History of Kensington, 1905 to 1930

Macaulay Road, Kensington, looking south.  Courtesy of Flemington Heritage Facebook

In 1976 Sylvester James Baker was asked to write down his recollections of Kensington and South Kensington as he remembered from  his youth.  Sylvester at age 4 years had moved to South Kensington with his family in 1905 where they lived in Ratcliffe Street, Brown’s Hill until 1910,   Bruce Street from 1910 until 1918, and Wolseley Parade from 1918 until his marriage at Holy Rosary Church in 1928.  After his marriage he moved to Yarraville, but maintained his connection with Kensington as the Secretary of the  Kensington Hibernian Society for 52 years.

Kathleen Baker, Sylvester's daughter, has kindly given permission to publish Sylvester's story on the Time Travellers of Essendon and Flemington website.

School is cool at Ascot Vale West

Boys from the Ascot West State School, No.4025, on a coach trip to Tecoma, 1925. Courtesy of Museums Victoria Collections https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/767458

It was way back in February the last time I drew attention to local school photos added to the Time Travellers website, but I find I have added quite a few since then.   You can check it out on the School photos page.

Georgina Bingham - an 'Energetic Worker'

Georgina Bingham is second from the right in the front row.

Georgina Bingham lived in Bank St, Ascot Vale, on and off, from 1887 until 1920, with periods elsewhere.  Georgina interested herself in a broad range of womens' welfare issues, and Marilyn Kenny has done an excellent job of sleuthing out the various organisations where she became an 'Energetic Worker'.  These included the Essendon Ladies' Benevolent Society, for which she was the Ascot Vale Ward representative, the Victorian Neglected Children's Aid Society, stood for election to the Essendon Board of Advice, though not elected.  She became an Honorary Probation Officer (and much later an Honorary Magistrate) and worked with those who were interested in establishing a Children't Court and Probation system.  There were other societies a well. 

Just to demonstrate that her aim was true, Mrs Bingham was also a member of the Commonwealth Ladies' Rifle Club, established at the Essendon Town Hall in 1900, and proved to be a successful markswoman. 

You can read more about Georgina Bingham in Marilyn Kenny's story  here.