A guide to dating, analysing and understanding photographs. Using over 150 old photographs as examples, the UK author describes the various types of photograph and explains how they can be dated, including by analysing clothes and style of dress. Sections look at photographs of special occasions - baptims, weddings, funerals, and at photographs taken in wartime, on holiday and at work. There is advice on how to identify the individuasl shown and how to find more family photographs through personal connections, archives and the internet -a nd how to preserve them for future generations.photographs, genealogy

Harriett Wilson was the wife of William Wilson, an active member of and preacher with the Linton Methodist congregation. This is one of two photographs of Mrs Wilson in the collection. This one appears to have been taken earlier than the other. The other photograph is Registration no. 480 (Box 14, also Mounted photograph 21), and shows a somewhat older Mrs Wilson, although Mrs Wilson is wearing the same dress in both photographs. An inscription on the back of the photograph says that this photograph was given by Mrs Wilson to F. Bryant on December 16, 1890. Part of Old Lintonian collection ; No. 126. Photographs of Mr Wilson are also in the collection - see Registration nos. 45, 479 & 642. It is understood that Mrs Wilson was one of the first teachers at Linton State School. Mrs Wilson died in a fire in 1900 and is buried in Linton cemetery.Small sepia photograph of a woman with hair drawn back from face, wearing a long-sleeved, full-skirted gown with beaded detail on bodice and white collar, seated with left hand resting on lap, right arm crooked on back of a chair, holding a book in her hand.In faded pencil on reverse of photograph: "James / Wilson / Linton / Given by Mrs Wilson / to F Bryant Dec. 16, 1890". Written in darker pencil over the top of this: "Mrs Wilson / (Granny)".mrs w. wilson, harriett wilson ("granny" wilson), old lintonian collection

Yields information about the staff of the Electric Supply Co of Victoria through a group photo.Copy negative of a print of the Electric supply company staff, in a large group photo outside the offices in Wendouree Parade c1920? Has three ladies in white dresses and one dog. Photographed in front of the offices with the ESCo name visible in the windows of the building. All men in suits except for the one on the far left - in work clothes - the boiler man for the day? Source of the photo not known.trams, tramways, esco, ballarat a power station, head office, group photo

The Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants’ clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Items in the collection were largely produced for, or purchased by women in Melbourne, and includes examples of outerwear, protective wear, nightwear, underwear and costume accessories. This wedding dress was worn by the grandmother of Val Warren.Raw silk wedding dress. The full length dress has lace on the bodice and long sleeves. Other decorative elements include finely pleated silk panels on the bodice, an insert on the skirt and on the cuffs of the sleeves The dress features extensive use of both utilitarian and decorative buttons that are covered in the same silk fabric as the dress. The final photograph shows two early repairs to the dress. Lydia Edwards in 'How to Read A Dress (Bloomsbury Academic, 2017), when describing a 1912 dress in the McCord Museum notes that: 'In 1911-12 the use of buttons for both fastening and decoration was extremely popular, the American women's magazine The Delineator declaring at the end of 1911 that "one cannot use buttons to liberally in the present mode".' (p.132)costumes, wedding dresses, women's fashion - 1910s, fashion design, fashion -- 1910s

15 min black and white 16 mm film, no sound. Begins with shots of trees in the bush and piles of cut logs beside a track before moving to a group of men standing by a car with 'Operation Firewood' on the boot. A road sign indicates 'Nathalia 6 1/2', 'Numurkah 22', 'Picola 3'. 'Katunga' and 'Barmah'. Shots of an empty Austin flat bed truck with 'Legacy Operation Firewood', poster on the drivers door covering the truck company name,and other empty flat bed trucks parked along a country town street which looks unsealed. A shot of a wooden sign saying 'Euroa Please slow down' follows with the Legacy car travelling very slowly past it before we see a large group of men throwing up logs onto a nearly fully loaded truck, and then a partially loaded truck with men on the flat bed stacking the logs. Five trucks are shown fully loaded and a crowd of men are gathered around a table. A circular saw (with no safety guards!) is being used to cut the bigger logs into a manageable size for splitting before being loaded by a lot of men of varying ages. The film then moves to the city where we see three men riding on the back of a moving fully loaded truck, before it stops to deliver the cut but unsplit logs to a delighted widow and her children. The logs are hurled into her front garden as a well dressed man photographs the proceedings. Other deliveries follow to further widows, but it is not clear who is going to split the logs, some of which are extremely large. The film ends showing a line of empty trucks, and a fenced city area with a sign saying 'Melbourne Legacy Firewood' holding further a supply of logs. 15 mins 07 sec. Legatees delivered firewood annually until 1995 to widows to help them through the winters in a project called 'Operation Firewood' . See also Cat. No. 000848.A record of Legacy helping widows with supplying and stacking firewood. When open fires were the main source of heating a load of firewood, and help moving it, would have been very important to the widows.Metal Kodak film cannister, silver coloured, with 'Firewood' label on outer casing.No inscriptions on internal film. operation firewood, widows

