Town Hall, Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, 1933.

Cookery Demonstration and Exhibition in the Town Hall. The demonstration and exhibition was organised by the Colonial Gas Association, most of the demonstrations being done by local ladies. 

Dandenong Journal - Thu 8 Jun 1933 - Page 5: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201300579

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Bridge, Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, early 1930s

Looking across the bridge over the Dandenong Creek towards the intersection of Foster Street in the early 1930's. the Peace Memorial Bridge was opened for traffic on the 24th August 1919. The bridge commemorates the declaration of peace in 1919 and is also dedicated to those who gave their lives to save 
civilisation.

The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War One. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of World War One were dealt with in separate treaties. Although the armistice signed on 11 November 1918, ended the actual fighting, it took six months of negotiations at the Paris Peace Conference to conclude the peace treaty.

Once described as ‘one of the best bridges in Victoria. With the park facing wall removed, the bridge still carries a portion of the Princes Highway over the Dandenong Creek on the railway side.
Over the years ‘the rapids of Dandenong’, so described once by the poet Adam Lindsay Gordon, have swept away more than one bridge in the area. The first bridge over Dandenong Creek was constructed in 1840. A flood swept this away ten years later and it was replaced.

The stone bridge, built in 1866, probably by Robert Huckson, lasted 52 years. Part of it was granite, quarried locally from the vicinity of Wedge and Power Streets. The integrity was undermined by repeated floods, rendering the bridge unsafe for use. Some of the stones were scattered along the creek to build it up after the erosion damage that had been caused by previous flooding.

When the Highway was duplicated, land taken from the Dandenong Park side of the Highway, as it continues from Foster Street, past the creek towards Webster Street, was used for the extra lanes. When duplicating the Dandenong Creek Bridge, the park facing wall of the Peace Memorial Bridge was removed, as the extra bridge/carriageway was added on the Park side creating the present bridge.

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Dandenong Market, Clow Street, Dandenong, 1930

This view looking across Lonsdale street to the new Produce Market after it's move to the present site. Before the relocation the Produce Market was held on Lonsdale Street besides the old Stock Market.

Eventually the market grew too big and was extended onto the street itself, after many years of this a site was selected on Cleeland Street. The Stock Market would later be moved behind the train station on Cheltenham road until it was ultimately closed in favour of country Stock Markets.

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Baths/First Public Pool, Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, 1933

This photo is from the Official Opening Day of the Dandenong Baths, which were located next to the old Drill Hall in Dandenong Park, on Lonsdale Street. The former site of the Baths is now covered by a new Playground, A mound remains to the right of the Playground marking the site of the former Drill Hall.

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Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, 1937

A view looking up Lonsdale Street in 1937, looking towards where it intersects with Scott street, There were a few interesting shops in this section, one remembered more than others by locals who would frequent it for a tasty bite, or one of the lesser mentioned services, Can you name it?

--
Bellow is an excerpt from Reminiscences of the early days of Dandenong published in the Journal during the 1930s.

From about 1S58 coaches were the main link between Melbourne and
Dandenong, prior to the railway opening, coach was the method
cf travelling. There were many vehicles eventually on the road, in fact
each hotel ran a line at one time in the very early days. One connected with "Dunbar’s” Hotel, another with the “Bridge,” and so on. Dave
Bowden drove one coach, Thomas Dallimore another, and “Old George” drove for Cobb & Co.

There were coaches running from Dandenong to Cranbourne and the Bass; others to Berwick, and so on. These latter ran after the main road was made, as before that time horsemen carried the mail, the driving of a trap being an impossibility. Tom Murray, Tom McMahon, and other drivers, drove coaches, but they did not properly come within the range of the early-day drivers.

In 185S Messrs. Cobb & Co. built stables and offices at the corner of
the main and Pultney streets, and the large underground tank still remained in 1930 as a memento of the old coaching days. When Mr. Peter Evans bought the building, which he converted into a boot-making shop, it was often remarked upon why such a small establishment required such a large tank, but those who inquired were not aware that that large tank was not more than sufficiently large to water a big string of horses required for the coaches.

