view hill - 25 Thames St, box hill north

It’s a funny little village

It's a funny little village, with a funny lot of people,

You can take them as they are-just as you please.

With a bandstand gone to blazes, and a Church of England steeple,

With a top that's out of plumb by twelve degrees.

There's a market once a week where horses go for two a shilling.

Or a bedstead for a bob, and cheap at that;

Where a stout gent in the pulpit makes

the bids come fast and willing,

Selling anything-from chickens to a cat.

There's a council, rare and rustic,

where our aldermen make speeches,

Brooding sadly o'er the drains that never drain;

Striking rates for all and sundry, sucking blood like thirsty leeches

From the citizens who never dare complain.

There's a bowling club that never wins a game by any chances.

And a billiard room where champions wield the cue.

And a valuer who values with an eye to the finances,

Twice as high as what we think he ought to do.

Have you seen our city ovals, where the green lawns shine and shimmer,

And the dock and dandelion bloom apace

And the lake in Surrey Park, beneath the moonlight all a-glimmer,

Where our prize regattas strive for pride of place.

There's a Wattle club that raises mighty men for politicians,

And an A.N.A. that doesn't give a dam,

And a lot of sad-faced leaguers given up by the physicians

Aged with waiting for the long expected tram.

We're a funny little village-but we're bound to keep on crawling,

Tho' we really take a devil of a time.

So a health to Nunawading. and I'll cease this caterwauling,

For the reason that I've run clean out of rhyme.

W. H. E.

The above poem is about Box Hill and was written by William H Elsum and was published in The Reporter - Box Hill newspaper in 1917.

William H Elsum – poet, author, historian, entrepreneur, journalist, prominent community leader and a strong advocate for Box Hill.

William H Elsum is the original owner for whom the house was built in 1920 (based on directory records). 

William H Elsum was born in Williamstown in 1875 to Henry and Elizabeth Elsum (nee White). 

In c1895 William started work as a ‘cub reporter’ at the Williamstown Chronicle until c1900.

This was the start of a long association with the artistic and literary world in Victoria and NSW.

In 1898 William Furlong invited prominent members of Melbourne society to commemorate the anniversary of the death of renowned Australian poet Adam Lindsay Gordon. William Furlong was a well-known Melbourne businessman, publisher, singer, composer, music teacher and organist and Music Director at St Francis’ Church. The meeting took place at Furlong’s Studios in the Royal Arcade in Bourke St, Melbourne and was such a success that it was decided to hold another meeting the following year.

At the next meeting the following year several speakers raised the issue that the formation of a society that supported Australian authors had been talked about for a number of years and the idea to finally form a society was put forward by Charles R Long (Victorian Educationalist and friend of Frank Tate of St Elmo at 800 Station St, Box Hill North) and was seconded by Mr W.H. Colechin MP. The resolution to form a society was also supported by Dr. T P McInerney MLA, Dr. William Daish, and Messrs. E Wilson Dobbs (Melbourne Architect), J. F. Deegan MLA, Frederick D Rossiter and Dr Charles E Reeves. 

It was decided to call the society the Australian Literature Society and was the first Literature Society to focus on solely Australian Literature. The society held regular meetings that included talks, recitations, readings of unpublished works, musical items and reviews. 

William Elsum was a founding member of the Australian Literature Society and gave the inaugural speech. In the book Twixt Heather and Wattle: The First Minute Book of the Australian Literature Society, 1899-1903 mentions: 

‘Mr. W.H Elsum read a paper on the objects of such a society, and Mr. James Maloney M.L.A., was elected president. At the next meeting the president read a paper on “Have we an Australian Literature?” He contended that we have not, and could not have one. Finding himself out of sympathy with most of the other members of the society, he soon ceased to attend the meetings and was succeeded by Mr. T.A. Browne (“Rolf Boldrewood”)’. You can read about T.A. Browne in Glendale on this website. 

The Australian Literature Society established a general library of first editions and important Australian works which it maintained for nearly eighty years. It also published a journal Corroboree from 1921 to 1923. In 1928 Richard A Crouch MHR (seat Corangamite) donated money to the Society for the annual award of a Gold Medal to the author of the best novel published in the previous year. The first winner was Martin Boyd and other subsequent winners included Seaforth Mackenzie (1937), Xavier Herbert (1939), Patrick White (1941) and Randolph Stow (1959).

In 1982 the Australian Literature Society was incorporated with the Association for the Study of Australian Literature. The Association continues to award the Australian Literature Society Gold Medal.

In an interesting aside, the Royal Historical Society of Victoria also held its first meeting at Furlong’s Studios but in 1909 and was chaired by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Hon. Frank Madden.

William Elsum was also a member of the Dawn and Dusk Club in Sydney. The club was founded in 1898 by poet Victor Daley and was named after his well-known book of verses. Notable members of the Club included well known Australian poet Henry Lawson, painter Norman Lindsay, James Phillip – the founder of Australia’s first Chinese newspaper, Randolph Bedford – poet, novelist and Queensland State politician, Nelson Illingworth a well-known Australian sculptor, Frank P Mahoney – Australian painter, watercolourist and illustrator and George A Taylor – Australian artist, journalist, and inventor. 

