What did Carlo earn?

Carlo Catani was an extraordinarily busy man as Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department of Victoria and his design and engineering skills were much in demand, so what did he earn for all this work? Well, it turns out that he just got the normal Victorian Public Service salary.

The Age reported on February 25, 1910 that at a meeting of the Executive Council held yesterday, Mr. C. Catani, engineer-of roads, bridges and harbor works, was promoted to be chief engineer of the Public Works department. His present salary is £600 a year. Class B 2, to which he has been raised, carries a salary ranging from a minimum of £560 to a maximum of £650.

The Age February 25, 1910.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196082294

So it appears that officers in Class B 2, could be paid as much as £650 per annum, but The Argus on the same day said that  Carlo's appointment came with  a salary of £600 a year and that No increase was made in Mr. Catani's salary, so he had taken on additional responsibilities for no extra money.

Carlo must have eventually had a salary increase as Punch reported on October 24, 1912 on some political gossip about the appointment of the new Agent-General in London and  Other important State appointments are contingent on the carrying of the Main Roads Bill this session. The Chairman of the Main Roads Board is to receive £800 a year. He will almost certainly be Mr. Catani, who has been thinking out the engineering problems of the Public Works Department for many years, and yet gets only £650 a year, a remuneration which the average successful engineer in private practice would scorn. But that is the way with Victorian Governments. They stop short with their salaries for just those valuable expert officers whose brain work means success or disaster to the State's largest public undertakings. Ministers get so little themselves - only from £1000 to £1200 - that they cannot see that it pays the public to pay handsomely for the best expert knowledge.

From this we learn that Carlo was now on £650 per annum, the maximum for Class B 2 Public Servant; that Government Ministers earnt between £1000 to £1200;  that Carlo should have been paid more and the Punch considered that he would be a suitable Chairman  of the Main Roads Board, which paid £800 per annum. Did Carlo ever apply for the Chairman's role? Returning to Punch, in January 1913 they reported that he had declined the position. It may have been because his own position was reclassified in late 1912 and that his salary increased to around £800 per annum (Bendigo Independent).   In the end the organization was known as the Country Roads Board and the first chairman was William Calder (1860 - 1928).  The Calder Highway is named for Mr Calder and you can read his entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, here.

Punch October 24, 1912

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article175803175

When the role of Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department was created the role of Chief Architect was also created. The Herald of May 4, 1910 reported that Lieutenant-Colonel G. W. Watson, a senior architect of the Public Works Department, has been appointed Chief Architect of that Department at a salary of £560 a year.  This was £40 per annum less than Carlo. Was Lieutenant-Colonel George William Watson worried about this? Don't know, but he sadly died in July 1915 and Samuel Charles Brittingham was appointed acting Chief Architect. Due to the War no permanent appointments were being made. Mr Brittingham retired in 1922.

Of course, we do not know how Carlo spent his money, but he obviously used some of it to support community groups and works in St Kilda. This article, below, published after he died, said that he had voluntarily worked for St Kilda Foreshore Committee for 12 years and had even lent the group  £1,400 to  help it continue it work - that's two years worth of salary - a generous amount of money.  Carlo did not leave a will but his probate papers valued his estate at just over £3,645 - £1,448 in real estate and £2,245 in personal property.

Carlo's generosity. The memorials to Carlo came  a bit later - the gardens designed by Carlo on the St Kilda foreshore were named after him in 1927 and the Memorial Clock Tower was unveiled in 1932.

Prahran Telegraph  August 17, 1918

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75258567

An article published in The Age of November 25, 1925 was scathing in reporting this matter, of Carlo having to lend money to the Foreshore Committee in order that they could carry out their beautification works.

