Carlo's projects in Brighton

Carlo had a mixed relationship with people of Brighton -  he was helpful in having their breakwater constructed, which you can read about here; but they were unhappy with the fact that he took "their" beach sand away and that he wanted to build a foreshore road through their municipality; but on the other hand, Carlo also drew up plans to both strengthen and lengthen the Brighton Pier to allow excursion steamers to dock. 

Beach Sand removal

The Public Works Department removed beach sand to build up roads in low-lying areas of  Elwood. In January 1908, The Age reported that - 

The Brighton council having taken exception to the wholesale removals of sand from the foreshore at Elsternwick (1) by the Government, for the purpose of further improvements on the reclaimed lands at Elwood, delegates from that body had an interview yesterday with Mr. Catani engineer, of the Public Works department. The latter gentleman was able to demonstrate that the sand taken away was almost immediately replaced by the waters of the Bay. Recently, he explained, when operations were suspended for a day or two, the Government employes found that such a replacement of sand had taken place that the end of the railway track to the beach was buried beneath it. In the circumstances the council, which had suspended sales of sand from the beach elsewhere, will continue to authorise its removal at 2/6 per load under the supervision of its engineer. Further removals, free of charge by Government officers at Elsternwick will also no longer be opposed. (2)

In spite of Carlo proving to them that the sand was naturally replaced, Brighton folk were still complaining three years later. This report is  from January 1911 - 

Mr. Drake, secretary to the Public Works department, and Mr. Catani, engineer, visited Brighton yesterday, to confer with the local council in reference to repeated complaints by the latter that the Government had broken an undertaking given not to remove sand from the Brighton foreshore after a certain date, and that the continued removal was destructive of the attractions of the foreshore. The officials admitted that the complaint was well founded, as to the sand having been taken, explaining that it was used in making the boulevard at Elwood, but it was contended no detriment whatever would result, as the removals of sand were replaced by the deposits made by the incoming tide. Mr. Catani, in order to prove his contention, said that the rails of a tramway laid by the department on the beach at Cole-street wore on a level with the top of the sand on Friday, whilst yesterday they were 15 inches below the surface, and the men using it had to dig down to find the track. The rough weather of Saturday had also shifted a sandbank in the Bay from a position 100 feet out to close in shore. Mr. Drake said he would report on the discussion to the Minister. (3)

In 1917, at a function to mark Carlo's retirement from the Public Works Department, he reminisced about his career and had this to say about the sand - 

Making reference to the sand question, Mr. Catani said he could not see how any objections could be raised to the taking of sand for the work of beautification.... The Brighton Council say they want their beach left as it is, but the whole of the foreshores were just as much public property as the sun that shined to give us warmth. (4)

Brighton Beach, c. 1910. There was clearly, in Carlo's eyes, an abundance of sand.

State Library of Victoria image H40395/26

Foreshore Drive

Which brings us to the next issue Carlo had with Brighton - he had the vision to have a foreshore drive all the way from Port Melbourne to Sorrento. To further this end,  in 1911 Carlo, Mr. Snowball, M.L.A., and Mr Edgar, M.L.C., inspected the foreshore at Brighton and found that it was blocked by private land jutting into the sea. In the near future, consideration would be given by the Government to the question of providing a boulevard from St. Kilda to Brighton. (5)

Sadly for Victoria, this ambitious scenic roadway never eventuated and if the following report from 1917 is correct, Carlo placed the blame squarely on the people of Brighton -
The construction of a boulevard around the Bay was one of the many schemes which Mr. Catani endeavoured to carry out whilst engineer for the Public Works Department, but the work suddenly stopped at the boundary between Brighton and St. Kilda, owing to private owners having the frontages to the foreshore. At a social gathering tendered to Mr. Catani recently, on the occasion of his retirement from the Department, reference was made to it, and Mr. Catani, in replying, said that but for the selfishness of the Brighton people the public would have now had a fine promenade all along the eastern side of the Bay. (6)

Excursion Steamers to Brighton Pier
In September 1910 it was reported that -

Plans for the strengthening of the Brighton Beach pier, so as to enable excursion steamers to call for traffic, are being prepared by Mr. Catani, of the Public Works department, and will be completed in time for the conference of the municipalities of Brighton, Caulfield, Moorabbin and Prahran....to consider the suggestion of the Minister of Public Works for the municipalities to contribute one-third, the steamship companies one-third, and the Government one-third of the cost the work. (7)

The plans were approved; the work involved extending the present pier 150ft., with a width of 21ft. 6in., walings are to be placed on both sides to form berths for steamers. (8) The tender was let to Messrs. Ross, Fraser, and Patience for a cost of £889/11; the cost of the work being being split between the steamship companies, the Brighton and Moorabbin councils and the Government. (9)

The Ozone, who made the inaugural trip from Brighton Pier in January 1912.

Photographer: Allan C. Green.

State Library of Victoria Image H91.108/2033

The inaugural trip from Brighton Pier took place on January 16, 1912 and The Argus reported - 
The parade steamer Ozone arrived a few minutes before 3 o'clock, and without any difficulty berthed on the east side of the pier. Close upon 400 residents of Brighton and Moorabbin, including Mr. M'Bryde, M.L.C., Mr Snowball, M.L.A., the mayor and councillors of Brighton, and the president and councillors of Moorabbin, boarded the steamer, which had already about 200 passengers from Port Melbourne and St Kilda on board. Amid the cheers of the large crowd on the pier, course was shaped down the bay. Whilst the ladies were being entertained at afternoon tea, a number of gentlemen assembled in the smoke-room, and several toasts were honoured. The Mayor of Brighton (Councillor Francis), in proposing the toast of the company, congratulated the directors on the success of their undertaking, and hoped that the steamers would frequently call at Brighton Beach. Mr. M'Bryde, M.L.C., Mr Snowball, M.L.A., and Councillor Small supported the toast. Captain Ramsay responded. He said that but for the assistance of the Brighton and Moorabbin Council the pier would not have been extended. He said that if the traffic warranted it, the company would run regular trips along the eastern side of the bay. He considered that the Brighton Beach pier was more suitable for the steamers than the St Kilda pier, and that although the former was unsheltered from the south-westerly and westerly winds, the water would have to be very rough to prevent the steamer calling. The company has not yet decided upon an itinerary for Brighton Beach, but the latter will be discussed at the directors' meeting on Wednesday week. (10)

In spite of the acclaimed inaugural trip, this service was not a success, as this report from January 1918 notes -
The paddle steamer Ozone will not be calling at Brighton Beach pier during the present season, as the boat has been taken out of commission. The traffic developed at Brighton has been very small, due primarily to the infrequency of the service, and it is understood to be the intention of the company to cancel the service in future. The service was instituted in 1910 [sic], falling upon the extension of the pier, the cost of which was borne by the Government, the company, and the Brighton and Moorabbin Councils in equal proportions. The only undertaking the company would give when asked by the councils to guarantee a regular service, was to agree to call for a period of 5 years as occasion permitted. The Brighton Council will have to contribute £20 a year for a further five years before they are relieved of their liability in connection with the venture, for which outlay they have a fine promenade pier at the beach. (11)

Another connection Carlo had with Brighton was his relationship with Thomas Bent - the Brighton Councillor and Mayor on nine occasions; Chairman of Moorabbin Roads Board, Shire President of Moorabbin on three occasions;  local M.L.A, held several Ministries and was at times the Premier of Victoria; however that is  a story for another time.

