PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE - Camberwell Historical Society
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Principal Patron: Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Blainey, AC
Patron: Her Worship the Mayor of Boroondara, Cr Cynthia Watson
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
George Fernando
Our meetings for 2020 will
recommence via zoom with a
meeting on 22 September at 5pm.
Our October and November
meetings are also planned to be on
zoom. I trust that members are
continuing to stay safe during the
pandemic and hopefully next year
things will get back to normal.
Volunteers are needed to help scan
drawings and historical files
especially as we have a large new
collection of beautiful drawings of
local houses donated by Margaret Picken and we have many files still to scan from our
collection. You will find her story in this newsletter. Thank you to those members who have
already come forward to help the committee with the backlog of scanning.
Included in this newsletter is a
fascinating article about the early years
of Bill Mackie, who was born in
Ceylon. Bill is one of our longest-
standing members.
Our plans to record stories that people
tell about their past will have to remain
postponed because of current close
contact restrictions. It is worrying that
the Progress Leader local newspaper
has shut down, but I understand another
newspaper is starting. Today’s news
becomes tomorrow’s history.
1
MARGARET PICKEN COLLECTION
We have been very fortunate
to receive a donation of many
beautiful drawings of houses
by Margaret Picken. Margaret
was contracted as a property
illustrator by several
Melbourne real estate firms
during the period 1983 to
2005. Margaret Picken has
been incredibly generous and
donated collections of her
sketches to the historical
societies in Boroondara and
to the Heidelberg and Box
Hill historical societies. We
estimate that there are over
1,500 drawings in the
collection gifted to
Camberwell Historical Society.
Margaret’s donation to
our collection is
important, not only
because of the artistic
merit of the sketches,
but also as historic
records of Boroondara
heritage. The sketches
are carefully notated.
The process of scanning
these into the collection
and cataloguing the
individual records to the
Victorian Collections
website is time-
consuming but well
worthwhile. Margaret
has generously assigned
the copyright of the CHS
collection of drawings to
the Society.
The main real estate companies she worked for were Woodards, Woodards Network, Fletchers
(Fletcher and Parker), Ham Kerr and Co, Richard Kerr and Co, Argyle Partners, Barrett Bros,
Barry Iles, McLaren Real Estate, Noel Jones, Gorman and Kelly (Commercial), Paul Walker,
and Collin Simms.
2
PROPERTY ILLUSTRATOR HISTORY 1983-2005
Margaret Picken
Having trained and worked as a cartographic
draftsman from 1968 to 1975 within the mining
industry, I easily fitted into a ‘work at home’ job
when it presented itself in 1983 as a ‘pen and ink’
sketch artist drawing houses for the real estate
industry within the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. The
tools of trade were the same but the subject matter
different.
Working from home was a perfect job to have while a
busy family of three young children happened in
tandem. The kitchen table was my office for most of
this working time. Significantly, I was able to work
around school and family commitments.
Initially I worked for another artist for three months,
but as I had my own contacts in real estate, we
amicably parted company and I began what was to be
a 22-year career in this area.
Sketches were ordered by phone as there were no mobile phones or computers then. I would
take our 2-year-old son with me to the houses when my other two boys were at school. I
photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a ‘thumbnail’ sketch while there. The
photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting
film and the ‘pen and ink’ was completed. This process was the only one I used the entire time.
Polaroid photos gave an instant usable photo. I then delivered the sketches by hand to the
offices. There were deadlines each week on a Tuesday.
As the years went by
the mobile phone,
computer usage and
finally being able to
scan and send the
sketches streamlined the
process.
As well as the house
sketches there were
floor plans and site
plans ordered, and after
a few years aerial
sketches also were
ordered when the
property needed an
3
overall view. Today a drone photo would be used. Appointments with the vendor were needed
for access if necessary.
I became aware of my
sketches being used
multiple times in the late
1990s without
recompense and sought
legal opinion re
copyright issues. It was
confirmed to me that I
owned copyright, as I
was the ‘author’ of each
work. Discussing this
issue with my real estate
clients they were
immediately in
agreement and allowed
me to retrieve all my
sketches from their
archives. I am incredibly
grateful for this and as a consequence I can now gift these sketches to local historical societies
for their future use. As an amateur historian myself I appreciate the worth of this material for
posterity.
Finally, in about 2003, coloured photographs began to take over from sketches and mainstream
companies replaced sole traders like myself providing a one-stop shop for all advertising. I
produced my last real estate sketches in late 2005.
