George Robert Ashley - curator of the St Kilda foreshore gardens

The Catani Gardens in St Kilda were designed by Carlo Catani on reclaimed land. The reclamation work on the foreshore, began in the 1890s with a sea wall built out of rubble between St Kilda Pier and Captain Keeny’s Bathing Ship, which allowed for the creation of the Pier Lawns around the St Kilda Yacht Club by 1896. In 1899, a bluestone wall was set to further extend to Cowderoy Street, completed around 1906. Also in 1906, the St Kilda Fore Shore Committee, the special duties of which should be the work of reclamation and of beautification, according to St Kilda historian, J.B. Cooper (1).  Carlo Catani was involved in this reclamation project from the beginning and was an inaugural member of the Fore Shore Committee. The gardens on this reclaimed land were designed by Carlo Catani and his ongoing work was recognised by having them named after him in October 1927. Before the area was renamed for Carlo it was known as the Captain Cook Lawns, due to it being the location of a statue of Captain Cook (see here) and, as I said, previous to this it was known as the Pier Lawns.

Catani is deservedly credited with the garden design, but he always generously shared praise with the curator of the gardens, George Robert Ashley (1871 - 1952) and this post looks at the life and work of Mr Ashley.

George was the second curator of the foreshore gardens.  The first curator, employed by the St Kilda Fore Shore Committee, sometimes called the St Kilda Fore Shore Trust (2) was Arthur W. Kenny. He was a man of some talent and the Prahran Telegraph had this to say about him and his work -  It is very noticeable what an excellent crop of grass Mr. Kenny the curator has been able to grow this year. This is all the more creditable when it is remembered that it was the end of November before some of the seed was sown. Mr. Kenny knows his work, and the Trust are to be complimented in getting such a fine gardener. (Prahran Telegraph February 2, 1907 see here)

However, Mr Kenny soon had a 'tree change' and on May 1908 he is listed as the gardener at the guest house, Kerami, at Marysville. The grounds around "Kerame," (sic) the new tourists' resort built by Miss Glover, of Melbourne, are now completed and present a fine appearance. The work was carried out by Mr. A. W. Kenny, late curator of St. Kilda foreshore, and reflects great credit on his ability in this class of work. (Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian, June 19, 1908 see here)

I am assuming that George Ashley was appointed after Mr Kenny left for Marysville, but I do not have proof of his appointment at that time but neither can I find evidence of the  appointment of another person. However supporting his appointment at this time is the fact that in 1906 George and his wife Alice are listed in the Electoral Rolls at 13 Budd Street, Collingwood and in 1908 they are living at 57 Clyde Street in St Kilda. So, I believe that Ashley's role as the curator of the St Kilda Fore Shore Committee commenced in 1908.

The role of the Curator was varied - he obviously created and cared for the gardens that Carlo had designed  - more of which later -  but he also had administrative duties.

Left: Auction of Katzenjammer Castle.
The Argus, September 13, 1913
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7259067


In 1913, the Fore Shore Committee had for sale 'The Glidaway', an open air skating rink which had opened in November 1907 on the foreshore, and Katzenjammer Castle, which was part of the Princes Court, the Acme Pleasure Resort according to their advertisements, which was established in 1904 on St Kilda Road, where the Arts Centre is  now located. It closed in 1909. I assume that Katzenjammer Castle was then re-located to the Lower Esplanade in  St Kilda as in September 1912 it was advertised for sale, due to the expiration of the lease. It must not have sold as it then became the responsibilty of the Fore Shore Committee to dispose of both attractions and it was auctioned in September 1913. The point of telling you this is that George Ashley was the contact person for further particulars.

Katzenjammer Castle, 1909. Photographer: Frank Ernest Allen.

State Library of Victoria Image Image H2009.29/161

Other administrative jobs included being the contact person for people wanting to run refreshment stands on the St Kilda foreshore and giving evidence in Court cases. In May 1914, Alice Maud Cummings was charged with having damaged flowers valued at one shilling in the Luna Park Reserve. The case was heard at the St Kilda Court and Mr Ashley, who had caught Mrs Cummings cutting the flowers, was the main witness. Mrs Cummings was found guilty of stealing dahlias, cosmos and chrysanthemums and was fined five shillings with  three pounds in cost. It does seem a small matter but Ashley was concerned because much damage had been done to the beauty of the reserve. He gave evidence in a similar case in March 1917 where two sisters were charged with the larceny of a bunch of flowers. The girls were fined 20 shillings each. The Chairman of the St Kilda Court, Cr John Jeremiah Love, said that the curator, Mr. Ashley, was a generous man, and was always willing to give anyone a bunch of flowers, bulbs or seeds. 

Mr Ashley worked closely with Carlo Catani in the design and maintenance of the garden. The Prahran Telegraph had this tribute to Carlo and it shows the role that Ashley played in maintaining the gardens - Early in the morning, and on almost any morning of the week, Mr. Carlo Catani, Chief Engineer in the Public Works Department of Victoria, may be seen on the St. Kilda foreshore generally in consultation with Mr. Ashley, the curator of the Foreshore Committee, and in the evenings again, on his way home from his department; he may again be observed. His has been the artistic mind which has planned to make the sea beach of St. Kilda a place of beauty and of attraction to the countless thousands of visitors who resort to it during the summer time.....Where when Mr. Catani first assumed charge, only Mr. Ashley and a boy were engaged in these works of improvement, to-day there are five men regularly engaged. One begins from what has been accomplished to understand the design as a whole, and to appreciate the artistic ability of Mr. Catani as a landscape gardener. (Prahran Telegraph, August 19, 1916, see here)

The same issue of the Prahran Telegraph had a report about the unveiling of the plaque that was affixed to the Captain Cook statue which we mentioned before. This report also paid tribute to Carlo and Mr Ashley - Mr. Catani, with the assistance of Mr. Ashley, had been giving the citizens of St. Kilda beautiful lawns, against all the false prophecies which were made a few years ago, prophecies over which those gentlemen had triumphed. (Prahran Telegraph, August 19,  1916, see here)

St. Kilda foreshore and the arrival of the Prince of Wales, 1920. 

You could image how busy George Ashley and his team would have been preparing the Garden for this event. The Prince has arrived at Port Phillip Heads on May 26, 1920 on the H.M.S Renown, which was prevented from entering due to fog. He transferred to the Destroyer, Anzac, which took him up the Bay to Port Melbourne, where he transferred to the Hygeia and landed at the St Kilda Pier, where the leaders of Australia had assembled to meet him. (The Herald May 26, 1920, see here)

State Library of Victoria Image  H36170

Because this is a  post celebrating Mr Ashley skills and commitment as a curator here are two other tributes to him. In  a report about the opening of a new cafe on the Upper Esplanade, the Malvern Standard said The surroundings of the new cáfe are also very finely laid out. They were designed by Mr. Catani the Public Works Department, and valuable assistance in the work of laying out was given by Mr. G. R Ashley, curator of the foreshore, whose success as an artistic gardener shows practical evidence wherever the eye turns. The cafe building was erected by the Prahran and Malvern Tramway Trust and was operated by Mrs Leonard a lady well suited to manage and conduct a public business of the kind, according to the report.  (Malvern Standard, January 6, 1917, see here.)  The cafe was opened on December 23, 1916 and was called the Empire cafe.  It was on the corner of Acland Street,  on the same site which was at one time occupied by Baxter's Merry-Go-Round. The site was originally surveyed by Carlo Catani.

