Mrs Windsor and the Essendon Public Library

This detail from a Charles Nettleton photo of the south end of the Essendon Town Hall, dated circa 1885-1887, shows “Public Library” and “Reading Room” painted on the glass of the upper storey windows.  Courtesy of the State

Library of Victoria Collection, H4521; LTAF 858.

Mrs Sarah Windsor was the first public librarian in Essendon.  She worked for the Council for a remarkable 56 years until her retirement in 1938, only a couple of years before the Council closed the library entirely.

The Time Travellers website carries the remarkable story of Sarah Windsor,  the daughter of a Van Diemen's Land convict, who became a well-known community figure in Essendon, retiring from her duties at the advanced age of 88.

Story featured in The Herald 30 March 1938 on Sarah's retirement.

Dr Thomson - A Name on a Certificate

Melbourne Medical School University of Melbourne. Archives Accession no: MHM00460

Taken in the courtyard of the Old Medical Building, c1880 with the students wearing academic

robes and mortar boards, and some are supporting human skeletons and skulls;

J R M Thompson is identified as seated in the middle of the front row.

John Rae Menzies Thomson was one of the first medical students at the University of Melbourne who did not go on to do further study overseas, being wholly trained in Australia.  He had many and varied professional and recreational interests, which Marilyn Kenny outlines in her article about Thomson.   

By 1889 "an advertisement in the Essendon Gazette announced that Dr J R Menzies Thomson, formerly Resident Medical Officer at the Melbourne Hospital had commenced practice at the Presbyterian Manse in Mt Alexander Road.  By 1890 the practice had moved to Rose St, Essendon, second in from the corner with Buckley.  In 1891 after Martha Thomson came to reside with the couple they moved to 2 Napier St, west side.  By 1900 they were living in St Ronan’s, Mount Alexander Road, next to St John’s".

 Read Marilyn Kenny's short biography of  Dr Thomson on the Time Travellers' website here.