The story of the house known as Terregles at 79 Warrigal Rd, Surrey Hills started with the sale of land in the Subdivision of Allotment 40, Parish of Nunawading in 1881 which comprised 17 lots of which lots 6 and 7 would eventually be where Terregles was built in 1889.
In the ‘City of Whitehorse Heritage Review: Building Citations,1999’ that uses ‘Andrew C Ward & Associates City of Box Hill Heritage and Conservation Study 1990’ as a source mentions:
‘In 1887, Henry Bloomfield owned land on this site. It remained vacant the following year. In 1889 Robert Mills, General Manager of James McEwan & C0., owned and occupied a brick house known as Terreglea on Lot 7 Section 40 of the original Catholic Reserve, now the east side of Warrigal Road between Scottsdale and Chester Streets’. Henry Blomfield owned the land for two years but he did not live there.
The house does not appear to be under threat but appears on this website due to its cultural and historical significance to Surrey Hills and Whitehorse.
Henry Blomfield (also spelt Bloomfield) was born in 1837 in Westminster in England; he was the son of John and Miriam Blomfield (nee Felton). Henry followed in his father’s footsteps and became a ‘sadler’.
In 1859 Henry Blomfield married Jane Dupree; she was the daughter of James and Marion Dupree (nee Wright). At the time of his marriage Henry’s occupation is listed as ‘piano forte maker’. In the same year Henry and Jane sailed to Melbourne onboard the Black Swan. On the passenger list Henry’s occupation was listed as ‘cabinet maker’. In Melbourne they had three children Lilian, Alice and Miriam.
In 1861 Henry Blomfield and Mark Denne formed the clothes manufacturing firm of Denne and Blomfield that was located at 95 Fitzroy St in Fitzroy, the company later moved to 85 Fitzroy St.
Business must have been good as an advertisement for staff in 1866 in The Argus newspaper mentions:
‘ABOUT 50 good CRIMEAN SHIRT FINISHERS WANTED, constant work, bring written references H Blomfield, 85 Fitzroy street.’
The Crimean shirt was a wide, flannel, buttonless long-sleeved shirt with a collar and V-neck, came in blue and red and was worn by labourers; it became popular during the Crimean War (1853 to 1856).
In 1869 as a member of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows Henry became involved in the organisation of theatrical events. Henry must have enjoyed organising and participating in theatrical events as this led to him being engaged to sing at various venues around Melbourne. After trying his hand at singing and organising events Henry went into managing travelling theatrical groups such as the New York Minstrels from the United States. The Minstrels performed at a number of venues including the Masonic Hall in Maldon and the Berwick State School.
Henry must have been respected and liked by the local community as it was reported in The Age newspaper in 1870 ‘A grand concert is to be given at the Polytechnic Hall to-night for the benefit of Henry Blomfield’.
In 1875 Henry was declared insolvent due to ‘Falling off in business and want of employment. Liabilities £1378, assets £343’.
In 1876 Henry is listed on Liddy’s Theatrical Directory as ‘Manager Popular Entertainments’.
In 1878 Jane Blomfield filed for divorce on the grounds of ‘adultery’. Henry Blomfield had been having an affair with Kate Anderson ‘one of his workgirls’ since 1875. Henry and Kate had been living together since 1876 in South Melbourne. In 1879 they had their first child Henry Anderson before they were married in 1880. They had seven more children, Elsie, Lillian, Percy, Leonard, Harold and David and Jessie who did not live past infancy.
In the divorce proceedings Jane Blomfield mentioned:
‘when he failed in business and then entered upon the profession of a public singer in which a vocation he was engaged in for some time the duration of which is unknown to the petitioner. Since the month of November one thousand eight hundred and seventy seven he has been and still is working as a clothing cutter in Melbourne’. In September 1879 Jane Blomfield was granted a divorce.
By December 1881 it appears that Henry was back in business as he was advertising for staff in The Age newspaper ‘BLOMFIELD’S Mole Factory, Sackville-st., next Tabernacle. – Machinists, Tackers, Buttonholders; our old employees preferred’. The ‘Mole’ was short for Moleskin.
In 1885 the Insolvency Court issued Henry with a ‘certificate of discharge’ for paying off his debts.
In 1887 Henry was presented with a gold Waltham watch by his employees in celebration of his fiftieth birthday. The watch had the following inscription ‘Presented to H. Bloomfield, Esq. by his employees and friends, as a token of respect and esteem on his fiftieth birthday, October 19th, 1887’. Also in the same year Henry bought land where Terregles is currently located. In the City of Whitehorse Heritage Review: Building Citations,1999 that uses Andrew C Ward & Associates City of Box Hill Heritage and Conservation Study 1990 as a source mentions:
‘In 1887, Henry Bloomfield owned land on this site. It remained vacant the following year. In 1889 Robert Mills, General Manager of James McEwan & C0., owned and occupied a brick house known as Terreglea on Lot 7 Section 40 of the original Catholic Reserve, now the east side of Warrigal Road between Scottsdale and Chester Streets’. Henry Blomfield owned the land for two years but he did not live there.