Trove list - I have created a list of articles on Trove connected to Carlo's projects in Brighton, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) In 1870 about 641 acres of Elsternwick was annexed to the municipality of Brighton. The annexed section included the area, and thus the foreshore, between Head Street and North Road. Parts of Elsternwick were also in the City of St Kilda and City of Caulfield.(Victorian Municipal Directory and Gazetteer for 1940)

(2) The Age, January 17, 1908, see here.

(3) The Age, January 10, 1911, see here.
(4) Prahran Chronicle, May 26, 1917, see here.

(5) Brighton Southern Cross, December 9, 1911, see here.

(6) Brighton Southern Cross, June 30, 1917, see here.

(7) Brighton Southern Cross, September 10, 1910, see here.

(8) The Argus, August 16, 1911, see here.

(9) The Age, July 24, 1911, see here.

(10) The Argus, January 17, 1912, see here.

(11) Brighton Southern Cross, January 5, 1918, see here.

Carlo and the Brighton Pier Breakwater

The citizens of Brighton spent decades advocating for a decent breakwater in the area for the protection of the Brighton Yacht Club vessels as well as other craft. A basic breakwater was established after the Yacht Club moved in 1886 to its present site adjacent to the pier, but this did not give sufficient protection. (1).  There are many reports of storm damage sustained by the boats; this example is from 1891 -

Whilst the gale was at its height last night about a dozen pleasure yachts, moored under the lee of Brighton pier, were totally wrecked. The craft were all anchored from the bows, and the strong southerly wind blowing at the time driving the sea straight over their decks simply smashed the little vessels to matchwood. Nearly a dozen yachts were sunk and two or three more totally disabled. (2)

Ten years before this storm, in 1881, it was reported that -

A deputation from Brighton, introduced by the Hon. C. J Jenner, M.L.C., waited upon the Commissioner of Trade and Customs yesterday, to ask that the pier at Park street, between Brighton and St Kilda, might be extended about 300ft. in a N.N.W. direction, and the sides boarded up above low water mark. It was explained that this was the only pier for boats between Schnapper Point [Mornington] and Williamstown and if the application were granted a shelter would be formed for yachts, fishing boats, and trading crafts. At present there was not the slightest shelter, and the boats were subject to frequent damage. (3)

In 1891 there was another deputation - 

A Breakwater at Brighton - A deputation from Brighton requested the Commissioner of Trade and Customs yesterday to provide a breakwater near Park street Jetty, Middle Brighton, for the shelter of fishermen's boats and pleasure yachts. (4)

And another ten years on, in 1901 -

The request made to the Port and Harbors Department for a breakwater in the neighborhood of the Middle Brighton pier was considered by them, and an officer was sent to report on the matter. The council was informed that the proposed works would cost £1,500, and it was asked what portion of the amount it was willing to pay. The council then wrote to the Brighton Yacht Club offering to contribute £250 if the club would give a similar sum. (5)

The pier, c. 1907, before the addition of the breakwater.

State Library of Victoria image  H90.111/164

In July 1908, Carlo Catani, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, was consulted on the matter -  

Extra mooring accommodation is required for the fleet, and the advice of Mr. Catani, of the Public Works Department, was sought to fix upon a suitable site for a breakwater. Mr Catani has recommended that the breakwater be placed about 200 yards beyond the Middle Brighton pier, and to form an irregular curve of the end of the pier. The recent waling of the pier affords of efficient shelter for the smaller boats. and the proposed breakwater would enable the largest yachts in the bay to moor safely at Middle Brighton. (6).

Another report from July 1908, showing Carlo's involvement -

Mr. Catani, engineer to the Public Works department, on Saturday visited Middle Brighton to make an examination of the local pier, for the purpose of reporting upon a proposed extension that would serve the purpose of a breakwater for the protection of yachts against south-westerly seas. He found that the waling put upon the pier last year is answering well in breaking the force of the water, and said that will be adequate for the sheltering of small boats, but in order to provide a smooth roadstead for larger craft it will be requisite to considerably extend the pier in the form of a curve in a northerly direction. This, he informed the members of the Brighton Yacht Club who accompanied him on his inspection, will be the effect of his report. (7)

Even with Carlo involved, things moved slowly, but in July 1910 Carlo was a part of  a Ministerial inspection of the foreshore from South Melbourne to Black Rock and the proposed breakwater was part of this tour - 

Favorable consideration was promised regarding an application for £2000 for a breakwater at Middle Brighton, the council to contribute £1000. Mr. Catani said he estimated that the complete scheme would cost £4000. For a like work at Sandringham, it was stated that £650 was required, and that it would be very difficult to raise as much more money locally. No promise was extracted from the Ministers, though the Minister of Works was impressed with the place as a harbor for yachts. (8)

Three years later, in March 1913, there was some actual progress - 

Mr. O. R. Snowball, M.L.A., notified the Brighton Council on Monday evening that a tender had been accepted for the extension of the Middle Brighton pier at a cost of £2,800, which was considerably below the estimate. In order that an improved breakwater might be secured, the Brighton Yacht Club were anxious that the balance, £1,200, should be expended, and he suggested that a deputation should wait on the Minister of Public Works to urge the request. Cr. Hall said that the estimate cost was £4000, and the Government had placed £2000 on the estimates as the first installment towards the work. Tenders were invited for the extension in messmate, ironbark or red gum, and after consultation with the Yacht Club, Mr. Catani recommended that the tender for the work in messmate at £2,800 be accepted. The Cabinet had agreed to find the £800 required so that the whole of the work could be carried out. In order that the breakwater might be more beneficial, the Yacht Club were desirous that close piling should be substituted for 200 feet of the new work instead of waling, and that the arm be extended 95 feel. This extra work would cost £1200, and it was necessary to obtain the Government sanction so that the contract might be to amended in that way. He moved that the Government be asked to extend the work so as to cover the original estimate, viz., £4,000. Cr. Francis seconded the resolution. He, however, considered it was wrong for the Government to accept a wood of less quality. The best material should be always used to obviate the necessity of repairs. In answer to Cr. Pullman, Cr. Hall said the extension of the pier by 95 feet would give a deeper and safer anchorage. Cr. Hall also contended that messmate timber was suitable for the work, although not so good as ironbark. Once the pier was constructed the Government would be responsible for its maintenance. Cr. Pullman suggested deferring the matter to the next meeting. Cr. Cheeseman said that it would not be wise to delay the matter, as the contractor was anxious to make a start with the work, and the part where close piling was required would be the place first undertaken. The resolution was adopted. (9)

Mr Snowball could later report to the Brighton Council that the Public Works Department had amended the plans of the Middle Brighton breakwater to provide for an additional 600 feet and a landing near the present shed. (10) 

The breakwater was funded by the Brighton Council and the Brighton Yacht Club, who jointly contributed £1000 and the Public Works Department, who contributed the remaining £3000 (11).  I don't have a completion date but it was reported in November 1913 that such progress is being made with the work that it is believed its protective uses will be in full effect by Christmas. (12)

Aerial view of Brighton Baths, pier and surrounds, 1940-1950.  