The Prahran Chronicle had an article about a perambulation the St Kilda Councillors undertook around the municipality and regarding the foreshore gardens the paper said Mr Curator Ashley is deserving of much commendation for the attractiveness and beauty which is to be seen on all sides. (Prahran Chronicle, October 27, 1917 see here)

As we know, Carlo sadly passed away on July 20, 1918 and Mr Ashley ensured that his plans and vision for the foreshore garden were completed. In October 1919 a journalist from the Prahran Telegraph paid a visit of inspection to the beach, and saw the curator, Mr. G. R. Ashley, with plan in hand. Mr. Ashley shows us how the splendid scheme of foreshore improvement designed by the late Mr. C. Catani, the State Surveyor-General, is being faithfully carried out by him. Mr. Ashley has an intense regard for Mr. Catani's works, in which, we think, most people, competent to judge, share...... Unfolding Mr Catani's plan which he carries in his pocket, Mr. Ashley shows us what has been done and what is blocked out to be done. The design, as might be expected is a composite picturesque whole. Much of the detail work was carried out as the work progressed. In this Mr. Ashley explained, Mr. Catani showed his elasticity of mind. Generally, Mr Catani imbued his ideas on Mr. Ashley's mind, and it may be said he could not have left the completion of his work in more capable hands, nor with an expert curator with more sympathetic understanding. (Prahran Telegraph, October 11, 1919, see here). How wonderful it would be to find Carlo's plan which Mr Ashley carried in his pocket.

It was another four years of work to complete Carlo's vision as The Age reported Mr. George Ashley, the curator of the St. Kilda foreshore management committee, states that he can now see signs of coming to the end of his constructive work in carrying out the plans of beautification of the late Mr. Catani, "the engineer artist," who designed the garden landscape of lawns and shrubberies alongside the beach.  (The Age November 27, 1922 see here)

I know from newspaper reports that Mr Ashley was employed by the St Kilda Fore Shore Committee until at least 1926, but I do not know when he retired. He is listed in the 1928 Electoral Rolls at 45 Clyde Street and his occupation is curator. In the 1931, when he was 60, George and Alice are living in Wilson Street in Cheltenham, so I believe he would have retired from the Fore Shore Committee at that time.

Before I get onto George's family life I can tell you that he had a love of dahlias. During the First World War there was a shortage of seeds and bulbs as they could not be imported so gardeners had to create new varieties and at a meeting of the Malvern and District Horticultural Society some of these new creations were displayed including Mr Ashley's collarette and single dahlias. At the same meeting, George Cooper, who was the curator of the Alexandra Gardens and who also worked closely with Carlo was reported to have a promising Japanese iris bed, in which there are nearly 1000 seedlings of his own raising by the judicious crossing of imported varieties. (The Herald, April 18, 1917, see here) You can read more about George Cooper, here.

 The lawn and pier, St Kilda. Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co.

Carlo Catani's design, George Ashley's work

State Library of Victoria Image H32492/605

George Robert Ashley, was born in 1871 in Collingwood to James and Mary (nee Hogan) Ashley.  He married Alice Maud Rickards in 1893. She was the daughter of William and Sarah (nee Keeble) Rickards. They had eight children, the first three were born in Carlton and the rest in Collingwood. Sadly for the family three of the children died very young.

1. Gladys Maude, 1893 - 1982.  Gladys married James Miller in  1923.
2. Sarah Florence, 1896 - 1898, died aged 2
3. Mary Ellen,  1898 - 1977.  In October 1915, when Mary was seventeen she was the subject of a drama when she was reported missing by her father. It was reported on in The Herald (see here).  Shortly after this she married Edward Rufus Schofield in 1916, had a baby Hector Ward Schofield, but  he sadly died at 5 months old in 1916. The couple then  had another baby Edward Gordon in 1918. When Edward Rufus died in 1942, Mary married Matthew Gilmore Lawson.  
4. Martha Keeble, 1901 - 1967. Martha married Donald Wallace Cameron in 1930, I believe they were divorced and she married John Sexton in 1950.
5. George Arthur,  1903 - 1903, died at the age of seven months
6. George Lewis,  1904 - 1904, died at the age of one month
7. Sarah Violet , 1905 - 1993. Sarah married John Henry Hodges in 1926.
8. Florence Emily 1908 - 1991. Florence married Bernard William Duthie in 1930. 

There is a story connected to the wedding of Sarah to John Hodges in 1926. On April 22 in that year George was found lying in the street in mysterious circumstances, the story was reported in The Argus -  At half past 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon George Robert Ashley, aged 55 vears, of Clyde street, St Kilda, was found found on the roadside in Martin street, Elwood. He told the police that he had been robbed of about £50 in notes. Senior-detective R. Brennan, Detective E. Ethell, and Plain clothes Constable Smith, of St Kilda, made premliminary inquiries into the incident, but, owing to his dazed condition, Ashley was unable to give them a coherent account of his movements. He said, however, that he has drawn the money the bank on Tuesday for the purchase of presents in connection with his daughter's wedding.

Ashley, who is a foreman gardener employed on the St Kilda foreshore, told the detectives that he had several drinks in an hotel at St Kilda yesterday morning, and that he remembered entering a motor-car driven by a man with coloured glasses. He knows nothing of his movements after that until he was found in Martin street. About £50, which he had in his possession was then missing. (The Argus, April 23, 1926, see here)

George Ashley's death notice from The Argus November 15, 1952.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23206087

Apart from the few years spent in Cheltenham in the early 1930s, George and Alice and family lived at three addresses in  Clyde Street in St Kilda - No. 57, No. 55 and from around 1936 at No. 45. Alice Ashley died June 14, 1959 aged 86. George predeceased her as he passed away November 14, 1952. He was cremated at Springvale and his ashes were scattered. His death notice described him as a loving father and devoted grandfather of Gladys, Shirley, Jean, Gordon, Robert, John and Brian. That's really sweet. I wish I had a  photo of George to show you, but I don't.