The photograph represents the original complete landscape (southerly) view of the FALLS OF HALLADALE shipwreck which occurred at 3 am on the 14th of November 1908. This image includes three groups of well-dressed Edwardian sightseers on the clifftop and a rocky headland. Subsequent reproductions of this well-known image have been cropped to a striking portrait view, emphasising the vertical line of the masts and sails of the sailing ship, and excluding the groups of sightseers on the adjoining headland. The small girl in the foreground and the loose topsail on the foremast are common to both the landscape and the cropped portrait images of this memorable scene. The photograph was taken at an early stage of the ship’s final days, somewhere between the date of her grounding in mid-November 1908 and early January 1909, when salvagers began dynamiting her masts to get to the cargo in her holds. The heavily laden FALLS OF HALLADALE was 102 days out of New York when the swell of the Southern Ocean lifted her onto the rocks near Peterborough. At the time she was sailing at six knots in a light breeze, her sails fully set and on an ENE tack. Mist over the land created an optical illusion of a distant horizon and the crew believed they were at least ten miles off the coast. When high cliffs loomed up out of the darkness it was too late in the light conditions to change tack or let go the anchors. Within minutes of running aground, her decks were awash and the holds filling with water. Captain Thomson and his 29 crew took to the boats, leaving the vessel stranded on the reef, looking awkwardly graceful in her predicament, firmly wedged between two parts of the reef and with all her square-rigged sails still set, FALLS OF HALLADALE provided a landmark visible for miles. Over the following two months, she attracted hundreds of sightseers, including contemporary photographers. A Court of Marine Inquiry at Melbourne on 30 November 1908 found Captain Thomson guilty of a gross act of misconduct ― in that he carelessly navigated the ship, neglecting to take proper soundings and failing to place the ship on the port tack before it was too late to do so. His Master’s Certificate of Competency was suspended for six months and he was ordered to pay £15/15/- toward the costs of the inquiry. It was an expensive outcome for the captain but his error provided many weeks of inexpensive entertainment for coastal residents and visitors to Peterborough. To judge from the standard of formal dress in this photograph, visiting the wreck was considered a special occasion as well as a popular one. Falls of Halladale: - The iron-hulled, four-masted barque, the Falls of Halladale, was a bulk carrier of general cargo. She left New York in August 1908 on her way to Melbourne and Sydney. In her hold, along with 56,763 tiles of unusual beautiful green American slates (roofing tiles), 5,673 coils of barbed wire, 600 stoves, 500 sewing machines, 6500 gallons of oil, 14400 gallons of benzene, and many other manufactured items, were 117 cases of crockery and glassware. Three months later and close to her destination, a navigational error caused the Falls of Halladale to be wrecked on a reef off the Peterborough headland at 3 am on the morning of the 15th of November, 1908. The captain and 29 crew members all survived, but her valuable cargo was largely lost, despite two salvage attempts in 1908-09 and 1910. ABOUT THE ‘FALLS OF HALLADALE’ (1886 - 1908) Built: in1886 by Russell & Co., Greenock shipyards, River Clyde, Scotland, UK. The company was founded in 1870 (or 1873) as a partnership between Joseph Russell (1834-1917), Anderson Rodger and William Todd Lithgow. During the period 1882-92 Russell & Co. they standardised designs, which sped up their building process so much that they were able to build 271 ships over that time. In 1886 they introduced a 3000 ton class of sailing vessel with auxiliary engines and brace halyard winches. In 1890 they broke the world output record. Owner: Falls Line, Wright, Breakenridge & Co, 111 Union Street, Glasgow, Scotland. Configuration: Four masted sailing ship; iron-hulled barque; iron masts, wire rigging, fore & aft lifting bridges. Size: Length 83.87m x Breadth 12.6m x Depth 7.23m, Gross tonnage 2085 ton Wrecked: the night of 14th November 1908, Curdies Inlet, Peterborough south west Victoria Crew: 29The shipwreck of the FALLS OF HALLADALE is of state significance: Victorian Heritage Register No. S255. The Falls of Halladale shipwreck is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register (No. S255). She was one of the last ships to sail the Trade Routes. She is one of the first vessels to have fore and aft lifting bridges. She is an example of the remains of an International Cargo Ship and also represents aspects of Victoria’s shipping industry. The wreck is protected as a Historic Shipwreck under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976).Black and white photograph on cream-coloured backing card and in good condition. Description of Image: Quadrant 01, vessel with full set of sails perched on reef with stern submerged; Quadrant 02, predominantly clear sky over flat calm sea; Quadrant 03, two groups of standing sightseers on rocky promontory with three individuals approaching from far left foreground; Quadrant 04, fifteen well dressed sightseers seated on grassed cliff top including one child and six women. There is a deliberately obscured inscription in white ink along lower border or foreground of photograph.Letters in upper case and white contrast stretching across the grassed foreground of photograph have been smudged over by development process and are largely indecipherable. However rear of backing board of identical but reduced image Reg. No. 3207 bears pencilled words “Mrs Francis” and “Wreck of ‘Falls of Halladale’ Peterborough 1908”, which accords with what remains of the initial inscription.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, falls of halladale, shipwreck spectacle, shipwreck photograph, peterborough reef, edwardian sightseers, russell & co.