Truth magazine publisher John Norton called the members “a band of boozy, bar-bumming bards”.

In 1900 Robert G. Neale who had founded the Williamstown Chronicle in Victoria, started the Granville Independent and Parramatta Advertiser newspaper in Sydney. William was obviously moving around the country and was appointed editor of this newly created Sydney paper, yet he still had time to write an Essay on Federation that was published in Williamstown Chronicle which won the ‘first class certificate’ at the Art, Literary and Industrial Exhibition.

In 1901 William was invited to attend a press dinner at the Sydney Town Hall for the swearing in of Australia’s first Governor General the Earl of Hopetown in January and the opening of the first parliament in Melbourne in May. 

In the same year William won prizes for an open essay titled Australian Novelties and a short story titled A Death Gamble at the Austral Literary Competitions in Bendigo. 

William published in the Williamstown Chronicle in February 1902 an article which stated:

‘Dear Sir, - In bidding farewell to the ‘’Chronicle,’’ preparatory to taking over the editorship and managership of the Berrigan ‘’Advocate,’’ New South Wales,’’. 

William’s grandson David L Elsum AM in a letter to the Berrigan Advocate in 2019 says of William that,

‘He left school at age 14. Self educated, mainly reading Classics and Shakespeare, of which he recited large segments. At age 20, he was a journalist and moved to Berrigan and founded a newspaper – The Berrigan Bugle, perhaps sometimes called the Berrigan Advocate. In 1898, foreseeing the future for irrigation in the Murray Valley, he organised a Conference on water. Important people attended including the Premiers of Victoria and NSW. William Elsum was Secretary’. 

In 1902 the Corowa Water Conservation Conference was held in Corowa, NSW (to the southeast of Berrigan) from April 2nd to the 4th .  It was attended by Australia’s first Prime Minister the Right Honourable Edmund Barton, the State Premiers of Victoria and NSW, the Attorney Generals of South Australia and NSW, Mr J C Watson MHR the leader of the Federal Labor Party, Mr Cameron MLA, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Victorian Railways, Mr Gilchrist, Secretary of the Standing Committee of the Victorian Railways, the Hon. B S Baird, Treasurer of Victoria, Mr Morrissey, Minister for Agriculture, Victoria and Mr Skewes the Private Secretary to the Premier of Victoria. There were also approximately 55 delegates from other districts, associations and government departments that attended the conference. 

The conference agreed to a Royal Commission “to inquire and report on the conservation and distribution of the Murray and its tributaries for the purpose of irrigation, navigation and water supply.”…….. ‘Some discussion ensued regarding the official report of the Conference, the chairman submitting prices. etc., as supplied to him by Mr W. H. Elsum (“Berrigan Advocate”), who was specially engaged upon the report’.

It appears that William Elsum left The Berrigan Advocate after 1902 as his name does not appear in connection with it after this time - except for the May 1903 edition of The Berrigan Advocate where they mention:

‘At the recent Australian Natives’ Association literary competitions at Stawell (Vic), Mr W.H. Elsum, late of the staff of this journal, was successful against all comers’.

In 1903 William Elsum and Emma Wheller were married at Emma’s parent’s home Stratton in Moonee Ponds. Her parents were Joshua and Eleanor Wheller (nee Dawes). 

By 1905 William and Emma were living in Court St in Box Hill as their first child Lindsay was born there. In Box Hill William and Emma had three more children Ronald, Helenor and William jnr. In May of the same year William snr won first prize for an open essay titled Modern Literature and both first and second prizes for three original poems at the Australian Natives Association Literary Competition in Stawell.

This move started William’s long outspoken involvement with the Box Hill community and its development whilst he continued his involvement in statewide issues.

In 1911 William published a book titled Australia and other Poems comprising twenty-eight of his poems and nine songs and that same year a group of local Box Hill residents formed a resident’s action group requesting that the Nunawading council ‘to retain the local police paddock as a public reserve and children’s playground’. William was appointed as the Secretary of this group. 

The Police Paddock was located on the southwest corner of Whitehorse and Middleborough Rd’s. 

In 1912 a deputation including William met with Mr McKenzie, the Minister for Lands and the meeting was reported in The Herald newspaper in 1912 mentioning: 

‘After hearing the arguments, Mr McKenzie said that he would take the deputation’s request to the Cabinet, but he was not impressed with its chance of being accorded to. He did not think the old police paddock at all suitable as a children’s playground. It was worth about £1000. He would be glad to help the residents to acquire land closer to the school for the laudable purpose they had in view’. 

In 1914 William was a founding member of the Ad Club of Victoria and ‘editor’ of their magazine. An article in The Herald newspaper in March 1914 mentions: 

‘a large number of persons actively interested in the business of advertising have banded themselves together with the objects of working for truth and honesty in advertising; of increasing advertising efficiency among the members, and appreciation of advertising by the public; of providing a medium for the exchange of advertising ideas and literature; and of cooperating for mutual help and social and commercial benefit.’ 