A report mentioned Carlo's generous loan to the St Kilda Foreshore Committee. Sadly, the reported  short sighted, unenterprising state of mind that existed in the Government at the time, still exists in Governments today - so no change there.
The Age of November 25, 1925
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155677079

To put these salaries that I have mentioned above into perspective the 1915 Commonwealth Year* book has lists of average wages for the time and a metal worker such as a blacksmith earnt about £170 per annum and and a general labourer about £124. A male shop assistant or clerk was on £91 to £130 and a female on £54 to £78. Clearly, compared to the average man in the street, Carlo was doing well, however given the massive contribution that he made to Victoria and the esteem and affection with which he was held then  I must agree with the Punch writer that They [the Victorian Government] stop short with their salaries for just those valuable expert officers whose brain work means success or disaster to the State's largest public undertakings. 

* Access the Commonwealth Year books, here. Click on Past & Future releases.

I have created  a list of articles on Trove about Carlo's salary - access it here. All articles referenced here are on the list.

Is this Carlo Catani?

I came across this photo the other day and as soon as I saw it, I thought - this has got to be Carlo.  It was taken at the works to divert the course of the Yarra in 1897 to help prevent flooding. You can see a map of the Yarra River Works, here. I am convinced that the man is Carlo Catani - same build, same bowler hat I have seen in other photos;  he had a beard and a moustache like the man in the photo does;  he wore that cutaway style jacket and he was clearly involved with the Yarra River works. Carlo was a very hands-on engineer and it would have been just like him to check out the progress. If it isn't Carlo, then who is it?

Yarra diversion works, Melbourne, 1897. Photographer: John Henry Harvey

State Library of Victoria Accession no: H2009.100/66

The City of Port Phillip honours Carlo Catani

In the past few months, the City of Port Phillip have erected three interpretive signs connected to Carlo Catani - one in the Catani Gardens in St Kilda, one at the Catani Archway and the other at the site of Carlo's now demolished house in Blessington Street in St Kilda.  Well done to the City of Port Phillip for recognising and celebrating their history!

This is the sign in the Catani Gardens

This is the wording - the photo was supplied by the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society, of which I am President. Ironically, there is no memorial for Carlo on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp unless you count the Swamp town of Catani, which is of course, named for him. However, some sort of memorial is on my list of projects for this year!

This is the Catani Archway in the Catani Gardens - the plaque, mounted on a bluestone plinth, is on the left.

This is the Catani Archway plaque

The Catani Archway plaque includes, the text, above and the image, below.

In 1912, the Catani family home, Glenluce, in Elm Street in Armadale was demolished to make way for the duplication of the railway line between South Yarra and Caulfield, read about this here, and the family moved to Wyndham, 39 Blessington Street,  St Kilda. The house was sold by the family after Catherine Catani died in August 1925. The house has been demolished, the street has been re-numbered (that's why the plaque is at No. 61) and  a block of flats was built on the site, maybe in the 1930s.

This is a close-up of the plaque at Blessington Street.

The Argus, August 21, 1926

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3803792

Wyndham was put up for Auction on Saturday, September 18, 1926. If only I could go back in time, I'd buy the house and make it a permanent shrine to Carlo. Sadly, we don't have  a photograph of Wyndham but this auction notice has a description of the house -  very nice brick villa containing nine rooms, including large dining room. All the rooms are in perfect order. The house is particularly well built and on good foundations...there is also a brick garage with cement floor for 2 cars. Seems too good to have been pulled down and have flats erected on the site however I guess the location situated  in one of the best positions on St Kilda, being near the tram and a splendid shopping centre, sealed it's fate like so many other beautiful houses.

Images: The two photos of the Catani Gardens interpretive sign were taken by me. The four images of the Catani Archway and the two images of  the Blessington Street sign were taken by Isaac Hermann, thanks Isaac!

