This specimen was recovered from Moonambel, Donkey Hill, Victoria. Established in the early 1860's, Moonambel is a small town in the Pyrenees region of the Australian state of Victoria. In the 1850s the location of Moonambel was part of the ‘Mountain Creek’ pastoral run, but in 1860 reports began to appear of a gold-rush at McKinnon’s ‘Mountain Creek’ station. By 1861, a township had developed on the diggings site, and on 21 October 1861 the “municipal district of Moonambel, on Mountain Creek” was proclaimed. The name 'Moonambel' is believed to be an aboriginal word meaning 'hollow in the hills'. Slate is a stone with a fine grain that is noted for its persistent strength and ability to naturally split into slabs. It forms under low temperatures and is most often created from clay. Pyrite is a crystallising compound that occurs naturally in grey and blue-black slate that is colloquially referred to as slate-rust as it resembles regular rust. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.Pyrite is iron sulphide (also known as “fool's gold”) which is commonly found in slates.Existing label: 53 /moonambel, slate, pyrite, burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, beechworth museum, geological, geological specimen, mineralogy, victoria

Coorongite is a dark, rubber-like, highly resilient structureless algal deposit. In the Coorong district of South Australia it occurs in moderate quantities associated with the coastal swamps and sand dunes which extend for a considerable distance east of the mouth of the Murray. This particular specimen was recovered from the south of the Coorong River, South Australia. A type of sediment rich in organic matter, Coorongite is the unlithified end-member of the sapropelic coal series. The members of the sapropelic coal series can be ranked in order as sapropel (the unlithified form), sapropelic-lignite, and sapropelic-coal (the lithified forms) based on increasing carbon content and decreasing volatile content. Sapropel (Coorongite) is an unlithified dark, pulpy, fine organic mud containing concentrations of algae and miospores that are more or less identifiable. Coorongite is typically found as an algae like substance, that can be found in irregular size pieces. Coorongite was believed to be dried up oil due to its rubber-like texture. The Coorongite is also soft to the point where it can be cut into with a knife or it can be broken and torn by hand. Otherwise known as 'Kurangk', the Coorong River is home to the Ngarrindjeri people, which acts as both a place for gathering food and a spiritual place. In 1852 the first sight of Coorongite was found along the Coorong River. The finders mistook the Coorongite for dried up oil, which lead to the belief that there were oil reserves under the Coorong River. Between the 1860s and the 1930s the Coorong River became a place where mining oil and Coorongite became precedent. Nowadays, the local council and the South Australian Government are working together with the Ngarrindjeri people to sustain and preserve the Coorong River and the culture that is with it. Soon after gold was discovered in 1851, Victoria’s Governor La Trobe wrote to the Colonial Office in London, urging ‘the propriety of selecting and appointing as Mineral Surveyor for this Colony a gentleman possessed of the requisite qualifications and acquaintance with geological science and phenomena’. Alfred Selwyn was appointed geological surveyor in Australia in 1852 which began the Geological Survey of Victoria. Selwyn went on to collect geological samples and catalogue thousands of specimens around Australia. In 1853-69 the Geological Survey issued under Selwyn's direction sixty-one geological maps and numerous reports; they were of such high standard that a writer in the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London bracketed the survey with that of the United States of America as the best in the world. During his years spent in Australia, Selwyn collected numerous significant geological specimens, examples of which are held in collections such as the Burke Museum.Coorongite is considered to be a mineral with a unique texture, where it can be both hard and soft. Coorongite can also be considered to be a rare mineral, as it is only located along the Coorong River and due to the mining of it, has left very few sources. It was believed at one point that Coorongite could be used to replace oil. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.Three solid varyingly hand-sized pieces of wooden appearing organic matter derived from the river in the Coorong District in South Australia. A rubber-like, highly resilient structureless algal deposit.Specimen 245 page 69 / in Descriptive Register / "Elcestic Bitumen, / Coorangite" South of / Coorung River, South Australia . / C. WIllman / 15/4/21burke museum, beechwoth, indigo shire, beechworth museum, geological, geological specimen, mineraology, coorong, coorong river, kurangk, ngarrindjeri, south australia, coorongite, coorongite specimen

Cliff Beauglehole was an orchardist at Portland, Victoria, who throughout hislife took an intense interest in the plants of Victoria. Over his lifetime he collected 90,000 plant specimens as part of a comprehensive study of Victoria's plants and wrote thirteen books under the heading The Distribution and Conservation of Vascular Plants in Victoria, each written to cover the 13 study areas of the Victorian and Conservation Council.A mounted botanical specimen.beauglehole herbarium, herbarium specimen, botany, herbarium, plant science, plant specimen, olearia erubescens, asteraceae, moth daisy-bush, field naturalists' club ballarat, federation university herbarium

