Anzac Memorial Highway

In February 1917 Mr Horace Washington Harrison (1), editor and founder of the Australian Motorist magazine suggested the construction of the "Anzac Highway" from Perth to Brisbane, and linking up these capitals with Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney and that this would be a fitting memorial to the Australian soldiers who have fallen in the war (2). 

The idea soon took hold and a correspondent with the pen name of Roman Roads wrote a letter to The Argus  suggesting that we could plant it with a double row of olive trees, symbolic of both the scene of our brave fellows' deeds, and of the "olive leaf" that these deeds will have helped to hold out to an outraged world. This tree is proof against every adversity, and shady and pleasing to the eye. Such a mammoth avenue of them would grow to yield £1,000,000 a year (3).

The  Anzac Highway concept was also taken up by  the Road Users' Association. This group had been around for well over  a decade, starting as the National Touring Association. In 1905 it changed its name to the Touring and Good Roads Association (4) and in January 1917, the name changed again, this time to the Road Users' Association (5).  The original purpose of the Group, as the name suggests was a touring association and one of the members was George Broadbent. Mr Broadbent (1863-1947) was a keen cyclist who held many Australian and Victorian records, including that of riding 203 miles (327 km) in 24 hours on a penny farthing - apparently that record has never been beaten, so if you are up for  a challenge (and happen to have  a penny farthing bicycle handy), then give it  a go. George began producing maps initially for cyclists but later for other road users and formed the company,  Broadbents Official Road Guides (6).

The Secretary of the Road Users' Association was Eric Boult and he wrote an article, published in the Truth newspaper about the Anzac Highway. The idea that the road should be a monument to fallen soldiers was expanded upon. As well, Mr Boult compared the Anzac Highway to the Roman Roads in Britain - now, these Roman roads have lasted because they were well built-far better built than those of our Country Roads Board and it is probably desirable that this highway, if built, should be constructed up to as high a standard as possible, with a view to making it thoroughly permanent (7). 

The road would also have a number of other benefits - it could be built entirely by returned soldiers from labourers to engineers. It would also provide ongoing employment as returned soldiers could be employed as patrol men along the route. The road would open up land for settlement and thus would permit very large numbers of returned soldiers being settled on the land. The road would also be of  military value and would aid in the defence of the country as well as being of benefit to motorists generally (8). 

There were also various suggestions that plaques and memorials to fallen soldiers would be erected along the length of the road and that members of the public or communities could donate money to have, for instance, a bridge built to honor  a fallen soldier (9).  Each state would be responsible for their section and could incorporate existing roads into the project or make new roads. The proposed road was compared to the Lincoln Memorial Highway which was being built across the United States (10).

In early May the Road Users' Association formed a committee to  provisionally formulate a scheme to give effect to the proposition (11).  Amongt those on this committee were William Edgar, President of the Association (12).  Mr Edgar was the former Minister for Public Works (13). Also on the committee was Carlo Catani, the recently retired Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department. A report of his retirement function in Table Talk quotes Mr Edgar as saying Mr. Catani would in future bear the honor due for the work of the proposed Anzac memorial highway to link up the Australian States. It was at his suggestion that this scheme has been put before the public, and it has a very worthy object in its proposed employment of returned soldiers (14).  The first job of this new Committee was to obtain the co-operation of kindred groups in other States or if none existed, the automobile club (15). 

This was a very grand scheme but in the end it was only partially successful as there is no Anzac Highway which links Brisbane to Perth. There is an Anzac Highway in South Australia which runs from Adelaide to Glenelg. As early as August 1917 the proposal was made to widen this road, which was called Bay Road,  with the addition of  a tram track down the centre along with memorials to soldiers, resurface it and add landscaping and rename it the Anzac Highway (16).  From reports in the newspapers it seems to have been referred to as the Anzac Highway from the early 1920s, but the name was officially changed in November 1924 (17).  In 1925, there were plans to plant the entire length of the Highway with Norfolk Island Palms. Sir Sidney Kidman, the pastoralist, donated £250 towards the project and Adelaide Register reported that to plant the tree and erect guards costs £2 2/ each tree, and it has been decided by the Treeplanting Advisory Board that a contribution of that amount would carry with it the privilege of having a tree dedicated to the memory of any fallen soldier and a tablet placed on the guard (18). 

The Adelaide Chronicle wrote One cannot imagine a more fitting memorial than the living evergreen tree typifying as it does, the ever-present memory of our glorious dead, their heroic achievements, and their final sacrifice that we might be free. Many of them came from the country, and loved the flowers and trees, and would not have hesitated to select a living tree as their monument (19).

Anzac Highway / Bay Road, in South Australia, flooded. 1926.

State Library of South Australia Image B 28557

We did have an Anzac Highway in Victoria, it is now known as the Great Ocean Road. The road from Barwon Heads to Warrnambool was proposed in December 1917 by Cr Howard Hitchcock (20), Mayor of Geelong as a memorial to the fallen soldiers (21).  Early the next year, Cr Hitchcock, Mr. Fricke, of the Country Roads Board and Mr Edgar, the Road Users' Association President and  others toured the area and were impressed. Mr Edgar had this to say the scenery was one magnificent panorama of ocean views, rugged coast line, and undulating forest country. The country is second to none in Victoria as a tourists' resort. The vegetation is luxuriant (22).  The Road Users' Association  appointed Mr C. Catani to represent us in any action which may be taken (23).   Early reports in the press referred to the road as a part of the Anzac Memorial Highway, but the  Trust that was established on March 22, 1918 to oversee the project was called the Great Ocean Road Trust, so that appears to be the favoured name from the start (24).

