Shows the extent of the River trade in the Murray Darling River basin in the early 20th Century.Helps show the extent of river trade in the Riverland area of South Australia in the early 20th Century.Copy of an original photograph of a wharf scene with moored river boats. possibly of Morgan c. 1900.Written on back in pencil."boats tied up at Morgan-?"murray river, paddle steamers, river boats, morgan. south australia., riverland

William Brian (Badger) BATES (1947- ) Born Wilcannia Barkantji Badger Bates is a Barkantji Elder, political activist and contemporary artist. Known primarily for printmaking, wood and stone carving, his work is intrinsically linked to his lifelong fight for the safety and health of the Barka (the Darling River).'Gitji Woman' is carved from a very old piece of log found at Wittabrinna Creek near Tibooburra, Western New South Wales. The tree was dead for 60-80 years, and was hollow inside. "I could see a figure in the wood so I folowed the shapes already three. The woman has a drawn out figure with long fingers and is coming out of the log, she is an ancestral spirit. I put the pink cockatoo and emu feathers in the leg in the way people used to decorate themselves for corroborees."badger bates, paakantyi, wilcannia, timber, aboriginal, barkantji

Born Highbury College London 1834, died Melbourne June 19, 1910. Ordained in Pitt Street Sydney Congregational Church 21/3/1860. Ministry: Bush Mission, Lower Darling River 1860–61; Maryborough 1861–64; Dawson St Ballarat 1864–72; Williamstown/Secretary CUV 1872–84; Secretary CUV 1884–1908. Chairman CUV 1871–72 & 1908–09. Son of Rev. Dr Robert Halley, Principal of Highbury College. Arrived Sydney c. 1853. Had a holiday home at Queescliff/Point Lonsdale and tried to establish a Congregational Church there. Obituary read: "For 37 years in the office of Union Secretary he had proved himself a faithful preacher of the Gospel, a leader of the general interest of the churches of peculiar force, knowledge and devotion, and an earnest and high principled citizen of the State, devoting hmself to the social amelioration of the people and the extension of the Kingdom of God. Our late Secretary was a man of vigorous intellectual power. His early life had given him a bent in the direction of the study of natural history. He was a keen observer, a lover of counry life, and the science and art of gardening, in which he occupied the leisure moments of a busy life."Portrait of Halley c. 1850–1869."C. 1850–1869 Rev. J. J. Halley, Cong. Union"halley, j. j., congregational church

Born Highbury College London 1834, died Melbourne June 19, 1910. Ordained in Pitt Street Sydney Congregational Church 21/3/1860. Ministry: Bush Mission, Lower Darling River 1860–61; Maryborough 1861–64; Dawson St Ballarat 1864–72; Williamstown/Secretary CUV 1872–84; Secretary CUV 1884–1908. Chairman CUV 1871–72 & 1908–09. Son of Rev. Dr Robert Halley, Principal of Highbury College. Arrived Sydney c. 1853. Had a holiday home at Queescliff/Point Lonsdale and tried to establish a Congregational Church there. Obituary read: "For 37 years in the office of Union Secretary he had proved himself a faithful preacher of the Gospel, a leader of the general interest of the churches of peculiar force, knowledge and devotion, and an earnest and high principled citizen of the State, devoting hmself to the social amelioration of the people and the extension of the Kingdom of God. Our late Secretary was a man of vigorous intellectual power. His early life had given him a bent in the direction of the study of natural history. He was a keen observer, a lover of counry life, and the science and art of gardening, in which he occupied the leisure moments of a busy life."Photocopy of engraving from the Congregational Year Book for 1893.halley, j. j., congregational church

Born Highbury College London 1834, died Melbourne June 19, 1910. Ordained in Pitt Street Sydney Congregational Church 21/3/1860. Ministry: Bush Mission, Lower Darling River 1860–61; Maryborough 1861–64; Dawson St Ballarat 1864–72; Williamstown/Secretary CUV 1872–84; Secretary CUV 1884–1908. Chairman CUV 1871–72 & 1908–09. Son of Rev. Dr Robert Halley, Principal of Highbury College. Arrived Sydney c. 1853. Had a holiday home at Queescliff/Point Lonsdale and tried to establish a Congregational Church there. Obituary read: "For 37 years in the office of Union Secretary he had proved himself a faithful preacher of the Gospel, a leader of the general interest of the churches of peculiar force, knowledge and devotion, and an earnest and high principled citizen of the State, devoting hmself to the social amelioration of the people and the extension of the Kingdom of God. Our late Secretary was a man of vigorous intellectual power. His early life had given him a bent in the direction of the study of natural history. He was a keen observer, a lover of counry life, and the science and art of gardening, in which he occupied the leisure moments of a busy life."Photocopy of engraving from the Congregational Year Book for 1893.halley, j. j., congregational church