Postcards of Carlo's Playgrounds

There was an article in The Argus of January 4, 1926 (read it here) with the headlines - Beautifying Melbourne - Our debt to Mr Catani - Maker of Playgrounds

The Argus of January 4, 1926 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3727092

Traditionally, when people visited 'Playgrounds' or recreational or beauty spots, they sent a postcard, so I thought we would have  a look at some postcards, connected to places which Carlo was involved with. There are a lot of postcards on the State Library of Victoria (SLV) website, but I am just limiting this to cards which were actually sent through the post. These three cards were all sent to  Miss M. Prisk, 116 Windermere Street,  Ballarat. There are 22 of her postcards at the SLV.  The State Library has transcribed the messages on the postcards and it seems that she not only collected the postcards but also sent cards to other collectors - around 1906 to 1908 when these cards were sent - postcard collecting was a 'regular rage'. On the back of the Beaconsfield Parade card it is written - Many Thanks for P.C. Would you send my mother one now instead of sending me two each time as she would like some Ballarat Views. Please. Louis [...?] & C. Yes - I would like some more snow scenes - please. The writing on the back of the Japanese Gardens card is  Wishing your Collection Every Success. J. C.  Another of Miss Prisk's postcards at the SLV has this on the back  Dear Miss Prisk, Many thanks for P.C. received . Have you many P.C. in your Collection. It is a regular rage here in town, & I do not think their is a house without an album. I don't know [whither?] Ballarat is [infected?] to the [Ra..?] degree.

Who was Miss Prisk? The cards are generally addressed to Miss M. Prisk but she is also addressed as May, Maisie, Mazie and Mavis. Miss Prisk, was born Rosina May Prisk in 1888 to John and Margaret (nee Allen) Prisk. We can confirm this as the 1906 Electoral Rolls have John Henry Prisk, carter and Margaret Prisk, home duties listed at 116 Windermere Street. May was married to Lieutenant Edward Thomas John Kerby on May 3, 1911 at the Lydiard Street Methodist Church in Ballarat (notice in the Ballarat Star of  April 29, 1911). Edward served in the First World War; he enlisted with the rank of Captain and was later promoted to Major.  They had two children - Donald Edwin Hosking, born in 1912 and James Allan, born 1913. Both the boys served in the RAAF in the Second World War. In 1945, May and Edward divorced and she married Oliver Gladstone Longstaff.  There was already a family connection as Patricia Longstaff, Oliver's daughter by his marriage to his first wife, Margaret Grimes (died 1930), had married May and Edward's son James in 1934. Sadly, James was Killed in Action in Germany in January 1944. Did grief bring May and Oliver together? Oliver Longstaff died in 1965, Edward  Kerby in 1971 and May died in 1980. I wonder if she kept her postcard collection right to the end? The postcards were a gift to the SLV from the National Trust in 1985

Beaconsfield Parade, St Kilda

Message on verso - Many Thanks for P.C. Would you send my mother one now instead of sending me two each time as she would like some Ballarat Views. Please. Louis [...?] & C. Yes - I would like some more snow scenes - please.

State Library of Victoria Image H85.70/126

Beaconsfield Parade was one of Carlo's first jobs - in an article published in the Prahran Telegraph of May 26, 1917 just after his retirement, Carlo looked back at some of his career and said that in 1870 I had to give levels for what we used to call the military road along Beaconsfield Parade to South Melbourne. We took sand from the mounds there, and used it to level the road. (Read the full article, here)

Japanese Gardens, Treasury Reserve, Melbourne
"Best wishes"16/6/1906. Message on verso - Wishing your Collection Every 

Success. J. C.

State Library of Victoria Image H85.70/114

The Treasury  Gardens (or Treasury Reserve as it was known) was designed by Clement Hodgkinson in 1867. The gardens were allowed to deteriorate in the long period of Government frugality from 1892 (Rex Swanson*) The Japanese Garden, in the Treasury Gardens, was designed by William Guilfoyle, Director of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, in 1902. It was bull-dozed in 1948 due to anti-Japanese sentiment after the War.  There was further work at the Treasury Gardens in 1907 when the boundary fences were removed and  in the same year Guilfoyle  was asked to provide plans to improve the gardens, but Rex Swanson writes that the Government of the day did not find the funds to carry it out.  Carlo, through the Public Works Department, was involved with the 1902 work on the Japanese Gardens and the on-going maintenance of Melbourne's Gardens. In 1929 the gardens were taken under the control of the City of Melbourne. 

