Carlo and the Port Melbourne Foreshore Beautification works

In April 1913, the Port Melbourne Council developed plans to  beautify their foreshore between the Town Pier and the Railway Pier. The Town Pier was at the end of Bay Street and Railway Pier is now called Station Pier. The project was costed at £3000 and the Council was hoping that the State Government would pay half on a £1 for £1 basis. (1)   

Map of Port Melbourne - Railway/Station Pier is in the centre and the 

Town Pier is on the right.

Municipality of Port Melbourne. c. 1921. Publisher: Anderson, Gowan Pty. Ltd.

See the full map at the State Library of Victoria here http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/118445

This beautification project had been a long term aim of the Council, in fact as The Herald reported in April 1913 -  For upwards of 20 years the improvement of the beach front Port Melbourne between the railway and town piers, has been left for discussion by candidates for municipal honors, and not until quite recently has the question taken any definite shape. (2)  

There were various reasons advanced why this beautification work was desirable -  
That the current conditions gave a poor impression to visitors - Port Melbourne was a great gateway of the city, and new arrivals received first impressions there. Other councillors supported the request. It was stated that 50,000 persons visited the town pier last Sunday to see the steamer Melbourne, and several speakers confessed that they were ashamed at the present condition of the foreshore. (3)
That the late Premier, was in favour of it - This request was made in accordance with a promise given by the late Sir Thomas Bent. Several speakers urged the need for providing oversea visitors coming to Melbourne for the first time with a more pleasant outlook than the present foreshore. (4)
That it would provide a healthy environment for the locals - It was a boon for the people living in the small tenement houses to be able to enjoy the sea air. It was necessary that this should be so from a health point of view. (5) As Mr Edgar, the Minister for Public Works wanted - a line of improvements from Port Melbourne to Brighton. The seashore was a health resort, and it was the duty of the Government and the municipalities to provide a pleasant place for crowded people, with facilities to get there. (6)
That as the seashore was a health resort, it was considered the duty of the Government and the municipalities to provide a pleasant place for crowded people, with facilities to get there. (7)
That it would provide viewing opportunities for ship watching - [improvements would allow] vehicles might draw up and watch the shipping of the port without interfering with the ordinary road traffic or the trams. (8)

The Herald reported on the current condition of the area -  the stretch of beach between the town pier and the lagoon jetty, which is an eyesore. At this spot, right in front of Messrs. Harper's factory, the Metropolitan Gas Co. are constantly placing old stones and brickbats to save the constant washing out of the sand. If this precaution was not taken the company's tramway would be in jeopardy. (9)

To bring this project to fruition a deputation from the Council met with Mr Edgar, and the local M.L. A., Mr Sangster. The Council presented the plan which Mr A. V. Heath, the Council Engineer, Surveyor and Town Clerk, had prepared for completely remodelling the front between Beach street and the water line, the estimated cost of which was in the vicinity of £3000. This provided for the construction of a line of small rockeries, commencing from the present ashphalted footway. Beyond this, a carriage drive, 33 ft. wide, would enable vehicles to be driven around in a continuous line from Bay street to Princes street, and a promenade 20 ft. wide was designed between the carriage-way and the water front.  (10) A rotunda and public conveniences, were also proposed, as well as a sea wall 1,100 feet along the shore. (11)

Mr Edgar said that he did not see how the Government could refuse to assist the council, as financial aid had been granted to other municipalities along the shores of the bay in carrying out  similar works  (12) and that he would visit the area with Carlo Catani, the Public Works Department Engineer.

Mr Edgar and Carlo inspected the Port Melbourne foreshore on April 8, 1913. The Herald reported that the two men were met -

by the mayor and councillors. The Mayor, accompanied by Councillers J.P. Crichton, W. Howe, and O.Sinclair and Mr G. Sangster, M.L.A.,were present. Mr Catani submitted views showing various designs of foreshore promenades on the Continents, and recommended the Council to adopt palm plantation and the setting of pittosporum. Mr Edgar said that the proposal meet with his entire sympathy, but in view of the near approach of the election he would make no definite declaration. (13)

The Port Melbourne Standard had a report on the visit - 

Mr. Catani brought with him a quantify of views, showing a multitude of water fronts on the Continent. Some of these looked very fine and smart (better than anything South or St. Kilda way), and some had been constructed even where the area was more restricted than at Port Melbourne. He suggested the planting of tree palms, and said he had plenty of these in Melbourne. 