Born Highbury College London 1834, died Melbourne June 19, 1910. Ordained in Pitt Street Sydney Congregational Church 21/3/1860. Ministry: Bush Mission, Lower Darling River 1860–61; Maryborough 1861–64; Dawson St Ballarat 1864–72; Williamstown/Secretary CUV 1872–84; Secretary CUV 1884–1908. Chairman CUV 1871–72 & 1908–09. Son of Rev. Dr Robert Halley, Principal of Highbury College. Arrived Sydney c. 1853. Had a holiday home at Queescliff/Point Lonsdale and tried to establish a Congregational Church there. Obituary read: "For 37 years in the office of Union Secretary he had proved himself a faithful preacher of the Gospel, a leader of the general interest of the churches of peculiar force, knowledge and devotion, and an earnest and high principled citizen of the State, devoting hmself to the social amelioration of the people and the extension of the Kingdom of God. Our late Secretary was a man of vigorous intellectual power. His early life had given him a bent in the direction of the study of natural history. He was a keen observer, a lover of counry life, and the science and art of gardening, in which he occupied the leisure moments of a busy life."Photocopy of engraving from the Congregational Year Book for 1893.halley, j. j., congregational church

Booklet - promoting tram travel and walking trips or "tramps" between various tram terminus. Includes notes on the Board's services, its tourist tram with notes and fares on specific walks. Includes a map and some photos for each walk. 1 - Brighton Road to Hawthorn 2 - Burwood to Mont Albert 3 - Carnegie to Darling Road 4 - Whitehorse Road to East Kew 5 - Glen Iris to Darling Road 6 - Maribyrnong River to Mt Alexander Road 7 - Gardiner or Glen Iris to Burwood 8 - Wallen Road Bridge to Glenferrie Road 9 - Johnston St Bridge to Victoria Bridge At the time, some of these walks would have been through largely undeveloped land and parks.Demonstrates a promotion of the MMTB tram services and leisure activities.Booklet - 16 pages, two colours on light fawn paper, centre stapled.tramways, showgrounds, william st, mmtb

