July 2026
Dear friends of SpringDale and friends I have yet to meet,
This weekend I ran down a few “rabbit holes” to see a treasured item and to research some Drysdale and family information. In preparing for a presentation, I looked up how our population has grown of the last 150 years and that there was a population in Drysdale of 109 and a couple of our family members were included in this census.
As I watched the population of Drysdale progressively grow over those years and with the 3222 postcode area having 18,576 in the 2021 census, which stimulated the question “What will our population be in the 2026 census later this year?”
One of the other subjects was stimulated by Jennings Carriers celebrating 100 years of the business last year. Eventually I found my grandfather’s business in the 1930 Sands and McDougall’s Directory, but this document was only printed every 5 years – which could mean that he started his business somewhere between 1925 and 1930, but I’m not sure how to narrow it down to the actual start year (but I will keep looking!).
I should have probably known that Clifton Springs was the premier holiday spot in Victoria with people coming to visit the Spa Baths in the early 1920s, but then in 1929 with the Clifton Springs Hotel burning down, Clifton Springs’ popularity declined.
It was such fun seeking information that a new resident might like to know and I loved spending the hours down this “rabbit hole”.
The other “rabbit hole” was another of my favourite obsessions – Anne Drysdale and Caroline Newcomb. A friend texted me that ‘Anne Drysdale’s mourning broach’ was about to be removed from show at the State Library of Victoria. I knew the library held it, but hadn’t ever thought about it being on show. All of a sudden, I’m seeking info on the library’s website and saw beautiful photos of it and its design and that I needed to seek permission to see it by ringing.
Sunday morning, I rang and had a little verbal battle with a library staff member as to why I wanted to visit the broach. I was assured the photos on the website showed the detail of the broach and that should be good enough for me. She eventually told me it was on display and I could see it.
Quickly to the station, on the train, on the tram, into the library and in a room to the right of the entrance the broach and Anne’s diaries were on display. I was over the moon with excitement. On the train I spent time reading about Anne’s diaries and had no idea I was going to be so close to them with a small piece of glass between me and Anne’s diaries and her mourning broach (made out of Anne’s hair). Like Bev Roberts, who wrote the book Miss D and Miss N, about Anne Drysdale, Caroline Newcomb and Anne’s diaries, this subject is her obsession too.
I love being able to chase ideas and improve my understanding of the world as it was and what it has become. Often, I am chasing information for others and sometimes it’s energizing to do something perhaps for the community as well.
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Looking forward to whatever the next ‘rabbit hole’ is, that I can learn from and looking forward to seeing you at SpringDale when you have time.
Anne Brackley OAM
Chief Enthusiasm Officer & Coordinator
SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre Inc.