Holiday Makers at St Kilda - perhaps some of the many who flocked to St Kilda and left their rubbish behind for Mr Ashley to clean up (see below)

Image: The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a City and after, 1840 - 1930 (see footnote 1)

We will finish this tribute to Mr Ashley, who not only worked closely with Carlo to ensure his vision of the St Kilda foreshore came to fruition but who was also clearly devoted to his role, with this excerpt taken from the Prahran Telegraph. The report was on the hundreds and thousands [who] flocked to the beaches. St. Kilda foreshore, from, west to south, was particularly crowded over the Christmas and New Year period..... One particular sore point about the business is that when Mr. George Ashley, the foreshore curator, gazes upon a scene such as that described, with the place littered with so much rubbish and cast off food pieces, he simply breaks down and weeps. But in course of time a transformation is brought about, and within a comparatively few hours the foreshore is looking as neat and trim as if tens of thousands of holiday makers had never been near it. It is said that George Ashley can get rid of the heaps of cast-off lunch-wrappers on the foreshore in as quick time as Byron Moore (3) can dispose of myriads of discarded betting tickets at Flemington. (Prahran Telegraph January 9, 1925, see here) 

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Acknowledgement
The information about the early history of the reclamation works of the St Kilda foreshore was provided to me by my research colleague, Isaac Hermann. Some of the first paragraph is actually his writing, so I am, as always, grateful to him for sharing this with me. Isaac also provided me with information about the Empire Cafe including its name, the date of opening and the fact that it was built on the site of  Baxter's Merry-Go-Round.  Thank you, Isaac.

Trove List
I have created a list of newspaper articles on Trove, connected to George Ashley. You can access it here. All the articles referred to here are on the list.

Footnotes
(1) John Butler Cooper wrote the two volume The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a City and after, 1840 - 1930. It was published by the St Kilda City Council in 1931. The quote about the role of the Fore Shore Committee is from Volume 2, page 203. The image of the Holiday Makers is from Volume 2, facing page 190.

(2) The St Kilda Fore Shore Committee is also sometimes called the St Kilda Fore Shore Trust. My fellow historian, the aforementioned Isaac Hermann who has a particular interest in the history of Elwood and St Kilda,  explained to me that [he considers]  the Trust to be the legal and financial entity, while the Committee to be the operational body of members that constitute the Trust: so the Fore Shore Committee would meet to facilitate the projects, aims, goals, statutes of the Trust.

(3) Henry Byron Moore  (1839 - 1925) was Secretary of the Victorian Racing Club. You can read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here.

Norman Edwin Kilian Schefferle, Architect

The Carlo Catani Clock Tower Memorial at St Kilda, completed and dedicated in August 1932, was designed by Norman Schefferele. You can read about the clock tower and the clock tower memorial design competition that Norman won, here. This is a look at the life of Norman Edwin Kilian Schefferle.

The Catani Memorial Clock Tower at St Kilda, designed by Norman Schefferle. 

The bust is by Paul Montford.

Photographer: Isaac Hermann.

Norman was born  on May 6, 1899, the eldest of six children to Edwin and Ethel Harriet Louisa (nee Stinton) Schefferle. Edwin and Ethel had married on October 26, 1898 at St James Old Cathedral in Melbourne. According to their marriage certificate Edwin was born at Lethbridge and Ethel at Geelong. Edwin was 24 and  a farmer and Ethel was 21, she didn't have an occupation listed. There is more family history in the footnotes (1)

It appears that the couple left the Geelong region after their marriage and moved to Warragul, as that is where Norman was born. Edwin and Ethel are listed in the 1903 Electoral Roll at Lillico, just north of Warragul.  Norman's brother, Frederick Vincent William, was born in Warragul in 1900 and his sister Kathleen Louisa in 1902. The next two children, Charles Gordon (1905) and Nellie Josephine (1907) were born in Camperdown, and the last child, Harold Victor was born in 1912 in Geelong. The next significant thing we can find out about the family was in April 1913 - the Geelong Advertiser reported that Edwin Schefferle, aged 40, was feeding in a large length of pine when it fouled and was hurled hack with great force. It crashed Schefferle's right thigh against another piece of timber, and a fracture of the bone near the hip resulted. (Geelong Advertiser April 11, 1913) It must have had a large impact on the family and he was lucky to survive.

In 1914, Norman enrolled at the Gordon College at Geelong (later called the Gordon Institute of Technology). I base this 1914 enrollment date on the fact that the examination results of the College were published in local papers and thus we can track Norman's scholastic achievements and he is first listed in January 1915, the results being for the previous year.  In January 1915, Norman was listed as passing Drawing for builders and artisans and Building construction - Grade 1. In January 1916 he was listed as passing Building Construction - Grade 2. In February and March 1917 Norman is reported as passing Architecture - Grade 1; Drawing for Builders and Artisans; Building Construction Grade 3; Drawing from a Flat Example - both Elementary and Advanced; Geometrical Drawing - Art and Drawing Plant forms from Nature- Elementary.

I knew that Norman had enlisted to serve in the First World War so I looked for his enlistment papers and couldn't find them under Schefferle, so I assumed there was a mis-spelling and went through every entry for  the men who enlisted with the first name of Norman and the surname staring with an S on the AIF project website and eventually came across a Norman Stinton - and it was him.  He had enlisted on December 5, 1917. His Service Number was 7831.  So why did he enlist under his mother's maiden name not his own name? One reason may have been that Schefferle sounded German - his grandparents were actually Swiss, however he lied about his age, his name, the whereabouts of his parents and his place of birth. What an audacious boy!

I presume his parents would not give permission for him to enlist - so he went and enlisted in Sydney. He said he had been born in Coolgardie in Western Australia and that he was 21,  in reality he was only 18 and  a half, and thus needed parental permission. In fact he signed  a statuary declaration that he was born December 5, 1896  and that his parents are both living in England. However  interestingly, he did tell some truths on his enlistment paper - his next of kin was his father, Edwin 'Stinton' 29 Beach Road, Drumcondra, Geelong. This was later changed to Mrs Ethel Schefferle at the same address. He listed his occupation as Architect. To the question Are you or have you been an apprentice? he answered Laird & Buchan, Geelong 2½ years.  Assuming this is correct, this means he started his apprenticeship in mid 1915, but that is of less significance than to whom he was apprenticed to - Laird and Buchan.

Laird and Buchan were a Geelong firm, started by J. Angus Laird. Thomas Johnston Buchan (1874 - 1962) became a partner in the firm in 1906. Thomas Buchan became President of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects in 1930 and he was the judge of the competition to erect a clock tower as a memorial to Carlo Catani at St Kilda. The winner of this competition was Norman Schefferle and the clock tower was unveiled in 1932 (read about this here and read about the other entries in the competition, here.)  Apparently the judging was 'blind',  that is there were no names attached but it would seem unlikely that Thomas Buchan would not have been able to recognise Schefferle's work. This doesn't mean that Schefferele's work was not the best, it's just interesting.

