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.

Carlo attends the opening of the Dargo Bush Nursing Hospital

Carlo was present at the opening of the Dargo Bush Nursing Hospital, on November 24, 1912. William Edgar, the Minister for Public Work was also in attendance. The Stratford Sentinel reported that Mr Edgar had played a role in Dargo obtaining a Bush Nursing Centre, as after months of agitation by the Dargo community and at the urging of the local member, Mr J. W. McLachlan, M.L.A., William Edgar

paid a visit to the Crooked River Country [where] he expressed the opinion that here was a place where a nurse should be sent, and he promised to use his best endeavors to favorably impress the Bush Nursing Council with the idea. As a result of his influence and sympathy the Executive Committee of the movement were pleased to promise their co-operation, and a meeting of residents of the Dargo district was held to consider whether they could raise enough money to finance the scheme. The salary of the nurse - £135 per annum - was a big proposition for mountain people to tackle, but they had the promise of Government aid, and they evolved a plan which has surmounted the trouble. Each householder in the district has promised to pay 1/ per week to the fund, and this will bring in some£60 per annum. The Hon. William Pearson has most generously promised £20 a year, and the Avon Shire Council have shown their sympathy by giving an annual subsidy of £25. It is expected that £35 per annum will be the amount of the Government aid so that the financial success of the scheme is assured. (1). 

Dargo in 1916, four years after the opening of the Bush Nursing Centre

Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/771723

The Gippsland Times reported on the opening of the Dargo Bush Nursing Hospital -

Fine weather favored Her Excellency Lady Fuller (2) on her first trip to Dargo. Bright sunshine prevailed throughout yesterday and to-day and the long journey, over difficult and dangerous roads, was accomplished without any mishap. Four motor cars left Stratford for Dargo at 11 o'clock yesterday. Lady Fuller travelled in the Hon. Wm Pearson's car. Flags were flying above the mountain roadway in honor of Her Ladyships visit and at intervals along the route, the settlers and their families turned out and gave her excellency a hearty welcome.

Many of the dwellers in the remote parts left their homes early on Friday in order to be present at Dargo last night then Her Excellency arrived. The visitors were so numerous that private residences were availed of and tents erected to accommodate them. In addition to Lady Fuller there were travelling in motor cars the Hon. W. H. Edgar, Minister of Public Works, Mr. Catani, Chief Engineer, Dr. Edith Barrett (3), Dr. Janet Greig (4), Miss Michaelis (5) (of the Melbourne Bush Nurses Council), Dr. and Mrs Hagenauer, Sale, Dr and Mrs Hozier of Stratford, Mr. Roy Pearson and Miss Pearson (Kilmany), Rev. Pelletier, of Maffra, other visitors included Mr and Mrs J. Mills, who have taken a great interest in the scheme.

This morning Lady Fuller was present at the Church service conducted by the Rev. E. F. Pelletier. In the afternoon, in the presence of a large gathering, at the Mechanics' Institute, Her Excellency duly installed Nurse Brown  as the first bush nurse in Dargo. Lady Fuller spoke in laudatory terms of Nurse Brown's qualifications for the duties and stated how necessary it was in a district such as this where doctors and nurses were so far away that a nurse having Nurse Brown's skill and ability should be available to help in cases of need. Her Ladyship concluded by pinning a brooch on Nurse Brown's uniform.

Others who spoke were Mr. W. H. Edgar, Rev. Pelletier, Dr. Barrett, Dr Greig, Dr. Hozier, Mr. Roy Pearson (who apologised for his father's absence), Mr King and Mr. M'Lachlan, M.L.A. After the ceremony Mrs W. Rigall entertained Her Excellency and party at tea. Mr. Riggall provided horses for Her Ladyship and some of the visitors and they had a successful ride into the mountains. 

To-night the Hon. W. H. Edgar delivered an address at the local Church. Her Excellency and party will leave early to-morrow morning for Stratford where Lady Fuller will be further welcomed at half-past two o'clock (6).

Interesting that Mr Edgar delivered the address at the Church service, however he was Methodist lay preacher and the brother of the Reverend Alexander Edgar, the Superintendent of the Central Methodist Mission at the Wesley Church, so he was well experienced in this area (7). 