By 1917 William Elsum was the President of the Ad Club of Victoria. 

The campaign for municipal amalgamation 

In 1914 William was elected to the position of Secretary of the Municipal Amalgamation Committee and in October of that year he was part of a delegation that attended a meeting at the Camberwell Council offices to discuss the issue of the amalgamation of Box Hill and Surrey Hill with Camberwell. But in July 1915 in an article in the Camberwell and Hawthorn Advertiser mentions:

‘correspondence was received from Mr W. H. Elsum, secretary of the municipal amalgamation committee, stating the he had from time to time called meetings of the committee, but had not succeeded in getting members to attend. He had therefore decided that ‘’interest in this question is sufficiently dead to justify its burial’’. 

‘Mr J. Dunn stated that a number of joint committee meetings had been held between the different associations, and negotiations were carried on for a considerable time until they got to the point of consulting the Camberwell council. There the proposal was held up, as there seemed to be a ‘’shuttle-cock and battledore’’ going on between the Camberwell and Nunawading councils, and they found that Camberwell did not view the amalgamation with favor’. 

The Mr J Dunn referred to in the article is James Dunn who lived at Dulverton at 1 Lightfoot St and can be found on this website on the page titled Dulverton.

The campaign for a new State School in Box Hill

In 1915 William ran as a candidate for election to the committee of the Box Hill Primary School. 

In 1916 it was mentioned in the Victorian Government Gazette that William was appointed to the Committee of Box Hill School (no 2838) and campaigned with other parents for a new primary school to be built in Box Hill. In a letter to The Argus newspaper dated March 1917 William mentions: 

‘with reference to the report in ‘The Argus’ of 6th inst. Of a deputation from the citizens of Box Hill to the Minister of Education, to request that a new school building be provided for the district, I have been asked by a number of people in Box Hill to beg you to publish the following facts: - ‘. 

Eventually the Box Hill State School was built on the corner of Thames and Station St’s in Box Hill and opened in 1920 but was demolished c1998. 

The campaign for a new park in Box Hill - which became Box Hill Gardens 

In September 1919 it was reported in The Reporter – Box Hill newspaper that ‘The Box Hill branch of the A.N.A brought under notice of the Nunawading council at its meeting on Tuesday night September 30, the great need of a park more centrally situated and forwarded the following resolution passed ‘‘ That this branch urges the council to dispose of the whole or part of the reserve south of the railway line adjoining the cemetery, and with the proceeds purchase a piece of land more centrally located in Box Hill to serve as a park’’.

In May 1920 a public debate was organised by the Box Hill branch of the A.N.A (Australian Natives Association) - William Elsum had been President of this branch until 1918. The debate was titled ‘Should Box Hill be an industrial or residential suburb’? The debate was adjudicated by a Mr S.P. Thompson, advocating for the Industrialists side, Messrs. W.A. Gay, J.R. Patterson and J. E. Payne and for the residents was Mr. W. H. Elsum, G.F. Hiddlestone and R. G. Gall. 

In a letter to the Nunawading council from William Elsum that was published in the October 1920 issue of The Reporter - Box Hill he mentioned: 

‘Opportunities have been lost, and-among them the 'Bull paddock,' when crammed with humanity, shall always remain a reproach for opportunities neglected.

Gatter's estate is now being cut up. It represents probably the Iast opportunity of securing a really suitable site for recreation purposes for the future generations of citizens.

Herein is a very real responsibility. It is so easy to Ignore one's immediate duty, so tragically hard to make up the deficiency afterwards. Do you, gentlemen realise what the future Box Hill may be made to be? Not a suburb of crowded dwellings and roaring factories as some would have it. Nature never intended it for that.

Every factory built in such an environment is a vulgar travesty of beauty and health. There are many places eminently fitted for industrial purposes; to make Box Hill so is to prostitute Nature, and the future generations will reproach those responsible. On the other hand, every tree planted and every blade of grass sown is setting up inestimable riches for centuries to come. The real benefactors of the race are those whose vision is far-seeing enough to look above the petty selfishness of their own immediate surroundings, and seek the welfare of the unborn.

I say that you have a very real responsibility upon you. Give us and our children and their children the opportunities for happiness which are their birthright. The ratepayers will gladly co-operate with you, even to the extent of finding pound for pound of the cost.

It would be Impossible to convey the results of such action now, children made happy with play, and the inestimable advantages of fresh air; citizens blessing the foresight of those who had sufficient civic pride to make provision for the future, do not perpetuate the mistakes of the past. We are all proud of our town. Let councillors and ratepayers join hands to make it what Nature intended it should be – a place of trees and flowers and sunshine and happy human beings. We look to you to give us a lead. Will you do so? Soon it will be too late’

Success in gaining a park in Box Hill is achieved, as in November of 1920 The Reporter - Box Hill newspaper mentions:

‘It was reported to the meeting of Nunawading council on Tuesday night that in accordance with vested authority a special committee arranged for the purchase of a piece of land for a reserve for Box Hill. The site secured is on the south of the new Box Hill State school ground in Station Street and contains 7 acres 3 roods and 11 perches, and the price of £1349. It was also decided that Mr W H Elsum be informed, in reply to his letter of 25th ulto, urging the immediate action to secure a site for a park for Box Hill’. 

