Carlo is an Expert Witness at an Inquest

On May 16,  1912, an Inquiry was held, by the Coroner, Dr R.H. Cole, into the death of George Hunt, who was buried beneath a mass of concrete which fell in a drain in course of construction at Albert Park, on May 9. The drain, went from the corner of Queens Road and Arthur Street to the Albert Park lake. (1)

The scene of the tragedy at Albert Park. 

Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 24/P0000, 1912/639

Amongst those present at the Inquest were - Mr G. Moir who appeared for Messrs Watts, Hancock, and Grace, the contractors for the construction of the sewer; Mr G. Rundle for Hunt's relatives, and Sub-Inspector Crowe to assist the Coroner. Dr J. Brett, who made the post-mortem examination, said, that death was due to suffocation. (2) The Inquest has been digitised at the Public Records Office of Victoria, so you can read all the evidence presented, here. This post only presents the evidence of Carlo Catani, some of the evidence of  Henry Watts, the contractor and that of Thomas Hunt, George's father. 

The evidence of Carlo Catani

Carlo Catani, in his capacity of Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, was an expert witness and this is his evidence dated May 14, 1912 - 

Failure of Drain Cover Albert Park
I have inspected the place in company with Plain Clothes Constable Kelly, from whom I received two samples, one of cement, the other part of the broken concrete cover last Saturday morning.

I have made briquettes out of part of the cement supplied, and find that the cement used (Hammonia brand) is of good quality, having stood a tensile strain of 270 lbs to the square inch after three days. I examined the other materials used in the mixing of the concrete. The screenings are of a good quality, the toppings are also fairly clean, but contain a good deal of fine material which would retard the setting of the cement.

The sand may be called a fair sample, although it contained some vegetable matter, some fine sand, and some dark patches of fine sand more or less impregnated with iron.

I have examined the specifications and drawings, a copy of which was handed to me by Plains Clothes Constable Kelly, and think the dimension and construction of the drain cover is suitable for all requirements; in fact, with richer material, I would have been prepared to construct a cover only 4ins. thick.

In inspecting the drain, I ascertained that previous to the removal of the centering, and while the concrete was still green, filling material to a depth of about 15 ins. was thrown over the cover: this operation in itself would tend to disintegrate the composition, which would be partly wet.

Another strong factor against the proper setting of the cement was the cold prevailing during the clear nights which preceded the accident. While three days may be considered a fair lapse of time for removing centering in hot weather it would take double that time in cold frosty weather.

I was told by the contractor that the lagging was removed after 62 hours, the cover having been partly leaded to the extent of 15ins. the day before the centering was removed.

The weight of the concrete would be about 75lbs. per square feet, that of the earth about 110lbs, or a total of 185lbs. per square foot, or nearly 4cwt. per foot run of the drain on each side of each support: this weight the outside supports could not resist, and the concrete was sheared or cut above the support.

Taking all factors into consideration, I think that the 62 hours in cold weather was insufficient time for allowing the cement to set properly: it should at least have been four days.

The leading of the cover on the second day after construction retarded the and actually disturbed the crust of concrete already set, but the great weight of the earth placed on the cover was the principal cause of the collapse. No earth should have been placed over the concrete for at least 7 days in cold weather.

The fact which confirms me in these conclusions is that the cover near the East end which, presumably, was the last made and the first stripped is still standing apart from the portion which has been forcibly removed for experimental purposes: this part had stood because no extra burden of filling material has been places on it.

In further evidence dated May 16, 1912, Carlo followed up some points from his original deposition. 

I supplement the strain on the cement – that yesterday I broke two brickettes made of the same making which averaged 450 lbs to the square inch which proved the cement was setting well and was of good quality. When the mass of concrete was handed to me last Saturday it could be broken into small pieces easily and now it has set hard showing that the process of  waiting has made it hard. I produce a copy of these specifications.

To Insp Crowe. The lagging is removed when you think the concrete is strong enough to bear its own weight.

To the Coroner Undoubtedly the weather had something to do with it. Three days is the usual time allowed, as there was a clear line between the other cement and the one that broke showed that there was not time for the cement to join. A cement that sets quickly is not a good cement –as the cement that sets slowly is the best. I passed the plans. There was nothing on the flat surface if all the others conditions had been carried out.

To Mr Moir  I made the plan produced. I know the contract made out that the cement should be of the approved Portland cement. The Hammonis cement is good. I do not think that one barrel ought to be better than another but one barrel may be injured. The cement was reinforced with wires and the steel bars were to be set at an angle of 45° according to the specification. If this had been left to set for 4 to 5 days it would have been standing now. When I got the cement last Saturday it could have been crumbled with the fingers.

To Mr Rundle. I visited the scene of the accident. I saw indications that the mortar was not set. I examined the concrete and found that it was crumbly at the time. I think if the men had looked at the concrete they would have seen that it was not set. The fact that the concrete was crumbly was an indication that it was not ready to have the loading put in it and if  a person had a proper knowledge of concrete [they] ought to have known that.

To Mr Hunt. I did not find any provision in the specifications as the drawing of the laggings. The piece of concrete produced had been in my office and in my room. It had not been exposed to the air outside. I did not notice that the tar was burst off the longitudinal bars. In my opinion the reinforcement was good enough for the purposes.  I did not see any trace of tar on the cross bars, they were rusty in parts. If the bars were fastened at the sides that would be an improvement.

To the Coroner.   I am satisfied that if it had been allowed time, it would have been all right. (3)

Henry Watts of Watts, Hancock, and Grace, the contractors for the construction of the sewer.

After the alarm was raised that the trench had collapsed, Mr Watts stated -

It took about 10 minutes to 15 to get him out. The wires had to be cut and the rods lifted.  I think he was dead when he was brought out but I had to run away for an ambulance and when I came back I saw that he was dead. (4)

The verdict

As a result of all the evidence presented, the Coroner concluded that - George Hunt was accidentally killed by the collapse of a cement drain in the course of construction. (5)

Who was George Hunt?
George's body was identified by his father Thomas and this is his sad evidence -

Thomas Hunt, Watchman, Mary Street Fairfield
I saw the body of the deceased at the morgue and I identified it as that of my son George Hunt. He was aged 31 years and was married. He lived with me. He was employed at the Albert Park Drainage by Messrs Watt and Hancock. I last saw him alive about 7am last Thursday morning. I met him at the railway station and said “How are you”. He said “Never better in my life.”
To Mr Moir: He had only one full arm. He had a hook on the right arm.
To the Coroner: That did not affect him in his work at all. 

