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The Ongoing Saga of the Writing Slope

Shangas

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,116
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Earlier this week, I returned from the Fryerstown Antiques Fair, which happens every year on the Australia Day Long Weekend (Australia Day is 26th January).

While there, I purchased a writing slope. Bland and unimpressive, it required restoration and such, and had missing parts. I bought it for a low sum, and decided to make it my next restoration-project.

I took it home and cleaned it. While doing so, I found some writing on the slope, masked by 130+ years of grime!

I found an address, and a date. But first, here's the slope:

10904421_1554371118154702_3564092656092963360_o.jpg


As you can see, nothing too fancy...

10414428_1554371114821369_1761155626823085105_n.jpg


10472088_1554371188154695_2727908912533423634_n.jpg


10866065_1554371168154697_1073125129676466562_o.jpg


You can see "R. Hill. NSW" (New South Wales) on one of the white panels. Written in ink. I suspect that might be the manufacturer or the retailer who sold the box.

However, on the other white panel (and if you turn it upside-down), there is more writing.

It read:

"Tyalla,
Toorak,
July 14th
1882"

Toorak is one of the most expensive residential suburbs here in Melbourne, Australia.

Whoever owned this box had to be RICH.

I researched Tyalla, and found out that it was a large private estate built on Heyington Place, in Toorak in the 1850s or 60s. I found this painting of the house, dated to 1882:

10952559_1554625654795915_5615428891312790801_n.jpg


I researched the history of Tyalla and found that it belonged to a Mr. William Gibson, who lived there until the 1910s (he died in London on the 5th of November, 1918).

Gibson was one half of Foy & Gibson's, a chain of Australian department stores. I originally thought the box belonged to him. However, further research suggested that this was unlikely, as certain dates simply just didn't match up.

I decided to examine the box more closely, and that's when I found a *name* inside the box:

"Balfour"

I researched "Balfour Tyalla", and came up with James Balfour (1830-1913), a colonial Australian politician, who lived at Tyalla from 1865-1893.

I'm trying to find out more information (writing samples, etc), but I think this box may belong to Mr. Balfour. If it does, then it may be a valuable piece of Australian history. I'm going to the state library on Friday to see what I can find out.

The lines:

"Tyalla,
Toorak,
July 14th,
1882"

They might be his own way of inscribing his ownership on it (date he purchased the box, perhaps, and the residence where he used it). Or it may be the start of a letter he was writing. I dunno. But we'll see...
 
Last edited:

Shangas

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,116
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Extra restoration work on the writing slope...

Before...

10947457_1554371171488030_8564626423350457818_o.jpg


10522141_1554371234821357_7148310629899639272_o.jpg


During...

10410783_1555413508050463_297437892653152539_n.jpg


10835359_1555926237999190_8021657481565367370_o.jpg


After...

10858629_1556892661235881_440616566959173920_n.jpg


10669045_1556892677902546_9057253025444722882_o.jpg


10847555_1557013111223836_6385685049996905881_o.jpg


Not bad, eh?

Next steps: Finding a bone folder, or an ivory ruler. And finding a key.
 
Last edited:

Smithy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,139
Location
Norway
That's excellent Shangas, and best of luck finding out more.

Love the old estates round Toorak, one of my best mates lives just off St Georges so have spent many a day poking around there and my wife and I were often up at the Swedish Church there where they have a lot of festivals for the Norwegian community in Melbourne.

Sadly Tyalla is one of those ones that they've bowled over isn't it? There's a few of those grand old houses which have gone the way of the developers.

Once again thanks for posting, I find it fascinating.
 

PK2015

New in Town
Messages
1
Location
Adelaide
The Hon. James Balfour was a prominent Melbourne business man, lay churchman, parliamentarian and grazier. His Scottish relatives included an English Prime-Minister (Arthur Balfour) and Robert Louis Stevenson no less! James Balfour's agricultural interests were based at Round Hill Station, a large holding in southern NSW that was first occupied by one of the Henty brothers (Balfour's father-in-law). James Balfour did indeed live in the fabulous house Tyalla but was forced to move into a more humble 10 roomed house on Studley Park Road when he was called upon to meet the debts of one of the Companies he was a director of. My great-uncle by marriage, Angas Balfour, was a grandson of James Balfour. Uncle Angas took over, and subsequently sold Round Hill in the 1950's and the largest of the four homesteads on the property was tragically destroyed by fire a decade later. My great-aunt, Alison Balfour, maintained the Balfour tradition of gracious country living coupled with generous community service until she passed away in 2008 just after celebrating her 100th birthday. Although Aunt Alison's final house in Benalla was filled with historic Balfour memorabilia, including the last of Angas' numerous Rolls Royce's, I can't recall a writing slope amongst her many possessions. Regardless of it's provenience, I'm sure my great aunt would be chuffed to know the writing slope has ended up in the hands of a caring and contentious new owner such as yourself. Enjoy! Peter Kelly
 
Last edited:

Edward

Bartender
Messages
24,736
Location
London, UK
Interesting find. Always nice to have something of the history of the artefact to it as well. Lovely job on the restoration.
 

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