)  Of the obelisk order, surmounted with an Ionic cupola having a  stepped summit. The base is somewhat unhappy, but the general proportions, however are good.

14.   (Oakley and Parkes)  show a well-proportioned pylon in a composition which presents much acceptable severity in view of proximity to sea, and the nature of the profession of Catani.

15.   (Thos. J. Power)  presents  a bit of design which scores by simplicity, and which with fuller regard to the various recessed surfaces and projections would be greatly added.

16.  See before.

17.  (Irwin and Stevenson).   In this there is a marked originality of high order, with touches of capable detailing. The report shows in a few terse well-expressed words that the basis and working out are symbolic. A bit of really good designing with the resultant simplicity. 

18. (W. and R. Butler and Martin)  An example of  modernity which has much appreciable merit, and ranks among the best. But why so small a clock-face  and so deeply recessed? The report well emphasises  "the necessary suggestion of strength and permanence so particularly desirable in the exposed position of the seafront...and this memorial will seem to defy the elements..."

19.   (M.H. Norris and Colin Dixon)  shows much of the ordinary, though the position and handling of the clock face score above many other designs.

20.  (R. Morton Taylor)  has some good proportions, but is of the common-place. 

21.  (H. Anderson).  A picturesque  structure, but woefully weak in primary principles of  monumental design. The author claims, however, that in view of the life of Catani as a poet and visionary these factors, in conjunction with the gaiety of the locality, should be expressed.

22.  (Robt O. Ellis and Deane B. White)  A well-proportioned plain shaft with a tiled roof, the heavy eaves of which, however would throw the clock far too much in shadow. 

23.   (Robert B. Hamilton)  has a very able and effective design which ranks, though of a piquant nature, among the best. The manner in which the upper portion is recessed at angles is well managed, and is suggestive  of some greater inherent values than those expressed.

24.   (A. J. Inches)  in his design with open vistas at base gives evidence of earnest effort. 

25.  (W.J. Gilroy)  shows crudity in the extreme.

26.   (Holdsworth and Cusick)  have designed a structure of highly pretentious character having a pavilion-like base and an open summit-storey above the clock.

27.  (W.H. Ford)  offers a superfluity of architectural bits unhappily blended. 

28.  (S.C. Meyer and Geo. W. Manson)   A specially powerful vertical mass of brickwork in which stonework is effectively introduced in base and at angles, and summit of upper part.

29.  (H.G. Bottoms) has a design on which the Corinthian order of shaft and clock terminal hardly harmonise; and is an instance in which the structure appears far narrower at base than a summit. The author requires to note optical illusions in relation to composition.

30. (Marcus R. Barlow)  Another of the "Exhibition" class,  showing a phase of the "modern" tendency well worth developing. This ranks among the good designs.

31.   (L.D. San Miguel) I could not find this.

32.  (Richardson and Wood, and D.R. Gillam)  shows some good detailing in constituent parts, but hardly a success as a clock tower.

33.  (Richardson and Wood, and D.R. Gillam)  This ranks in the interesting class, and possesses much merit, though suffering unfavourably in the handling of the terminal.

34.  (J. Rowsell). This is of the order of the crude.

35.  (Harry J. James)  is essentially of modernist order influenced by Swedish and Finnish work, and though highly crude in parts has decidedly good possibilities. 

36.  (A.R. La Gerche and W.E. Gower). This shows one of the very best, and gives throughout evidence of strong architectonic power. The massing, proportional values, recessing  and touches of relief are allied with well-defined restraint and full regard to position.

37.   (A.Ikin) Here a strong measure of symbolism has aided the design, which possess distinctive individuality. But the hour glass and its flame are really too superfluous.

38.  (Bohringer, Taylor and Johnson). Throughout there is evidence of  particular care in regard to both mass and detail. One of the happiest efforts on view of the spirit of modernity contrasting with traditonalism. The lofty base seawards ranks high,.

39.  (No name attached)  This shows good proportional values, but the effect of the terminal sculpture would be entirely lost.

40.  (Gustave Pillig) Though a juvenile effort in the sculpturesque direction, the author should persist in imaginative design.

41.  (O'Rourke and Obeth)  A tower-like structure with an external winding staircase, truly quaint, with clock in minaret.

