Time Travellers in Essendon, Flemington and the Keilor Plains

Articles

 

William Frederick Salmon

and

The Evolution of a Park

 

By Marilyn Kenny

©2021 

 

City of Essendon memorial walks and children's playgrounds. H. Y Frew, compiler. 1919.

State Library of Victoria Collection. Accession no: H2013.297/1-24

 

One December day in 1879 a young man organized a picnic. He was a Somerset Man and had been in Victoria for two of his 26 years. After some time on the rough goldfields he had found employment in Gippsland. There his bachelor’s quarters backed onto a fern valley. The picnic party of about thirty girls and fellows wandered down a gentle hill with forest bordering the wide avenue. At the bottom of the hollow was a clear stream, crossed by a rustic bridge leading to a steep hill covered in mature trees. The valley bed was covered in ferns interspersed with patches of moss. The stream had worn small rock pools in which could be observed small fish disporting themselves The ambience created by the intermingling of sunlight and shade reminded the diarist of the transformation scene in London theatre where fairyland was revealed. However the reality held more beauty to be explored. The ferns, the lichens, the birds, the nests, various trees seemed  to sparkle with diamonds, gold thread  and silver filigree of light and moisture.  He despaired of having the talent to describe it and instead quoted Tennyson’s The Lotus Eaters:

 

Here are cool mosses deep

And thro' the moss the ivies creep

And in the stream the long-leaved flowers weep

And from the craggy ledge the poppy hangs in sleep.

 

Some twenty years later the same man set about recreating the ambience of that fairy glade.

 

William Frederick Salmon has left his mark and not only on Essendon. There is his public role of Municipal Auditor and stalwart of the Incorporated Institute of Accountants. There is his position as an exemplar of the benefits of irrigation at his large commercial orchard at Werribee. On his properties Glenview Farm at North Essendon and Numeralla in Gippsland and elsewhere, he modelled the latest pastoral and agricultural practices and promoted the development of the Border Leicester and Southdown sheep varieties. In his business life he was respected as the man who had taken on the difficult task of Liquidator of the Chaffey Brothers properties at Mildura and surrounds and after twenty years eventually realized some assets. This was in addition to his long term role as Manager of a major Stock Insurance Company and a Permanent Building Society, steering both through the 1890s decade of Depression.

 

In addition there are the attention grabbing newspaper accounts of his second marriage, contracted on what was believed to be his death bed. There is a large window in Christ Church North Essendon memorializing his son (who died in the Great War) and other members of his family. And of course there is the Salmon Reserve. This parcel of land lies tucked away behind the larger Woodlands Park and close by Napier Park. In 1918 Salmon offered to donate this land to Essendon Council and its citizens. He had been trying to replicate his fairy glade in this spot for some years prior.

 

Salmon was born in late 1853 in far south west England. It is a county of rolling hills, abutting the Bristol Channel looking onto Wales. William’s family were millers and traders in corn, his father rising from corn factor to gentlemen farmer to merchant of independent means. William became an expert in raising crops and stock especially corn and sheep. In his early twenties he became the principal manager of two large flour mills and a malt house in Exeter, UK. After three years, overwork resulted in severe ill health which was the principal cause of his migration to Victoria. After a troubled and over long voyage he and several siblings came to Gippsland where he worked hard on the property and became a stalwart of the Poowong Community.  In 1883 he married his Kitty (Catherine Mary Holmes) and by 1886 was a doting father of a daughter and son.

 

This photo from the collection of the SLV is labelled Aunt Nellie Brierley (picture). (1890) Albert Park. However Alex Bragiola has correctly identified the house as 2 Church Street, Flemington. The four Salmon children sit on the front step, Madge the youngest was born in 1893, so this dates from c 1895. Kitty Salmon is probably the woman on

the upstairs verandah. State Library of Victoria Collection, Accession no: H82.96/41.