The Leader newspaper of June 8, 1912  clearly links Carlo with the beautification works -  The St. Kilda shore committee and a number of St Kilda councillors gave a complimentary dinner to Mr. C. Catani at the Savoy Cafe to wish him bon voyage on the occasion of his trip to revisit Italy the and of his birth, an absence of thirty-seven years. Cr. Gibbs occupied the chair, and all present were lavish in their praises of Mr. Catani's work of beautification, not only at the foreshore, but at Alexandra-avenue, Treasury Gardens, and numerous other places. Mr Catani left by the Macedonia on Tuesday, and will be absent for four months. (read the article, here)

Alexandra Avenue, Melbourne
'Best wishes' 12/?/ 1906. There is no message on verso, just Miss Prisk's address. 

State Library of Victoria Image  H85.70/112

Carlo's vision for Alexandra Avenue was to achieve that very important factor of forming a beautiful promenade, worthy of Melbourne, on the bank of the river, where all classes could meet.**  He did achieve that aim and in 1937 The Argus said this about the Avenue - 

Alexandra avenue, whose shadowed and dappled beauty ....must stand, while the City of Melbourne endures, as a lasting monument to the genius, foresight, and pertinacity of Carlo Catani. (The Argus, November 13, 1937, read article, here) I have written before about Carlo's involvement  with Alexandra Avenue and Alexandra Gardens

Sources

*  Melbourne's Historic Public Gardens: a management and conservation guide by Rex Swanson. City of Melbourne, 1984.

I also used Civilising the City: a history of Melbourne's Public Gardens by Georgina Whitehead (State Library of Victoria, 1997)

** Catani’s letter to Inspector General of Public Works, Davidson - 24 July 1896, notes from the Alan Holgate Collection provided by Don Bartlett – VPRS 1139 Unit 2 - courtesy of Isaac Hermann.

Officers of the Public Works Department photograph by Algernon Darge

The Melbourne Punch edition of June 20, 1912 published photos of the staff of the Victorian Railways - Secretary's Branch,  the Victorian Government Statist's Office and the Officers of the Public Works Department. The photos were taken by Algernon  Darge (born as Algernon Charles Gordon Sharp in 1878.  Darge operated as a photographer from 1903 and his office was in the same building as The Herald and The Argus newspapers.  His company  had the concession to take photographs at the Broadmeadows and Seymour army camps during the First World War. In the 1930s, the Australian War Memorial purchased the original glass negatives from Algernon Darge, along with the photographers' notebooks. The notebooks contain brief details, usually a surname or unit name, for each negative. (1) 

Algernon Darge died on January 24, 1941 and his obituary in The Argus of February 3, 1941 described him as - 

a pioneer of commercial photography in Melbourne and reported that his  collection includes many scenes of early Melbourne life, photographs of notable events in the city's history, of the first motor-cars to chug and rattle along its streets- Mr Darge himself was one of the first to use a car for commercial purposes. The obituary also reported on the contents of his will - he left his unique pictorial record of half a century of Melbourne's history, the carefully preserved collection of photographic plates to The Argus.....The residue of his estate is to be held in trust for 21 years, during which the income is to be used for the electrical engineering and mechanical engineering departments of the Melbourne Technical College, where Mr. Darge was formerly an assistant Instructor. The residue will become the property of the college after 21 years. (2)  His ashes were scattered at Mount Matlock, near Woods Point. 

This is the Algernon Darge photo of the Public Works Department Officers, which includes Carlo Catani, which was published in Punch in June 1912. (3)

Officers of the Public Works Department (State). 

 Photographer: Algernon Darge. 

Carlo Catani is in the second row from the front, fifth from the right.

