Carlo Catani - Cyclopedia of Victoria, 1903

In the last post (see here) I looked at Ettore Checchi's entry from the Cyclopedia of Victoria, which  was published in three volumes from 1903 to 1905. The Cyclopedia was an attempt to present a comprehensive survey of the State in most of its multifarious aspects - political, social, religious, and educational, financial, commercial and industrial. In this post, I have transcribed Carlo Catani's entry, from volume 1 of the Cyclopedia.

Carlo Catani - Cyclopedia of Victoria, v. 1.

Carlo Catani

Photographer: Johnstone, O'Shannessy & Co. Image from Cyclopedia of Victoria, v. 3.

Mr Carlo Catani, Engineer for Roads and Bridges, was born at Florence, Italy, in 1852, and was educated in his native city, taking his diploma as a civil engineer at the Technical Institute, and in November, 1872, received his papers from the Minister for Agriculture, Commerce, and Industry. 

He, with Messrs. Baracchi and Checchi, came to Victoria in 1876, and entered the Lands Department. In 1882 Mr Catani was transferred to the Public Works Department, and in 1890 was Acting Engineer for Roads and Bridges, owing to the illness of his chief.  In 1892 he was appointed to that position. 

In Italy Mr Catani was employed on railway work. He qualified as a surveyor under the Land Act in 1880, a municipal surveyor in 1897, and is also a surveyor under the Transfer of Land Act. 

Between 1880 and 1890 Mr Catani was assistant engineer for harbour works, and he succeeded Mr Hynes as Engineer for Roads and Bridges, Harbour Works and Reclamation. It was under his supervision that the Yarra improvement, the Anderson Street bridge over the Yarra, works were carried out.

Ettore Checchi - Cyclopedia of Victoria, 1903

The Cyclopedia of Victoria was published in three volumes: volume 1 in 1903, and the next two volumes in 1904 and 1905. They were, as the title page said, an Historical and Commercial Review- Descriptive and Biographical, Facts, Figures and Illustrations. An Epitome of Progress. The preface explains further -  They were an attempt to present a comprehensive survey of the State in most of its multifarious aspects - political, social, religious, and educational, financial, commercial and industrial. The Cyclopedia was edited by James Smith and published by the Cyclopedia Company. 

This is the entry, from volume 1, on Ettore Checchi (1853 - 1946). Checchi had arrived in Melbourne in September 1876 with Pietro Baracchi and Carlo Catani. 

Ettore Checchi -  Cyclopedia of Victoria, v. 1.

Ettore Checchi

Photographer: Johnstone, O'Shannessy & Co. Image from Cyclopedia of Victoria, v. 3.

Mr  Ettore Checchi, Chief Assistant Engineer for Water Supply, was born in Tuscany, Italy, and educated at the Technical Institute of Florence, in which he holds the degree of mechanical and civil engineering. 

He came to Victoria in 1876, and on his arrival here entered the Lands Department, and shortly after the Public Works Department, which was then professionally directed by Mr W.H. Steele, as Inspector-General for Public Works. 

Mr Checchi was Assistant Engineer for Harbour Works in that department, and in 1888 was transferred to the Water Supply Department, under Mr Stuart Murray, Chief Engineer.  Mr Checchi for four years was in charge of the water-boring works in the Mallee country, but as the operations for striking an artesian supply of water proved to be unsuccessful, the Government decided to relinquish the work. 

Mr Checchi has the control and charge for maintenance of the Coliban and Geelong Water-works, and has carried out the Eastern Moorabool works, which, as an additional source of supply, cost £80,000. Mr Checchi is Hydraulic Engineer for the Victorian Government, and is also a licensed municipal surveyor.

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

In a previous post,  I have transcribed an article on Ettore, written by J. N. Churchyard, Research Officer at the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission and  published in Aqua, the S.R.W.S.C. Journal in the 1950s, you can read it here.

I have also transcribed Carlo Catani's entry from the Cyclopedia of Victoria, read it here.

Ettore Checchi - River Murray Agreement and River Gauging by J.N. Churchyard.

This article on Ettore Checchi, by J. N. Churchyard, Research Officer at the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission was first published in Aqua, the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission Journal sometime between August 1956 and September 1958 and republished in Pioneers of Victorian Irrigation (pp. 20-21; SRWSC, 1976). Ettore Checchi, Pietro Baracchi and their friend Carlo Catani, arrived in Melbourne in September 1876.

Ettore Checchi (1853-1946 ) 

River Murray Agreement and River Gauging 

by J.N. Churchyard.

In an era when this country is receiving record numbers of New Australians, it is particularly instructive to consider the life of Ettore Checchi (1), one of our Italian immigrants of 80 years ago. In fifty years of service to the State, Mr Checchi performed some monumental work, the effect of which will benefit Australia for all time. It symbolises the contribution which our New Australians can make to their adopted country today.

Ettore Checchi was born in 1853 in the town of Pisa, famous, of course for its “leaning tower”. The father of the family of 12 had died when young Ettore was five years old, leaving his family in some financial difficulty, but despite this severe setback early in his life, Ettore Checchi managed to obtain his engineering degree at Florence. However, realising that there were few good prospects in Italy, he decided to emigrate, and after a difficult six-months trip, landed in Melbourne in 1877*.

