Looking Back - Down memory lane – just for a short while

By Leo Billington

History can be unearthed in the most innocuous of places, just when you least expect it.

Take a press release from the Morwell Advertiser, Thursday January 23, 1958. Headlines “yelled forth”:

Eleven shires back university claim

“Victoria’s proposed second university should be established in Gippsland” concluded 11 West Gippsland municipalities at a conference in Warragul on Friday January 17, 1958.

Morwell Shire President, Cr. A. L Hare, who attended with Cr. A. W Ronald, suggested a site could be found at Trafalgar.

Councillor Hare had lived in Morwell for many years, and considered Warragul was “too close to Melbourne.” He reckoned a 50 acre site could be found at Trafalgar. Google explains Monash University was established by an Act of the Victorian Parliament in May, 1958 and first opened its doors to about 350 students in March 1961.

Local news in early 1958 was truly exciting. A second university and perhaps some preliminary discussions about Atomic Power. While difficult to read, the headlines at least told what was on the minds of others (The Morwell Advertiser, Monday February 17, 1958).

Atomic Energy – Latrobe Valley

The Government and the Atomic Energy Commission view atomic power in the light of practical realities, and today all aspects of national development must be measured in terms of practical economics, said Senator W. H Spooner, M M, Minister of National Development, when opening the Atomic Exhibition at Morwell this afternoon (February 17).

Nuclear power in Australia must be a paying proposition. For this reason I foresee nuclear power stations as being complementary to, and not competing with coal-fired stations in regions such as this for many years to come.

The editorial does say the Morwell Chamber of Commerce was a sponsor of this exhibition together with the Morwell Shire Council and state government.

Housing

However, time moves onward. Some houses in Morwell were comparatively cheap back in the early 1950s. The accompanying receipt is for a house relocated in 1953 from near the Tarwin - George Street intersection, the former Maples furniture store site, to its current location.

What a bargain, perhaps. Cost was £1936.19.6 and £ 50 deposit paid beforehand. Morwell business entity, Kelly Bros (Brothers) sold the house when it was repositioned.

As mentioned above, history can be found in the most innocuous of places; the receipt was found folded in an old 1960’s Devondale ice cream tin.

One house that graced Morwell was at number 4 Jane Street, residence of Mary and John Hoyle. Its’ standout architectural features were not repeated in other Morwell houses. Mr and Mrs Hoyle settled in Morwell in 1890, and established his business as a land and general commission agent, and a little later became a sworn valuator and in this respect his services were in much demand.

The Latrobe Valley Express (Thursday October 6, 1983) reported that Morwell Shire Council debated whether or not to allow a demolition permit for the house, known by some as a haunted house. Sadly, Council voted accordingly and Mary and John were “erased” until their unmarked grave at the Hazelwood Cemetery was discovered.

Stan Winchester was a popular builder during the 1940s. Stan’s daughter recalls he had built about 100+ plus houses in the area. The first was the Church of England rectory, corner of Latrobe Road and Buckley Street. He and his brother-in-law Percy Almond signed the building contract on the day Norma Benn and Stan were married, August 5, 1935. Norma’s brother was the Vicar at the time (Archdeacon L.W.A. Benn) which (according to family) may have been how they were given the work.

With the help of parishioners Stan also built the Church of England building, St Phillips, in Barry Street, Morwell and the original St Aidans Church building in Newborough. Now both church buildings are gone.

Stan built his family home, named ‘Fairleigh’, being a fine brick home displaying his attention to detail. Prior to Stan’s employment as building and surveyor inspector for Morwell Shire, this role was held by Mr.J. W. F.Connan. 

Readers may recall the former Del Spana motel (demolished in October 2008) at the corner of Buckley and Church Streets. That corner once housed the Smith family albeit with a crumbling veranda and picket fence. They owned a large block of land, and a portion was later sold to the Country Fire Authority for Morwell’s second fire station (next to today’s Presbyterian Church).

To finish, an accompanying picture shows a lonely house, with its neighbour, basically a twin, in Monash Street, Morwell. Note the absence of a front fence and lawn. Nonetheless, a family of three was pleased to obtain accommodation in December 1951 as they settled into the Australian “way of life”.