The coach from Dandenong to Bass ran three times weekly. Its original driver was George Wright ("Old George.”) He was followed by J. Moorehouse, after whom came W. Smiley, and the last driver of that line was Charlie Wilson. In 1S73 Cobb & Co’s coach left the Albion Hotel, Bourke street, for Dandenong, the fare each way being four shillings. Mrs. Dunbar ran a line cf coaches between Melbourne and Brandy Creek, and also between Melbourne and Tooradin, in 1876,


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1934 Floods, Lonsdale Street from Foster Street, Dandenong.

Looking down Lonsdale Street from Foster Street towards Dandenong Park during the 1934 floods, It can be hard to imagine such a wide area of Dandenong being under water.

--
In Dandenong's early days, the creek was always a problem. It was just a shallow meandering stream that would always flood the southern part of the town. It is hard to believe that from this point all the way down to the Cranbourne turn-off could at times be up to five feet under water.

The original crossing point of the creek was a further 50 to 60 feet towards the town centre, about in-line where the (Former) Dandenong Bowling Club is located. The area south of Walker Street was once very swampy and it took a lot of effort and cost to rectify it. The amount of filling needed on both sides was enormous.

Crossing the creek back in the early 1840's was at first negotiated by foot passengers by means of piles driven well into the ground, topped with a single plank and guarded by a hand rail. A primitive type wooden bridge was soon constructed and only lasted to the end of the decade. A new wooden bridge was built of more grander proportions but this too was destroyed by flooding waters.

A new stone bridge with two single arches was constructed in 1866 and lasted until 1919, also undermined by floods. This bridge was located at today's present bridge site. By this time the Dandenong Creek south of Clow Street had been converted in parts into a more drain like appearance.

This allowed water to flow more freely and quickly through the southern part of the township but it didn't stop the disastrous floods back in December 1934. Today, the Dandenong Creek through this area has been straightened and channeled as an urban stream and flooding is a rare occurrence.

Above text quoted from a Past 2 Present post:
https://www.facebook.com/Past2Present1

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Corner of Lonsdale, Foster and Pultney Streets, Dandenong, 1934 flood

The 1934 flood was one of the worst to hit Dandenong. Occurring long before the creek was channeled and straightened with concrete, the original Dandenong Creek alignmemt was the result of natural water flow. Frequently flooding into the open plains bellow and flowing slowly onto the Carum Swamps. 

During excessively heavy rains, the water would flow down a natural depression roughly following Lonsdale street, passing down Pultney Street, and through Dandenong Park, making the journey to the Creek below. Natural low points can still be found along the journey to the attentive seeker.

Note the modestly country Electricity Sub Station on the right. Placed at one of the lowest points, only a few hundred metres from the creek, someone forgot the necessity to use raised elevation. Leaves us curious how many lost power as a result of the 1934 floods.

Park Motors occupied this site for some time becoming a locally recognized name. Some time later this site became known as BP island, during this time a BP Service Station/Centre occupied the entire triangle bordered by Pultney, Foster and Lonsdale Streets. Presently the site is occupied by Doctors/Chemist and Cheesecake shop. Such a fine pair they make.

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Dandenong West Primary (State) School, Early 1930's

To relieve the congestion at State School 1403, due to the rapid expansion of the town, it was decided to urge upon the Education Department the necessity for the erection of a new school in the western portion of the town. The movement was taken up by the local Improvement Association (President, Cr. E.C. Butler; Secretary, Mr. A.Branston), and as a result, in 1924 and 1925 an area of 3 acres 27 perches was purchased at a cost of £1105.

On this block in 1925, a very commodious and up-to-date brick building, consisting of eight classrooms, a teachers’ room and an office, was erected. The official opening, on August 26th 1925, was performed by the then Minister of Education, Sir Alexander Peacock, and the foundation stone was laid by the Hon. F.Groves, M.L.A.

The first head teacher was Mr. James. Hillard, who had been promoted from Head Teacher at Noble Park and who still held the position in the 1930s. At the opening of the school the attendance was 220. By the early 1930s the attendance rate was nearly 400, this was nearly double the students that the school had at the time of opening.

Near the end of 1954, Mr. Ron Macdonald was appointed Head Master. He came to a school which had 569 students in 12 classrooms, despite the transfer of 71 students in 1956, school numbers continued to rise. By 1957 there was 609 students, with classes being run in the local St Luke's Hall and within the corridors. Attendance continued to rise, with a peak of 771 in 1968 and a total of 23 classrooms.

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Aerial view of Dandenong in the 1930's.

There is nearly an uncountable number of changes since this aerial was taken, but some buildings do remain, can you spot them?