It is worth mentioning that two other Italians, Carlo Catani and Pietro Baracchi, both of whom also achieved notable positions in the Victorian Public Service, were on the same ship.

Of the three, Catani, who became Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department is probably the best known. From the Commission’s point of view, the most interesting work which he did was to drain the now-fertile Kooweerup Swamp, but he is also known for the development of St Kilda foreshore, where Catani Gardens was named in his honour, and for the beautification of Mount Buffalo National Park, where Lake Catani also bears his name. Less is known of Baracchi, but he was Victorian Government Astronomer for a number of years.

However, to take up the story of Ettore Checchi, he was first employed as an assistant engineer in the Department of Lands and Public Works, where, among other things, he was largely concerned with the design of buildings of Princes and Falls (Queen’s) Bridges. But Mr Checchi’s most notable work was done during 39 years of service from 1888 to 1927, first with the Victorian Water Supply Department, and later with the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission.

Ettore Checchi

Image: https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/119404943/person/132073611441/facts

In his first few years as an assistant engineer, Mr Checchi was employed on hydrographic work, where his organisation of systematic river gauging throughout the State, under the direction of Stuart Murray, attracted world-wide attention, and laid the foundation of a scientific water conservation policy in this State (2).

In 1894, after some years as Chief Assistant Engineer, Mr Checchi was appointed as Engineer in Charge of River Gaugings, Irrigation Trusts and the Coliban and Geelong Water Supply Systems. As might be imagined, these duties kept him extremely busy; in fact, records show that for one period of six years Mr Checchi averaged only one day’s leave per annum.

However, Ettore Checchi’s greatest contribution was to supply most of the technical data in regard to water resources required in connection with the harnessing of the waters of the River Murray, a problem which had proved highly contentious for half a century. As early as 1863, proposals had been made for developing the waters of the Murray and an interstate Royal Commission had reported on the subject in 1902. But it was not until 1914 that an Agreement on the subject based on the recommendations of an Interstate Conference of Engineers in 1913. It was this Agreement which led to the establishment of the River Murray Commission.

Commissioner J. S. Dethridge of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission represented Victoria on the Conference. Ettore Checchi was the Chief Engineering Officer and was responsible for hydrographic investigations and the examination of storage sites along the Upper Murray, including one which was ultimately chosen for the Hume Reservoir. With his unique knowledge of stream conditions over a period of 25 years, Ettore Checchi was in a better position than any other man in Australia to advise on the distribution of water between the three States concerned.

The agreement of 1914 was the reward for his work, and at that stage, Mr Checchi might have been pardoned for thinking that his work had nearly ended, since he was then 57 years of age. However, he was by no means at the end of his working life for he did not retire until, at the age of 73 – and at his own request – he terminated what must be close to a record period of 50 years of service with the State. During his last 16 years with the Commission he was intimately associated with many of the major water conservation projects in this State, including the Hume and the first Eildon Reservoirs.

After his retirement Mr Checchi lived for a further 20 years until his death in 1946 at the age of 93 years. It is recorded by A.S. Kenyon that he was still “in fine form” and the age of 87, no doubt largely because of the great strength for which he was renowned. Indeed, Kenyon described him in a newspaper article as “possibly the strongest man in this world”.

The same source refers to Ettore Checchi as “first of all a gentleman in the fullest Continental sense of the word”, but more than that, “a great mathematician and a sound designing engineer”. The former tribute maybe endorsed only by those who knew Mr Checchi personally, but the latter claim is obvious from the work he did, which has provided such a sound basis for the development of water conservation not only in the State of Victoria, but in New South Wales and South Australia as well.

1.The Commission is indebted for much information in this article to Dr Checchi of Willaura, a son of the late Ettore Checchi, and to a daughter, Mrs N. Muddle of Hampton.
2. See article on Stuart Murray, “Aqua” November 1956.

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* Ettore Checchi, Carlo Catani and Pietro Baracchi actually arrived in Melbourne in September 1876.

Family information

Ettore Checchi married Rebecca Rodgers, of Attunga, near Tamworth on November 13, 1889. They had four children, all the births were registered in Caulfield - Leo, Cyril, Nancy and Norman Rodger. Rebecca died on November 24, 1944, aged 74 and Ettore died July 19, 1946. They were both cremated at Springvale.

Leo, born 1891, married Gwladys Williams , in Wales, in 1933. They had two sons John Rodger - born in 1936, married June Davies in 1962 and died in 1999; Howell Rodger, born 1941, married Glenys Ewans in 1972. Leo died April 14, 1972 and Gwladys July 30, 1972. All events took place in Wales.

Cyril, born July 24, 1892, married Frances Suddaby 'Fanny' Wilson at the Elsternwick Presbyterian Church on September 19, 1916. They had a son David Alwyn born November 2, 1920. David, joined the RAAF and died in a training flight in South Australia on May 13, 1942. Their daughter, Pauline, was born in September 1922. Frances died 1984, aged 88 and Cyril died at 104 years of age, May 14, 1997. They are buried at Willaura Cemetery. Cyril was a Doctor and practised at Willaura from 1920 to 1986. He was the subject of a book, The Greatest Joy of all: the story of Dr Cyril Checchi by Paul McLoughlin (Bob Meredith, 1995). The title The Greatest Joy of all, refers to the birth of babies. 