Sadly, Carlo passed away only a few months later on July 20, 1918 so he played little role in the development of the Great Ocean Road, even though he was a committee member of the Trust (25).  It was Cr Hitchcock who oversaw the project as the President of the Great Ocean Road Trust and generous benefactor towards the project. Cr Hitchcock passed away August 22, 1932 (on the day that the Catani Memorial Clock Tower was officially dedicated) just three months before the roadway was officially opened on November the 26th by Sir William Irvine, the Lieutenant Governor of Victoria. Sir William paid tribute to Cr Hitchcock -
Before proceeding to the task which I am here to perform, I must express my profound regret that he to whose energy and devotion the completion of this Ocean road is mainly due has been called away on the eve of the consummation of his life's ambition. But no nobler monument could be erected to the memory of the late Mr. Howard Hitchcock than that which his own enthusiasm has taken such a large part in creating, and which will always be associated with his name (26).

The Great Ocean Road, near Lorne. 

This great image gives a good idea idea of the obstacles faced in the construction of the road.

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H90.160/82

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Acknowledgement: I found out about Carlo Catani's connection to the Anzac Highway and the Great Ocean Road, from my research colleague, Isaac Hermann. Thanks, Isaac!

Trove List - I have created a list of articles connected to the Anzac Highway, Carlo Catani's involvement and various other things I have written about in this post, access it here.

Notes
(1)  Horace Washington Harrison was the secretary of the Victorian  Chamber of Automotive Industries, which he founded around 1912 and the editor and founder of the Australian Motorist. According to his obituary, in 1950 he held the oldest driving licence in Victoria. Mr Harrison died in 1952, aged 73. His obituary was in the Herald, August 13, 1952, see here.
(2) Reported in The Argus February 12, 1917, see here.
(3) The Argus February 15, 1917, see here.
(4) Table Talk, February 16, 1905, see here.
(5) Geelong Advertiser,  January 25, 1917, see here.
(6) Information about George Broadbent comes from his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry by G.F. James, read it here.
(7) Truth, March 3, 1917, see here.
(8) Truth, March 3, 1917, see here.
(9) Geelong Advertiser May 9, 1917, see here.
(10) Albury Banner and Wodonga Express, March 2, 1917, see here.
(11)  The Argus May 5, 1917, see here.
(12) Mr Edgar took over as President in March 1917 - The Herald, March 12, 1917 see here.
(13) William Haslam Edgar (1858-1948) - member of the Legislative Council from 1904 to 1913 and from 1917 until 1948. Source: Parliament of Victoria Remember database, see here.
(14) Table Talk May 17, 1917, see here.
(15) The Argus May 5, 1917, see here.
(16)  The Adelaide Advertiser August 8, 1917, see here.  I initially found out about the connection about the Anzac Highway originally being called Bay Road from a document on the Australian Garden History Society website. The document is on Avenues of Honour, see it here.
(17)  The Adelaide Advertiser November 7, 1924, see here.
(18)  The Adelaide Register, October 26, 1925, see here.
(19)  The Adelaide Chronicle, October 31, 1925, see here.
(20) Howard Hitchcock (1866 - 1932) You can read about his life here, in his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, written by Ian Wynd, here. I initially found the connection between Cr Hitchcock and the Great Ocean Road in the Victorian Heritage Database citation, see here.
(21) The Argus December 4, 1917, see here.
(22) The Herald February 18, 1918, see here.
(23) The Herald February 18, 1918, see here.
(24)  The report of the formation of the Great Ocean Road Trust can be read in the Colac Reformer of March 23, 1918, see here. References to the Great Ocean Road as part of the Anzac Memorial Highway can be found in the Herald of March 22, 1919 (see here)  where they are discussing the screening of  a new film of the Great Ocean Road, which was a comprehensive pictorial presentment of the route the proposed Anzac memorial highway will follow. George Broadbent wrote an article called The Great Ocean Road: Inception and Development and writes inter alia that it is further intended that the Great Ocean road shall be an Anzac memorial highway. It's a very informative article with photographs and  a map, read it in The Argus of April 29, 1922, here.
(25) Colac Reformer March 23, 1918, see here. The Committee of the Great Ocean Road Trust, as listed in the Colac Reformer were President, Cr Hitchcock, Mayor of Geelong; Vice-presidents, Cr Swinton, Warrnambool; Hon. A. Bell, M.L.C. Ballarat ; Messrs J. D. Deaney, Jas. M'Donald, Robt. Purnell, Duncan M'Lennan, M's.L.A. Committee - Cr J. Hancock, Colac; Hon. W. H. Edgar, M.L.C.; Mr P. H. Lock; Hon. T. Livingston, M.L.C.; Mr G. Broadbent, Cr W. Fletcher, Messrs W. B. Volum, John Pettit, C. Catani, Ed. Black, J. M'Phillimy, J. T. Anderson (Lorne), G. F. Sydenham, G. S. Mackay (Warrnambool), A. K. Stanford (Apollo Bay). Treasurer - Union Trustee Company of Australia. Organising secretary, Mr E. E. Hendy
(26) The Argus November 28, 1932, see here.

Vera and Enid - their life in Sydney

Carlo and Catherine had three daughters Elvira May, known as Vera, (born May 31, 1888); Eugenia Anastasia (born August 13, 1895) and Enid Marguerite (born November 3,  1899). I have looked at their school days and Eugenie's untimely death on August 1, 1915 at the age of only 19, here. This post looks at the life of Vera and Enid after they left school. Neither of the sisters went to University, Vera would have finished school around 1904 and Enid around 1915.

I feel as if neither woman reached their full potential - they had to cope with the death of Eugenie; a year later their brother Enrico was Killed in Action and two years later their father died. They must have been reeling while trying to cope with all that sadness and grief. Then perhaps things settled down until 1924 when their brother Ettore is committed to the Sunbury Hospital for the Insane and a year later their mother, Catherine died. No wonder the sisters sold up in Victoria and moved to Sydney, trying to leave all that misery and heartbreak behind. I hope they found some happiness there.