42.  (J. Scarborough and A.C. Lyons).  A valuable bit of pure design of nature of a square pylon with stop-chamfered angles resulting in irregular octagon at summit. The entrance doorway is essentially memorial, and the whole composition bears the imprint of genius in exceptional measure.  

43.  (Arthur H. Cutler) revels but slight knowledge of present architectural advance, presenting a boldly tapering structure, and storeyed, terminating in a cupola. 

44.  (A.C. Collins). This is in a class by itself, and reveals considerable merit as a study in sheer forms. The idea of the sculptural base is excellent, but requires far more consideration.

45.  (H.H.& and F.B. Kemp). Monolithic in character, this contains practically, if not, all the essential elements of design and in excellent measure; and is particularly well adapted for the exposed position on the sea front. 

A few of the competitors also submitted models.

Victorian Community History Awards 2019

I was thrilled to be recognised in the 2019 Victorian Community History Awards. The Awards ceremony was held on Monday, October 14 at the Arts Centre, and it was so much fun. You can read about all the winners, here, on the Royal Historical Society of Victoria website, https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/2019-victorian-community-history-awards-winners/
My Carlo blog was in the Multimedia section. The Historical Interpretation Award section was also Carlo related - CO. AS. IT, the Italian Historical Society won the category for their exhibition Carlo Catani: Visionary, Creator, Genius, which was on display from December 2018 until March 2019.

I am super excited to be honoured, but more than that I feel that that Carlo is getting the recognition that he deserves by these awards - we cannot underestimate the importance of Carlo's role in the development of Victoria and he deserves far more credit that what he has. I have done a few talks on Carlo and like to use this very neat summary of his works -
After more than forty-one years of public service that never ended with his retirement, through surveying and direct design, contracting, supervision, and collaborative approaches, perhaps more than any other single figure, Carlo Catani re-scaped not only parts of Melbourne, but extensive swathes of Victoria "from Portland to Mallacoota", opening up swamplands to farming, bringing access to beauty spots, establishing new townships, and the roads to get us there.
His park designs were sought after from Albert Park to Warragul, and from the Castlemaine Springs to the St. Kilda Foreshore. His flood protection schemes ranged from the Murray to the Yarra. He envisioned the Yarra Bend Boulevard, a Port Melbourne to Sorrento scenic motorway, he opened up the Mount Buffalo Plateau, and gave us access to Arthur's Seat, Mt. Donna Buang, and the Grampians' McKenzie Falls. That's from my friend and research colleague, Isaac Hermann. It was Isaac who invited me to join the Committee to erect a headstone on Carlo's unmarked grave at the Brighton Cemetery (read about this here) and this renewed my interest in Carlo and inspired me to start this blog.  Isaac's a treasure - supportive, encouraging,  enthusiastic, generous in sharing his own research and passionate about history.

Not only was Carlo visionary and well respected, but by all accounts he was amiable, generous and kind. I have many favourite quotes about what people thought of Carlo, but the one I like best, relates, not surprisingly (as that is where I was born, raised and live) to the Koo Wee Rup Swamp -  This is from Niel Gunson, from his book The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire   Dr Gunson quotes the memories of H.J. Boxshall of Yallock - Mr Catani was well known to most of the men employed on the drain work, no matter how far away or how small the drain, he would insist on having  a look at it to see how the work was progressing. He got to know many of the men by name and would sit on the drain bank and have his lunch with them. These trips meant long rides on horseback and often longer distances on foot, but it was all in a day's work for Mr Catani. 

Carlo arrives in Melbourne with credentials from Pope Pius IX

The Truth newspaper, based in Perth, published this article on January 29, 1910 - In 1876, three pilgrims set out from Rome for Australia. They were endowed with a blessing from the Pope and a letter to Premier John O'Shannassy. Their names were Baracchi, Catani, and Gagliardi. When they arrived in Melbourne they all got billets, Baracchi as wood and water Joey in a survey camp, Catani as chairman in the Public Works Department, and Gagliardi as attendant in the Public Library. Baracchi is now Government Astronomer for Victoria, Catani is Chief Engineer in the Public Works Department, and Gagliardi, who achieved a position which would have made him chief Librarian had he remained, flitted back to Italy. Pietro Baracchi was born in Florence on February 25, 1851, the son of Giovanni Battista Baracchi, late officer in the Tuscan Army. He married the daughter of the late George Petty, Melbourne's one time leading and wealthiest butcher, and he is a Knight Commander of the Crown of Italy. (Truth, January 29, 1910)

