(precede) What’s In a Name delves into the fascinating stories and personalities behind some of the city’s best-known street names. This week the Journal looks at Rudduck Street, which is named after Samuel Rudduck.
Samuel Rudduck came from a long line of business people in England.
In Australia he first established a hay and corn store in Chapel Street, Prahran, and was at that time listed as the Prahran Mechanics’ Institute treasurer.
He arrived in Dandenong in 1859 and built himself a general store in Lonsdale Street, near the corner of Walker Street, which he ran until 1885.
It was built up on high piles because the creek in flood would surge all round it.
The same site eventually became Renfrees, Crumps, McEwan’s, Savers and now headspace.
Mr Ruddock also later built a small shop next door on the Walker Street corner opposite the town hall.
In it, William Thompason opened a fancy goods store, barber’s shop and tobacconist.
At a public meeting in October 1872, Mr Rudduck moved that a Dandenong Cricket Club be formed.
He was a foundation committee member and treasurer and helped to seek land from the Roads Board for a local sporting oval.
By 1879 he was appointed a club trustee and overall he was active in the club as treasurer, president and a player.
He was recorded as a football umpire in 1877 when Dandenong Football team played St Kilda at Dandenong.
In 1878 he was appointed as Wesleyan Church in Dandenong’s trustee and accepted the treasurer position.
Mr Ruddock and his wife were both generous financial contributors to the church.
He was a member of the anti-alcohol and drug groups the Independent Order of Rechabites and the Independent Order of Good Templars, and the Victorian Alliance.
He was a part of the committee selecting commissioners for the formation of the Dandenong Market.
He belonged to a group of male singers who performed in “primitive” concerts held in the Market Produce Shed using lamps and candles, with ushers carrying whips to control the crowd.
He was part of a successful group that lobbied the Roads Board to remove toll gates around Dandenong and he fought that same board long and hard when it wanted to run a drain beneath his shop.
A drain was instead created around the property.
In 1884 Mr Rudduck bought land on the corner of Clow and Foster streets in Dandenong, and it was sold to the Cadle family after his death.
The Cadles were related by marriage to the Rudducks and Rudduck Street was formed within that property.
The original Rudduck Street was lost when Stud Road was linked to Foster Street but now connects George and Foster streets.
Samuel and his wife Nettie in 1885 retired from active business after 25 years living and working in Dandenong, and settled on Port Nepean Road in the centre of Mordialloc.
Samuel died in 1903 at age 67 and was buried in Dandenong Cemetery.
With thanks to the Dandenong and District Historical Society.
Want to know the history behind a street name in Greater Dandenong? Let us know and we’ll find out! Email journal@starnewsgroup.com.au.