It would be interesting to know what happened to his arm.  In Dr Brett's evidence he said George was of strong muscular build and fairly nourished, 5ft 7 inches in height... the right arm had been amputated below the elbow and a leather false arm strapped to the stump. (6)

The evidence of Thomas Hunt

Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 24/P0000, 1912/639

Thomas Hunt had married Margaret Bradley on May 19, 1876 at the Registrar of Marriages in Gore Street, Fitzroy. Thomas was a 25-year old cab driver, born in Devonshire England, the son of  Joseph  and Mary Ann (nee Bradley) Hunt. Margaret was a 28-year old housekeeper, born in Hamburg, Germany; the daughter of John and Margaret (nee Walker) Bradley. (7) It is possible that the two were cousins. 

George was one of five, possibly six children - the Victorian Indexes to Births list the following children of Thomas and Margaret - 

Ellen (born 1877, birth registered at Berwick)

William Arthur (1877, Berwick)

George (1880, Berwick)

Margaret Emma (1885, Hazelwood)

John Thomas (1886, Boolarra). (8)

However, Margaret's 1923 death notice and Thomas' 1937 death notice also lists a Fred, as the oldest child. (9)  I am not sure how Frederick fits in. On Thomas and Margaret's marriage certificate, neither of them list a previous marriage or children, however, that is neither here nor there now.  Thomas, Margaret and George are buried in the same grave in the Church of England section at the Coburg Pine Ridge Cemetery. (10)  Margaret Hunt actually died in awful circumstances. She had gone to the lumber room of their house in Fitzroy in the early morning, when the candle she was using set some timber on fire,  her night dress then caught fire causing severe burns. She died the same night. (11)

Death notice for George Hunt from his wife, Margaret.

The Age, May 11, 1912 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197362229

Bereavement notice from George's parents

The Age, May 18, 1912 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197372704

George had married twice - when he was 22 years of age to Amy Connor, who died at some unknown time; there were no children from this marriage. The second marriage was to Margaret Clark Skinner on May 4, 1912 only five days before he was killed. (12)  Their son, George Thomas Frederick,  was born on December 13, 1912 at 33 Moreland Road in Brunswick. (13)  It must have been an awful time for Margaret to lose a husband in tragic circumstances and then have to raise their son alone.

Margaret did not remarry and lived with her brother and son in Hopetoun Avenue, West Brunswick. She died on May 17, 1964, aged 82 and is buried with her brother, John Skinner, in the Presbyterian section at the Coburg Pine Ridge Cemetery; their grave is next to that of her parents Alexander and Jeannie (nee McMurrich) Skinner.  (14)

George junior became a mechanic. George and his mother Margaret, are listed in the Electoral Rolls at 135 Hopetoun Avenue and from the 1949 Electoral rolls they are living at 11 Hopetoun Avenue. (15)  George married Florence Brown around 1970 and he died on December 10, 1989, aged 76.  His ashes are interred at the Fawkner Cemetery, with those of his wife, who died in 2012, aged 99. (16)

You would have to wonder if  George's wife Margaret was satisfied with the verdict that his death was an accident, because it seems that it could have been avoided. I hope that both she and George junior had some happiness in their life.

Footnotes

(1) Weekly Times May 18, 1912, see here

Inquest into the Death of George Hunt, Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 24/P0000, 1912/639

https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/A21CB309-F1C2-11E9-AE98-C5CA5962F97A?image=1

(2) Ibid.

(3) Inquest -  see link in footnote 1

(4) Inquest -  see link in footnote 1

(5) Inquest -  see link in footnote 1

(6) Inquest -  see link in footnote 1

(7) Thomas Hunt/Margaret Bradley marriage certificate

(8) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.

(9) Death notices of Margaret and Thomas Hunt

Margaret - death notice

The Argus, October 8, 1923 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2000514

Thomas - death notice

The Age, March 9, 1937 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205612615

(10) Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust database https://www.gmct.com.au/find-a-grave

(11) The Age, October 6, 1923, see here; The Herald, October 6, 1923, see here.

(12) George Hunt/Margaret Skinner marriage certificate.

(13) George Thomas Frederick Hunt - birth certificate.

(14) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust database https://www.gmct.com.au/find-a-grave

(15) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; the Electoral Rolls list George's occupation as a mechanic, although his Probate papers at the Public Records Office of Victoria records his occupation as a toolmaker.

(16) I am basing the date of his marriage on the fact that in the 1967 Electoral Roll, George was listed by himself, but in the 1972 Electoral Roll, Florence Agnes Hunt was listed at 11 Hopetoun Avenue.  Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust database https://www.gmct.com.au/find-a-grave Florence, was born February 2, 1913, the daughter of Robert and Florence Skinner; and as Skinner was George's mothers maiden name, I presume they were related. She had previously been married to Stanley Brown and had three daughters. 

Florence's death notice

https://www.mytributes.com.au/notice/death-notices/hunt-florence-agnes/3759847/

Catani - a house in Wenden Grove in East St Kilda

On March 10, 1923 Miss Doris Lily Bainbridge married accountant Mr Arthur Roy Duncan. The Prahran Telegraph had the following report -
Mr. Arthur Duncan, to Miss Doris L. Bainbridge.
Many well-known oarsman were present at the marriage of Mr. Arthur Duncan, the popular secretary of the Albert Park Rowing Club, which took place at Christ Church, St. Kilda, on March 10. The bride was Miss Doris L. Bainbridge, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs.F. F. Bainbridge, 'Stanleigh,' Inkerman road, East St. Kilda. Her brother, the Rev. V. Pembroke Bainbridge, Th.L., performed the ceremony, and another brother (Mr.F. C. Bainbridge), sang "All Joy be Thine," while the register was being signed. The bridegroom is the third son of Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Duncan, Albert road, Albert Park.

