Published on Tuesday, 16 December 2025 at 11:09:56 AM
Happy #TimeWarpTuesday everyone. Today we bring you a deeper look into the photographs entered into the 2025 Local History Awards by Renae Carey.
Renae interviewed her partner’s grandmother, Valmai Tilbrook and told her story in poetic lines in the Personal Memoirs category. Renae’s entry was also illustrated with many beautiful images from Val’s life in East Victoria Park. Over the coming weeks, we will feature the 16 photographs and their descriptions as entered by Renae, but today we begin with Val as a baby and as a young school girl.
The Photographic Memories Category
Entrants to the category can be from any time period in history, they must be taken in the Town of Victoria Park and not be photographs already held in the Town of Victoria Park Local History Collection. For each photograph entered the entrant is required to answer some set questions about the photograph including details on who is in the photograph and any other additional information such as whey the photograph was taken (if known) and the location of the photograph etc.
Today we bring to you five of the photographs entered, and here after described by Renae Carey.
1. ‘Early Days of Existence in East Victoria Park’
Name of the person who took the photograph(s), if known?
Hilda Bruce (mother of baby) or Aunty Jessie (Hilda's friend)
Date when it was taken:
23/11/1939
Where was it taken?
At the front of 178 Hubert Street, East Victoria Park. The residence of Hilda's younger sister Mavis. Her Son was the stripped shirt boy in the co-ed Edward Millen School class photo.
Who is in the photograph?
Valmai Tilbrook nee Bruce around 6-7 months old wearing a bonnet, little baby booties and a dress.
In which direction was the photograph taken?
North-west
Do you know what is in the background?
Possibly limestone pillars, front verandah, rendered brick house with stained glass and wooden bottom of house. Tiled awning and property built 1937. 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom property
Do you know why the photograph was taken?
For pleasure
What additional information can you give about this photograph?
One of the more modern properties of the time. A private maternity hospital a few houses down called St Ives, now a block of flats.
What condition is your photograph in? (several options available to choose from)
Fair
Has this photograph been enhanced or altered? No
Does your photograph have a title? If yes, please include below:
Early days of existence in East Victoria Park.
PH00463-03 Early days of existence in East Victoria Park
Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service.
2. ‘Little Dreams in East Victoria Park’
Name of the person who took the photograph(s), if known?
Hilda Bruce or Marvis Bruce
Date when it was taken: 21/07/1942
Where was it taken?
Back of 178 Hubert Street, East Victoria Park
Who is in the photograph?
Valmai Bruce around 3-4 years old
In which direction was the photograph taken? More east
Do you know what is in the background?
Ordinary timber slats, white weatherboard or asbestos, timber boundary fence, footpath.
Do you know why the photograph was taken? For pleasure
What additional information can you give about this photograph? House built 1937
What condition is your photograph in? (several options available to choose from): Excellent
Has this photograph been enhanced or altered? No
Does your photograph have a title? If yes, please include below:
Little dreams in East Victoria Park
PH00463-01 Little dreams in East Victoria Park
Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service.
3. ‘Girls of the 2nd Standard, Edward Millen School’
Name of the person who took the photograph(s), if known?
Likely the teacher or principal Ms. Hill
Date when it was taken: 08/04/1947
Where was it taken?
Rear of Edward Millen School Building
Who is in the photograph?
Girls of second standard at Edward Millen School.
Standing back row on the right is Valmai nee Bruce aged 8.
In the photograph (no order)
Val, Pat Roach of the commercial Chamberlain Tractor family, Margaret Mcpherson, Kay, Unknown, Judy, Maxine, Caroline and June.
In which direction was the photograph taken? South- west
Do you know what is in the background?
Rear of the Edward Millen which stands today as Carson Street school. Red brick bottom with white/ cream rendered walls and french windows that all remain as form today. Single Storey, inter-war classical style building.
Do you know why the photograph was taken?
Gendered class room photo of girls from the second standard at Edward Millen in 1947
What condition is your photograph in? (several options available to choose from): Good
Has this photograph been enhanced or altered? No
Does your photograph have a title? If yes, please include below:
Girls of the 2nd Standard, Edward Millen School
PH00463-08 Girls of the 2nd Standard, Edward Millen School
Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service.
4. ‘1st and 2nd Standard, Children of Edward Millen School’
Name of the person who took the photograph(s), if known?
