*Please note- This site search does not include the Vic. & Tas. BMD's, Lots o' Links & Worth a Look Books
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Notable Events
Click on link below to jump to Public Housing
The Olympic Games
DID YOU KNOW that the Modern Olympic games started in Shropshire in 1850?
In 1850 local surgeon William Penny Brookes (1809 - 1895), who was one of the people credited with introducing physical education into British schools, inspired the fore-runner of the modern Olympic Games for the "promotion of moral, physical and intellectual improvement"
William Penny Brookes' vision for the Wenlock Olympic Games is hailed as one of modern sports greatest achievements. The influential and wealthy Frenchman Baron de Coubertin was inspired to create the global event after a visit to the games in Much Wenlock. Coubertin discussed how the Wenlock games might be translated on to a bigger, international stage & was inspired to share Brookes' dream of a modern, international games. The first games of the modern Olympics took place in Athens in 1896.
http://www.muchwenlocktourism.co.uk/
In 1850 local surgeon William Penny Brookes (1809 - 1895), who was one of the people credited with introducing physical education into British schools, inspired the fore-runner of the modern Olympic Games for the "promotion of moral, physical and intellectual improvement"
William Penny Brookes' vision for the Wenlock Olympic Games is hailed as one of modern sports greatest achievements. The influential and wealthy Frenchman Baron de Coubertin was inspired to create the global event after a visit to the games in Much Wenlock. Coubertin discussed how the Wenlock games might be translated on to a bigger, international stage & was inspired to share Brookes' dream of a modern, international games. The first games of the modern Olympics took place in Athens in 1896.
http://www.muchwenlocktourism.co.uk/
Interesting to read the progress of the Melbourne 1956 games
My Father worked for the Victorian Housing Commission & has a certificate for being part of the team that built the Heidelberg Olympic Village. I wanted to see what was mentioned in Trove about it and found that the articles go on and on, what a circus!
How did Melbourne ever pull off hosting the games?
My Father worked for the Victorian Housing Commission & has a certificate for being part of the team that built the Heidelberg Olympic Village. I wanted to see what was mentioned in Trove about it and found that the articles go on and on, what a circus!
How did Melbourne ever pull off hosting the games?
*Lots of bickering over sites and funding etc.
*Four sites for the village were argued about before Heidelberg was chosen.
*The Federal Government said that they couldn't justify funding the village.
*Army huts were going to be used to save money
*The Army didn't agree to that.
*The Victorian Housing commission was chosen to build houses for
the Heidelberg Olympic Village
*Four sites for the village were argued about before Heidelberg was chosen.
*The Federal Government said that they couldn't justify funding the village.
*Army huts were going to be used to save money
*The Army didn't agree to that.
*The Victorian Housing commission was chosen to build houses for
the Heidelberg Olympic Village
Just some of the pre-Olympic Highlights-
Brisbane Telegraph (Qld.), Saturday 31 January 1953
Brisbane Telegraph (Qld.), Monday 20 April 1953
Queensland Times (Ipswich) (Qld.), Monday 10 May 1954
News (Adelaide, SA), Wednesday 15 September 1954
News (Adelaide, SA), Wednesday 15 September 1954
Mirror (Perth, WA ), Saturday 23 July 1955
Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), Sat. 29 September 1956
Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), Monday 10 December 1956
If you want to read more, click on the Titles below-
OLYMPIC GUIDE: AN ARGUS SOUVENIR OUR OLYMPIC DUKE | WHERE YOU'LL SEE THE DUKE
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Friday 16 November 1956
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Friday 16 November 1956
THE ARGUS PROUDLY PRESENTS: THE OLYMPIC STORY MELBOURNE — 1956 Two rivals had a Gold Medal stare
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Monday 3 December 1956
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Monday 3 December 1956
Delaney waited—then he mowed them down THE ARGUS PROUDLY PRESENTS: THE OLYMPIC STORY MELBOURNE — 1956 | LANDY'S GREAT RUN WAS A SHOCK — EVEN TO HIMSELF
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Monday 3 December 1956
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Monday 3 December 1956
THE ARGUS PROUDLY PRESENTS: THE OLYMPIC STORY MELBOURNE—1956 BIG CROWD HOOTS RUSSIAN FENCERS
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wednesday 5 December 1956
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wednesday 5 December 1956
ARGUS PROUDLY PRESENTS: THE OLYMPIC STORY MELBOURNE — 1956 THE GAMES BEAUTIES FROM ITALY...
