MARY KEHOE CENTRE – A PRISM OF VICTORIAN SOCIETY

MAX NANKERVIS

28 MAY 2022

We all know the house at 224 Danks Street as the Mary Kehoe Community Centre. But the house, originally known as Somerset, has had quite an eventful history over its 120 years of life. Max Nankervis using much historical research gave the back story to the building we know as the Mary Kehoe Centre.

Max based his story around the lives of the Shaw family. James and his two sons in 1853 were among the many migrants from Scotland making the hazardous journey to Australia aboard sailing ships that brought huge families (few surviving to adult hood) in their quest for new lives, respectability, and a fortune.

John Shaw (son of James) and his wife Julia Osborn Payne were the first occupants of Somerset in 1902 (later the Mary Kehoe Centre). The Shaw’s story is the story of successful migrants contributing to business life in Emerald Hill including as ginger beer makers, drapers and property developers (John Shaw). They were middle class people who attended church (Baptist and Anglican) and were involved in social movements of the time such as the temperance movement (Julia)

Following the Shaw’s, the house had a rich history of owners and tenants, including the Good Shepherd sisters and finally the City of Port Phillip, the current owners.

University of the Third Age Port Phillip was given tenancy of the Mary Kehoe Centre in 2003 and has fought to keep it, but that is another story for Max Nankervis, historian, and town planner to tell on another day.

Judith Klepner, former COPP councillor and fierce advocate for the Centre, was an able facilitator.

A recording of the seminar is available HERE.

Pam Caven

How to Enrol

On-line: after bookings have opened

On-line enrolments are preferred as this significantly reduces the amount of back-office work for our volunteers.

  • Login to the U3APP.org.au website.
  • Go to the Courses & Enrolling page.
  • Scroll down to find the course that you are interested in.
  • Does the course have spaces available?
    • Click on the course name to go to the booking page.
    • Click on “Book for this course or event”.
    • You will receive a confirmation email.  Please check your Junk/Spam folders as these automatically-generated emails often finish up there.
  • OR is the course shown as FULL?
    • Click on WAITLIST.

Paper Enrolment Form: before bookings open for First Semester

  • Obtain a paper Enrolment Form either from the Office or by printing an online copy available here.
  • Complete the paper Enrolment Form and submit it to the Office.

The start date for acceptance of paper Enrolment Forms for first semester is published on the U3APP website and in the e-Bulletin. Enrolment Forms received before this date are treated as though they had been received on the start date (ie there is no advantage to be gained by submitting early). On the start date and thereafter, paper Enrolment Forms are numbered in order of receipt.  Paper Enrolment forms are processed by U3APP volunteers on the same day as on-line bookings.

If your enrolment is successful, you will receive a confirmation email.  Please check your Junk/Spam folders as these automatically-generated emails often finish up there.

If your enrolment is unsuccessful,  you will receive an email telling you that you have been waitlisted.

Via the Office: after bookings have opened

  • Contact the office in person, or by email or phone.