Nancy, born February 24, 1895, married Hubert Roy Muddle, December 14, 1916. Hubert died at the age of 28 on June 17, 1919, in NSW. Their son, William Beaumont Muddle was born in 1917 in Victoria and died in NSW in 1959. Nancy died May 23, 1978, her Executor was Irene Nora Checchi. Nancy was cremated at Springvale.

Norman Rodger was born January 5, 1901. He married Irene Nora Morrison in 1927. Leo died May 13, 1987; Irene died October 30, 1988. They were both cremated at Springvale.

The family information comes from the Indexes to Victorian and NSW Birth, Death and Marriages;  personal notices in Trove and newspapers.com; records on Ancestry and Springvale Cemetery records.

You can read Ettore Checchi's Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, written by Ronald East, here. It is partly based on Mr Churchyard's article. Lewis Ronald East, was an engineer with and later Chairman of  the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission.

Italian Links with Kitchener's Hundred by John C. Trinca looks at the life and war service of Alfred John Trinca, Cyril Checchi and Leo Checchi. It is published in the Newsletter of the Italian Historical Society CO AS IT, v. 2, n. 3 July-September 1991  http://coasit.com.au/IHS/journals/IHS%20Journal007.pdf

In another post I have transcribed Ettore Checchi's entry from the 1903 Cyclopedia of Victoria, read it here. 

Streets named Catani

I have been for a few drives and photographed all the Catani street signs in Victoria. There is also a Catani Place in Monash in the A.C.T., of which I received some photos from a kind Canberrian. There is also a Catani Place at Helensvale in Queensland, north of the Gold Coast, the only sign not photographed.  For a short time (1918-1919) The Boulevard which runs between Heidelberg and Ivanhoe, was called Via Catani, and I have written about this here.

Catani Boulevard, Bend of Islands. The sealed road is Henley Drive.

Catani Boulevard, Bend of Islands

Catani Boulevard, Bend of Islands, is the most scenic of the Catani streets. Bend of Islands is an Environmental Living Zone, part of the Shire of Nillumbik and the location of the Warrandyte-Kinglake Nature Conservation Reserve. The name  comes from the fact that the Yarra River bends around and there is a small island in the bend, called Moniques Island. You can see the Bend of Islands Conservation Association website, here. 

Catani Boulevard was established in 1929. Mick Woiwod, in his book Once Around the Sugarloaf (1) describes how it came about in March 1929, Ned Haughton subdivided his 320 acre estate into thirty-six lots - thirty-five of which had river frontages, averaging five acres apiece, with the remaining land-locked central block measuring 124 acres. Access to the river blocks was provided for by the construction of a circuitous road (Via Catani Boulevard), carved out with horse and scoop by Jack Kennedy, a local contractor.......Aware of Catani's universal popularity, Ned Haughton named the road through his subdivision 'Via Catani Boulevard' (2).

Aubrey Edward 'Ned'  Haughton was an auctioneer and real estate agent from the firm of Coghill & Haughton (3).  He admired Carlo Catani's vision of a grand boulevard which would run from Princes Bridge to Yarra Glen and in 1927 decided to take on the project. The Herald reported on his plans - Few citizens, perhaps, remember that the late Mr Catani, the noted Public Works officer, visualised a river boulevard from the city to Yarra Glen, where it would join the Healesville road, and at Healesville link up with the highway over the Blacks' Spur and the mountains beyond - to Sydney....Applying himself to the task of "seeing it through"  Mr A. E. Haughton (of Coghill and Haughton, city) appeals to citizens and Government departments concerned to help forward the great driveway scheme. 

Mr Haughton  divides the driveway into three sections, as follows: 1. Prince's Bridge to Heidelberg. This is being looked after by the Public Works Department. The Lake Thwaites' scheme has  been planned on this section.  2. Heidelberg to Warrandyte, via Eltham. This section can easily be arranged, as recent sub-divisons and existing Government roads need only a few additions to make it possible. 3. Warrandyte to Yarra Glen on the north side of  the river. This is the longest section, and the land is held by only a few owners. Mr Haughton considers that "the  Government should acquire the big timber areas before they are converted into week-end sites, which is likely to happen soon." (4). 

Sadly, neither Carlo's nor Mr Haughton's vision ever came to fruition. You perhaps might wonder if Mr Haughton's vision of the grand boulevard was influenced by the prospect of increasing his business through land sales along the route. Table Talk profiled him in 1914 and had this to say -  Land salesmanship is Mr. Haughton's forte, he combines with a sound, all-round knowledge of town and country values a persuasive address, which counts for a great deal at an auction sale (5). 

In 1975 you could have purchased 8 acres on Catani Boulevard for $21,000. 

The Bend of Islands area was previously part of Kangaroo Ground. 

The Age, November 15, 1975

Catani Court, Broadmeadows.

