Time-warp Tuesday - 16 April 2024

Published on Tuesday, 16 April 2024 at 9:37:00 AM

This #TimeWarpTuesday we look back to the last years of the 1890's and introduce you to some of the faces of men whose names are scattered through the foundations of our Town. Some names will be familiar because of the streets you travel down, others you may have heard somewhere, and some you might not know at all. But they all deserve to be known.

Municipal History 101  

Local government in the area we know as the Town of Victoria Park, has had three prior iterations: 

    • Victoria Park Roads Board District: 18 May 1894 – 29 April 1897 
    • Victoria Park Municipal Council: 30 April 1897 – November 1917 
    • City of Perth: with Victoria Park, Carlisle, East Victoria Park and Heirisson as Wards – November 1917 – 31 June 1994 
    • Town of Victoria Park: 1 July 1994 – Ongoing 

Many men and also women over the 130 years since the establishment of the Victoria Park Roads Board, have volunteered their time and worked hard, contributing their talents, knowledge, skills and determination to make this area of Perth, Western Australia a great place to live. As throughout all time, mistakes were made, but more good came than bad, as is evident through the thriving community that is the Town today.

The first Mayor of the Municipality of Victoria Park was Robert Thompson McMASTER, a famed architect, horse breeder and veteran of the Boer War. McMaster made an indelible mark on the community. McMaster Street, running from Memorial Gardens on Albany Highway, through to Berwick Street, is named in his honour. A fitting tribute given his contribution to the local community, and the fact that at the Berwick Street end of McMaster Street, is the house that Robert and his wife Frances called home. A home that was designed by McMaster himself. The other end of this street is marked by Memorial Gardens, the tribute to all men and women who have served and died for our country and the freedoms we all hold dear. You can read more of McMaster’s story in his entry in the Victoria Park Dictionary of Biography.

Fletcher Park, in Carlisle, was named in honour of Thomas Henry FLETCHER, a councillor who was widely loved by the community, he lived in Raleigh Street, and he was so admired that a working bee of local community members helped build his house.

Jess FLETCHER (nee SCOTT) and Thomas Henry FLETCHER, possibly on the occasion of their wedding 29 October 1914. 
Courtesy of John Gannaway.

A working bee during the building of the Fletcher's home at 97 Raleigh Street, Carlisle, circa 1911-1914. Thomas Henry FLETCHER, is the man on his haunches, middle left with hat, cigarette in mouth and a hammer in his right hand. 
Courtesy of John Gannaway.

 

Rushton, Harper and Meagher Streets were named for Mayors of Victoria Park and City of Perth. Sir Thomas William Meagher was a medical doctor whose care was relied and trusted upon by many in the community of Victoria Park before he continued into public life of a different sort to medicine.

G.O. Edwards Park was named for dedicated Town Clerk of the City of Perth, George Oswell “Ossie” EDWARDS. Ossie Edwards was Town Clerk from 1966-1981 and worked tirelessly for the betterment of the area, being also a strong proponent of the greening of the City and establishing parks and gardens for all the community to enjoy and relax in.

A community is only as strong as its leaders and the inspiration they provide through the way they live their lives and the way that they give back to their community. Victoria Park has a long heritage of good men and women to step forward and lead the community through good times and bad. And may it always be so.

We have put together both alphabetical and chronological lists of all those who have served in an office within the four local government authorities of the last 130 years. These lists are available to discover on the Municipal History page on the Library’s website: https://www.victoriaparklibrary.wa.gov.au/local-history/victoria-park-people/municipal-history.aspx. We are constantly looking to add to this page and the others in the Local History section and are working to add as much information and photographs as we can. If you can help, please get in touch. We would be most happy to scan and return originals to you. If you have something you’d like to share, please reach out. You can get in touch with us via Ph: 08 9373 5500, E: vicparklibrary@vicpark.wa.gov.au, or by coming in.

 

LoveVicPark  #VictoriaParkDictionaryofBiography  #MunicipalHistory 

Councillor and Mayor, Hugh George DUNCAN.
Source: 1907 'MR. H. G. DUNCAN.', Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), 7 December, p. 27. , viewed 16 Apr 2024, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37562163

A beautiful illuminated certificate given to Councillor Frederick Austerberry as a testament to his faithful service as a Councillor for the Central Ward of the Municipality of Victoria Park from 1909-1912.
Courtesy Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service.

Councillor Rowena Skinner. Town of Victoria Park Annual Report, 1997-1998.

Councillor John Macmillan. Town of Victoria Park Annual Report, 1997-1998.

Councillor Claire Anderson. Town of Victoria Park Annual Report, 2009-2010.

Town Clerk, George Oswell ‘Ossie’ Edwards. Town Clerk from 1966-1981. Courtesy Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service.

Back to All News