Punch June 20, 1912 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article175618291

Front Row.—Messrs. Mackay, Dimelow, Sawyer, Couve, Morris, Robinson, Hassett, Swanton, Whitley, Bult, Cutler.
Second Row.—Messrs. Harvey, Kerr, Brown,  Brittingham, Watson (Chief Architect), E. T. Drake (Secretary), W. H.Edgar (Minister of Public Works), W. Davidson (Inspector-General), C. Catani (Chief Engineer) C. Clowser (Acting-Chief Clerk), Jamieson, Austin, M'Kenzie.
Third Row.—Messrs. Cartwright, Gibbs, Stevens, Klingender, Campbell, Kennison, Cazaly, Cook, Fricke, M'lntosh, Thomas, Robertson, M'Cormick, Ridoutt, Hall, Neal, Moore, Searle, Clarke, Keeley, Couchman, Abbott, Simpson. Spiers.
Fourth Row.—Messrs. Pooley, Hooks, Hewitt, Tingate, Chambers, Pike, Cobby, Greenless, Glass, Campbell, Lewie, Neylon, Matthews, Kennedy, Symons.
Back Row.—Messrs. Gleeson, Lynar, Coney, Fulton, O'Sullivan, Connelly, Grant, Smart, Dewar, Gluth, Clarke, Pollock, Mather, Doig, Bult, Birchell, Hendy.

Public Offices. This watercolour was one of the illustrations on the Illuminated Address presented to Carlo Catani, on his retirement on April 28, 1917. This is building that housed the Public Works Department. The address was illuminated by Mr. R. Fiddes Brown (4) of Messrs. Mason, Firth & McCutcheon.
The original is held at the State Library of Victoria, Manuscripts collection. 

Image of original: Isaac Hermann

The photo taken by Algernon Darge of the Public Works Department Officers, was taken outside the Public Offices, also called the Government Offices, at 2 Treasury Place, East Melbourne; they overlook the Treasury Gardens. The Victorian Heritage database has this to say about the building -  

In 1859 foundations were laid for a third building, the New Treasury Building, in the precinct at No 2 Treasury Place, but this was not completed until 1876. A classical style was adopted by the architect Michael Egan, consistent with the existing government buildings, and this building accommodated the treasurer and other government departments, including the Public Works Department. Major remodelling included the addition of a third floor to the east and west wings in 1933 to designs by Oakley and Parkes, and the addition of the Western Annexe to the north, by Percy Everett of the PWD in 1949 (demolished 1997). No 2A Treasury Place was built in 1873-75 to accommodate the Central Plan Office. (5)

This is another view of the grand and beautiful Government Offices, showing the side elevation, as well as the facade. The corner stones on the left of the Algernon Darge photo can be clearly seen in this photograph. The building on the left is the 1862 Treasury Building. 

Henry J. Bunney collection, State Library of Victoria Image H2006.56/12

Footnotes

(1) Australian War Memorial website https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/DA17666

(2) The Argus, February 3, 1941, see here. 

(3) Punch June 20, 1912, see here.  

(4) R. Fiddes Brown 

https://carlocatani.blogspot.com/2022/11/richard-fiddes-brown-1876-1936.html

(5) https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/801

Catani Park on Lake Colac, Ondit

In the last post we looked at Red Rock Reserve, at Alvie, 15 kms from Colac.  The first time we came across Red Rock and the connection to Carlo Catani was in this article, published in the Colac Reformer, July 21, 1914.

The first and only mention of Catani Park near Colac, that we can find.

Colac Reformer  July 21, 1914

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154147979?

As you can see, the article states that Catani Park at the Red Rock had been planted with trees and that it had also been renamed Meredith Park, after the Colac Shire President, Cr C. W. Meredith, who I believe was Charles William Meredith, farmer, of Warrion. He was married to Charlotte (nee Prime) who died at the age of 49 in 1909. Charles died in Geelong on September 3, 1933, aged 75. 

Being unfamiliar with the area, at first we thought that Catani Park was the original name for Red Rock Reserve, but  is clearly a different location. Catani Park/Meredith Park is north of Lake Colac, at Ondit, rather than near Lake Corangamite  at Alvie as Red Rock Reserve is. This is confirmed by the report below about tree planting at both Red Rock Reserve and Meredith Park.