Charles Gordon Watts-Phillips was born in 1849 at Forest Hill, Surrey, England, the son of Dramatic Author, Watts Phillips, and Lily Mariner. He departed England for Australia around 1874. His sister Roland was a favourite Australian actress of the early 1900s. Gordon as he was known, whilst residing in Goolwa, South Australia and working as a clerk met and married a widow, Jane Luxon (nee Miller) on the 7th August, 1876 at the Wesleyan Church in Strathalbyn, South Australia. Jane, Gordon’s elder by some 11 years was born in Ireland in 1838, the daughter of Robert Joseph Miller, a carpenter and Jane Miller. She had previously married Captain William Luxon in 1861 at Encounter Bay, South Australia at age 22 and they had four children: William (1864), George Robert (1865), Miriam Louisa (1867) and Harriet Jane (1869), all born at Encounter Bay. Gordon and Jane had two further children together: Caroline Roland Watts-Phillips (1877 Islington S.A.) and Charles Gordon Watts-Phillips (1879 Yatala, S.A.). At some stage, Jane then deserted her husband. Gordon obtained a master's certificate and was a part owner of a small trader. He had also been captain of one of the passenger boats on the Darling River. He was reputedly a popular coastal skipper. By 1891 Gordon was the Captain of the S.S Omeo operating around Sale, Victoria. In August of that year some of the heaviest flooding of the Thomson River ever experienced in twenty years occurred over the 3rd and 4th of August. Gordon, and others, rescued the lives of many families over that period for which he was awarded a Bronze Medal by the Royal Humane Society. By 1892 the S.S. Omeo had passed to another Captain and Gordon subsequently retired from the sea and moved to Melbourne. Whilst residing in Coburg, Victoria, Gordon met Mary Hilda Harvey Huxley who was living in Brunswick. Mary was born in Horsham, the daughter of George Harry Huxley, a miner, and Emma Deane. Having not heard from Jane for some years and believing her dead, Gordon and Mary marry at Carlton on Christmas Eve, 1900. Interestingly, an announcement of the marriage was not placed in The Age newspaper until September 1903, nearly three years after the event by which time Gordon and Mary had a son, Victor Gordon Watts-Phillips, born 8 February 1903 in Carlton. Within months of the placement of this marriage announcement, his former wife, Jane, makes a reappearance but apparently does not interfere and Mary and Gordon continue to live together as husband and wife. Around the same time in late 1903, Gordon’s brother, Basil Watts Phillip wrote from London to the Victoria Police seeking assistance to locate his brother. He had last heard from him in a letter dated Cunninghame, Gippsland, 1891. He indicated that about 1893 Gordon and Jane and their two children were living at Beaconsfield Parade, Albert Park but the whereabouts of all was now unknown. He mentioned Gordon had also been awarded 21 guineas by Judge Boucaut on the 26th February 1884, also a silver medal, for arresting two ruffians who had brutally assaulted a jockey (in South Australia) and that he had been awarded the Royal Humane Society's medal, London, and in 1891, was presented with the Royal Humane Society's certificate of merit (Victoria). Basil also stated his brother had lost the sight of one eye through a stab he received in New York and had a scar on his temple, one on the wrist, two under the shoulder blade, and one on the thigh, and two bullet wounds in the leg. Basil’s quest was published in the Melbourne Herald and assistance was soon forthcoming to the Police. In June 1906 Gordon made his Will, leaving all his estate to his youngest son Victor. Mary was appointed Executrix and it was witnessed by Olive Huxley, married woman, and James Huxley, a pottery maker. James was subsequently killed in France in May 1918. Gordon and Mary have a second son, Basil Douglas born in Carlton in 1911 but he dies as toddler in 1913. At some point Gordon and Mary made their home at Eltham though official electoral roll records record them at Little Flinders Street Melbourne, employed as a caretaker and from 1906 in Brunswick as a decorator then painter. Eltham may have been a ‘holiday’ home but it seems Mary was actively engaged in the community as a newspaper report in the Advertiser in 1922 not long after Gordon’s death indicates Mary was one of the best known and best liked ladies of the Eltham district. She was actively engaged in all matters, tending towards the welfare of the district. At the time of Gordon’s death Mary was president of the Ladies' Public Hall Committee, responsible for the conduct of numerous, and successful entertainments. Gordon’s first and only legal wife, Jane Luxon Watts-Phillips nee Miller, died 6 November 1921 and was buried 8 November 1921 at Springvale Cemetery. Jane had lived 34 years in South Australia and 30 years in Victoria. With Jane now dead, Gordon was now officially a widower and just three weeks later, the retired master mariner of Eltham at age 55 remarried Mary, 42, of 174 Hickford Street, East Brunswick on the 29th November 1921 in the Parish of St Cuthbert, East Brunswick. Gordon died at their home, ‘The Rest’, at 174 Hickford Street, East Brunswick on February 9, 1922 and was buried at Eltham Cemetery on February 11. An interesting link is established with the heavy floods of August 1891 by the erection of a tombstone in the Eltham cemetery. The stone bears the inscription: - “In loving memory of (Captain) Gordon, dearly beloved husband of Mary Watts Phillips. Died 9th February 1922, aged 62 years." Beside the stone is a replica, carved in a marble scroll, of the Royal Humane Society of Australia's Certificate of merit. Part of the wording of this certificate is as follows:- “At a general court of directors holder at the offices of the society at Melbourne on the 6th day of September 1891, it was resolved that the courage and humanity displayed by Gordon Watts Phillips aged 30-years captain of S.S. Omeo, Sale, in rescuing many families from drowning during the heavy floods on Thomson River on 3rd and 4th of August 1891 call for the admiration of the court, and justly entitles him to the certificate of merit of this society, which is hereby awarded." Unbeknownst to Gordon, his second and subsequent legal marriage to Mary initiated a revocation of his Will of 1906, which had solely benefited his son Victor. Consequently, Mary had to apply for Letters of Administration and the only legal beneficiaries would be Mary and his two children by Jane. On June 18, 1940, at age 61, Mary married 70-year-old Arthur Ernest Fenn in Melbourne. Unfortunately for her, Arthur died a year later in July 1941 and was buried in the Cohuna Cemetery near Echuca. Mary lived a further 8 years, passing away suddenly July 4, 1948 in Carlton, and was buried July 7 with her beloved husband Gordon, at Eltham Cemetery. In Loving Memory of (Captain) Gordon Dearly beloved husbandof Mary Watts-Phillips Died 9th Feb. 1922, aged 62 years Also Mary Hilda Loved wife of above Died 4th July 1948 "At rest"Born Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, (captain) gordon watts-phillips, mary hilda harvey watts-phillips (nee huxley)