The particular palm tree referred to by Mr. Catani thrived particularly well on sandy beaches, and was much in ornamental evidence on Continental sea fronts. A species of pittosporum, known as the Cheniese, which was illustrated growing close to the water's edge, was also loudly praised and said to be suitable. Of course this ornamentation was suggested in conjunction with promenades for pedestrians and vehicular traffic. Mr. Catani thought it would be well to induce the railway department to remove the cottages from the vicinity of the railway station, so that the promenade could extend from pier to pier. The cottages referred to are better known to residents as the pay office for the Stevedoring Company.  (14)

Because this is a blog devoted to Carlo here are two more reports of his involvement - 

Mr. Catani, who recently returned from an extended tour abroad, submitted a number of news of ornamental promenades on the Continent, where the area available was more limited than that at Port Melbourne. Mr. Catani recommended the plantation of certain species of palms as adaptable to the sandy beach, by way of ornamentation.  (15) And a fourth report on Carlo's input was - Mr. Catani recommended the council to adopt a scheme similar to that with which promenades had been beautified in the Riviera, and mentioned palm and hedge plantations as means of beautification.  (16) Carlo was much in favour of pittosporum as while on his tour abroad he had come across a pittosporum which, washed by the sea-water, grew luxuriantly on the foreshore. (17)

Mr Edgar said that the proposal meet with his entire sympathy, but in view of the near approach of the election he would make no definite declaration. (18)

Apparently, as The Age reported, Mr Edgar's position led to 

An animated argument took place on the beach yesterday between the Minister, Mr. Sangster, M.L.A., and several Port Melbourne councillors as to the propriety of a definite Ministerial promise being made before the Legislative Council election takes place. The area is within Port Melbourne province, one of the representatives of which is Mr. Edgar, who is to be opposed at the election in June next. The Minister assured the councillors, that he was as favorably disposed towards the idea as any Minister possibly could he, but he did not think it advisable to make a definite declaration before the elections. He feared that any promise he might make at the present stage would be misconstrued into an act of favoritism towards his constituents. (19)

In May, the Port Melbourne Standard reported that the Mayor, Cr Russell met with Mr Holder, Chairman of the Harbour Trust Commissioners, with the object  to get that disreputable piece of foreshore between the town pier and the lagoon put into shape....It was represented that if the pile driving was continued between the pier and the lagoon, so as to form a wall, that the intervening space between Beach Street and the piles would be filled in, a promenade made, and seats provided.  (20). Mr Holder was supportive of the idea, and subsequently at a Council meeting held on May 27, 1913 the following motion was passed - 

That the Council take whatever steps are necessary to borrow the sum of money for the purpose of carrying out the improvements to the foreshore, also the purchase of a steam roller and other purposes deemed necessary. (21)  In July the Council moved a motion to borrow the money for this project and others, once loaning conditions and Interest become easier. (22)

Port Melbourne Foreshore in July 1898, before any beautification works. The Freemason's Hotel stands prominently on the corner of Beach Street and Stokes Street.

Kate Beckett with her children Lawrie, George and Nell, Port Melbourne, July 3, 1898. Photographer: Thomas Beckett. Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/773190

Nothing had happened by November 1913, but the community was optimistic,  and it was reported that - 

Ex-Cr. Armstrong....said that although Port Melbourne foreshore was not as attractive now as it should be, he looked forward to the time when the new pier was completed and the improvements on the foreshore made that they intended to make. When that was done - the improvements at the St. Kilda end were only the beginning - despised Port Melbourne would be the best part of the foreshore yet. (23)