The land the Nunawading Council had purchased belonged to the locally prominent Rogerson family of Upton House (where Box Hill Hospital now stands) in Thames St, Box Hill. 

The designer of the Box Hill gardens was to be Hugh Linaker. 

In May 1921 The Reporter -Box Hill mentions: 

‘At the meeting of the council on Tuesday night, Cr. Young reported that they recommended the acceptance of the plan submitted by Mr. Linaker, landscape gardener, of Mont Park, and he moved that the prize of £10 offered by the council for the best design be awarded to him. This was seconded by Cr. Boyland, and carried. The plan accepted is a very fine and comprehensive one. lis the• (unknown word) use of the park it provides for plantations, shrubberies. flower plots, winding paths, water fountain, and tennis court- at one corner of the ground, which if carried into effect will transform the site into a beauty spot or botanical gardens, and will be very picturesque’.

Hugh Linaker was a highly regarded garden designer in Melbourne in the early twentieth century. He was involved in the design of many gardens and parks in Melbourne and around Victoria including:

• the tree plantations in Maroondah Reservoir Park in 1928 
• the creation of the Mount Dandenong Arboretum in 1928 
• plantations at the Buchan caves in 1930
• the Yarra Boulevard beautification and 
• the planting of the Yarra Bend National Park in 1930
• plantations at the Mount Buffalo National Park in the 1920s 
• gardens at the police depot in St Kilda Rd, and at Pentridge Prison and other prisons in Victoria
• the gardens at Stonnington in Toorak and 
• the Government cottage at Mount Macedon

Hugh Linaker’s horticultural career began as an apprentice at Ballarat Botanic Gardens around 1886. In 1901 he appointed as Curator of Parks and Gardens for the municipality of Ararat, in 1912 Landscape Gardener at the Hospital for the Insane at Mont Park and in 1933 he was appointed State Superintendent of Parks and Gardens in Victoria.

In 1924 Hugh was a founding member of the Victorian Tree Planters’ Association (VTPA). 

From 1925 – 1931 Hugh was engaged by Sir John Monash, a former chairman of the State Electricity Commission, to advise on the planning of the model township at Yallourn.

As a private consultant from 1930 and 1934 Hugh provided input into both the city and country gardens of Alfred Nicholas – Carn Brea, in Hawthorn and Burnham Beeches, in the Dandenong’s.

In 1934 he designed the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Gardens in the Kings Domain on St Kilda Road.

Between 1933 and 1938 Hugh Linaker prepared plans for the improvement of the Kings Domain and planting at the Shrine of Remembrance.

Hugh Linaker died in 1938 at his home in Hawthorn survived by his second wife ‘Meta’ and his four children. His first wife Harriet having died in 1931.

In 2007 the Australasian Cave and Karst Management Association held its conference in Buchan, Victoria. At this conference John Hawker gave a presentation about Hugh Linaker titled Linaker Landscape and mentions: 

‘Hugh Linaker is regarded by many as the leading landscape gardener of his generation in Victoria, and in one sense was a successor to William Guilfoyle’.

Hugh Linaker left a legacy that brings enjoyment to thousands of Whitehorse residents every year yet it appears he is unknown in Whitehorse. The Whitehorse Council and those interested in our heritage should consider placing heritage interpretation panels around the Box Hill Gardens to inform residents and visitors of the history of the gardens.

The campaign to extend the tramline from Union Rd to Box Hill

In 1916 the Box Hill Tram League was formed and William Elsum was one of its founding members. 

One of the issues the league was involved in was lobbying the state government and the Nunawading council to build extensions to the Riversdale and Whitehorse Rd’s tramlines. 

A 1916 article in The Reporter (Box Hill) newspaper mentions:

‘From a Box Hill point of view, a tramway such as the Riversdale road line would be of enormous advantage, and a large area would be opened up. It could be a huge mistake to continue the Whitehorse road line, and if such a proposal were put before parliament he was afraid it would not be sanctioned’. 

The meeting had been held at the Recreation Hall in Box Hill and was attended by local residents and Robert Beckett M.L.C  

The tramline was opened in 1916 and stopped at the Union Rd terminus along Whitehorse Rd, it was not extended to Box Hill until 2003 – 87 years later.

Proposed road changes

In 1915 William put a proposal forward to the Nunawading Council to continue Kangerong Rd through to Thames St. In an article published in the Camberwell and Hawthorn Advertiser in January 1915 mentions:

‘That plans etc., for the construction of Kangerong road and right of way from north end of same to Court street be approved, and that statutory notices be served on owners of property; also that Mr. W.H. Elsum be informed council has decided not to entertain proposal for opening up Kangerong Rd through to Thames street’. 