The breakwater was extended in the 1930s. 

Photographer: Francis Hodgson. State Library of Victoria image H96.163/4

The breakwater was extended in the 1930s, as we can see in the photograph, above, and in 1953, The Herald, published an unusual story, by Alan Dower, about this extension - 

Somewhere in the pile of prison bluestone used to build the breakwater at Middle Brighton 20 years ago, is one of the few links with the most charming but cunning and vicious murderess in Australian crime history. Pretty Martha Needle, curly-haired 30-year-old house wife, poisoned her husband, her two children and her fiance's brother . . . and sang hymns and recited psalms as she was being led to the gallows. Mrs Needle was buried in the wing of the old Melbourne gaol that now houses wireless patrol cars. But when most of the gaol was demolished in the 'twenties, the rough headstone of her grave was buried in the Middle Brighton breakwater.  (13). Read the rest of the story here.

Trove list - I have created a  short list of articles related to the breakwater at Brighton and the involvement of Carlo Catani, access it here. 

Footnotes

(1) Bate, Weston A History of Brighton (Melbourne University Press, 2nd ed., 1983) p. 351.

(2) The Age, July 13, 1891, see here.

(3) The Argus, August 27, 1881, see here.

(4) The Argus, June 25, 1891, see here.

(5) Caulfield and Elsternwick Leader, June 15, 1901, see here.

(6) The Argus, July 7, 1908, see here.

(7) The Leader, July 11, 1908, see here.

(8) The Age, July 1, 1910, see here.

(9) Brighton Southern Cross, March 15, 1913, see here.

(10) Brighton Southern Cross, April 26, 1913, see here.

(11) The Herald, February 14, 1913, see here.

(12) The Leader, November 1, 1913, see here.

(13) The Herald, November 21, 1953, see here.

Carlo and the St Kilda Botanical Gardens Gates

The Botanical Gardens in St Kilda, also known as the Blessington Street Gardens, were established in 1859. St Kilda Historian, J. B. Cooper wrote about the establishment of the gardens and the role played by Tilman Gloystein, in its design - 
At the St. Kilda Council meeting held on September 28, 1859, a motion was carried, affirming "the desirability of the reserve, bounded by Tennyson, Blessington, and Dickens Streets, in the neighbourhood of the swamp, being granted by the Government, for the purpose of a Botanical Garden, and that the proper steps be at once taken to procure the necessary conveyance." The motion brought forward by Councillor Tullett, and seconded by Councillor McNaughton, met with the warmest support from the chairman, the Hon. Alexander Fraser, M.L.C. Cooper....

The Council enclosed the Blessington Street land with a substantial picket fence, six feet in height, and then made the announcement to the residents, that it was proposed to form the land into a "public gardens, and promenade." Designs for the gardens, and promenade, were announced...... The design of Mr. Gloystein was adjudged the most suitable one in the contest, and he was paid the £10. The lines of the walks, and flower beds were "trenched out agreeably with the design, and a nursery commenced, in the gardens ready for the next season's planting." (1).

The Gardens in 1896. Dickens Street is on the left.

Detail of Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works plan, scale 160 feet to 1 inch. no.45 , Prahran & St Kilda.

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/143131

There is more detail about the Botanical Gardens in an Argus newspaper article from June 1860.  Tilman Gloystein's surname is incorrectly listed as Goldstein in the article. 
The Municipal Council of St. Kilda, at their weekly meeting yesterday evening, took two steps forward towards the establishment of a local botanical garden, by, in the first place, awarding the premium for the best design to Mr. Tilman W. Goldstein; and, in the second place, by accepting a tender from Mr. Kidner for the fencing-in of the gardens, at a cost of £424. Mr. Goldstein's design, although somewhat elaborate, is not marked by that formality so that frequently characterizes plans of a similar kind, and, whilst avoiding the mistake of dividing the ground into too small plots, for plants, &c., lays out ample space both for promenade and riding or driving, interspersed by numerous shrubberies. The only approach to formality is immediately in the centre of the gardens, where he proposes to place a pavilion for a band, and which is surrounded by circular walks and beds. Mr. Goldstein has adorned the place by a couple of fountains, and has selected spots for the erection of hot-houses, a lodge, a superintendent's residence, and other buildings, which it will probably be too costly to carry out at present. (2)

Tilman Gloystein was a tragic figure and this 1856 report gives us some insight into his life -  

a highly respectable-looking German, named Gloystein, was brought up at the City Court on Wednesday on suspicion of being a lunatic. The unfortunate man, it appeared, is an architect by profession and has been several years in the colonies. Recently, however, he has been without occupation, and during the last fortnight he has been residing in a boarding-house in Lonsdale-street west. His altered circumstances appear to have preyed on his mind and on two or three occasions of late his conduct to his fellow-lodgers has been such as to cause the charge of lunacy to be preferred against him. Gloystein was questioned by the Bench, and gave a very coherent and intelligent statement of his depressed circumstances. He alleged that his conduct to his fellow-lodgers was the result of some impropriety on their parts. Dr. O'Reilly was called and stated that Gloystein was a perfect gentleman when in sound health, but his belief was that at present he was suffering from mental anxiety. (3).

In the 1860s and 1870s there are numerous newspaper reports of him being charged with vagrancy or drunkedness for which he spent time in gaol or in the Asylum. He was admitted for the last time to the Sunbury Lunatic Asylum on December 1, 1879, where he died on January 22, 1894, aged 77. (4).

Over the years the gardens became neglected, so much so that in 1901 a person using the pseudonym, 'A. Ratepayer', wrote to the Prahran Telegraph -
....the name botanical must be looked into. As regards myself I call botanical gardens where all ornamental shrubs, trees, and flowers are named with large and small labels in writing. Our botanical gardens contains nothing but a few rough trees, common pelargoniums, common chrysanthemums and verbenas, and a few plants here and there of other species. There should be nice ornamental trees and flowers of all descriptions, and then the name botanical would then come in, and the public would have something to look at. (5).

John Watkins, Curator of the Gardens

The Herald, November 2, 1918 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242668651

It was the appointment of  John Williams Watkins as curator of the gardens which turned the gardens into a place well worth visiting. In 1919 the Prahran Telegraph reported that -

When we remember what the old rambling place of wild wilderness was until Mr. W. J. Watkins, the present curator, came along, and turned it with the spade of a true gardener, and transformed it into an abiding place of smooth, sweeping lawns, bordered with a fringe of many-hued lace made up of variegated flowers, and picturesque shrubs, we can well marvel at the change he has delved to bring about o'er the scene. We have had it suggested to us that a fairy wand was at work, and the results seems to give that impression, but we know better.  An inhospitable soil, filled with the metal screenings of streets, had to be taken in hand. The soil had to be so dealt with as to see that plant food took the place of metal screenings. The rose has been made to blossom in the desert, or something akin to that miracle has been performed by Mr. Watkins. The garden is now the home of exquisite flowers that in their season appear on the benches of flower shows, from there to bring awards of excellence, and prizes, and cause visitors to marvel that such beautiful blooms can be grown, if you know how, in St. Kilda-by-the-Sea. (6).