Norman served in France and came out of the War unscathed. He used his time in France to study the local architecture. Norman wrote back twice to the Principal of the Gordon Institute, Mr G.R. King, before his Return to Australia September 5, 1919. We have been busy on the march towards Germany, to take over garrison duty in some of their towns. We have been on the march for four days now, and have during that time covered about 35 miles, and at the end of each day's march we have billeted in different French villages, which have been occupied by the Hun for over four years. I had the opportunity of looking through small village churches, which contain some very fine detail work in the inside finishings. I am sending home a piece of carving which I found amongst some ruins of one of the beautiful churches, and if it arrives safely you shall see it. My idea was that a complete design of this would make a very suitable head decoration for an honor board, or such like. (Geelong Advertiser, June 25, 1919)

The second letter highlights his ambition and determination - I may be finished with the fight for freedom, but I am in for a harder fight now; for I realise that the path to success is not altogether a mechanical stair case, and that there are as many obstacles to overcome as there were in the finished fight. I have hopped over with rather a right barrage of education, but I have the good bayonet of determination and a keen ambition for being a successful architect. At the glorious finish of the fight may I be as the present day Foch and able to place my name on a piece of works like Amiens. This is my ambition, I have, using your words, "Hitched my waggon to a star."

I received a 'Geelong Advertiser' some time back, and in it I found a very interesting par on the proposed new Geelong Hospital. I have presumed a hope that I will have a slight share in the designs for the building, so intend in future, to visit and study the hospitals that I may have the opportunity of seeing over here. Nothing will satisfy me but to see in our Geelong the most up-to-date hospital on earth or Australia at least. The building is going to play the part of commemorating the Peace which the Allies' victory has won for us all, and a memorial to be symbolical of such a glorious occasion and to display fully the peoples' hearty gratification of it, will have to be one of utmost perfection in art. Surely we cannot over value the victory when it has cost the supreme sacrifice of such men as our architectural student heroes were ; so thus again, at least, we can attempt to materialise the value of our victory by shunning all that is inferior and accepting only the superlative of art. So may I hope to have the satisfaction that the finest hospital on earth is in Geelong.

I am expecting to get Paris leave in a couple of weeks time, so there will be some more rubber-neck work for me then. I will make sure of getting around the hospitals, for I expect they will not be very far behind the times there. A large hospital should afford a fair amount of study - first, the utility and convenience of the planning, then sanitation and the hygienic nature of fitting out and such problems as heating, ventilation, sewerage and fire escapes etc., require due consideration.

"The words that "architecture symbolises the people" are very true, and I found a splendid example of it at Brussels. The Germans, sure of victory, had practically finished building their National Bank there when they had to evacuate the city. This large building is built of stone and at an enormous cost, but I do not know of an instance where architecture has been so cruelly debased. Truly it is a perfect symbol of the German nation itself. The building is absolutely hideous to behold, and it stamps in mind the barbarous and ruthless qualities of the German. I hope to see this unsightly building demolished and not left, to mar the beautiful architecture that the city of Brussels already contains. (Geelong Advertiser, May 8 1919)

On his return to Geelong a 'welcome home' was given to Norman and Will Page, another Gordon College student. Angus Laird was one of those who presented  a toast and he was described as the employer of both boys. Norman then completed his studies and continued his work with Laird and Buchan until 1921 when he travelled to England. One of the buildings that Norman had a role in the design of while at Buchan and Laird, was Lascelles Memorial Laboratory at the Gordon Institute,  (Geelong Advertiser, July 7, 1922) It was officially opened November 1922. 

Gordon Institute of Technology - Textile College. Photographer: Robert Pockley. 

The building on the left with the curved front is the T.E. Bostock Memorial building, designed by Laird and Buchan in 1928. The next building is the Lascelles Memorial Chemical Laboratory, built in 1921, which Schefferele had a role in designing. The taller building to the right was built 1949/1950 and designed by Percy Everett. Thus the Lascelles Memorial building was erected first and then had the two later additions. 

State Library of Victoria Image H2007.25/18. 

Some of this caption information comes from the State Library of Victoria. 

Whilst he was overseas Schefferle was granted a scholarship financed by Mr J. H. McPhillimy, which  allowed him  to extensively tour the Continent to study civic and and architectural design.  (Geelong Advertiser, July 7, 1922).  Norman was back in Geelong in January 1923 and in the September of that year he was appointed vice-head of the Architectural Faculty at the Gordon Institute (Geelong Advertiser, September 10, 1923).

During his time as a lecturer he also became the Secretary of the Geelong Memorials Historical Society, a new Society formed to record and preserve Geelong's memorials. The meeting to form the Society was attended by architects including Norman Schefferle, Harold Trigg as well as Paul Montford, the sculptor, whose bust of Carlo Catani forms an integral part of Schefferle's monument to Catani. You can read the full report of the establishment of this Society in November 1923, here. Schefferle clearly had an interest in this area of monuments and memorials as when he was in London it was reported that he had submitted designs for important memorials. (Geelong Advertiser July 7, 1922)

The  Gordon Institute of Technology Staff before 1924. 

Norman Schefferle is top row on the right. George King, the Principal is in the front row, sixth from right). Next to Mr King is Paul Montford, the man who created the bust of Carlo Catani at the foot of Schefferle's Clock Tower monument. See footnote (2) for a list of the others identified in the photo. 

Image courtesy of  Dale Kent, Records Manager, Gordon Institute, via Isaac Hermann.

A more significant event took place in Norman's life on November 23, 1923, when he married Phyllis Christie Lees. His witness was Harold Trigg. Harold was born in 1896 and was thus  few years older than Norman. He also studied at Gordon College and his time there overlapped that of Norman. Trigg's study was interrupted by his enlistment on July 21, 1915, when he was 19 years old. He was listed as an Architectural student, and was (or had been) an architectural apprentice to Mr T. Slevin  (3) for 3½ years. Harold was badly wounded (gun shot wound to left shoulder) and returned to Australia in January 1917 and was medically discharged in the April. Harold resumed his studies at the Gordon College and in 1919 was appointed as a lecturer. In 1924 he commenced practice on his own, and this practice was taken over by Norman Schefferle in late 1928, when Harold was appointed the Assistant Chief Architect, Public Works Department in Perth. Some of Harold Trigg's life and work is discussed here, in the Ashby Heritage Review from 2009 undertaken by Dr David Rowe, Authentic Heritage Services Pty Ltd and Wendy Jacobs, Architect & Heritage Consultant.

Back to the wedding - Norman and Phyllis were married at the High Church Presbyterian Church in Geelong. Phyllis had been born in Scotland and her address was High Church manse, Geelong. I wonder how they met? There is a Phyllis C. Lees listed in the Shipping Records who arrived in Melbourne in October 1923 on the Ceramic, so perhaps they met whilst Norman was away in Europe and the Continent in 1921 and 1922. They had three children (4). The High Church in Geelong, built in 1862 was renovated in 1926, with Norman Schefferle being the architect. It was called the High Church  due to the fact it was built on high ground.  It was renamed St Giles in 1927.

In May 1926, Norman  resigned his position at the Institute and took up private practice in Geelong, at 96 Ryrie Street. Architects often had advertisements for tenders to obtain builders for their projects, and these give us some idea of the types of projects Norman undertook - in May 1926 - Business premises, Pakington Street, Geelong West for Crawcour Brothers (see here);  in February 1928 - new shop fronts and residences at 194-196 Pakington Street, Geelong ; June 1928 - timber and tile residence, Noble Street, Newtown and a 'Modern milk treatment and distributing dairy, Essendon' in June 1933.