The campaign for a sewerage system for Box Hill

In 1919 at a meeting of the Box Hill branch of the A.N.A a discussion took place ‘on the question of a sewerage system for Box Hill as to supersede the present antiquated method of dealing with the sanitary arrangements’. The subject was introduced by William Elsum ‘who expressed regret that the council had not followed up the scheme for a septic tank system brought from Manchester by ex Cr. C. A. Cox. He said that the heights of Mont Albert and Ivanhoe were to be sewered,but it appeared certain that it was quite impossible for Box Hill to be favoured with a sewerage system owing to the difficulties of obtaining levels’’. 

At a council meeting in August 1920 it was mentioned that the Metropolitan Board of Works would be making a decsion in regards to councils request for including Box Hill in the sewerage system. 

While parts of the City of Box Hill (such as Mont Albert, Surrey Hills and Box Hill proper) were connected to the MMBW sewerage system in the 1890s, some of the more underdeveloped areas remained unsewered well into the post - WWII period eg. Kerry Parade/Sutton Parade, Mont Albert North area which had septic tank systems. Thus expansion of the sewerage system had continued over the next 40 years until all of the City of Box Hill had finally been connected to the sewerage system by 1966.

A.N.A – Australian Natives Association

William was a member of the A.N.A (Australian Natives Association) since 1900 and in 1924 he was elected to the Board of Directors. The A.N.A was established in Victoria in 1871 by a group of young, white Australian-born men and was one of many friendly societies operating in Australia in the 19th century, most of which were offshoots of British societies. 

Friendly societies (also called benefit or fraternal societies) originated in the 18th century. They were formed by working men who paid into a mutual fund that was used to support members financially in times of sickness, distress, unemployment, old age as well as support for widows and dependent children. Many societies were also concerned with the moral, social and intellectual advancement of members.

By 1910 it had developed into a nationwide association with real political and social influence but was non-partisan and non-sectarian.

Members of the A.N.A included many of Australia’s early prime ministers such as Edmund Barton, Alfred Deakin, James Scullin and Francis Forde. The first Australian-born Governor-General, Isaac Isaacs, was a member, as were many premiers, members of parliament, businessmen and trade unionists.

The A.N.A remained a vocal pressure group through to the 1980s, although it never again reached the heights of political influence or membership it had attained between the 1890s and 1930s.

The Association’s friendly society benefit activities assumed greater importance by the 1950s. From 1961, the A.N.A’s business operations included a building society, life insurance and private health insurance, aged-care facilities and dental clinics.

In 1993, the A.N.A merged with Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows, a British fraternal society established in Australia in 1840, to become Australian Unity Ltd.

In 1920 William Elsum built the house at 25 Thames St, Box Hill North and named it View Hill.

Radio Presentations

From c1925 to c1931 William regularly presented programs on the Melbourne radio station 3LO. The topics included Forgotten Australian History, Early Land Explorations, Further History of the Bushrangers, the Bellarine Peninsula, Gold Fever – Bendigo Chapter and Scotch Martyr’s.

William did present a number of programs on 3L0 about Henry Kendall in 1931.

William Elsum and A C Wilson were to collaborate in writing a book on Thomas henry Kendall, but it appears the book was never written. 

Thomas Henry Kendall (b1839, d1882) was a renowned Australian author and poet who was well known for his poems and stories in the natural environment. He never used his first name preferring to publish his work under the name of Henry Kendall. Thomas wrote many poems including The Glen of the White Man's Grave(1860), The Curlew Song (1860), Fainting by the Way (1861), The Barcoo: The Squatter's Song (1862), The Last of His Tribe (1864), Daniel Henry Deniehy (1865), The Voyage of Telegonus (1866), Campaspe (1866) and The Warrigal (1867). 

Domestic radio began in Melbourne with the establishment of the Australian Broadcasting Commission and its regional radio stations including 3LO in Melbourne in 1923. 3LO began broadcasting on 13 October 1924, with an outside broadcast of a performance of La Boheme from His Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne, which featured Dame Nellie Melba. Named after 2LO London, it was owned by the Broadcasting Company of Australia which represented Farmer and Co., J. and N Tait, Buckley and Nunn Limited and The Herald and Weekly Times Limited. The first manager was Major W. T. Conder, a former Governor of Pentridge Prison. In 1928, control of 3LO passed to the Sydney-based Australian Broadcasting Company. In 1932, the Australian Broadcasting Commission was established and was given control of the two stations in Melbourne. In 1999, 3LO celebrated its 75th birthday and in 2000 took on a new name: 774 ABC Melbourne. 

Country Roads Board

In 1925 William Elsum was appointed to the position of Publicity Officer at the Country Roads Board. 

In February 1928 William Calder the first Chairman of the Country Roads Board died. A committee headed by Sir S. Morell Lord Mayor of Melbourne launched an appeal to raise funds to plant trees along the Princes Highway from Melbourne to Geelong to be named the Calder Memorial Avenue. William Elsum was appointed the official representative of the Calder Memorial Avenue appeal. The Calder Memorial Avenue was part of a 15-year statewide program to plant trees along 1700 kilometres of highways in Victoria.