Nurse Brown had been at Dargo for a few weeks before she was officially installed by Lady Fuller and the opinion was that Nurse Brown has already won golden opinions, and seems to be satisfied with her surroundings (8). 

Nurse Amy Marguerite Brown was born in Birmingham and trained at the Birmingham Infirmary. Later she was sister in charge at the fever hospital of the Metropolitan Asylums' Board, London. For some time she was a sister at St. George's Infirmary, Fulham road, London. She then joined the staff at the East End Mothers' Home -  this is in the poorest and most squalid part of London. Not only does it shelter penniless and desolate women at maternity time but the sisters in their scarlet print frocks and white aprons hasten to the women in the tenement houses, acting as midwives and providing as much nourishment and fuel as funds permit. Nurse Brown answered an advertisement in the London  newspaper for Bush Nurses and she arrived in Victoria with with her colleague, Rita Sprott, who was assigned to the Welshpool Bush Nursing Hospital - these two nurses have taken sole charge of more than two hundred maternity cases. (9). In 1914, she married farmer, Martin Joseph Hurley,  and they lived in Boisedale and later at Athlone. They had three children and Amy died in 1974, aged 93 years of age. (10).

Dargo Bush Nurse, Amy Brown

The Herald, November 12, 1912 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241799487

In a later report we learn more of the role of Mr Edgar on the day - 

The Hon. W. H. Edgar expressed his pleasure at being present that day as a representative of the Government. He was indeed proud to know that Her Ladyship had consented to be with them that day to perform a ceremony which was without doubt, the most important that had ever been performed in Dargo; that of installing a Bush Nurse. In Nurse Brown they had a girl who was peculiarly adapted to fill such a position, and he hoped they would be as kind to her as they possibly could. Although Dargo was one of the oldest towns in the State, it was one of the least known, but the events connected with the present visit would bring it prominently before the eyes of the people of Victoria (11).

There were two interesting reports about this Vice-Regal trip to Dargo - this first one is about the novelty of motor cars in Dargo and the makes of the cars - 

Seven motorcars whizzing down the street at Dargo was a sight never before seen in that pretty township, and is not likely to be again contemplated for many years. What a sensation they created to the inhabitants, and what disgust they caused the horses, the previous Kings of the winding mountain roads ....The cars to make the trip were a Daimler, Ford, Ford, Overland, Buick, Austin, Itala, owned in order by Hon. W. Pearson, Mrs Hagenauer, Dr Hozier, Dr. Hagenauer, Dr Reid, and the latter two were supplied on behalf of the Government by Mesrrs McCarey and Doran of Melbourne, who personally attended. Mrs O'Brien's F.N. car went as far as Bulgoback, and Mr and Mrs J. Mills took their Siddeley Deasey past Stockyard, and from there on travelled per buggy (12).

Then there was this report about the gallant Carlo - 
An old man named Mathieson, was riding along the road on Monday morning at the time of the motors' return journey from Dargo. The steed was not partial to the purring contingent and shied and threw the old man, dislocating one of his fingers and causing abrasions to his hands. Mr Catani acted the Good Samaritan and offered him a seat in the car to his destination, essaying the task of riding the horse himself. However, neddy refused to behave quietly and the popular chief engineer, obedient to orders from hind-quarters, landed forcibly on the road. Although somewhat shaken he was not seriously hurt, and the damage was soon repaired by Dr. Reid (13). 

Trove list - I have created a list of articles on the opening of the Dargo Bush Nursing Hospital, access it here.

Footnotes
(1) Stratford Sentinel, November 29, 1912, see here.

(2) Lady Fuller - born  Norah Jacintha Phipps, the wife of the Governor of Victoria, Sir John Fuller.

