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Newspaper-Articles

• 21 Feb 1874: A complimentary dinner was given to Mr Thomas Donaldson, who has recently left the district to enter into partnership with Rosling and Co., auctioneers, Dandenong. The reunion took place at Davies's Post Office Hotel, Chapel-street, on Wednesday evening last, and there were over 30 gentlemen present anxious to give expression to their appreciation of Mr. Donaldson's integrity as a tradesman, and for the interest he had always taken in municipal affairs. Mr Cutter occupied the chair, and after ample justice had been done to the good cheer provided by the host, and the usual loyal toasts given and responded to in a hearty manner, "Our Guest" was proposed by the chairman in an excellent speech. He referred to the energy which Mr Donaldson had at all times displayed when the interests of the town were at stake, and while regretting the loss they would sustain by his departure, expressed a hope that in his new sphere of labours he would be equally as successful both in collecting around him many friends, and in his new business venture. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm, and in reply Mr Donaldson said he was loth to part with so many friends as were gathered around him that evening. He had lived in the town many years, and had always taken a lively interest in its welfare; indeed should continue to do so, although not taking an active part. He had experienced the greatest good feeling from his fellow townsmen, for though at times he had differed with many on municipal matters, and had worked hard against them, yet that had not severed their friendship. He thanked them for their expression of goodwill, and hoped it would not be long before he should see them all at Dandenong, around such a festive board as the present. Other toasts such as "The Mayor and Borough Councillors of the Town of Prahran," "The Press," "The Ladies," and "Our Host"—were given and responded to in a suitable manner. The interest of the proceedings was enhanced by harmony and pleasant banter; and, taken altogether, a most pleasant evening was spent by the company.⁸
• 25 Aug 1914: The friends, of Mr. Thomas Rosling, an old identity of Perth, will regret to learn that he passed away at his residence, 27 Nash-street, Perth, this morning at 7 a.m., at the age of 77
  years.⁹
• 10 Sep 1914: Mr. Thomas Rosling, an early resident of Dandenong, died at Perth (West Australia) the other day, aged 77 years.¹⁰
• 25 Aug 1916: ROSLING.—In loving memory of our dear father, Thomas Rosling, who passed away at 28 Nash-street, Perth, on August 25, 1914.
  —Inserted by his wife and daughters, Emily and Jessie.¹¹
• 15 Jan 1931: A Story of Yesterday. THE EARLY DAYS OF DANDENONG
  “Sacred to the memory of Francis Elizabeth Rosling (nee Dunbar), relect of the late Thomas Rosling. Born at Dandenong, Victoria, on February 2, 1854. Died at Perth, Western Australia, on August 17, 1924.”
  Karrakatta cemetery covers an area of approximately 800 acres, midway between Perth and Fremantle, and in it are resting the mortal remains of many pioneers; men and women from all parts of Australia, and almost every part of the British Empire.
  Many of them doubtless were pioneers of other mining fields, and were among the thousands who joined in the feverish rush to Western Australia when the fabulously rich fields of Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie were discovered in the early nineties. A quiet walk along the well-kept pathways of the cemetery reveals this to even the casual observer who troubles to glance at the epitaphs on the varied array of neatly-ordered headstones.
  The name of Thomas Rosling at once conjures up memories of Dandenong in the years of long ago. He it was who, during the early seventies, founded the first Dandenong market, and established a flourishing auctioneering business and stock and station agency there. He also owned a valuable station property at Berwick, and was reputed to be a very wealthy man.
  Some years later he removed to Warragul, while that town was in its infancy, and may be termed one of its earliest business men. During the period that he was resident in Dandenong, Mr. Rosling built a magnificent residence, surrounded by many acres of well-kept grounds, traces of which are to be seen even to the present day. The materials used in the construction of this mansion were all carted from Melbourne over an atrocious road and through the then notorious “glue pot,” of which many of the early pioneers used to tell some harrowing stories. His carriage and pair were a familiar sight in the district for many miles around Dandenong, and he himself was financially interested in numerous properties and other investments over a very large area of country. Like many other different gentlemen of that period, however, he became a victim of the disastrous land boom, and as a result of heavy losses was forced to relinquish the greater part of his fortune.