Around 1930 William put the house at 25 Thames St up for sale and in 1931 the family were living at 136 Balwyn Rd, Balwyn. Of this period William Elsum’s grandson Jeffrey Elsum mentions:

‘My Grandparents owned a very large home in Thames Street in the early 1900s and Pop lost the lot to Banks during the depression in the 1930s. I think they had live-in servants but not sure’.

The ‘Great Depression’ as it was known began in the United States in 1929 and lasted until around 1939. This crisis marked the start of a prolonged period of economic hardship characterised by drastic declines in manufacturing output, high unemployment rates, widespread business failuresand acute deflation in almost every country of the world.

Francis Penhalluriack bought the house in 1932 and he put the house up for sale in 1935 but it did not sell. He continued to own it until c1960. 

Box Hill Public Swimming Pool

In 1926 at a Box Hill Council meeting William representing the Box Hill A.N.A along with representatives from a number of local associations, clubs and schools lobbied the Box Hill Council to build a public swimming pool in Box Hill. William was the only speaker on this matter for the lobby group. In an article in The Reporter Box Hill newspaper in August 1926 mentions: 

‘Mr. Elsum assured the council that as soon as the amount for the construction of the baths was placed on the estimates, strong committees would be formed throughout the Borough to help raise funds’. 

These other organisations with representatives included Box Hill, Mont Albert, Surrey Hills and Burwood Progress Associations, Surrey Park Swimming Club, Box Hill Branch R.S.S.I.L.A, Horton Grammar School, Box Hill Grammar School, Ladies Technical School and Box Hill, Surrey and Mont Albert State schools. 

The swimming pool was built in 1938 and prior to this Box Hill residents had been using Surrey Dive to swim in and hold swimming carnivals and regatta's. 

Box Hill Printing Business -The Elsum Press

In 1930 William, his wife Emma and their son Lindsay went into partnership and created the printing firm The Elsum Press which was located at 126 Whitehorse Rd in Box Hill – near the corner of Court St and Whitehorse Rd and within easy walking distance from their house in Thames Street. The firm was later renamed the Elsum Printing Co.

The printing business appears to have been well respected, quite successful and operated until around 1943. 

The business got into the news inadvertently when it was reported in March 1934 that Herbert Phillips (a dancer also known by the name of Bert Le Marr) tried to obtain tickets and circulars for a fake novelty ball for the State Relief Committee from Lindsay Elsum and his printing business. 

On Tuesday June 12, 1934 Herbert Phillips ‘pleaded not guilty before Judge Moule in General Sessions yesterday to a charge of having obtained tickets and circulars at Box Hill on March 26 from Lindsay William Elsum with intent to defraud’. On Wednesday June 13, 1934 the court heard that Herbert had called Lindsay and placed an order for tickets and circulars for a novelty ball. When Herbert went to pick up the tickets, he told Lindsay that he was sent by Mrs Boyland of the State Relief Committee to pick them up and that Mrs Boyland would pay for them. Bert also obtained prizes from other businesses in Box Hill as prizes for the ball. 

The police spoke to Mrs Boyland who said that she had never seen or spoken to him.

Herbert was questioned and arrested by police - charged with ‘intent to defraud, obtained from Lindsay William Elsum, printer Whitehorse Road Box Hill printed tickets and circulars to the value of £3/1/5. By falsely pretending that Mrs Boyland had sent him to order the articles and that Mrs Boyland would pay for them’. Herbert Phillips was found guilty and was remanded for sentencing.

Monbulk Sanctury

In 1931 a delegation led by Col. George H Knox MLA (after whom the City of Knox was named) and including William Elsum (Publicity Committee – Combined Progress Association), Mr James (President – Combined Progress Association), Mr Wilson (National Travel League) and Mr Daley (Field Naturalists) met with Mr Williams, the Minister of Forests. The meeting was to discuss a proposal for the creation of a hundred-acre sanctuary for flora and fauna in Monbulk. The sanctuary was eventually opened in 1937 by John C Le Souef and was named ‘Le Souef’s Fauna Park’ but later became the ‘Belgrave Wild Zoo’. 

John C Le Souef was the grandson of Albert Le Souef who was one of the founders of the Melbourne Zoo.  The Le Souef family played an integral part in the development of Zoo’s in Australia with Albert Le Souef’s three sons continuing this family involvement; in 1862 John’s father William become the Director of the Melbourne Zoo, his uncle Ernest established the Perth Zoo in 1897, and another uncle Albert establishing the Taronga Zoo in Sydney in 1916.

In June 1932 William Elsum was appointed by the Williamstown Council to write a History of Williamstown. 

His appointment is mentioned in an article in the Williamstown Advertiser newspaper: 

‘it was decided to appoint Mr. W. H. Elsum, journalist, of Box Hill, to go ahead with the writing of the manuscript at a fee of a 100 guinea’. 

That same article also mentions that he ‘was now engaged writing the history of Box Hill’ but I have been unable to find a copy or any information about this history of Box Hill book and it requires further investigation. 