The Azure Kingfisher can be located throughout northern and eastern Australia. It can also been found in parts of Indonesia, New Guinea and surrounding islands. This species frequents the Kimberley region in Western Australia and and the Top End of Queensland. In Victoria, it resides inland near the Murray-Darling Basin. These birds prefer to make their homes near bodies of water such as creeks and rivers. They live in areas with shady vegetation. This particular species of Kingfisher are known for their bright and contrasting colouring and tiny stature. They are the smallest Kingfisher found in Australia. These birds feed on yabbies and small fish. 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 Azure Kingfisher is stylized perched upon a wooden stand and has a paper identification tag attached to one of its legs. This bird has a combination of blue, yellow/orange and black plumage. The orange colour is located upon its chest while the royal blue is upon the rear of the bird on its back and head. The blue has faded in places due to age. The specimen is a diminutive bird species with a wide torso and a long and slender black bill. It has a short tail and two glass black eyes. The feet are a pale cream colour.11a. / Azure Kingfisher See Catalogue, page 9. /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, australian birds, kingfisher, azure, azure kingfisher, small birds, brightly coloured birds

Black and white photograph, possibly of Rotten Row ( mooring sites for derelict paddle steamers no longer able to be repaired) on the Murray River at Echuca, showing the 'Advance' barge in foreground. Three paddle steamers and three barges are moored on the left bank, including the P.S Rob Roy.Representative of the Murray - Darling river trade in the late 19th and early 20th century.Black and white photograph of Rotten Row on the Murray River, showing the 'Advance' barge, other barges and paddle steamers and the 'Rob Roy' paddle steamer all moored on the left bank.On photo 'C. Nettleton, photo. Copyright registered Melbourne. Echuca Steam Boats on the Murray 156 miles N from Melbourne. ' Appears that the paddle steamer beside the Advance, starts with "S" and ends "DA" or "CA". On back of photo; Derelict or tied up for summer? Date. Barge is Advance?? About 1913. Return to H. Coulson, Box 170, Echuca 3625.rotten row, nettleton, c, murray river, echuca, paddle steamers, steam boats

Sepia photograph of Hopwood's Punt, showing the gangway extended to river bank. There are 5 workmen, dressed in work clothes and boots, at the front of the punt and 2 gentlemen, dressed in coats and umbrellas. Stock, produce (possibly wool bales) and people are on board. There are 3 horses hitched to a wagon and behind there looks like a large consignment of wool bales. There appears to be women at the side of the punt (1 with an umbrella up). At the side of the punt there appears to be a passenger landing. There is also a small row boat tied to the side of the punt. Wagons, barge and possibly other punts are in the background. There was a painting of this scene by J. C. Armytage around 1857.This is a very good example of the cargo, people, produce and animals, that were using the punt to cross the Murray river in the late 1800s. The difference between workers and gentry can be seen as well as the modes of transport at this time.Sepia photograph of Hopwood's Punt, showing the gangway extended to river bank. Stock, produce (possibly wool bales) and people are on board. Wagons, barge and possibly other punts are in the background. Mounted on buff cardboard printed with red lines and letters.On the front at the top, above the red boarder "Royal", at the bottom below the red boarder "Hopwood's Punt, Echuca". On the reverse, "W. B. Payne, Darling St., Echuca"murray river, echuca, hopwood's punt, j. c. armytage (painter)