In September 1914, the Port Melbourne Council was told by Mr Hagelthorn,  the Minister for Works that ornamental works such as the Port Melbourne beautification scheme was not being funded by the Government. As the scheme relied on Government funding for half the cost, this put the project back. They were refused funding again in February 1915. However,  in the  November of that year, Mr Hagelthorn said that if the Council funded the whole project £3000 then they will be refunded half after the War ends. (24)

The Council did find the money and in August 1916 the  Port Melbourne Standard could report on the progress of the beautification works - 

At a cost of £3,000 the work of beautifying the foreshore at Port Melbourne, between Bay Street and the railway station, is nearly completed.....The plan of ornamentation, which is greatly admired, and particularly so by visitors to the town, is that of Mr. A. V. Heath, town surveyor. A concrete wall longitudinally divide the beach into two sections. The portion of the shore washed by the sea has been left in its natural state, and the stretch of foreshore on the road side of the wall has been transformed into asphalted promenades, lawns skirted with shrubberies, and gravelled walks. Opposite Princes street there is a gravelled ring, in the centre of which a band will play in summer. Along this front in the warm weather, thousands of people will be able to get a blow of sea-cooled air, resting on the seats or strolling along the walks in delightful surroundings. (25)

It appears that the only thing  now that marred the Port Melbourne foreshore was the fact that some of it was under the control of the Harbour Trust and who were not proactive in keeping it clean.  At a meeting of the Port Melbourne Council Public Works Committee in August 1916, Cr Gill had this exchange with  Mr Heath, the  Council Surveyor and Town Clerk -

Cr. Gill: The beach between the wall and the sea is very dirty. Filth and rubbish has been accumulating there. Could it be cleaned up? I would suggest employing some men to clean it up.
Mr Heath: The beach belongs to the Harbor Trust. (26)

Mr Heath contacted the Harbour Trust and a month later this was their response, as reported at a Council meeting -
"With regard to the foreshore at Port Melbourne, between the Railway and Town Piers, being kept clean, all has been done by this Trust that can reasonably be expected. If your council can make any suggestion for improving the condition of the foreshore the Commissioners will be pleased to co-operate with the council in carrying such suggestions into effect." 

Cr. Gill: A good deal could be done on the foreshore by the trust. Firstly, all the stone ballast left in bygone days just about low water mark could be removed. Secondly, old posts left standing could be removed. Thirdly, all the refuse from ships floating into the beach could be removed. Now that the mailboats moor to the new Railway Pier, if the beach between the old Railway and Town Piers were cleared up, it would remain clean. We want a stretch of clean sand for the thousands of people who will visit the beach in the summer. I move that the trust be advised accordingly.
Cr. Tucker: The beach is strewn with half loaves of bread and lumps of meat.  (27)

We can gauge the success of the Port Melbourne Foreshore Beautification scheme by this report in The Herald in January 1919, under the headline - Dull Places Brightened. Post Melbourne Reserves made Florally Attractive. 

One of the most interesting evidences of well directed effort, in improvements that can be effected with plant life, is to be seen along the foreshore that fronts Beach street, between the town pier and the Port Melbourne railway station. Within the last three years a change that was considered impossible has been effected. When the suggestion was made that plants should be cultivated there it was ridiculed. It was contended that the sea air would make successful growth impossible. A scheme, prepared by Mr Arthur V. Heath, C.E., the town clerk, treasurer, and surveyor, of the Port Melbourne municipality, was approved of, and results have exceeded anticipations. Inside a concrete structure that breaks the wash of the waves, an open garden has been created, and various kinds of flowering plants bloom throughout the year within a few feet of the sea, without any protection other than that which sunken beds provide. This place is known as Sinclair parade, and the general lay out of it reflects credit on the skill and taste of Mr Heath. (28)

Sinclair Parade was  named for Owen Sinclair (1862-1927). He was a Port Melbourne Councillor at the time of his death in June 1927 and had served in this role for twenty one years; he was also a Member of the Legislative Assembly from 1915 until 1917. (29)

Beach Street, Port Melbourne, c. 1920s after the beautification works. 

 The Freemason's Hotel is on the left. 

The rotunda was erected in 1918, I will write about this soon.