Not only did Mr Watkins perform miracles in the garden, but  -

every bush is labelled in bold letters, giving not only the name of the variety, but the class to which the variety belongs, which will make the display instructive to the amateur gardener as well as enjoyable to the ordinary flower lover. (7)  I hope the chap who wrote to the newspaper in 1901, lamenting the lack of labels, appreciated this.

The Blessington Street Gardens. 

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co, c. 1920s-1954.

State Library of Victoria Image H32492/1935

The curator who worked his magic on the Botanical Gardens was John William Watkins. John was born in Brighton in Melbourne on October 18, 1872 to Richard and Emma (nee Best) Watkins; Richard was also a gardener. John married Caroline Godfrey Brown in Longford in Tasmania, on January 11, 1900. Caroline had been born in Launceston on July 2, 1881 to John William and Catherine (nee Owen) Brown. John and Caroline had two sons, both born in Launceston -  Albert Edwin on November 6, 1900 and Vernon Arthur on July 8, 1902. (8)

In 1911, John was appointed as the curator of the St Kilda Botanical Gardens. In 1914, Mr. Watkins was promoted to Head Gardener at the City of St Kilda, with the responsibility to supervise the gardening work throughout the city (9) In 1916 it was reported that at the Botanical Gardens he had the assistance of two elderly gardeners, men whom the curator has great faith in, preferring, from experience, men who are elderly. He is also charged with the supervision of the whole of the reserves and street planting in the city, having 13 men under his charge for that work. (10)

Sadly, Caroline died at only 40 years of age, on October 29, 1921. Her obituary in the Prahran Telegraph, described her -

as esteemed by a large circle of friends for the best of womanly qualities which she was gifted with in a marked degree. News of her death after an operation came as a great shock to them. It was some time before they could realise the sudden passing of such a bright spirit. Her obituary also notes that as well as being the mother of  Vernon and Bert that she was also the foster mother of Fred. (11)

On September 8, 1923, John remarried, to Doris Eileen Games. Doris had been born on January 3, 1894 in Richmond to Stephen and Martha (nee Bertrand) Games. John and Doris had two children, Jack and Nina.  He was still employed as the Curator at the Gardens in 1937, but I have no information when he retired. John died January 22, 1942, aged 69. January 22 was the same day that Tilman Gloystein died, so that's an interesting connection.  Caroline, John and Doris (who died September 13, 1970) are buried in the same grave at Brighton Cemetery. (12)

It was during the time that John Watkins was the curator that Carlo Catani, and others, donated money for the erection of gates at the Blessington Street Gardens.  The Prahran Chronicle of April 15, 1916 reported that the St Kilda Council had received donations of  £1 each... from Messrs Treichel, Baxter, Catani, Kendall and Davis towards the cost of erecting a gate to the same gardens at the corner of Blessington and Tennyson streets. (13)

At the time of this donation Carlo was living at 39 Blessington Street, St Kilda. I believe the other donors were his Blessington Street neighbours - Otto Johann Treichel, a jeweller of  No. 35;  Robert Baxter, independent means, of No. 37; Herbert Francis Kendall, a traveller, of No. 66a; Henry Davis or Henry Charles Davis, both chemists, of No. 68. (14)

To accommodate these gates the Council created a new main path twelve feet wide leading to what is to be the chief entrance at the corner of Blessington and Tennyson streets, where a pair of dignified looking gates are to be erected with money subscribed by certain appreciative rate-payers. This path was completed in October 1916. (15) It would have been a convenient entry for Carlo and his neighbours to enjoy the Gardens and admire the wonderful work of Mr Watkins and his team.

I have no information as to when the gates were erected but in November 1918 it was reported that -

The main entrance at the corner of Tennyson and Blessington streets, has been made more than ordinarily inviting by the erection of large ornamental iron gates. (16)

The gates on the corner of Tennyson and Blessington streets, 

the funds for which were contributed by Carlo and his neighbours.

Image: Isaac Hermann

As you can see from the photograph the gates are surmounted by the sign - St Kilda City Gardens. The Gardens were renamed the St Kilda City Gardens in June 1932, according to a report of a St Kilda Council meeting at that time. (17).  Does this mean that the name was a later addition to the original gates or were new gates made with the new name?  I don't know. I like to think they are the original gates and thus a tangible reminder of the generosity of Carlo and his like-minded neighbours of Blessington Street.

Acknowledgment -  I referred to St Kilda Botanical Gardens: a social snapshot of its first hundred years by Patricia Convery (St Kilda Botanical Gardens, 2014) for some background for this story. Thank you to my research colleague, Isaac Hermann, for alerting me to Carlo's donation towards the gates.

Trove lists

I have created  a short list of articles on John William Watkins and his time at the Blessington Street Gardens, access it here; and on Tilman Gloystein, access it here.

Footnotes

(1)  Cooper, John Butler The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a city and after 1840 - 1930, v. 1 (St Kilda City Council, 1931), p. 141. 

(2) The Argus, June 29, 1860, see here.

(3) The Argus, August 8, 1856,  see here.

(4) See my Trove list of articles on Tilman's life, here; His Inquest is available at the Public Records Office of Victoria, read it here.

(5) Prahran Telegraph, June 29, 1901, see here.

(6) Prahran Telegraph, April 12, 1919, see here.

(7) The Leader, October 11, 1913, see here.

(8) Index to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages;  Tasmanian Archives   https://libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives/ ; Brighton Cemetorians website https://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/

(9) Prahran Telegraph, February 21, 1914, see here.

(10) The Herald, November 2, 1918, see here; Prahran Telegraph, March 11, 1916, see here.

(11) Caroline's obituary - Prahran Telegraph, November 5, 1921, see here;

(12) Index to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages. Doris Games' birth entry in the Indexes says she was born in Richmond; the death entry in the Indexes says she was born in Muckleford.  John's death notice The Argus, January 26, 1942, see here; Prahran Telegraph, March 14, 1930, see here;  Marriage notice, The Argus, October 13, 1923, see here; Brighton Cemetorians website https://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/  The 1935 Sands and McDougall's Directory of Victoria, still list his occupation as Curator and his address in the cottage in the Botanical Gardens and the 1937 Electoral Roll shows similar information.

(13) Prahran Chronicle, April 15, 1916, see here.

(14) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com

(15) The Leader, October 14, 1916, see here.

(16) The Herald, November 2, 1918, see here

(17) The Argus, June 14, 1932, see here.

Carlo provides flood recovery advice to the Victorian Racing Club at Flemington Racecourse in 1916

In 1916, on Saturday September 23 and Sunday September 24, Melbourne suffered from extensive flooding - the Yarra River rose in places by 18 feet and the Maribyrnong River flooded low-lying land along its bank, including parts of Footscray, Kensington and Flemington. Kensington residents were also impacted by the flooded Moonee Ponds Creek. Many people were made homeless. (1).

Here are some reports of the flooding -

.... no fewer than 70 residences at Maribyrnong, mostly erections of practically recent date, were rendered untenable and the contents considerably damaged. In one or two cases only the roofs of the houses were discernible and as floating logs and rooted-up trees came down stream, impelled by an irresistible force, to crash against the sides of the buildings, it was feared that the structures would be swept away. (2).