 

In that year Salmon sold up, realizing £1000, and took a billet as General Manager of the Australasian Mutual Live Stock Insurance Company. His starting salary was £300 pa. The family moved to Church/Wellington Street, Flemington where two more daughters were born. In addition to his employment Salmon managed the Argus Permanent Building Society and from 1892 became involved with the Chaffey Brothers and their irrigation schemes at Werribee and Mildura. Salmon was experienced with the traditional irrigation practices of hatching, as employed by his family in the United Kingdom, and interested in modern developments in this area.  He also travelled around the State auditing the books of Shires, Towns and Cities.

 

In 1898 the family moved the Roseneath estate formerly the property of the Clarke dynasty. Salmon purchased this estate of just over 22 acres in May 1900.

 

Roseneath, circa 1919

Image 7 Frew, H, & Sears Studios, photographer. City of Essendon Memorial

Walks and Children's Playgrounds. State Library of Victoria Collection, H2013.297/1-24.

 

Both tributaries of the Five Mile Creek moved through Salmon’s property on their way to the Moonee Ponds Creek. The branch that originated from Madden Street, over Bulla Road, flowed east through the Woodlands water reserve and formed the southern boundary of Salmon’s land. Another, the Magdala branch, formed on the plateau to the north and flowed south, crossing Woodlands Street slightly to the east of Roseneath to join the boundary watercourse.  

 

 

The Salmon family at Roseneath about 1903. Courtesy of Clare Spring, scanned from family collection.

 

In Gippsland Salmon had found that the only way to manage this country is to kill all the trees in the scrub by ringing. However a quarter of a century on his views and practice changed dramatically. By 1903 he started a programme of planting shade trees along both watercourses of the Five Mile Creek. He had become a tree enthusiast, and critical of successive Governments which had allowed invaluable forests to be destroyed in order to win second or third rate sheep country. He announced that the timber wantonly destroyed since I came to Australia would have paid the national debt of the Commonwealth as it stands today. (1918) Salmon elected to plant plane trees, oaks, elms, grevilleas and sugar gums. All were protected from depredation by substantial tree guards and replanted as necessary. These were nurtured by him over the next fifteen years. In 1914 he obtained land on the south side of the creek. This fronted onto Napier Street. Almost immediately he subdivided and sold, but reserved a green wedge alongside the creek’s northern boundary. This was also planted out with trees and it was noted on the plan.

 

In March 1906 Salmon transferred just over ½ acre of his land at the corner of Napier and Woodlands St. This was gifted to Daniel Robert Dossetor who married Salmon’s eldest daughter,  May Catherine, in July 1906.  Dossetor was an architect, who was also in business partnerships with Salmon.

 

The Dossetor house, Nilderie, corner of Napier and Woodlands Street, later subdivided with house

then facing Woodlands Street. Photo located by Alex Bragiola on the subdivision plan of

Magdala Estate, 1925. Courtesy of the Essendon Historical Society Collection. 

 

A year later Kitty Salmon died. Salmon with his great drive and determination continued to enlarge his business interests. Family life continued with Percy Salmon marrying Dan Dossetor’s sister Lily in 1908. Percy shared his father’s enthusiasm for sheep breeding and investing in pastoral properties, becoming a grazier in his own right. Salmon’s interest in tree planting, both to beautify and for utilitarian reasons, extended to his other estates. At Numeralla, near Port Welshpool, from 1901, he caused extensive planting on the home estate with eleven different types of fruit trees in the home orchard and all driveways lined with a double row of trees. Salmon would frequently ride down from Essendon, carrying raisins for sustenance, and his daughters during holidays would drive or ride down, taking three to four days and camping on the way.

 

In 1915 Daphne Salmon married Herbert Colclough, who worked as an accountant in her father’s business and also had pastoral interests. The couple had announced their engagement the year before, and Salmon had gifted Daphne about an acre of land to the west of Roseneath on which the couple erected a house.         

 

The Colclough home, Waygara. 137 Woodland Street. Located by Alex Bragiola on the

subdivision plan of Magdala Estate, 1925. Courtesy of Essendon Historical Society Collection. 