Below Except From: "Reminiscences Of Early Dandenong"

In 1858 the Government undertook the formation of a road from Melbourne to Sale, and made an allocation of £30,000 for the section from Melbourne to Bunyip. This road started from the old Star Hotel, Windsor, which was then a celebrated hostelry, and gradually it crept through the bush on its way to far-off Gippsland. Messrs. Cox and Bennett were the contractors, and a first-class job they made of it.

I remember well the piece from the (now) intersection of the Cranbourne and Berwick roads towards Hallam. It was an atrocious quagmire in winter, and an appalling gridiron in summer. The countless droves of bullocks from Gippsland had made ridges across the track, and these in time had become so deep that the cattle had to step high negotiating them. Vehicular traffic, represented by bullock drays, could not travel over it, but had to make other tracks through the adjacent bush. Tho difficulties that the contractors had to face and overcome were stupendous. But surmount them they did, and the road-bed, as it shows up in places to this day, testifies to the thoroughness of (the work of these pioneer road-malcers.

But this is getting on too fast.

When the squatting runs which embraced Dandenong and district were cut up and thrown open to the selectors, the question of a main road through to Gippsland was one of much talk and of great Importance. Even so early in the History of the colony as this (1854) there was that procedure which was then inelegantly termed "duck-shoving,” meaning that underground influence was brought to boar on the question of running the line of road along the course most favored by, and of most benefit to, the persons who had the power to so direct it. That applied to the road through the township.

There were three routes surveyed from Melbourne as far as Dandenong. One went through Brighton, and is that now known yet as the “Brighton road," the existing line being almost identical with that of the original survey. In those days Brighton was regarded as a sort of semi-terminus to the road from Melbourne, in the direction of Gippsland.

Tho second track took ‘‘the route of the hills,” by way of Prahan and Caulfield, and then diverged through the flats between the latter place and Dandenong. But this was soon abandoned, on account of the heavy, sticky country through which it led, it being literally a series of glue pots.

The third was a continuation of the hill route, diverging from the “glue pots” at Caulfield, and so on through Oakleigh and Springvale, and is the main Gippsland road to-day.

The intention at that time of the surveyors, and the wish of' those who had axes to apply to the grindstone, was that the main road should go to Gippsland straight along McCrae street; and, anyone coming into the town from Melbourne will see at once the fitness of that decision; but the wire-pullers got to work, and, instead of a straight and good road over suitable and firm country, the track was swerved around the corner opposite the market, past the hotels, through a swamp from Walker street to the creek, and so on to the intersection of the Berwick and Cranbourne roads.

The swampy ground was filled in at enormous cost, and which fact possibly in small measure contributed to the crushing burden which our beautiful little town has carried since its infancy, and is still carrying.

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State Electricity Commission, 195 Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, Early 1930s.

Few people who walk down the brightly lighted streets of Dandenong on the weekly shopping night, or notice the humming activity of the township’s many factories, pause to consider how it's been since the first electric lamp shed its brightness in the district.

Only a few months before the beginning of the first world war did Dandenong enjoy the advantages of its first electric service. In March, 1914, this was established by the India Rubber, Gutta Percha and Telegraph Works Co. Ltd, who secured the rights to generate and distribute electricity within the township.

The generating station consisted of two 50 h.p. suction gas engines which were erected in a power house in Clow street, Which b 1933 was being used as a Garage. Seven years later, in June, 1921, the Shire Council purchased all rights of the undertaking from the company, and continued to generate it's own requirements until November, 1922, when electricity was purchased in bulk from the State Electricity Commission. On October 1, 1923, the Council handed over control and distribution of Electricity to the Commission.

Since this date the development and use of electricity in Dandenong was very rapid, and the township became one of the most important distribution and administrative centres in the electrical network of the state. By 1925 the expansion of the Electricity Commission's system east of Melbourne required the establishment of an Eastern Metropolitan District, and by virtue of it's geographical position Dandenong was selected as the District Administrative Centre.

With temporary offices being secured in the Boomerang Buildings. To provide accommodation for its staff, and facilities for handling of its stores and equipment, the Commission, in 1928 was obliged to build its own premises at 195 Lonsdale Street. By 1933 seven sub-stations in the township were necessary to reduce the electrical pressure of the main transmission lines to a voltage suitable to requirements of consumers within the townships boundaries, The main switching station being on Frankston Road (now Frankston-Dandenong Road).