The very busy Curator at the Colac Gardens had a lot of responsibilities including plating trees at Red Rock Reserve and Meredith Park.

The Colac Reformer, July 17, 1917

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159615344

The only mystery that remains is why was Catani Park named after Carlo originally and then changed to Meredith Park?  Perhaps it was named after Carlo in recognition of the work he did in having Red Rock Reserve set aside, but maybe Carlo would not accept the honour. Or did, he accept the honour, but then the local council decided to re-name it after one of their own? I don't know.

I have created a list of newspaper articles from Trove and websites on the Red Rock Reserve and the Kanawinka Geopark which it is now part of, you can access it, here.

Red Rock Reserve, Colac

On Saturday, April 13 1912 Mr. W. H. Edgar, Minister of Public Works, and Mr. Catani, Engineer for Public Works, accompanied by the secretary of the Colac Progress Association, visited the volcanic lakes at Red Rock, on Mr. R. S. Murray's Wool Wool Estate. It has been proposed to have this part of the property reserved as a public park, and the party was invited to visit it, so as to be informed on the subject, at first hand, should the matter come before Parliament. The visitors were much impressed with the great natural beauty of the spot. (The Age April 15, 1912)

A year later in May 1913, Carlo was back in the Colac region. Carlo accompanied by the Colac Shire President, Cr Dunoon and the Shire Engineer, Mr Neylan, amongst others.Their mission was to mark off a block of land on the grass-covered elevation overlooking the Corangamite Lake, and to have it reserved as a public pleasure ground. The site of a really magnificent picnic area was inspected from a vantage point known as Red Rock plateau. The future holiday makers of the Western district will overlook a sweep of lake and timber and pastoral country such as is not to be met with elsewhere in Victoria, if in Australia. This morning, when Mr. Catani and the others made the ascent, a
wonderful vista of sun and shadow and cloud effect was playing over the wide-extending waters of Corangamite; over the five or six basin lakes below; over the dazzling green of the islands in the distance, and over the far-sweeping, darkly outlined contour of the Otway Forest against the horizon.   (The Age, May 8, 1913)

This painting shows the view towards Lake Corangamite, from the rocky outcrop known as Red Rock, near Colac. It was formerly attributed to Nicholas Chevalier on the basis of its supposed resemblance to other work by him. Dated 1862/63.

Caption and image from State Library of Victoria - Image H11609

The Red Rock plateau was part of the Wool Wool Estate, owned by Robert Stuart Murray. The Wool Wool Estate was taken up by Andrew Murray in 1838 - the book Pastoral Pioneers of Port Phillip*, described it as 8,000 acres on the eastern shore of Lake Corangamite.  Robert was Andrew's son. The land seems to have been gradually sold off and Red Rock Reserve area was acquired during one of these land sales - The chance came when the Wool Wool estate was put on the market by Mr R. S. Murray, and steps were immediately taken which resulted in the necessary land being provisionally secured and pathways and roads surveyed by Mr George Cornthwaite, assisted by Mr C. H. Neylon, the Shire Engineer. An estimate was then secured in regard to the cost of the land, fencing and improvements, and as a result, Mr Johnstone [local M.L.A] visited Sir Alexander Peacock, the Acting Treasurer, to-day, and asked for a vote to enable them to secure the reserve. After hearing what Mr Edgar and Mr Catani had to say, the Minister promised a vote of £300 towards making the Red Rock a public reserve. (The Herald, June 18, 1913)

Panorama from Red Rock (Rose Series postcard)
The house is Coragulac, built in 1873 for George Pringle Robertson.

