I have been scanning some Shire of Pakenham slides, most are of streetscapes and rural views in the Shire taken in the 1980s and early 1990s. However, some are copies of old photographs, like the ones below. I know the one immediately below is of the Dewhurst State School, which operated from 1934 until 1953. But the rest are mystery shots,although I believe they are also Dewhurst. The original town is now under the Cardinia dam, which was completed in 1973 - so were these photographs collected by the Shire to commemorate the lost town? If you can help identify them, I would be very grateful. I put this post up in September and today (October 2, 2013) I spoke to Mrs Dorothy Burgess (nee Bishop) who grew up in Dewhurst. They had an apple orchard, next to the school. In fact, her mother, as a young girl was responsible for naming the town. The area was always known as North Beaconsfield, but the Progress Association wanted another name - there was a choice of three and in the end young Frances Shanks, selected Dewhurst. You can see some other Dewhurst photographs here.
Dewhurst State School
This is the interior of the Dewhurst School.
Mrs Burgess has identified these Dewhurst students. The teacher, at left, is Joyce Little (later to become Mrs Taylor). The students in the back row are Dorothy Bishop, Mary Hamilton and Stan Hamilton. Middle row: Margaret Bishop, Margaret Halley, Janice Peart and David Halley. Front row: George Bishop, Helen Turner and Robert Wilson. Photograph taken around 1947.
These Dewhurst students are (left to right) Janice Peart, Winston Champion, George Bishop and Margaret Halley.
This was a Christmas play / concert. Left to right - Stan Hamilton, Margaret Bishop, George Bishop, Brian Davidson, Dorothy Bishop and Mary Hamilton.
This is the Dewhurst Methodist Church and is the wedding of Mary Hamilton and Alan Burgess, around 1954. The land for the church was donated by John Shanks, the grandfather of Mrs Burgess. This is the second church, the first one having burnt down. This was built by John Shanks and Edwin Hamilton. The last service took place in December 1972 and the church was sold and jacked up ready to taken away with a low loader when someone came in and stole the whole building. Not a very holy thing to do.
This is the wedding party - left to right - Ron Burrows, Hilda Hamilton; Bride Groom Alan Burgess; Bride Mary Hamilton; Thomas (Alex) Burgess, Ettie Hamilton; Robert Burgess and Lois Horan. Alex married Dorothy Bishop a few years later, in 1957, in fact you can see their wedding photograph, along with some other Dewhurst photographs, here.