In 1888 Henry Blomfield became the secretary of the Upper Yarra Railway League. The league was formed in 1867 at a meeting at the Old England Hotel in Heidelberg that was reported in The Argus newspaper mentions ‘Mr G Studley moved the first resolution, which stated that it was advisable that a railway league be formed, to be called the Upper Yarra Railway League, for the purpose of taking united action in urging upon Government the claims of the districts of East Collingwood, Fitzroy, Northcote, Alphington, Heidelberg, Templestowe, Eltham, Lilydale, Queenstown, Healesville, and all other places enroute to Gipps Land to railway accommodation’. In May 1888 the first section of the Hurstbridge line opened between Victoria Park (known as Collingwood at this time) and Heidelberg comprised what was later known as the Inner Circle line, this connection was opened at the same time. It appears that the leagues proposal was the catalyst for the construction of what eventually became known as the Hurstbridge Line.
In 1889 councillor Thomas Ewart of the Shire of Upper Yarra died and Henry Blomfield was nominated and elected as his replacement. In 1891 Henry leased 310 acres of land near Warburton.
In 1894 Henry was charged with ‘larceny as a bailee’ for stealing 92 pairs of knickerbockers and 14 yards of moleskin which belonged to Messrs Paterson, Laing and Bruce. Henry was convicted and sentenced to three months imprisonment. According to section 65 of the Crimes Act 1890 - ‘Whosoever being a bailee of any property shall fraudulently take or convert the same to his own use or the use of any person other than the owner thereof, although he shall not break bulk or otherwise determine the bailment, shall be guilty of larceny’.
A little about the firm of Paterson, Laing and Bruce.
The firm of Paterson, Laing and Bruce was first established as J.C Young in Geelong in 1850 by John Charles Young. In 1852 after gold was discovered in Ballarat a branch of J.C. Young was opened and managed by John Paterson. In the 1850s, operations were moved to Melbourne, where Paterson was admitted as partner in the company.
In 1860 John C Young retired and the company was renamed Paterson, Palmer and Co, changing again in 1878, to become Paterson, Laing and Bruce, with John Bruce, as its co-founder.
As a driving force behind Paterson Laing and Bruce, John Bruce oversaw the development of the company into one of the major import and soft good companies in Victoria. By 1883 the Paterson, Laing and Bruce Flinders Lane warehouse was the largest in Victoria.
In 1966 Paterson, Laing & Bruce amalgamated with its long-time competitor Robert Reid & Co and was renamed Paterson, Reid & Bruce.
In 1902 Henry Blomfield was the manager of the Ada Willoughby Comedy Company. It appears that the company was going to put on a play called The Wrong Mrs Wright. In August of the same year, it was reported in The Herald newspaper that theatrical manager George Willoughby Dowse applied for an order to restrain Henry Blomfield ‘from advertising for production, or producing, acting, or playing in Victoria, a fare deal comedy, entitled The Wrong Mrs Wright, in such a manner as to induce persons to believe that the theatrical representation so advertised or produced is identical with or similar to a farcical comedy known as The Wrong Mr Wright’. In September of the same year, it was reported in The Herald newspaper ‘an order was this morning made by Mr Justice Holroyd restraining defendant, his agents, and servants from advertising for production or producing in Victoria, or at all ‘’The Wrong Mrs Wright’’.
Also, in the same year Henry Blomfield was listed as the ‘representative’ for the stage production of Sapho at the Gaiety Theatre in Melbourne. The play was at the centre of a sensational New York City indecency trial involving the play's star and producer/director, Olga Nethersole. The Stage Beauty website mentions ‘The play had been adapted by Fitch from the novel by Alphonse Daudet about a young man, Jean Gaussin, who lost his position in society after being seduced by Fanny Legrand (Sapho) - a woman with a notorious reputation who kept many lovers. Fitch rearranged the story for his play so that Sapho, played by Nethersole, became the central character. The tragedy of the play then was that Sapho, who had fallen in love with Gaussin, must leave him in order to raise a child she had given birth to in her more promiscuous days’.
‘The efforts of the moral vigilantes culminated, on the afternoon of February 21st 1900 (five days after the play had opened), in Olga, her leading man Hamilton Revelle, and manager Marcus Mayer, all being arrested for offences against public decency and creating a public nuisance. A warrant was also issued for the arrest of the proprietor of Wallacks Theatre, Theodore Moss, but he was at home ill and could not be taken into custody. The warrants were issued under the provisions of a section of the penal code which read:
A public nuisance is a crime against the order and economy of the state and consists in unlawfully doing an act or omitting to perform a duty which act of omission annoys, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health or safety of any considerable number of persons or offends public decency.
The offences with which the defendants were charged carried a maximum possible sentence of a 500-dollar fine and/or one year's imprisonment in the state penitentiary.’