Four years later the January 15, 1914 issue of the Punch magazine reported this
Chief Engineer Catani, of the Public Works Department, is transforming the face of Nature from the Buffalo to the Bay. At the mountain top he has a Lake Catani, and there is also an unpremeditated Lake Catani on St. Kilda West beach. Also, there are several mounds which, with the sheets of water, have led to an old song being parodied into "By Catani 's banks and braes." Catani, by-the-way, was one of three Italians who came out to Victoria years ago with credentials from the Pope to Sir John O'Shannassy. The other two were ex-Foreign Language Librarian Gagliardi, of the Public Library, and Government Astronomer Baracchi. (Punch, January 15, 1914)

There are a few errors in both reports, for instance Ferdinando Gagliardi did not flit back to Italy, he died in Melbourne in 1898, but of interest is the fact that Carlo, Pietro Baracchi and Ferdinando Gagliardi were said to have had either a blessing and a letter or credentials from the Pope, Pius IX (who served from 1846 to 1878), which they presented to Sir John O'Shanassy.  Is this true? I cannot say for sure but here are some things to consider.  The trio had arrived in New Zealand along with Ettore Checchi in August 1876; in September 1876 Catani, Baracchi and Checchi arrived in Melbourne, with Gagliardi following in April 1877. Did Checchi also have Papal credentials?

Pope Pius IX, 1878. Photographer: William Short.

State Library of Victoria Image H96.160/53

Gagliardi was a Freemason* and Catholics were barred from the joining the Freemasons. According to https://catholicherald.co.uk Between Clement XII in 1738 and the promulgation of the first Code of Canon Law in 1917, a total of eight popes wrote explicit condemnations of Freemasonry. All provided the strictest penalty for membership: automatic excommunication reserved to the Holy See. In this case it seems unlikely that Gagliardi would have had any recommendation from the Pope. He is however, buried in the Catholic section at the Brighton Cemetery, but not sure that means anything as I know some of my relatives are buried in various sections of cemeteries in the past which had no connection to their religion. On the other hand, his first employment in Melbourne was at the Public Library of which Sir John O'Shanassy was an original Trustee.

What of the other two - Catani and Baracchi? Baracchi was married in the Catholic Church in 1886 when he married Catherine Petty** so we can assume he was a Catholic. Carlo was married in 1886, to Catherine Hanley, in the Free Church of England in Fitzroy, you can read all about this, here, so not in a Catholic Church but their first child, Edoardo,  who died as an infant in 1886 is buried in the Catholic section of the Melbourne General Cemetery. In 1880, Carlo is listed as donating £5.00 towards the construction of St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne, so was that because he was altruistic or because he was Catholic? Carlo and Catherine later attended the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Balaclava and none of their children went to Catholic schools, so it seems that he converted from Catholicism to Anglicanism, presumably for social and career reasons. Catholics were not banned from working in the Public Service at the time, but it may have been easier to be promoted if you weren't Catholic.

The strong evidence that the Catani family were Catholic and of high standing was provided by Greg Catani, Carlo's great, grand nephew who came to Melbourne for the unveiling of the Catani headstone at the Brighton Cemetery (read about this here).  Greg showed us the Catani crest, which was on a gold pendant - the three C's on the crest are said to represent the three Holy Crusades the family took part in. it was wonderful to see.

The Catani Crest on a gold pendant, showing the three C's said to represent the three Holy Crusades the family undertook. 

Photo: Isaac Hermann.

So, it is likely that both Catani and Baracchi were both Catholic, and thus 'eligible' to have a Papal blessing or credentials from the Pope, which ever article is correct, but is it true? It seems odd that it is only reported, or more correctly I can only find reports, in two papers, both written about 35 years after the arrival of the trio in Melbourne. However, it would clearly be advantageous to the men to have an introduction to Sir John O'Shanassy (1818 - 1883)  who was an influential and powerful man. He had arrived in Melbourne in 1839 and was described as the 'acknowledged leader of the Irish in exile' and 'the Greatest Catholic Irishman south of the Line'***. In 1845 he founded the St Patrick's Society and he was the inaugural President until 1851. He was also a foundation trustee of the Melbourne Public Library, where as we said, Gagliardi worked.   O'Shanassy had four stints in the Victorian Parliament - both the Legislative Assembly and the Council - from 1851 to 1883 and was Premier on three occasions March to April, 1857; March 1858 to October 1859 and November 1861 to June 1863. O'Shanassy was knighted in 1870. You can read more about his life and career in the Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB), here.