The bride was given away by her father, and wore a gown of ivory broche satin draped at the hips and finished with a silver rose. Side panels of silver lace fell below the hem of the skirt, and the elbow sleeves were also of silver lace. The long court train was of broche satin lined with shell-pink crepe de chine, and rucked tulle. Over it fell a hand embroidered tulle veil encircled with orange blossom, with clusters over the ears. She carried a bouquet of pink and white tiger lilies, and wore a diamond cluster ring, a wedding present. The bride's small nieces (Misses Dorothy Bainbridge and Mary Wright), carried the train. The bridegroom gave them gold bracelets. His sister, Miss N. Duncan, was first bridesmaid, in a frock of apricot cachemire de soie draped with georgette, and she held a bouquet of autumn tinted flowers. Miss P. Wannon was similarly attired in pale blue. The bridegroom's gifts were a handbag and silver-backed brush respectively. Mr. T. E. Bainbridge (brother of bride) was best man, and Mr. D. Duncan (brother of bridegroom) groomsman. 

The honeymoon was spent at Lorne, the bride travelling in a navy twill costume and grey hat. The present address of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Duncan is "Catani," Wenden grove, East St. Kilda. (1)

Mr and Mrs Duncan, Catani, Wenden Grove.

Prahran Telegraph, April 27, 1923 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165130417

It is, of course, the last sentence that is the most interesting for us. Why did they name the property Catani?  Did they have a connection to Carlo Catani or was it named for the town of Catani (which was named for Carlo) - which was a station, near Koo Wee Rup, on the Strzelecki railway line, which officially opened in June 1922 (2), less than a year before they were married. Or, had they heard the name and they just liked the sound of it?

Keroongola in 1895

State Library of Victoria image H93.64/26

First of  all we will establish that it was Roy (as he was known) and Doris who named the house. Wenden Grove and neighbouring Montague Avenue and Nottage street were subdivided around 1920. They were part of the sub-division of the Keroongoola property. (3) The St Kilda Historical Society has this history of  Keroongola - The house was built in ca.1870 for Richard H. Thatcher and originally called Fern Lodge. Located at NW corner of Orrong Road and Inkerman Street it had extensive grounds amounting to about 10 acres. The Hon Thomas Loader was the second owner from about 1872. In ca.1879 it was purchased by Frederick Peppin and renamed Keroongola. In August 1905 it was sold to the architect Harry Browse Gibbs (1859-1918). (4).  

Harry Gibbs was a City of St Kilda councillor and was the Mayor from 1905 until 1907. Amongst his other positions he was also on the St Kilda Foreshore Trust; another member of this Trust was Carlo Catani. When Gibbs purchased the property in 1905, which he renamed Dittisham, it was on six acres, however, it was not owned by him at the time of his death as his probate papers state that he had no real estate in Victoria. (5) Perhaps it was in his wife's name or one of his three sons.

Whether the Gibbs' family sub-divided the property or they had already sold it, at some stage the house was demolished and by 1921 Wenden Grove was established. In the 1924 and 1926 Electoral Rolls, Roy and Doris were listed at No. 1 Wenden Grove and in the 1927 roll they are at 2 Wenden Grove. (6) This was due to the fact that the street was renumbered - the odd numbers were initially on the north side of the Grove, but around 1927 the street was renumbered and the even numbers were moved to the north side; and thus Roy and Doris had a new address. (7).  

The state of Wenden Grove was a concern to the residents for many years. In June 1927, Mr L. Westergard, the secretary of the St. Kilda Defence Association wrote to the St Kilda Council on this matter - 

My committee has instructed me to bring under the notice of the council the deplorable state of Marne street east and west, Wenden grove, Nottage street, and Montague street, which are impassable for pedestrians and vehicles, particularly at this time of the year. We are advised that ratepayers living in these streets have been promised on several occasions that some relief would be given to them in this respect. (8)

It was not surprising that the roads were impassable as it was a marshy area and Wenden Grove was originally the location of a creek, now buried underground in a drain.  As local historian, Isaac Hermann, explains Wenden Grove originally drained the once creek and drainage channel from the soak at the corner of Orrong and Alma Roads, that still collects the Marne Avenue spring water nearby in its downstream course: as one of the headwater sources of the Shakespeare Grove Main Drain, also known as the Secret Creek - that is further fed by the Alexandra - Murchison Streets spring. 

You can see the springs and the soak marked on the 1865 Parish Plan, below.

The St Kilda Cemetery is bordered by Dandenong Road, Hotham Road on the left, Alma Road at the bottom and Alexandra Street on the right. The soak at the corner of Orrong and Alma (marked Reserve) is clearly seen. The Keerongola property was part of Allotment 179, half of which is annotated with "Springs of water"

Plan of the Parish of Prahran in the County of Bourke, drawn by Thos. H. Lightfoot, November 1865.

State Library of Victoria https://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/262134

This 1873 plan clearly marks the headwater 'CREEK' entering Wenden Grove, and thus one of the sources of the Shakespeare Grove Main Drain, aka the 'Secret Creek' which empties into the Bay at Brooke's Jetty.  The pink building is Keroongola. 

Detail of Vardy map, No. 8, N.W., surveyed by J.E.S Vardy; lithographed by Hamel & Ferguson.

St Kilda Historical Society https://www.stkildahistory.org.au/our-collection/resources/vardy-plans

Catani, Roy and Doris' house in Wenden Grove was for sale in November 1921 for £1175 - it was on land 50 feet by 120 feet,  had 4 main rooms plus a kitchen and bathroom, a verandah and was artistically finished. (9) 

The sale of No.1 Wenden Grove

The Argus, November 19, 1921 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4619385

I have no information as to whether the couple purchased the house, but this is where Roy and Doris moved to after their March 1923 wedding. It was a new house; my grandmother and her sister were both married in the 1920s and Grandma, on more than one occasion, commented how her sister had moved into a new house after her marriage, and she considered this to be something special. You can imagine Roy and Doris choosing the name of their very first home together,  furnishing the house, and in the December of that year welcoming their first child, a boy. A daughter and another son also came along. (10)

Birth notice of Roy and Doris' first child.