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Saturday 8 December 1956
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Saturday 8 December 1956
The flame in the cauldron goes out during the closing ceremony of the Melbourne Olympics, Melbourne Cricket Ground, 8 December 1956 [picture] / Bruce Howard. (SLV)
Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), Saturday 24 November 1956
Clips from Australian Screen
Olympic Post Script (1956) clip 1
This clip gives an overview of the setting up of telephone, telegraph and broadcast equipment prior to the commencement of the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games.
http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/australia-post-olympic/clip1/
Olympic Post Script (1956) clip 1
This clip gives an overview of the setting up of telephone, telegraph and broadcast equipment prior to the commencement of the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games.
http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/australia-post-olympic/clip1/
Olympic Post Script (1956) clip 2
The workings of the postal and telephone services in the Olympic Village at Heidelberg, during the 1956 Melbourne Olympic games, showing the operators using a 'Teledex' to find the numbers.
http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/australia-post-olympic/clip2/
The workings of the postal and telephone services in the Olympic Village at Heidelberg, during the 1956 Melbourne Olympic games, showing the operators using a 'Teledex' to find the numbers.
http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/australia-post-olympic/clip2/
Olympic Post Script (1956) clip 3
This clip illustrates the workings of the OTC, telegraph and press offices. This is followed by footage from various athletic events
http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/australia-post-olympic/clip3/
This clip illustrates the workings of the OTC, telegraph and press offices. This is followed by footage from various athletic events
http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/australia-post-olympic/clip3/
MELBOURNE READY - OLYMPIC VILLAGE - SOUND
0:59
0:59
After the Crowd dies down, what happens to these Villages?
Top 5 Abondoned Olympic Villages
3:50
3:50
Melbourne hasn't abandoned the buildings, but they're not in great shape
Doing it tough together: Melbourne's Olympic village community
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-09/melbourne-olympic-village-west-heidelberg-doing-it-tough/6916224
Doing it tough together: Melbourne's Olympic village community
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-09/melbourne-olympic-village-west-heidelberg-doing-it-tough/6916224
Victorian Housing Scheme
Jordanville (Mount Waverley) photo from State Library of Victoria Collection
Our house: histories of Australian homes - 28: Commission House
http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/ahc/publications/our-house-histories-australian-homes/vic/28-
http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/ahc/publications/our-house-histories-australian-homes/vic/28-
Clips from Australian Screen
A Home of their own (1949) clip 1
Tells of housing problems & why the Victorian Housing Commission was formed
http://videomedia.aso.gov.au/titles/homeown/homeown1_pr.mp4
A Home of their own (1949) clip 2
Shows the pre fabricated construction of the houses
http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/a-home-of-their-own/clip2/#
A Home of their own (1949) clip 3
A family & their living conditions in a newly built house.
http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/a-home-of-their-own/clip3/
*The fist clip should run from the link, if clip 2 & 3 won't play, just click the download button.
A Home of their own (1949) clip 1
Tells of housing problems & why the Victorian Housing Commission was formed
http://videomedia.aso.gov.au/titles/homeown/homeown1_pr.mp4
A Home of their own (1949) clip 2
Shows the pre fabricated construction of the houses
http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/a-home-of-their-own/clip2/#
A Home of their own (1949) clip 3
A family & their living conditions in a newly built house.
http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/a-home-of-their-own/clip3/
*The fist clip should run from the link, if clip 2 & 3 won't play, just click the download button.