4
Over time, I formed many great relationships with the agents, and became the preferred artist to
many including Woodard’s, Fletchers (Fletcher and Parker), McLaren and Argyle Partners. I
view my working life during this time as an enormously busy one which provided me with a
most rewarding career.
AN AUSTRALIAN FAMILY IN COLONIAL CEYLON
Bill Mackie
Bill Mackie has been a member of the Camberwell Historical Society for many years. Bill has
previously written articles about his family’s association with the Camberwell area.
‘Architecture of Edward Bates on the “Belmont” Estate, Balwyn’ (CAMBERWELL HISTORY,
Issue No 2, September 2010)
‘A Voyage Among Icebergs’ (CAMBERWELL HISTORY, Issue No 1, June 2010)
‘My Ride on the Outer Circle Railway’ (CAMBERWELL HISTORY, Issue No 5, June 2011)
‘Boroondara’s Henry Walsh, notable clockmaker, pioneer and civic leader who got things
started’ (CAMBERWELL HISTORY, Issue No 5, June 2011)
Three of Bill’s ancestors were:
Henry Walsh, MLC, first
Chairman of the Boroondara
Road Board in 1856-1857 and
Mayor of Melbourne in 1858-
1859; William Bates, MLA,
Minister for Public Works in
1870; Robert Reid, MLC, a
minister in two governments in
the 1890s and a federal senator
in 1903. Bill’s link to
Melbourne’s pioneer past is
shown in the accompanying
photo of Mary Reid and her
descendants. Bill’s Mackie
relatives formed an interesting
link between Melbourne and
Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in its
colonial days when the Mackie
family worked in the production
and marketing of tea, the subject
of this article.
Belmont Avenue, Maleela
Avenue, Reid Street, Myambert
Avenue, and Parkside Avenue
are all named from his family’s
houses or family name. The 33-
Four generations at Belmont in January 1923: Mary Jane Reid (nee
Clancy), b. 20.5.1841 in Melbourne; her eldest daughter Kate Bates, b. acre Belmont estate of Robert
26.11.1868 in Richmond; Kate’s eldest daughter Eileen Mackie, b. Reid was divided when he gifted
5.11.1893 in Balwyn; Eileen’s elder son Bill Mackie, b. 25.01.1922 in 5
Ceylon.4 acres to each of his daughters when they married. The Belmont Stables, Larino, Maleela and
Myambert were designed by Reid’s son-in-law Edward Bates. Larino was sold in 1939 and
demolished in 1961 and Maleela was sold about 1946, demolished 1980-81. Myambert was built
for Arthur Reid in 1911. It was sold after Arthur died in 1953.
THREE MACKIE GENERATIONS IN CEYLON
Two generations of my family worked in the tea industry in Ceylon. My story starts in about
1876, when my grandfather Copland Mackie joined the tea trade in Glasgow, Scotland, and ends
when the last of our family connections left Ceylon in 1959. It makes me ponder on some social
conditions prevailing in the British colonial period during the first half of the twentieth century
and the changes since the country became a republic in 1972.
First Generation - Copland Mackie
Copland Mackie was born in
1860 at Fort Hare, South
Africa, when the regiment of
his father, Quartermaster
William Mackie, was
fighting in the Third Kaffir
War in South Africa. From
1871-1875 Copland attended
George Watsons College in
Edinburgh, Scotland. From
1876-1885 he worked in the
tea trade in Glasgow. In
1886 he emigrated to
Melbourne where he set up
Heywood: the Colombo home of Copland and Mary Mackie and family.business as Copland Mackie
This building in Horton Place is now occupied by the University of Visual
and Performing Arts. & Co., tea brokers. The
severe recession of 1892-
1893 caused the crash of many banks in Melbourne and eventually forced Copland to merge his
business with Fraser, Ramsay & Co., tea brokers. In 1893 Copland married Mary Beatrice
Walsh of Melbourne, and they lived in Caulfield area.
In 1909 Copland was moved to Colombo to manage Eastern Export Co., a subsidiary of Fraser,
Ramsay & Co. which later merged with Harrisons & Crosfield to form Harrisons, Ramsay &
Co.
From 1919-1921 Copland managed Harrisons office in Wellington, New Zealand. He retired in
late 1921 and died in Melbourne in December of that year. His widow returned to her family in
Ceylon and later to Mackie relatives in Scotland.
Second Generation – William Copland Mackie (Bill)
1894: Born in Melbourne. At school until end of 1911.
1912: Travelled to Ceylon and worked as an SD (assistant manager) on Waldemar tea estate,
Udapussellawa.
1912-1917: When working on tea estates he joined Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps.