The Argus, December 29, 1923 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1989499

In 1928 the couple had moved to 234 Albert Road, South Melbourne, near his parents. Later, sadly, the marriage broke up; Roy died in 1970 in Japan and had a new wife; Doris died in 1988. (11)

Roy Duncan's advertisement - it would be interesting to know what this is about.

The Argus, May 12 1928 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3935517

So why did they choose Catani?  Did they have a connection to Carlo? Roy was the son of  William Robert Duncan and his wife, Alice Elizabeth Armstrong. They lived at 218 Albert Road, South Melbourne and William had the unusual occupation of an artificial limb maker.  Doris was the daughter of Frederick Fiddey Bainbridge and his wife Edith Millicent Moon. Frederick was a school teacher and was at the Gobur State School when Doris was born in 1896. (12)  No obvious connections there to Carlo. 

Roy was, as we saw in the marriage report, involved with the Albert Park Rowing Club and Carlo was on the committee of management there in the early 1900s, (13)  but as Roy was only born in 1900, it seems unlikely they would have been involved at Albert Park at the same time.

It has been suggested to me that as Harry Gibbs, the last owner of Keroongola, worked with Carlo Catani this may have influenced the name, but I am not convinced unless we can find  a connection between Roy and Doris with the Gibbs family. 

I feel that they selected the name due to its exotic euphonic qualities. Perhaps other popular house names such as San Remo, Amalfi and Riviera had already been used in their neighbourhood.  They may have remembered Carlo, as he was a man who had a lot of publicity, or it may have been the fact that the town of Catani was in the news as the railway station had just opened. I am speculating of course, but there are no rules when it comes to naming a house - my parents named their house Balbirnie, as that was the brand of the blankets at the place where they stayed on their Tasmanian honeymoon, after they were married in February 1956.  

Catani did not remain the name of the house as I found a birth notice for the occupants in 1935, the McCallum family, and they called it Stedwyld. (14)  As a matter of interest, the house (with a modern extension) sold for $3,490,000 in 2024. (15) I wonder what Roy and Doris would have thought of that. 

Acknowledgment - It was my fellow historian, Isaac Hermann, who told me about the house named Catani in Wenden Grove; he also supplied the information about the natural springs and water courses in the area and the extent of  the modern drains.

Trove list - I have created a list relating to Wenden Avenue, and the Duncan and Bainbridge families, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) Prahran Telegraph, April 27, 1923, see here.

(2) Strzelecki railway line - I have written about it here - https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/12/koo-wee-rup-to-strzelecki-railway-line.html

(3) Wenden Grove, Montague avenue and Nottage Street do not appear in the 1920 Sands & McDougall Directories at the State Library of Victoria.  They first appear in a 1922 street directory and not the 1921 publication (street directories are digitised at the State Library of Victoria)  The  first advertisements I could find on these three streets in the newspapers was in 1921, see my Trove list, here.

(4) St Kilda Historical Society - https://www.stkildahistory.org.au/our-collection/houses/orrong-road/88-279-301-keroongola?highlight=WyJrZXJvb25nb2xhIl0=

(5) Sale result of property in August 1905 - The Age, August 21, 1905, see here; Obituary - Prahran Chronicle, April 6, 1918, see here; Probate Papers at the Public Records Office of Victoria https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/C4B6D21F-F228-11E9-AE98-CDAD7D74E824?image=1

(6) Electoral Rolls are on Ancestry.com. 

(7) Entries from Sands & McDougall Directories (digitised at the State Library of Victoria). As you can see from the entries below the Duncans  were on the north side in 1925, even though their address in the Electoral roll was No. 1; Clarence McKenzie was on the south side in both entries so around 1927 the north side was renumbered with the even numbers; the south side with the odd numbers.

1925

1930

(8) Prahran Telegraph, June 25, 1926, see here;  Report about Wenden Grove and other streets construction - The Argus, August 8, 1928, see here; The Council accepted a tender to make Marne Avenue,  Wenden Grove,  Montague Avenue and Nottage street in December 1928 - Sun News-Pictorial, December 20, 1928, see here.

(9) The Argus, November 19, 1921, see here. 

(10) Birth notice of son - The Argus, December 29, 1923, see here.  

(11)  Electoral Rolls;  Roy death notice -  The Age, June 15, 1970; Lily death notice - The Age, April 21, 1988 - from newspapers.com

(12) Victorian Indexes to the Births, Deaths and Marriages. Electoral Rolls; Frederick Bainbridge's teacher's record at the Public Records of Victoria - https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/3ACD7C60-F7E4-11E9-AE98-0BBAF896D425?image=246 Family notices - see my Trove list, here.

(13) https://carlocatani.blogspot.com/2025/12/carlo-and-his-colleagues-on-albert-park.html

(14) The Herald, June 8, 1935, see here. The printing of the notice is hard to read so the house could actually be called Stedwyld, Stedwyll or Stedwyle.

(15)  2 Wenden Grove, Roy and Doris' former home,  sold in 2024 for $3,490,000. 

https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-st+kilda+east-145577272

A Yarra River bridge to be named for Carlo

The 'In Town and Out' column in the Herald on April 26, 1926, had the following short report on a suggestion that a bridge over the Yarra River should be named for Carlo. This was eight years after his death, so an indication that he was still remembered fondly in Victoria.

Catani Bridge

The Herald, April 26, 1926  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243594544

Catani Bridge
A Correspondent suggests that one of the bridges over the Yarra, existing or to be constructed, should be named the Catani bridge, in honor of the engineer who in his lifetime took such an active interest in the beautification and preservation of the banks of the Yarra.

