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RECEIPT - SALE OF RONISCH PIANO WH GLEN & CO

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1887

Overview

Paper receipt with text on it. British Royal seal on left side with text [UNDER / THE PATRONAGE OF / HIS EXCELLENCY / SIR H. BLOCH. K.C.B]

Receipt text [21 & 23 Collins St East Melbourne / 20 Sept 1887 / Mr Dumsday / To W. H. Glen & Co / Importers of pianofortes, harmoniums, Music, and / EVERY DESCRIPTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. / MUSIC SENT THROUGH THE POST CANNOT BE EXCHANGED]

Written text underneath with a green Victorian One Penny Stamp [Ronisch V 9766 (Pound sign)68 60

Historical information

The piano was first purchased, as shown by the receipt, by George Dumsday in Melbourne on the 20th of September 1887 from WH Glen & Co. The Dumsday family moved to Western Australia in early 1900 bringing the piano with them. In 1908 the family moved to Forrestdale, then known as East Jandakot a newly established area West of Armadale. Though the town was originally in the Jandakot Roads Board the families living in the area were more closely connected to Armadale. The piano was played by the sisters Mabel and Lillian. It was carted down to Lake Jandakot in 1911 for the first Christmas Tree Fête. It was also moved to the hall for concerts and sometimes for Sunday School.

Mabel and Lillian were gifted musicians and singers often performing in Perth.

The piano was passed down through the Skeet side of the family to Kathryn Skeet who used to play it before donating the piano to the museum. Part of Ursula Skeet's will was that if the family did not want the piano it had to be donated to History House - see associated SIG file for letter from Robert Skeet about this.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-33-COA2006.2

Item type

Documents

Material

Paper

Width

1800 mm

Height or length

2100 mm

Inscriptions and markings

[W H Glen & Co to Mr Dumsday]

Year

1887

Statement of significance

HIGH

The Dumsday family played an important role in establishing Forrestdale in the early 1900s. The piano was purchased when the family lived in Victoria and was brought with them when they came to Western Australia in c1900. The piano was used by successive generations of the family for for 150years.

The piano was used in Forrestdale by the Dumsday family for Christmas Party, Sunday School and community concerts. It featured in the first Forrestdale Christmas Fête, held on the shores of Lake Jandakot (today Forrestdale Lake) in 1911.

Last modified

Wednesday, 23 September, 2026

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