This is a timeline of Vera and Enid's life after they left school.

1909 - the first year Vera appears in the Electoral Rolls (ERs) (1). She is living with her parents at 4 Elm Grove at Armadale. Her occupation is Home Duties, that all purpose occupation assigned to most females in those days. Of course, Enid was living at home as well but she was too young to appear in the Electoral Rolls.  Glenluce, 4 Elm Grove was removed to make way for the duplication of the railway line between South Yarra and Caulfield in May 1912, read about this here.

1913 - Vera and the family are listed in the ERs at Orrong Road in Elsternwick. This must have been a short-term rental because in another 1913 Roll they are at Wyndham, Blessington Street in St Kilda.

1915 August 1 - Eugenie dies.

1916  July 29 - Enrico Killed in Action at Pozieres.

1918  July 20 - Carlo dies.

1924 - Enid appears in the ERs for the first time.  Also listed are her mother and sister and brother Ettore, who was listed on the Rolls from 1915 until 1925. Ettore is a Clerk and Enid's occupation is of course, home duties. The life of Ettore will be the subject of another post.

1924  December 26  - Ettore became of unsound mind and was committed to the Sunbury Hospital for the Insane (2).

1925 August 6 - Catherine dies.

1926 September 18 - The family home, Wyndham, is auctioned. Vera and Enid are at the address until 1927 (3).

1926 October 14 - The Catani property of six  acres on Mt Donna Buang Road at Warburton is auctioned (4).

1930  -  Vera and Enid are living at 45 Carrabella Street, Kirribilli, Sydney. Vera's occupation is Home Duties and Enid is a  Stenographer. The New South Wales ERs are on Ancestry from 1930, so I cannot say for sure where they were between 1927 and 1930.  There are two 1930 ERs on Ancestry and the sisters are also listed at 3 Wycombe Road, Neutral Bay.  Vera's occupation is listed as a Saleswoman and Enid's occupation is listed as aTypiste.

1932 and 1933 - Enid is living at Hotel Braeburn, Waruda Street, Kirribilli. She is a Stenographer.

Braeburn Hotel, Enid's home

The Sydney Morning Herald, January 2 1931  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16742851

1932 July -  Table Talk announced the engagement of Enid to Keith Kenneth McKenzie of Richmond. The marriage did not take place (5).

1932 August 22 - Enid attends the unveiling of the Memorial Clock Tower in St Kilda, erected in honour of Carlo. Read more here.

1933 July 1 - Enid becomes joint proprietor of Special Press Photos.

Newspaper News January 2, 1933

State Library of Victoria Manuscript archives. Image: Isaac Hermann.

The article reads - Miss E.M. Loudon - Relinquishes interest in Special Press: Succeeded by Miss E. Catani. After having been associated with the representation of Special Press in Australia for 15 years, Miss E.M Loudon has relinquished her interest in that business in favour of Miss Enid Catani, who has acted in the capacity of secretary for nearly seven years. In addition to Special Press, Miss Loudon  has represented World Wide Photos, Keystone View Co. Inc., International Syndicate, Fox Photos, Blake Fashions and other syndicates. She is now devoting all her time to her advertising agency, which she has carried on for over 20 years. Miss Catani is the daughter of the late Carlo Catani, a former chief engineer of the Public Works Department, Melbourne.

Enid becomes joint proprietor of Special Press Photos

Dun's Gazette for New South Wales Vol. 50 No. 9 (August 28, 1933)

1934 -  Elvira is living at 1 Manns Avenue, Neutral Bay, her occupation is 'Home Duties.' I don't know where she was between 1930 and 1934, as she is not listed in the ERs.

Advertisement for a flat at 1 Manns Avenue, Neutral Bay, where Vera lived in 1934.

Sydney Morning Herald, September 26, 1934 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17120388

1934  to 1937-  Enid is living at The Oriental, Milson Road, Cremorne, according to the ER's. Her occupation is listed as  'no occupation'. There are no ER's on-line between 1937 and 1943.

1935  July 20 - Enid inserts an In Memoriam notice in The Argus for Carlo.

Enid's In Memoriam notice for her father

The Argus July 20, 1935 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11750011

1937 November 17 - Enid charged with stealing a darning set from David Jones.  I find this incredibly sad (not that I am condoning stealing).  Like all single women she had to support herself and with two thirds of her wage going on board, Enid  was in a fairly precarious position if anything unexpected cropped up.

Enid charged with theft

The Sun November 17, 1937  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232015215

1937 November 29 - Enid retires from Special Press Photos. I wonder was this retirement linked to the Court case?

Enid retires from Special Press Photos

Dun's Gazette for New South Wales Vol. 58 No. 25 (December 20, 1937)

1943 -  Vera is living at 67 Macleay Street, Potts Point. Her occupation is a waitress. She was at this address when she passed away in 1947.

This is the Hotel Braeburn, formerly Astoria and originally Beulah, where Enid lived in Sydney. The building was erected in 1908 and was one of the first high-rises on the Sydney Harbour foreshore. Read more here on the Old Estates for Sale website.

National Museum Image 1986.0117.3763

1943 - 1949  Enid  is back at the Hotel Braeburn, Waruda Street, Kirribilli. Her occupation is still a Stenographer.

1947  April 16 - Vera dies at the Crown Street Womens Hospital in Sydney. She is buried at the Waverley Cemetery (7).

Vera's death notice

The Sydney Morning Herald, April 19, 1947 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18022242

1950  October 21 - Enid dies at the Lanchester Private Hosital in Neutral Bay. She is buried at the Waverley Cemetery in the same grave as Vera (8).