Cliff Beauglehole was an orchardist at Portland, Victoria, who throughout hislife took an intense interest in the plants of Victoria. Over his lifetime he collected 90,000 plant specimens as part of a comprehensive study of Victoria's plants and wrote thirteen books under the heading The Distribution and Conservation of Vascular Plants in Victoria, each written to cover the 13 study areas of the Victorian and Conservation Council.A mounted botanical specimen.beauglehole herbarium, herbarium specimen, botany, herbarium, plant science, plant specimen, field naturalists' club ballarat, federation university herbarium, moenchia erecta, erect chickweed, caryophyllaceae

Cliff Beauglehole was an orchardist at Portland, Victoria, who throughout hislife took an intense interest in the plants of Victoria. Over his lifetime he collected 90,000 plant specimens as part of a comprehensive study of Victoria's plants and wrote thirteen books under the heading The Distribution and Conservation of Vascular Plants in Victoria, each written to cover the 13 study areas of the Victorian and Conservation Council.A mounted botanical specimen.beauglehole herbarium, herbarium specimen, botany, herbarium, plant science, plant specimen, field naturalists' club ballarat, federation university herbarium, atriplex semibaccata, berry saltbush, chenopodiaceae

The Little Black Cormorant is mainly found in freshwater wetlands in Australia and Tasmania. It nests colonially and can sometimes be seen among Heron or Ibis colonies. This specimen has dark webbed feet which enable the bird to catch its prey underwater by diving and using the feet for propulsion. Interestingly, this species have nictitating membranes which cover the eyes underwater protecting them. The feathers of this species are not waterproof despite being commonly located in wetlands and therefore, can often be seen perched with wings outstretched in an effort to dry them after hunting for food in the water. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This Little Black Cormorant is a slim and small specimen of entirely black colouring with some lighter specks on the back. The bill is grey and is slender and hooked at the tip. The bird has been stylized with glass eyes and is placed on a wooden mount designed to look like a perch. The neck is long and the bird is looking over its right wing. It has dark webbed feet and is standing on the platform with a paper identification tag tied the right leg. 12a. /Little Pied Cormorant / See Catalogue Page 42 /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, australian birds, tasmania, australia, birds of australia, cormorant, little black cormorant, wetlands

The Bassian Thrush is a secretive bird, often difficult to see, as it is an unobtrusive species that forages among dense vegetation. When disturbed, it sometimes crouches on the ground and freezes, relying on its scalloped plumage to conceal its presence. The Bassian Thrush feeds on the ground, scratching under the leaf-litter for small invertebrates. This specimen has been mounted in an accurate and yet stylised fashion. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century. This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.The plumage of this Bassian Thrush specimen is a mottled brown to olive-brown colour, heavily scalloped with black crescent-shaped bars on the back, rump and head. The paler underparts all have brown-black scalloping. It has a white eye-ring which surrounds glass eyes which have been included by the taxidermist to replace the originals. This specimen stands upon a wooden platform and has an identification tag tied around its leg.Swing Tag: 44a / mountain Thrush / See Catalogue Page 15 taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, bird, australian birds, bassian thrush, thrush, zoothera lunulata

Cliff Beauglehole was an orchardist at Portland, Victoria, who throughout hislife took an intense interest in the plants of Victoria. Over his lifetime he collected 90,000 plant specimens as part of a comprehensive study of Victoria's plants and wrote thirteen books under the heading The Distribution and Conservation of Vascular Plants in Victoria, each written to cover the 13 study areas of the Victorian and Conservation Council.A mounted botanical specimen.beauglehole herbarium, herbarium specimen, botany, herbarium, plant science, plant specimen, field naturalists' club ballarat, federation university herbarium, eucalyptus camaldulensis, river red gum, myrtaceae

A 45kg Spanish Merino from Mt Bute at Linton, Victoria. It is a descendant of the original Spanish Merino brought to Australia by John MacArthur in 1797. John and Elizabeth MacArthur undertook breeding experiments at Camden Park, Parramatta, crossing the Spanish Merino with Bengal and Irish sheep already in the Colony. The resultant merino became the foundation of Australias sheep industry. Although of little commercial value, the Mt Bute station has ensured the survival of the Camden bloodline.Taxidermy figure of a Spanish merino ram on display in Gallery 1. Ram has curved horns and is mounted with crooked front legs.sheep, taxidermy, spanish merino, irish sheep, camden, mt bute station