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria image H32492/4655

Before we leave Port Melbourne  we will have  a quick look at the life of Mr Heath, who was responsible for the beautification works. Arthur Victor Heath died on November 23, 1939 and the following is from his obituary in the Emerald Hill Record - 

Mr. Heath entered the Port Melbourne Borough Council in 1887, when Mr. Edward Clarke was town clerk, and served under Mr. E. C. Crockford, Town Clerk, from 1891 to 1910, when he was appointed city engineer and town clerk. He had been city engineer from 1892. Mr. Heath retired in 1920, when Mr. S. S. Anderson became town clerk of Port Melbourne. Though he had resided in Tasmania most of the time since his retirement, Mr. Heath had never lost interest in the town he served so long and faithfully. He was keenly interested in the Centenary celebrations, and regretted that indifferent health prevented him playing an active part in honouring the historic occasion. (30)

His Age obituary added this interesting fact - 

While he was in Port Melbourne Mr. Heath, who was an authority on mathematics, prepared a thesis on quick gears, and his work on the subject was highly commended by Melbourne University. (31)

Trove list - I have created a list of articles on Trove connected to the Port Melbourne Foreshore Beautification works, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) History of the Town Pier  https://www.pmhps.org.au/2022/03/town-pier/

(2) The Herald, April 8, 1913, see here.

(3) The Herald, April 2, 1913, see here.

(4) The Age, April 4, 1913, see here.

(5) The Age, April 4, 1913, see here.

(6) The Herald, April 2, 1913, see here.

(7) The Herald, April 2, 1913, see here.

(8) The Age, April 4, 1913, see here.

(9) Port Melbourne Standard, April 12, 1913, see here.

(10) The Herald, April 8, 1913, see here.

(11) The Herald, April 2, 1913, see here; The Age, April 4, 1913, see here.

(12) Port Melbourne Standard, April 5, 1913, see here.

(13) The Herald, April 8, 1913, see here.

(14) Port Melbourne Standard, April 12, 1913, see here.

(15) The Argus, April 9, 1913, see here.

(16) The Age, April 9, 1913, see here.

(17) The Herald, April 2, 1913, see here.

(18) The Herald, April 8, 1913, see here.

(19) The Age, April 9, 1913, see here.

(20) Port Melbourne Standard, May 17, 1913, see here.

(21) Port Melbourne Standard, May 31, 1913, see here.

(22) The Herald, July 2, 1913, see here.

(23) Port Melbourne Standard, November 29, 1913, see here.

(24) The Herald, September 30, 1914, see here; The Age, February 11, 1915, see here; The Age, November 10, 1915, see here.

(25) Port Melbourne Standard, August 12, 1916, see here.

(26) Port Melbourne Standard, August 12, 1916, see here.

(27) Port Melbourne Standard, September 9, 1916, see here.

(28) The Herald, January 11, 1919, see here.

(29) Emerald Hill Record, June 25, 1927, see here; http://parliament.vic.gov.au/members/owen-sinclair/

(30) Hobart Mercury, November 24, 1939, see here; Emerald Hill Record, December 2, 1939, see here.

(31) The Age, November 25, 1939, see here.

The death of Catherine Lucy Catani

It is one hundred years since Catherine Lucy Catani, the widow of Carlo, died on August 6, 1925. She died at their home, 39 Blessington Street, St Kilda of senile anaemia and myocarditis at the age of 68. Catherine had been seen by Doctor Morton, the day before and the duration of last illness was stated to be seven days. Dr Morton was, I believe, Reginald Lonsdale Morton of 14 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, who was also Carlo's doctor. (1)

As a matter of interest, when she was married on May 18, 1886, Catherine's age was listed as being 26, which if correct makes her year of birth as c. 1860. Her age at death means her birth year was c. 1857. Not the first time any genealogist has come across a discrepancy of this kind.  

Catherine was buried the next day at the Brighton General Cemetery, in the same grave as Carlo and Eugenie. (2)

There was a death notice in The Herald on the day of her death and the same notice appeared the next day in The Argus and The Age. (3)

Death notice of Catherine Catani

The Herald, August 6, 1925 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243620719

The Herald published the following short obituary the next day.