Catani Court, Broadmeadows, is in my 1973 Melway, but not in the original 1966 Melway, so this gives some idea when the Court was established. It is in the City of Hume. It was very hard to take an attractive photo of the sign; as you can see from the photo the housing estate was established before the days when power lines were placed underground. Catani Court is in a pocket of streets named after Victorian towns - Heywood, Dimboola, Cavendish, Coleraine, Timboon, Sorreno, Benambra amongst others. 

Catani Court, Burnside Heights

Burnside Heights is part of the City of Melton. Catani Court was proclaimed in 2006 according to the City of Melton Road Management Plan, see below. Catani Court is off Arbour Boulevard and some of the  surrounding street are named after parks - Como, Domain, Hyde, Regent, Centennial, so I presume that is the reason Catani was selected.

City of Melton Road Management Plan, March 2021

https://www.melton.vic.gov.au/Services/Building-Planning-Transport/Roads-and-traffic/Road-management

Catani Mews, Caroline Springs

Nine hundred metres from Catani Court, Burnside Heights is Catani Mews, Caroline Springs. Catani Mews was proclaimed in 2004 according to the City of Melton Road Management Plan, above. Catani Mews is also in a pocket of streets with Park names - Studley Park Way, Kings Domain, Edinburgh Lane and a street called Alexandra Gardens.

Catani Place, Craigieburn

Catani Place in Craigieburn, is also in the City of Hume. It seemed to be a very short street - 20 metres, if that, which lead to a gate, but I have just found that 4-10 Catani Place was sold in November 2016 in one lot as 6 residential properties being 'offered in one line' allowing purchasers to secure residential investments with commercial returns. Tenant: Department of Education & Training.  Lease Term: 15 years (comm. Feb 2003) plus options. These houses were all behind the gate, so it is a small gated community. This is the advertisement for the sale, here. Catani Place was in the 2003 Melway in dotted lines, which is what they use to denote proposed developments.  Studley Park Way, Fawkner Lane, Kings Glen are three close streets, so I presume it was named to fit into this Garden theme.

Catani Lane, Curlewis. The Land borders Connor Park. 

Curlewis is around 20 km past Geelong. Catani Lane is in the Curlewis Parks Estate, which was established around 2011. The Estate was originally advertised as being in Drysdale, but is now called Curlewis. Curlewis itself is an old locality. Coriyule Homestead, built in 1849 for pioneer squatters Anne Drysdale and Caroline Newcomb, is located in Curlewis. Curlewis Catholic School was established  in January 1851, changed it's name to Point Henry in 1869 and closed in December 1873. Curlewis State School, No. 1559, operated form 1875 until 1880 (6).  Catani Lane is surrounded by Chatsworth Way, Hyde Way, Centennial Boulevard and streets with English names - I can't see a connection between Catani and the other street names. Connor Park was presumably named for the pioneering Connor family (7).

Catani Avenue, Koo Wee Rup

Catani Avenue, Koo Wee Rup is in the Shire of Cardinia, as is the town of Catani. It is in the Shelton Park Estate, established around 2010. In my 2015 Melway, Catani Avenue came off Rossiter Road, and it was still like that in December 2018 when Greg, Nima and Katherine Catani visited as we took a photo of them under the sign, but part of it has now been changed to Shelton Park Drive. The street was named for Carlo Catani, who was of course responsible for drainage works on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp from 1893.

This is from the 2015 Melway Greater Melbourne Street Directory, clearly showing Catani Avenue (bottom left) running off Rossiter Road. Today that section of Catani Avenue is called Shelton Park Drive and Catani Avenue starts where it turns eastwards.

Catani Court, Newborough. 

Looking south down Dinwoodie Drive, with the Strzelecki Ranges in the background. 

Catani Court is in what appears to be a 1980s sub-division. Surrounding streets include Dinwoodie Drive - there was a Dr Collin Dinwoodie who practiced in Moe in the 1920s (Moe is the town adjacent to Newborough); Howitt Street - Alfred Howitt was an explorer; Strzelecki Road - Count Strzelecki - another Gippsland Explorer; McMillan Court - Angus McMillan - yet another Gippsland explorer; McDonald Court -  presumably George McDonald who surveyed McDonald's Track from Lang Lang into the Strzelecki Ranges.  So, am I assuming that the name Catani was selected due to his work of  draining the Moe Swamp. 

Catani Place, Monash, A.C.T. 

Image courtesy of Gaia Livni  (© Gaia Livni)

Catani Place, Monash, A.C.T. Looking down William Hudson Crescent to 

Thompson Place playground. 

Image courtesy of Gaia Livni (© Gaia Livni)

Catani Place is in Monash, a suburb of Canberra. Monash is named after Sir John Monash (1865-1931) Engineer, General and Chairman of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria. Along with Carlo, other engineers are also honoured in this sub-division by having streets named after them. Here are a few - William Hudson Crescent - William Hudson (1896-1978) - Commissioner of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme; Scratchley Place - Sir Peter Scratchley (1835-1885), Military Engineer; Ballard Place - I presume this is Robert Ballard (1839-1912), Railway Engineer; Arnot Place - Arthur James Arnot (1865-1946), Electrical Engineer; Checchi Place - Ettore Checchi (1853-1946) - Engineer, specialising in hydrography and friend of Carlo. They migrated to Australia together along with Pietro Baracchi. Steffanoni Circuit - Victor Lewis Steffanoni (1901-1974) - Surveyor and Military Engineer. You can find more information about these chaps in the Australian Dictionary of Biography https://adb.anu.edu.au/ The only one not listed is Mr Steffanoni, I found out about him from the Australian Capital Territory Public Place Names Act 1989 Determination No. 73 of 1990 (see here).This also gives as idea of when this sub-division was created - around 1990.