Presumably the teacher (Miss Kutz?) or the school Principal Miss Hill.
Date when it was taken: 15/04/1947
Where was it taken?
Back of the building at Edward Millen School, an infant school at the time, and currently the Carson Street School.
Who is in the photograph?
First row, sitting on the floor likely the 1st standard students as the boy in the stripped shirt on the right of the photo at the very end is Valmai nee Bruce's cousin who was in the year below.
Pat nee Roach is third from the right and lived on Briggs Street with her father, a machinery operator. She was in second Standard with Val which likely makes the top 2 rows.
Valmai nee Bruce is standing up on the left with a dress and her hair tied up in a pony tail. Another student identified at the front, sitting down with curly hair is Beverley Gamble.
In which direction was the photograph taken?
South West towards what would now be East and Co Townhouses but at the time, likely a fence.
Do you know what is in the background?
The rear of the building of Edward Millen School which stands today in very similar form as Carson Street School. The back carpark today, shows the same exposed brick bottom and white rendered walls with french style windows as shown in the photo. The grassed area the students are standing on in the photograph also remains today, separated from the carpark by a mesh fence.
Do you know why the photograph was taken?
Co-ed classroom photo of Standard 1 and 2 of Edward Millen School.
What additional information can you give about this photograph?
Edward Millen sits behind Edward Millen House, which might of been in the line of the site for these children. At the time, it was blocked from the public and used by the military. Edward Millen also had 1st bubs, the first level of education at the time, but they are not included in this image so they may or may not have their own class room photo available.
What condition is your photograph in? (several options available to choose from): Excellent
Does your photograph have a title? If yes, please include below:
1st and 2nd standard children at Edward Millen School
PH00463-09 1st and 2nd Standard, Children of Edward Millen School
Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service.
5. ‘Faces of the 5th Standard, East Victoria Park’
Name of the person who took the photograph(s), if known?
The school photographer, likely in this instance the Teacher.
Date when it was taken: 15/03/1950
Where was it taken?
Likely on bitumen at the original East Victoria Park Primary school. This is now the carpark belonging to Park Centre, located opposite John Macmillan Park public toilet on Sussex Street North, East Victoria Park.
Who is in the photograph?
Boys and girls who made up the 5th standard of East Victoria Park Primary School.
This school would only go up to 6th standard before 7th would become high school students.
Some names can be identified from this image and consisted of children whose parents had commercial or residential interest in the area, but could live up to 2 miles away.
Valmai Tilbrook nee Bruce herself (second row from the top, 3 students from the left), would travel a mile or so from Milford Avenue by tram to attend.
Teacher seemingly absent.
In which direction was the photograph taken?
Assumingly facing Albany highway but direction unsure. If so, North-east.
Do you know what is in the background?
A line of trees, for which there were not an awful amount at this time. What appears to be a demountable classroom in the middle as East Victoria Park sat on extensive land that shared use for the school with a kindy and place for boys to cut wood to burn.
Do you know why the photograph was taken?
Classroom photo in 1950 for the 58 children in attendance on this day, at East Victoria Park Primary School (original)
What additional information can you give about this photograph?
Students at this school had plenty of land to play, but would do our sporting and exercise across the road at John Macmillan Park.
What condition is your photograph in? (several options available to choose from): Good
Has this photograph been enhanced or altered? No
Does your photograph have a title? If yes, please include below:
Faces of the 5th Standard, East Victoria Park
PH00463-10 Faces of the 5th Standard, East Victoria Park
Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service.
-End of Description of Photographs-
The Judges awarded First prize to one of Renae’s entries, but that photograph will feature later. We hope today that you have enjoyed looking back to childhood in East Victoria Park in the 1940’s.
Have you got an old photo or two you’d like to share? Or perhaps you’ve taken a photo in more recent times that showcases part of Victoria Park in some way? We would love to see it. All year around we are happy to receive donations and can always scan and return originals as required. You may also like to get ready and prepare an entry for the 2027 Local History Awards. Either way, I hope you feel encouraged to protect, conserve and share our wonderful stories.
We Need You to help preserve our local history, so please consider how you can get involved…
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via telephone: 08 9373 5500, email: vicparklibrary@vicpark.wa.gov.au, by mail: PO Box 1109, East Victoria Park WA 6981 or in person at 27 Sussex Street, East Victoria Park.
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