61917: Travelled to England. Joined RAF and trained unsuccessfully to be a pilot; then joined an
infantry regiment as an officer but was discharged due to chronic bronchitis and returned to
Ceylon in 1918.
1918-1921: Worked as an assistant manager on Hingurugama Estate near Badulla.
March 1921: Married Eileen Bates of ‘Larino’, Balwyn, at Nuwara Eliya.
In November 1921, just before lunchtime on a Sunday, a car with the company’s Colombo agent
and a director of the company owning the estate, perhaps a staunch Presbyterian abstainer,
arrived at the Mackie bungalow without warning. On finding Bill Mackie having a glass of beer
before lunch the company’s director sacked him immediately for drinking while on the tea
estate! Bill remained at Hingurugama until a replacement arrived in early 1922.
From 1922-1927 Bill Mackie worked with the Galaha Ceylon Tea Estates & Agency Co.,
Galaha being a village about 20 miles south of Kandy. Until the start of 1927 the family lived at
its Dunally Estate, Galaha, where Bill was manager; all tea produced was delivered to the
Galaha tea factory. In 1927 he was PD and manager of the Galaha Estate and factory, so the
family resided in the manager’s bungalow.
January 1922: William Bruce Copland Mackie (Bill Jr) was born in Nuwara Eliya.
September 1924: James Austin Copland Mackie (Jim and later Jamie) was born in Kandy.
Staff of Galaha Estate Tea Factory assembled at Manager’s bungalow garden in late 1927, before departure of
Mackie family for Australia.
Seated at centre, L- R: Alec Hudson, SD, Jamie Mackie, Eileen Mackie, Bill Mackie Jr., Bill Mackie, PD.
Seated on left of Bill Mackie is Ayaswamy, Chief Clerk, and behind him is his brother Doraiswamy, shorthand-
typist/secretary for Bill Mackie. This assembly on Galaha Estate is perhaps also indicative of parts of British
colonial social structure.
Because of the prevailing British belief that children aged from 7-15 and born in the tropics
could not survive the cold winters of Britain or southern Australia, these children were sent to
7boarding school or relatives in the home countries. The Mackie family arranged in 1926 to move
permanently back to Victoria in late 1927.
1928: Bill Mackie and family moved to a farm near Rochester in northern Victoria.
1942-1945: Bill served as an officer in the RAAF, with a year in Papua New Guinea.
1945: Bill resumed farming in the Kyneton district.
1972: Bill died in Melbourne.
Second Generation – Beatrice Marjorie Mackie (Marjorie)
1895: Born in Melbourne. Attended school in Toorak until end 1912.
1912: Moved to parents’ home in Colombo.
1914: Moved to Edinburgh. Served in the nursing service during WW1. Her fiancé was killed in
action.
1918: Returned to Ceylon.
1919: Married Ernest Napper, PD of Glentilt Estate, Maskeliya. They had a daughter and a son,
both of whom were sent to boarding schools in England. Marjorie and Ernestretired to England
in 1945.
1970: Died in Exeter.
Mackie family and friends in
Colombo, Ceylon, 1913
L-R standing: Copland Mackie,
Mary Mackie, Eileen Wingrove
(on holiday from Melbourne),
Marjorie Mackie and friends,
Seated: Gladys Mackie and two
friends.
Second Generation – Gladys Irene Mackie (Gladys)
1897: Born in Melbourne. Attended school in Toorak until end 1912.
1912: Moved to parents’ home in Colombo.
1914: Moved to Edinburgh, where she studied piano and singing for four years, and played as a
professional accompanist.
November 1919: Married Oswald Boyd Forbes (Ossie) in Edinburgh then returned with him to
Colombo, where she continued to teach piano and singing and played in concerts.
Her husband Ossie Forbes was the son of James Forbes, who in 1881 founded the company
Forbes and Walker Ltd, the largest tea and rubber broking firm in Ceylon. Ossie was ten years
older than Gladys; they did not have any children. Ossie’s main interests were Forbes and
Walker, some sports, as an officer in the Ceylon Defence Force, and as Member of the
Legislative Council. Admiral Sir Charles Forbes was an older brother.
1921-1931: Accompanied visiting international musicians in concerts in Colombo and Kandy.
8Throughout the 1920s Gladys’ life centred on music, teaching piano and singing, accompanying
visiting artists in concerts, giving solo performances in public and private recitals. She was
president of the Music Teachers’ Association for three years, and president of the Ceylon Music
Society from 1938 to 1948. She was also keen on tennis and golf, winning the 1936 Ladies’ Golf
Championship of Ceylon.