Enid's death notice

Sydney Morning Herald October 23, 1950  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18180355

Braeburn Hotel, where Vera lived. I wonder if she had a good view of the Harbour? Braeburn Hotel is the building on the foreshore on the left.

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Acknowledgment - The basis of this timeline was developed by my research colleague, Isaac Hermann. I have added some more facts, descriptions and opinions.

Footnotes

(1) The Electoral Rolls are available on Ancestry.com.

(2) The date of Ettore's admission to the Sunbury Asylum comes from an affidavit signed by Vera and Enid in Carlo Catani's Probate papers at the Public Records Office of Victoria.

(3) The sale of Wyndham was advertised in The Argus of August 21, 1926, see here.

(4) The sale of the Warburton property was advertised in the Lilydale Express of October 1, 1926, see here.

(5) The engagement announcement in Table Talk on July 28, 1932 can be seen here.

(6) & (7) Information from the Central Coast Family History Society; Collection Title: Index to the Charles Kinsela Funeral Directors Registers; Reference: Waverley Church of England on Ancestry.com.

By Catani 's banks and braes

This short report was published in Punch in January 1914. It is of interest for two reasons - firstly it is one of only two reports which I have found which mentions that Carlo came to Victoria with credentials from the Pope. I have written about this here.

By Catani's banks and braes

Punch, January 15, 1914  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129696555

The second reason it is interesting is because I would love to hear By Catani 's banks and braes,  which I presume was a parody of  Robert Burns' 1791 poem, The Banks o' Doon. There are three versions of the poem according to the website  http://www.robertburns.org/  The poem was set to the tune of The Caledonian Hunt’s Delight. The  third version of the poem is

Ye banks and braes o' bonie Doon,
How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair?
How can ye chant, ye little birds,
And I sae weary fu' o' care!
Thou'll break my heart, thou warbling bird,
That wantons thro' the flowering thorn:
Thou minds me o' departed joys,
Departed never to return.

Aft hae I rov'd by Bonie Doon,
To see the rose and woodbine twine:
And ilka bird sang o' its Luve,
And fondly sae did I o' mine;
Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose,
Fu' sweet upon its thorny tree!
And may fause Luver staw my rose,
But ah! he left the thorn wi' me.

I  wonder what the parody, By Catani's banks and Braes, was.  Did it start with Ye banks and braes o' St Kilda Shore? This sounds more likely than Ye banks and braes o' Koo Wee Rup Swamp, however Ye banks and braes of Mount Buffalo, is also a possibility.

Looking at the second verse - Aft hae I rov'd by Bonie Doon - could that be 
Aft hae I rov'd by Alexandra Gardens
To see Mr Cooper's Japanese Iris
And each bird sings of its love
Now that we are not in lockdown with the Corona Virus.

Or perhaps - 
Aft hae I rov'd by Morell Bridge
To see the Yarra flow beneath
And we all sing of our love
of a nice straight Yarra which no longer floods.

I think we can officially say that I do not have a poetical bone in my body. If I ever find the words to By Catani's banks and braes, I will let you know. In the meanwhile, if you are feeling poetical, have a go at creating a Carlo related poem.

Princes Walk Palms

In 1888 the new Princes bridge over the Yarra River was completed. It was designed by the firm of Jenkins, D'Ebro and Grainger  - J.S. Jenkins, Charles D'Ebro and John Harry Grainger, the father of Percy Grainger, the musician (1). The bridge required the Yarra Bank Road to the east to be realigned and the road was built up on top of vaults which were constructed in 1889/1890 and opened on to a walkway  along the Yarra River.  The new walkway was called Princes Walk and the vaults were known as Princes Walk Vaults (2).   In July 1913, the Melbourne City Council renamed this eastern portion of Yarra Bank Road, Batman Avenue (3).  The name was suggested by the Historical Society of Victoria to honour John Batman (1801-1839) the Melbourne pioneer.

Report of Melbourne City Council meeting, where the decision to use the name Princes Walk was made.

The Age February 10, 1891 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201461346

 Princes Walk. 

River Yarra at Princes Bridge, Melbourne. Photographer: Charles Rudd (1849-1901)

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/300243

Around 1901, nine palm trees were planted along the Princes Walk. At this time Carlo Catani was responsible for the Yarra River improvement and beautification works. Carlo had prepared the plans for straightening and widening the Yarra and the entire project was carried out under his direction and supervision. He also designed Alexandra Avenue, which runs alongside the Yarra and which was officially opened on May 17, 1901. The Alexandra Gardens, across the Yarra River from Princes Walk, were also designed by Carlo, in conjunction with the curator, George Cooper. The fact that Carlo was intricately involved with these Yarra beautification works, suggests that he was responsible for the planting of these palm trees. This post looks at the history of the nine palms - the Princes Walk Palms - which Melburnians either loved or loathed.

The earliest photo I could find of the Princes Walk palm trees, c. 1904.

Yarra River and Princes Bridge. Photographer: Robert Scott.

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/67461 SLV have this photo incorrectly dated as c. 1920.

Spectators on the north bank of the Yarra amongst the Princes Walk Palms, 1906.

Henley Regatta, Melbourne. Photographer: Robert Scott

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/54591

The Princes Walk Palms grew to become part of Melbourne's skyline and formed part of the backdrop for many Henley on Yarra Regattas. The Henley on Yarra races commenced in 1903 (4), and spectators lined up on both sides of the Yarra to view the race. So popular was this regatta that in 1908, Carlo Catani and George Cooper laid  out the Henley Lawn in the Alexandra Gardens.

Spectators amongst the Princes Walk Palms. I believe this photo was taken c. 1907.

Henley on the Yarra. Photographer: George Rose. 

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/361634 SLV have this photo incorrectly dated as c. 1890-1900.