In 1935 the book a History of Williamstown written by William Elsum was finally launched. In 1937 interview of Sir Sydney Cockerell who was the London buyer for the Felton Bequest at the National Gallery of Victoria mentions in The Dandenong Journal: 

‘Look at the book they gave me’ he said rummaging among some of the world’s most valuable manuscripts which he cannot leave out of his sight even on his travels a ’’History of Williamstown’’, by W.H. Elsum. This is extremely well done and I am reading it together with the ‘’The Age’’.

From 1942 to 1946 William was the President of the Gembrook Railway League. During this time the league lobbied the state government to replace the narrow-gauge railway line with an electrified broad-gauge line. In 1944 after a number of enquiries, the state government decided that the railway line will be broadened and electrified but only run from Upper Fern Tree Gully to Emerald not to Gembrook.

In 1950 William wrote a letter that was published in the Mountain District Free Press titled ‘Angels with dirty faces’ about the untidy and dirty area around Fern Tree Gully Station that greeted visitors on their arrival. He mentions: 

‘what an exceptional opportunity exists for action on the part of our parks and gardens authorities. I would suggest that they visit Box Hill. Imagine, in place of this civic negligence, vistas of well-kept lawns bordered by perennial blooms and shaded by ornamental shrubs. Few situations could be more naturally suite, few opportunities more apparent’. 

It appears that even after leaving Box Hill fifteen years before, William still had fond memories of it.

William Elsum died in 1966 and Emma Elsum in 1969 both in Boronia.

Peter Thodey

Peter Thodey was born in 1921 in Armadale, Melbourne he was the son of Alfred and Elizabeth Thodey (nee Wright - Neville). Peter is the grandson of William and Mary Ann Thodey who built the heritage listed French Second Empire style house at 83-87 Dorking Rd, Box Hill North in 1891. You can read about William and Mary Ann Thodey on this website on the McCook house page.

Peter was a student at Scotch College. 

In 1933 Peter sat for the Australian Music Examinations Board which were held by Melbourne University. He attained Honors in Theory and Pianoforte. 

The Australian Music Examinations Board was created in 1887 and is still in existence having offices in each state, as well as in New Zealand and Vietnam. 

In 1936 Peter took part in the school play titled The Dragon at Scotch College.

In 1937 Peter had joined the Scotch College’s Dramatic Society and participated in the play Twelfth Night at the Garrick Theatre which was located in the former Aikman Street, near Princes Bridge in Southbank. The play had been organised to raise funds for the colleges’ war memorial fund.

In 1939 Peter produced a puppet show based on the play by Noel Coward titled ‘Conversation Piece’. The show was performed at his parents’ home in Camberwell to raise money for improvements to the Kindergarten Training College in Madden Grv in Kew. That same year he sat for his leaving examinations at Melbourne University.

In 1940 Peter again organised a puppet show titled Romeo and Juliet at his parents’ home to raise money for the Free Kindergarten Union. The Free Kindergarten Union was established in Victoria in 1908 to unite all free kindergartens and to maintain high standards of supervision, with the provision of trained kindergarten teachers.

In 1941 Peter enlisted at Maribyrnong in the 65th Anti-Aircraft Company in the Citizens Military Force (CMF) as an ‘artilleryman’ and his religion is listed as ‘free thinker’. He was then transferred to the Headquarters of Southern Command (Artillery) and was later promoted to ‘acting bombardier’. 

In 1942 Peter enlisted in the AIF in Mt Martha with his occupation is listed as ‘student/bank official’ and his religion as ‘Christian Scientist’. Peter was then transferred to HQ Second Army with the rank of ‘bombardier’ confirmed. Later in the same year he was transferred to New South Wales.

In 1943 a performance of a play titled ‘Wouldn’t It’ was held at the Parramatta Town Hall. The performance was reported in The Cumberland Argus and Fruit growers Advocate and mentions ‘The scenery and effects by Sgt. Peter Thodey were particularly realistic’. That same year he successfully completed the Sergeants course at the NCO School and was posted to Army Headquarters in Melbourne. 

In 1944 he was posted to the Headquarters of the Second Army in Sydney with a short posting at the Headquarters of the Sydney Coast Artillery.

In January 1946 Peter was transferred to the Headquarters of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces (CMOF) but in September he was discharged. During this year Peter also worked in the theatre in a variety of roles including actor, set designer and builder and as a cast member of the Lorna Forbes Players who performed on 3AW Radio.

In 1947 Peter Thodey married Betty Willimott in Camberwell. Betty was born in 1921 in Camberwell, she was the daughter of Arthur and Violet Willimott (nee Moore.) Peter and Kathleen had two children Rosalind and Diana and also adopted Ian Ratcliffe.

In an article in The Age newspaper in 1949 mentions:

‘Peter Thodey with two volumes of Plato, has just done a paper on aesthetics at University. He is doing final exams in a combined English Literature and philosophy honours course, and will do his Diploma of Education next year.’ 

In 1950 Peter attained a Batchelor of Arts degree with honours from Melbourne University and he was also the scene designer for Henrik Ibsen’s play Peer Gynt at the Union Theatre at Melbourne University.

