Tag Archives: South Melbourne

May 15 2012

26-03-1883: St Luke’s Anglican Church, South Melbourne.

The foundation stone of St Luke’s Church of England was laid by Sir Henry Barkly on the 9th of  March 1857 at South Melbourne (at which time it was known as Emerald Hill).  The land the church now resides on was reserved in the original township plan back in 1852. The church was designed by Francis White and had a frontage to Clarendon Street before the church later sold it for retail development in the 1900’s which changed their address to the Dorcas street frontage. Architect Charles Webb added Transepts to the church in 1862 and it is the North Transept that has the Ferguson & Urie stained glass window.

The window depicts “Jesus in the House of Martha and Mary” and was installed in March 1883 to the memory of Mary Skeats (1817-1879) and has the memorial inscription “In Loving Memory of Mary the beloved wife of Charles Skeats, July 24th 1879.”

Photos taken 13th May 2012.

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Record, Emerald Hill, Vic, Friday 30th March 1883, page 3.

“…A very fine memorial window has also been placed in the church by Messrs. Ferguson and Urie in their most expensive style, to the order of Mr. Charles Skeats, in memory of his wife, Mary. The subject he has, therefore, very appropriately chosen, is Christ with Mary and Martha – “Mary hath chosen that good part,” &c. It is placed over the seat where Mrs. Mary Skeats used to sit in the church.”

The Argus, Melbourne, Monday 26th March 1883, page 5.

“Great improvements have been recently effected in St. Luke’s Church, Emerald-hill. The temporary arrangements of the east end of the church have been entirely altered, the choir seats, pulpit, and Communion table have all been rearranged, and a carpet and cedar reredos, with Gothic paneling, provided. A memorial window of stained glass has been also placed in the north transept by Mr Charles Skeats, in memory of his wife Mary Skeats, who used to sit in that part of the church. The subject is. “Mary hath chosen that good part,” &c.” 

The Argus, Melbourne, Saturday 26th July 1879, page 1.

SKEATS – On the 24th inst., at No. 10 Romsey-terrace, St Vincent place, Emerald hill, Mary, the beloved wife of Charles Skeats, Esq., aged 61 years. Deeply regretted.

The Argus, Melbourne, Friday 25th July 1879, page 8.

“THE Friends of CHARLES SKEATS, Esq., are respectfully invited to follow the remains of his beloved wife to the place of interment, the Melbourne General Cemetery.
The funeral is appointed to leave his residence, No 10 Romsey-terrace, St Vincent place south, Emerald-hill, on Saturday, the 26th inst., at two o’clock. THOMAS RENTLE, undertaker, 77 Napier-street, Emerald-hill”.

The Mary Skeats gravestone is located at the Melbourne General Cemetery, CofE, section W-189, but it has unfortunately fallen over sometime in the past century. Some of the text is still readable via digital images from beneath.

STH MELB St Lukes 98a

STH MELB St Lukes 98b

 

Attached documents:

09/03/1857: The Laying of the Foundation Stone of St Luke’s

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Apr 4 2012

31-01-1888: The fire at the Ferguson & Urie Yarra Bank workshops.

In the early hours of the 31st of January 1888 a fire broke out at the rear of Glover & Co’s foundry in Normanby-road, Yarra Bank (now South Melbourne) which in turn destroyed the adjoining Ferguson & Urie glass store. Reports of the fire were published in the Brisbane Courier, Sydney Morning Herald and Hobart Mercury tabloids. Despite the building being insured the company decided not to re-build the workshop and no longer had any presence in South Melbourne.

The Argus, Melbourne, Tuesday 31st January 1888, page 7.

“FIRE AT YARRA BANK SOUTH”.

“A destructive fire broke out early this morning in the factory of Messrs. Ferguson and Urie, glass stainers and importers of plate and sheet window-glass, Normanby-road, Yarra-bank south, which resulted in the destruction of the greater part of the premises. The flames also extended to the premises of Messrs. Wm. Glover and Co, iron-founders, where a considerable amount of damage was caused. The boats were removed from the yard of Mr. James Cowan, shipwright, but no damage was done to the buildings. At two o’clock the fire had got a firm hold of Ferguson and Urie’s, and the rear portion of the premises was completely gutted. Several fire brigades had arrived on the scene, and were playing freely on the burning buildings. It is not at present known how the fire began. Shortly after half-past 2 o’clock a second fire engine was brought to the scene, and the fire, although still burning, was thought to be in no danger of spreading further”.

The image of the Yarra Bank workshop below is a subset taken from the June 1887 company dinner photos.

Ferguson & Urie Yarra Bank Store 1887

Ferguson & Urie Yarra Bank Store, June 1887

The Argus, Melbourne, 1st February 1888, page 8 & The Mercury, Hobart, Friday 3rd February 1888.

“SERIOUS FIRE ON YARRA BANK SOUTH, DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £8,500.

“No explanation has yet been found for the origin of the fire which occurred early on Tuesday morning at the store of Messrs. Ferguson and Urie, Normanby-road, on Yarra bank, and a report of which appeared in a late edition of The Argus yesterday. It is believed by some persons, including members of the fire brigade, that it originated in the rear corner of Messrs. Glover and Co.’s foundry adjoining the glass store. But, on the other hand, Messrs. Glover and Co. state that a watchman was on their premises who declares that the fire was burning in Messrs. Ferguson and Urie’s store.”

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