Taken 1905 by photograph W.D Gibbons the photograph depicts a pathway leading to the administration building of the Beechworth Mental Asylum. There are three well-dressed young men lounging on the grass as another is jumping behind them. This is significant as it demonstrates that the asylum was not a prison and that the mentally ill patients were allowed their freedom. The Beechworth 'Lunatic' Asylum was constructed between 1864 and 1867 to the designs by the Public Works Department (PWD) and was later renamed the Mayday Hills Mental Asylum. The decommissioned asylum was one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in Victoria and consisted of sixty-seven buildings, one thousand two hundred patients and five hundred staff members. At the asylum, active work was considered imperative and workshops were located near the male accommodations and laundries and drying yards near the female accommodation. The administration building itself highlights the architectural and aesthetic significance of the asylum to the State of Victoria. This photograph is historically significant as it demonstrates the architectural and aesthetic significance of the asylum but also the changing approaches to treating mental health. Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper mounted on grey cork Obverse: W.D Gibbon/ Beechworth Reverse: 79.1701beechworth, beechworth lunatic asylum, beechworth mental hospital, mayday hills, mayday hills mental hospital, asylum, administration building, wd gibbon, photograph

Taken on the 1st of April 1928 and copied from a private collection on the 27th of January 2010 the photograph depicts three well-dressed men and a small child standing around a fountain at the back of the administration building of Beechworth's 'lunatic' Asylum The asylum was constructed between 1864 and 1867 to the designs by the Public Works Department (PWD) and was later renamed Mayday Hills Mental Asylum. The decommissioned asylum was one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in Victoria and consisted of sixty-seven buildings, one thousand two hundred patients and five hundred staff members. The asylum was one of the first asylums to focus on treatment and rehabilitation instead of institutional confinement. At the asylum, active work was considered imperative and workshops were located near the male accommodations and laundries and drying yards near the female accommodation. The asylum closed in 1995 and was sold to La Trobe University before being closed and sold again in 2011 to a private owner.This photograph is historically significant as it demonstrates the freedom and safety of those who visited the asylum while also highlighting this instutions mission to treat and rehabiliate patients instead on institutionalising them.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on photographic paperReverse: 7606-1/ Copied 27 Jan 2010/ Copied from private collection/ Inscribed on the back of original/ J.Pinfold 1-4-1929/ May Mental Hospital for the Insane. beechworth, beechworth mental asylum, beechworth lunatic asylum, beechworth mental hosptial, mayday, mayday hills, mayday hills mental asylum, administration building, fountain