In 1951 Peter joined Camberwell Grammar and became a member of the Drama Club as well as Housemaster of ‘McNeil’ House. 

In the book By Their Deeds written by I.V. Hansen mentions: 

‘It was also, like Richard of Bordeaux, a Matriculation set play. An ambitious choice for an acting cast of school boys. In the event, a hundred boys were involved in the production, a cast of over thirty players and a small army of electricians, carpenters, scene painters and the rest. Directed by Max Howell and designed by Peter Thodey, the play drove the school into the unusual and the powerful’.

The Camberwell Grammar school journal the Grammarian in 1952 mentions:

‘the Dramatic Society intended to break new ground by producing an Australian play, “Ned Kelly”, by Douglas Stewart. The school had never before tackled Australian drama, let alone a play about such a controversial and socially-divisive figure as this infamous outlaw. The prospect of ‘real entertainment’, gunfire and all, was offered by a production overseen by Max Howell, whilst Mr P.R. Thodey (staff 1951-54) as the supervisor of the newly formed ‘Theatre Guild’, looked after the sets, décor and lighting.’

‘The success of the 1952 “Ned Kelly” was unprecedented – ‘the smell of cordite remained in the theatre for hours afterwards’ and it was all considered to have been ‘strong meat’ for schoolboy dramatists. Over 1000 people attended the four performances in August’.

In 1954 Peter joined Wesley College in the position of ‘matriculation English master’. At this time Peter and Betty were living in Howell Ave, Box Hill South.

Peter was continuing his own professional development and in 1955 he attained a Bachelor of Education from Melbourne University. 

In 1957 Peter left the private school system and joined the Victorian Education Department being appointed to Melbourne High School to teach History, English and Social Studies. His love of theatre obviously continued as he was also involved in Drama, adjudicating the House Play, was master in charge of the Marionette Club and managed the Recreation Library.

On The Melbourne High School Old Boys Association website mentions ‘He subsequently taught at Box Hill High School’. 

By 1960 Peter and Betty were living in Drewett St, Surrey Hills.  In 1960 Francis Penhalluriack is listed as living at 25 Thames St and by 1963 Peter and Betty are listed as living there. This would indicate that Peter bought the house from Francis Penhalluriack between 1961 and 1963.

In 1969 Peter’s wife Betty died. In the same year he was appointed as Principal of Goroka Teachers College in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and he also married his second wife Margaret Evers. 

Margaret Evers was born in England in 1935, the daughter of Rev. Mervyn and Effie Evers (nee Bolton) who were married in Peshawar, India in 1931. Her father was a missionary and had served in India from 1924 to 1944 where he eventually became the Archdeacon of Lahore and her mother, Effie worked as a doctor at the Church Missionary Society (CMS) hospital in Bannu in India. 

In 1957 Margaret travelled onboard the ship Orion from Tilbury, England to Sydney, Australia and by 1958 she was living in Canberra and working as a ‘clerk’.

In 1960 Margaret as a Cadet Education Officer was promoted to the position of Education Officer Grade 1 within the Australian Commonwealth Government Public Service - Education Ministry in the Australian Department of Territories - Papua and New Guinea (PNG). 

In 1964 Margaret opened the Madina High School in Kavieng, PNG and was its first Head Mistress until 1968 when she was promoted to the position as Head of the Social Studies Department at the Goroka Teachers College. 

Around 1974 Peter and Margaret returned to 25 Thames St, Box Hill and listed their occupations as ‘Lecturers’. By 1975 Margaret was speaking at lectures organised by the Anthropological Society of Victoria.

On The Melbourne High School Old Boys Association website mentions: ‘He subsequently taught at Box Hill High School and became a Lecturer at the State College of Victoria Rusden’. In 1981 the Rusden campus of the Victorian State College was created at Blackburn Road, Clayton; it had been  set up as a training college for teachers called Monash Teachers' College in 1961, but the campus site ceased operations in 1991. 

In 2021 Peter turned 100, he died in Box Hill in March, 2022 just three months shy of his 101stbirthday. Margaret died in Templestowe in March 2024 with a funeral service held at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Box Hill. 

VIEW HILL – THE HOUSE

Directory records show that the house was being built in 1920 and is where William Elsum and his family lived. As mentioned above William H Elsum was a well-known Melbourne author, poet, historian, editor, journalist, newspaper founder, printer and a prominent Box Hill / Victorian resident in the early 20th century. 

Peter Thodey, the grandson of William Thodey also lived in the house for over fifty years. You can read about William Thodey on this website on the page titled the ‘McCook House’.

The house at 25 Thames St appears to be a fine example of a Federation bungalow/attic style house which when it was built in the early twentieth century was on a very large block which has since been subdivided numerous times – its original entrance was located where the current driveway for number 27 Thames St is. Photos taken of the exterior and interior of house for a sales campaign in February 2022 show it to be in good original condition - it was sold quickly in the same month.

Photos of the interior and exterior of the house can be viewed here:  

25 Thames Street, Box Hill, VIC 3128 - realestate.com.au