The paddle steamer P. S Pevensy appears to still be a working steamer in this photograph. The boat seems a bit dishevelled and the workers are doing repairs on her, while she is still steaming up the river. If this photograph was taken in 1950, that would have been well before the development of the Tourism Industry in the Murray Darling area. This would explain the number of workers and the fact that they were doing maintenance while the Paddle Steamer was still working. She does not appear to be towing a barge, but a large tarpaulin could be covering a load for transport. This picture holds significance because it shows a paddle steamer in use before the Tourism Industry had developed in the Murray Darling region. The paddle steamer which now carries passengers every day has been renovated to cater for passengers cruising up and down the river. Here is this photograph the P.S Pevensy looks a bit dishevelled and untidy.This is a black and white rectangular photograph of the P.S Pevensey. Four people can be seen painting the wall of the cabins on the upper deck. A person can also be seen kneeling on the back deck working on something lying on the back deck. A wooden boat is nearby, also on the back deck. The boat is steaming and appears to be moving upstream. There is along pole at a 45 degree angle attached to the very front of the paddle steamer.On the front of the photograph written on the paddle steamer can't be seen the words "PEVENSEY. Melbourne." Written on the back of the photograph in lead pencil " M4414-17. K4". p.s pevensey, paddle steamers

This is a picture of the railway station building which was built in c. 1865. The railway line was built from Bendigo to Echuca in 1864. The left wing of the present building has an additional floor to the original building. Refer page 62 of Susan Priestley's book. "Echuca; A Centenary History." The Building of the Echuca Railway station was very significant to life in Echuca. It made travel easier for residents, but also it helped develop Echuca as the largest inland port in the world. Traders brought wool and wheat down the Murray-Darling river basin to Echuca where it could then be sent by rail to Melbourne for shipping overseas, or to other ports around Australia. Rail became a very successful partnership in making Echuca Port's busiest year in 1872.A coloured rectangular photograph of the Echuca Railway station taken in 1979. There are three cars parked outside. A motorcycle is parked under the verandah, where two people are also sitting. In the foreground there are yellow flowering weeds.railways, echuca railway station., priestley, susan

The P.S Australien was built in 1897 by Richard Wilson, of Moama. In 1937 the vessel was used to tow boilers, winches and derricks to the banks of the Murray River to aide in the construction of Locks 6,7,9 and Yarrawonga Weir. The barge is viewed from the rear, as the rudder can be seen, and shows the enormity of the loads of wool which a barge could carry. The two vessels are tied together and appear to be moored at a small pier.The P.S Australien is one of the oldest paddle steamers built at Echuca. It was a working vessel during the construction of the Yarrawonga weir in the 1930s which was the beginning of the irrigation system which enabled the Agriculture Industry to become such a prominent part of the Murray-Darling River Basin social history. A paddle steamer and a barge, loaded with wool, are seen docked together on a river. There is a small wooden jetty leading to the bank where gum trees are growing.p.s australien, yarrawonga weir, echuca paddlesteamers, murray river paddle steamers, wilson, richard, wool industry

