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.

Carlo Catani and the Henley on Yarra Regatta

Alexandra Avenue, designed by Carlo Catani, was officially opened by the  Duke of Cornwall and York on May 17, 1901. The land adjacent to the Avenue was turned into a public park in 1904 and this park was also designed by Carlo and was named Alexandra Gardens. In Autumn 1908, Carlo and George Cooper, laid out the Henley Lawn in the Gardens.  George Cooper had worked with Carlo Catani from 1900 on the landscaping of Alexandra Avenue and at the Alexandra Gardens, where he was the head curator until 1917 (1).  It was on the Henley Lawn where spectators by the thousands lined up to watch the annual Henley-on-Yarra rowing regatta.

The Australasian in 1910 had a short history of the regatta which takes place as usual on Saturday next, October 22 (the Saturday between Caulfield Cup and Derby Day). This will be the eighth Henley-on Yarra, the first having been held on March 19, 1904. There was a good deal of speculation then as to how a big social regatta would "catch on" here, where none but those immediately concerned took an interest in rowing races; but the choice of date and the foresight of the promoters in reproducing in modest way the features of the Royal Henley Regatta soon made the fixture one which claimed everyone's attention. Succeeding years have served to popularise the regatta, and each year the watchful executive, profiting by experience, adds some new attraction (2).

This post looks at any connections I can find between Carlo and the Henley Regatta, and is illustrated by postcards from my collection. The connection started as early as 1905 when it was reported that -
Through the courtesy of Mr. Davidson and Mr. Catani, of the Public Works department, the committee has been provided with certified measurements of the courses taken by boats racing on the north and south stations respectively. These show that the boat on the south station, if it starts from a line parallel with Anderson-street bridge and finish on a line at right angles to the river bank, has 7 feet 7 inches less distance than the northern crew. This discrepancy will be corrected by a special surveyed finishing line, which will be marked out to-day. (3). William Davidson was the Inspector General of Public Works.

The1905 Henley Regatta took place on the course certified by Carlo and William Davidson.

This postcard was addressed to Miss Schieder, State School 2957, Victoria Park at Abbotsford. 

The 1905 Electoral Rolls shows a Bertha Schieder of 14 Trenery Crescent, Abbotsford, who was a teacher. 

She lived with Ethel who was a dressmaker and Paulina, home duties.

It was in 1908 that the new lawn was laid out - 

The transfer of the Henley reserve from the north to the south bank was a distinct improvement. Last year spectators had to promenade on a narrow uneven slope along the north bank, but on Saturday the tastefully designed reserve alongside Alexandra-parade provided ample accommodation and an excellent view of the races. The reserve, which was temporarily fenced for the occasion, was laid out by Mr. Catani, of the Public Works department. Its walks and lawns and general scheme at once suggest the hand of an artist. (4).

There was a slight criticism of the lawn in Table Talk, but clearly it was caused by circumstances beyond the control of both Carlo and George - The Henley lawn was laid down in the autumn by Mr. C. Catani, assisted by Mr. Cooper. Owing to a variety of circumstances the lawn is not in as good condition as was expected, but it will nevertheless make an excellent outlet for the crush and crowding of the old reserve on the north side. (5).

Getting ready for Henley on Yarra, Melbourne.

Postcard not dated and not used postally.

An 1908 article reported on the grown of the gardens - 

The course starts a short distance above the Botanical-gardens bridge, and finishes at the Henley lawn, which was laid down by the Public Works department, and under the personal superintendence of Mr Catani, the officer responsible for the beautiful Alexandra avenue and river gardens. When the palms, which will be planted along the paths, grow up, and the grass has time to get a good hold the lawn will be a fine addition to the riverside improvements, and the enterprise of the Henley Association and the Public Works department will give another beauty spot to Melbourne. (6).

There was a further report in 1910 - The fine lawn laid down by Mr. Catani and the officers of his department on the south bank of the Yarra, with its rockeries and shrubs, has now matured into a pretty garden. The English trees, which mark both banks of the river, have put on their new leaves, and the grass on the slopes is in perfect condition. (7)

The Palms Refreshment Kiosk, Henley Lawns.

Postcard not dated and not used postally.

The Palms Refreshment Room, on Henley Lawn, Alexandra Gardens took advantage of the palms planted by Carlo Catani and George Cooper. The Refreshment Rooms were built by the City of Melbourne, who held a competition for the design, which was won by Architects Messrs Blackett and Forster. They opened officially on March 19, 1927. (8)  The building was renamed The Dorchester in 1946 and closed and demolished in 1990. (9)

The Palms, Henley Lawns, Alexandra Gardens.

Postcard not dated and not used postally.

Footnotes
(1) I have written about Alexandra Avenue, here; Alexandra Gardens, here; and George Cooper, here. 
(2) The Australasian, October 15, 1910, see here. 
(3) The Age, October 24, 1905, see here.
(4) The Argus, October 26, 1908, see here.
(5) Table Talk, October 22, 1908, see here.
(6) The Argus, October 20, 1908, see here.
(7) The Australasian, October 15, 1910, see here.
(8) The Age, December 11, 1925, see here;  The Herald, December 11 1925, see here; Table Talk, March 17, 1927, see here.

The Palms Kiosk - the Architect's sketch

The Herald, December 11 1925 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243893753

(9) Whitehead, Georgina Civilising the City: a history of Melbourne's Public Gardens (State Library of Victoria, 1997), p. 148.

Notice of Auction of contents of the Dorchester.

The Age, January 16, 1990, page 21, from newspapers.com

Interesting list of the contents of the Dorchester.

The Age, January 20, 1990, p. 91, from newspapers.com

Catani Memorial Clock Tower in photographs

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

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

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

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

Melbourne Harbour Trust Commissioners, 

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

Catani Clock Tower, St Kilda.

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

Catani Memorial Clock Tower and Esplanade, St Kilda.

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

St Kilda Esplanade, 1950. Photographer: Mark Strizic.

State Library of Victoria Image H2008.11/2162

The Gardens and Esplanade, St Kilda.

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

The Catani Clock Tower, St Kilda

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

The Beach, near Baths, St Kilda. 

Love the bikes, this looks like the 1960s. 

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

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

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

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

The Beach and the Baths, St Kilda.

An almost identical view to the postcard, above.

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

The Lower Esplanade, St Kilda

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

Lower Esplanade and Lawns, St Kilda

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

Upper and Lower Esplanade from St Kilda Yacht Club

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

The Upper and Lower Esplanades St Kilda. 

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

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

View from the Pier, St Kilda

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

The Beach and Catani Clock, St Kilda. 

An almost identical view as the above.

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

The Beach, St Kilda. 

Another view from the Pier.

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

Princes Walk Palms

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

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

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

 Princes Walk. 

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

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

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

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

Yarra River and Princes Bridge. Photographer: Robert Scott.

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

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

Henley Regatta, Melbourne. Photographer: Robert Scott

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

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

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

Henley on the Yarra. Photographer: George Rose. 

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

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

The Princes Walk Palms, c. 1908

River Yarra from Princes Bridge. 

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

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

Princes Bridge. Public Works Department photographer.

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

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

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

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

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

Princes Bridge, Melbourne. 

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

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

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

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

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

Image: EBay.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Floods, Yarra from Princes Bridge.

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

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

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

Melbourne Street and Surrounds

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

The Princes Walk Palms, c. 1940.

Princes Walk ferry terminal. 

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

The Princes Walk Palms, c. 1940

River Yarra

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

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

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

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

Rose Series postcard showing the Palms, from Princes Walk. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The last palm standing.

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

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

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

Acknowledgement and Trove list

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

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

Sources

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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