In July 1902 Sapho premiered in Melbourne and a review of the play by Table Talk Melbourne mentions "Sapho" was produced for the first time in Australia last Saturday night. Previous to the production of "Sapho" a theatrical horror, called "A Wife's Peril," had a week's "run. The bait with which Mr. Cosgrove fished was the fact that this play is identical with the one which Miss Olga Nethersole produced in New York, where the police stepped in and stopped the show. ''Sapho" right through is no more moral or immoral than any of those plays which are called "modern." "Sapho," as produced by Mr. M. Cosgrove, is not by any means a dull affair. In fact, there is just a little too much, funny business and clowning for the sake of the "gods," and not enough drama.
The first-two acts, so far as the drama is concerned, could be considerably strengthened. The
third act is the best. Some of the situations are strong. The production suffers from had staging, and in part from bad acting, though there are one or two distinctly good performance’.
By 1903 Henry, Kate and Henry jnr. were living in Corinella in south eastern Victoria.
Henry Blomfield died at the Melbourne Hospital in 1907 and Kate Blomfield in Fitzroy in 1932.
Robert Mills was born in 1830 in Maxwelton in Scotland. In 1853 Robert travelled with his father James from Liverpool to Melbourne onboard the sailing ship Samaria. Robert and James’s occupation on the passenger is listed as ‘farmer’.
Around 1854 Robert started working as a ‘clerk’ at James McEwan, hardware merchants on Elizabeth St. James McEwan evolved to become the well-known and popular McEwan’s Hardware operating from 1850 to 1982.
Roberts obituary in The Reporter Box Hill in 1915 mentions:
‘arriving in Victoria in 1853, settled down in South Melbourne (Emerald Hill). Shortly afterwards he became associated with the old established firm of James McEwan and company, hardware merchants, of Elizabeth street, and remained with that firm, occupying confidential and responsible positions, for the long period of 57 years, honourably retiring after faithful service just about four years ago’.
In 1855 Robert Mills and Ann Lovelady were married. Ann was born in Liverpool in 1834; she was the daughter of Edward and Amelia Lovelady. In 1854 Ann travelled by herself on the sailing ship Nabob from Liverpool to Melbourne. Robert and Ann had five children Ann jnr., Eleanor, Robert jnr., Jessie and Mary who did not survive past infancy.
From around 1857 the family were living in Emerald Hill (South Melbourne) as their first child Ann was born there in 1858. In 1860 Robert is listed as renting a shop on Clarendon St in South Melbourne. His father James’s occupation at this time is listed as ‘baker’.
In 1865 Robert was ordained as an ‘Elder’ of the Presbyterian Church at Dorcas St in Emerald Hill.
In the 1866 Emerald Hill rate books Robert’s occupation is listed as ‘clerk’ and the family is still living on Clarendon St.
In 1868 Robert purchased a one and half acre plot of land in Hawthorn bordered by Riversdale Rd in the south, Towt St (now Munro St) in the east, Caroline St in the north and Auburn Rd in the west. The five roomed house on the site was named Troqueer by Robert after the district in Scotland where he was baptised. In the same year Robert jnr. was born at Troqueerin Hawthorn. Also, in the same year his employer James McEwan died while on holiday in the south of France.
In the 1881 Hawthorn rate books Robert’s occupation is listed as ‘accountant’.
In 1886 Robert and Ann Mills’ daughter Eleonor Dobson married Henry Atwood Jacobs at the family home Troqueer. Henry and Eleonor had three children; their first child a daughter was stillborn, their second child Amelia was born on February 23, 1889 and a third child Albert Jacobs was born on December 4, 1891. Eleanor died aged 25 on December 12, 1891 at her parent’s home Terregles and soon after baby Albert Jacobs died on December 27, 1891. Henry was left with one daughter Amelia to bring up but records show that Amelia lived with her grandparents at Terregles until she married. If you are interested you can read more about Henry Jacobs on this website on the page titled Spenceycroft.
In 1888 Robert subdivided his land in Auburn into 13 allotments and put the house up for sale, the subdivision was called Troqueer.
In 1889 the family moved from Hawthorn where Robert Mills had built Terregles at 79 Warrigal Rd, Surrey Hills - which still stands there today.
In the 1895 directory the Mills family are listed as living at Terregles, by 1900 the Scott family are listed as living there. It appears that the Mills family may have rented Terregles to the Scott family.
By 1901 the family are living back at Terregles as Death records show that Ann Mills snr. died there.
In 1907 the land at the corner of Warrigal and Canterbury Rd’s was purchased by a consortium of local Surrey Hills residents/businessmen. The consortium included Robert Mills (an Elder of the Presbyterian Church), Thomas Hogg, James Allan and Anthony Pryde who was the Treasurer and Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria.
In 1910 a new brick St Stephens Presbyterian Church was opened on the corner of Warrigal and Canterbury Rd’s; Robert Mills’ name was placed on one of the church’s foundation stones.