State Library of Victoria  Image H32492/2674

The Reserve was officially opened on December 4, 1915 by the Hon. W. Hutchinson, Minister of Lands - other officials included Hon. D. Mackinnon, M.L.A.; the Hon. John Gray, Government Whip; Mr S. Barnes, M.L.A., chairman, of the Railways Standing Committee ; Mr Allan Cameron. M.L.A.; Mr J. D. Mitchell, M.L.A.; Mr J. M. Reed, Secretary for Lands; Mr C. Catani, Chief Engineer of Public Works; and Mr A. G. Sainsbury, Chief Commissioner of Police, Mr J. G. Johnstone, M L A, plus a raft of local councillors. There were many speeches, extensively reported in the local papers. You can read the reports here and here.

The view from the 768 feet summit was described as The tract of country spread out to view was seen at its very best. From the Otway ranges in the south to the wheat-bearing plains in the north a charming variety of scenery was disclosed. The vast expanse of Lake Corangamite, the largest lake in the State, glistened beneath the sun on the one hand, while the darker waters of Lake Colac presented an imposing picture on the other. The numerous lakelets, reposing in craters at the foot of the hills, showed a wide range of tints. All around the farm lands, broken by clumps of pines, told a tale of Nature's fertility and man's industry, which greatly impressed not only those who saw the panorama for the first time, but also those, who, familiar with the scene had never viewed it under more perfect conditions. (Colac Reformer, December 7, 1915)

My favourite part of the speeches is this (also from Colac Reformer, December 7, 1915) When the people of the district climbed this modern Pisgah, they had a finer view - more beautiful, more prosperous, and more picturesque - than had Moses when he viewed the Promised Land. They had the advantage of Moses, in that he was only to see the land, whereas they had the right to possession. That was the Hon, W. Hutchinson.  The opening ended with luncheon and afternoon tea arrangements [which] were in the hands of Mrs E. E. M'Kean, and were most efficiently carried out. Mrs E.E M'Kean who catered for this glorious occasion was Edith Elizabeth M'Kean - listed in the Electoral Rolls as a confectioner. An article in the Colac Herald of May 7, 1915 said that Mrs M'Kean had been in business for herself for eight to nine years and including the time her husband was alive, for twenty five years, so she was very experienced. I wonder what was on the menu on the day?

The Red Rock, Colac (Rose Series postcard)

State Library of Victoria Image H32492/2676

When Red Rock Reserve, which is technically at Alvie, 15 kms from Colac,  was established with Carlo's assistance it was set aside largely because it offered a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside, however the region now has International significance as part of the Kanawinka Geopark. It is on the eastern edge of the park, which goes through to south east South Australia. Victorian Resources online has this to say about the significance of the area -
Red Rock is one of the most complex eruption points in the Newer Volcanics Province and includes maars, tuff rings and scoria cones with a basal lava flow from another source (probably Warrion Hill). Up to 30 eruption centres have been mapped in the area measuring 4 km by 3 km just south of the township of Alvie and there are several small eruption points just north of the township. The eruption sequence includes an initial extended phase of maar and tuff ring formation with minor intervening scoria phases when phreatomagmatic activity declined due to depletion of groundwater. There are nine entire craters up to 75 m deep, some containing lakes including Lakes Purdiguluc, Werowrap and Coragulac. Lake Purdiguluc is formed by at least five coalescing eruption points. Following the maar activity there was an extended phase of scoria eruption in the north around Lake Werowrap which buried part of the maars and tuff deposits. On the basis of a single radiocarbon assay, a date of approximately 8,000 years has been advanced for the age of the Red Rock tuff eruption.  You can read the full citation at http://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/coranregn.nsf/pages/corangamite_eruption_points_red_rock
There is another, less scientific description, here http://otway.biz/redrock.html

*Pastoral Pioneers of Port Phillip by R.V. Billis and A.S. Kenyon (Stockland Press, 1974_

I have created a list of newspaper articles, including the ones referenced here,  from Trove and websites on the Red Rock Reserve and the Kanawinka Geopark, you can access it, here.

Thank you to my fellow Carlo researcher, Isaac, for Carlo/Red Rock connection and the information on the Kanawinka Geopark.