A photograph of Main St, Drouin featuring William Durie Russell's carriage factory on the far left.
This scene was captured between 1902 and 1907.
William was born in Brechin, Scotland in July 1865. He came to Australia with his parents and older brother, landing in South Australia in July 1866.
The family only stayed in South Australia for a few years before moving to Toongabbie, where William's uncle John Russell had established a blacksmith business in 1865.
John Russell is credited with finding gold in the Tanjil river area, and Russell's Creek is named after him.
Around 1890, William moved to Drouin and purchased the coach building and blacksmithing business of Munro and Morse.
William was a wheelwright, coachbuilder and blacksmith, but adapted with the times. By the early 1940s, he was running a garage and selling fuel.
His photo is part of the "Small Town at War" collection where he can be seen filling a car with a monthly petrol ration of four gallons (15 litres).
An article in 1901 described W. D. Russell of the "Drouin Carriage Factory" keeping abreast with the times and building vehicles of every description. It stated he had won first prizes in every show he exhibited and his showrooms contained a number of well finished vehicles.
In 1909, William leased the business to William Tritschler and moved for a short time to Surrey Hills, then to Bunyip. He returned in 1915 to take over the business again.
The buildings were destroyed by fire in February 1921. The fire started in Lanigan's saddlery, who used a portion of the building owned by William.
The fire spread to the Commercial Bank on the west side and destroyed the offices of Gippsland and Northern on the east side. It also damaged Miss Vaughan's newsagency next door.
A second fire occurred in January 1951. At that stage, the building was two storeys with a garage and motor show room.
The fire was discovered at around 7.30pm, with 60 volunteers from both Drouin and Warragul fighting the blaze for over three hours.
It was said that so much water was used that Drouin residents may be desperate for water.
Four cars and a truck were destroyed, but a new car in the showroom was saved. The residence of the Commercial Bank next door was also destroyed.
At the time of the fire, the business was managed by William Waugh as William Russell had died in May 1950.
Photograph and information courtesy of the Drouin History Group.
Visit drouinhistorygroup.org.au to find out more.