History Mystery Monday: who was Sam Merrifield?
The public library in Moonee Ponds has been known as “Sam Merrifield Library” since the early 1980s, but who was Sam Merrifield? Sam Merrifield, a man dedicated to ideals of fairness, a history fanatic, and a voracious reader, was a very appropriate person to give his name to a public library. Born in 1904 in Moonee Ponds, young Sam struggled with hearing difficulties, but used reading as a way to compensate in his education. Sam Merrifield worked as a surveyor early in his career, but eventually – influenced both by his experiences during the Depression and the radical politics of his family – he turned to politics. First elected in 1943, when he won the seat of Essendon for the ALP, Merrifield finally retired from politics in 1970. In politics, he is remembered for his quiet tenacity, always representing “the underdog”. Sam Merrifield is also remembered for his enduring commitment to history, especially local history. In the 1960s Merrifield helped establish the Melbourne ...