(3) Dr Edith Barrett (1872-1939) - Australian Dictionary of Biography entry - https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/barrett-edith-helen-5143 

(4) Dr Janet Greig (1874-1950) Australian Dictionary of Biography entry - https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/greig-janet-lindsay-jenny-7047

(5) Alice Michaelis (1873-1963) - Life Governor of the Queen Victoria Hospital and a member of the Victorian Bush Nurses Association committee. Alice was the fourteenth and last child of Moritz and Rahel (nee Gotthelf) Michaelis. Her brother, Frederick David Michaelis, was the chairman of the committee which erected the memorial clocktower to Carlo in 1932, see here.

(6) Gippsland Times, November 25, 1912, see here. 

(7) William Haslam Edgar (1858-1948) - member of the Legislative Council from 1904 to 1913 and from 1917 until 1948. Source: Parliament of Victoria Remember database, see here; Reverend Alexander Edgar (1850-1914) Australian Dictionary of Biography entry  https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/edgar-alexander-robert-6085   

(8) Stratford Sentinel, November 22, 1912, see here.

(9) The Herald, November 4, 1912, see here 

(10) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry; Martin's death notice in The Age, October 23, 1971, p 23 on newspapers.com (below)

(11) Stratford Sentinel, November 29, 1912, see here.

(12) Maffra Spectator, November 28, 1912, see here.

(13) Stratford Sentinel, November 29, 1912, see here.

St Kilda City Council: Carlo's 1914 re-subdivision and Carlo urged to nominate in 1917

The City of St Kilda was re-subdivided from three wards into four wards in April 1914, the new boundaries being based on the plan devised by Carlo Catani.   

There had been agitation for this increase in wards for years, as the Prahran Telegraph reported in October 1909 -

At the St. Kilda Council meeting last evening Councillor Stedeford moved - " That this council, at its next meeting, take the necessary steps to constitute a new ward, dividing the city of St. Kilda into four Wards, in lieu of three wards as at present constituted." The proposal had been before the council during the past nine or ten years, but had been postponed for various reasons, the main objection being that the vacant Crown land at Elwood had not been sold. Some of the land had now been sold. There had been a large increase of settlement in the South Ward. The area was twice that of the other wards, and the number of ratepayers was nearly twice the number of the other two wards. (1).

In October 1912 at a Council meeting Cr. Hewison moved that the public works committee be directed to take into consideration the advisableness of resubdividing the city into four wards, and report to the council. The number of ratepayers in the three wards was noted as 1400 and 1300 in the North and West wards, and over 2000 in the South. The motion was lost on the casting vote of the Mayor and this was his reasoning -

The Mayor (Cr. O'Donnell) stated that when the matter was previously discussed it was decided that nothing be done until the Elwood land had been sold. He would not vote for an additional ward being created until that eventuated (2).

John Butler Cooper, in his History of St Kilda explains how the four wards eventually came to fruition  -

The marvellous developments of the southern portion of the City of St. Kilda, that followed the subdivisional sales, by the Government, of the reclaimed lands at Elwood, was such that it disturbed the balance of municipal representation in the Council, and obviously suggested the advisability of resubdividing the city into four Wards, with the consequent increase in the number of councillors from nine to twelve. Prior to that the business of the City was carried on by nine councillors, representatives from three Wards, and that had been so from November 27, 1868, when it was proclaimed in the Government Gazette that St. Kilda was divided into three Wards, respectively, the North Ward, the South Ward and the West Ward.

The St. Kilda Council faced the position created by the development of Elwood. It received a petition from certain ratepayers desirous that a new Ward of the City should be created. A plan of the proposed subdivision, prepared in October, 1913 by Carlo Catani, at the desire of the Hon., the Minister of Public Works was approved at a conference held between the St. Kilda Council, and the petitioners. Copies of the petition were issued for signature, by ratepayers in favor of the resubdivision of the City of St. Kilda into four Wards (3). 

The Conference accepted Carlo's scheme of sub-division with the exception that the name of the Central Ward be substituted for that of the proposed Balaclava Ward, and South Ward for that of the proposed Elwood Ward. (4). 

The re-subdivision into four wards was gazetted on April 8, 1914. All nine councillors were stood down, and the first election under the new boundaries was held on August 27, 1914. The successful candidates were -

Central Ward : T. G. Allen, J. H. Pittard, J. J. Love; North Ward : H. F. Barnet, H.B. Gibbs, F. G. Hughes ; West Ward : E. O'Donnell, R. A. Molesworth, G. B. Renfrey ; South Ward : Burnett Gray, J. H. Hewison, H. McL.Duigan. (5).