 

William Salmon had always kept a day book recording events, rainfall, stock prices and general observations. The volume covering the war years and beyond has survived. It records Percy’s desire to enlist being delayed by the drought, the enlistment of Herbert Colclough and his departure for overseas in 1916. Separately but at the same time, Daphne travelled with her six month old son to the United  Kingdom to be close to her husband.

 

Percy Salmon enlisted in 1916 and embarked for Empire Service.

 

Percy’s enlistment in January 1916 was a news item. The Argus 27 January 1916.

 

Research of Mark Spring and John Permezel. Accessed by Clare Spring from a CD-ROM on 21 November 2017.

The original is to be found on the Melbourne Grammar School's "Our History", School Archives Old

Melbournians War Service Data Base.  An obituary accompanies the image.

 

During his leave from France Lt Percy Salmon visited UK sheep breeding estates and he and his father regularly exchanged letters and photos regarding prime stock. Dan Dossetor was elected an Essendon Councillor in 1917 and immediately supported the Tree Planting movement. His brother, Howard Dossetor, had already been wounded at Gallipoli, discharged and then, after recovery, re-enlisted.

 

On 11 September 1918 William Salmon received a cable from Daphne informing him that Percy had been Killed in Action in France on 1 September. Lorrie Colclough, Bert’s brother had also Died of Wounds the day before.

 

Percy’s last letter dated 29 August, written to Bert, described how Percy and others had carried Lorrie to the dressing station after he was wounded that same day. 

 

France 29/8/18                                                                                         

My Dear Bert the first chance I’ve had of dropping you a note-a pity it is not too pleasant.

Lorrie got a bad bunch yesterday and I thought he was sent for but have report from the dressing station to say that he has an excellent chance.

It was a ….bullet in the ribs-right side-high up-so should be as good as possible in the body

I’ve sent a request in officially to the dressing station for prompt information as to his whereabouts and condition and if serious to communicate with both of you, Daph and myself but don’t think and trust you won’t you will hear. Another chap and self stayed and dressed him and carried him in. My co bearer unfortunately was knocked while we were carrying and died so myself was lucky but then got him along without delay. So he has every chance and was conscious all the time and as brave as you make them, in fact I never found him anything else.

It happened on a rotten daylight patrol I took out over the top and ran into a MG nest that waited on us. Had another killed also.

I have tied all his papers together and left them with the adj with instructions attached to send them to Daph if he has bad luck otherwise they’ll send them along to him

He has just had his L/C promotion endorsed in pay book and Col tells me is recommending him for the 4^th time for honors.

Tell you more when we meet having a fairly rough spin but pushed Fritz 15 kilos since seeing you

Best of luck P W Salmon

 

[Written in pencil]

 

 

William’s comment was Such is Life in 1918.

 

On 4 November 1918 the Essendon Council formally received a letter from William Salmon offering, as a free gift, 8 acres (3.2 ha) of land along the Five Mile Creek, from Woodlands Reserve to Napier Street and the tributary to Woodlands St. The land was to be used for children’s playgrounds and public walks. He further suggested that some of the larger trees should be utilized as memorials for our brave soldiers. A plan accompanied the letter of offer. The value was estimated to be £2000, more when one considered the age of the trees and their maturity. The journalist described the reserve as being like the forest primeval. A motion of appreciation was unanimously passed by Councillors. The newspapers commented that William Salmon, in creating a fitting memorial to Essendon heroes, was giving expression to the community’s pride in the courage and self-sacrifice of the fallen which is the silver lining of the war’s sable cloud.

  

In late 1919 Essendon Council received a presentation album of photographs of the reserve and surrounds. Harold Vernon Frew took, printed and arranged these three dozen images. Frew, b 1882, was an architect who was establishing a reputation in the field of design of labour-saving suburban housing. His practice was at the Austral Chambers at 97 Queen Street. W F Salmon had his accountancy practice on the third floor of this building and his son-in-law Dossetor based his architectural practice in adjoining offices. Frew may have been working in Dossetor’s office prior to them establishing of the firm of Dossetor and Frew. During the 1920s this business took on a number of commercial and larger projects, including that of the 1925 Essendon Circle Theatre in Leake Street.