In 1915 Robert Mills snr. died at Terregles.
In his Will Robert Mills snr. appointed Robert Mills jnr., Ann Mills jnr. and Jessie Mills as his ‘executors’. By this time Robert jnr. was married and living in Hawthorn. Ann jnr. and Jessie continued to live at Terregles until 1918 when they sold the house to John F Marr a well known hotel owner from Brisbane.
John F Marr jnr. was born in 1854 in Strachan, Scotland, he was the son of John and Jane Marr (nee Bell). I have been unable to find any written information about John Marr except in his 1924 Obituary that appeared in The Telegraph (Brisbane) newspaper. In his Obituary it mentions:
‘Until a few days ago Mr. Marr’s health had been good. A sudden cold was responsible for his death, and another of those energetic citizens who played their part in the building of Brisbane has passed on.
Mr. Marr arrived here in the early eighties, and joined the Government service. Staunch testimony to the strength of his arm and the skill of his brain lies in many a piece of smith’s work on boats and wharves along the coast’.
During his service with the Government in the North Mr. Marr was seriously injured. He came south to Sydney for treatment and, on resigning from the service, shortly afterwards began to extend his wife’s boarding establishment in Tank street’.
In 1869 John Marr’s future first wife Margaret Roberts travelled from Liverpool to Brisbane onboard the sailing ship Star Queen. Margaret was born in 1852 in Cheshire, England, the daughter of George and Ann Roberts. In 1872 in Brisbane, Margaret married her first husband Nathaniel Ebenston who was born in 1843 in London, England. Nathaniel and Margaret had four children Nathaniel jnr., William, Henry and John. In 1878 Nathaniel and Margaret bought the Brisbane guesthouse Auckland Villa (later known as Marrs Guest House) from Ellen Anderson, but less than a year later in 1879 Nathaniel snr. died and Margaret was left to raise four children and run the guest house.
In 1886 John Marr and Margaret Ebenston (nee Roberts) were married. John and Margaret had two children John jnr. and George.
In 1905 Margaret Marr died at Marrs Guest House and six years later in 1911 John married his second wife Marion Porritt in Brisbane, Queensland. Marion Porritt was born in 1867 in Collingwood, Victoria, she was the daughter of Edmund and Mary Porritt (nee Fergie). Marion’s first marriage was to Robert Borrowman in 1896 when they were married at her parents’ home Roseneath in Richmond. 1898 was a difficult year for Marion and Robert when their first and only child Robert jnr. died after living only six months and then in 1899 ‘after a long and painful illness’ Robert died aged 36.
By 1918 John and Marion Marr are listed in the directory as living at 79 Boundary Rd (now Warrigal Rd) until 1921. I am not sure how John Marr and Edward Kelly met but they may have met through Marion Marr who may have shopped at Incley’s a high-end ladies’ fashion shop where Edward was the manager and later owner.
By 1921 John Marr’s relationship with Edward E Kelly must have been quite strong as John loaned the money to Edward to buy his house at 79 Boundary Rd before John went back to Brisbane.
In 1923 John Marr donated 18 acres of land in Wynnum in Queensland to the Queen Alexander Home Committee. The Committee erected a new home for boys and named it the Margaret Roberts Marr Memorial Home in honour of John Marr’s first wife.
In 1924 John Marr died at Marr’s Guest House. In his Obituary it mentions ‘Until a few days ago Mr. Marr’s health had been good. A sudden cold was responsible for his death, and another of those energetic citizens who played their part in the building of Brisbane has passed on’.
Today Marr’s boarding house is known all over the state, and far from unknown in the south. When Mr. Marr first began the place was only a small two-storied building. It grew rapidly. His wonderful attention to detail is demonstrated by the fact that when extensions were contemplated, he built a complete model to make sure of the job’.
'Since Mrs. Marr’s death a few years ago, Mr. Marr has travelled a good deal. In March the Margaret Marr Memorial Home for Boys, which he founded in his wife’s memory, was opened at Wynnum’.
In John Marr’s 1924 Will mentions ‘Balance of purchase money owing by Edward E Kelly of 258 Collins St Melbourne in respect of All that piece of land being part of Crown Portion 6 of Allotment 40 and Crown Portion 7 of Allotment 40 Parish of Nunawading County of Bourke - £1800.00’. The money John Marr was owed by Edward Kelly was for Terregles at 79 Warrigal Rd, Surrey Hills.
Marion Porritt
Marion Porritt (Minnie) was a well-known contralto who performed at many events in Melbourne and across Australia over a career that spanned over 30 years.
It appears that music ran in the family as Marion’s father Edmund Porritt ran music classes at a music shop called ‘Messrs Allans’ in Collins St, Edmund also worked at the Government Printing Office. It is likely that Marion may have attended these classes. In an advertisement in 1886 in The Argus newspaper mentions ‘PIANO, Organ, Harmony - Mr Porritt from Manchester England solicits PUPILS, Address care of Messrs. Allans Collins Street’. The Messrs. Allans music shop went on to become the well-known Melbourne music retailer Allans Music.