The Princes Walk Palms also appeared in many photos and postcards.

The Princes Walk Palms, c. 1908

River Yarra from Princes Bridge. 

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/383210

A view of the palms, Princes Bridge and the Ferry Alexandra, 1917.

Princes Bridge. Public Works Department photographer.

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/69688

Aerial view of Melbourne, c. 1927/1928. The Princes Walk Palms are standing proud, on the left.

Russell Street and Collins Street, looking south across Princes Bridge. Photographer: Airspy

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/283337

The Princes Walk Palms viewed from the south bank of the Yarra River, September 1929.

Princes Bridge, Melbourne. 

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/336908 

The first report that I could find that some Melburnians were not entirely enamoured with these nine palms was in August 1933, when the artist, Arthur Streeton had an article published  in The Argus. The article was about improving the City's gateway and he firstly commented on some on our grand bluestone buildings as Parliament House and the Victoria Barracks  and he noted that all the bluestone came from the north of Melbourne and none from south of the Yarra. He continued with attention it is remarkable how many "broken tooth looking," useless rocks have been transported from the north to the south side of the Yarra. For many years many thousands of them have been used by landscape gardeners for "decoration" and other purposes between Domain road and Prince's Bridge, along St Kilda road. Streeton also disliked  the forlorn row of nine palm trees north of the bridge waves rigged green heads against the motley of Flinders street architecture. The enormous bulk of their shabby skirts might have been dragged from the mud of the Yarra.  His two suggestions for improving Melbourne gateway were the removal of the stones and rockeries and  the removal of the nine tall palms - and all others like them--running eastward from the bridge, and the replacement of the palms with another row of Lombardy poplars (5).

Another letter writer agreed and  hoped that if Mr Streeton's letter would help towards sounding the death knell of those terrible palms on the north bank of the Yarra, Melbourne should be eternally grateful (6). 

1934 was a mixed year for the palms. In the February, The Herald, had a photograph of the palms with the caption -  The Nine Palms of Princes Bridge, destined perhaps to rival "Under the Clocks" at Flinders Street station as a trysting place for Youth and Beauty (7). In the July the palm trees were featured in a view of Melbourne on stamps issued to celebrate Victoria's centenary (8).

The Yarra River and the Princes Walk Palms on the Centenary of Victoria stamps, issued July 1934.

Image: EBay.

In August 1934, Clare Lyle, Lady Lyle (9) wrote to the The Argus in support of the palms Nine stately palms, perhaps 30ft high, stand guard on the Yarra bank between Flinders street railway station and the river. Their uncommon beauty is remarkable. I know of no others like them. Report has it that they are to be destroyed. I cannot believe such a thing to be possible. There could be no excuse (10).

A letter, written by George Brown, in response took issue with Lady Lyle's description of the palms - "Their uncommon beauty is remarkable; I know of no others like them." To those viewing them daily such a description must cause surprise, and is very misleading to those at a distance. The palms Brahea Alífera, or "thread palm," have unsightly stems approximately 35ft. high, capped with few and half-starved leaves; forlorn objects which, having had their day and having fulfilled their purpose, must give place to things more in keeping with the position and changing conditions (11).

Mr Brown's letter brings up the issue of what sort of palms these were; he called the Brahea Alífera, or "thread palm. The Argus in July 1931 called them cotton palms (12). The Newcastle Morning Herald identified them as belonging to the Washingtonia genus (13). A friend of mine, experienced in municipal gardening, says they are the Washingtonia filifera palm. The palms may have been purchased from Cremorne nursery, in nearby in Richmond - they were reported to raise thousands of various palms every year of and for drawing-room and table decoration the tender varieties cannot be excelled, whilst the hardy specimens form excellent plants for the lawn or flower border (14).

It was in 1935 that the first rumblings were heard from the Melbourne City Council about the palms - The stately palms along the north bank of the Yarra near Prince's Bridge may be removed if a plan prepared by the curator of parks and gardens (Mr. J. T. Smith) is adopted. Mr. Smith admits that the palms have a strong sentimental value, particularly for artists who like to paint Melbourne from the opposite bank, but several members of the parks and gardens committee consider that they have a dirty, shabby appearance and should be replaced by more attractive trees. The estimated cost was  £8,000 which also included regrading of the lawn and  extending the path (15).

In 1936 there were the occasional letters in support of the palms  from time to time civic reformers gaze sorrowfully at the nine palms on the Yarra bank near Princes Bridge, and cry aloud that they should be removed. But if eccentricity in man is tolerated to add a little to the gaiety of nations, why should eccentricity in Nature be condemned? Nature would be dull if she reduced everything to a dead level of uniformity. She has her more whimsical moods, and the Nine Palms of the Yarra Bank betray her wholesome sense of humor (16). 

Also in  April 1936 The Herald conducted a vox pop on the issue -  while the problem of the palms on Princes Walk is looming large to the City Council, and strenuous debate about whether they should be removed is likely, public opinion, as represented by the first half dozen people met on a reporter's ramble at Princes Bridge today is almost unanimous that the nine palm should stay. One of those interviewed, Phil Boreham, a ferry attendant,  had this to say I do know that had it not been for them during the floods of December 1934, many expensive boats and ferries would have been lost. The river came right up past our mooring pasts, and we hurriedly roped up all the boats to the bases of the palms. They were all that held them (17).

Boats and Ferries tied to the Princes Walk Palms in the December 1934 flood.

Floods, Yarra from Princes Bridge.

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/47091

It was fortunate that The Herald reporter did not ask, Cr Nettlefold of the Melbourne City Council because he described them as feather dusters and moulting ostriches and said they should be removed without delay (18).  His fellow councillor, Cr Stapley described them as  grotesque-looking things and that  it is now impossible for our employees to keep the foliage nicely cut. The trunks are very frail and to place a ladder against them would be risky. Cr Stapley did give this assurance that we will consider from every angle the possibilities of putting some other form of plant life to their place, before any decision to remove them is made (19). 