1931: Commenced playing music for two pianos in concerts with Lionel Wendt, participating in
other concerts with Wendt until about 1940. Lionel, a famous Ceylon artist and musician, had a
keen interest in photography from his schooldays, and it replaced music as his main interest
during the 1930s. In 1934 he and others established the Photographic Society of Ceylon. He had
a broad and active interest in the arts, becoming internationally famous for his talents. He taught
Gladys Forbes how to use a Rolleiflex camera and to prepare large bromide photos of a quality
acceptable for the annual exhibitions of the Photographic Society in 1938 and later. Similarities
between some subjects photographed suggests they had some excursions together. Wendt died in
1944.
1959: After Gladys’ husband Ossie retired from Forbes and Walker Ltd, they moved to London.
1978: Died in London.
Third Generation – William Bruce Copland Mackie (Bill Jr)
Personal recollections of an early childhood in colonial Ceylon
Virtually all of my first six years were spent at Galaha, near Kandy (1922 - 1928). Initially, Dad
was an assistant manager residing on Dunally Estate, which delivered tea to the Galaha Estate
factory. Dad became manager of Galaha, where we lived until he and Mum decided in 1928 to
take up farming in Australia rather than send me and my younger brother Jamie to prep school in
Australia.
Galaha bungalow in 1927 provides more memories. An ayah looked after Jamie and me, but she
was joined by a governess, Miss Martin, known as Mar Mar. In Melbourne, Mar Mar had been
governess for my mother’s younger sister and brother Austin, but when he died in 1924
Grandma Bates decided to ship Mar Mar to Ceylon to help my mother look after Jamie and me.
Typically, in those days ‘Children were to be seen but not heard’, so about our only involvement
with our parents was to kiss them good night before we went to bed.
Galaha manager’s bungalow
and garden in 1927.
Galaha bungalow and garden
with young Bill and Jamie, in
front, playing beside the lily
pond.
Galaha bungalow had a
nice large garden, where
Jamie and I used to play. Its
big lily pond was a major
attraction for us. One day
Jamie fell into the pond, so
I grabbed his legs and
yelled for help. When help
arrived, his head was under
9water and he was blowing bubbles. It is reported that my mother later told me I should have let
his legs go so that his head was not under water, to which I replied, ‘But you told me not to let
him get his new shoes wet.’
We had a Jersey cow at Galaha to provide fresh milk each day for us. Sinniah, who was driver of
our Willis Overland car, milked the cow and gave me a few lessons on how to extract milk – a
sort of prelude to life on the farm in Northern Victoria, where Dad had no coolies and I had to
milk the farm cow at weekends. Some other tea estates nearby also had cows. I have been told
that at a dinner party on one of these estates, the hostess proudly announced that roast fresh beef
was to be served at dinner, to which my mother rather thoughtlessly asked, ‘What did the cow
die of?’
I returned to Kandy with my wife in 1982, fifty-
five years after I had departed for Australia.
Because Dad, after leaving Galaha, had always
exchanged Christmas greetings with Ayaswamy,
chief clerk at Galaha factory, and his brother
Doraiswamy, shorthand typist/secretary, I was
able to contact them and to meet at the Hotel
Suisse in Kandy. With Doraiswamy (by then aged
80) we visited Galaha, which in 1980 had
celebrated its 100th anniversary. A large notice
recorded the event at the office entrance.
It was wonderful to see
Kandy and Galaha again and
to meet two of my father’s
very hospitable friends there.
However, looking back on
my privileged childhood in
the colonial era it is clear
those were not good times
for many in Ceylon.
I hope time has not dulled
this vision of a period when
the society of a British
colony matured to a self-
reliant nation and many of its
members developed an
environment of creativity
and appreciation of the arts,
Kath and Bill Mackie with Doraiswamy and two members of Galaha beauty and cultures on this
Factory staff in 1982. Doraiswamy was secretary/shorthand typist for my island. Others have tried to
father Bill Mackie in 1927. improve the living
conditions for Sri Lanka’s
less fortunate inhabitants; and now today we have Sri Lankan expatriates contributing to the
wellbeing of Australia.
10REPORT OF MEETINGS 2020
Annual General Meeting 22 August 2020 held via Zoom
George Fernando stated that with the AGM each year there is an opportunity to acknowledge
those who support Camberwell Historical Society. He thanked Boroondara Library for their
help, Boroondara Council for providing CHS with a grant and the use of the room at 25 Inglesby
Road, and Josh Frydenberg and his office staff for printing our newsletter.