Schefferle also had some civic commitments  - for instance he was the Secretary of the Citizen's Beach Improvement Committee - one of the duties of which was to judge a sand castle building competition in March 1927. In the November, Schefferle and Harold Trigg gave  a lecture at Gordon Institute on fine specimens of monumental art at the Eastern and Western cemeteries in Geelong. He was also the Secretary of the  Geelong Civic Association and he wrote  a letter to the Geelong Advertiser about the mutual benefits the Association brings to both Geelong and the members -  The progress of the city rests with the busy citizens; without their support and interest the city will soon fade away and with it all the needs of being busy citizens. Therefore, to-day is the time for the young busy man to spare some of his precious minutes for civic affairs to see that the progress of the city is being properly assured, so that his own progress and success, will be made possible. (Geelong Advertiser, May 12, 1928)

In December 1928, Schefferle formed a partnership with J. Gordon Williams. I do not have much information on either Williams or the length of the partnership. However some of William's work includes alterations and additions to 55 Bellarine Street in Geelong (see here) in 1929; remodelling of the Paramount Theatre in Colac on 1932 (see here); 32 Stephen Street, Newtown designed by Williams in 1938 (see here) and the Trans-Otway Bus Terminal, Ryrie Street Geelong in 1948 (see here)

Geelong Advertiser December 12, 1928

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232432148

In December 1929, Norman won the competition to design the City of Caulfield War Memorial. The competition was conducted by the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects and was restricted to returned soldier architects. It was unveiled on Anzac Day in 1931. In July 1930 he won another high profile memorial competition, the Carlo Catani Memorial clock tower, which we spoke about before. Read about this memorial, which incorporated the bronze bust of Catani, by Paul Montford, here and here.

Caulfield War Memorial, designed by Norman Schefferle.

Memorial, Park Gerdens, Caulfield. Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria Image H32492/1068

In October 1936, the architectural firm of Schefferle and Davies was formed when R. Haydn Davies joined the practice. Davies had also studied at the Gordon Institute. Davies had entered the staff of Laird and Buchan, architects, as an articled pupil during the war period. At the conclusion of a successful term of indenture, he qualified as an Associate of the Institute. Afterwards he went abroad to further his vision and his studies. (Geelong Advertiser April 13, 1927)  Amongst the work Schefferele undertook around this time was the £30,000 New Carlton Hotel and a block of flats in Domain Road, overlooking the Botanic Gardens, credited to Schefferele and Davies.  The report in The Herald said they were  on the most modern continental lines, incorporating many new  features studied during a recent tour abroad by one of the architects. They are pictured, below.

Block of flats in Domain Road, overlooking the Botanic Gardens, designed by Schefferle and Davies.

The Herald May 31, 1939

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243366826

The Second World War years saw Norman take up a number of Government roles - Chairman of the Geelong Port Reference Board in February 1942 and in May of the same year to an executive position in the Department of War Organisation of Industry, in its relation to the building industry. (The Argus May 13, 1942) In March 1946 The Herald listed Schefferle as the Government's Building Supplies Director however in June 1946 The Argus listed his title as the State Housing Director and in July 1946 The Argus described him as the Director of the Building Directorate for Victoria.  The role (or roles) were obviously concerned with War time and Post-War housing issues and the shortage of building materials.

Schefferle was appointed to an International role in 1946. The Age reported on the new role [Mr Schefferle] has been selected by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration to go to China as a housing expert, will be responsible for assistance in the rehabilitation programme in planning for suitable houses in devastated and flooded areas. Mr. Schefferle possibly will operate in the Yellow River flooded area and the devastated cities of Canton, Changsha and Hankow. He will leave by aeroplane for China on July 12. (The Age July 1, 1946) The role actually seemed broader than this, if a report in The Age of June 23, 1947 is correct. Schefferle's role had come to an end and he was returning to Australia after nearly a  year of service with  the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, investigating the post-war housing situation in China: Mr. Schefferle worked with the Ministry of the Interior of the Chinese Government, on loan from U.N.R.R.A., investigating the effect of the war on housing in Shanghai, Nanking, Peiping, Changsha, Hankow, Chinklang and other cities, and has submitted reports and recommendations to the Ministry of the Interior.  

On his return to Australia, Schefferle, was re-appointed to a Victorian Government role as the Building Control Officer. The position had a salary range of £846 to £936 according to The Herald of May 26, 1948. Either this appointment did not last long or else Schefferle was still working as an architect because in January 1949 Schefferle and Davies were selected to design the new Kilmore Hospital. This was a bit of  a saga and by 1954 the Hospital still hadn't been erected and the Kilmore Free Press reported that the Victorian Hospitals and Charities Commission would be unlikely to fund the hospital before 1957. Not sure if the Schefferle and Davies design was actually ever built.

In June 1954 Norman Schefferele was appointed as a Fellow of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects. I don't have much more information about Norman after this date. In 1955 Schefferle and Davies designed a Garage, Showroom and Service Station in Moorabool Street, Geelong and in 1956 they designed a residence at 85 Splatt Street in Swan Hill (see here). According to the Electoral Roll he and his wife, Phyllis, lived their whole married life in the Geelong area. Norman died  March 19, 1983 and was cremated at the Ballarat Crematorium and his ashes 'were scattered in our grounds' according to their website (see here) It's sort of interesting that for a man who had an interest in and made a study of monuments and memorials that he ended up with no memorial.

Norman Schefferle was adventurous, ambitious, civic minded and hard working and  I feel that his professional and public life and his ethos of mutual responsibility or commitment can be summarised in his own words, so I will repeat his quote from May 1928 - The progress of the city rests with the busy citizens; without their support and interest the city will soon fade away and with it all the needs of being busy citizens. Therefore, to-day is the time for the young busy man to spare some of his precious minutes for civic affairs to see that the progress of the city is being properly assured, so that his own progress and success, will be made possible. (Geelong Advertiser, May 12, 1928).

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

Acknowledgement:  Some of the information in this post, especially that concerning Schefferle's roles in World War Two and his United Nations appointment to China,  was brought to my attention by my research colleague, Isaac Hermann. Thank you, Isaac!

Trove list: I have created  a list of articles on Trove on Norman Schefferle, his family and people connected to him. You can access it here. All the articles referenced here are on the list.

Footnotes
(1) Family information. Norman Schefferle's father Edwin was the son of Kilian and Catherine (nee Laing) Schefferle. They were married in Switzerland and had eight children. Kilian died February 5, 1883 at the age  of 39. He had been in Victoria for 14 years and he left behind six living children aged between ten and one, according to the death certificate.  As you may imagine it was  a hard life for a widow with a young family and Catherine married 48 year old Xavier Muhlebach on April 17, 1884. Xavier was  a bachelor and had also been born in Switzerland.