 

Hoyts Circle Theatre, Leake Street, Essendon.  Commercial Photographic Co, (1940).

State Library of Victoria, Accession no: H2009.177/71.

 

This album was not just a commemorative document but one that suggested how the reserve could be improved and extended.  It incorporated modern notions of town planning, including promoting the then novel idea of establishing Children’s playgrounds.

 

Three children’s playgrounds suggested in the proposed lay out. Image 10 Frew, H., & Sears Studios,

photographer. 1919. City of Essendon Memorial Walks and Children's Playgrounds. SLV H2013.297/1-24.

 

It made clear that the reserve was intended as a Memorial. Arboreal Avenues of Honor were a well-supported form of commemoration post 1918.  

 

An Ever Living Memorial of Essendon’s Men and Women Volunteers

Who Died, Served, Suffered

in the fight for

Civilization, Honor & Empire Safety

1914-1919

Detail from Image 4  Frew, H., & Sears Studios, photographer. 1919. City of Essendon Memorial

Walks and Children's Playgrounds.SLV H2013.297/1-24

 

The full album of photographs captures rare images of the landscape of the era.

 

A woodland dell of the northern portion. Image 18 Frew, H, & Sears Studios, photographer. 1919.

City of Essendon Memorial Walks and Children's Playgrounds. SLV H2013.297/1-24.

 

In 1919 Essendon’s parklands in the district were augmented by Theodore Napier’s gift of 10 acres of virgin bush, now known as Napier Park. This was adjacent to both Woodlands Park and Salmon Reserve and together they constituted a substantial natural recreational asset. That year Council received a Repatriation Department grant of £790 which to be expended on wages for returned soldiers. The Essendon Ward’s portion of the grant was spent on beautifying these parks, it being understood that it was to create a memorial. Under the direction of the Curator of Gardens, John Oliver, the returned men built paths, levelled ground and planted 600 trees to supplement those already growing. A water supply was tapped from the Keilor Road reservoir. Frew’s suggestion of planting avenues of trees from Lincoln Park across the junction, to progress down Carnarvon Road to Woodlands Street and to end at Pascoe Vale Road, should be understood in this context. The Glenbervie Progress Association also approached Theodore Napier to donate a small strip following the Magdala branch of the creek to join up with the land given by Salmon (now the Linear Park).

 

For William Salmon the early part of 1919 was marked by the return of the Colclough family and the birth of the Dossetors’ son in April 1919. Various friends were recorded as returning from service including his doctor Bertram Milne Sutherland.  Salmon had seen quite a lot of him since Sutherland’s return in May 1919 and been under his active care from July 1919. 

 

This shows Bertram Sutherland with Madge Ramsay in background. Dr J Alexander Sutherland, Bert’s father,

was Ramsay’s doctor. Bert appeared in other Ramsay works. Jessie Sutherland was a lifelong friend of 

Nell Ramsay.

An equestrian portrait c 1903 by Hugh Ramsay of  Clydebank, Essendon, oil on canvas 207.0 x 238.2 cm.

Gift of Dr B. Milne Sutherland, 1943, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. This digital record

has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation.

 

In June Salmon returned from a visit to his Werribee orchard, developing a bad bout of bronchitis. Within a month he and other family members were laid low with influenza. Day and night nurses were employed and children sent away for protection. By August William was recording that his recovery was slow and hard and also listed many from his circle that had died in the pandemic.

 

Since the land gift had been announced Salmon had been in discussions with Essendon Council regarding conditions pertaining to the transfer of the gift. He had already sold two parcels of land with Woodlands Street frontages and it appears that the intention was now to gift six acres which covered all land from the south of what is now Salmon Avenue (north side). Illness however prevented the transfer being signed by Mr Salmon. The Council treated the land as their responsibility, erecting and repairing fencing and  hedging and maintaining trees. District land sale plans referred to the area as shady  path reserve and as being a permanent plantation and reserve of trees.