Princes Walk, 1940s. Photographer: Athol W. Moore.

Melbourne Street and Surrounds

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/4207111

The Princes Walk Palms, c. 1940.

Princes Walk ferry terminal. 

State Library of  Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/383632

The Princes Walk Palms, c. 1940

River Yarra

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/4246261

Elevated view of  Flinders Street Station, the Yarra and the Princes Walk Palms. A near identical photo at the State Library states that it was taken from the Nicholas Building.  There is a War Savings Certificate advertising hoarding on the roof of the railway walkway, so this dates the photo to c. 1945.

St. Kilda Road, Melbourne. Elevated view from corner Swanston & Flinders, looking across Princes Bridge to station. Photographer: Victorian Railways

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/97458 SLV have this dated as c. 1945-1954.

Rose Series postcard showing the Palms, from Princes Walk. 

Princes Bridge, Melbourne, Vic. Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. Undated.

Rose Series postcard showing the Palms, from the south bank of the Yarra River

Looking across the Yarra, Melbourne, Vic. Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. Undated.

We then read nothing of the fate of these palms for many year as the focus was on the War effort, but the Council were just biding their time and in September 1946, the made a decision in secret to destroy the palms. What follows is the time-line of the destruction of the palms

Wednesday, September 25 - The Melbourne City Council makes the decision to cut down the palms (20).

Wednesday, October 2 - The Herald reports that a Death sentence on the nine tall, palm trees on the water's edge in Princes Walk, at Princes Bridge was pronounced by the City Council's Parks and Gardens Committee a week ago. The reason:  the trees were too tall to trim, and falling branches constituted a danger to pedestrians (21). 

Thursday, October 3 - The Argus reported that Seven of the nine famous palms which line the north bank of the Yarra above Princes Bridge were still standing last night. Two had fallen to the axe during the day (22).

Thursday, October 3 - The Herald reported that the chairman of the City Council's Parks and Gardens Committee (Cr. W. J. Brens) today replied to criticism of his committee's action in ordering the removal of the palm trees in Princes Walk. He claimed at no time does the committee remove trees by stealth and that the decision not to tell the Press of the Council's decision was an oversight. Cr Brens also said that I know of no case where a person has been injured but numerous complaints that the trees are dangerous have reached the committee over a period of years. The fronds have long sharp spikes, and the committee thought it wise to remove the trees before a serious accident did occur (23). 

Friday, October 4 - Councillor Sir Harold GengouIt Smith is exploring the possibility of saving the five Palm trees still standing in Princes Walk (24). On the same day Cr Brens says that the parks and gardens committee had no intention of reversing its decision that all nine palms must go (25).

Friday, October 4 -  The Herald  published five letters on the palm trees, and the writers described the trees as  gaunt bedraggled relics of the Victorian era  and ugly and unsightly - those writers clearly agreed with Cr Brens.  One writer agreed with Sir Harold and called the palms unequalled in Victoria in grace and charm of setting (26).

Saturday, October 5 - The Argus reported there were five palms still standing (27).

Wednesday, October 9 - the last of the palms were removed (28).

Thursday, October  10 - The Argus reported that Cr Brens, chairman of the parks and gardens committee of the City Council, said last night that suitable replacements for the trees would be considered at next Wednesday's meeting of the committee (29).

The last palm standing.

The Herald  October 9, 1946 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245524982?

In spite of Cr Brens saying that replacement trees will be planted and  in spite of Cr Stapley giving an assurance in 1936 that the trees will be replaced  in January 1947 a letter writer to The Age pointed out that no such trees had been planted (30).  No wonder the Melbourne City Council made the decision in secret and did not announce it, their objective all along seems to have been the destruction of the Princes Walk Palms and that they had no intention of replacing them at all.

We will give the then Premier of Victoria, Mr Cain (31) the last words on the subject of the destruction of the palms, as reported in The Argus, October 3, 1946 - Many Australians seem to be born with an axe in their hands, and to develop a constant urge to chop down trees. It seems that Melbourne could do with a few real beauty specialists to counteract the growing obsession for destroying trees it has taken many years to grow," Mr Cain declared. "Melbourne's green belt is something to be proud of, but it appears that a society will eventually have to be formed for the prevention of destruction of trees." (32)

Acknowledgement and Trove list

The first time I heard of the Princes Walk Palms, was when my research colleague, Isaac Hermann, pointed them out when we were looking at this postcard. He recalled that Professor Bill Russell had mentioned them during his Melbourne Day lecture held at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria in August 2018. Professor Russell's lecture, Revisiting Catani, was part of a programme of events held to commemorate the centenary of Carlo Catani's death. 

I then did some research on Trove and went through hundreds of photographs on the State Library of Victoria website, looking for any photo with even a glimpse of the Princes Walk Palms.  These articles and links to about 40 photographs are on my Trove list, which you can access here.

Sources

(1) The Princes Bridge citation on the Victorian Heritage database can be read here. You can read more about John Grainger on Culture Victoria, here.

(2) The Princes Walk Vaults citation on the Victorian Heritage database can be read here.

(3) The Herald, July 28, 1913, see here.

(4) The history of the Henley on Yarra can be found here.

(5) The Argus, August 5, 1933, see here.

(6) The Argus, August 8, 1933, see here.

(7) The Herald, February 27, 1934, see here.

(8) I discovered the information about the postage stamps in this article in The Herald, October 2, 1946, see here. 

(9) Clare, Lady Lyle, was the wife of Sir Thomas Ranken Lyle, a mathematical physicist, you can read about him in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, here. Lady Lyle was prolific 'letters to the Editor' writer mainly about animal welfare, especially dogs.

