Working Life: Then and Now

The Gardener

Head Gardener, Mr. Adam Anderson 1882 – 1903

2017 Head of Horticulture, Justin Buckley

Keeping Rippon Lea’s period garden in good order means managing changes to climate, organising a tree replacement program to replace aging tree stock and running a huge garden with many fewer gardeners than Mr. Anderson.

1890 – Putting up with Peacocks

2017 – Managing the Water Supply

Head of Horticulture, Justin Buckley tells about the issues of managing Rippon Lea’s water supply using the system established over a century ago.

The School Teacher

1870 – 1878 Governess, Mrs Ferguson

2017 Teacher, Louisa Di Pietro

Louisa Di Pietro is a local primary school teacher and has to manage a large class of young students.

1890 – A Dark Day at Rippon Lea

2017 – The changing way we learn

Encouraging individual learning in the classroom is very different from the rote learning of the past.

The Groom

1893 Groomsman, Charles Pitman

2017 Barn Manager, Karen Ussherr

Looking after racehorses at Caulfield racecourse requires a lot of patience and an ability to get on with horses.

1893 – Fight on the Stables

Charles Pitman talks about the fight and aftermath after finding horse thieves in the Rippon Lea stables.

2017 – Tools of the Trade

The work a strapper, groom and rider have to do today has changed little over 100 years.

The Housekeeper

1930 – 1960 Housekeeper, Lily Lees

Lily Lees had had not only to run the Jones family household but manage the evacuation of the children the Polio epidemic of the 1930s. (Actor: Amanda McKay)

2017 House Manager, Justin Smith

Running a heritage tourist destination and managing public interaction requires lots of skill and patience.

1930 – The missing broach

Lily Lees has to search everywhere because Mrs Jones lost broach has become her responsibility.

2017 – Being the last to leave

Managing a house, a collection and volunteers means as house manager you are last to leave and do a similar job in a way to past housekeepers.

The Cook

1930 – 1940 Cook, Sarah Ward

Sarah reflects on her new electrical appliances like a refrigerator that make Rippon Lea a state of the art place to work.

2017 – John Melemens, Ripponlea Fish Supply

John describes his early days setting up the first shop to grill fish in the area.

1930 – How to make the perfect scone

Sarah Ward gives the secrets to making the perfect scone.

2017 – How to grill fish

John explains the simplest way to grill fish.

The Coachman

1880, Coachman, Mr. Whybrew

Mr. Whybrew worked in London in many odd jobs with horses before coming to Melbourne and being the Sargoods Coachman.

2017 – Chauffeur, Geoffrey May

Geoffrey May professionally drives his sixty year old Rolls Royce, Lady Penelope. He chose to work in service for the respect and enjoyment of the job.

1890 – A Melbourne evening for a coachman

Mr. Whybrew describes the tricks of the trade as he manages to collect the Sargoods from an evening soirree.

2017 – How to close a car door.

A real chauffeur trained by Rolls Royce knows how to the little things like close a car door properly.