The suggestion will, no doubt, recommend itself to many citizens of Melbourne who are aware of the public service rendered by Mr Catani. It was no chance that gave his name to the lake at Mt. Buffalo. He loved the plateau, and was always planning to improve it as a pleasure resort.
(The Herald, April 26, 1926, see here)

One hundred years after this brilliant suggestion, there is still not a bridge over the Yarra River named after Carlo.  There is a town, a lake, the aforementioned gardens at St Kilda and some streets named for Carlo, but he deserves a bridge as well. The closest we have is the Catani Archway in the Catani Gardens at St Kilda, but  it is a pedestrian bridge, not a vehicular one.  I have written, in conjunction with my colleague Isaac Hermann,  about this archway here - https://victoriancollections.net.au/stories/carlo-catani-an-engineering-star-over-victoria/st-kilda-foreshore-gardens

The Catani Archway, the closest we can get to a memorial to Carlo 

in the form of a bridge.

Image: Isaac Hermann.

Removal of island in the Snowy River at Orbost

In 1916 Carlo devoted some of his time to the Snowy River, specifically the removal of an island at Watt's gulch, near Orbost, which was impeding water flow and thus increasing the risk of  flooding on the surrounding river flats.  As reported - 
This obstruction was started about 1893 and was caused by a snag in a shallow bank. Not much notice was taken until it began to grow so much that people began to realise that it was a menace to the district. Now every landowner on the flats was anxious to get something done. The Public Works Department cut a channel through the island in 1909 in the hope that it would be scoured out by the current. This had not proved a success, for if the current would scour the island out it would not have allowed the island to form in the first place. (1)

Watt's Gulch and Watt's Gulch Bank are circled in red.

Snowy River survey. Surveyed by R.G. Davey, K.R. Culliton, H.C. Sanger ; drawn by J. O'Keefe.

State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, 1941

See the full plan at the State Library of Victoria here  https://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/116748 

In 1916, the Orbost Shire Council consulted with Carlo and the Public Works Department regarding the removal of the island. This is an edited version a report of the Orbost Shire Council meeting held in September 1916 - 

At the council meeting last week letters were received from the Hon. Jas. Cameron and the Public Works Department stating that a battery for explosion purposes had been forwarded for the use of the council and would be available for two months.

Cr. James explained that when in Melbourne a month or so back the matter of dealing with the island at Watt's gulch was referred to. Mr. Cameron had seen Mr. Catani of the Public Works Department, and a proposal made to shift the obstruction by explosion had been discussed. Mr. Catani stated that explosive charges might be placed and connected with a battery by means of which they could be exploded when there was a fresh or flood in the river. He would move that the offer of the battery be accepted and charges put in to be exploded when necessary. Seconded by Cr Nixon.

Cr. C. Johnston moved as an amendment that the council apply to the Public Works Department to send up an expert to give advice before operations were commenced. It had been said that explosives would not work and that dredging would be necessary. It would be wise to start on a smaller project, as the result would not be so disastrous in case of failure. Seconded by Cr. Richardson.

Mr. Nevins, shire engineer, said Mr. Cecchi [sic] of the Water Supply Department had taken readings which showed that the current at the island was considerably more effective than above or below it. The only trouble would be in having to place the explosives and not being able to blow them off for an indefinite time. The explosives would have to be in watertight cases and would deteriorate in two or three months. Powder would have to be used.

Cr. Richardson had a good deal of experience with explosives, and said it would be useless to put them there and leave them only for a week. Powder would have to be used, as dynamite or gelignite would be useless in soft material. (2)

Mr Cecchi of the Water Supply Department was Carlo's compatriot, Ettore Checchi (1853-1943) who like Carlo studied Civil Engineering at the Technical Institute of Florence. They arrived in Melbourne together in 1876 and he was also employed at the Public Works Department; then from 1888 to 1927, Ettore was with the Victorian Water Supply Department, and later with the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission. (3)

In November 1916 it was reported that the  Orbost Shire Council had received the following correspondence  - Dept. of Public Works, stating that Mr Catani will visit Orbost shortly to give advice relative to the removal of the island in the Snowy River.- Secretary to ask for date of Mr Catani's visit. (4)

I cannot find  a report of Carlo's actual visit, however in December 1916, in another Council meeting report there was correspondence from the - Public Works Department, forwarding copy of the Chief Engineer's report regarding the removal of the island in the Snowy River, and stating that the department could not contribute towards the cost of the work. (5)

Nothing appeared to happen for year, perhaps due to the fact that the community was concentrating on the War effort. In January 1918 a meeting of landowners interested in the removal of the island which has formed in the Snowy River at Orbost, was held. Mr H. James, president of the Orbost Shire Council occupied the chair.

Mr Catani, formerly chief engineer of the Public Works Dept, when here a few years ago, was positive that the island could be removed for £300. This was for labor only. A deputation waited on Mr Adamson, then Minister for Public Works, asking that his department should remove the inland, but had met with a refusal. Mr Catani claimed that it was a work that should be done by the property owners of the district. A further application made some time later was also refused. At last meeting of the council, owing to the change of Government, it was decided to interview the new Minister and see if he

would do anything. Mr McWhae at first refused to entertain the proposal, but said he would lend the necessary plant. After a lot of consideration, the Minister made an offer that if the local people provided the amount of Mr Catani's estimate (£300) the Public Works Department would carry out the work. (6)

The result of the meeting was that a committee was formed to raise the necessary funds and by March 1918 the council received correspondence from Public Works Department, stating that the work of removing the island at Watt's Gulch would be proceeded with. (7)

Two week later in March an updated report was published - Arrangements are being made to proceed with the work of removing the island in the Snowy River, about a mile below the bridge. Mr Clark, engineer of the Public Works Department, end Mr Herman, foreman of works who arrived in Orbost a few days ago, have made an inspection of the island in company with Mr Archibald shire engineer, and several councillors. The work, which is to be carried out under the supervision of the shire engineer, and involves the construction of two small bridges, is to be got under weigh without further delay. (8)

In April  it was reported -  The plant and timber required for the removal of the island in the Snowy River are now in readiness, and the work will be probably commenced on Monday. The first step will be the erection of one of the two bridges. (9)

As referenced in the above reports, two bridges were erected, I presume over the gulch to allow the removal of the soil of the island which was then used to build up local roads.  In August it was reported that -

The removal of the islands in the Snowy River has been completed as well as possible under present conditions, and the road across the gulch has been formed, and loamed, to enable grasses to take root and grow as speedily as possible. (10)

A later report said that the Public Works Department  left all the gear for removing the islands, in the Snowy river in my charge, comprising trucks, rails, etc. with the Orbost Shire Engineer.  (11) Whether the island was dug out by a small dredge or manually, the soil was dispersed by trucks running along a temporary rail system.