Acknowledgement

Isaac Hermann, my Carlo research colleague, compiled the original list of Catani Streets. He also supplied the photo of Catani Lane, Curlewis. I added the other photos and the details, mainly using my extensive collection of Melway Street Directories, however it was Isaac who told me about Mick Woiwod's book and thus Ned Houghton's original land sub-division on the Bend of Islands. Thanks, Isaac. Isaac also organised for the photo of Catani Place, Monash, Canberra to be taken. Thank you to Gaia Livni for taking the time and effort to photograph Carlo's Canberra street sign for me.  I was so thrilled to receive the photos.

Footnotes

(1) Woiwod, Mick Once around the Sugarloaf: the transformation of a Victorian landscape and the story of its people (Bend of Islands Press, 1992).

(2) Woiwod, op. cit, p. 197 and 201.

(3) Audrey Edward Haughton was the son of William Haughton, Town Clerk of Oakleigh, He married Jessie Cameron on May 16, 1906. She was the daughter of Ewan Hugh Cameron, M.L.A. Their wedding notice was in The Argus June 15, 1906, see here. He was profiled in  Table Talk, January 29, 1914, see here.

(4) The Herald, April 13, 1927, see here.

(5) Table Talk, January 29, 1914, see here.

(6) Curlewis School information from Vision and Realisation : a centenary history of State Education in Victoria, edited by L.J. Blake. Published by the Education Department of Victoria, 1973.

(7) http://zades.com.au/gandd/index.php/bellpen/towns1/drysdale/drstreet

Carlo and the Lubecker Steam dredge

Photographs of Carlo are very rare but my research colleague and fellow Carlo Catani historian, Isaac Hermann, has just identified him in these two photographs of the Lubecker Steam Dredge.  Carlo Catani spent four months in Europe in 1912 and while he was away investigated various dredges and selected the Lubecker steam driven bucket dredge. I have written about the dredge here.

The photographs were taken, I believe, on May 21, 1914. According to the Lang Lang Guardian it was on this day that the dredge on the Lang Lang River was started in the presence of a representative official party, including Mr Hagelthorn (Minister of Public Works), Messrs Cattanach and Dethridge (members of the Water Supply Commission), with Mr Catani (Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department), Mr Kenyon (Chief Engineer of the Water Commission), Mr Drake (secretary Public Works Department), Mr Kermode (engineer Ports and Harbors), and Mr Grenlees (naval architect). There was also a representative attendance of landowners of the surrounding district and others interested in the starting of this machine, and the weather being pleasantly fine and sunny, those who attended had an enjoyable outing, as well as being greatly interested witnesses of the working of a machine which is the first of its kind to be put into operation in Australia.

The Lang Lang Guardian also reported that there had been a trial run on April 15, at which Carlo was present. You can read the full report in the Lang Lang Guardian of May 27, 1914, here.

The Lubecker Steam Dredge May 21, 1914. Carlo is second from right.

Channels and channel excavation in the Lang Lang (Koo-wee-rup) district. State Rivers and Water Supply Commission photographer. State Library of Victoria Image rwg/u866

This is a cropped section of the photo above. This is clearly Carlo on the right, with a set of plans in his hand. Compare the hat and the coat to this photograph of him, below,  at the load bearing test of the Anderson Street bridge, in 1899. Isaac and I have written about the Anderson Street bridge in our Victorian Collections story on Carlo Catani, here.

Carlo is in the front row, second from left - same style of hat and coat, as in the image above. Under his overcoat is his characteristic sac suit, read more of this here.

Test of Anderson St. Bridge, 1899. Photographer: S. Brearley. Image:  National Library of Australia

The Lubecker Steam Dredge May 21, 1914. Carlo is on the ladder.

Channels and channel excavation in the Lang Lang (Koo-wee-rup) district. State Rivers and Water Supply Commission photographer. State Library of Victoria Image rwg/u855

This is a cropped section of the photo above - that's Carlo on the ladder.

There are other photographs of the Lubecker Dredge taken on the same day at the State Library of Victoria, access them here.

Carlo and the Chalet Geneve on Albert Park Lake

The Albert Park Lake Kiosk was officially opened on December 9, 1911 by the Mayor of South Melbourne, Cr Donald McArthur. His speech was reported in The Age - The kiosk was an ornamental and imposing structure, and it would add to the improvement and beautification of the park, which, with its area of 600 acres, gave breathing space to the the residents of the city and suburbs.... The park was a national park, open to everyone in and around Melbourne (1).