There was this  short report -  Along Maribyrnong River, at Kensington, about 200 houses were flooded and the flood water covers an area of about 24 acres. (3).

Another report about Kensington - 

At Kensington the Moonee Ponds Creek overflow took place in the area from the Flemington road on the north to the West Melbourne docks on the south. Despite the low-lying nature of this territory portion of it is thickly inhabited, and the dwellers in these areas suffered severely. The canal, swollen with a fall of over five inches of rain, assumed the proportions of a huge river, and soon Stubbs street, which faces the creek, was merged in the rushing torrent and the tide was lapping at the doors of houses in the vicinity and inundating back yards and homes in a manner which threatened much worse conditions to come. Factories were surrounded by huge lakes, and a general cessation of labour resulted. Residents stuck to their home to the last possible moment, and as a result many were rescued in exciting circumstances. Conditions were particularly bad in the area south of Macaulay road, where, despite the perils of the position, a number of new houses had recently been erected. About 30 families had to leave their homes, and many of the sufferers alleged that the flood, as in previous case, was rendered more serious as a result of the stupid policy of the Government in stopping the flow of the creek by driving piles in connection with a bridge, at the railway gravitation yards into the bed of the canal. The authorities arranged that sufferers could store their belongings at the Kensington Town Hall, but more material comforts were provided by the kindly offices of a number of residents who hastily improvised an impromptu relief movement.  Prominent among such benefactors was Mrs. Jones, licensee of the Centennial Hotel (4),  who threw her doors open to the sufferers, with the result that 31 individuals were accommodated with free board and lodging until the waters subsided. To accomplish this philanthropic task local bakers, butchers and grocers had to break through Sunday observance to supply the requisite stores to supply such to the large "family"' so suddenly called into being. It was a case of the better the day, the better the deed (5).

Floods at Flemington, c, 1900-1925. I believe the top image is of 

the Moonee Ponds Creek.

State Library of Victoria Image H37726

Many residents were unprepared for the flooding and The Age report noted the reason why some residents were caught out - 

Word that Maribyrnong River was likely to overflow was first received by Sergeant Ryan, of the Footscray police, on Thursday, but at that time there had been little rain in the metropolis, and though the police warned residents below flood level to be prepared very little attention was paid to the warning. In the intervening years since the previous destructive flood similar warnings had been issued on numerous occasions, but the expected floods did not occur, and those concerned found that the trouble in removing goods to higher levels had been unnecessary. Consequently on this occasion, even when on Friday fortified by reports from Lancefield, Sunbury and Gisborne, the police issued a further warning, very little heed was paid. But on Saturday morning the river commenced to rise so rapidly that those concerned had to make for safe positions, and had then very slight opportunity for saving their goods. By midday the river overflowed its banks from Maribyrnong to the railway bridge at Footscray, and half an hour later the heavy volume of water had spread in some places until the river appeared in places along the Maribyrnong valley over half a mile wide; and it kept on rising. (6).

Some of these residents suffered a double blow as many places of employment were also affected by the flood - the Abattoirs at Kensington for instance and the the Colonial Ammunition Company, at Footscray which was flooded to a depth of six feet - it was reported that it would be close to a month before it could operate again. (7)

Flemington Racecourse. The Great Flood Sept 10, 1906 - the flood a decade earlier

State Library of Victoria Image H42587/8

Also affected by the flood was the Flemington Racecourse. The following paragraph lead The Age newspaper's report on the flood - 

History repeated itself on the Maribyrnong River on Saturday. Ten years previously premises along its banks were flooded out; the racecourse at Flemington was submerged and left in such a condition that the V.R.C. October meeting had to be held at Caulfield, and considerable valuable property was washed away. The position is practically the same now, and the fact that such is the case completely disposes of the excuse put forward in 1906 that the trouble was caused by the damming back of water at the underpinned railway bridge at Footscray. (8)

Naturally the concern of the V.R.C., in 1916 was the same as that in 1906 - the fact that the Melbourne Cup carnival, held in early November, was just five weeks away, so they went straight to the top and asked Carlo Catani for advice on how to remedy the flood damage.  In October  1916, The Age reported - 

A visit of inspection was yesterday paid to the Flemington racecourse by the chairman (Mr. L. K.S. Mackinnon) and members of committee, who were accompanied by Messrs. Catani (Public Works department), Kermode (engineer of ports and harbors), W. Davidson and Jas. Wilson, jun. The object of the visit was to confer and obtain advice in regard to the flood damage, and the means of removing the silt, thousands of tons of which was carried on to the racing track, saddling paddock and lawn by the flood waters. The silt is being cut away and removed as quickly as possible, and new turf will have 
to be laid in various parts of the ground. The methods of dealing with the work in hand were generally approved of by the visitors, who attended by invitation, and it is expected that with a spell of fine weather, the grounds will be in readiness by Derby day, Saturday, 4th November. The repairs to be effected will entail a considerable outlay. In the committee rooms and other buildings the linoleums and other furnishings were badly damaged by the flood waters, and will need to be replaced. (9).

The Age later reported on the efficacy of these remedial works  - 

Traces of the devastation wrought by the recent floods will be easily discernible at Flemington on Saturday week, when the V.R.C. Spring meeting will be commenced with the Derby programme. Yesterday forenoon a semi-official inspection of the course and grounds was made by a party of sporting pressmen and others........In some parts of the course the flood waters extended to a height of 6 feet to 7 feet, and considerable damage was done not only to the racing track for the whole circuit, but also in various other directions, and it is estimated that the cost of the renovation work will total close upon £2000. Particular attention first of all was paid to the course proper, from which thousands of tons of silt, which had been 15 inches deep in places, had to be removed, and when the whole of the running track was chipped off with spades by the workman, grass had to be sown down immediately. The roots of the original plantation had not been interfered with to any extent, and this, with the new growth, has done so well that with a few fine days ahead everything will be in readiness for the big fixture next month. There may be a soft spot or two close to the rails, but generally speaking the course should be in excellent order by Melbourne Cup day. The silt has been placed in heaps in the saddling paddock and other parts of the course for removal or use in some other way in the future.....In its scheme of renovations and improvements, at which between 350 and 500 men were employed, the club received material expert assistance from Messrs. Catani, Kermode and Davidson, and has done excellent work during the time at its disposal. (10)

The Melbourne Cup race went ahead and was won by Sasanof, by over two lengths. In reality, the winner was the Victorian Racing Club who had the resources to employ up to 500 men to repair the damage to the Flemington Racecourse as well as the clout to receive the advice of the top Public Works Department Engineer, Carlo Catani. I wonder how much official assistance the people along the Maribrynong River and Moonee Ponds Creek, who were flooded received, but I think we know the answer to that (11). It was no doubt left to concerned locals such as Mrs Margaret Jones of the Centennial Hotel and her troop of bakers, butchers and grocers. 

