Elizabeth Jean Thomas, Wolfdene
Elizabeth Jean Thomas, Wolfdene
DATE1950s
MEDIAImage
COLLECTIONMornington and District Historical Society
REG NO.1393.3
HISTORYWolfdene was originally the Mornington Hotel. The licensee of the Mornington Hotel in 1860 was Harley Goodall, a man who played a prominent part in public affairs during the early days of Mornington. The Mornington Hotel had its own brewery next door, hence the name Brewery Road, which was renamed Nunn’s Road in 1952 in honour of veteran councillor Robert Nunn. In 1868 the licence of the hotel was transferred to a new Mornington Hotel in Main Street. The original building in Wilson’s Road was then renamed Wolfdene and used as a school conducted by the Backhouse brothers. Later it was a private home. A rambling single storey weather board building, surrounded by a wide verandah. It then became the residence of Mr and Mrs Ron Fallaw. The grounds have been sub divided to permit the building of of modern houses, and the construction of Wolfdene Court, but many of the flowering Japonicas and shrubs of the old garden remain to grace the historic house.
The Backhouse brothers were the sons of the Reverend Benjamin Backhouse, who came to Australia in 1870 as Director of the British and Foreign Bible Society in Australasia. His five well educated sons came with him or followed soon afterwards. Mr E. B. Backhouse of Rosebud is a nephew of the Backhouse Brothers.
1. This shows little blonde haired girl about 18 months old sitting on the lawn, holding a doll. The verandah of Wolfdene is shown on the right in the back ground
2. This shows the same little girl standing holding her doll
3. This is the same girl again, but a little older, maybe 4 or 5 years old. She is holding a different doll, and has a toy cane stroller for the doll in front of her. Just beside her there is a ornate pedestal with a flower pot on the top. In the background the weather board house “Wolfdene” can be seen with it’s sash windows
Breweries, Historic buildings, Hotels
KEYWORDS
