Mrs Nellie Collins (pictured right) was a 66 year old widow who lived in Vine Street St Kilda during the time of the late 1960s-70s redevelopment of St Kilda Junction.
Mrs Collins Vine Street home of some 40 years was a six room single front brick house which along with her neighbours had been had been scheduled to demolition. Mrs Collins however, had steadfastly refused to move until she was paid the compensation she required.
The Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works had offered her $6000.00 for her property plus an additional extra $600 for the "disturbance". Although Mrs Collins had no electricity to the house and was accustomed to doing her cooking on her cluttered front porch using a "petrol drum' she was adamant she would not move until she was paid $16,000 compensation. As of 25 January 1967 Ms Collins house was the last property standing in the Street and had the potential to hold up the 11.8 million dollar project's construction schedule.1
Mrs Collins was still holding out by 28 February 1967 when it was reported that she had rejected a further offer from the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Work (MMBW) to pay $7200 for her property plus an additional $600 for "disturbance". Mrs Collins was still demanding $16000 which she regarded as a "fair price" despite an "ultimatum" from the MMBW that she vacate the property by noon that day.2
On the Tuesday the 7th of March 1967 Mrs Collins lost the battle over her home. The MMBW issued a warrant to evict Mrs Collins. A Sheriff of the Supreme Court attended the property instigate the eviction. Mrs Collins was not home at the time and it is reported that within 20 minutes a front-end loader was demolishing her house.3 Swift action on behalf of the MMBW.
So ended Mrs Nellie Collin's struggle with the MMBW. We can only guess at how Mrs Collins felt.
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