Number 04 - Oct 2012

MIDDLE PARK HISTORY GROUPNewsletter 4 October 2012

MIDDLE PARK HISTORY GROUP Inc. PO Box 5276, Middle Park 3206 Email: [email protected] Website: www.middleparkhistory.org

Photograph: Rose Stereograph Co. State Library of Victoria

At the MPHG AGM held in September2012, there was much to celebrate our firstyear.Highlights include:1. The production of our first book.‘The Heart of Middle Park’ book and com-panion DVD have exceeded all expecta-tions. We initially printed 400 books onlyto find that they sold out in a few weeks.Two further print runs, bringing the totalto 800 are nearly sold out.2. Website and Email address. Wenow have an informative and expertly de-signed website www.middleparkhistory.orgThis website provides members and thegeneral public with a host of informationincluding local historic photographs, acalendar of events and links to other kin-dred organizations.3. Framed Historical Photographs.There are 16 framed historical photographsdisplayed throughout Middle Park shops.They are circulated around shops every sixmonths.4. City of Port Phillip (CoPP) partner-ship. We are delighted that we receivestrong support from the CoPP. Due toCoPP’s willingness to assist us, we nowhave a home base at the Mary Kehoe Cen-tre. We have also entered into a FundingDeed with CoPP where a range of partner-ship projects will take place.

MIDDLE PARK HISTORY GROUP CELEBRATESITS FIRST YEAR

Local estate agent Geoff Cayzer was guest speaker atthe 2012 AGM Photo: Meyer Eidelson

5. Affiliation with the Royal HistoricSociety of Victoria (RHSV). This peakbody for Victorian historical societies advo-cates, on our behalf, on legal and adminis-trative matters, and also assists with experthistorical research services, public liabilityinsurance and provides a range of exhibi-tions and benefits available to MPHG Mem-bers.

6. Newsletter. The MPHG produces aquarterly newsletter such as this edition.

7. General Meetings. General meetingsare held throughout the year where reportshave been presented on the finances andactivities of the MPHG. A special and impor-tant feature of our general meetings is ourguest speaker program.

Arts and Crafts MovementA movement that flourished between 1860 and 1910in the United Kingdom protesting against industri-alization and infusing the crafts back into the worldwe live in. It stood for tradtional craftsmanshipusing simple forms and often applied medieval,romantic or folk styles of decoration . It also advo-cated social reform. Architecturally it tended toexpress a rejection of gross “false” decoration whichwas so often exhibited in “high Victorian” architec-ture.

Classical

Cornice

Finial

This style refers to the build-ing styles of ancient Greeceand Rome and is an attemptto provide a harmonioussense of proportion and bal-ance in building facades. Itcan be especially seen in theuse of the three ‘orders’ incaps/bases of columns; Dor-ic (simple rings), Ionic (lookslike bulls horns at head ofcolumn) and Corinthian (likeleaves or feathers at top ofcolumn)

DORIC IONIC CORINTHIAN

CorbelA corbel is a bracket of stone,often carved, projecting from awall and supports a cornice orarch. Often seen in hallways ofVictorian houses as well as onthe exterior of houses. The wordcomes from “corvus”, the Latinname for a raven, because ofthe similarity in shape to araven's beak.

This is the uppermost section of mouldings alongthe top of a wall or just below the roof, often join-ing the wall to the roof.

An architectural devicewhich usually rises to apoint, often of stone orwood, used decorativelyto emphasize the apexof a gable, or it can bedistinctive ornaments atthe top or end of abuilding (once thoughtto deter witches landing

Frieze A horizontal band or strip in a wall ofsculpted or painted decoration.

Moulded ornamental swags

A festoon of flowers or ribbonfashioned from stone, wood orplaster, much used in the dec-oration of Victorian houses

ParapetA low protective wall or railing along the edge of aroof which tended to “hide” the roof and give thebuilding a more solid appearance. Often (in Victori-an architecture) the parapet was made up of verticalbalusters or rails supporting a top horizontal rail,and may be interspersed by spaced solid pillars or adecorative pediment.

PedimentA classical ar-chitectural ele-ment consistingof a triangularor raised sec-tion, commonlyviewed from thefront of a build-ing. (Cont. Next page)

SOME TERMS RELATED TO VICTORIAN ARCHITECTUREThe article on Victorian architecture written by Alison St John and Max Nankervis in our last

Newsletter highlighted a number of architectural terms. Alison and Max explain their meanings.Middle Park is known for it’s extraordinary Victorian and Edwardian (next edition) architecture.

Next time you walk around your neighbourhood, see if you can locate these details.

