I had a query about the history of the Doctor's House at 1 Main Street Garfield (technically 1 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road) and this is what I discovered after some research on Trove, the Shire of Berwick Rate Books and the Electoral Rolls.
In the 1920’s Reginald James of Wahroonga Park, Garfield, was listed in the Shire of Berwick Rate Books as owning 100 acres, Lot 53A, Section C, Parish of Koo Wee Rup East. He also had another listing - a house on Part Lot 53A, Section C. When this block, 100 feet by 250 feet in size, was sold to Dr Kenneth McLeod in 1927 it had a Net Annual Value of £15. I say it was 1927, but the Rate books followed the Local Government year which ran from October 1 through to September 30, so the actual sale could have taken place anytime from October 1927 to September 1928.
In the 1928 Rate books, the Net Annual Value of the block had increased to £34, and I believe this was when a new house was built by Dr McLeod - the existing brick house, which was used as both a residence and consulting room. Dr McLeod was appointed to the Honorary Consulting Staff at the West Gippsland Hospital in 1930 (1) and a ‘fun fact’ - he was a Cellist. The Dandenong Journal reported on a concert at the Methodist Hall in Dandenong in 1933 - The programme would not have been balanced without instrumental items, and the management were indeed fortunate in having prevailed upon Dr. McLeod of Garfield, who assisted with several 'cello numbers, with Mrs. McLeod as accompaniste. Of all instruments, the 'cello, in capable hands, is one of the most popular, and those present expressed delight at the treat given by the doctor - especially when he chose “Laargo” for his final item (2). Dr McLeod’s wife’s name was Lesley Vera Bramwell (nee Fethers), they had married in 1920. Mrs McLeod was elected a Vice-President of the Garfield branch Country Women's Association at its inaugural meeting held in February 1931.(3)
Dr Kenneth McLeod ran the Medical Practice until 1933 when it was taken over by Dr James Patterson, who was there until 1944, although the building was still owned by Dr McLeod. The McLeods moved from Garfield to the Caulfield area. In 1935, Dr Patterson's wife Enid, was elected President of the newly formed Baby Health Care Centre (4). Mrs Patterson was involved with the Country Women’s Association and in February 1940 was elected President of the West Gippsland Group (5). During the War she was the Commander of the Garfield First Aid Post, at the Public Hall (6). These posts had been established in case there was an Air Raid. Dr Patterson was a golfer and in 1937 was elected President of the Garfield Golf Club (7).
From 1944 until 1950, a Dr Martin owned the building and ran the Practice. Dr Martin’s first name was also Martin – Dr Martin Martin. I saw this in the Rate books, and thought surely that is a mistake, because it wouldn’t be the first mistake I have found in them when it comes to names, but I checked the Electoral Rolls and it is correct. His wife was called Rachel. They moved to 31 Murrumbeena Road, Murrumbeena after they left Garfield.
After Dr Martin, came Dr Matthew Laidlaw. He purchased the property in June 1951, according to the Rate Books. He was only there until October 1952 when Dr David Gild took over. Dr Gild had previously practiced in Healesville (8). When Mum moved to Cora Lynn after she was married in 1956, she thought that Dr Gild was ‘old’ then, of course, she was only 21, so he may not really have been that old!
Dr Gild sold the practice around 1961/1962 to Dr Norman Stephen. Dr Gild was then listed in the Electoral Rolls at 21/226 Dandenong Road in St Kilda. Norman and Pamela Stephen had come from Lismore, in western Victoria. Dr Stephen was still at Garfield in 1972, according to the Electoral Rolls, but that’s all I can tell you. We lived at Cora Lynn and we always went to Dr Ian Hewitt at Koo Wee Rup. He delivered my two sisters and my brother; but I was delivered by his father, Dr Alan Hewitt, because Dr Ian was sick that day. We were all born at the Westernport Memorial Hospital at Koo Wee Rup, which had opened in December 1955 (9).
Footnotes
(1) West Gippsland Gazette, August 5, 1930, see here.
(2) Dandenong Journal, July 20, 1933, see here.
(3) See my history of the Garfield CWA here https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/09/garfield-country-womens-association.html
(4) The Argus, July 25, 1935, see here.
(5) Dandenong Journal, February 14, 1940, see here.
(6) Dandenong Journal, March 25, 1942, see here.
(7) The Argus, June 3, 1937, see here.
(8) Healesville Guardian, July 19, 1952, see here.
(9) http://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/08/medical-matters-at-koo-wee-rup.html
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