Cliff Beauglehole was an orchardist at Portland, Victoria, who throughout hislife took an intense interest in the plants of Victoria. Over his lifetime he collected 90,000 plant specimens as part of a comprehensive study of Victoria's plants and wrote thirteen books under the heading The Distribution and Conservation of Vascular Plants in Victoria, each written to cover the 13 study areas of the Victorian and Conservation Council.A mounted botanical specimen.beauglehole herbarium, herbarium specimen, botany, herbarium, plant science, plant specimen, field naturalists' club ballarat, federation university herbarium, spergularia rubra, red sand-spurrey, caryophyllaceae

Cliff Beauglehole was an orchardist at Portland, Victoria, who throughout hislife took an intense interest in the plants of Victoria. Over his lifetime he collected 90,000 plant specimens as part of a comprehensive study of Victoria's plants and wrote thirteen books under the heading The Distribution and Conservation of Vascular Plants in Victoria, each written to cover the 13 study areas of the Victorian and Conservation Council.A mounted botanical specimen.beauglehole herbarium, herbarium specimen, botany, herbarium, plant science, plant specimen, field naturalists' club ballarat, federation university herbarium, myoporum viscosum, sticky boobialla, scrophulariaceae

PART OF CORKOAK TREE FROM SMALL STAND OF CORKOAK TREE GROWING AT MT. BECKWORTHSPECIMEN OF PIECE OF CORKOAK TREElocal history, rural industries, timber

Tobacco found in the Waitauala Plantation New Britain in 1944.A plug of tobacco found in New Britain 1944.militory history, personal effects, smoking accessories

Cliff Beauglehole was an orchardist at Portland, Victoria, who throughout hislife took an intense interest in the plants of Victoria. Over his lifetime he collected 90,000 plant specimens as part of a comprehensive study of Victoria's plants and wrote thirteen books under the heading The Distribution and Conservation of Vascular Plants in Victoria, each written to cover the 13 study areas of the Victorian and Conservation Council.A mounted botanical specimen.beauglehole herbarium, herbarium specimen, botany, herbarium, plant science, plant specimen, field naturalists' club ballarat, federation university herbarium, cyperus gymnocaulos, spiny flat-sedge, cyperaceae

In Australia, precious opal is found in Cretaceous age sandstones and mudstones. These sedimentary rocks were deeply weathered and this weathering released silica into the groundwater.Australia is the only part of the world where opalised animal and plant fossils have been found. Opal artefacts several thousands of years old have been discovered in East Africa. As early as 250 BC the Romans prized opals, thought to have come from mines in Eastern Europe, the ancient world's main source of opals. There are many aboriginal dreamtime stories that feature opal. Australian opals discovered during the late 1800's found little favour with European markets but their commercial value increased in the 1900's and in 1932 Australia took over as the major producer of opals in the world and remains the largest producer to this day. Opal is found around the world (Brazil, Mexico, Honduras and the western US) however Australia produces 95% of the world's precious opal and it is our official national gemstone. Opal was first mined commercially at Listowel Downs in Queensland in 1875 and later at White Cliffs in NSW. Today, Coober Pedy (SA) is the main producer of white opal, though in recent years this field has expanded and all types of opals are found. Other centres in SA include Andamooka and Mintabe. Lightning Ridge (NSW) is renowned for black opal and formerly White Cliffs was a large producer of high quality opal. Boulder opals (opals in concretionary ironstone) are mined in Queensland from numerous localities in a zone extending from the Eulo and Cunnamulla district in the south and northwest for a distance of over 700 km to Kynuna in the north. The towns of Quilpie, Yowah and Winton are the main opal mining and wholesale centres. Opals are considered gemstones and have been used in jewellery for thousands of years.Throughout much of history, opals were actually believed to be good luck. The Romans thought that opals were one of the luckiest gemstones and a symbol of hope. In the Middle Ages, opals were believed to be bestowed with all the positive properties of coloured gemstones due to its rainbow-like play of colour. Finally, there is a superstition that you should not wear an opal unless it is your birthstone otherwise misfortune will befall you. This, of course, is far-fetched, but the notion could have been promoted in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries by diamond traders who were trying to increase sales of diamonds and deter people from buying opals. Possibly related to this is the thought that you should set opal jewellery with diamonds as their powers of good fortune will override any negativity held by the opal. The great majority of opal does not show play of colour and is called common opal or potch however this is not the case with a precious opal. Opal is a precious gemstone, like rubies, emeralds or diamonds. Opal is rare, and it is expensive to prospect and mine for.Silica is one of the most common minerals on the planet, but precious opal is very rare – far more rare than diamonds. Precious opal is rare because the natural processes that create it rarely occur.Most (at least 95%) of the opal found by miners is common opal without gem colour. In Australia we call it potch. It can be white, grey, black or amber coloured. Even when a miner finds gem-coloured opal, most of it can’t be cut into gemstones because it’s too thin, or sandy. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.It is not known where this opal originated, except that it is probably from Victoria, as it has been recorded from many localities in the State. Common Opal is formed from silica-rich water circulating through rocks near the Earth’s surface. It consists of minute spheres of silica arranged in different ways. In common opal, the spheres are of different sizes and randomly arranged, unlike in precious opal where the spheres are of similar size and uniformly arranged in three dimensions. These differences account for common opal generally being translucent to opaque and without the play of colours, or opalescence, displayed by precious opal. Common opal is found in many localities and different geological environments throughout Australia and the world. Precious opal requires special conditions to form and is much less common. Australia produces most to the world’s precious opal. burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, beechworth museum, geological, geological specimen, precious opal, opal, brazil, mexico, honduras, queensland, coober pedy, gemstones, jewellery, play-of-colour, light blue