Carlo, who retired in April 1917 and died in July 1918, never got to see the work completed or to pass his professional opinion as to whether his suggested method of using explosives would have been more effective than the method chosen.

Footnotes

(1) Bairnsdale Every Week, January 31, 1918, see here.

(2) Snowy River Mail September 8, 1916, see here.

(3) Ettore Checchi - I have written about him here and here.

(4) Snowy River Mail, November 3, 1916, see here.

(5) Snowy River Mail, December 1, 1916, see here.

(6) Bairnsdale Every Week, January 31, 1918, see here; this report was an edited version of the original which appeared in the  Snowy River Mail, January 25, 1918, see here.

(7) Snowy River Mail, March 1, 1918, see here.

(8) Snowy River Mail, March 22, 1918, see here.

(9) Snowy River Mail, April 12, 1918, see here. There are progress reports - Snowy River Mail, May 3, 1918, see here;   Snowy River Mail, June 7, 1918, see here;  and   Snowy River Mail, July 5, 1918, see here.

(10) Snowy River Mail, August 2, 1918, see here.

(11) Snowy River Mail, September 6, 1918, see here.

Dr Ferdinando Gagliardi (1843-1898)

In February 1877, Ferdinando Gagliardi along with his brother, Federigo, arrived in Melbourne, from New Zealand and joined their fellow countrymen Carlo Catani, Pietro Baracchi and Ettore Checchi. 

Ferdinando was born in Pisa on April 17, 1843. He married Margaret 'Maggie' Noonan on January 22, 1881 and they had four children - Chinzica (1882-1911),  Elletra (1885-1886), Ferderigo (1886-?) and Nando (1891-1952). Ferdinando died  in Melbourne on August 7, 1898 and is buried in the Brighton General Cemetery with his two daughters. Maggie died on July 24, 1906 and is buried at Springvale.

As we can see from his obituary, below,  Dr Ferdinando Gagliardi, was the Assistant Principal Librarian of the Melbourne Public Library/State Library of Victoria. The Brighton Cemetorians, a not-for-profit community group, is working with family members to have a dignified family headstone and monumental surrounds established on his unmarked grave at Brighton.  A fundraiser has been initiated and they will be grateful for any contribution that you may be able to afford.  Click on this link to support this cause  https://www.givenow.com.au/gagliardi-monumental-family-plot

The  Gagliardi grave (marked with the grave marker and the plastic cone) at Brighton General Cemetery. 

Image: Isaac Hermann

Obituary
The Geelong Advertiser published this obituary on Dr Gagliardi -
Melbourne Public Library. The death of Dr Gagliardi has deprived the Public Library of an accomplished official, who was second in command to the late Mr Dowden, but waived his claims to succeed him in favor of Mr Armstrong, the present librarian, feeling that his own imperfect knowledge of the English language was a disqualification for the post. He was educated in the university of Pisa, for the profession of the law, and was duly called to the Italian bar; but, becoming associated with the "Gazzetta d' Italia," one of the principal papers in Florence, he came out to Australia as the special correspondent of that journal, to report upon the colonies, in connection with the International Exhibition at Sydney in 1877.

The letters that he wrote from that city, and from Melbourne, were models of their kind; crammed full of accurate information with respect to these colonies, lively in style, and exceedingly diversified in subject; beginning on the 10th of April, 1877, and ending on the 12th of June, 1878. They were collected and published in a volume at Florence, in 1881, under the title of "Australia," and the editor of the "Gazzetta d' Italia" spoke of them, in his preface, as "possessing the uncommon merit of satisfying the tastes of readers of all classes;" because they showed the economic, literary, and artistic progress and position of these colonies, while also relating their history. In fact they possess a permanent value as a graphic picture of the phase or development reached by Australia 20 years ago.

The then Consul-General for Italy offered Dr Gagliardi an appointment in his office, which he accepted, and not long afterwards the late Sir Redmond Barry, president of the trustees of the Public Library, becoming acquainted with the linguistic acquirements of the deceased gentleman, attached him to that institution, with which he was associated up to the time of his regretted death.
(Geelong Advertiser, August 19, 1898, see here)

Resources

The Italian Australian Institute Research Centre at La Trobe University has published three books on Dr Gagliardi -

• Gagliardi, Ferdinando Australia : letters to the "Gazzetta d'Italia" (May 1876 - August 1880)  translated by Prof. Em. Colin A. McCormick ; with a biographical introduction by Piero Genovesi. This was published in 2016 and are the letters referred to in his obituary, above

The following books were published in 2017 -

• Genovesi, Piero Ferdinando Gagliardi : (Pisa, 17/4/1843 - Melbourne, 7/8/1898), v. 1
• Genovesi, Piero Ferdinando Gagliardi : (Pisa, 17/4/1843 - Melbourne, 7/8/1898), v. 2

Carlo attends a demonstration on the use of gelignite

On June 12, 1909, Major Charles Campbell (1), hosted a demonstration of the use of gelignite to remove trees at his property, Amesfield Park, in Mornington. Amesfield Park, was originally called Manyung and owned by Richard Grice (2) and was located at the 31-mile post on the Melbourne to Sorrento Road. (3).  Major Campbell had purchased the 288 acre property six months previously, in December 1908,  for £5,000. (4) He invited his neighbours and a number of officials, including Carlo Catani, to this demonstration.

Amesfield Park, previously Manyung, the property where Carlo saw the gelignite demonstration.

"Manyong" [i.e. Manyung, home of] Mrs. A. L. Grice, Mornington, 1895. 