(10) The Argus August 11, 1934, see here.

(11) The Argus, August 18, 1934, see here.

(12) The Argus, July 18, 1931, see here.

(13) Newcastle Morning Herald, June 19 1937, see here.

(14) The Leader, September 7, 1901, see here.

(15) The Argus, July 27, 1935, see here.

(16) The Herald, April 3, 1936, see here.

(17) The Herald, April 16, 1936, see here.

(18) The Argus, April 16, 1936, see here.

(19) The Herald, April 18, 1936, see here.

(20) The Herald, October 2, 1946, see here.

(21) The Herald, October 2, 1946, see here.

(22) The Argus, October 3, 1946, see here.

(23) The Herald, October 3, 1946, see here.

(24) The Herald, October 4, 1946, see here.

(25) The Herald, October 4, 1946, see here.

(26) The Herald, October 4, 1946, see here.

(27) The Argus, October 5, 1946, see here.

(28) The Argus, October 10, 1946, see here.

(29) The Argus, October 20, 1946, see here.

(30) The Age, January 29, 1947, see here.

(31) John Cain (1882 - 1957), Premier  of Victoria. Read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here.

(32) The Argus, October 2, 1946, see here.

Enrico Catani - life on his farm at Kyneton

Enrico Ferdinando Catani was born January 19, 1891 - he was Carlo and Catherine's third child. He was Killed in Action in France on July 29, 1916. You can read about his military service in his entry in the book War Services of Old Melburnians here. I have also written about his military service and his time as a student at Melbourne Grammar and Dookie Agricultural College in this post, here. Enrico was a talented sportsman and you can read his sporting exploits, here. In this post we will look at his career as a farmer and his time in the Kyneton before his enlistment on May 28, 1915.

Life of Promise cut short - Lieutenant E. F. Catani

The Herald August 26 1916  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242387087

Enrico studied for three years at Dookie, from 1910 to 1912. He then took up a farm, Glenvale, at Pastoria East near Kyneton. The address of the farm is also listed as Baynton. The 1914 Electoral Roll has Enrico's address as Pastoria East, but the clearing sale notice (more of which later) has the farm at Baynton - which is north east of Pastoria East.

I had wondered how Enrico, an new graduate, could afford  a farm, and the answer was found in this newspaper report of a meeting of the Kyneton Shire. In the Correspondence it was reported that they had received a letter from Mrs Catani, of Wyndham.  Clearly this was actually from Mrs Catani, of Wyndham - the name of their house, in St Kilda. In the letter, below, she complained about a neighbour,  George Hamilton, who fenced off  some of her property which had a frontage to Jew's Harp Creek. But she also told us that she had bought the property for her son. So that explains how Enrico could afford his own farm.

Mrs Catani's complaint to the Kyneton Council

Kyneton Guardian, January 11 1916 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129591953

Once Enrico moved to the area he was soon involved in the community life - he played tennis, cricket and football for local teams (read more here.) He was also a member of the Kyneton Agricultural Society and was elected to the Committee in March 1914 (1).  Enrico also joined the Kyneton Twenty Club.  This club seemed to originally consist of twenty members and I presume the club was like a service club as it did good work and showed excellent results. By August 1915, ten of the original twenty members had enlisted  so the membership of the Club was a relatively young group of men (2).

Dances were a popular activity and in August 1914  a group of Kyneton men sponsored  a dance at the Mechanics' Institute and one of these men was Enrico.  A report said the weather was beautiful, the floor as smooth as glass, the music beautiful and the hosts most attentive to the pleasure of their guests.  One of Enrico's sister's is listed amongst the guests (3).

Before Enrico enlisted he was a member of the Kyneton Citizens Forces, part of the 66th Infantry headed by Captain Hurry.  Enrico was a Lieutenant. George Hurry, born in 1884 in Kyneton, had also attended Melbourne Grammar. He was Killed in Action on October 18, 1917. Enrico was clearly suited to military life as he had been a Cadet at Melbourne Grammar.

Enrico as a Melbourne Grammar cadet.

The Leader, June 27, 1908  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198108816?

All this life of community service and activity in the Kyneton area came to an end when he enlisted in May 1915.  Enrico's time at Kyneton was short but his impact was great. This is from a  touching obituary in the Kyneton Guardian  - There was an ache in many hearts in Kyneton district on Saturday afternoon when, it became known that Lieutenant E. F. Catani on July 29 had fallen on the field of honor in France, for during the three years or so that he had lived in the district he had gained many firm and steadfast friends. Overflowing with kind-hearted friendliness, a true sport, with an intense joy in life, playing the game, a true comrade and a staunch friend, interest in his life's work and keen to do his duty to the land in which he was born and which his father had adopted as his own, Lieut. Catani seemed to have life before him ; but that was not for him, the "destined will," and so when duty called "he went but returns not." There seemed to be a feeling in many minds in Kyneton that "Puss" Catani would not return. He was so full of keen daring, so eager to be in the thick of the fray, so ready to look in the bright face of danger and laugh at it. (4)

Enrico had attended St Paul's Church of England in Kyneton and a memorial service was held for him and two others in September 1916. The service was conducted by Archdeacon Bishop who said this about Enrico - Lieut. Catani had spent a few years only of his early manhood amongst them and had earned a reputation for kind heartedness and cheery helpfulness, manliness and pluck, and to him death was an end to an honorable career (5).

Memorial service held for Enrico

Kyneton Guardian September 5, 1916 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129597869?

After Enrico's death his father Carlo had the sad task of putting the property up for sale and this he did a mere four months before his own death  on July 20, 1918. I presume a manager was employed to keep the farm operating during Enrico's absence and after his death, The clearing sale was held on March 15, 1918, and the property had already been sold. The advertisement (6) for the clearing sale gives us some idea of Enrico's farming enterprise and household.