Cliff Beauglehole was an orchardist at Portland, Victoria, who throughout hislife took an intense interest in the plants of Victoria. Over his lifetime he collected 90,000 plant specimens as part of a comprehensive study of Victoria's plants and wrote thirteen books under the heading The Distribution and Conservation of Vascular Plants in Victoria, each written to cover the 13 study areas of the Victorian and Conservation Council.A mounted botanical specimen.beauglehole herbarium, herbarium specimen, botany, herbarium, plant science, plant specimen, field naturalists' club ballarat, federation university herbarium, silybum marianum, varigated thistle, asteraceae

Ural Owls are one of the largest nocturnal birds of prey and are distributed across Northern hemisphere land masses from Scandinavia in the west, across Russia and China to Japan in the east. They average between 500-640mm in length, have large ears, a very long tail, and wing spans up to 1340mm. Ural Owls display reverse sexual dimorphism. They have a range of calls and sounds that vary between regions and among subspecies. Ural Owls prefer mature primary forest habitats that are not too dense, but adapt to a range of environments, including damp heathland and high elevation mountain forests. The species is considered nocturnal but may be more correctly described as ‘cathemeral’, due to frequent daylight activity in the taiga zone. Ural Owls are non-migratory and highly territorial. They prefer to hunt from a perch into open areas of forest, seeking small mammal prey, such as voles, as well as birds, amphibians, and invertebrates. Ural Owls have a broad, rounded head and a well-developed round facial disc with a small V-shaped indentation. They tend to be plain greyish-brown to whitish overall, though some subspecies display darker colour variation. The underparts are pale cream to grey-brown and boldly overlaid with dark brown streaking. Ural Owls lack the richer colour tones of other Strix owls. Their flight style gives the appearance of a large bird. The eyes are dark brown and relatively small, and the bill is yellowish. Tarsi and toes are feathered grey and the talons are yellowish brown with darker tips. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century. This Ural Owl is an average sized specimen with a broad, rounded head and characteristic V-shaped facial marking between the eyes. Overall plumage is plain and consistent in colour and pattern, with white, brown and grey streaks. The eyes are large and the bill is small and yellow. This specimen stands on a wooden perch with identification tags attached to its leg.Swing tag: Strix noctua / Athene noctua, [illegible] / near leiden / 26 Mai 1860. / Holland / Other tag: N38 / Strix noctua / Holland. / Metal tag: 4062 /taxidermy, taxidermy mount, burke museum, australian museum, owls, birds of prey, heart-shaped faced owl, nocturnal birds, predator birds, carnivore, territorial owl, animalia, large owl, long-tailed owls, ural mountains, taiga zone owls, cathemeral, monogamous, iucn red list, strix, wood owl, attacking owl, long-tailed owl, large-eared owl, owls with facial disc

There is no known information about the species of snake that this skin belongs to. However, generally speaking, Australia has over two hundred known species of snakes. They are elongated, legless and carnivorous reptiles with scaly, textured skin. Snakes are especially important in Aboriginal dreaming, representing one of the great and powerful forces of nature and spirit. In the Rainbow Serpent Dreamtime story, they are considered the great life giver and protector of water, which is their spiritual home. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum and the National Museum of Victoria, as well as individuals such amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century. This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.Caramel coloured long snake skin curled around in an oval shape.taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, snake skin, snake, reptile

Phyllograptus Augustifolius, Figured by E.A. Ripper. White coloured rock, one-stipe graptolite specimen. Sticker with 'CH 36' near specimen. Graptolite specimen was formerly held in the School of Mines Museum, Pall Mall, Bendigo.