Cooper published this interesting table of the statistics of the four wards in October 1913. The table was prepared by the Town Clerk, Mr. F. W. Chamberlin. 

Statistics of the four St Kilda wards in 1913. 

Carlo Catani also presented similar and extra statistics, see footnote 6.

Source: John Butler Cooper History of St Kilda  (7).

The well respected Carlo, was urged to stand for Council after his retirement from the Public Works Department. In March 1917, the In the Barber's Shop column of the Prahran Telegraph, which was written under the pseudonym of Figaro, reported this -
It has been suggested to me that Mr. Catani, who is retiring from the public service, and who is a resident of St. Kilda, would make a very fine councillor, from his knowledge of public works, if he could be induced to enter the council. I pass the suggestion on to those who are more actively engaged in electioneering than myself. (8).

The same paper reported in June 1917 -
A requisition was presented by a number of influential ratepayers to Mr. Carlo Catani, J.P., asking him to nominate for a seat in the St. Kilda Council for the south ward at the coming elections. After consideration, Mr. Catani declined. (9). 

The St Kilda Town Hall, as Carlo would have known it.

A portico and new foyer were added in 1925 and the brick was rendered in 1957 (10)

State Library of Victoria Image H84.346/75

It's a shame that Carlo never stood for election, he no doubt would have romped home at the head of the poll, however even though he had retired he was still involved in other civic activities such as the St Kilda Fore Shore Committee and from May 1917 he sat on the bench at the St Kilda Magistrates Court as an Honorary Justice (11). 

Trove list - I have created a list of articles on the lead up to the 1914 re-subdivision of the City of St Kilda, which will give some extra information on the process of the change, access it here. 

Footnotes

(1) The Prahran Telegraph, October 9, 1909, see here.

(2) The Age, October 2, 1912, see here.

(3) Cooper, John Butler The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a city and after 1840 - 1930, v. 2 (St Kilda City Council, 1931), pp. 178-179. 

(4) The Argus, October 28, 1913, see here.

(5) Cooper, op. cit., p. 179.

(6) From the Prahran Telegraph, October 4, 1913, see here. 

The figures attached to Mr. Catani scheme of re-subdivision are as follows:

West ward. — Rateable property, 345 acres, reserves 177 acres, total, 523 acres; valuation, £102,087; ratepayers, 1611, population, 9076, probable increase in ten years, nil ; valuation in ten years, £102,087.

North ward.— Rateable property 436 acres, reserves 62 acres, total 498 acres; valuation, £74,159; ratepayers 1580, population, 7204, probable increase in ten years to 10,686, probable valuation, £84,845.

Balaclava Ward. — Rateable property, 382 acres, reserves, 43 acres, total 425 acres, valuation £65,826; ratepayers, 1752, population 6740, probable increase in ten years to 17,667, probable valuation, £83,493.

Elwood ward. — Rateable property, 555 acres, reserves, 94 acres, total 649 acres; valuation, £49,898; ratepayers, 1444, population, 4466; probable increase in ten years to 39, 076 probable valuation, 

£88, 974.

Totals. — Rateable property, 1719 acres, reserves, 379 acres, total 2009 acres; valuation, £291,970; ratepayers, 6387, population 27,436; probable increase in ten years to 67,429; probable valuation, £359,399.

(7) Cooper, op. cit., p. 179.

(8) Prahran Telegraph, March 17, 1917, see here.

(9) Prahran Telegraph, June 30, 1917, see here.

(10) Town Hall history http://skhs.org.au/SKHSbuildings/33.htm

(11) St Kilda Fore Shore Committee - https://victoriancollections.net.au/stories/carlo-catani-an-engineering-star-over-victoria/st-kilda-foreshore-gardens St Kilda Magistrates Court - http://carlocatani.blogspot.com/2022/03/carlos-time-as-honorary-justice-at-st.html