Sir John O'Shanassy, taken  c. 1864. Sir John was a man of imposing size, which you can see clearly in this photo, he was six foot five inches in height.***

Photographer: Batchelder & O'Neill. 

State Library of Victoria Image H141477

The ADB entry, written by S.M. Ingham,  says that O'Shanassy decided to spend a year overseas. He left in May 1866 and during his time away, in Rome Pope Pius IX appointed him a knight of the Order of St Gregory in recognition of his services for Catholic education. This gives us a direct connection between the Pope and O'Shanassy, so I feel that this increases the chance that the story of the Papal credentials is true. The letter would not have been written to O'Shanassy because he was Premier, as he wasn't at the time so the Truth has that wrong, but it would have been written to O'Shanassy because he held a position of power in Victoria - both politically and within Catholic circles and so would have been of enormous help to the three Catholic migrants from Italy.

.............................................................................................................................................
* Gagliardi's Freemasonary connections are discussed in the book Ferdinando Gagliardi: Pisa, 17/4/1843 - Melbourne 7/8/1898, Vol. 1, by Piero Genovesi (Italian Australian Institute Research Centre at La Trobe University, 2017).
** Marriage Certificate is reproduced in  From Tuscany to Victoria: the life and work of Pietro Baracchi, Carlo Catani and Ettore Checchi by Daniela Volpe  (Italian Australian Institute Research Centre at La Trobe University, 2005)
***Pioneer Catholic Victoria by Rev. Walter Ebsworth (Polding Press, 1973)

Carlo is on the panel to select the design of a Yarra River bridge from Burnley Street to Williams Road

In 1892, the City of Richmond and the City of Prahran held a series of conferences,  the objective of which was to have a bridge erected over the Yarra River to join Burnley Street, Richmond and Williams Road, Prahran.  A design competition was held - the conditions being that the bridge was not to cost more than £9,000, that it had a clear length of waterway of 300 feet, and a width of roadway of 24 feet.

There were 23 entries and an expert panel was organised to select the top five entries. The panel consisted of Carlo Catani and Mr. Clayton, surveyor, of Richmond, and Mr. Smith, surveyor of Prahran. The Prahran Telegraph, of May 11, 1892 (read full report, here) had a description of the five bridges -
"Cantilever, No. 2," a very handsome, longspan plate iron girder bridge, with the roadway on top, crossing the river at a great angle.
"Stet" another longspan top deck bridge, designed for erection on either of two routes, making a lesser angle. This is also a handsome bridge, although the iron columns carrying the centre span of 140 feet and two side spans of about 90 feet are only 2 feet 6 inches in diameter, and appear to be too small.
"Sub Rosa" is a four-span bridge, the two centre spans having arched lattice girders, standing above the roadway like those of the Cremorne railway bridge, and have footpaths outside of them. This bridge is designed for a sight at right angles to the river.

This is the Toolamba Railway bridge over the Goulburn River - the bridge design "Lever" was described as a copy of this bridge (see below)

Toolamba 1893 H 2331 GLSB/W. 

Public Records Office of Victoria: Photographic Collection: Railway Negatives: Alpha-numeric Systems (VPRS12800)

"Lever" is a three-span single system open lattice girder bridge, with a top deck. The girders are in fact copies of the successful railway bridge over the Goulburn at Toolamba. Like "Cantilever" and "Stet," its side girders are cantilevered over the piers, and the intervening space is filled in with a girder of same design, resting on single pins 6 inches in diameter, flattened to 4 inches thick, to act as expansion joints in the middle of the depth of the truss. In the others the centre girders are carried on plates rivetted on the cantilevers and form expansion joints like those in the Flinders-street viaduct.
All these bridges have iron decks covered with concrete and wood blocks, cast iron cornices and hand rails, stone or brick abutments, some of them of an ornate character, and all have their decks at a great height above the river.
"Rivet" is a bridge of more modest pretensions. It has no brick or stone abutments, iron deck, wood blocking, or iron parapet. The abutments are the sloping ends of low embankments faced with stone, a macadamised roadway carried on wooden planks, resting on rolled iron joists, which in turn are carried by 12 plate steel girders 60 feet long by 5 feet deep, supported by wrought and cast iron columns filled with concrete of the usual river pattern, but ornamented with moulded capitals and bases. This bridge has a graceful camber from end to end, the under side of the girder being 2 feet above high flood lines at the ends and 4 feet in the centre. It is full of economies, and it may be safely put down as the least expensive of any of the designs sent in. It is of the same class as the Swan-street bridge, with spans nearly twice as long, and the metal disposed of to greater advantage. A pretty adaptation to circumstance is noticeable in the end girders, which are carried on cast iron columns in the embankments, and have their ends formed as cantilevers, with the lower sides sloping parallel to the embankment, thus reducing, as far as possible, the amount of timber abutment required for expansion and retaining the metal on the roadway. 