Footnotes - 

(1) Read flood reports - The Age, September 25, 1916, see here; The Argus, September 25, 1916, see here; Bendigo Independent, September 25, 1916, see here; The Age, September 26, 1916, see here; Flemington Spectator, September 28, 1916, see here;

(2) The Age, September 25, 1916, see here

(3) Bendigo Independent, September 25, 1916, see here

(4) The Centennial Hotel, on the corner of Rankins Road and Smith Street in Kensington was built in 1888, a good description was in the North Melbourne Advertiser, September 8, 1888, see here.  There was the Bar, Dining Room and Billiard room on the ground floor; 14 bedrooms on the second floor and 21 bedrooms on the third floor. It was sold in September 1938  to Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Sadler, licensees of the Village Belle Hotel, St. Kilda. The hotel, a large three-story brick structure, has long been a landmark in Kensington suburb, and is one of the oldest and best-known hotels there. It is the intention of Mr. and Mrs. Sadler to reconstruct the hotel and make it one of the most modern suburban hotels. (The Age, September 24, 1938, see here). In April 1939, it was reported that the Victorian Licensing Court had given approval for alterations costing £4000 to be carried out to the Centennial Hotel, Kensington, Victoria, by F. Morsby, architect. This would have been the time that the hotel was converted into the existing two storey building. (Construction, April 5, 1939, see here)

At the time of the flood it was operated by Margaret Jones; her husband John Joseph Jones, had died the year before, in Sydney, on September 18, 1915; he had previously been at the Cornish Arms Hotel in Brunswick and the Cheltenham Hotel, Cheltenham. He was an active supporter of all branches of sport, and will be well remembered in connection with the early history of the Colllngwood Football Club.  (Death notice The Argus, September 21, 1915, see here; short obituary in The Herald September 22, 1915, see here). Margaret died January 7, 1917 at the age of 42; the couple had two children, John and Eileen. The late Mrs. Jones endeared herself to a large circle of friends by her philanthropic acts; her generous deeds in relieving sufferers by the recent floods will be remembered, and she was a prominent worker in local charitable and patriotic movements.   (Obituary Essendon Gazette, January 11, 1917, see here) 

(5) Flemington Spectator, September 28, 1916, see here

(6) The Age, September 25, 1916, see here

(7) Ibid

(8) Ibid

(9) The Age, October 10, 1916, see here; there is another report of the visit in The Argus of October 10, 1916, see here.

(10) The Age, October 28, 1916, see here.

(11) Interesting letter here about the lack of assistance from the Melbourne City Council -  The Argus, September 26, 1916, see here.

Carlo and Vice-Regal engagements

Carlo Catani, the humble Public Works Department Engineer met many illustrious people, including the Governors of Victoria, the Governor-General of Australia and the Queensland Premier.  This post looks at some of these Vice-Regal and other interactions.

Sir Thomas David Gibson Carmichael (1859 – 1926)

Governor of Victoria July1908 to May 1911

Sir Thomas David Gibson Carmichael (1859–1926)

Photographer: Talma Studios.

State Library of Victoria image H33026

From The Argus, February 24, 1910, see here.

Governor's Tour. In the Beechworth District. 

His Excellency, the Governor, accompanied by Mr Billson (Minister for Education), visited the State school this morning and showed great interest in the Sloyd work. He obtained a holiday for the children. Subsequently in company with Mr Billson, Mr Catani (engineer of public works), and the members of the shire council and prominent citizens, Sir Thomas Gibson Carmichael drove to Mount Stanley. At Stanley a halt was made, and the party proceeded to the local State school where a flag, the gift of the school children of Stanley, in the Falkland Islands, off the coast of South America, was unfurled. Here again, the children were granted a holiday. Stanley was decorated with arches and bunting.

At Mount Stanley, His Excellency declared open the pavilion built by the Beechworth Shire Council as a shelter for picnickers, and christened by them the Carmichael Pavilion. After luncheon a visit was paid to the Cairn. Unfortunately the view of the surrounding district which is usually very fine, was partly obscured by smoke.  The party returned to Beechworth and in the evening His Excellency was entertained by the Freemasons. The vice-regal party leave by the morning train for Melbourne.

From The Australasian, September 24, 1910, see here.

The Governor and Lady Gibson Carmichael, attended by Captain Boyle and accompanied by Mr. A. A. Billson (Minister of Railways) and Mr. J. Kilmartin (superintendent of railway traffic in the North eastern district), arrived at Bright by special train on Monday morning. Mr. Catani (of the Public Works department), who has the arrangement of the Buffalo trip in hand, joined the party, and they left by special coach, in charge of Mr. Michael Dougherty, for the hospice.

Sir John Michael Fuller (1864 - 1915).

Governor of Victoria  May 1911 and resigned November 1913.

Sir John Fuller

State Library of Victoria Image H21

From the Portland Guardian, April 14, 1913, (see here)

Visit of the Governor to Cape Nelson.
The State Governor, Sir John Fuller, accompanied by his private secretary and a party consisting of Mr Edgar, Minister of Public Works; Mr Catani, Engineer of the same department; Hon. J. Thompson, M.L.A.; Mr and Mrs Franklin, visitors from England and residing at Government House; the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr and Mrs Williamson; Crs J. R. Woods and J. Wiltshire; Cr S. L. Officer, Portland  Shire Council; and others, drove out to Cape Nelson on Friday afternoon. This should be one of the finest drives about Portland, there being some beautiful coastal scenery en-route, but the state of the road at present makes it anything but pleasant, and some members of the party expressed themselves in un-complimentary terms about the number of bumps they received. As nobody is apparently interested in the maintenance of this road, it appears likely to remain in its present state. An effort is being made by the Portland Progress Committee to get a grant in aid from the Tourist Fund for this purpose, as the road is largely used, especially in the summer months, by visitors to the Cape, a good case should be made out for assistance to that end.

On arrival at the station, which was gaily decorated in honor of the occasion, the flagpole being resplendent with bunting of various colors, visitors and lighthouse officials were lined up by the camera man, and a group photo taken of the lot. This proceeding is getting to be a recognised feature, or a necessary evil, according to the point of view, of almost every outing, these days. After this, fortunately, brief ceremony was over, the Governor and most of the party proceeded to view the Lighthouse and various points of interest. The wild coastal scenery in places being well worth looking at.

From The Age, June 28, 1913, (see here)
Arbor Day. Interesting Celebration. The Governor plants a tree.
About 1000 people gathered yesterday afternoon on the north bank of the Yarra, near Anderson street-bridge, and witnessed a very interesting Arbor day celebration. One hundred and thirty-eight young plants, which some day will be trees and will beautify the bank of the river, were put in their allotted positions. The State Governor, Sir John Fuller, was welcomed by Mr. J. Cameron, M.L.A., on behalf of the Australian Forest League, and by Mr. F. Tate, on behalf of the Education department. Among others present were Sir John Madden, Chief Justice; Mr. Hagelthorn, Minister of Public Works; Mr, D. V. Hennessy, Lord Mayor; Mr. Hannan, M.L.A.; Mr. C. Catani, and Mr. G. W. Cooper, curator of Alexandra-avenue. The first tree, a mahogany gum (Eucalyplus botryoides), was planted by the State Governor, who used a trowel. Sir John Fuller said he was delighted to be there that afternoon.