Taken in the early 2000s, this photograph depicts two men and two women, all holding wine glasses. Everyone is casually dressed and seem to be attending a dinner party at the Burke Museum. The group of four have been identified as A. Robbins, J. Indian, S. Routledge and A. Box.This photograph is significant because of its insight into the social aspect of life at the Burke Memorial Museum during the 2000s. The photograph is part of a large collection of photos from this time period and shows fashion trends, social events and interior design trends of the time. The photograph in an interpretive capacity could also assist in further research into the life and development of the Burke Museum, providing a different perspective on early 2000s social events and their development into the social events of today.Coloured rectangular photograph printed on photographic paper.Obverse: No Exit / Reverse: AGFA Watermark / 6511burke museum, beechworth, 2000s, dinner party, function, recreation, fashion, party, 2000s clothing, community

This photograph depicts female singers accompanied by members of the Beechworth Band at a 'Liedertafel' concert in the main hall at the Burke Museum in 1999. The concert related to an exhibition titled, 'From the Liedertafel to the Skating Rink: Entertainment in Beechworth 1852 - early 1900s', which celebrated the rich and diverse entertainments that were part of Beechworth life in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. 'Liedertafel' is a German tradition that accompanied European settlers to Australia. It refers to a friendly society of men united by an enthusiasm for singing. The Beechworth Liedertafel was established 14 March 1894 at the London Tavern, Camp Street, Beechworth, by president, Mr. A.A. Billson, and a visiting conductor, Mr. H. Fielder. The Beechworth Brass Band was formed by Mr. H. Vandenberg in 1887. Marching bands, choirs, circus acts, theatrical performances, races, and seasonal activities, such as Mr. Spiller's roller skating rink, which was founded in the late 1860s, were among the entertainments on offer in Beechworth.This photograph of the Beechworth Band playing at the Burke Museum is historically significant for the information it conveys about an exhibition at the Burke Museum between September and November 1999. The use of the contemporary Beechworth Band in a 'Liedertafel' performance provides insight into curatorial approaches at the turn of the twenty-first century and improves our understanding of how exhibitions use objects in the Burke Museum's Collection to tell stories about the past in the present. The image is historically and socially significant for attesting to the enduring appeal of local musical associations, which were a popular means of entertainment that fostered social connections among settlers from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Liedertafel choirs were originally male-only, therefore, the presence of female singers at the 1999 exhibition reflects progressive social and community values with regard to gender and inclusion.Rectangular colour photograph printed on matte photographic paper.Reverse: 7030 / Label: Burke Museum / Liedertafel Exh / Emily Messen, Luetta / Schier, Hannah / Routledge, Sarah / McKinley 2000 (?) / 2000 (?) / liedertafel, beechworth band, burke museum, exhibition 1999, from the liedertafel to the skating rink, entertainment in beechworth 1852 - early 1900s, past exhibitions, performances at the burke museum, european settlers, german community, german choral societies, brass bands, male choir, colonial passtimes, colonial entertainments, cultural traditions, gold rush, immigration, beechworth's german heritage, london tavern beechworth, camp st beechworth, beechworth historic district, beechworth's first brick tavern, spiller's skating rink, vandenberg's beechworth brass band, benevolent societies, intellectual societies, protestantism, billson brewery beechworth, teetotallism, fancy dress carnivals, skating carnivals, fundraising societies, german musicians, crimean war, beechworth german association, freemasonry, yma's, beechworth athenaeum, beechworth skating rink

When he died at Camperdown in February 1883, Wombeetch Puyuun (Camperdown George) (c1820-1883), was the last member of the Liwura Gundidj clan of the Djargurd Wurrung, still living on Country.Sepia studio photograph of Wombeetch Puyuun (Camperdown George) in European dress Back: Camperdown George well known and loved aboriginecdhs, djargurd wurrung, djargurdwurrung, wombeetch puyuun, camperdown george, wombeech puyuun, cdhsfirstnations

When he died at Camperdown in February 1883, Wombeetch Puyuun (Camperdown George) (c1820-1883), was the last member of the Liwura Gundidj clan of the Djargurd Wurrung, still living on Country.Black and white studio photograph of Wombeetch Puyunn (Camperdown George) in traditional dress wearing a headband, kangaroo tooth necklace and possum skin cloak, holding a boomerang and carved shield Back: WOMBEETCH PUUYUUN, CHIEF, AND LAST OF THE LOCAL TRIBEScdhs, djargurd wurrung, djargurdwurrung, cdhsfirstnations