Short obituary of Catherine Catani

The Herald, August 7, 1925 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243624814

A week later, the Koo Wee Rup Sun published this obituary. You might have thought that given Carlo's long term connection to the drainage works on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp, that the Koo Wee Rup Sun would know that he was the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, rather than the Chief Commissioner of the State River and Water Supply Commission. However, other than that, it was nice that her passing was recognised. 

Obituary of Catherine Catani

Koo Wee Rup Sun, August 13, 1925, p.4

We know very little about Catherine. Some wives of prominent men appeared in the social columns of the newspapers when they attended charitable or church functions, but I cannot find any references to Catherine in this regard, she seems to have been a very private person. She also had the grief of losing their first child Edward  when he was just one year old in 1887; the death of their middle daughter, Eugenie,  on August 1, 1915 at the age of 19; followed by the death of their middle son, Enrico,  who was Killed in Action in France on July 29, 1916 at the age of 25. Not to mention, of course, Carlo's death at the young age of 66 on July 20, 1918. 

Footnotes
(1) https://carlocatani.blogspot.com/2024/06/the-health-of-carlo.html

(2) Their son Ettore, was also buried in the grave after his death in 1967. .https://carlocatani.blogspot.com/2018/12/unveiling-of-catani-family-grave.html

(3) The Age, August 7, 1925, see here; The Argus, August 7, 1925, see here.

The residences of Carlo Catani

This post looks at the residences Carlo and Catherine Catani lived in after their marriage in May 1886.

Florence Cottage, 4 Mahoney Street, Fitzroy
Carlo and Catherine married on May 18, 1886 and their address on the marriage certificate was Marney Street, Fitzroy. This is a phonetic rendering of Mahoney Street. Whilst they were living in Fitzroy their first child Edward or Edoardo was born on June 2, 1886 and as noted on his birth certificate his place of birth was Florence Cottage, Mahoney Street, Fitzroy. Little Edward died on June 14, 1887 and the address on his death certificate was 4 Mahoney Street.

Catani entry in the City of Fitzroy Rate books, November 1886

From Ancestry.com.  Click on image to enlarge.

On May 31, 1888 their second child and first daughter, Elvira May (known as Vera) was born at Florence Cottage.

Birth of Elvira at Florence Cottage

The Argus, June 9, 1888 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6131161

Carlo is in the City of Fitzroy Rate books dated November 1886 and December 1887. He is listed as the owner and the building is described as being of four rooms and constructed of brick.

116 Malvern Road, Prahran
Sometime between May 1888 - the birth of Elvira -  and before November 1888 - the date of the City of Prahran Rate book - Carlo and Catherine moved to a five room brick house at 116 Malvern Road, Prahran (later numbered as 468) owned by Reuben Jackson. Carlo is also listed at Malvern Road in the November 1889 Prahran Rate books.

54 Murray Street, Prahran
The City of Prahran Rate books show that in November 1890 the Catani family were at 54 Murray Street, Prahran (originally numbered as 16) renting a 6 roomed weatherboard house from William Davies. The Catani's third child, Enrico Ferdinando was born while they were living at 54 Murray Street on January 19, 1891.

Birth of Enrico at Murray Street, Prahran

The Argus, January 31, 1891  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8471316

Oak Avenue, Elsternwick
By December 1892, the Catanis had moved from Murray Street to Oak Avenue in Elsternwick. In February 1893, the Shire of Caulfield Rate books list Carlo in a nine-room brick house in Oak Avenue, Carlo owned the house with the mortagee, the Royal Insurance Company.  On March 15, 1893,  their third son and fourth child, Ettore Luigi was born there. 

Birth of Ettore at Oak Avenue, Elsternwick

The Argus April 1, 1893 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8532317

Dandenong Road, East Malvern
At some time they moved from Oak Avenue to a property on Dandenong Road, East Malvern and this is where their second daughter and fifth child, Eugenia Anastasia was born on August 13, 1895.