Also present were other South Melbourne Councillors, Councillors from St Kilda and other officials such as Henry Allen, Secretary of the Albert Park Committee and Carlo Catani. The Kiosk, later renamed the Chalet Geneve, was operated by Rosana Savary and her sisters, Frances and Katherine Mathieu. I have written in detail about the Chalet and the Mathieu sisters and their operation of the Chalet Geneve as well as the ones in the Fitzroy Gardens and Central Park, Malvern in another blog post, here (2). 

This post is about the role Carlo played in establishing the Albert Park Lake Kiosk and his reported speech on the day. We (3) have also found a photo of Carlo and a very rare photo of his wife, Catherine, at the opening ceremony, which you will see below.

The refreshment kiosk at Albert Park Lake was one part of grander plans for the Park proposed by the Albert Park Committee or Trust. In 1907, there were newspaper reports that £10,000 would be spent beautifying the park and that a scheme be prepared by Mr. Catani, engineer of the Public Works department, and the engineers of the two councils for consideration (4). Nothing came of this, but two years later the South Melbourne Council proposed a £20,000 scheme for improving Albert Park. It was suggested that once again Mr Catani should prepare a comprehensive scheme for the improvement of the park (5).  However, in the end the Council decided that they should call for competitive designs for the park and the winning designer would receive £50 (6). As the money for this scheme was not forthcoming it did not go ahead, however the Albert Park Committee, of which Carlo Catani was a member, proceeded with the idea of building a kiosk (7).

The Chalet Geneve, photographed on the opening day, December 9, 1911.

Punch, December 14, 1911 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/177535383#

Carlo was invited to speak at the opening and his speech was reported in the Prahran Telegraph thus - Mr C.Catani, C. E., said that to improve the park £25,000 would be required - as a beginning. They would have to begin by making a promontory to take off the flat look and to show the landscape. They required to raise the ground, and they wanted to get rid of the
Tips to the right of us,
Tips to the left of us,
Cows all around us.
They wanted the Government to give them a big waggon to bring plenty of good soil, so as to raise the level of the ground by two feet, and they wanted to plant trees properly. That would take money. It was up to the Trust to raise £25,000, and he would undertake that it was spent properly (8).

Tips to the right of us....

Prahran Telegraph, December 16, 1911, see https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/165112312

The report of the opening in the Prahran Telegraph had the heading - Albert Park Tea Kiosk. Official Opening. 'The Cow Ranch' (9). The Albert Park Committee allowed the agistment of cattle and other livestock in Albert Park, because it was a source of income. In 1907 it was reported that there were 129 horses, 210 cows and 43 calves in the Park (10).  At the opening of the Kiosk in December 1911, Cr Baragwanath of South Melbourne said the Trust had been doing a good bit of work up to date, but he would not be satisfied until the cows and horses were out of what he called the Cow Ranch (11).  Cr O'Donnell of St Kilda, responded to this the Trust had done its level best to improve the park, but he didn't know about getting rid of the cows which Cr Baragawanath talked of. The cows gave them an income of £600 a year, which enabled the Trust to improve the park (12).

One of the  tips which Carlo referrred, was still there in 1930. The burning off in the tip was apparently a source of distress to the thousands of people who attended the football at the Park, even though Miss Fitzpatrick, who was then the owner of the Chalet had no complaints (13).

Guests at the opening ceremony of the Chalet Geneve, December 9, 1911.

Punch, December 14, 1911 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/177535383#

This post is a brief look at the role Carlo played in the development and opening of the Albert Park Chalet. The guests at the ceremony are pictured above.  Seated at the first table on the left is the Mayor of South Melbourne, Cr Donald McArthur. Next to him is Henry Allen, then the dignified woman with the fur stole is Catherine Catani and next to her is Carlo. I have never seen a photo of Catherine before, so even though it is very grainy, it is gold.

The very rare photograph of Catherine Catani and Carlo.

Opening ceremony of the Chalet Geneve, December 9, 1911. Punch, December 14, 1911   https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/177535383#

Acknowledgement

It was my colleague, Isaac Hermann, who on closer examination of the photo of the guests at the opening of the Chalet Geneve, discovered that Carlo and Catherine were front and centre in the photo.  It was an amazing discovery. As I said, we have never seen a photo of Catherine before. Great work, Isaac. 

Trove - I created a list connected to the Albert Park Chalet and the two other refreshment kiosks operated by the Mathieu sisters - one in the Fitzroy Gardens and the other at Central Park, Malvern. Access it here.

Footnotes
(1) The Age, December 11, 1911, see here.
(2) https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-chalet-geneve-on-albert-park-lake.html
(3) I say we, but it was actually, Isaac. See the Acknowledgment.
(4) Emerald Hill Record, June 8, 1907, see here.

(5) Prahran Telegraph, August 28, 1909, see here.

(6) Prahran Telegraph, August 28, 1909, see here.

(7) Barnard, Jill & Keating, Jenny People's Playground: a history of the Albert Park (Chandos Publishing, 1996) p. 74.

(8) Prahran Telegraph, December 16, 1911, see here.

(9) Prahran Telegraph, December 16, 1911, see here.

(10) Barnard & Keating, op. cit, p. 70.

(11)  Prahran Telegraph, December 16, 1911, see here.