Live Stock: 150 comeback and crossbred ewes (young); Three rams (Corriedale); 22 mixed weaners; Two wethers; about 100 full-mouth comeback ewes (mouths guaranteed), pure Lincoln rams joined February 1st; One young mare, supposed in foal; One aged mare; One horse, five years old; One colt, two years old.

Implements: One McCormick reaper and binder (good); One drill; One 3-furrow plough; One set 3 leaf harrows; One waggon; One dray; One buggy; One buggy (new by Hoyle Bros.); One horse-works; One chaffcutter; One forest devil; Sundry tools.

Furniture, Etc.: Single and double beds; stretcher; chest drawers; chairs; sofa; table; sideboard; lamps; cooking utensils; crockery etc.

The day before Enrico was killed, Carlo had received a cable message from  him (7) with just three words - Well: Busy: Love. This sums up Enrico's life  - Well: athletic, happy and healthy.  Busy:  busy with social, community and farming activities. Loved: loved by his family, loved his family, loved by his friends and loved by his community.


Trove list: I have created a list of articles on Trove relating to Enrico's life in the Kyneton district. You can access it here.

Footnotes:
(1) Kyneton Guardian March 24, 1914, see here.
(2) Kyneton Guardian August 14, 1915, see here.
(3) Punch August 20, 1914, see here.
(4) Kyneton Guardian August 29, 1916, see here.
(5) Kyneton Guardian September 5, 1916, see here.
(6) Kyneton Guardian March 12, 1918, see here.
(7) The Herald August 26, 1916 see here.

Enrico Catani - life on the sports field

Carlo's son, Enrico, enlisted on April 28, 1915 and he was Killed in Action, fighting in France, on July 29, 1916 (1). Enrico was a keen footballer and cricketer and all-round sport...... He was  overflowing with kind-hearted friendliness, a true sport, with an intense joy in life, playing the game, a true comrade and a staunch friend, interest in his life's work and keen to do his duty to the land in which he was born and which his father had adopted as his own according to his obituary in the Kyneton Guardian of August 29 1916 (see here)  His obituary was titled Dead on the field of honor, a fitting headline for a man who spent time on the football and cricket field.

Melbourne Grammar's Football team 1909. Enrico is back row on the left.

Weekly Times  June 19, 1909  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222258328

In June 1909, Enrico, was photographed with the rest of the Melbourne Grammar Football team, he is shown above, standing on the far left.  In July just after this photograph was taken the team went to Adelaide to play intercollegiate football. They played three matches against the School of Mines, St Peters College and Prince Alfred College. Against the School of Mines Enrico, who played on the wing, was listed as a good performer (2) and as one of their most prominent players (3). Against Prince Alfred College he was described as one of Melbourne Grammar's best players (4).

In 1910,  Enrico was at Dookie Agricultural College and played in the football team which was in a competition with local teams - in a match against Devenish he was reported as playing some nice football (5).  When he was at Dookie he also competed at the Sports Day in the 100 yards foot race. Enrico also played Lacrosse for a Melbourne Grammar team when he was at Dookie. There is a report in May 1911 that he played, and scored a goal, in Section C of a Lacrosse league based in Melbourne (6). After Enrico finished at Dookie College, he graduated in 1912,  he farmed a property at Baynton, near Kyneton, where he played both football and cricket. In 1913,  he was playing football  for the Old Collegians  and he did many fine things on the centre wing (7).  In February 1914, Enrico played cricket in a Kyneton vs Farmers match - so the town versus the local farmers. Enrico batted at No. 3 for the Farmers team (8).  Also in 1914, in days of calm until the Great War blew their lives apart, Enrico and other members of the Kyneton Tennis Club played against the 'Mucklebah' Club from St Kilda, who travelled up to Kyneton for the matches. Kyneton won the tournament which consisted of four doubles matches (9). I don't know the significance of the name 'Mucklebah' - the St Kilda team was possibly just a group of chaps that Enrico knew from his school days at Melbourne Grammar.

 After his death at the age of 25 his obituary in The Age noted that he was well known as an athlete (10). The Kyneton Guardian had this tribute to Enrico and his fellow footballers - It is now some considerable time since the turf on Barkly Square has been disturbed by footballers but to hear the shouts of the barrackers for ......Kyneton, turned one's thoughts to the good old days when the "older bloods'' hearing the same name played such a prominent part in the football matches on Barkly Square. Most of them now are playing the greater game "some where in France," whilst Leslie Powell, Charlie Fincher. "Puss" Catani, Harry Grant, etc., have made the supreme sacrifice for "Australia and Liberty." Who could witness a football match on Barkly Square without feeling  a thrill of admiration for these fine, manly fellows; admiration now doubly keen because they have played so well in the last great game of all (11). 

....................................................................................................................................................................................

Footnotes - 
(1) You can read about Enrico's military service here in his entry in War Services of Old Melburnians. My post, see here, about his connection to Archer Peck also has information about his military service as well as his school days.
(2) The Argus July 8, 1909, see here
(3) Adelaide Express & Telegraph July 8, 1909 see here
(4) Adelaide Register July 14, 1909, see here
(5) Benalla Standard July 1, 1910, see here
(6) The Herald, May 5, 1911, see here.
(7) Mount Alexander Mail August 15, 1913, see here
(8) Kyneton Guardian February 19, 1914, see here
(9) Kyneton Guardian July 28, 1914, see here
(10) The Age August 28, 1916 see here
(11) Kyneton Guardian May 21, 1918, see here

Trove List - all the articles quoted in the post, plus others relating to Enrico and his sporting activities are in a list I have created on Trove, access it here.