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117 Foster Street, Dandenong, 1937 and 1972

First picture is 1937, Second picture is 1972.

Kingsbury Lane (to the left of the shop) is named after Kingsbury Plumbers and Tank Makers (est. 1856), who made tanks and windmills. Later they turned their business to bicycles. Kingsbury Bicycles were then located in Foster Street (still visible sign writing).
In 1929 Alex Kingsbury built an arcade of shops which ran through from Foster to Lonsdale Street possibly through the Cassels Garage. Kingsbury’s nephew Frank set up in one of the shops to run a bicycle and pram business. In 1932 Frank was joined by his brother Gilbert; both served in the air force during the second world war. Upon their return Frank opened his own business in Frankston leaving Gilbert to manage the Dandenong shop.
Kingsbury’s sold motorbikes, push bikes and baby craft including
prams and nursery furniture. The lane was under 2 feet of water in the 1934 flood. In 1962 a local newspaper advertisement boasts modern new showrooms, by the 1970's he still owned the building and was operating a baby supply shop in half of the building, renting the other half out.
By coincidence Richard Wolters chose the other side to run Progressive Motorcycle which he owned between 1971 and 1975, not knowing of the connection until one day someone dropped in and told me that it was a coincidence that I had chosen this shop.

These images were supplied by Richard Wolters
https://www.facebook.com/richard.wolters.140

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McAlpin's car being towed, 1934 floods

McAlpin's car being towed, 1934 floods, Cheltenham Road underpass in Dandenong. Between 1912-1943 Kenneth George McAlpin was a Councilor for the Shire of Dandenong.

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Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, 1938

Lonsdale Street, Dandenong, 1938

 

Image courtesy of State Library Victoria

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Then and Now, Walker Street CFA/Gallery, 1930s/2010s

Then and Now, Walker Street CFA/Gallery, 1930s/2010s

Image supplied by: Keith Pakenham'

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Church Of Christ, 17 Robinson Street, Dandenong, in 1933

The original Church of Christ building was constructed in 1904 and officially opened on 28 August after an 11 week construction period on the corner of Robinson and George Street (before George street was realigned to meet the end of Walker street in the early 2010s).

In early 1918 through voluntary labour the Sunday School hall was added to the rear of the church, further working bees resulted in the lining of the hall and construction of the kitchen.

In September 1957 a newly built brick chapel on the corner of Mason and Walker Streets was completed (Presently occupied by Cornerstone Contact Centre since 1992), The church moved in 1990 to new premises at 139 David Street, outside the CBD area, ending its involvement in the centre of Dandenong.

The 1904 church building pictured was occupied by the Dandenong Assembly of God until 1977 when it was sold to the United Pentecostal Fellowship. It later became occupied by the Church of the Word. The building would survive into the 21st century before being demolished as part of the Revitalization of Dandenong, Presently the new A.T.O. building occupies this site.

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Ordish Brick Works, Stud Road, Dandenong, Early 1930s.

Established by W. P. Ordish, in the early 1890s, and carried on by him successfully for many years. Located east of Stud Road, north of
David Street. The fire clay was of the type required for furnaces, at a time when a great many furnaces were being built. However, better clays, capable of withstanding higher temperatures, were later in demand and the Ordish Firebrick Company began importing clay from other areas.

The business was acquired in 1922 by the Ordish Fire Brick Co. Pty. Ltd, having been established in 1894, and under the new management turned into one of the four largest industries giving employment at the time, employing up to thirty men and sending its products to every state and New Zealand.

Possessing what was at the time the largest known deposit of fireclay in the world, covering some 20 acres. . In 1930, the Ordish Firebrick
works were described as:
One of Dandenong’s valuable assets ... situated in Stud Road, about a mile and a quarter from the town, on 52 acres. The six kilns have each a capacity of 37,000 bricks, and the weekly output is 50,000 bricks and tiles, keeping 30 hands engaged (Weekly Times 12 July 1930).

In 1930 the Ordish company was supplying firebricks to Newport Railway Workshops, the SEC at Yallourn, and gas works and factories in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand, according to their own designs. Later there was a demand for firebricks of a different kind of clay and the firm began importing clays from elsewhere, including overseas. The company name changed to Newbold Refractories, which finally ceased operation in 1975.

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