Norman's father, Edwin Schefferle, died in 1958 at the age of 84. Norman's mother, Ethel Louise, was the daughter of William and Louisa Stinton. Louisa's maiden name was Nash, but she  also used her step-father's surname of Griffin. William Stinton's occupation is listed as a Florist and in the Electoral Roll as a Nurseryman. Ethel died August 23, 1962.

Norman, as we know was the eldest child. Here is some brief information on his siblings.
Frederick Vincent William - born at Warragul in 1900. Married Irene Grace Crook in 1946. Died 1989 aged 88.
Kathleen Louisa - born at Warragul in 1902. Married Richard George Mcewan on September 10, 1927. She died in 1983.
Charles Gordon - born 1905 and died in 1906, at the age of 20 months,  at Camperdown.
Nellie Josephine - born in 1907 in Camperdown. Married Harry Percy Gambold in 1932. He was a school teacher and in the birth announcement of their babies in 1935 and 1938 their address was  State School  No. 952, Mia Mia. Nellie died in 1991.
Harold Victor - born in 1912 in Geelong. He married Alma in 1942. Harold died 1998.

(2) The  Gordon Institute of Technology Staff before 1924 photo - 

This is the list of names that was attached to the back of the photo of the staff. My colleague, Isaac Hermann, identified the identity of No. 7 in the front row as Paul Montford. Good detecting! Thanks to Isaac for contacting Dale Kent, Records Manager at Gordon Institute and to Dale for supplying this photograph to us as well as other helpful and interesting material.

(3) Thomas Daniel Slevin - architect.  Thomas Daniel Slevin designed Montana, 53 The Esplanade, Drumcondra, in 1911 (see here);  the Catholic Church in Lara in 1912 - it later became a Baptist Church;  the Catholic Presbytery and Hall in Geelong in 1914, St Mary's Boys' College in Geelong in 1918 and supervised the construction of Trades Hall in Geelong in 1928, amongst other work. He died in 1955 aged 75

(4) Norman and Phyllis Schefferle had three children -  Edwin James, Henrietta and Norma Jean. Phyllis died June 16, 1980. Her ashes were also scattered at the Ballarat Cemetery grounds.  Here's what I know about the children - Henrietta and Norma travelled overseas with Phyllis in December 1938 and Henrietta was listed as being 11 years old (thus born 1927/1928) and Norma three years old.

Edwin James was born September 15, 1925. He died October 22, 2014. This lovely tribute was published on the Melbourne International Film Festival Facebook page -  We are saddened to hear of the passing overnight of Edwin Schefferle, one of the founders of the Melbourne Film Festival. Scheff, as he was known to his friends and the film community, was a seminal member of the team which organised the Olinda Film Festival in and subsequent Melbourne Film Festivals from his position at the State Film Centre. On his retirement in 1983 he served on many bodies involved with non-theatrical film exhibition until he finally retired in 1998. He was forever forward looking and adapted and promoted 16mm screenings in his youth and was one of the first to see and encourage the use of digital projection. Even when confined to a Special Accom. facility in the last few years he was still screening DVDs from his collection to residents. MIFF is hugely indebted to Scheff's passion and incredible knowledge of film. Scheff, we salute you!! 

Henrietta (also called Netta) completed a Bachelor of Science at Melbourne University in 1948. She had a number of papers published - The Microbiology of Built Up Poultry Litter (see here) and The Decomposition of Uric Acid in Built Up Poultry Litter (see here). She worked in Scotland and returned to Geelong when she retired and joined the Friends of the Geelong Botanic Gardens  - they had a  short obituary of Netta in their October 2019 newsletter, see here. Netta died August 23, 2019 at the age of 91. Thank you to Dale Kent, Records Manager, Gordon Institute for the link to Netta's connection to the Geelong Botanic Gardens.

Norma was born December 6, 1934 according to a passenger list when she went to England in April 1960. Her occupation was listed a Secretary. In 1963 Norma was listed in the Electoral Rolls at her parents address in the Geelong area, and her occupation was dietitian. I don't know anything else about her. She was alive when her brother died in 2014, but predeceased Netta. There was a nephew, Ian, listed in both James and Netta's death notices, he is Norma's son.

When was Carlo born?

We know Carlo was born in 1852 and all sources agree that he was born in April - but what date in April? His entry on the Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB), written by Ronald McNicoll, says he was born on April 22. Read it here. 

Plaque under the bust of Carlo Catani on the Clock Tower memorial at St Kilda. You will notice the the date of birth is April 25.  There is more information on the memorial, here.  

Photo:  Isaac Hermann

The Clock Tower memorial, unveiled on August 22, 1932 on the Upper Esplanade at St Kilda has his birth date as April 25, 1852 (1). Carlo's daughter, Enid, was a guest at the unveiling - did she notice the date and if it was wrong did she comment? Or was it the correct birth date, so all was well?

 Prahran Telegraph of  August 19, 1916 - his date of birth is listed as April 28. 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74835180

The Prahran Telegraph of  August 19, 1916 had a lovely article (read it here) about Carlo, headlined  Mr Carlo Catani - Engineer and Artist: an appreciation. In this detailed article about his life and work it states that he was born April 28, 1852. Now this article was written when Carlo was still alive, so is this more likely to be correct than the ADB entry and the memorial plaque, both created posthumously? I had a look through the next issue to see if Carlo had written a letter about the date of birth, but there wasn't one - most likely he was far too busy to write letters to the editor about such frivolous matters, even if the birth date was incorrect. 

The Age April 30, 1917 - a report on Carlo's retirement on his 65th birthday on Saturday last, April 28.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154982878

We have another three sources that back up the April 28 date - the report, above, from The Age of April 30, where it says he reached 65 on Saturday last - April 28, which was the day he retired from the Victorian Public Service and the report from The Herald, below. Both these sources, like the Prahran Telegraph article were published, of course, when Carlo was still alive, which doesn't make it true, but I feel it gives the date some credibility.  However, April 28 was a Saturday in 1917 - why would you retire on a Saturday, if you had already turned 65 on previous Sunday (the 22nd) or the previous Wednesday (the 25th)?

The Herald, April 28, 1917 - lists his birthday as April 28.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242688547

Further proof of Carlo's birthday is his illuminated farewell address (2), presented to him on May 10, 1917 at the Lands Department by Sir Alexander Peacock, Premier of Victoria, as a token of our pleasant association with you. The address is dated April 28, 1917, which was the day of his retirement, his 65th birthday. 

Part of Carlo's illuminated farewell address presented to him on May 10, 1917 by the Premier of Victoria. The address was the work of Richard Fiddes Brown (1876 - 1936), of Messrs. Mason, Firth & McCutcheon, a printing and publishing firm. 

State Library of Victoria, Manuscripts collection. Image: Isaac Hermann.

The Statistical Register of the Colony of Victoria for 1890 has a full list of public servants, which includes their date of birth, date of commencement of employment and more. This lists Carlo's birth date as April 28, 1852 which gives great credence to that date as the correct date.