In the 1880’s the Messrs. Allans regularly held Musicale Soiree’s at their Collins St shop. Marion’s first performances may have been at one of these events.
Marion Porritt started her career at around the age of 17 in 1886 with her first professional performance was at the Grand Opera Carnival that was held at the Royal Exhibition Buildings, Carlton.
Marion was also a founding member of the Austral Salon in 1890. An article in Melbourne Punchmentions “THE Austral Salon" is the title of a NEW association, which has for its object the intellectual advancement of the women of Australia. To favour this object, meetings will be held in Buxton's Art Gallery every alternate Thursday, when questions bearing on literary, musical, scientific and artistic matters will be expounded and discussed…. The Countess of Hopetoun takes the office of president of the Salon, and Lady Clarke and Lady Davies will fill the positions of vice presidents’.
Marion moved to Brisbane, Queensland around 1910 and performed at many events as well as operating a music school.
In 1911 John Fyfe Marr and Marrion Porritt were married in Brisbane, Queensland. Marion continued with her singing career.
The Easter Highland Gathering was a regular event that took place in Brisbane around Easter time. Many events and competitions were held one in particular being the ‘Tug o’ War Marion Challenge’ trophy that was named in Marion’s honour and was presented to the winning team by her husband John Marr.
In 1914 John and Marion Marr travelled to Aberdeen, Scotland on tour. In an article in 1946 in The Argus newspaper it mentions this tour - ‘Mrs J. Fyfe Marr (Marion Porritt), a, foundation member of the Austral Salon, who had the honour of singing before King George V and Queen Mary in Crathie Church during a Royal visit to Scotland in 1914’.
When John Marr died in 1924 in Brisbane, Marion continued to live there until 1926 when she returned to Melbourne. Upon arriving in Melbourne, she renewed many social connections including membership of the Wattle League, Victoria League and was made a life member of the Royal Horticultural Society. She was also associated with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Society, the Scottish Thistle Club and was an active worker at All Saints' Church, East St. Kilda. It appears that Marion was irrepressible and occasionally sang at events.
Marion Marr died at her home Julia at 33 Wordsworth St, St. Kilda in 1948 and she was buried at the Boroondara General Cemetery.
Edward E Kelly was born in 1872 in Minera in England he was the son of David and Ann Kelly (nee Edwards).
In the 1891 Wales Census Edward Kelly’s occupation is listed as ‘assistant draper’. Edward may have worked with his uncle Hugh Kelly as his occupation was listed as ‘draper’ on the census.
At the National Eisteddfod held in Caernarfon in Wales in 1894 Edward graduated as a Welsh Bard with a National Degree in Versifying, he was also given the name Glan Madog. On the Minera History site - Glan Madog - Bard of Britian, Edwards son Ray mention’s:
‘in 1894 at age 23 he graduated, after being examined by Bards 'Dyfed' and 'Pedrog' in versifying, and was admitted to the Bards of Britain at 'Caernarfon' He was given the name of Glan Madog’. Now, when I approach the publication of his poetry, I still have the ideal of including the verses he submitted at his examination for his Bardic Degree in 1894 when he was required "to be locked in a room for an hour during which time he had to compose six verses of eight lines on Moses on Mount Pisgah".
In 1899 Edward Kelly and Catherine Parry were married in Wrexham in Wales. Catherine was born in 1876 in Wrexham. Edward and Catherine had one child, Ceridwen.
In 1910 Edward, Catherine and Ceridwen travelled from Liverpool to Sydney on board the Runic. By 1911 the family had moved to Melbourne as Edward was working for Incley and Co in the position of ‘manager’.
A little about Incley and Co.
Incley’s was started by husband-and-wife John and Margaret Incley in Melbourne around 1886. At the time John was working as ‘manager’ at the retail firm of Moubray, Rowan and Hick’s - wholesale and retail drapers, outfitters, silk mercers, carpet and furniture warehousemen. Margaret worked as a dressmaker and is mentioned in an article in The Australasian Melbourne newspaper in 1888:
‘indeed, the best dressmakers are using this largely in what is called insertion gowns. One of these is shown by Mrs Incley at Moubray and Rowan’s display during last week’.
In December 1888 John Incley placed an advertisement in The Australasian newspaper stating:
‘MR. INCLEY, Late Manager of the Costume and Mantle Departments at Messrs. Moubray, Rowan and Hick’s, Begs to announce that he has resigned his position in the above establishment, and will in future CONDUCT the SAME CLASS of BUSINESS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH Mrs. Incley, at the Showrooms, 33 Collins -street east next door to Mullen’s’. COSTUMES, MANTLES, WEDDING AND BALL DRESSES, TROUSSEAUX, LINGERIE AND TAILOR-MADE GOWNS’.
