58 John St Stories

Gun Alley Stories

Introduction

Possibly due to its closeness to the Olinda Creek Lot 9 was not one of earliest blocks sold and due to the banks of the creek was an odd shape similar as was the lot across the road – Lot 12 Block 1.

Audio introduction

Lilydalehistoricalsociety · Lot 9 Block 6 58 John St Audio

Throughout the Gun Alley pages you will see references in old articles to £ (pounds). £1 = $2; 10/- (10 shillings) = $1; 5/- (5 shillings) = 50 cents. Please note: this does not reflect the value of the money but serves as an indication only.

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Timelines

John Hutchinson

William Hutchinson (1880 – 21/7/1884)

William Scott (21/7/1884 – 1/6/1914)

Isaac Scott (1/06/1914 – 31/7/1914)

George William Milne (31/07/1914 – 25/10/1921)

Annie Callinan (25/10/1921 – 3/4/1922)

William Amos Blair (3/04/1922 – 20/12/1944)

Thomas Monaghan (1922 – 1923)

Thomas W. Davis (1923 – 1927

Patrick Keenan (1928 – 1938 end of rate books).

Albert Oscar and Edith Jane Briers (20/12/1944 – 15/19/1986)

Francis Joseph and Anne Carolyn; Alan John and Fay Lynette Whelan (15/10/1986 – 2010?)

Woolworths (2010? – )

Possibly due to its closeness to the Olinda Creek Lot 9 was not one of earliest blocks sold and due to the banks of the creek was an odd shape similar as was the lot across the road – Lot 12 Block 1.

William Hutchinson

With the death of Louis Deschamps in May 1884, William Hutchinson was left with the sole responsibility of selling off the remaining blocks of the Olinda subdivision.

William and Isaac Scott

William Scott was in Lilydale at the time the shire was created in 1872. The ratebooks show his occupation as a bootmaker and he was renting a shop and residence in Main Street from Henry Perrin. By 1874 he was leasing a property from John Hutchinson before in 1881 leasing land from the Crown simply marked as House Olinda this was the home in the eastern bank of the Olinda creek, south side of Main Street below Clarke St. Later this property was owned and occupied by his daughter who married Thomas Beddoe. From these premises Scott operated his bootmaker business as well.

In 1881 he is shown as owning the freehold of Lot 9 block 6 but he did not gain title to the property until 1884. It was probably paid off in instalments. Now as owner he had a house built on the site and became a landlord. The rates went from £1 to £14 in 1885.

The various tenants were: William Darham labourer, William Davey labourer; William henry Smith manager tileworks; Henry Tuck wheelwright, William Cook labourer; William Baynes labourer; Charles McHenry labourer; Charles McCormick labourer; Thomas Rathbone dealer in fire wood; Mrs Chisholm housewife; Margaret Gilson and others. (Ref Shire of Lillydale ratebooks – various)

In 1891, William’s wife Mary died of influenza and was interred at Lilydale Cemetery along with children of the Beddoe family.

William continued to live and work in Lilydale until about 1914 when he gifted the property to Isaac Smith. It appears William moved in with Isaac Scott as both their addresses are Vermont near Mitcham.

Isaac, a commercial traveller did not hold the property for long as it was registered in his name on June 24, 1914 and sold to George William Milne on July 31, 1914 for £130.