The Burnley Street/Williams Road bridge turned out to be saga. The bridge was not built at the time and in 1894 the newspapers had a flurry of reports about a renewed push by the councils  to have the bridge built, however by then the Prahran Council said that finances would not allow the council to proceed with the work (The Argus, October 2 1894)

The matter was back on the agenda in 1900 when the Councils had a meeting with the Minister for Public Works and the suggestion was made to move a redundant iron footbridge  to the site and enlarge and strengthen it. However, Mr. Fink, M L A., who was at the meeting said it would be better to wait and erect a Monier bridge, which would be a cheap structure. This idea was accepted and the councils and Mr Davidson, Inspector General of Works, would confer with the council as to the cost of  Monier Bridge. (Prahran Telegraph, March 17, 1900)  I do no have any proof but I would assume that Carlo would have been involved in this process as he had already worked with the Monier reinforced concrete method of bridge construction with the Anderson Street bridge.

In 1927, there was another attempt to have the bridge constructed when A letter from the Richmond Council to the Board of Works asking the board to consider the advisability of erecting a bridge in Burnley street, Richmond and Williams road Prahran to enable motorists living east of Chapel street to pass through Richmond from the city on their way home, thus relieving congestion at Princes' Bridge, and at Church street bridge was unfavorably received. (The Herald, July 5, 1927) ' 'Unfavorably received' the proposal may have been by the Board of Works, but that didn't stop the Councils in their quest to get their bridge. There are few reports in the papers in the 1930s for renewed attempts to have the bridge erected, but the hopes of the two Councils were finally crushed by Sir Macpherson Robertson.

Sir Macpherson Robertson (1859 - 1945), businessman and entrepreneur and established the MacRobertson Steam Confectionery Works, who made the  Freddo Frog, Cherry Ripe and Old Gold Chocolate, amongst other products. To celebrate Victoria's centenary, Robertson provided £100,000 for public works. MacRobertson Girls' High School was one of the projects and another was for the Centenary bridge across the Yarra. The Government decided that the bridge should be at Grange Road. A meeting was held in August 1933 of nine councils -  Brighton, Caulfield, Hawthorn, Heidelberg, Kew, Prahran, Richmond, Sandringham and St Kilda and they were largely against the proposal that the bridge be located at Grange Road, they preferred Burnley Street/Williams Road. Their protestations were to  no avail and the Centenary Bridge was built at Grange Road and officially opened on November 5, 1934.

With the construction of the Centenary Bridge so close to the Burnley Street/ Williams Road potential crossing, this bridge was never going to be constructed, so Carlo's efforts in selecting the five best designs in 1892, were wasted, but perhaps they may have been used for other bridges somewhere else,  I do not know. Next time I am at the Public Records Office, I will see if the bridge designs still exist.

These are two photos of the construction of the  MacRobertson Centenary Bridge from the Public Records Office of Victoria.

 Construction of the  MacRobertson Centenary Bridge at Grange Road, which ended all hope of a bridge connecting Burnley Street, Richmond to Williams Road, Prahran.

Grange Road MacRobertsons Bridge Construction c. 1930'S GLS bridge. C 0903.

Public Records Office of Victoria: Photographic Collection: Railway Negatives: Alpha-numeric Systems (VPRS12800)

 Construction of the  MacRobertson Centenary Bridge at Grange Road, which ended all hope of a bridge connecting Burnley Street, Richmond to Williams Road, Prahran.
Grange Road MacRobertsons Bridge Construction c. 1930'S GLS bridge. C 0907.

