OBJECT TITLE / NAME

Cottage, 1899

DATE1899

MEDIAImage

COLLECTIONHastings-Western Port Historical Society

REG NO.P162

HISTORY

This home, which stood next to the present police station in High Street, was demolished in 1980. It was the site of the first police station in Hastings. It was rented from the owner, Mrs Elizabeth Anderson (nee Grayden). Prior to this, the nearest policeman was at Dromana. The first policeman was Mr James Watt, a mounted policeman whose horse was kept in a paddock where the Bank of New South Wales now stands. He had a large district to cover. The second policeman was Mr O’Shannessy and the third was Mr J. Egan. The police station moved to 758 Frankston-Flinders Road then to a small office in Queen Street where one of the locals became most unpopular when he walked the full length of a newly formed cement path in rubber boots before it was set. Mr Les Lamprell then built the present police station from which the gendarmery then vacated for their grand new abode near Watts Road. The partly visible shed on the right-hand side of the photograph belonged to Paddy Ryan. He kept horses. On the back of the photograph is written in pencil and blue pen: “Elizabeth Anderson nee Grayden Lalla, Ann & Percy McConaghey at Hastings High Street Mrs Lintel 9 Irwell St St Kilda”.

DESCRIPTION

This image shows a small timber cottage with an iron roof and a four posted verandah at the front. The roof of the verandah has a striped effect. Five windows can be seen along the side of the cottage. A wooden fence is along the left-hand side of the photograph and a picket fence is across the front with a small gate in the middle. A large brick chimney can be seen above the roof line. There are trees on the right-hand side of the photograph where part of a shed can be seen. There is a woman and child standing outside the fence at the corner of the property and another woman inside of the fence near them. There is a wide grassed footpath and a wide stretch of grassed land beside the cottage. A sign with the words Hastings Refreshment Rooms can be seen on the wall under the verandah. Printed on the mounting at the bottom is: “The first Police Station, High St. Hastings. Owned by Mrs Elizabeth Anderson, nee Grayden. Prior to this, the nearest Police Station was at Dromana. The First Policeman James Watt, second, Mr O’Shannessy, 3rd Mr J. Egan. Photograph circa. 1899. Lalla, Anne and Percy McConaghey.”

SUBJECTS

Buildings, structures and establishments, Cottages, Police stations

KEYWORDS

Anderson, Elizabeth, Egan, J, Grayden, Elizabeth, Hastings Police Station, Lamprell, Les, Lintel, Mrs, McConaghey, Anne, McConaghey, Lalla, McConaghey, Percy, O’Shannessy, Mr, Watt, James