People know of the existence and location of the Mordialloc Bridge Hotel, but not all are familiar with the man who first built a two roomed pub on the site. William Coleman arrived in Melbourne in 1841 as a twenty one year old and initially resided in Collingwood where he became a councillor, married, and commenced his family. Moving to Mordialloc, he gained a beer licence in 1868 and built a more substantial hotel in 1870. He was also committed to investing in land throughout Melbourne and subsequently died a very rich man.
The Stookes, with family history records going back to the time of Oliver Cromwell, came to Melbourne in the late 1840s and early 1850s seeking new opportunities.
Neil Follett recalls information told to him by Yoland, his sister, about the Braeside State School. He joined the school aged six years in 1950, staying for one year before transferring to Mentone.
The small rural school, originally called the Mordialloc Settlement School, was built in 1915 in response to local families demands that such a facility be provided for their children. They deemed it unsatisfactory that their children should have to wade through water to attend Mordialloc Primary School and sit in class with wet feet. Named Braeside State School in 1925, it was closed in 1976 due to lack of pupils.
Leo Gamble completes his story of the Friends of the Mentone Station Gardens with ‘Winning More Friends’. There he takes the story up to 2018, noting the developments of the gardens, the actions to prevent the building of six storey apartments overlooking the railway line, the grand sausage sizzle of 2014, and the new concerns associated with the crossing removal at Balcombe Road, Mentone.
An example where local residents protested at actions being undertaken in their community. Deceased patients from the new Heatherton Sanatorium were being buried at the Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery against a promise by the Board of Health that this would not occur. Residents were concerned about the possible spread of the disease, particularly with the school next door to the cemetery.
Leo Gamble writes of the origins of the Friends of Mentone Station Gardens and when the gardens existence was threatened by a proposal to create a transport interchange. Politicians became involved and questions were asked in parliament, local residents rallied to fight for the preservation of trees and gardens at Mentone station and worked to enhance the station precinct.
Formed in 1900 by a keen group of local men, it became a club that fostered recruitments in the First World War. Morris tubes were used to modify normal government issued rifles, allowing the use of miniature ranges and cheaper cartridges in practice. They had shooting ranges set up in Cheltenham Park and Charman Road, Cheltenham at different times.
Leo Gamble tells of how a swampy area in Mentone, prone to flooding, was converted into an athletics training track and why it was named Dolamore. It was where, in 1965, Ron Clarke ran a world record for the ten mile event, completing the run in 47 minutes 12.8 seconds. Today it continues to be the home of the Mentone Little Athletics Club, the Mentone Athletics Club, and the Mentone Masters,.
Leo Gamble tells of the early years of the Mentone Station, the creation of the subway, fire and tragedy, and the arrival of electric trains. Can you remember the ‘red rattlers’?