Cliff Beauglehole was an orchardist at Portland, Victoria, who throughout hislife took an intense interest in the plants of Victoria. Over his lifetime he collected 90,000 plant specimens as part of a comprehensive study of Victoria's plants and wrote thirteen books under the heading The Distribution and Conservation of Vascular Plants in Victoria, each written to cover the 13 study areas of the Victorian and Conservation Council.A mounted botanical specimen.beauglehole herbarium, herbarium specimen, botany, herbarium, plant science, plant specimen, field naturalists' club ballarat, federation university herbarium, crassula helmsii, swamp crassula, crassulaceae

Isograptus caduceus var.divergens Harris (3132) Yapeenian. Brown rock. One very distinct specimen of graptolite on face. Sticker with 'Ya45' on rock. Fossil collection was formerly held by the School of Mines Museum, Pall Mall, Bendigo.

Selwynite is a fine-grained, compact green rock made primarily of chromian muscovite (fuchsite) and diaspore. Corundum and fuchsite can occur together in the form of massive aggregates or nodules. Often, copper carbonates are found as earthy films or tiny crystals in joint planes. The mineral name honours the late A. R. C. Selwyn, founding Director of the Geological Survey of Victoria. The particular specimen, a mottled green stone suitable for carving was recovered and found in Heathcote, Victoria, Australia. The rarity and qualities of this mineral attracted commercial mining, which was not successful, but traces of the mine shafts still exist today, and it is still highly valued by mineral collectors.Selwynit is considered to be one of the rare forms of rock because it is composed of phosphate minerals containing zirconium. This is an extremely rare combination found in nature. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.A fine grained rock composed of mainly of chromian muscovite (fuchsite) diaspore and corundum.geological specimen, geology, geology collection, burke museum, beechworth, mineralogy, heathcote, mineral collectors, selwynite, green rock, rock specimen

The diamond firetail bird is native to inland southeastern Australia, inhabiting woodland regions. It is often described as one of the most stunningly coloured birds of the finch family. The nest is built by both partners but only the female does the weaving. Both partners incubate the eggs and care for the young. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century. This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century. The diamond firetail finch it characterised by the top of its body being ash brown, with crown, forehead and neck grey. The under feathers are white with a crimson rump. There is a black band across its neck which continues down the flank to be dotted with white. The bill and eye ring are coral, and the legs and feet are dark grey. The female is similar to the male although sometimes smaller. 10057 comprises of one male and one female. This specimen stands upon a wooden platform and has an identification tag tied around its legLabel: 41a./ Firetialed Finch / See Catalogue, Page 15. /taxidermy mount, cancel, taxidermy, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, finch, diamond firetail

The Ring Ouzel is a member of the Thrush family, Turdis, of which there are about 85 different species, commonly located in Europe. They are found in upland Scotland, northern England, north west Wales and Dartmoor. This species is identified by their dark colouring which contrasts to the white crescent across the breast and the white edging on the wings and some body feathers which provides a scale-like appearance. The diet of this species consists of invertebrates, some small vertebrates and a wide range of fruit. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century. This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.The Ring Ouzel specimen is stylised perched on a wooden platform. It is a medium sized bird of the thrush family. This particular specimen is a brown colour with pale edging to the wing feathers rather than the plumage being a darker black which can help identify this bird as female. The feathers have a white edging on the stomach giving this bird a scaly appearance. The bird has a small dark bill, two glass eyes, black legs and a long tail. Around the front of the upper breast, the bird has a striking white crescent shaped band. "Label 1 110a. / Ring Thrush / Catalogue Page 29 / Lable 2 Furdus torquaters / [illegible] 10 OCT. 1859 / near Leiden /"taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, european birds, ring ouzel, blackbird, ouzel

Cliff Beauglehole was an orchardist at Portland, Victoria, who throughout hislife took an intense interest in the plants of Victoria. Over his lifetime he collected 90,000 plant specimens as part of a comprehensive study of Victoria's plants and wrote thirteen books under the heading The Distribution and Conservation of Vascular Plants in Victoria, each written to cover the 13 study areas of the Victorian and Conservation Council.A mounted botanical specimen.beauglehole herbarium, herbarium specimen, botany, herbarium, plant science, plant specimen, field naturalists' club ballarat, federation university herbarium, machaerina rubiginosa, baumea rubiginosa, soft twig-rush, cyperaceae