Display board of replica cloth colour patches, mounted in glass fronted wooden frame. Colour patches displayed are those of : 1st Cavalry Division HQ (CMF) Desert Mounted Corps HQ 2nd Cavalry Division HQ (CMF) HQ 1st Light Horse Brigade (AIF & CMF) HQ 2nd Light Horse Brigade (AIF & CMF) HQ 3rd Light Horse Brigade (AIF & CMF) HQ 4th Light Horse Brigade (AIF) HQ 5th Light Horse Brigade (AIF & CMF) HQ 4th Light Horse Brigade (CMF) HQ 6th Light Horse Brigade (CMF) 1st Light Horse Regiment / 1st Royal NSW Lancers 5th Light Horse Regiment / 5th Wide Bay & Burnett Light Horse 8th Light Horse Regiment / 8th Indi Light Horse Regiment 4th Light Horse Regiment / 4th Corangamite Light Horse Regiment 14th Light Horse Regiment / 14th West Moreton Light Horse Regiment 18th Adelaide Lancers 4th Light Horse Regiment / 1st Aust Div Mounted Regiment / 2nd ANZAC Mounted Regiment / 22nd Corps Mounted Regiment. 2nd Light Horse Regiment / 2nd Moreton Light Horse Regiment 6th Light Horse Regiment / 6th NSW Mounted Rifles 9th Light Horse Regiment / 9th Flinders Light Horse Regiment 11th Light Horse Regiment / 11th Darling Downs Light Horse Regiment 15th Light Horse Regiment / 15th Northern River Lancers 21st Riverina Light Horse 13th Light Horse Regiment / 2nd Aust Div Mounted Regiment / 1st ANZAC Mounted Regiment / Aust Corps Mounted Regiment / 13th Gippsland Light Horse Regiment 3rd Light Horse Regiment / 3rd South Australian Mounted Rifles 7th Light Horse Regiment / 7th Australian Horse 10th Light Horse Regiment / 10th Western Australian Mounted Infantry 12th Light Horse Regiment / 12th New England Light Horse Regiment 17th Prince of Wales Light Horse Regiment 22nd Tasmanian Mounted Infantry 11th Light Horse Regiment / 4th Aust Div Mounted Regiment / 24th Gwydir Light Horse Regiment 1st Machine Gun Squadron / 25th Light Horse (MG) 2nd Machine Gun Squadron / 16th Hunter River Lancers 3rd Machine Gun Squadron / 20th Victorian Mounted Rifles 4th Machine Gun Squadron / 26th Light Horse (MG) 5th Machine Gun Squadron / 19th Yarrowee Light Horse 23rd Barossa Light Horse Regiment 12th Light Horse Regiment / 5th Aust Div Mounted Regiment 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance 5th Light Horse Field Ambulance 4th Signal Troop / 4th Light Horse brigade 6th Mobile Veterinary Section /1st Light Horse Brigade 7th Mobile Veterinary Section / 2nd Light Horse Brigade 8th Mobile Veterinary Section / 3rd Light Horse Brigade 9th Mobile Veterinary Section / 4th Light Horse brigade 10th Mobile Veterinary Section / 5th Light Horse Brigade 5th Signal Troop / 5th Light Horse Brigade 1st Signal Squadron / NZ & Aust Mounted Div Signal SquadronColour Patch Display No 39. Includes detailed notes about history, usage and design of colour patchesworld war one, ww1, army, aif, insignia, heraldry, light horse, militia, badges, colour patches, cmf

Sepia Toned Photograph, gold sluicing on the Ovens River near Germantown) Showing a man standing on a water wheel looking over a water course flanked by trees & shrubbery with mountains in the background. Markings on rear Photo read 'N.J. Caire Landscape Photographer 4 Darling Street South Yarra Victoria'N.J. Cairephotograph, water wheel landscape, water wheel, mining