Public Records Office of Victoria: Photographic Collection: Railway Negatives: Alpha-numeric Systems (VPRS12800)

Carlo Catani, Andrew Stenhouse and Captain Cook's statue in St Kilda

On March 6, 1915 Carlo Catani was presented with a small silver replica of the Captain Cook statue that had been unveiled on the foreshore in St Kilda the previous December. The gift was presented by Mr Andrew Stenhouse who had donated the statue in  recognition of the work Carlo had undertaken to improve the foreshore. The presentation was reported in The Herald. (1)

Carlo Catani honoured

The Herald March 8, 1915  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242277405

The only other newspaper report of the presentation that I could find was in the Barrier Miner of March 11, 1915 (2). This newspaper was published in Broken Hill, so it does seem an unlikely newspaper to report on such a local event, however Andrew Stenhouse had lived in Broken Hill so it was this connection that prompted the publication of the event. This is the report - 

At a dinner given by Mr. Stenhouse, one of the members of the St. Kilda Foreshore Trust, to his colleagues on Saturday night, Mr. Stenhouse took the opportunity to present to Mr. C. Catani, chief engineer for Public works, a small replica of the Captain Cook statue, made in silver. The gift, it was explained, was in recognition of Mr. Catani's unselfish labors in designing and carrying through

the St. Kilda foreshore improvements.

Mr Stenhouse had also been presented with a replica of the statue at the unveiling in December 1914,  the Prahran Telegraph reported that the Foreshore Committee has presented the donor, Mr. Stenhouse, with a small replica to serve to remind him of his generous gift. (3) It would be interesting to know where these two replicas are now - do they still exist in the back of a cupboard somewhere or are they proudly on display in a living room? 

We will have a look now at the statue and the life of Andrew Stenhouse.  The first report I could find about the statue was in 1913, when The Argus of December 18 reported that some short time since a well-known resident of St Kilda suggested to the St Kilda shore committee that St Kilda beach would be a fitting place at which to raise a memorial to Captain Cook. (4). Andrew Stenhouse offered £500 towards the purchase and the rest of the cost was later gathered from other donations. The Foreshore Committee decided that they wanted a  replica of the Cook statue in Whitby, which was the work of John Tweed (1869-1933) (5). Whitby was the town where James Cook lived for nine years from the age of seventeen, and Cook's ships, the Resolution and the Endeavour were both built there (6). The Committee contacted the Premier, who contacted the Agent General for Victoria, Mr Peter McBride, in London who investigated the issue. (7)

Mr McBride visited John Tweed's studio and he sent the Committee the following letter -

I have the honour to inform you that, as a result of my inquiries, I have ascertained that the statue of Captain Cook was presented to the town of Whitby by Mr W.G. Beckett M.P., and that the work was executed by Mr John Tweed, the sculptor. After communicating with Mr Beckett and Mr Tweed, I visited the studio of the latter gentleman, at South Kensington, on Monday last and inspected the cast of the statue which was an excellent piece of work. I now have pleasure in transmitting a number of photographs of the statue at Whitby, also views of it in situ. The pedestal of the statue is decorated in the front with the coat of arms of Captain Cook and on the back with his ship the Resolution I am also sending copy of a booklet containing illustrations and an account of the unveiling ceremony, which will be of interest to you and to the members of the committee. Mr Tweed is willing to supply a replica in bronze of the statue at Whitby with models for the panels and design for the pedestal for the sum of £1,000. Mr Tweed adds that he could, if desired, provide bronze panels representing scenes descriptive of some events in Captain Cook's life at the cost of an extra £100 each. The actual cost of a new statue of Captain Cook with pedestal and panels similar in every respect to that erected at Whitby, would be £2,400. Had the request been for an entirely original statue of Captain Cook, the cost would have been considerably greater. (8)  The St Kilda Foreshore Committee decided to go ahead with the sculpture but organised to have the pedestal and bronze made locally. 

On Monday, December 1, 1914 the statue of Captain Cook was unveiled by the Governor, Sir Arthur Stanley, in front of an audience of 200 people including Government Ministers, members of Parliament and local councillors. Before the unveiling took place, Cr. Gibbs, the president of the foreshores committee, thanked Mr. Stenhouse for his gift, and the latter, in a brief speech of acknowledgment.... mentioned the work done in connection with the St. Kilda foreshore by Mr. H. O. Allan (secretary of the committee) and Mr. Catani. (9)  

Captain Cook's statue, c. 1914

Image: John Tweed: Sculpting the Empire by Nicola Capon (Spire Books, 2013)

Carlo was recognised for his work on the St Kilda Foreshore by not only receiving the small replica of the statue, but by having the gardens named after him in October 1927. Before  the area was renamed for Carlo it was known as the Captain Cook lawns. Previous to this name change it was known as the Pier Lawns. The Captain Cook statue was moved from its original location in 1988 to allow for the construction of the Rotunda. (10)

The Captain Cook statue,  St Kilda foreshore. 