 

 

William and Catherine Salmon, 1905. Willetts, George, photographer. 

 Image courtesy State Library of Victoria Collection, Accession no: H82.96/46    

 

Attached to Kitty Salmon’s will had been a letter written to her husband. In it she had expressed the wish that he take a reasonable time before marrying again. In mid-1920 Salmon took this step. His bride was his doctor’s sister, the 39 year old Annie Laing Reid Sutherland. This marriage was contracted in unusual circumstances. It was later said that Salmon had his eye on Lanie for some time but had not been able to make headway. On an outing to Werribee he proposed and she accepted. The engagement was announced to the family who appeared to humor him. A fortnight later Madge Salmon recorded in the diary Pater took a very bad turn. Acute heart and kidney trouble. Doctor gave no hope. There were full time nurses and Salmon was receiving morphia daily.

 

The marriage went ahead with Salmon in bed. Dr Sutherland said he personally disapproved but that Salmon had said the loneliness of the house is killing me and seemed to understand what was happening. Dr Sutherland’s statements were backed up by the Minister officiating at the marriage. Salmon’s daughter Madge, the Dossetors and Colcloughs disapproved, absented themselves from the house and said Salmon was delirious. A week later William was said to have no memory of the ceremony. The new Mrs Salmon moved into the house and her husband rallied. Madge Salmon also returned.  She later recorded in the diary Pater better and married again on 9 June 1920. In August and September great strides are recorded and Salmon was doing a great deal of motoring and attending to business from home. At this time he finalized the sale of the last of the Chaffey holdings to the Soldier Settlement Scheme.  By the end of the year however he was again dangerously ill and requiring nursing. By 1921 he was greatly improved going out for walks and motoring. By early 1922 he resigned from business because of ill health.

 

In September 1923 Salmon died, aged 70 years. The will that applied to his estate was that made on the 22 June 1920, two weeks after his marriage. The estate of nearly £70,000 was mainly divided between his three daughters and Percy’s widow and child. The Roseneath land was 14 acres in extent and valued at £7500. Annie Salmon had been left a £300 lump sum and £150 a year for life. She continued living at Roseneath. Annie approached the family for a greater settlement indicating that she was prepared to take court action if refused. The family responded with a letter saying she had forced herself upon the family for monetary gain and was guilty of a breach of faith. Whatever claim you may make will be strenuously opposed and the full sordid details will be made public. She did take Supreme Court action and in July 1924 newspapers across the country reported details of the marriage and the personalities involved. Her claim to increase her allowance by a factor of five was rejected but she was granted an extra £100 pa with the estate paying all costs.

 

Dan and Catherine Dossetor had, since March 1923, been on a tour of the UK and USA and did not return till October 1923. He had lost his position as Councillor during his absence.

 

 

Daniel Robert Dossetor   1929 Ancestry.com. Who’s Who in Australia, 1921-1950

  (database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.  1929

 

In addition to being one of the executors Dossetor was given specific power regarding the gift of land. In the will it was stated:

 

I direct my trustees to present and give to the Mayor, Councillors and citizens of the City of Essendon for the use and enjoyment of the citizens of that city the land planted with trees by me in the said city and I direct that the said Daniel Robert Dossetor shall settle the actual land and the areas thereof to be so presented.

 

The family then prepared to subdivide and sell the estate. Council attempted to negotiate with the Executors who had refused to sign the transfer under conditions set out in the agreement with Salmon. Essendon Council rejected the contention that they should pay the £1200 cost of road making the streets abutting the land. It was felt that Essendon Ward was now well endowed with parkland and was not entitled to so much of a share of Council’s budget.

 

 Roseneath Estate subdivision plan October 1924.

Image courtesy of Alex Bragiola. Courtesy of Essendon Historical Society Collection.   