In 1906 John and Margaret Incley dissolved their business partnership and went into partnership with Mr Stringer, Mrs Trentham and Miss Hogg; the business name was changed from Incley’s to Incley and Co.
In 1910 John Incley died on board the R.M.S Moldovia near Adelaide while returning from a business trip to London. An article in The Age newspaper mentions:
‘Mrs. Incley went to Adelaide to meet her husband, and she was overcome with grief learning that he was dead. The body was brought to Melbourne yesterday by the Adelaide express’.
In a 1911 advertisement mentions:
‘Mrs. Incley, who is leaving the State, has decided to Sell by Auction the charming Seaside Villa known as ‘Woodlands’, Marine Parade, St Kilda’.
Margaret Incley died in 1922 at her home Steepleton in Caulfield. In her Will Margaret had assets, money and shares in numerous companies including 900 shares in Incley’s which she left to her two daughters.
In 1942 the Myer Emporium bought Incley and Co and renamed it Incley Salon, the salon operated from the Myer Emporium in Bourke St in Melbourne.
Back to Edward Kelly
By 1914 Edward Kelly, his wife Catherine and their family were living at Colwyn on High St in Malvern and his occupation is listed as ‘manager’.
By 1918 they must have moved from Malvern as in 1918 Catherine died at their family home in East Camberwell which they had also named Colwyn.
Three years later in February 1921 Edward Kelly married Frances Horn at St John’s Church in Camberwell.
In a notice in The Herald newspaper in February 1921 mentions ‘on Thursday at St. John’s Church, Camberwell, the marriage was celebrated of Mr E. Edwards Kelly, managing director of Incley Pty Ltd., Collins street, to Miss Frances M. Horn. Mrs Kelly will continue to be associated with him in the business’.
Frances Horn had been born in 1893 in Buckinghamshire in England and her parents were Thomas and Constance Horn (nee Harvey). She had travelled from England to Sydney by herself onboard the ship Naldera in April 1920 and on the ship’s passenger list her occupation is listed as ‘costumier’. In Melbourne later in 1920 she was employed at Incley’. Edward and Frances were to have two children, David and Raymond. It is interesting to note that in August 1921 her parents, brother and sister also sailed from England to Sydney again onboard the same ship Naldera.
Frances worked alongside Edward in the day to day running of the company as well as designing clothes and travelling yearly to Europe in search of the latest trends in women’s fashions.
By 1921 John F Marr’s relationship with Edward E Kelly must have been quite strong as John loaned the money to Edward for him to buy John’s house at 79 Boundary Rd before John went back to Brisbane. Edward then renamed ‘Terregles’ - ‘Bryn Awel’ ("Bryn" means hill and "awel" means breeze). It is interesting to note again, that at the time of John Marrs death in 1924 his Will states that the loan had not been fully repaid.
By 1924 Edward and Frances Kelly held the leasehold for 258 Collins St where Incley’s operated from.
On the Minera History site Edwards son Raymond mention’s ‘In 1937 he filled the role as the Arch-Druid in a re-enactment of the Gorsedd Challenge on St. David's Day, and he adjudicated in many of Melbourne's Eisteddfodau’. This was the first time the Gorsedd Challenge was performed in Australia and was reported in The Argus newspaper in March 6,1937.
In January 1945 the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester arrived in Australia. The Duke of Gloucester was to be sworn as the Governor General of Australia at Parliament House in Canberra. In article in 1945 in The Argus newspaper mentions ‘When the Duchess of Gloucester was in Australia Mrs Kelly designed all her clothes, and therefore took a great interest in the frocking of all the Royal Family’.
In Margaret Maynard’s 2015 book Out of Line: Australian Women and Style mentions ‘At the top end of the market, exclusive shops like Rue de la Paix, Le Louvre and Incley’s in Melbourne. Country squatters’ wives as well as well – to- do city women bought their couture garments or copy versions in Melbourne and Sydney at the House of Shave, Incley’s……
It appears that the Incley Salon closed after June 1950 as no more advertisements appear after this time.
Edward Kelly died at a private hospital in Camberwell in 1956 and Frances Kelly in 1979 in Kew.
Ceridwen Kelly – the daughter of Edward and Catherine Kelly
Ceridwen Kelly was born in Minera in Wales in 1901; in 1920 she travelled with her parents from Liverpool to Sydney on board the Runic.
Soon after leaving school Ceridwen worked at her father’s firm as a ‘milliner’ and it may have been during this time she became interested in a career in acting.
Ceridwen’s first amateur appearance on stage was in 1924 in the role of Margaret the ‘dream child’ in the play Dear Brutus with the Repertory Society. The play was held at the Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne. Her first professional performance was in 1925 as ‘Mrs Otherly’ in Abraham Lincoln at The Playhouse.
In an interview published in the Weekly Times in 1926 Ceridwen mentions "I have always felt I wanted to act " she said " and when my father saw that my mind was really made up, he gave way and allowed me to go in for the repertory work. When the present opportunity came along, well he just had to give his consent.'