Carlo's date of birth from the Statistical Register of the Colony of Victoria for 1890

https://vgls.sdp.sirsidynix.net.au/client/search/asset/1286678 page 102

What other sources are there? I would have thought his birth date would be on his Naturalisation papers, but they only list his age (see here).  The only way to know for sure is to get his birth certificate from Florence - I will work on that, once I know how to go about it. In the meanwhile, due to overwhelming evidence, I believe April 28 is the correct date.

Footnotes

(1) Thanks to my research colleague, Isaac Hermann, for alerting me to this date discrepancy on the plaque on the Memorial Clock Tower. 

(2) Isaac also reminded me that the illuminated farewell address was dated April 28, 1917 - the day of Carlo's retirement on his 65th birthday.

Carlo makes a road to the Garden of the Gods - Mount Buffalo

This is how the Herald newspaper of January 19, 1908 started a report about the new road to Mount Buffalo - One of Mr Bent's favorite expressions is that Victoria is "God's own country." Mr Catani, the Engineer for Roads and Bridges, has now discovered where the Garden of the Gods is situated. It is in the Buffalo Mountains, and if his anticipations are realised, it will be easy of invasion by mere mortals before next winter. 

The report continues with  Last session the State Parliament approved of a sum of L5000 being expended in making a road from Porepunkah to Buffalo, and yesterday tenders were received for the construction of the first three miles. It is intended to call for tenders for an additional two miles each week, until the distance, some twelve miles is completed. The steepest grade will be 1 in 17, and, to use Mr Catani's words, it ''will be fit for the most beautiful motor car in Australia."

Before we look at this road the idea of  creating a tourist resort on Mount Buffalo was investigated Edward John Dunn (1844 - 1937), who conducted a geological survey of the mountain in 1906 for the Minister of Mines.  I believe that he was the first to use the term Garden of the Gods to describe the region.  His geological report, with 53 photographs, can be found on-line at the National Library of Australia, it was published in 1908 as Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Victoria, and you can access it, here. This report does not include any tourist references, but they were reported on in the newspapers. Read, for instance, the report in the Leader of December 1, 1906, here. You can read Edward Dunn's entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, here.

One of the impressive granite formations, photographed by Edward Dunn in his report on the Geology of Mount Buffalo.

National Library of Australia https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/237367934?q=dunn+buffalo&c=book&versionId=264832763

Back to the Mount Buffalo road. On January 24, 1908 the first sod was turned by Mrs Mackey, wife of the Minister for Lands. Mrs Mackey performed this task with a suitably inscribed silver spade. This event took place at the foot of the foot of the Buffalo Falls, on the Eurobin Creek. Also present were William Davidson, Inspector- General of Public Works; Mr Reed - Surveyor General, some local and State politicians and, of course, Carlo Catani. (The Age, January 25, 1908).

The road construction created some controversy over the use (or non-use) of employed men to build the road. The Premier, Sir Thomas Bent, insisted that Carlo provide work for unemployed men from Melbourne on the construction of the Buffalo Road. In a  letter to the editor of The Argus, published February 7, 1908  Alfred Billson  wrote about this issue - I read with considerable surprise that Mr Bent had, in an imperious manner, directed Mr Catani to provide for the employment of a number of unemployed on the construction of the Buffalo-road. He then provided a number of  cogent arguments against using the unemployed, including providing jobs to city men at the expense of locals and that many lacked the required skills and he finished off with this question When is the interference by the Premier with responsible officers, who enjoy the confidence of the people, to cease?

The opening of the road to the Chalet, 1908. 

The Premier, Thomas Bent, is in front of the ribbon. Alice Manfield, is on the right, holding the ribbon. You will read more about her, below. 

State Library of Victoria Image H2003.96/84

There were further issues when some of the unemployed men complained to the newspapers about their conditions, lack of appropriate tools, rate of pay and the initial refusal of local stores to supply them with credit, before they were paid. Carlo disputed these issues. (The Age, March 7, 1908).  In spite of this rocky start, progress on the construction of the road continued. The road to the summit of Mount Buffalo was officially opened by the Premier on October 9, 1908. The Age of October 12 had  a detailed report of the opening and extravagant descriptions of the beauty of the scenery -  a region of awe-inspiring grandeur....... towering heights on the one hand and ever deepening abysses on the other, each turn in the road presented a grander panorama of space and distance.....  The official party stayed on the mountain overnight and the next morning standing on the great mass of granite on the edge of the gorge, looking away over the Eurobin Valley, the Buckland Valley and the Ovens Valley, far down in the distance, the morning light revealed the giant peaks of distant ranges capped with snow. These included the two highest mountains in Australia. Towering over intervening ranges, in the furthest distance, 90 miles away, could be seen the peaks of Kosciusko. This is the highest mountain in Australia, with an altitude of 7256 feet, and owing to the configuration of the country it is possible to see more of the earth's surface from the top of this mountain than from any other in the world. There also rose plainly to view in the breaking dawn the crest of Mount Bogong, one of the Australian Alps, which with an altitude of 6508 feet, is the second highest mountain in Australia and the highest in Victoria. (The Age October 12, 1908, see full report here)

The Age report mentioned that the Premier thanked Carlo for his organisation of the opening event, but The Argus quoted the Premier as saying  So far as the new road was concerned it was the finest piece of work of its kind he had seen in any part of the world, and great praise was due to Mr. Catani, who was in charge, and all those who assisted in its completion. (The Argus, October 12, 1908).

With the opening of the new road, accommodation had to be provided for the tourists.  There were already two accommodation buildings on the mountain - Carlile's Hospice and Manfield's Chalet. Carlile's Hospice was operated by Ted and Mary Jane Carlile and Manfield's by James and Jane Manfield. Their daughter, Alice, was a noted naturalist, tour guide (she was known as Guide Alice) and photographer. You can read more about the Carlile and Manfield familes in the book, The Mount Buffalo Story, 1898-1998 by Dan Webb and Bob Adams.*

Alice Manfield, wrote of her memories of the day the Mount Buffalo Road was officially opened in a wonderful letter to The Argus, published May 25, 1940 - Guide Alice Manfield (formerly of Mt. Buffalo) writes:- Publication of the picture of the opening of the Mt. Buffalo road in "The Argus" Weekend Magazine on May 4 was particularly interesting. I well remember the opening of the road. Among many honours bestowed on me that eventful day was holding the ribbon at the opening. I was the first woman to drive a buggy and pair to the summit. Because of a heavy snowstorm, vehicles could not cross to the plateau, and the remainder of the journey had to be made on foot, each person having to carry his luggage to Manfield's Chalet for the banquet in honour of Sir Thomas Bent, the Premier and many other distinguished visitors. Because my parents were pioneers of the mountain, I was invited, and was the only woman guest. After the ceremony, I pulled the official party, including Sir Thomas Bent, Sir John Mackay, Mr. Billson, and Mr. Catani, to a selected position overlooking Echo Rocks, when they investigated the building of a chalet from Buffalo granite. Sir Thomas Bent died before this was done. (The Argus, May 25, 1940)

The Mount Buffalo Chalet, 1930s. The catalyst for the building of the Chalet was the opening up of Mount Buffalo by the construction of Carlo Catani's road and several scenic tracks.