The magazine was produced as a tribute to Lillian Roxan who was a great Australian and an international journalist. It is not dated but was published by Sungravure Pty Ltd circa 1974-75, The editor, Ailsa Craig wrote for the the magazine Woman's Day in the 1950s and 60s. she had an active career in journalism from 1960-1980. it contains b/w and sepia photographs. This magazine style paperback book contains photos of an earlier Australia.A paper magazine - AUSTRALIA ALBUM -THE PAST IN PICTURES. It contains prints of historic photos. On the front cover is a portrait of three young children dressed in early 19th century clothing. This is inside an oval frame with a gold border. There is a wreath of colourful flowers and butterflies surrounding this.The title is printed in red at the top. In the top right-hand corner is the price $1.50. It was edited by Ailsa Craig and contains photos and text from readers of Womans Day, The Sydney Morning Herald, the Sydney Mitchell Library and the Department of the Army. The magazine style book has 94 pp.magazine photos roxon-lillian craig-ailsa

In 1884 J.A. Petterson built the first Orbost Club Hotel with the licence in the name of Thomas Maguire (his stepson). This hotel was the first in the area and cost 1,400 pounds to build (ref. In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall) and was actually built before Orbost was proclaimed a township - April 17 1885. T.a. Marshall was the proprietor about the time the photograph was taken. This is the bottom pub in Orbost known as the Club Hotel.The Orbost Club Hotel was the first hotel built in the Orbost district and was an important hub for the township with many whole town meetings held there.A black / white photograph on a brown buff card with embossed decorations. It is of the Orbost Club Hotel, a large two-storeyed building with verandahs on both levels. In the foreground are two motor vehicles and a group of men dressed in suits, hats and overcoats facing the camera.on back - "Mrs Mustard"orbost-club-hotel

This photograph is a record of the time when horse drawn vehicles were the main form of transport.A black / white photograph of five well - dressed men on a four horse drawn cart. It is on a rough bush track. Three men are standing, the others sitting. There are trees and bush in the background There is another horse - drawn vehicle on the left in the background.transport horse-drawn-vehicle

Photo shows an unidentified lady standing on the Orbost / Brodribb Road.A black / white photograph of a women in a long dress standing on a bush road surrounded by dense scrub.on back - " Track near Orbost / Brodribb Road, May 1897"orbost-brodribb-road

The Orbost Workers' Band was started in 1889 by Donald and Archie Munro. The band folded after the town was devastated by floods in 1893. Charles Spink reformed the group in 1905. It split in 1908 and the breakaway band was named the Orbost Workers Band. The two bands, The Orbost Workers and Orbost Town Band would often compete against each other. Eventually, in 1913, the two bands amalgamated to form the Orbost Municipal band. The old Orbost Municipal Band recorded its last meeting in 1941 -a lack of effort and membership. The new Orbost Municipal Band was restarted by Clem Heather (a previous member) on Wednesday 20th September, 1961 and continued into the late 1980s when lack of interest caused it to become defunct. Members of the 1910 Orbost Workers' Band in the photograph are from back and left to right : Bill Whillance; Vic Lawless, Tom Reeves, August Redenbach, Alex Stirling, Bert McCoy, Bill Stirling, Ray Napier, Ted Swan, Albert Hight; George Jackson, Jack Richardson, Bill Clark, Wally Swan, Arthur Redenbach, Brick Richardson, Jack Healey, Dave Williams; Ossie Wehner, Charles Black, Val Perry, Charlie O'Brien, Arch Lavell; Tom Swan and Harold NapierThis is a pictorial record of the Orbost Brass Band. The various Orbost bands over the years played a major role in community activities providing entertainment and musical experiences for the many members.A black / white photograph of band members with their instruments. In the fron row are two,small boys sitting on either side of a drum. Behind them is a row of young boys, the one on far left holding a small dog. Another row is kneeling behind them and a row is standing at the back with one man centre back by himself. They are all dressed in suits or uniforms. The photograph has been glued onto cardboard.on back - "Flavel, 1910"orbost-municipal-band spink-charles heather-clem

The bridge shown in the background was built in the 1920s as a road and rail bridge, and was partly washed away by flood waters in 1934. There is no known history of this item.This photograph is a contemporary record of rural life in Orbost in the early 20th century.A black / white photograph of a group of young girls dressed up and posing on the banks of a river. On the left hand side of the photograph is an older man and on the right is an older lady. In the background is a bridge - the first Snowy River bridge. The photograph is on a cream coloured buff card. orbost snowy-river

