Summary

Thirteen boxes of lantern slides in cardboard boxes marked 'Austral Lantern Plates Kodak (A/Asia) Pty Limited Australia'. The slides were produced in Melbourne after World War I using images from books and other sources. They mainly depict naval vessels and maps of naval engagements (Guam, Mediterranean, etc). Most are 20th century subjects, but some are classical (for example, map of 'Route of Xerxes' fleet to Battle of Salamis, and a series on Nelson). Many slides are unidentified, but appear to be British and American in origin.

The slides are believed to have been used to illustrate lectures to children at the St John's Home for Boys during the 1920s and later, possibly as entertainment on Empire Day and on other occasions. Several of the slides are marked with the name 'Boreham'. This may indicate a link to Reverend Frank William Boreham (1871-1959), a noted Baptist writer and preacher who used lantern slides to illustrate talks in Melbourne and Tasmania. (However, St John's was an Anglican institution).

Established as St John's Home for Boys in 1923, the home was located in Balwyn Road, Canterbury at 'Shrublands', a mansion formerly the property of investor & businessman John Hindson (1839-1919). His widow Alice Hindson (nee Henty) donated 'Shrublands' to the Anglican Church as a memorial to her husband and William, her late son, to be used as a home for 'needy and destitute' boys on the condition it was named 'St John's'. It was officially opened on 22 November 1924 after extensive renovations to accommodate 30-40 boys, also paid for by Alice Hindson. There was a physical link with British naval history as Dame Nellie Melba donated a chapel lantern to St John's Home supposed to be one of those used by Admiral Lord Nelson in the cabin of his flagship HMS Victory. She also donated a cabin bell and wooden spars from HMS Victory. The latter were turned into candle holders.

Description of Content

Refer to individual slides.

Physical Description

Thirteen small, square cardboard boxes with lids. Printed paper labels adhered, in different monochrome colours. Contain glass lantern slides, some cracked.

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