Double Headed Rail from Ravenswood Station Siding which was dismantled circa 1987 the two rails were stored for a time at Maldon before being donated to Puffing Billy Museum Bearing makers marks of Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield- Steel works Wilson & Cammell made Steel rails at their Dronfield Steel Works, in Dronfield, North East Derbyshire, England from 1872 - 1883 Double-headed rail In late 1830s Britain, railway lines had a vast range of different patterns. One of the earliest lines to use double-headed rail was the London and Birmingham Railway, which had offered a prize for the best design. This rail was supported by chairs and the head and foot of the rail had the same profile. The supposed advantage was that, when the head became worn, the rail could be turned over and re-used. In practice, this form of recycling was not very successful as the chair caused dents in the lower surface, and double-headed rail evolved into bullhead rail in which the head was more substantial than the foot. Info from Wikipedia - Rail Profile https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_profile The first records of double headed rail being used In Victoria by Victorian Railways was in 1859, the rails, chairs, oak and trenails were imported from UK. After the 1870’s the Victorian Railways went over to using flat bottom rails, but they still needed replacement double headed rail for lines already laid and this continued up to at least 1883 Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield- Steel works Wilson & Cammell made Steel rails at their Dronfield Steel Works, in Dronfield England from 1872 - 1883 Mount Alexander & Murray River Railway The Melbourne, Mount Alexander & Murray River Railway Company received parliamentary assent in February 1853 to build Victoria's first inland railway from Melbourne to Williamstown, and Melbourne to Bendigo and Echuca. Construction commenced in January 1854 with work on a pier at Williamstown but lack of funds slowed progress, eventually prompting the company to sell out to the government. The 100-mile (162 km) section to Bendigo opened in October 1862. Its cost of £35,000 per mile made it the most expensive railway ever built in Australia. In 1864, the line was extended to Echuca, tapping into the booming Murray-Darling paddlesteamer trade. info from Museums Victoria - Victorian Railways https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=3&IRN=450&gall=456 1863 Ravenswood Station open on the 1st Feb 1863 Victorian Railways - purchased and imported the Rail and Chairs from Raleigh, Dalgleish, White and Co. London Importation of railway plant : abstract of a return to an order of the Legislative Assembly dated 27th June 1860 for - Copies of the advertisements calling for tenders, the names of the tenderers and the accounts and correspondence with Mr Brunel relating thereto GP V 1859/60 no. C 15 http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoC15.pdf Report from the Select Committee upon the Importation of Railway Plant : together with proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence and appendix GP V 1859/60 no. D 38 (2.9 MB) http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoD38.pdf Ravenswood Siding When the Victorian Railways were established in 1856 they adopted one of the popular British permanent way standards - heavy 80lb (36.3kg) double-headed rail held up right in cast iron chairs attached to transverse timber sleepers by wooden pegs called trenails. The Ravenswood Railway siding was constructed in 1862 with 12 feet wrought iron double-head rail held in cast iron chairs with Ransom and May patent compressed keys. Trenails held the chairs to the sleepers and the joints were secured in joint chairs. Joints were subsequently joined using fish plates. It formed part of the Melbourne to Echuca rail line, initially known as the Melbourne, Mt Alexander and Murray River Railway. George Christian Derbyshire, the first Engineer-in-Chair of the Victorian Railways was responsible for the design and construction of the works. No new lines were built in Victoria using double-headed rail after 1870. The siding was disconnected from the main line in 1988. The Ravenswood Railway Siding demonstrates the original 1856 philosophy of the Victorian Railways to adopt British permanent way technology. The siding demonstrates significant aspects in the development of permanent way technology in England and Victoria over the period from the 1830's to the 1880's. The chairs in the Ravenswood siding are physical evidence of early railway technology rendered obsolete 120 years ago, namely joint chairs at rail joints and trenails to secure the chairs to the sleepers. The double-headed rail demonstrates an important stage in the evolution of British rail technology in the 1830s. The old fish plates, square headed bolts and square nuts demonstrate the success of fishing the rail joins. The Ravenswood siding demonstrates the earliest form of rail joint technology developed in England, and existing in Australia, the joint chair. In part of the siding the sequence of joint and intermediate chairs is consistent with the 1856 specifications, that sequence is rare with the joints secured in joint chairs. The survival of chairs in this sequence is rare and almost certainly demonstrates that they remained in continuous use at the same location from 1862 to 1988. This remnant of the Ravenswood siding has survived 126 years. The siding has proved to be the most significant of extant remnant double-headed sidings in Victoria, containing a rare combination of early permanent way technologies. Construction dates 1862, Info from Ravenswood Railway Siding Victorian Heritage Database Report http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/4693/download-report The remaining section of this siding is significant at the State and National levels in that it demonstrates the use of chaired rail by the Victorian Railways Department for the Trunk Lines and, more particularly, the following stages in the evolution of this long obsolete method of permanent way construction: a) The use of joint chairs and intermediate chairs at regular intervals inferring that the original wrought iron rail lengths were 12 feet, as is known through documentary sources to have been the case. The survival of chairs in this