Patriotic Fund Raising days were held in order to raise money and support for the soldiers fighting overseas. In the photograph are L to R: Marion Gilbert; Annie Nixon; Jean Cameron; Hattie Nixon and Grace Cameron' The Australian Red Cross Society (ARCS) was formed just after the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, originally as a branch of the British Red Cross. It came into being as a branch of the British Red Cross Society on August 13th 1914 to succour the wounded in the First World War.This is a contemporary record of a significant event in Orbost. It reflects the involvement of Orbost, a small town, in the efforts of the Australian Red Cross Society to provide comforts to soldiers during World war 1.A black / white photograph / postcard of four ladies and one little girl dressed in Red Cross outfits standing in front of a cart loaded with patriotic goods for sale. A sign on the cart has ":SOLDIERS' COMFORTS" on iton back is a list of namesorbost-red-cross ww1

This photograph shows Mr John Bird ( 3rd from left) ; Mr John Gilbert and Mr Lance Herbert among others having a picnic at the popular beach paddock at Old Station, Corringle, on January 1, 1897. Late in 1857 Mr Thomas T. Stirling took over Corringle Run ("Corringle" means "shallow water"). Mr Stirling and his family came from the wester district - Winchelsea. He settled at the Old Station. A few people were employed at the Orbost Stationb and there was settlement on the Orbost flats, Mr T. T. Stirling held the land from Lake Tyrers to Bemm River as a cattle run. About 1888 he became Secretary of the new Tambo Shire.This photograph is a portrait of rural life in the late 19th century. It is an insight into the dress, manners and activities of the first settlers of Orbost.Two copies of a black / white photograph of a group of men and women picnicking on the sand under tall trees.on back - "Beach Paddock - Old Station -1897" with a list of namesold-station-orbost rural-family-life

Before official competition began in 1894, scratch matches were held in the Old Station paddock. The Orbost football club players were known as the Busters and wore green and gold guernseys. An Orbost football team has participated in the East Gippsland League since the early 20th century. In 2003 in response to a dwindling population, the Snowy Rovers and Orbost Football Clubs were driven to merge into the Orbost Snowy RoversFootball clubs, through their many changes, have always been an important social fabric of the community. Sport is often regarded as an important part of life in rural Australia, contributing to community identity, sense of place, social interaction and good health.A large black / white photograph on a cream coloured buff card. It shows three rows of men, one seated, dressed in football uniforms. The photograph has been taken outdoors.There are three copies.on front - "Orbost Team 1906" There is a list of names.sport orbost-football recreation

Alec Cameron was one of the young boys in this photograph. He was the son of Robert Pullar Cameron who was an early settler on the Orbost flats. Alec, (like his sisters, Flora and Penuel) had a beautiful singing voice. He married Annie Nixon and had children, Frank, Wilfred, Dorothy, Alice, Edie and Isobel.This item is a pictorial record of the social life of young people in Orbost in the first half of the 20th century. Children in old photos show us the similarities and differences between their time and ours.A black / white photograph of a group of eleven young boys dressed in different outfits, all holding guns. They are standing outdoors with a wooden building in the background.on back - "Alec Cameron"cameron-alec orbost-youth

Tennis days were always held at the tennis courts at Bete Bolong. Those in this photograph are: (L to R) Alan Richardson; Jack Irvine; Marion Nixon; Molly Thompson; Inez Pardew; Stacy and Cleve McKeon. This item is a pictorial representation of Orbost in the 1930s. It records a common recreational activity - the dress and social aspects of tennis at that time.A small black / white photograph of seven people sitting on a wooden bench. They are dressed in tennis outfits - probably white.on back - "Tennis at Bete Bolong" with a list of namessport-tennis bete-bolong recreation

This photograph was taken at the Farmers Conference held in Port Fairy (possibly June 1916). The local men in the photograph are; Archie Rodwell; Sam Lynn; Percy Nixon; Frank Nixon; John Russell; Jacob Perry; John Johnston; Keith Lynn and John Gilbert.This item is associated with agriculture which has always been a significant part of Orbost's history. The men in the photograph are prominent early settlers of the Orbost district.A large black / white photograph on a grey buff card. The photograph shows nine men, dressed in suits and overcoats standing outside a stone / brick building.on front - " Farmers Conference at Port Fairy" with a list of namesagriculture-orbost farmers-conference-port fairy