State Library of Victoria Image H92.318/29

However, the Government decided to build a hospice and initial plans were drawn up by Mr G.H. B. Austin, of the Public Works Department. This was to be built of local granite, at an estimated cost of £10,000 but the building material was soon changed to weatherboard for financial reasons. The site for this new hospice had been surveyed by Carlo on September 19, 1908 (Yackandandah Times, September 24, 1908).  The Chalet was opened around August 1910, I believe, I cannot find the exact date (even though I like to know these things). The full history the Mount Buffalo Chalet can be read in The Mount Buffalo Story, 1898-1998 and there is a short history of the building on the Victorian Heritage Database, here.

The magnificent scenery was not the only attraction on Mount Buffalo. On Saturday, February 25, 1911 a  nine hole golf course was opened on the plateau near the Chalet. The idea for the course came from the Minister for Public Works, William Baillieu, according to a report in the Leader of March 4, 1911. It was Carlo's project to carry out this work and he engaged the professional golfer,  Richard 'Dick' Banks to advise as to the feasibility of the project reported favorably on the proposal...Banks, under Mr. Catani's direction, commenced about three months ago to lay out a nine-hole course.  (Leader, March 4, 1911)  Dick Banks, died in Melbourne in January 1930 at only 53 years of age. The fairway was sown down with alpine grass, imported from Italy.

Opening of the Mount Buffalo Golf-Links - Mr M'Kenzie (Minister for Lands) driving the first ball. Carlo Catani is second from right.

The Australasian, March 11, 1911

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article142940624

There was  a report in The Argus of February 28, 1911 about the opening of the golf course, and it was titled Mr Catani's enthusiasm and it is a great tribute to Carlo and his passion for the tourist potential of Mount Buffalo. While the others were playing golf the Minister for Lands was driven round in one of the State motor-cars. Mr Catani, who opened up the Buffalo to tourist traffic with his road up the Buffalo - an engineering feat which calls forth the admiration of all who see it - acted as guide, and with relentless enthusiasm insisted upon Mr. M'Kenzie leaving the car at frequent intervals and climbing up and down the slopes to inspect the various wonders of the mountain..... Wherever Mr Catani took the Minister he pointed out alluring schemes for further expenditure. About £300 would, he said, add 3ft. to the height of the weir, and make perfect the already magnificent artificial lake he has created. Less than £500 would make the golf links fit for champions. Twenty new bedrooms could be added to the chalet for £2,000. The road to the Horn could be taken almost to the top along a route already surveyed for no more than two or three hundred pounds. An additional circular road on the mount could join up several famous "attractions" for so-and-so. The suggestions were innumerable. Mr M'Kenzie, however, declined to commit himself to do more than "consider" these proposals. (The Argus, February 28, 1911, read full article, here)

Lake Catani, Mt Buffalo, c. 1914. Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co.

State Library of Victoria Image H93.456/24

There was also a lake for skating, fishing and water sports. This lake had been suggested by Edward Dunn in his report referred to above. The Leader of December 1, 1906  quoted Mr Dunn -The boldest and grandest mass of granite in Victoria.....is comprised in the Buffalo Range, which rises as a great dome to an elevation of over 5000 feet above sea level.....either a road for wheeled traffic, or an electric tram line, is required to render the mountain available to all classes of tourists....At the top of the falls there is a large area of swampy ground that could be converted into a lake at small expense. This would do for skating on in winter and as a storage for water to feed the falls in summer. As a source of electric energy these falls, with 700 feet of "head," should supply motive force enough to work an  electric tramway up the mountain, and also all the electric lights required.

The Eurobin Creek was dammed and the lake of 58 acres (23 hectares) was created. In June 1908, George Clowser, who was the paymaster at the Public Works Department, visited the men working on the road, in order to pay them and there was an interview published in the Herald of June 6 1908, about his experiences and amongst other things he was quoted as saying I am 15st. 6lb., and when I walked on the ice pond - or skating rink which Mr Catani, our engineer, has prepared near the hospice as an additional attraction to tourists, I made no impression on it - so thick is the ice. In June 1911, it was reported that the ice was five inches thick.

Lake Catani. Photographer: Alice Manfield. 

The inscription reads: Lake Catani. Guide Alice.

State Library of Victoria Image H2003.97/5

In January 1911, this lake was named in honour of Carlo. The Argus of January 24 had this report Acting on the suggestion of the Bright Shire Council, the Government has decided that the picturesque lake on the top of Mount Buffalo shall be named Lake Catani. This is considered to be a well-deserved recognition of the work done by Mr. Catani, chief engineer of the Public Works Department, in connection with the opening up of Mount Buffalo as a tourist resort. 

As well as having a Lake named after him, Carlo and his contribution to the development of Mount Buffalo as a tourist resort, was marked by the unveiling of  a plaque, mounted a a large granite rock with the inscription Carlo Catani, Chief Engineer of Public Works, 1910-1917  Ye who seek his memorial look around. The plaque  was unveiled by the Minister of Public Works, Mr Jones, on October 25, 1930. The Age of October 27, 1930 reported on the occasion and the tribute which was paid to Carlo The Minister, before unveiling the tablet, referred to the great public service that had been rendered by the late Mr. Catani, particularly in the development of tourist resorts, and stated that probably to no other individual was so much credit due for the opening up and development of such tourist resorts as Mt. Buffalo, the Grampians, Mt. Donna Buang, and the Warburton, Healesville and Marysville districts. To his energy and enthusiasm were also due the improvements to the St. Kilda foreshore and Alexandra-avenue. (The Age of October 27, 1930, read full article, here)

The Catani Memorial tablet, Mount Buffalo

Photo: Martin Wurt - Working Photos (courtesy of Isaac Hermann)

The Catani Memorial on the granite rock

Photo: Martin Wurt - Working Photos (courtesy of Isaac Hermann)

We will end this post with this wonderful tribute to Carlo and his contribution to making Mount Buffalo a tourist destination. It was written by Donald MacDonald and published in The Argus of December 2, 1922 And satisfied with a first view of Buffalo as a tourists' home and pleasure place, one should turn a thought to the man who largely created it, and whose enthusiasms were never chilled by red tape or routine - the late Mr. Catani. The mountain lake has been named in his honour, but the whole place is the memorial of the kindly, lovable, Italian gentleman who was, above all things, the man of vision and of action. (The Argus  December 2, 1922, read the full article, here.)

* The Mount Buffalo Story, 1898-1998 by Dan Webb and Bob Adams (Miegunyah Press, Melbourne University Press, 1998)

I have created a list of articles on Carlo Catani and his involvement with Mount Buffalo, you can access the list, here, on Trove. All the articles referred to in this post are on the list.