East Melbourne, Powlett Street 102

New print 

The information accompanying this photo was given simply as Two Women Outside Family Home, East Melbourne, 1918.

The house can be identified as one of four in Canterbury Terrace, Powlett Street, either numbers 86, 90, 102 or 106. 

The photo seems to be a publicity shot for the Red Cross.  A Red Cross house badge appears prominently in the window, and the two women are possibly wearing different versions of a Red Cross lapel badge. 

In April 1918 the Red Cross launched a ‘drive’, then a novel approach, to raise funds. 

The object of the ‘drive’ is to invite the co-operation of every household in the work of collecting for the Red Cross. This is obtained by selling badges or small posters for 5/ each. These are pasted to windows as a sign that the occupier has shown some practical sympathy with the Red Cross movement. The distribution of the badges is being done by the Red Cross committee throughout Victoria, and within a very short space of time it is expected that in every town and village throughout the State business and private houses will display these small indications that the occupiers are 'doing their bit’ in the way of providing comforts for the boys at the front. [St Arnaud Mercury, 24 Apr 1918, p.3]

The two women are possibly Mrs Elizabeth McDonald, nee Chatto (1844-1922), and her youngest daughter, Alice May Sutherland (1876-1952).  Mrs McDonald had lived at 102 Powlett Street for the previous ten years, as manager of the boarding house, while her daughter lived nearby in Collingwood. 

Elizabeth Chatto, the daughter of a convict, married John McDonald in Hobart at the age of 16.  John too was the child of convict parents. He worked as a fireman on a boat that travelled between Hobart and Melbourne.  They later moved to Melbourne, settling in South Melbourne, where John died in 1894. By this time only the youngest daughter, Alice May, was living at home.  By 1906 mother and daughter were living at 11 Lt Collins Street when Alice married Henry Sutherland at St Peter’s Eastern Hill.  Henry moved in with Alice and Mrs McDonald moved to the Powlett Street address. 

The second image is for reference only and shows the Red Cross House Badge in detail.