This photograph was taken during the 1971 floods at Orbost. The 1971 flood was the the worst flood on record. At Jarrahmond it was at least 11 metres and up to one and a half kilometres wide on the flats causing enormous damage to the flood plain. Records say that "The brown floodwater stain in Bass Strait could be seen from passing airliners." Considerable damage was done to railway infrastructure, roads and farms. More information from the APRIL, 2008 newsletter by John Phillips. (see orbosthistory.com.au)This is a contemporary pictorial record of a significant local event.A large black / white photograph of a man, dressed in shorts and a checked shirt, sitting on a fence post surrounded by mud. He is holding on to the leg of a cow which is stuck in the mud.on front - "Mr Harrison on Tracey's Dairy" on back - " Herald 11 Feb 1971"floods-orbost-1971 tracey-dairy natural-disaster-flood

This photograph shows entrants in the fancy dress competition at a swimming carnival held at Cameron Lagoon (the billabong at the back of the football oval) in 1898.This item is a pictorial record of community recreational sports common to the Orbost district in the 19th century.A small black / white photograph of six men in fancy dress standing on a plank of wood suspended over water. One is holding a bicycle.on back - " Swimming Match, Cameron Lagoon, fancy dress 1898"recreation-orbost sport-swimming cameron-lagoon

Mary Lynch was the daughter of Matthew and Mary (nee Loorham) Lynch. She became Mrs Ivell. she was a noted horse-woman having ridden the Nixon Bros hack, "Gold Dust" at the Melbourne Show coming first in the 10 stone hack and first in the Eagley Hunting Contest. (info. Mary Gilbert) Horse racing was a popular past-time in early Orbost. The Nixon family was involved through Keith Nixon. Some of the earliest horse races were held on a course in a paddock belonging to Mr James Cowell at Jarrahmond. For a long time horse races were part of the Marlo Picnic Races.This item is connected to an activity once popular in the Orbost district. The Nixon family were prominent early settlers in the Orbost district.A black / white photograph of a lady dressed in a a tailored hip coat, bowler hat, knee breeches and boots. She is holding the reins of a saddled horse. There is a copy.on front at top - " 1st 10st hack - 19 entries 1st "EAGLEY" Hunting Contest - 22 entries. Still the only horse to win the double." on front at bottom - " MELBOURNE SHOW 1918 "GOLD DUST" owned by Nixon Bros ridden by Miss MARY LYNCH"lynch-mary nixon-bros-horses equestrian melbourne-show gold-dust

Ruston & Hornsby, later known as Ruston, was an industrial equipment manufacturer in Lincoln, England, the company's history going back to 1840. The company is best known as a manufacturer of narrow and standard gauge diesel locomotives and steam shovels. This photograph records early an early type of excavator used to construct drainage channels in rural Victoria.A black / white photograph / postcard of a man digging in a very large trench, probably a drainage channel, with an earth mover in the background. The machine has the name "RUSTON" on it. In the foreground is a man, dressed in a long dark coat, watching.agricultural-machinery drainage-channels ruston

The potato was grown at Fred Mundy's farm, Orbost.This photograph is a reflection of social life in the first half of the 20th century. It is a whimsical, fun photograph.A black / white photograph of a potato which has been dressed as a doll.on back - "Farquhar" on front - "Potato grown at Fred Mundy's"

This is a scene of Cape Conran, East Gippsland taken by Bairnsdale photographer, Stanley Vogt. It was probably one of a collection of commercial post cards available to tourists or East Gippsland residents to send to friends or relatives. Cameras in the early 20th century were not a common family possession and a postcard was a common souvenir and way of sending a short message.Between 1901 and 1914 a wide range of subjects were recorded by often anonymous artists and photographers and published by everyone from major companies to enthusiastic individuals. As a result, postcards provide a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in how our forebears lived, laughed and loved one hundred years ago. They are very interesting records of places gone, architecture gone and people gone, showing social history such as dress, or early automobiles. Postcards form a vital part of social and historical records for researchers. A black / white postcard photograph of a scenic view of the beach and ocean at Cape Conran in Far East Victoria.on front - "Stanley Voigt - Bairnsdale - Cape Conran"postcard-cape-conran