Know your Street Names

Polychrome bricksThis style of brickwork whichregained fashion status inthe 1860s (having been usedseveral centuries earlier)used bricks of different col-ours (typically brown, creamand red) in patterned combi-nations. Rare examples areto be found in Sydney but areprevalent in Melbourne, es-pecially in the architecture ofJoseph Reid (eg Rippon Lea,St Michael's Church)

William Carter, an old and respected resident, conducted aflorist’s business and hot-house in Ferrars Street opposite theSouth Melbourne Railway Station, and also had some Italiangreyhounds used for coursing rabbits in Albert Park.In 1870 he was contracted by the Council to prune trees instreets and reserves.Extract with thanks to Dr Rob Grogan, from his book:Colonels, Colonials and Councillors: The Origin of Street Names of SouthMelbourne, Grogan, R; Cygnet Books, 2007.

Tessellated patternedtiled verandahsComplex tiled patternsusing a variety of tile col-ours, typically on veran-dahs and paths, butsometimes also in interi-ors in halls, fireplaces etc.

Tuck pointed brickworkAfter the bricks have beenmortared with a matchingcolour mortar, a fine fillet ofwhite substance is pushedinto the joints just beforethe mortar sets, giving theimpression that very finejoints have been made.

Vermiculation

A decoration in stuccoon rendered walls, pro-jections etc where adense but irregular pat-tern of lines or indenta-tions resemble wormtracks. The word comesfrom the Latin for worm.There are many exam-ples on the projectingverandah walls in ter-races in Middle Park.

The MPHG has recently signed aFunding Deed with the CoPP tooperate from the July 2012 toJune 2013.

City of Port Phillip Funding Deed partnership

The funding is provided to enable theMPHG to promote awareness and thepreservation of Middle Park’s history. Thiswill be achieved by involving and encour-aging the Middle Park community to ac-tively participate in historical research,seek from the community oral histories,photographs, moving images, documentsand artefacts.Funding is also provided to enhance thedevelopment of innovative heritage pro-grams in the City of Port Phillip.The MPHG will, over the next year, em-bark on the following activities to meet the

Requirements of the Funding Deed.This will be achieved by:

● continuing with a second book pub-lication.

● Digitising and cataloguing historicalphotographs.

● Recording oral histories from bothresidents and former residents ofMiddle Park.

● Delivering programs including exhi-bitions, heritage talks and selkguided walks.

● Responding to public enquiries re-garding the history of Middle Park.

(Continued next page)

Forthcoming general meetings: 3rd December 2012, 4th February 2013Committee meetings: 5th November 2012, 4th March 2013

Meetings are held in the Mary Kehoe Centre, 224 Danks St, Albert Park at 4.30 pm.(Notification will be sent to you prior to the meeting listing agenda items)

Board Members: President: John Stirling Vice President: Meyer Eidelson Secretary: Alison St John Treasurer: Sonya Cameron Public Officer: Diana Phoenix

Rosemary Goad

The Middle Park HistoryGroup is supported byThe City of Port Phillip

HAVE YOU BOUGHTOUR FIRST BOOK?

Our very popular book‘The Heart of Middle Park’can still be purchased for$15 from these outlets:

Armstrong Street:● Victor’s Dry Cleaners

● SweatRichardson Street:● Peter Simmons

Real EstateAlbert Park:

● Avenue Bookshop

Or by contacting us at:[email protected]

LAST EDITION MYSTERYHERITAGE OBJECT

This is the remains of a lamppost located at the Arm-strong St. light-rail under-pass. A second one, in apoorer state of repair can beseen on the Albert Park sideof the underpass. Both thesecast iron lamp posts deserveto be restored. We are keen to find a photo-graph showing what the lightfitting on top of the postlooked like.If you have a photograph ofthe intact light post pleasecontact us.

Great present idea!

MYSTERYHERITAGEOBJECT

Regularly seen in lanesthroughout Middle

Park. What has causedthis deep ridge?

It Happened in…1856 (July) Contract let for the con-struction of the St Kilda railway line(now light trail No. 96 route).

1908 Council (South Melbourne) agreesin principle to open bathing on thebeach.

1939 to 1945 Extensive takeover bymilitary in Albert Park.

Source: ‘The Heart Of Middle Park’ Chronology

(City of Port Phillip Funding Deed cont.)

We congratulate the initiative of the Cityof Port Phillip in granting this FundingDeed. We are also appreciative thatCouncil is very supportive in protectingthe municipality’s heritage.

1941 flood at corner of Nimmo and Page Streets.This wonderful photo was taken by Ron McDer-mott who, along with his wife Mary, are currentMPHG members.