State Library of Victoria image  H93.64/20 

It was an impressive attendance list  and Carlo was in the company of  Mr Reid, Surveyor General; Mr Crooke, Forestry Department; Dr. Cherry and Mr Kenyon, Agricultural Department; Mr. Barber, Victorian Railways; Mr W. H. Irvine, M.H.R.; Mr Livingston, M.L.A.; Mr. R. G. Fincham, National bank manager; Colonel Stanley, Victorian commandant;  Mr. Aitken and Mr. Drake from Dalgety and Co.; Mr W.F. Weigall, Brighton councillor; Mr. J.H. Taylor, the town clerk of Brighton and  Mr James Minifie from the Millers' Association. These guests were conveyed from the Frankston station to the scene of operations by cabs and drags, Mr J. Millard having been entrusted with the "transportation" arrangements. (5)

The Mornington and Dromana Standard of June 19, 1909 explained why Major Campbell decided to use gelignite - Since, purchasing the well-known property, "Amesfield Park," some few months back, Major Campbell has spent considerable time and capital in removing a great many of the thickly studded trees on the estate, erecting wire netting, installing windmills, etc., and in numerous ways going in for big improvements. The modern method of blasting has been chosen to remove the trees, and, in conjunction with Messrs Dalgety and Co., (as agents for Nobel Glasgow high explosives) the squire of Amesfield Park gave a demonstration on a large and effective scale. (6)

The paper continued their report with -
The object of the demonstration was to show how easily and cheaply trees could be grubbed by the use of gelignite, exploded by electricity. Mr R Sprague (of Dalgety and Co.) and Major Campbell superintended operations, and the agents were also represented by Messrs Allan and Dorecket. The first "blow up" was a "double event," two trees being removed by connecting the charges by wires, which were attached to the main cable and thence to the battery. When all was ready the crowd retired to a safe distance 150 yards away, and there was much speculation as to the result. Many were certain that the effect would be to merely shift the tree, but do no further damage to the butt. The signal to "Let her go" was given, the handle on the battery raised and lowered, and in an instant there was a terrific explosion. A shower of earth and chips shot into the air, and the trees heeled over and crashed to the ground. An examination of the result showed that the butt had been lifted clean out of the ground and shattered in pieces, and the trunk was opened up in numerous pieces. Two other trees were blasted out together, and three more were removed singly. The manner in which each tree was blown out of the ground was highly satisfactory, and the method is a vast improvement on the old style of grubbing by hand. The seven trees were treated with varying quantities of the explosive, and the cost would average about 3/6 per tree. The agents claim that trees can be removed by the Nobel-Glasgow method at from 50 per cent to 80 per cent cheaper than by hand labour. (7)

An advertisement for Nobel explosives for land clearing.

The Leader, April 10, 1909 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196899229

There were some finer details provided, in case you are interested in removing trees and have some sticks of gelignite lying around; even though apparently the sale of gelignite is now highly regulated and highly restricted -
In blasting trees or stumps, the first thing done is to find with a crowbar the best place between the roots to get under the body of the stump. If the tree is not too large, an ordinary charge, well situated and carefully tamped, will take it out, but if the stump is large and deep in the ground the hole must be larger than can be made with the crowbar, and charges must be carefully distributed in the best possible situation so as to get the best results. The operator digs down by the side of the stump, and then makes horizontal holes under the bottom of the stump as near to the centre as possible, disturbing the natural earth as little as possible. The charges are placed close to the wood; then are put in the primers and tamp. After putting the charges and detonators in, a little wet clay or dirt is placed at the bottom of the holes and in contact with the stump, thus filling up the entire opening. If the charges are not well under the stump, a small dam is made and filled with water. Wherever the charges are they must be well supported with water, mud, damp clay, or some other compact and weighty material. (8)

The article concluded with -
At the conclusion of the demonstration at large number of the visitors were the recipients of Major Campbell's hospitality, and the opportunity was taken by Mr Dorecket (of Dalgety and Co.) to thank Major and Mrs Campbell for their kindness, and to express the pleasure the visitors derived from the trip. The health of the host and hostess was drunk enthusiastically. Major Campbell acknowledged the sentiment, and expressed himself as pleased that they had found the demonstration interesting. He would always be happy to show anyone the details of the method, and if they were much interested they could bore the hole and fire the charge themselves. (Laughter and applause). The visitors returned to Melbourne by the evening train. (9)

I wonder what Carlo got out of the day? He was interested in land settlement and sympathetic to farmers, so he would have been able to add this new information about gelignite to remove trees to his store of knowledge and disseminate it when required.

Footnotes

(1) Major Charles Campbell  (1867-1936). Clearly the name Amesfield held some significance to Major Campbell as he used that name for three of his properties. Sale of Amesfield Park, Mornington - Dandenong Advertiser, February 17, 1916, see here; living at Amesfield, Huntingtower Road, Malvern - Frankston & Somerville Standard, August 27, 1924, see here;  Obituary - at the time of his death, at the age of 68,  he was living at Amesfield Park, Upper Beaconsfield -  The Age October 31, 1936, see here. See also his entry in Residents of Upper Beaconsfield - https://upperbeaconsfieldhistory.au/g0/p47.htm#i1384

Major Campbell's death notice

The Argus, October 29, 1936  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11930638

(2) Richard Grice (1813-1882) Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, see here. I have written about his son, Richard (1858-1911) here    https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2024/02/richard-grice-1858-1911-of-eirruc.html

(3) Mornington & Dromana Standard, June 12, 1909, see here.

(4) The Argus, December 3, 1908, see here.

(5) Guest list compiled from these reports -  The Age, June 14, 1909, see here;  The Argus, June 14, 1909, see here and Mornington & Dromana Standard, June 19, 1909, see here. The quote about Mr Millard and transportation came from the Mornington & Dromana Standard.