State Library of Victoria Cyril Stainer collection of glass lantern slides, Image H2013.223/36

Carlo was clearly proud of the statue, even though it appears that not all locals showed the same respect. The Age had this report in January 1915 - 

Some facetious people at St. Kilda cannot let the statue of Captain Cook, on the foreshore, alone. At Christmas time, as stated in "The Age," they tied a "straw decker" hat in a rakish manner on his head. There might have been some excuse for that freak as being conceived in the spirit of seasonable good cheer and decoration. Yesterday morning, however, the captain appeared in a "bell-topper," also tied on. The great navigator remained wearing this anachronous covering until after midday, when Mr. Catani, Chief Engineer for Public Works, and designer of the foreshore embellishment scheme, with much indignation ordered its removal, and assisted Constable Davidson to hold the ladder while the Foreshore Trust's gardener mounted upon it and untied the hat. It is a fairly good bell-topper, and is being held by the police for identification. Something may be learned from the finger prints on it, or, possibly from a water mark. Anyhow, if by any chance, the person who mounted the head gear on the statue is caught, he will be made to pay dearly for his joke, not merely on account of the violence done to the feelings of those who consider public monuments should be respected, but for the sake of the actual damage likely to be incurred by climbing the statue to fix such garniture. Mr. Catani, with impulsive generosity, has informed the police that, irrespective of what the Foreshore Trust or St. Kilda council may do, he will pay £5 reward for information leading to the conviction of the jester. As there has been talk of a lot of other statues being ultimately included in the scheme of beach adornment at St Kilda, no doubt the prospect of Shakespeare being found some morning smoking a short clay pipe with the bowl downwards, or Dante with a shade over one eye and his aim in a sling, if this sort of thing is not stopped, makes Mr. Catani keen to have the matter traced home. (11) 

On August 11, 1916 a plaque was unveiled by the Mayor of St Kilda, Cr J.J. Love, which listed the names of the 96 crew of the Endeavour. This plaque, affixed to the pedestal of the statue, was also donated by Andrew Stenhouse. (12)

 Captain Cook Statue, Catani Gardens. 

Photographer: John T. Collins, taken January 21, 1975.

State Library of Victoria image H98.251/146

The instigator of the Captain Cook statue was Andrew Stenhouse, so from various sources (13) I have complied this biography. Andrew was born in Scotland in 1836 and  trained as a shipwright / carpenter. He arrived in Melbourne in 1862, where he worked in the building industry for three years. Andrew then went to New Zealand, where he lived for 16 years and worked in building and timber industries. He returned to Melbourne around 1881 where he worked the Union Sash and Door Company until 1887 when he re-located to Broken Hill.  In 1885, Thomas Stubbins had established the Willyama Timber mill in Broken Hill and it was this business that Andrew was employed with as the manager. Broken Hill developed, the mine grew and the Willyama Timber mill grew as it supplied timber products to the mine. By 1896 Andrew had taken over the ownership of the mill and the name changed to Globe Timber Mill. Around 1900 it employed 120 men and another business was opened in Port Pirie, the closest port to Broken Hill. The Globe Timber Mill was sold by Stenhouse in 1911 to  Globe Timber Company, a registered public company, according to the Barrier Miner of April 1, 1920.

Andrew Stenhouse, looking every inch the Colonial gentleman. 

Image from Cyclopedia of South Australia, on Find My Past

I am unsure when Andrew Stenhouse moved to St Kilda,  possibly around 1907. Here's what I know about his family life. Andrew was married to Mary Matilda Shiels (nee Barrett)  in 1872 in New Zealand.  She had been married before, to Robert Shiels, this marriage had taken place in Tasmania in 1860. Mary and Robert had four children -  George (born 1861 in Tasmania), James (born 1863 in Tasmania), Millicent Elizabeth (born 1865 in New Zealand)  and Robertina Mary (born 1867 in New Zealand). I have not yet found out when Robert died. Andrew and Mary had one son together, Andrew, who was born in New Zealand in 1873.  Robertina,  died on April 11, 1893 at the age of 25 at Redan Street in St Kilda.  Robertina had been operated on for  a tumour, she had been progressing well, then had a relapse and sadly passed away. She was buried at St Kilda Cemetery. Andrew and Mary's son,  Andrew Junior died February 3,1896 in Adelaide at the age of 22, and he was buried in the same grave at St Kilda Cemetery.  (14)

Marriage announcement of Andrew Stenhouse and Mary Shiels, which took place in Hokitika in New Zealand. 