He thanked all those who have contributed to the running of CHS and the work we do. He
thanked the committee for their work throughout the year: Adèle Fernando-Swart, the Secretary
and newsletter editor; Peter Huggan, the Treasurer, Alister Bennie, Archivist and Facebook
administrator, Bryony Cosgrove for hosting meetings at her home, finding speakers and helping
with the newsletter, Jennifer McArthur, who has represented CHS on Boroondara Council
committees. In addition, he acknowledged the assistance of Wendy Baden-Powell with the CHS
meetings. He then thanked every CHS member for their ongoing membership and support,
especially those who made additional donations.
Volunteers
People are required to scan drawings and historical files. We have a large new collection
donated by Margaret Picken, and we still have many files from our existing collection to scan.
Historic properties issues raised
Boroondara heritage gap studies information
It was proposed that CHS look to support or lobby somehow for the historical records being
created as outputs from the Boroondara heritage gap studies, which should be used to create an
accessible database for the community. The gap study includes social history and architectural
reports on several hundred important local heritage properties and houses, and also reports
containing information about the history of local areas and general information relating to
thousands of heritage properties. The studies are expected to result in protection of over 5000
heritage houses.
69 Broadway, Camberwell
Attention has been drawn to an application for a planning permit submitted to Boroondara
Council concerning alterations and additions to 69 Broadway, Camberwell. Considerations are
likely to include: the extent of demolition, how the alterations and additions contribute to the
heritage place, the extent to which they detract from the heritage place, whether they have regard
for the character, appearance and significance of the heritage place, whether the design is
sympathetic to the heritage place, lack of compliance with title covenants, and visibility of the
alterations to the public.
SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30 JUNE 2021
All membership subscriptions were due after 30 June 2020
Subscription renewal to be returned to:
The Secretary, Camberwell Historical Society Inc., PO Box 1274, Camberwell, 3124.
Subscription Rate: Ordinary membership: $30.00
Family membership: $40.00
11DATES FOR MEETINGS 2020
Cmber
Meetings are being held via Zoom until further notice. Zoom links will be sent prior to the
meetings.
Tuesday 22 September 5pm The Shelf life of Zora Cross Cathy Perkins
Australian poet and journalist Zora Cross caused a sensation in
1917 with her book Songs of Love and Life. She was hailed as a
genius, but her fame didn’t last.
Tuesday 27 October 7pm Before I Forget Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Blainey, AC
Before I Forget is the memoir of the first forty years of Professor
Blainey’s life - from his childhood to his career as a historian and
writer.
Tuesday 24 November 6pm Anthony George Maldon Michell Stephen
AGM Michell (1870-1959) was an internationally renowned
Melbourne inventor and engineer who, through his study of the
physics of lubricative fluids, developed his thrust bearing for ships.
and revolutionized ship propulsion.”
CAMBERWELL HISTORICAL SOCIET Y DONATIONS TO THE
COLLECTION
Camberwell Historical Society welcomes donations of the following items relating to the former
City of Camberwell: photographs and prints, documents, letters, diaries, maps, plans, books,
pamphlets, and reminiscences of former residents and people who worked in the area.
Contributions to Camberwell History contain the opinions of the contributors and do not
necessarily reflect the views of Camberwell Historical Society, its committee or members.
CAMBERWELL HISTORICAL SOCIET Y SUBSCRIPTION
RENEWALS 2020
Camberwell Historical Society’s financial year operates from 1 July to 30 June. Subscriptions for
the 2020 – 2021 financial year were due and payable from 1 July 2020. Single $30, Family $40.
Camberwell Historical Society, BSB 633-000 Account No 142260678 Cheques to Camberwell
Historical Society, PO Box 1274, CAMBERWELL 3124
CAMBERWELL HISTORICAL SOCIET Y, INC
ABN 79 935 200 741 Incorporation No A0041541Y
Affiliated with The Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Inc
PO Box 1274 CAMBERWELL 3124 Tel: 9885 9927
Web address: http://www.chs.org.au
email address: enquiries@chs.org.au
President — George Fernando; Secretary - A dè le Fernando-Swart; Treasurer – Peter Huggan
Committee members — Bryony Cosgrove, Alister Bennie and Jennifer McArthur
C am be r we l l Hi s t ory : Editor — Adèle Fernando-Swart
The Society’s logo is taken from an illustration by, and used with the permission of, Bill Beasley.
Camberwell History is printed in the office of The Honourable Josh Frydenberg, MHR, Federal Member for
Kooyong, Treasurer of Australia, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party
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