What’s In A Name delves into the fascinating stories and personalities behind some of the city’s best known street names. This week the Journal looks at Kidds Road, named in honour of early settler Robert Kidd.
Kidds Road is one of the main thoroughfares which connects Dandenong and Doveton.
Kidds Road starts at the point where Clow Street crosses the Dandenong Creek and intersects with Power Street before continuing through to Doveton, ending at an intersection with Sheoak Street.
The earliest reference to Robert Kidd, after whom the road is named, is a 1854 story in the Journal’s predecesor, the South Bourke and Mornington Journal.
The paper reported that Mr Robert Kidd commenced business as a farrier and wheelwright in premises opposite the old market in Lonsdale Street.
The article also noted that Kidd had built a cottage at the rear facing Thomas Street.
Records show that Kidd purchased two blocks of 37 acres 3 roods and 39 acres 3 roods and 14 perches over the Dandenong Creek on the east side of the continuation of Clow Street at the first government sale of Dandenong township allotments in 1852.
In 1870 Robert Kidd was still running his forge in Lonsdale Street and his wife was running a cake shop three doors up.
Sometime after 1870 Mr Kidd retired but in 1878 business was picking up in Dandenong and Kidd returned to his forge in the main street.
The only other reference the Journal could find to Mr Kidd was a police court notice in the South Bourke and Mornington Journal of Wednesday 14 January 1885.
It appears Mr Kidd was owed money by one Oliver Kerr.
The sum in dispute was £1 and 17 shillings and six pence for good supplied. The judge awarded Mr Kidd the amount owed plus two shilling and six pence costs.
Robert Kidd died in December 1891. By that time he had left Dandenong and settled in Cliffton Hill.
A funeral notice for Robert Kidd appeared in The Argus on 10 December 1891.
It read: “The friends of the late Mr Robert Kidd, formerly of Dandenong, are most repectively invited to follow his remains to their last resting place, the Melbourne General Cemetery.
“The funeral will move from his last residence, Blackness-villa 411 Wellington-street, Clfiton Hill.
“This day (Thursday December 10, 1891) at half past 3 o’clock precisely”.
Want to know the history behind a street name in Greater Dandenong. Let us know and we’ll find out! Email journal@starnewsgroup.com.au