(6) Mornington & Dromana Standard, June 19, 1909, see here

(7) Mornington & Dromana Standard, June 19, 1909, see here

(8) Mornington & Dromana Standard, June 19, 1909, see here

(9) Mornington & Dromana Standard, June 19, 1909, see here

Carlo and the Pental Island levee banks

Pental Island, near Swan Hill, is surrounded by the Murray River, the Little Murray/Marraboor River and the Lodden River, so as you can imagine, is quite prone to flooding. There had been a dispute between Victoria and New South Wales as to who 'owned' Pental Island and this was settled in 1872, when the issue came before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in England and they declared it to be part of the Colony of Victoria. (1)  

Pental Island

Detail of Victoria fire map, 1:100 000 map series. Swan Hill  / published by the Department of Crown Lands and Survey Victoria for the Country Fire Authority, 1960s.

State Library of Victoria https://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/4309598

In 1885, Pental Island came under the control of the Council of Agricultural Education, which was established in 1884 under the Agricultural Colleges Act. (2) The Weekly Times reported that its central principle is the reservation of specified areas of Crown lands as sources of endowment for agricultural colleges and experimental farms. This would allow the Council of Agricultural Education to implement a scheme of scientific and experimental training for agriculturists (3).  

By the early 1900s, the Government wanted to take back control of Pental Island and to subdivide it into smaller blocks. It was at this time that Carlo Catani had some involvement with Pental Island, as The Age reported in March 1902 -

Pental Island. The question of control. Now that the Council of Agricultural Education, in defiance of the general demand that the control of Pental Island should be vested in a more competent authority, has decided to subdivide and lease the area without regard to the question of effecting necessary improvements, the Minister of Lands has at last resolved to step in. He sent a letter to the council yesterday making a definite offer in cash in order to induce the council to give up its control of the island. In doing this, the Minister states that he has been fortified with a report from Mr. Catani, the engineer of the Public Works department, which was originally prepared on behalf of the Council of Agricultural Education. There are in all some 16,140 acres in the island. In order to make virtually the whole of this suitable for settlement, levees will have to be constructed, which Mr. Catani estimates will run into a matter of some £8000 at £200 a mile for 40 miles of embankment, 4 feet 6 inches wide at the top. In addition, a bridge will have to be constructed over the Little Murray, and other incidental works will bring the cost of putting the island into a fit condition for settlement probably very near £10,000, according to the departmental estimate. This is an expenditure the Agricultural College Council could not undertake, and its proposal for escaping interference by pretending to make the Pental Island available for settlement is therefore farcical in the extreme. It is thought possible by the Minister of Lands however, that he can induce the council to part with the island for a consideration. At present it returns that body about £750 a year in rentals. Mr. Duggan is offering what he considers to be sufficient to compensate the council for a fair proportion of this. Whether it will be deemed enough to compensate the members for depriving them of one of their chief playthings remains to be seen. If that body is agreeable to his proposal, Mr. Duggan will as speedily as possible have Pental Island adapted for purposes of closer settlement. He has been given to understand that the suggested levee works will be the means of protecting the island permanently against inundations. (4)

Another report had the dimensions of Carlo's levee banks as -  4 feet 6 inches high and 4 feet 6 inches wide at the top, with a batter of 2 feet to 1 and a further report has this information -  the average height of the banks is about 11 feet above summer level, and that the highest flood mark is about 14 feet above the summer level. This would leave the island at flood time about 3 feet under water. Mr Catani estimates that a bank about 4 feet 6 inches high would be necessary to keep the flood waters off the land. (5) 

It does not appear that the Minister for Lands was successful in wrestling control of Pental Island from the Council of Agricultural Education, and in August 1902 it was reported that -
The outcome of the conference was a meeting of the Premier and the Minister for Agriculture yesterday, and it was subsequently announced that it had been determined to agree to the issue of the leases for the full term of 14 years, and at the rentals specified in the conditions laid down by the council. These rentals average 2/5¾ per acre. A modification, subject to ratification by the trustees, was made, however, to the effect that the leases will be liable to resumption by act of Parliament at any time after three years, provided that at least 12 months' notice of intention to resume is given to the lessees; the lessees to be entitled to compensation for any improvements that may then be in existence, based on their value at the time of resumption. (6)   

Carlo's levee banks were  not built at the time and even in 1914, the opinion of the Kerang New Times was that each new lease on Pental Island will probably contain a clause making it compulsory on the lessee to construct a levee bank to prevent flooding. (7)  In 1916, Pental Island was flooded although the settlers had been hard at work building up embankments against the flood waters. (8)

Levee banks of some description were in place in the 1920s - but these caused another problem, as reported in The Australasian -

on the Victorian side, particularly along Pental Island, levee banks have been built by the settlers, and they fear that the level of the river will be dangerously raised if banks are erected opposite their own, thus controlling the river in a narrow channel. This belief is so strongly held that cases are frequently quoted where settlers on the opposite banks have cut through the levees to relieve their on inundation. (9)

A flood occurred in 1931, when Pental Island was part of Dookie Agricultural College, even though it is protected from flooding by levee banks, which in flood time have frequently been found broken. (10).  Twenty years later, in 1951, there was another flood, the highest Murray River flood since the 1931 floods, when the flood waters were lapping perilously near the top of the levees desperately raised by the island’s farmers, working waist-deep in water. (11)

This is a very sad state of affairs for the farmers and 1951 wasn't the last flood they suffered.  We don't know if Pental Island could have been safe from floods if Carlo's proposed levee banks were constructed in 1902;  but, not for the first time, his recommendations and plans were ignored by the Government of the day.

Footnotes
(1) Geelong Advertiser, September 21, 1872, see here. 
(2) The Age, October 28, 1885, see here 

(3) The Weekly Times, November 8, 1884, see here.
(4) The Age, March 19, 1902, see here.

(5) The Age, August 28, 1902, see here; Ballarat Star, March 20, 1902, see here.

(6) The Australasian, August 23, 1902, see here.
(7) Kerang New Times, March 24, 1914, see here.
(8) The Age, October 5, 1916, see here.
(9) The Australasian, May 31, 1924, see here.
(10) The Argus, August 6, 1931, see here. 

(11) Sun News-Pictorial, August 7, 1951, see here. This, and the 1931 flood, are not an exhaustive list of Pental Island floods, just two examples which refer to the levee banks.