 

In the plan that advertised the sale it can be seen that the executors then subdivided a section on the southern part of the new street Salmon Avenue. These 12 lots, an  area of two  acres, was then lost to the Salmon Reserve. Additionally, in 1924, the land of  one acre between the  Colclough residence and the north-south portion of Salmon Avenue was transferred to Herbert Colclough. With the subdivision of this into eight lots the vista of the reserve across to Woodlands Park was lost. Dossetor also in 1924 subdivided his property on the estate. In 1926, accompanied by Madge, both families moved from Essendon to houses in Kew to reside within walking distance of each other. Annie Salmon was still living at Roseneath when in 1924 she paid £300 for Lot 14A of the subdivision, a smaller block next to that of the mansion house.

 

 One of the lost views from Salmon Reserve looking westward. The Essendon Hotel (now Punt Hill Hotel)  top right. The broken ground in the centre is the gully through which ran the Five Mile Creek.  Page 26 Frew, H, & Sears Studios, photographer. 1919. City of Essendon Memorial Walks and Children's Playgrounds. State Library of Victoria, H2013.297/1-24.

 

Essendon Council continued to try and have the reserve transferred to the corporation. They were aware that in maintaining and improving the land they were acting illegally as it was not Council property. In May 1929 the Council received a subdivision plan for the Salmon estate which seemed to revoke the gift. They took legal counsel regarding this and amended plans were submitted. Council then consulted their solicitor on behalf of the people interested in the Salmon Avenue subdivision. A number of affidavits were made re the representations at the time of the auction by the vendors describing it as being set aside as a public park. There was unease about the amount the Council was spending on legal advice re this matter. The Depression was causing the Council to lay off staff and cut back on costs and further expenditure regarding the land was hard to justify. In December 1929 Councillors decided to consult with the owners who purchased at auction in Salmon Avenue and obtain instructions. In early 1930 the Council Surveyor reported on the new subdivision plan. All fifteen proposed lots had one hundred foot frontages which was over the minimum width required (but which lent itself to later division) Most of the blocks appear to have fronted Salmon Avenue but one, along the creek opposite Wright Street, was proposed for land endorsed as Reserved for Public Purposes. However, from a surveying point of view, all requirements had been met.

 

In May 1930 up to 100 ratepayers attended a special meeting of Essendon Council. They were residents of Salmon Avenue and its neighborhood and their request was that the Council not seal the plan of subdivision submitted by the executors of the Salmon estate. The Glenbervie Progress Association detailed the history of the gift of the land. This was followed by explanations from various Councillors and the Council’s solicitor. The whole of correspondence pointed to an agreement being reached with Salmon, however he died prior to signing. Five of the twelve Coucillors had been on the Council when the gift was announced and they had strong recollections of what had transpired. They refuted correspondence which stated that the land in question was only ever intended to extend for one chain (22 yards, 20 metres) in width adjacent to the creek.The Councillors affirmed that they would not seal the plan until a Court compelled them to do so (in effect requiring the Salmon trustees to take legal action). Councillors were prepared to fight to the last ditch.

 

Ward Councilors and the Trustees then had extensive discussions. In mid-August an amended plan was submitted. It was agreed that Council would pay £100. This would cover the extension of Schofield Street north of the creek, the western portion  of the Reserve and land along Salmon Avenue (tennis courts were of part of this ). The gift of land was to be transferred. The Trustees gained approval for the sale of lots between Schofield Street and Salmon Avenue and in the new section of the latter. A year later, 31 August 1931, the Titles Office actioned the plan requesting Council approval of the development of five lots, of extension of Schofield Street and the small roadway north west linking Salmon Avenue with Woodlands Park.  On 5 January 1932 the land title shows the transfer:

 

As to part to the Mayor, Councillors and Citizens of Essendon an area of 4 acres, one rood and 30 perches.

 

Fourteen years after the gift was announced the reserve belonged to the people of Essendon. With the land purchased by the Council it was 4.83 acres (1.9 ha) in extent. It was no longer broad acres merging into Woodland Park but followed an irregular serpentine pattern.

 

Land Title May 1932 sketch of the transferred land. Note the section corner of Schofield Street

extension and Salmon Avenue that was acquired by purchase. Landata: Vol 5769 Folio 1153760.

