Prior to the sealing of the Princes Highway west of Orbost, the road surface was anything but good, even by C1917 when cars started to use the road. From Orbost the old road via Marlo to Sydenham was abandoned for the new location which traversed more rugged country via Cabbage Tree, Bell Bird and Club Terrace to Cann River, and the reason for this diversion was on account of settlements being established at Murrungowar and Club Terrace, at which latter place there was a temporary rush to obtain gold. This road was constructed by the Public Works department and a maximum grade of 1 in 19 was adopted, and as speed was not to be catered for the grade followed in and out round the spurs and gullies, resulting in a maze of turns and twists which required a good deal of skill on the part of the horse driver to negotiate." - Bairnsdale Advertiser, Friday, May 2, 1947. (More information from Newsletter February 2010)n the late 1800's early 1900's transporting goods by road was difficult and at times impossible because roads as thoroughfares did not exist.The means of travelling along the roads in the 1800's was by bullock wagon, horse pulled dray, pack horse or simply by foot. This road is still in use in East Gippsland as a part of many four-wheel-drive touring routes.A large black / white photograph of two horse - drawn wagons on a narrow sandy bush track. It is surrounded by scrub. There is one man standing beside a horse not harnessed to a wagon.on front - "The Coast Road to Mallacoota from Orbost JPC"

This letter was sent by a customer D. Menzies at Skipton to the Mortlake Mill, detailing an unusual payment method for the processing of his wheat into flour. David Menzies was a Scots farmer who lived in Skipton c. 1860's on a bend in the Mount Emu Creek. He helped establish the local school and a lane in the township bears his name. The letter illustrates the nature of commerce and the difficulties of communication and life generally in the country at the time. The bluestone Mortlake Mill built in 1856, has been a prominent landmark in Mortlake for over 150 years. It played a significant role in the commercial life of the town and was initially a wind-mill to process district grain for sale. The goldrush at Ararat 100 km. away led to a temporarily increased population and demand for foodstuffs. In 1857 the Mill was sold to Aikman, Hamilton and Geddes who converted it to steampower and later built the prominent chimney, which is on the Heritage Register as part of the National Estate. D. Menzies at Skipton lived at least 85 km away - his wheat which urgently needed milling, faced a slow and arduous journey by bullock dray. After the demise of the Ararat goldfields and the decline in population (as well as the district soils proving unsuitable for sustained wheat cultivation), the operation of the Mill declined too and the proprietors increased their involvement in other activities - supply of building materials, timber felling and sawmills. Despite the apparent difficulties of conducting business in the 1850's, it is notable that commerce thrived at that time in country districts, as an examination of Mill accounts and records show.Handwritten letter dated 1864 (water-stained)Skipton March 7 1864 [to] Messrs. Hamilton & Co. Mortlake. Dear Gentlemen, I was in hope of hearing from you before now that you had commenced working the Mill, & that I could have sent you the enclosed money [for a] load of wheat for Gristing. Please receive the enclosed 2 halves of 2 [two] 5 [pound sign] notes forwarded to your account. the other halves will be sent on receipt of your stating you having received those notes sent. As I am out of flour be so good as say how soon I may send a load of wheat. In haste I am Gentlemen Yours truly D. Menziesmortlake mill grain wheat hamilton geddes aikman laang dixie menzies skipton

Drays were used to transport heavy materials such as farm products, building supplies, food. They were pulled by horses or bullocks. Drays were important for transportation in the Kiewa Valley.Made of timber and steel. The piece of wood contacts the axle hub to brake the dray. Part of a brake for a dray. It is missing the actuator that is needed for tightening the band to operate as a brake.drays, horses, bullocks

A black and white photograph of bullock teams at the Log Dump at on the Wood's Point Road.A black and white photograph of bullock teams at the Dump at on the Wood's Point Road. The Marysville-Woods Point Road was originally part of the Yarra Track, constructed in the early 1860s to provide access between Healesville and the Woods Point Goldfields. Despite the steep terrain and engineering difficulties, the Yarra Track soon became a busy route used by pack horses, horse-drawn drays, and wagons. Today this sealed mountain road is a popular scenic drive between Marysville and Warburton. This postcard was produced by the Marysville Historical Society as a souvenir of Marysville.YESTERYEAR POSTCARDS AFFIX/ STAMP/ HERE BULLOCK TEAMS AT THE DUMP,/ WOODS POINT ROAD. C Marysville Historical Society, 1993marysville, bullock teams, woods point road, victoria, marysville historical society, postcard, souvenir, yesteryear postcards, marysville-wood's point road, yarra track, healesville, mining, timber mills, warburton

This image is of a bullock team belonging to Mr. Camm at Rupertswood. There are two men in the dray and one man in a white coat walkingA black and white photograph of a bullock team belonging to Mr. Camm. There are two men in the dray and one man in a white coat walking.animals, livestock, men, bullocks, camm, - (mr), rupertswood, drays, george evans collection

In the early nineteenth century larger Australian wool producers sent all their wool by sailing ship to London, where colonial auctions were held in November, January, February and March. Wool bales were carried from the farm on drays or wagons pulled by bullocks, horses or camels to port warehouses. In these times, wool transport could take anything from a week to six months. Ships, such as the Lightning, were then loaded and raced each other to get to London ahead of their rivals. The wooden ship 'Lightning' was destroyed by fire while loading wool at Geelong 31 Oct. 1869. Scuttled in Corio Bay and the remains later blown up. Reputed to be one of the fastest sailing ships. Famous in the Australian passenger trade.Model of a clipper ship with hull painted brown and black. Red Ensign flag attached to flag pole.On label - Lightning Black Ball Line 1854-55geelong, transport, model ship, lightning, wool transport

Photo of a worker bringing in a log on a dray with what appear to be narrow steel wheels. Dray is being pulled by eight or ten steers or small bullocks. Heavy bush and tall, straight timber on side of the road. Most likely Sherbrooke Forest. Road bends to left behind team then possibly to the right, going up a small rise. The man could be well-known bullocky Bill Martin. He is dressed in a wellworn hat, a pale shirt with sleeves rolled up, and darker pants, and is carrying a long, slender stick or possibly a whip in his right hand.

Photo shows a team of cattle (bullocks, cows or steers) hauling a log down to the sawmill. A huge piece of timber is clearly seen chained to the dray. Heavy timber both sides of the road, most likely present-day Sherbrooke Forest. c.1920.

Diggers & Mining. Stores at the diggings. ''Rates of carriage to Mount Alexander had generally ranged between £10 and 20 per ton. As winter drew on, these rates, began alarmingly to advance. The Bendigo goldfields . . . Were at this time the great focus of attention. To this locality, where it was said 40,000 persons were at one time assembled during the month of June, the rates of carriage rose successively to £80, £100, and £120 per ton, and contracts were said to have been freely made at still higher rates, even at £150 per ton. £3 to £4 per week with rations were promptly given to good bullock drivers who were disposed to undertake the protracted and adventurous charge of a provision dray. At the diggings, the course of prices had been for some time on the upward move, in anticipation of the winter's scarcity. A tent full of stores was second only to a tent full of gold itself. Flour which could be purchased in Melbourne at £24 per ton was sold at Bendigo for £20 per bag of 200lbs., or at the rate of £200 for the ton of 2,000lbs., weight'' Markings: 40 994.LIF. 5. Used as a teaching aid.hanimount

syd tonzing, norman (jack) tonzing, fred tonzing, dad tonzing, charlie tonzing, harry tonzing