In November 1912, Carlo attended the opening of the Dargo Bush Nursing Hospital with Lady Fuller, the Governor's wife, you can read about this here.

Sir Ronald Craufurd Munro Ferguson (1860–1934)

Governor-General of Australia February 1914 until October 1920.

Sir Ronald Craufurd Munro Ferguson 

State Library of South Australia image B 3861

From The Age, February 18, 1915, see here.

Beautifying the Yarra. Visit of Inspection. What the Governor-General and State Governor saw. 
With a view to showing the Governor-General and State Governor what is being done to improve and beautify the Yarra banks, the State Government authorised a tour of inspection yesterday. A little after 11 a.m. Sir Ronald Ferguson, Sir Arthur Stanley, Mr. Victor Hood and representatives of the State Cabinet, in Mr. Hagelthorn and Mr. Membrey, left in motor cars for a run along the river banks. The Chief Engineer of Public Works (Mr. Catani) was also of the party and it fell to him to explain what was
being done, and to meet any possible criticisms or objections.

Sir Arthur Lyulph Stanley (1875-1931)

 Governor of Victoria November 1913 to January 1920. 

Sir Arthur Lyulph Stanley

Photographer: Johnstone, O'Shannessy & Falk. 

State Library of Victoria Image H22

From The Herald April 9, 1915, (see here)

Dahlias attract Governor. Alexandra Gardens visited.
Sir Arthur Stanley, the Governor and Lady Stanley, guided by Mr C. Catani, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department and Mr G. Cooper, curator, inspected the Alexandra Gardens this morning, and admired the fine show of dahlias. In honor of the visit Mr Cooper named a new seedling "Sir Arthur Stanley." Its parent is the yellow and purple Geisha, and its colors are yellow and claret, with petals tipped with sienna. A cactus dahlia has already been named after Lady Stanley.

The Alexandra Gardens were designed by Carlo and George Cooper and I have written about them here, here and here. 

From Punch September 21, 1916, see here.

His Excellency the State Governor [Sir Arthur Stanley] on Saturday afternoon last, visited Edwardes Park, Preston, and planted some trees. His Excellency, who was attended by Capt. N. Conant, A.D.C., was received by the President and councillors of the Shire of Preston, and welcomed to the district. After partaking of afternoon tea, the Governor's health was proposed by the President, and duly honoured by those present. His Excellency inspected the park and the plans of the proposed improvements by Mr. Catani. Edwardes Park is formed of 36 acres of undulating land, presented by Mr. Edwardes, of Hyde Park, London. A creek runs through the land, and the Shire has purchased 10 acres to form a bank for the other side of the lake into which it is proposed to convert the present creek. On Saturday afternoon, despite the unpropitious weather, there was a large attendance of local residents.

You can read more about Edwardes Lake park, here. 

In December 1914, Carlo attended the unveiling of the Captain Cook statue in St Kilda by Sir Arthur Stanley. You can read about this here. 

Mr Digby Frank Denham (1859 – 1944)

Premier of Queensland February 1911 until May 1915

Digby Frank Denham

State Library of Queensland image 68206

From The Week (Brisbane) February 14, 1913, see here.

Mrs. Digby Denham, who returned to Brisbane on Saturday night, accompanied the Premier on his recent visit to the southern States. Mr and Mrs. Denham first visited Sydney, and thence went to Melbourne and Adelaide. At Adelaide, they were entertained at luncheon at Marble Hill by Sir Day and Lady Bosanquet, and in each State the Ministry extended every courtesy to the visiting Premier and his wife. From Adelaide, a visit was paid to the Buffalo, which was reached by motor. Mr. and Mrs. Denham were accompanied by Signor Catani, who is known as the "father of the Buffalo," and after whom the lake is called. In Lake Catani, the party caught a trout, weighing about 5lbs., which is remarkable, in that it was the first trout in those parts to be taken by a hook. A week-end also was spent at Mount Macedon, where Mr. and Mrs. Denham were the guests of Mrs. Reid. During their holiday, the Premier and his wife, rode, drove, and walked, and have benefited greatly by the change.

Information about the Governors, the Governor-General and the Premier is from the Australian Dictionary of Biography - https://adb.anu.edu.au/

Carlo makes valuable suggestions for the garden at Kyneton High School

In 1915 Carlo Catani, the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, received a request for a garden design for the Kyneton High School. He was clearly so well loved and respected by the public that they had no qualms approaching him for what seems to be a fairly trivial matter. However, no doubt as his son Enrico had been farming at Kyneton since he left Dookie College in 1912, the community felt they had a personal connection to Carlo. Sadly, Enrico's connection to the Kyneton area was cut tragically short by his death at Pozieres in France on July 29, 1916. (1).

The High School at Kyneton had opened in the Technical school building, on the corner of Ebden and Piper Streets in 1912, with 62 students. (2).  This building was built in 1878 as the Market building, but was only been used for this purpose for ten years, before it became the Technical School in 1888. (3). After the opening of the High School, the Technical classes were held in the building at night. (4). A new High School was officially opened in Epping Street on November 30, 1928. (5).

It was thus for a garden at the school in the old Market building that Carlo's ideas were required. The Kyneton Guardian reported in June 1915 that -
At the last meeting of the Kyneton High School Council the hon. secretary was requested to write to Mr. Catani, of the Public Works Department, thanking him for valuable suggestions re the laying out of the school garden. (6).

Were Carlo's valuable suggestions acted upon? In December 1915, it was reported that -

Mr. T. H. Stuart, head master of Kyneton High School, in his report to the school council on the year's work stated that alterations had been effected at the technical school to permit of the rooms being used for high school purposes; that a bicycle shed and other outbuildings had been erected; that the cookery room had been brought up to date, and that the office had been finished and fitted commensurately with the expansion of the school. In addition, the grounds had been graded, the garden laid out, a piano purchased and two rooms furnished with pictures. There are 130 pupils on the roll, the highest number since the establishment of the school. (7).

Was the garden actually laid out to Carlo's design? Interestingly, on the edge of the 1949 photograph below, we can see the fronds of a palm tree, a tree which Carlo frequently used in his gardens. That's enough proof for me that the School Council not only appreciated Carlo's  design suggestions, but made them a reality.

1949 photo - The Kyneton Technical School, used as the High School from 1912 until 1928. Note the palm tree on the right - part of Carlo's 1915 garden design.

Factory, Main Road, Kyneton, 1949. Photographer: Colin Caldwell.

State Library of Victoria Image H84.276/5/32A

1963 photo - The old Technical/High School building, with Carlo's palm tree on the right.

Kyneton Market Building & Old Technical School Piper St, March 10, 1963. 

Photographer: John T. Collins. State Library of Victoria Image H97.250/2054 

Footnotes

(1) Enrico Catani  - read about his school days here; read about his time at Kyneton and war service , here; and more about his war service here and here.

(2) Vision and Realisation : a centenary history of State Education in Victoria, v. 2., edited by L.J. Blake.(Education Department of Victoria, 1973)

(3) Kyneton Observer, June 30, 1888, see here; Victorian Heritage Database citation  https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/68906

(4) The Argus, July 18, 1911, see here.

(5) The Argus, December 1, 1928, see here.

(6) Kyneton Guardian, June 22, 1915, see here.