  

Birth of Eugenia at East Malvern

The Argus, August 31, 1895 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9372701

As we can see from the entry in the 1895 Sands McDougall Directory, below, the house was two doors up from the Turf Club Hotel, between  Clarence Street and Tooronga Road. 

Entry for Carlo Catani in the 1895 Sands & McDougall's Melbourne and Suburban Directory

From State Library of Victoria

Carlo had actually owned this land from as early as 1889 as he was listed in the Shire of Malvern Rate books for the property.   The Rate books have the notation - Build'g in Pro + 15 ft land vacant - presumably this means building in progress.  The 1893 Rate books list Carlo as owning a brick shop of six rooms leased to Thomas Miles, a draper and a vacant block.  By 1895, he had three parcels of land - 2 vacant blocks and the brick building of  six rooms; Carlo and family were still living there in December 1896. 

Catani entry in the Shire of Malvern Rate book, 1889.

From Ancestry.com. From Ancestry.com.  Click on image to enlarge.

It is clearly the same property as listed in the Sands & McDougall Directory, as you can see from the fuller entry from the Rate books, below, which lists Carlo in the same section as John Heywood, the owner of the Turf Club Hotel.  Heywood was also a  Shire of Malvern Councillor and you can read about him, here.  

Catani and Heywood entries in the Shire of Malvern Rate book, 1889.

From Ancestry.com.  Click on image to enlarge.

Glenluce, 4 Elm Grove, Armadale
In 1897, the family made the move to Glenuce, 4 Elm Grove in Armadale. This was a newly constructed weatherboard house of ten rooms. The last child of Carlo and Catherine, a daughter named Enid Marguerite, was born at Glenluce on November 3, 1899. They lived there until around May 1912, when the house was removed for railway duplication works - I have written about this here.

Birth of Enid at Glenluce. The suburb was listed as Toorak, but it was actually Armadale. 

The Argus, November 18, 1899  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9038456 

Orrong Road, Elsternwick

After the family left Elm Grove, the Electoral Rolls show they lived for a short time in Orrong Road in Elsternwick.

Wyndham, 39 Blessington Street, St Kilda

Carlo and Catherine's final home was at Wyndham, 39 Blessington Streeet, St Kilda (later renumbered as 61). This was a recently constructed brick house of nine main rooms and they moved there in 1913. Carlo died on July 20, 1918 and Catherine and her children remained at Wyndham until her death on August 6, 1925. The house was sold out of the family in 1926.  You can read more about Wyndham in Blessington Street,  here.

Death notice of Catherine Catani at Wyndham.

The Argus, August 7, 1925 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2152675

Sources: Victorian Rate Books on Ancestry.com; Victorian Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Sands & McDougall's Melbourne and Suburban Directories from the State Library of Victoria; Birth and death certificates and birth notices in the newspapers from Trove.

Carlo and the issue of Mixed Bathing

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

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

Lake Catani, c. 1910.

Photographer: F. Foxtrot.

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

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

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

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

along the beach. (3)

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

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

The Prahran Telegraph reported on the debate - 

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

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

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

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

In a follow-up report, two weeks later - 

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

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

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

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

The Canadian costume, compulsory attire for mixed bathing.

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

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

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

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

The report ends with - 

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

The Truth newspaper headline

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

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

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

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

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

Footnotes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(8) Ibid. 

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

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

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

Carlo's neighbour, Otto Treichel

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

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

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

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

The postcard addressed to Otto Treichel from the Tasmania Philatelic Society

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

Otto seeks postage stamps from Western Australia

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

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

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

Otto, the zither player

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

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

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

Sale of Otto's Household Furniture and Effects

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

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

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

State Library of Victoria image H33677/9. 

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

Otto's business moves to 197 Chapel Street

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

35 Blessington Street, St Kilda

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

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

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

Woodlands for sale

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

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

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

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

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

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

Google Street View, 2022

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

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

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

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

57 Blessington Street up for auction

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Johanna Treichel's death notice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(16) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(24) Death date from Probate listing at PROV.

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