THE Journal is one of a handful of institutions that have been constants in the life of Dandenong since the 1800s.
The 20 years from 1865 to 1885 were a time of rapid growth and civic expansion in Dandenong and saw the building of a permanent Anglican church, a gothic-inspired state school, a regional cattle and produce market and an agricultural show.
St James’ Anglican Church celebrated its sesquicentenary last year; Dandenong Market celebrates the same milestone next year.
Dandenong Primary School marked its 140th anniversary last year and the Dandenong Show will stage its 144th carnival in November.
St James’ parish first met in Dunbar’s Hotel in 1850, and moved to the present site in Langhorne Street in 1857. The foundation stone for the beautiful old church, in which worshippers still gather today, was laid on 5 July 1864.
The first state school was built on the corner of Robinson and Foster streets in 1881. The gothic-inspired building took nine months to construct.
The school moved to its present site in Foster Street in 1881.
Today, the school has 320 students from 45 different nationalities.
The first Dandenong Show was held at the Dandenong Market site on 7 March 1872. The top prize on offer was three pounds for the best draught horse. As it was too wet for the ploughing competition, this was held in May with 16 entrants. Sadly, the same year the society lost its foundation president William Keys, who drowned while trying to rescue cattle in floods at Bangholme.
By 1874, the prize money was 145 pounds, and in 1876, Victorian Governor Sir G. Bowan attended the carnival.
In 1888 a new exhibition hall was erected.
The South Bourke and Mornington Journal reported that the new building was “substantial, commodious and handsome, situated on an elevated site, commanding an excellent view of the surrounding country and midway between the centre of the township and the railway station.
A long felt want is now supplied by the beautiful building just completed, which undoubtedly has few equals in the colony.“
This year’s Dandenong Show will be held on 14 and 15 November.