(7) The Age, December 18, 1915, see here.

Carlo seeks supplies of Lanoline for the Italian Red Cross

The Great War caused the shortage of many products in Australia and other countries and one of these products was lanoline. This shortage also impacted Italy and Carlo Catani was asked to help resolve this problem, however in spite of Australia having the largest sheep industry in the world, we did not produce lanoline which is made from the grease of the wool. Australia imported most of its lanoline from Germany (1).

In 1912, Mr. J. B. Henderson (2), President of  Royal Society in Queensland estimated that state alone would throw away 20,000,000 lbs of lanoline a year, which at the wholesale price in Germany, 11d a pound, is approximately worth £1,000,000. As he asked - Would it not pay to have all our wool scoured, and keep this considerable sum in Queensland, instead of making a present of it to continental manufacturers? (3)

Wool washing or scouring on the Yarra; the dirt and grease removed from the wool added to the pollution of the Yarra.

Wool washing on the Yarra, 1872. Photographer: Charles Nettleton

State Library of Victoria H96.160/1729

Italy's request for lanoline in June 1915 was reported in many newspapers, firstly in The Herald -

Lanoline is urgently required in connection with Red Cross work in Italy, and Mr C. Catani, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, has authority to negotiate for purchasers. Inquiries which he has made recently have indicated that there is little, if any, to spare in Victoria. He urges that as lanoline is merely the fat of wool it ought to be possible in a great sheep-raising country like Australia to supply large quantities. This was one opportunity, he considered, for trade expansion. Mr Catani who has received advices regarding the shortage of lanoline, bismuth and alkaloids of certain drugs from his brother, Lieutenant-Colonel G. Catani of Florence, will be glad to give particulars to any business firms interested. (4).

Lieutenant-Colonel G. Catani was Carlo's older brother Giulio, born in 1848. He was a Doctor and the Superintendent of St John of God Hospital in Florence and during the War he was recalled from retirement to organise No. 2 Hospital in  Florence, for the Red Cross Society, in order to provide for the reception of 60,000 wounded soldiers if necessary. Despite his 67 years, he has entered upon his task with zest. He has been given the rank of Lieut.-Colonel by the Italian Government (5).

The Herald expanded upon the supply of lanoline the next day and provided some interesting statistics -

Mr C. Catani, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, who is Italian by birth and an excellent Australian by adoption, has been authorised to see if he can obtain in Victoria a sufficient supply of lanoline for Red Cross work in Italy. He points out that this is a great sheep-raising country and that lanoline is the refined fat of the wool. As a fact, in 1913 Australia had more sheep than any other country in the world, the number being over 85,000,000 against 80,400,000 in the Argentine, 74,000,000 in the Russian Empire, and 52,300,000 in the United States. With that fact before us, it constitutes a reflection upon our intelligence and enterprise and upon our sense of legitimate self-interest that we have not a huge lanoline works in this country. (6)

Table Talk also reported in their signature style on Carlo's involvement 

Mr. Carlo Catani, of the Public Works Department in Victoria, creator of Lake Catani and revealer of the grandeurs of the Buffalo and the beauteous possibilities of St. Kilda foreshore, has found for himself a legitimate war-time activity in these days when local landscape improvement is a drug in the market. He has heard from his brother, Lieut. Colonel Catani, at Florence, that lanoline is badly wanted by the Italians. Mr. Catani is by way of being a practical scientist as well as an engineer and a creative artist, and prospective makers of lanoline - the substance is a bi-product of the woollen industry, will find him an intelligent interlocutor for the Italian Government. (7).

The Weekly Times also reported on the lanoline issue as one of the neglected opportunities in the wool industry issue -

Mr C. Catani, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, has been authorised by the Italian Government to obtain in Australia a large quantity of lanoline for Red Cross purposes. Lanoline is a preparation made from the grease of the wool, and Australia being the chief wool-growing country, it was naturally supposed in Italy that the lanoline would be obtainable here. The Italians will no doubt be surprised to hear that we buy our lanoline from those countries to whom we sell the wool. Even the fat and other by-products from Australian wool-scouring works are thrown away instead of being utilised, as they are by the foreigners. There is not the slightest doubt that all these facts reflect upon our intelligence as a people. At first sight it appears to be a direct admission of incompetence which impels a country with 80 millions of sheep to send away the wool to be manufactured. It is hardly that, but it is an admission of lack of enterprise. (8)

In February 1916 a start had been made towards a lanoline industry, as the Weekly Times reported -

Mr F. Tudor, Minister for Trade and Customs, gave an assurance on February 15 that if a lanoline industry was started in Australia, it would be fully protected. Mr J. H. Chambers, who holds patent rights for a wool-scouring process by cold water, and Mr W. Melvin, the first manager of the Ballarat Woollen Mills, in an interview with the Minister demonstrated that it was possible to extract lanoline. Mr Melvin stated that with lanoline at 3/ a lb - it was now 6/ - the establishment of a lanoline industry would mean £22,000,000 a year to the Commonwealth. (9)

An advertisement for lanoline

The Argus, December 31, 1913 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7274274

22 million pounds seems an extraordinary amount of money, that would have been  a valuable addition to the Australian economy. It also seems extraordinary that we learnt nothing from the Great War lanoline shortage as in 1921 The Age reported that Australia was still not manufacturing lanoline - 

time and again attention has been drawn to the colossal loss which Australia annually suffers from the non-utilisation of by-products. Yet little or nothing has been done to remedy the defect. It is literally true that millions of pounds are running to waste annually at various factories and works throughout the Commonwealth. A notable instance is that of wool grease, or lanoline, which is not being saved in anything like the quantities that one would expect in the largest wool-producing country in the world. (10)

In 1945,  the newspapers were still talking about the production of lanoline as a potential new industry for Australia. An Argus article in June 1945 commenced with - 

When we think of lanoline memory is apt to take us back to childhood days when some kindly soul applied this refined and soothing wool fat to a grazed knee or a chafe. It may seem a little strange at first to leam that wool fat might form the basis of new industries that would have the effect of increasing considerably the value of greasy wool generally. (11)

Sadly it appears that when Carlo considered that the production of lanoline in Australia in 1915 was one opportunity for trade expansion this opportunity was never acted upon.

Trove list - I have created a list of articles on lanoline production, mainly connected to Carlo Catani's war time role on Trove, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) Various reports from my Trove list, here.

(2) John Brownlie Henderson (1869-1950) - see his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry here https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/henderson-john-brownlie-6633

(3) The Queenslander, April 6 1912, see here.

(4) The Herald, November 8, 1915, see here.

(5) The Herald, November 8, 1915, see here; A Labour of Love - the Public Works of Carlo Catani Victoria 1876-1918, by Isaac Douglas Hermann (published by the Author in 2018). Dr Catani died in Florence on January 22, 1921.

The Argus, March 21, 1921 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1741204

(6) The Herald, November 9, 1915, see here.

(7) Table Talk, November 11, 1915, see here.

(8) Weekly Times, November 13, 1915, see here.

(9) Weekly Times, February 19, 1916, see here.

(10) The Age, January 18, 1921, see here.

(11) The Argus, June 16 1945,  see here.