In 1927 Ceridwen gave an interview that was published in Table Talk under the title of What’s in a name?and mentions ‘several things have to be remembered when choosing a name. Kerry Kelly who will play the part of Joan in ‘’ The Unfair Sex’’ realised that her own name Ceridwen was much too hard pronounce, and difficult to remember, so she lost no time in changing it to Kerry. Kerry Kelly is easy to pronounce and runs nicely too’.
The plays that Ceridwen Kelly appeared in:
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
A little about Maurice Moscovitch and Margaret Bannerman
Maurice Moscovitch
Maurice Moscovitch emigrated to America around 1897, where he performed for many years in the New York Yiddish theatre and on Broadway. In 1924 and 1925 he toured Australia performing in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice and Leo Ditrichstein’s The Great Lover in theatres across the country.
During his tour of Australia, he had his portrait painted by the renowned Australian painter John Longstaff, the portrait is now in the National Gallery of Victoria collection.
Maurice also played supporting roles in movies in United States:
1936 - Winterset
1937 - Make Way for Tomorrow
1938 - Lancer Spy
1939 - Gateway, Suez, Love Affair, Susannah of the Mounties, In Name Only, Rio, The Great
Commandments and Everything Happens at Night
1940 - South to Karanga, Dance Gil Dance and The Great Dictator
Margaret Bannerman
Margaret Bannerman was 18 years old when she moved from Canada to England with her family in around 1914.
A high point of her acting career was the part of Lady George Graystone in Somerset Maugham's Our Betters, which ran for 548 performances at The Globe theatre in London.
After a year of touring Australia and New Zealand in 1928, she returned to London theatre before moving to the United States in the 1930s. She returned to acting in film in the 1930s, attempting to break into American films. She appeared in films until 1947 and continued in theatre until 1963. She made one final performance in her hometown in November 1963, as Mrs. Higgins in the touring company of My Fair Lady and her final movie performance in Evening Primrose in 1966.
Margaret played roles in movies in the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK):
1920 - Lady Audley's Secret (UK)
1932 - Lily Christine (UK) and Two White Arms (UK)
1934 - The Great Defender (UK) and Over the Garden Wall (UK)
1935 - I Give My Heart (UK)
1946 - Cluny Brown (US)
1947 - The Homestretch (US)
1966 - Evening Primrose (US)
In 1929 Ceridwen went to England with Margaret Bannerman and is mentioned in The Herald newspaper ‘Miss Kelly is going home with high hopes of success, as Miss Margaret Bannerman, whose guest she will be on her arrival, has promised to use her influence on her behalf’.
In 1930 Margaret Bannerman is reported in the British newspapers as starring in a number of plays but there is no mention of Kerry Kelly. By 1931 an article in The Herald newspaper mentions ‘Miss Kerry Kelly, who took a prominent part in repertory productions in Melbourne and later joined the ranks of the professionals, has left the stage to take up beauty culture as a profession.
She holds an important post with Harrod’s Ltd, the huge London stores and is responsible for buying and demonstration of all powders, cream, cosmetics and beauty preparations’.
In an article in October,1931 in The Herald newspaper mentions:
‘MISS CERIDWEN (KERRIE) KELLY, whose marriage to Mr Glenwyn Addison Williamson, son of Commander Williamson, R.N. (retired), of Surrey, England, will be celebrated in England at an early date’.
In an article in Table Talk – Melbourne in December 1931 about how Kerry Kelly and Glenwyn Williamson met mentions:
‘Kerry of course is the popular daughter of Mr E. E. Kelly, a prominent Melbourne business man, and is known to Australians in all States through her clever stage work both in Repertory and with The Firm. The story of her romance is itself worthy to have a stage setting. She met her fiancé at a cocktail party at the flat of mutual friends, within a few weeks of his sailing for Ascension at the beginning of this year. It was a case of love at first sight and (in spite of sceptics) they became engaged after a few meetings’.
In December 1931 after arriving on Ascension Island Kerry Kelly and Glenwyn Williamson were married. Glenwyn’s occupation is listed as ‘maintenance officer’ for the Eastern Telegraph Co on the Ascension Islands. Glenwyn was born in Yarmouth in England in 1897 and was the son of Commander Charles and Jessie Williamson (nee Dougall). Kerry and Glenwyn did not have any children.
Glenwyn Williamson’s mother Jessie Williamson (nee Dougall) was the daughter of William Dougall and was born in 1870 in Shepparton in Victoria. In 1864 her father William Dougall joined the Boyle Travers Finniss’s Northern Expedition in Adelaide. The expedition was organised by the South Australian government to establish a capital in the Northern Territory. Later that year the Escape Cliffs settlement was established near the mouth of the Adelaide River, a year later the settlement was abandoned due to tidal flooding and poor drainage in the wet season. In 1867 a settlement was established by George Goyder at what is now Darwin.