 

Salmon Reserve, 2021. Courtesy of Google Maps.

 

Council were not yet out of the woods as in mid-1932 the Titles Office demanded Essendon take over responsibility for Schofield Street and the north-south portion of Salmon Avenue which had previously been private roads. This involved the Council paying over a hundred pounds for street lighting and paving. The reserve never contained a playground or a memorial.

 

Annie Salmon moved from Roseneath to live with her brother. After his marriage she, her mother and sister moved into an apartment in Remuera in Leslie Road. There she cared for her mother during Christina Sutherland’s long life (1857-1953) and supported her sister, Jessie, who was socially and politically active. Annie never built on her Woodlands Street land but subdivided and sold. She survived all her step children, dying in 1959. During the thirty-five years of her widowhood she had drawn nearly £9000 in her allowance. She left an estate £4000 to her sister and nieces.

 

Annie Salmon’s signature on the contract to purchase the Woodlands

Street block. She described herself as wife of W F Salmon of Roseneath.

 

Salmon Reserve, after 90 years in community ownership, although half the size of what was intended, continues to delight, comfort and relax the citizens of Essendon.

 

Peaceful Salmon Reserve, 2020. Photographer: Marilyn Kenny.

 

Salmon Reserve, 2020.  Photographer: Marilyn Kenny.

 

M Kenny ©2021

 

Acknowledgements. Many thanks to Alex Bragiola for the images and information he consistently supplied for this article. Thanks also to Elisabeth O'Sullivan, Access Service Officer at PROV for locating the Essendon Council minutes and Jessica Gigliotti at Moonee Valley Council for advice on the current land holdings.

 

Clare Spring generously shared all her research on the Salmon family, granted access Salmon’s earlier diary and permission to quote from this.

 

Thank you also to Bob Mackay for his helpful discussions on the subject.

 

Note Salmon Reserve and William Frederick Salmon have no connection with Phillip Melville Salmon (1876-1955) who lived in Park Street, Moonee Ponds and had a Puckle Street drapery business. P M Salmon was an Aberfeldie Ward Essendon City Councillor 1922-1955 and was the son of Phillip Melville Salmon MLA for Port Melbourne, whose family had their origins in far north east United Kingdom.

 

References

Allen T G.      Numeralla: the property of W.F. Salmon and Rossiter Bros. Hedley, South Gippsland 1898-1928, Yarram: 1992

Frew H. & Sears Studios City of Essendon Memorial Walks and Children's Playgrounds. Frew H. & Sears Studios, photographer.

                     (1919). State Library of Victoria Collection

Frost Lenore  Fine Homes of Essendon and Flemington 1846-1880. Essendon Historical Society, Moonee Ponds: 2010.

Karem Woodcraft web site  Brochure Edition 11 Product pdf.  History of the business started by Daniel Robert Dossetor, pp 24-25.

                     Sighted 9 May 2021.

Melbourne Grammar School Archives web site

National Archives Australia Service Records

Newspapers Essendon Gazette, Age, Argus,

Public Record Office Victoria: Will and Probate, Land Titles, VPRS 4944 Essendon Council Minutes, VPRS 7916 Essendon Council Public Works and Parks and Gardens Committees Minutes

Mildura Settlement: report of the Mildura Royal Commission Melbourne: Robt. S. Brain, Government Printer, 1896

Salmon W Diary 1879. Transcribed by E R Spring. Scanned by Clare Spring 30 January 2018

Salmon, W. (1880). Papers, 1880-1986. (manuscript). State Library Victoria Accession no: MS 12254 Includes Rainfall Record

               Book 4 as transcribed by Margaret Spring.

Widdowson D Down the Drain, Lost Tributaries of the Moonee Ponds Creek 

Werribee Irrigation Colony 

Wyndham Our Story Eastcott Orchard, Tarneit Road, Tarneit

White Joseph  Poowong, the first 30 years : the story of its early history.   Brunswick, Q, J White, 1976.