West Coast Times March 8, 1872

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WCT18720309.2.7

Mary Stenhouse died in on August 19, 1909 at the age of 72, and her obituary said that she had arrived in Broken Hill in 1889, but had lived in St Kilda for two years. She died at their house Willyama, 7 Beaconsfield Parade, Willyama being the original name of their Broken Hill timber mill. Her  obituary also said she was the mother of  George Shiels of Melbourne and James Shiels of Broken Hill. She was buried in the family grave and when Andrew died at the age of 81 on August 6, 1918 he was also buried in the grave. (15)

Apart from funding the Captain Cook statue Andrew was also involved in other civic projects. In December 1913, he donated two life saving stations - one contiguous to Brookes's boat shed, and the other on the west beach near the Beaconsfield Hotel. The report notes that In both places it was customary for open sea bathing to be indulged in. Each station had cost £100, and Mr. Stenhouse had shown his generosity also in supplying seats and marble topped tables for picnickers in Shakespeare-grove. (16)

I will end this post with a family story - my grandparents, Walter and Veda Thewlis, lived in Middle Park for  a time at 199 Beaconsfield Parade. This was a block of four flats, at the time called Colbinabbin. They had the flat on the ground floor, on the right. They rented there from late 1936 to late 1939. My Mum said that when she was about 4 (it was 1938 - the year her sister was born) whenever her Mum needed some peace with the new baby, her Dad used to take her for a walk to see 'Jimmy Cook' - the statute of Captain Cook on the foreshore!  (17)

Postscript - On the morning of January 25, 2024 destructive vandals senselessly cut down the statue at the ankles and dumped it on the grass and graffitied the plinth. The Police are investigating and the Premier of Victoria and the City of Port Phillip have vowed to have the statue reinstalled. (18)

Cook's boots on the plinth, after it was vandalised on January 25, 2024.

Image: Isaac Hermann January 26, 2024.

Trove lists - I have created a list of newspapers articles on Trove on the Captain Cook Statue and on the life of Andrew Stenhouse and his family, you can access it, here.

Footnotes

(1) The Herald, March 8, 1915, see here.

(2) Barrier Miner, March 11, 1915, see here.  

(3) Prahran Telegraph,  December 12, 1914 see here.

(4) The Argus, December 18, 1913, see here.

(5) John Tweed https://victorianweb.org/sculpture/tweed/index.html Photograph and an account of his career - The Age, August 22, 1936, see here; 

(6) https://www.captaincooksociety.com/ 

(7) The Argus, December 18, 1913, see here.

(8) Ibid

(9) The Leader December 12, 1914, see here.

(10) In conjunction with my colleague, Isaac Hermann, I  have written about this here https://victoriancollections.net.au/stories/carlo-catani-an-engineering-star-over-victoria/st-kilda-foreshore-gardens 

(11) The Age, January 18, 1915, see here.

(12) Prahran Telegraph, August 19, 1916, see here. 

(13) Andew Stenhouse entry in the Cyclopedia of South Australia, published in 1907, available on Find My Past; Article in the Barrier Daily Truth, May 11 2010 about the Globe Timber Mill (as at January 2024, no longer on-line); The Argus April 2, 1914 on Andrew Stenhouse, read it here.

(14) New Zealand Births, Deaths and Marriages    https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/ ; Tasmanian Archives https://libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives/  Family notices in the newspapers, see my Trove list, here.

(15) Family notices in the newspapers, see my Trove list, here.

(16) The Age December 22, 1913,  see here.

(17) I have written more about this here       https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2021/08/walter-and-veda-thewlis-and-their-happy.html

(18) Melbourne Statues of Queen Victoria and Captain Cook vandalised on Australia Day eve https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-25/melbourne-captain-cook-queen-victoria-statues-vandalised/103386996