In 1938 Kerry and Glenwyn’s first visit to Melbourne was reported in the Australian Women’s Weekly and mentions:
‘Mrs Addison Williamson, who was well known in theatrical circles in Australia as Kerry Kelly, went to England nine years ago’.
‘Mrs Addison William has come to Australia to see her father, and her husband is getting his first glimpse of this country’.
In 1949 Kerry and Glenwyn moved to Melbourne to live. In an autobiography titled Jessie Brown Dougall - Part Two, 2018 mentions:
‘Glen and Kerry did return to Australia, and lived out their lives in Pakington Street in Kew, an eastern suburb of Melbourne’.
Glenwyn died in January and Kerry in July both in Kew in 1960.
Laurence Hodson was born in Kew in 1904; he was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Hodson (nee Fox).
By the age of 14 in 1917 Laurence was attending Sacred Heart School in Kew as he was mentioned in an article in The Bendigo Independent newspaper, as having won a State Junior Technical Scholarship.
In 1933 Laurence Hodson and Gladys Howatt were married at St Patricks Cathedral, Melbourne. Gladys was the daughter of Henry and Kate Howatt (nee Herron). They had six children Bernard, Raymond, Patricia and three others.
By 1943 Laurence and his family were living at 79 Warrigal Rd, Surrey Hills, at this time his occupation is listed as ‘engineer’.
In regard to the starting of the family business - Industrial Equipment & Control Pty Ltd, descendant Andrea Waddell mentions that it 'started business in the family home. I do remember a story where a chemical explosion in my father’s bedroom forced them to consider moving to other premises. My father (Bernard Hodson) and my grandfather built new premises in Thornbury and continued the business journey from there'.
The Industrial Equipment & Control Pty. Ltd. website in regard to Laurence Hodson mentions:
‘Industrial Equipment & Control Pty. Ltd. began as a general engineering enterprise founded back in 1948 in the suburb of Surrey Hills, Melbourne by Laurence John Hodson.
Laurence Hodson had been a Ham Radio operator and an armature winder in his early days and became foreman of McColl Electric Motors in the 1920s and 30s. Laurie was an authority and expert in electronics of the day and in the design of electric motors and generators, so Hodson & Gault was founded which manufactured DC motors and equipment up to and during the war. There are still a few "H&G" DC motors and generators in trade schools around the country.
Industrial Equipment & Control Pty. Ltd. (IEC) began behind Laurie's home and a young chemical graduate, Frank Sans, agreed to be a partner and to try his hand at engineering. An apprentice and a tradesman was soon added to the staff and production began.
After working at several jobs, young Bernard Hodson joined IEC, became a partner and ran the workshop, built much of the equipment and eventually ran the company. Our first educational order was for several thousand bunsen burners and now we produce a large range of sophisticated equipment for local and for export markets.
Laurence Hodson, Frank Sans and Bernard Hodson have passed on and are sadly missed. Their wealth of knowledge made IEC what it is today and their legacy lives on’.
If you would like to see the wonderful work which Bernard Hodson was undertaking for Australia in the fields of science, technology and education have a look at this link: YOUTUBE+STELR
Laurence Hodson died in 1970 in Surrey Hills and he was buried in the Burwood Cemetery. After Laurence's death Gladys continued to live in the house until she sold it in 1983. Gladys died in Kew in 1999 and was also buried in the Burwood Cemetery.
TERREGLES - THE HOUSE
In the Andrew C Ward and Associates. City of Box Hill Heritage and Conservation Study, 1990 mentions:
Description:
‘Inspection difficult; house is not visible form street.
Terreglea is a substantial double storey Italianate brick house on a large site with mature plantings. The walls are of rendered brick with quoining to corners and windows. A dominant, pyramid roofed square tower surmounting the entry porch which is approached by a flight of steps. The hipped slate roof has bracketed eaves and is penetrated by rendered chimneys with moulded caps.
The rendered wall surfaces, which had remained unpainted until at least the time of Andrew Ward’s survey (c.1989), have since been painted.
Comparative Examples:
Banff, 29 Albion Road, Box Hill
Tyneholm, 310 Elgar Road, Box Hill
Lydswood, 12 Stanhope Street, Mont Albert
House, 30-32 Watts Street, Box Hill
Significance
Terreglea is of aesthetic and historical significance. Of a small number of substantial double- storey mansions built in the municipality during the late nineteenth century, Terreglea is one of the largest, and one of only two with a tower. The house is associated with Robert Mills, general Manager of James McEwan & Co., and with the 1850s Catholic Church reserve’.
THE FUTURE FOR THE CITY OF WHITEHORSE
The current owners should be commended for preserving this very important piece of Surrey Hills/ Whitehorse’s early history. The people, who owned the land, built and lived in the house have all made contributions to our local, state and national history. The house is covered by a council Heritage Overlay (HO87) but it is not registered with the National Trust and Heritage Vic, registration with these organisations would further assist in the preservation of this house.
Sources:
© Whitehorse Heritage 2025