From 'Victorian Places'
Jordanville- http://digital.slv.vic.gov.au/view/action/nmets.do?DOCCHOICE=3409829.xml&dvs
Jordanville- http://digital.slv.vic.gov.au/view/action/nmets.do?DOCCHOICE=3409829.xml&dvs
Most people would probably associate public housing with a certain few suburbs in VICTORIA, but surprisingly, the Housing commission obtained land from quuite a number of areas, you might be surprised?
Public housing was popping up everywhere from Frankston to Lalor, Chadstone to Maidstone, Geelong to Dandenong & more, in an attempt to rid Melbourne of its overcrowded inner city slums.
Why The Housing Commision Became Involved
Slums of Melbourne (SLV) As far back as the 1850's, slums existed in inner city Melbourne. Slum dwellers lived a squalid existence. Often, they had no bathrooms, or sewerage. They lived in ramshackle housing, with leaky roofs and holes in the walls. http://blogs.slv.vic.gov.au/such-was-life/the-slums The following information is from-
http://www.victorianplaces.com.au/search?search CHADSTONE- As the subdivision filled with postwar housing a primary school was opened in 1953, and by the mid-1950s house construction was occurring east of Warrigal Road in the Jordanville Housing Commission areas. The name Jordanville dates from 1930 when it was given to the railway station, newly opened on the line from East Malvern to Glen Waverley, it originated from the early 'Jordan' settlers in the area.
SOUTH YARRA- like Prahran, was caught in the predicament of higher density postwar housing in the form of flats. The Prahran council arrested the population decline with Housing Commission high rise flats, but with considerable public resentment.
HOLMESGLEN- played a pivotal role in postwar population and housing growth, having a migrant hostel housed in Nissen huts at the corner of Warrigal Road and Power Avenue and the concrete-house factory run by the Housing Commission, Victoria, on the site of a former munitions plant. The Commission had large estates at Holmesglen and nearby at Jordanville, Alamein and Box Hill South.
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Norlane Estate, near Geelong
Boxhill Estate
The homes were often looked after by the renter, as if the house was owned by themselves.
IVANHOE WEST- Has Housing Commission dwellings, a Catholic school (1951) and a small shopping area.
LAVERTON- During the 1950's a Housing Commission estate was established & second primary school was opened in 1955 following the construction of married quarters at the Cabbage Patch on the RAAF base (Royal Aust Air Force).
FRANKSTON- In the summer of 1955-56 the area of the Frankston Forest was badly burnt. The State Housing Commission had been building an estate in Frankston and acquired 300 acres of the burnt land for the Frankston Forest housing estate.
Holmesglen is situated at the conjunction of Malvern East and Chadstone, and its boundaries are blurred. During World War II there was a munitions plant there.
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Heidelberg Estate
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After World War II- Australian National Airways sponsored housing for its employees in Glenroy West (1946) and the War Service Homes Commission began building on the other side of the railway line in 1950.
Most of Heidelberg West- was known as Portion 4 in the 1838 subdivision of the Heidelberg district. It was purchased by George Porter, speculator and businessperson. The area was farmed and remained in the Porter family until 1907. Although good for farming it was flat and unappealing compared with the elevated parts of Eaglemont and Ivanhoe. In 1933 Heidelberg West had a census population of 879, mostly north of the Repatriation General Hospital.
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Typical floor plan-
A test to see how quickly one of these houses could be built, was done back in the late 50's, where a team of men were able to erect the house to a finished stage in only 6 weeks. Although the concrete houses could be built very quickly, they posed some problems after a few years, with dampness & mould because of the cold concrete walls & also with movement, greenery started to grow up between the floors and the walls.
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Another problem with their new estates that had to be remedied was, household sullage water from properties in unsewered areas (Melbourne, 1957)
The houses were a far cry from the Mansions & Villas that were originally meant to be built in some of the areas, but to a lot of hard working families, these houses were a great blessing, to those families,
these houses were their
'Mansions' or 'Castles'.
these houses were their
'Mansions' or 'Castles'.