sequence is unique and almost certainly demonstrates that they have remained in continuous use at the same location and in the same sequence from 1862 to 1988 . b) The use of joint chairs and intermediate chairs designed for use with trenails. c) The use of later intermediate chairs designed for use with steel pins and the use of fished joints with steel double head chaired rail, representing a second method of constructing the permanent way using chaired rail technology. info from Ravenswood Siding - Melbourne/Echuca Railway Line - Victorian Heritage Database Report http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/70103/download-report Addition to Citation for Melbourne to EchucaRailway Line 1/10/1990 Double Head Rail The surviving lengths of double head rail with chairs on this railway compare with one surviving similar remnant on the Geelong to Ballarat railway and are representative of permanent way construction techniques applied exclusively to the two trunk railways of the 1860's. In this respect they are rare survivors and may be unique at the national level and of technical importance at the international level to the extent that they enhance contemporary understanding of early railway building technology. Surviving lengths of chaired double head rail survive at Kyneton, Ravenswood and Bendigo on this railway and include a number of different types of cast iron intermediate and joint chairs with hardwood keys and metal pins. The Ravenswood siding is of special significance for the diversity of chair types and for the sequence of chairs recalling rail lengths known to be associated with construction of the line in 1862. Construction of the Railway Tenders closed on 24 March 1858 with no less than 133 tenders being received. A contract was let to Cornish and Bruce for £3,356,937 to commence work on 1 June 1858 and complete the line by 31 July 1861. Cornish and Bruce made quick early progress with the Melbourne to Sunbury section being officially opened on 13 January 1859. The line was officially opened to Bendigo (Sandhurst) on 20 October 1862 by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Barkly. A great banquet was held for 800 guests and this was followed by a grand ball. The extension of the line to Echuca was a relatively simple matter as that part of the line was across plain country without any significant engineering challenges. Tenders were called for the work in 1863 and the work was completed in 1864 by contractors Collier and Barry Apart from the line contractors, other firms directly involved were J Shire law and Co (sleepers), R Fulton, Langlands Brothers and Co, William Crossley (water supply), B Moreland, Langlands Brothers and Co (platelayers lorries), E Chambers (iron pins, traversers), Miller and McQuinstan (luggage vans and steam engines) and various contractors for building works. Info from Engineers Australia Engineering Heritage Victoria Nomination for Recognition under the Engineering Heritage Australia Heritage Recognition Program for the Goldfields Railways - Melbourne , Bendigo & Echuca Railway Page 25 - .2.9.2 Statement from National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Listing number B5323 for Mt Alexander/Murray Valley Rail Line: Page 69 - Theme 3 https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/portal/system/files/engineering-heritage-australia/nomination-title/Melbourne_%20Bendigo_Echuca%20Railway%20Nomination.pdf The Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company was a railway company in Victoria, Australia. It was established on 8 February 1853 to build a railway from Melbourne to Echuca on the Victorian-NSW border and a branch railway to Williamstown. The company struggled to make any progress and on 23 May 1856, the colonial Government took over the Company and it became part of the newly established Department of Railways, part of the Board of Land and Works. The Department of Railways became Victorian Railways in 1859. Construction of the Bendigo line commenced in 1858, but this private consortium also met with financial difficulties when it was unable to raise sufficient funds, and was bought out by the Victorian colonial government. The design work was then taken over by Captain Andrew Clarke, R. E., Surveyor-General of Victoria, with bridge designs completed by Bryson and O'Hara The contract for the first stage of the line from Footscray to Sandhurst (now Bendigo), was let to Cornish and Bruce for £3,356,937.2s.2d ($6.714 million) with work commencing on 1 June 1858. Completion of the permanent way was to be by 31 July 1861 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne,_Mount_Alexander_and_Murray_River_Railway_Company Victorian Railways - purchased and imported the Rail and Chairs from Raleigh, Dalgleish, White and Co. London Importation of railway plant : abstract of a return to an order of the Legislative Assembly dated 27th June 1860 for - Copies of the advertisements calling for tenders, the names of the tenderers and the accounts and correspondence with Mr Brunel relating thereto GP V 1859/60 no. C 15 http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoC15.pdf Report from the Select Committee upon the Importation of Railway Plant : together with proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence and appendix GP V 1859/60 no. D 38 (2.9 MB) http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoD38.pdf Victorian Railways : report of the Board of Land and Works November 1862 GP V 1862/63 no. 21 (2.8 MB) https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1862-63No21.pdfHistoric - Victorian Railways - Double Headed rail Ravenswood Railway Station and Siding Victorian Heritage Database Reports Victorian Heritage Register VHR H1100 Victorian Heritage Register VHR H1786 National Trust VHR H1100 Mount Alexander and Murray River Rail way Line National Trust2 rail lengths of Double Headed Rail made of Iron makers marks : Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield - Steel and 20 joint chairs with metal rail pins Makers mark Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield - Steel (possible date 187? very hard to read ) puffing billy, double headed rail, wilson & cammell - dronfield - steel works, ravenswood station siding, melbourne to echuca rail line, initially known as the melbourne, mt alexander and murray river railway.