Mentone in Kingston, Victoria, Australia — Oceania

Murrell Memorial Horse Trough

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, September 19, 2026

1. Murrell Memorial Horse Trough Marker

Inscription. Erected by
The Purple Cross Society of Victoria
to the memory of
Mr & Mrs W. Murrell
who in March 1934 lost their lives
attempting to rescue two dearly
loved horses from a burning stable

Erected by The Purple Cross Society of Victoria.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Disasters • Sports. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1934.

Location. 37° 58.916′ S, 145° 3.901′ E. Marker is in Mentone, Victoria, in Kingston. It is on Como Parade West 0.1 kilometers south of Balcombe Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1A Como Parade West, Mentone VIC 3194, Australia. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Oceania,

in Australasia,

in the Pacific Ocean,

in South Pacific,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Garryowen (here, next to this marker); Mentone Railway Station and Gardens (a few steps from this marker); Mentone Railway Station

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(a few steps from this marker); Tom Roberts (approx. 3.3 kilometers away); Ricketts Point (approx. 3.3 kilometers away); Boon Wurrung Blossom (approx. 3.3 kilometers away); The Grange (approx. 7.1 kilometers away); Flying Saucer Sighting (approx. 7.1 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mentone.

Also see . . . The Story of Violet Murrell and Garryowen: The Fire. Kingston Local History

Violet and Bill Murrell woke up to screams from their stabled horses at about 2 a.m. on Saturday 24th March 1934. Violet ran out to see the stables ablaze. In her nightclothes she went into the flames to rescue Garryowen and Piquant, the trapped horses. She was badly burned and Bill who went in to drag her from the fire suffered terrible burns while carrying his wife out of the inferno. Fire brigades from Cheltenham and Mentone could do little as both horses perished and their owners collapsed in agony. The Murrells were taken to Melbourne Hospital where Violet was given a blood transfusion, a process then quite new. She died a day after the fire and Bill died ten days later.

There was great sadness in Mentone as
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, September 19, 2026

2. Murrell Memorial Horse Trough Marker in front of the old Mentone Railway Station building
the funerals of these two popular residents took place and they were buried at the New Cheltenham Cemetery. They had no children. Violet at 29 and Bill at 42 were lost at a stage when their potential to contribute to the community was at its height. The cause of the fire was not identified with certainty.

(Submitted on October 25, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 25, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.