Lonsdale, Langhorne and Walker Street triangle, between 1863 and 1876.

Looking across Lonsdale Street to the former Mechanics Institute (white building in foreground), located on the site now occupied by the Town Hall (Drum Theatre). Above this you can see the original St Mary's Catholic Church (corner of Foster and Langhorne). A little furth up Langhorne you can also see St James Anglican Church, which still stands to this day.

The white building in the front was the original Mechanics Institute of Dandenong, built in 1863. Before the Town Hall was built on the corner of Lonsdale and Walker streets in 1891, the Mechanics Institute built a single-story brick building in 1876, right where the Hall would later stand (in front of the chimney side of the white building).

Dandenong's original Library was hosted in the Mechanics Institutes white building and moved to their brick one. When the Town Hall was built the Mechanics Institute got rights to the upper floor as part of the settlement for handing the land to council for use for a Hall.

The two-story brick building to the left, on the corner of Walker and Langhorne streets was Ellis’s Store. In 1856 William and Edward Ellis (brothers) settled in Dandenong. Edward Ellis erected operated this store for some time. Built for him in the 1870's, it saw many modifications over the decades transforming it from the smaller building you see here to the larger building that was demolished in 1971, almost 100 years.

In 1877 the building was sold, by Thomas Rosling and Co. for £630, Mr. James Greaves being the purchaser. Hence forth it was known as Greaves Building. July 2nd, 1946, saw the official opening of The Wessex in this building by Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Mills, hosting Receptions, Dances, Functions and such. being formally known as The Wessex Hotel at some point.

An ever-popular venue for dances, weddings, parties, etc., for some years Mrs. I. Mills, proprietress at the time in 1954 wanted to convert the premises to let as offices. She already had two of the rooms let to suitable clients, she still maintained her own private residence upstairs Around this time the Main building (and possibly neighbouring ones) became known as the Wessex Buildings.

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Dandenong Mechanics Institute in 1878.

Later, about 1880, a brick building was built in front of this, facing Lonsdale Street. In 1890 the Town Hall was opened, taking over the site of this and the brick building, with the Mechanics Institute obtaining rights to part of the first floor.

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Walker and Langhorne Streets, Dandenong,1878-83.

Jones's New Dandenong bakery was the joy of .J. T. Thorpe, in the early days he was the only baker in Dandenong. He established his bakery in about 1878/79, and by 1883 had moved the bakery to new and bigger premises in Keys Buildings on Lonsdale Street. In 1896 R. F. Meyer took control of the bakery.

The small building used for the bakery was originally built by Mr Bowman In 1857. In turn it was occupied by butchers, bakers and other tradesmen. A baker named Gatling had it for a time, but the tenant occupying it prior to its being demolished was J. T. Thorpe. He baked there for many years, eventually removing to Keys’ Buildings.

Jones and his wife later moved to Cranbourne, where they continued to be involved in the bakery field, opening a local bakery. In the 1950s the Cranbourne business was still being carried on by Jack Thorpe, at the time it was the oldest bakery in Cranbourne.

Eventually the Twiss family took over the Dandenong Bakery, running it for some years.They later took over the Railway refreshment rooms at the Dandenong station from Mrs. Clinch, who took over from Miss Bottril (we believe the first to conduct them).

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Corner of Walker and Langhorne Streets, Dandenong, between 1866-1878.

Ellis's store is the brick building standing proudly on the corner, with modifications this building became the Wessex and operated into the 1950's and 1960's before being replace with the present 5 floor building. McLennan Real Estate presently occupies the corner shop at ground level.

Along side an be seen Jones's New Dandenong Bakery, although not much is known about Jones or his bakery, the site, with a new building which still stands today, would later become home to Mags, and ironmonger. Presently this site is home to the Dandenong Laundry & Dry Cleaners.

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Temperance Dining Rooms, Clow and McCrae Streets, 1870's

Henry Rodman’s ‘Temperance Hotel and Dandenong Dining Rooms’
was between the old market site and the present market site,
on the corner of McCrae and Clow Streets.

This places is on the corner of the present carpark from the former Woolworths, Temperance Home was still located here in the 1890;s, but mention of the establishment after this seem to be non existent.

Note the local characters sitting under the mighty Red Gum in the foreground, Such a tree would be a worthy landmark for the local area today.

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Township of Dandenong, north-east view (c. 1866-1878)

Mechanic's Institute (white building) in Foreground, The Mechanics Institute build a larger brick building in front of the white building on the corner of Walker and Lonsdale streets, the current site of Town Hall. Up further on the right you can make out St James Anglican Church.

Found at: http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/8853/

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