Chiltern Athenaeum Museum

19/06/2026

The Search for the Montevideo Maru.
Captain Roger Turner CEng, RN was the Search Director of the team searching for the Japanese prisoner of war ship, Montevideo Maru. Captain Turner studied at the Royal Naval College Greenwich, now a museum. A marine engineer, he served in the Royal Navy for thirty years specialising in nuclear submarines.
In 1942 the Montevideo Maru was torpedoed by an American submarine. It sank with the loss of over 1000 Australian lives, most of them prisoners of war. The loss is considered Australia’s worst maritime disaster.
Members of A&DHS were treated to a talk by Roger Turner in April 2025 describing the successful search for the ship. If you missed the talk, Roger will be delivering the talk again in Wangaratta on July 1 at 5.45pm at Wangaratta RSL.
All welcome. If you intend coming, please RSVP by Friday June 25 via a ‘Message’ in response to this post.

17/06/2026

'CONGRATULATIONS Mr. PORTA - Might we be permitted to extend to Mr. Ray Porta our congratulations on his enterprise in, firstly, supplying us with splendidly cooked fish at a very moderate cost. Secondly, we congratulate him on offering ham, fresh cut sandwiches and cold meat dishes for sale. The absence of ham in Chiltern has long been a mystery to us. We sincerely hope this enterprising businessman does all right out of it. Besides the above, he can offer customers poultry, fruit juice drinks, and many varieties of fish meals. Ray reports splendid support to date, and we hope our readers will continue to support him wholeheartedly. If you have a desire to help him, tell your friends about his shop and his wonderful fish delicacies. He points out to the Barnawartha folk that the train service is ideal for shopping in Chiltern.' From "The Federal Standard," Friday January 17, 1947.

15/06/2026

Chiltern Valley School 1915, pictured with headmaster Gleeson are the girl students
Back Row: Julie Layton, ? Nelson, Kath Balsarini, E Balsarini, Hazel Booth, ? McDonald, Linda Barr, ? LaFranchi, Milly Caligari, Alice Brunn;
2nd Row: Dolly Wardley, May Bennett, Ivy Best, Hannah Bounds, ? McIntosh, Emily Peake, Kitty Rosengren, Amy Boucher, unknown, unknown, Rita Ipson, K Balsarini;
3rd Row: unknown, Edna Ipson, Ellen Crosse, Agnes Murray, Lydy Hotson, Rita Everon, Mary Marengo, ? Craig, unknown, Irene Webb, Lily Daglish, unknown, Kath Weatherall;
4th Row: Sybil Barr, Lily Findlay, Vera Horn, ? Rewolds, Oriel Boucher, Frances Rosengren, Esther Hotson, Hilda Caligari, Florence Crosse, unknown, Nellie Visick, Alice Crosse, Elizabeth Vyner, Mary Horn;
5th Row: unknown, unknown, Evelyn Webb, Gertrude Booth, Winnie Bennett;
Front Row: ? Rosengren, unknown, unknown, Lorna Rosengren, unknown, Myra Perkins, Kathleen Rosengren, unknown, Matilda Posetti, Mabel Taylor, Vera Posetti.
Photo donated to the Athenaeum by Elaine Richardson it belonged to her Aunt Rita Everon (Mason) - thanks Elaine.

15/06/2026

Chiltern has produced many talented footballers over time including Jack Perkins captain-coach of St Kilda in the 1930s. Perkins, born in Chiltern Valley in 1903, was also a prominent member of the Victorian Police force. On his death in 1955, 500 members of the Police Force attended his funeral at St. John’s Roman Catholic Church Clifton Hill, and a guard of honor led by the Chief Commissioner was formed by members of the C.I.B. as the funeral left for Fawkner Cemetery.
From "The Federal Standard," Friday, May 27, 1955 -
'INSPECTOR OF POLICE DIES: A former Chiltern Valley lad, who rose to become detective-inspector at Russell Street, Melbourne, CID, died in the Royal Melbourne Hospital on Thursday morning, May 12, at the age of 52 years. He was John Perkins, who resided in Chiltern Valley for 18 years and was educated there.
Mr Perkins joined the Police Force on May 9, 1924, and after initial training was stationed at South Melbourne as a uniformed constable. About three years later he was promoted to the plain clothes branch at Bourke Street West.
From there he went to Collingwood, where he was made a detective. In May 1943 he took charge of Northcote CIB and in 1947 was promoted to detective-sergeant. He was later transferred to Russell Street CIB, where he became sergeant in charge of the muster.
In 1951 he was promoted to inspector and transferred from the CIB to Russell Street. Two years later he returned to the CIB as detective-inspector. He remained in that position until he became ill three weeks ago.
Mr Jack Perkins was one of the most popular personalities in the Victoria Police Force. A clever investigator, he was known for the mild manner in which he handled suspects – something which would surprise football fans, as Jack was known to League and Association followers as one of the most rugged players ever to take the field. He ended his football career in a blaze of glory, when, as captain-coach of St Kilda he lifted the side from the bottom of the league ladder close to the top. He is survived by his wife and two children.'
Football information from Wikipedia

15/06/2026

Some Chiltern Valley families circa 1920 - Back Row – possibly Stanley Perkins, John Perkins (1903-1955), Dave Perkins (1900-1968), John Barr (1903-1981), Unknown;
Standing – Myra Perkins (1908-1978) , Kneeling – Mrs Julia Perkins (nee Looney)(1875-1957), Unknown;
Front Row Sitting – 3 Unknown, Mr Creagan, Mrs Myra Vipond (nee Looney)(c1872-1973), Mr Archie Vipond (1868-1942).

13/06/2026

Cornishtown School No 802 1940 - no names but hoping for help in identifying the students pictured

12/06/2026

The Chiltern Athenaeum is indebted to Andrew Gilmour, our esteemed committee member, for his generous donations of items to the museum and for sharing his wealth of knowledge of Chiltern's history with us.

A recently discovered historical minute book has been presented to the Chiltern Athenaeum

10/06/2026

Christmastown Hare Shooters Club Year Not Known or perhaps it was the Cornishtown Hare Shooters Club: anyways we can name those present - Front row, left to right:
Jack (Blinker) Williams, Herb Gillman, Jack McPherson, Pat McInerney, Frank Fuge, ?, ?, Dick Rowe, Bailey Stevens (with rabbit), Jack Murray, Bill Terry, Les Gillman, Jack Fuge, Jack Shelley, Stan Dawson, Jack Ring, Pat Conroy.
Centre row:
Les Snow, Vern Owen, Bill Tyrell, Eric Shelley, Ernie McInerney, Joe Green, Andrew McInerney, Harry Cornish, Dick Cornish, Charlie Carter, Bill Curtain, Den Gillman, Allen Shelley, John Dawson, Bill Martin, Fred Snow, Jim Owen, Arthur Shelley, Leo Dawson, Les Cornish.
Back row:
Jack McInerney, Bill Snow, Roger Gillman, Tammy Gillman, Bill Fuge (Sen), Harry Williams, Claude Snow, Bass Fuge, Norm Potter, Jim McInerney, Richie Knight, Trigger Conroy, Buff Dempsey, Bill Shelley, Alf Dawson.

10/06/2026

06/06/2026

Buildings were often moved to new locations to start a new life, here we have Reg Douglas moving the two front rooms of a house from Hansens, Barnawartha Road Chiltern to Mill's at Browns Plains, for Noel Douglas - It has since been demolished. Picture taken at "Gilmour's Corner" Conness Street Chiltern, donor the late Bob Douglas.
We are interested to know of other houses and buildings that have been moved to other locations in Chiltern.