(12)  Prahran Telegraph, December 16, 1911, see here.

(13) Emerald Hill Record, June 7, 1930, see here.

Above the clouds - Trout fishing in Lake Catani

Carlo was responsible for opening some of Victoria's most scenic tourist areas, of which Mount Buffalo is the best-known. The road between Porepunkah and Mount Buffalo was engineered by Carlo and officially opened by the Victorian Premier, Thomas Bent, in October 1908. The Mount Buffalo Chalet, was opened around August 1910 and provided accommodation for the tourists (1).  

One of the attractions of the area was a lake, formed by the construction of  a weir across Eurobin Creek. The lake was 23 hectares (56 acres) in size. In January 1911, The Age reported that 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. The construction of the lake was suggested and carried out by Mr Catani (2).

Lake Catani, Mt. Buffalo. Photographer: Alice Manfield.

State Library of Victoria Image H2003.97/5

Lake Catani was stocked with trout, and in January 1913 a 4lb trout was caught just below the weir, the largest trout that has yet been obtained, as Carlo was informed (3).  It's interesting that not only was Carlo informed of the catch, but it was reported in the newspapers (see below). There would be very few senior public servants today who are as well known or as respected.

A 4lb trout is caught in Lake Catani

The Herald, January 21 1913 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241795620

There was another report of a record trout being caught in Lake Catani, a month later. This trout was caught when Carlo accompanied the Premier of Queensland, Mr Digby Denham (4) and his wife, Alice to Mount Buffalo.  The Denham's were on a trip to the southern States - 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. 

Carlo accompanies the Queensland Premier and Mrs Denham to Mount Buffalo

 and a record trout is caught.

The Brisbane Week, February 14,  1913 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201058344/21115381#

A year later, in February 1914, The Argus (5) published a enthusiastic account of trout fishing in Lake Catani. I am sure if Carlo had read this, he would have been very happy to know that his work in creating a tourist resort was appreciated. The article is transcribed here and provides an interesting look at the resort on Mount Buffalo only a few years after its establishment

ABOVE THE CLOUDS - TROUT FISHING IN LAKE CATANI By J.O.S.

A few years ago a little splashing gurgling creek meandered across a plain on the top of Mount Buffalo and then threaded its course between the walls of a deep and rugged gorge and eventually found its way to the foot of the mount. What became of it afterwards is of small moment, but it doubtless made its way per the medium of deeper and wider streams to the sea. With the establishment of the comfortable  and commodious Government chalet on the Buffalo Plateau the idea occurred to somebody that it would be possible by the simple expedient of throwing a wall across a narrow part of the gorge to transform the somewhat unlovely marsh plain into a beautiful mountain lake and as a result Lake Catani is there to-day to gladden the eye of the tourist with its broad expanse of glittering sapphire water and to enhance the interest as well as the beauty of that wonderful region which has well earned its poetic title "The Garden of the Gods."

It seems incredible when one stands on the sloping shore of this beautiful sheet of water watching its rippling wavelets, rejoicing in the glory of its sixty broad acres that the hand of man had had anything to do with its creation. There are capes and promontories, bays and inlets, grass grown hanks spangled with wild flowers and where the sides of the gorge rise precipitously from the water, great snow gums thrive and throw their shadows over the deep and silent pools. When one stands on the top of the Monolith rock that huge and wonderful boulder 40ft in height balanced on the edge of a mighty granite outcrop-and gazes down into the shimmering blue depths immediately below, he is reminded of pictures he has seen of some beautiful Swiss like scene, and he wonders if the colouring is not too blue to be natural.

Lake Catani from the Monolith. Photographer: Alice Manfield.

State Library of Victoria Image H2003.95/99

Perhaps Lake Catani with all its fresh novelty and with all its beauties would possess but scanty charms for the tourist who is also something of an angler were it not plentifully stocked with English trout.  That beneficient Government that has done everything connected with the tourist's comfort and convenience on this wonderful mountain so well has attended to the business of stocking this lake in a manner quite on a par with its splendid work in other departments. To stand near the water on a balmy summer evening and see the surface agitated as far as one can see with leaping fish, one realises that the lake is literally teeming with trout. That they thrive well in this region there is no question. It is said that during the past four years the Government has liberated fifteen hundred yearling trout each season. It is on record properly authenticated that fish have already been taken over five pounds in weight. During the past three weeks I have caught dozens of trout in the lake, several weighing between two and three pounds, and scarely any under a pound and a half. These fish are lusty and full of fight and afford the best of sport. They rise readily to a grasshopper whipped on the surface (particularly in the evening) and they will take any ordinary ground bait such as worm, white grub or frog at any hour of the day. The best plan for frog bait fishing during the bright sunny hours is to cast well out from the bank for your trout is a shy, suspicious creature and if he sees you he forgets that he is hungry. As the shadows deepen and the water loses its transparency it is quite common to hook a good fish quite close to the waters edge.

Sunset, Lake Catani. Photographer: Alice Manfield.