  Leaving Warragul he removed to Melbourne, where for the remainder of his life he was the lessee of the old saleyards, the Victoria Horse Bazaar and Kirk’s Bazaar.
  In 1874 Mr. Rosling espoused Miss Dunbar, the eldest daughter of George and Anne Dunbar, both of whom now sleep peacefully in the Dandenong cemetery, and it is thus a link is formed between the grave in the Karrakatta cemetery and the earliest history of Dandenong.
  Mr. George Dunbar built the first hotel, known as “Dunbar’s Hotel,” on the site of the present Royal Hotel, and later he also built the Bridge Hotel, which still bears its original name. At the rear of the latter hotel was situated the old hostelry, the headquarters of Cobb & Co’s coaches, which provided the sole means of public transport between Melbourne and Dandenong, and the gradually extending settlement into Gippsland.
  Mr. Dunbar was the proprietor of this line of coaches, and Dunbar’s Hotel became a fashionable resort for numerous tourists and holiday makers from the rapidly growing capital city.
  In the latter years of her life Mrs. Rosling frequently related exciting tales of the scenes that were witnessed at her father's hotel during the days of her girlhood. On one occasion the Governor of Victoria, accompanied by the Royal Princes, made it their stopping place during a tour of the district. A company of famous Italian opera singers, on another occasion, journeyed from Melbourne—quite an adventurous outing in those days—to recuperate after a strenuous operatic season. Frequently parties of the aristocracy of that period made the journey in four-in-hand coaches, their postilions and footmen attired in true English fashion, the latter blowing three feet long coach horns or bugles as they entered the township, and the splendour of the entertainments provided by Mr. and Mrs. Dunbar stands unrivalled to-day.
  Miss “Fanny” Dunbar, as she grew into womanhood, became highly popular with all classes of the community. For years she was organist at St. James’ Church of England. The church services were for a considerable time held in Dunbar’s Hotel, the Rev. John Carter being the first rector of the widely scattered parish.
  Very few of the residents of that period—if any—are still alive, but many of their descendants have heard of the liberality of Mr. and Mrs. George Dunbar, and some of them no doubt also remember “Miss Fanny”—-as she was affectionately known—visiting friends in different parts of the district.
  Mounted on a well-bred pony, she was a welcome visitant, and her errand was more often than not one of charity, succouring the sick and distressed in the sparsely settled country. In later years she travelled rather extensively over different parts of Victoria, and was making a short stay at Glenrowan when the notorious Ned Kelly was captured. She often afterwards referred to the excitement that characterised her stay in that portion of Victoria, and many stirring incidents witnessed by her.
  Mr. George Dunbar’s father came to Victoria from Fernaugh, in North Ireland. He was a “man of substance” in those days, and brought with him his complete household —family, several servants, and all his goods and chattels. Under the king’s grant he was entitled to 1000 acres for each free servant he brought into the country, but misfortune befell the party before they reached their destination.
  Their ship was wrecked in Port Phillip Bay, and though no lives were lost, almost everything they possessed went down with the vessel. Consequently Mr Dunbar never established his claim to the greater part of the land he was entitled to. His only grant was 1000 acres somewhere in what is now the metropolitan suburban radius, but evidently it was not considered to be of any great value, and subsequently passed into other hands before the advent of the Torrens titles.
  Mr. George Dunbar was in his later life appointed by the Government of the day to an honorary Commissionship in the suppression of troublesome natives, and at his death he was, as previously stated, buried beside his wife in the Dandenong cemetery.
  Mrs. Rosling, his eldest daughter, after the death of her husband, took up her residence with her eldest son, Mr, Bert Rosling, in Perth, and passed into her long rest, after a well spent life at the ripe age of 70 years.
  It is from Mr. Bert Rosling, who is an officer in the Metropolitan Water Supply Department of Perth, that the writer has gleaned the foregoing particulars. Having once spent a brief period as a member of the “Dandenong Journal” staff, and knowing that the late Mr. Harvey Roulston, founder of the “Journal” (then the “South Bourke and Mornington Journal”) was a close friend of the Dunbars and Roslings, I think it is fitting that these reminiscences, as I have tried to give them, should be placed on record in the columns of the newspaper which has also played such a prominent part in the development of the town of Dandenong and the surrounding district.¹²