State Library of Victoria Image H2003.97/50

It is only a pleasant quarter of an hour's walk from the Chalet to the lake and all the good fishing spots can be easily reached for there are a couple of excellent boats placed there for the convenience of visitors and a short pull will take you to any given point. From my impressions of a most enjoyable holiday just spent on the Buffalo, I am of opinion that this spot will soon attract great numbers of trout fishers who will be able to indulge in their favourite sport under the most favourable conditions. For in addition to the fishing ground being so close to the base thus obviating the usual necessity of exhausting tramps through miles of scrubby undergrowth, the Chalet itself offers all the comforts of a luxurious home and even a tired trout angler can appreciate the joys of a hot plunge and a cold shower after a busy day. Splendidly managed and capably staffed the comfortably built residence on the edge of the gorge is always a good place to come home to, and I know of nothing better than to drop into an easy posture on "Bent's Look-out" as the shades of evening deepen into purple, light a fragrant pipe, gaze over the miles of rolling hills and valleys that stretch below, and reflect that another heavy basket has gone round to the kitchen to be dealt with in due course by that very important member of the entourage - the chef.

I wonder if this is one of the excellent boats placed for the convenience of visitors, as referred to above. This photo also shows the weir, the construction of which, on the Eurobin Creek, formed Lake Catani.

Lake Catani, Mount Buffalo, c. 1911. Photographer: Herbert Percival Bennett.

State Library of Victoria Image H88.24/2. This photo was on a stereocard and has been cropped.

Three of the photographs on this page were taken by Alice Manfield (1878 - 1960).  Alice was born in 1878 to James Samuel Manfield and Jane Douglas Simpson, she was the eighth of their ten children (6). Alice married a cousin, John Edmund Manfield on December 1, 1917 at the Cecil Street Methodist Church in South Melbourne. They had a daughter, Genevieve, on June 3, 1919. Alice died July 14, 1960 (7).  Alice's father had acted as a guide to tourists on Mount Buffalo and in the late 1890s the Manfields built a Chalet or Hospice to accommodate guests (8). Alice acted as a guide, in fact, she was known as 'Guide Alice'.  So well known was she by this name that she used it in birth announcement of her daughter, Genevieve.

Birth announcement of Genevieve - love the use of 'Guide Alice' as her 'nee' name!

The Argus, June 7, 1919 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1476446

Alice was also a noted photographer and naturalist.  In 1924, she wrote a book The Lyre-Birds of Mount Buffalo. The introduction describes her as a fine horsewoman as well as a daring and skillful climber. It's a delightful book, only 22 pages long with her photographs of the lyre-bird from a chick to adulthood. The State Library of Victoria have it digitised, here. They also have hundreds of her photographs digitised - www.slv.vic.gov.au.  

A Studio portrait of Guide Alice. She was noted for wearing 'mens clothing' i.e. trousers 

in her everyday life as a guide and naturalist. 

State Library of Victoria Image H2003.95/145

On March 28, 1965, the Harrietville Historical Society unveiled a bronze plaque in Alice's memory on the site of the Manfield Chalet, which overlooked a gorge near Bent's Look-out. The plaque features an engraving of a lyre bird, taken from the cover photo of Alice's book, The Lyre-Birds of Mount Buffalo  (9).

The Alice Manfield Memorial Plaque at Mount Buffalo. 

Image courtesy of  Addi Lautman-Wurt  (© Addi Lautman-Wurt)

The Alice Manfield Memorial Plaque at Mount Buffalo.

Image courtesy of  Addi Lautman-Wurt  (© Addi Lautman-Wurt)

Acknowledgment: I am extremely grateful to Addi Lautman-Wurt for taking photographs of Alice's plaque at Mount Buffalo for this post, and to my research colleague, Isaac Hermann,  for arranging for the photos to be taken.

Footnotes

(1) My colleague, Isaac Hermann, and I have written more about Carlo's work on Mount Buffalo in our Victorian Collections story on Carlo Catani, see it here,   https://victoriancollections.net.au/stories/carlo-catani-an-engineering-star-over-victoria/mount-buffalo

(2) The Argus, January 24, 1911, see here.

(3) The Herald, January 21 1913, see here. 

(4) Digby Denham, Premier of Queensland, read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here.  

(5) The Argus, February 7, 1914, see here.

(6) Information about Alice Manfield and her siblings comes from the Victorian Indexes to the Births, Deaths and Marriages. 

(7) I was alerted to the fact that Alice married and had a daughter, Genevieve in an article by Mary Ryllis Clark in The Age March 1, 1988 - this was an interview with Genevieve. Genevieve married Eric Gustave Baumgarten in 1951. Eric died 1975 aged 59 and Genevieve died in 2003 at the age of 83. Alice's death date taken from her Probate papers at the Public Records Office of Victoria. John Edmund Manfield died February 10, 1949. Alice and Edmund and Alice's parents are buried at Bright Cemetery. There are photos on-line here  - http://www.ozgenonline.com/~nhm_cemeteries/Bright_Cemetery/index.html

Alice Manfield's marriage notice

Punch, November 29, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121083496

Death notice of John Manfield

The Age February 11, 1949 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205363879

(8) Information about Manfield's Chalet came from The Mount Buffalo Story 1898-1998 by Danny Webb and Bob Adams (Melbourne University Press, 1998)

(9) The Age, March 29, 1965, p. 6.