Typewritten 10-page account of ''John McCaviston's Wonderful Escape'' (from the Hustlers Reef mine, 1873). Detailed story of shift boss, M'Caviston who descended into the flooding mine to warn workers below (who had actually left somewhat before) and who was himself trapped. The water in the shaft rose to a much higher level but M'Caviston was saved by being able to take refuge in a drive that had a 'stulling' (a mound of stones under a raised portion of the drive - allowing for an amount of trapped air). The account concludes as follows: ''The preservation of his life was discussed from a scientific point of view, and diverse opinions were expressed, and doubts (sic)'' (there is no page 11). No date on this document; handwritten on front page is ''The Flooded Mine'' ''By G Mackay'' (Occasional handwritten notations to text)document, names of bendigo pioneers, bendigo goldfields

Item is a combination tool used for a M60 machine gun, standard Australian issue for Vietnam era (US made).Heavy metal tool, well used. Combination spanner- closed at one end and open at other, with additional tool attached. Has white painted patch probably done for purposes of user labelling object.On shaft: 279068m60, machine gun, spanner, combination tool, military equipment

James Venn Morgan was known affectionately as ‘The Father of Kew’. Born in Somersetshire on February 21, 1823, he sailed to Australia in April, 1851. James V. Morgan, was a member of one of the first parties to leave for the diggings. At Chewton, near Castlemaine his party tried their luck in an abandoned shaft, and in two weeks returned to Melbourne after having won 35lb weight of gold. James Venn Morgan was content with his success, and induced his partners to invest their money with him in land. After obtaining the advice of a friend, the party negotiated with Mr Samuel Watts, of Collingwood, who had recently purchased land from the Crown, and from him they took over at £15 an acre about 32 acres of land in the district that is now known as Kew. This land extended from where the Kew Post-office now stands to the locality of the Boroondara Cemetery. Here it was that Mr Morgan decided to settle, and, after having had the land surveyed, the partners apportioned it by drawing straws for the four sections into which it had been divided. One of them sold his holding later in the year for £100 an acre, and was sorry for it afterwards. In 1853 Mr. Morgan built the first house in Kew, and this house is the one in which he still resides. Here with his wife, he settled down to market gardening and dairying. So successful was the new venture that he induced his father and other members of the family to come out to Australia to assist him. Gradually the district became settled, Mr. Morgan parted with a portion of his holding, and subdivided and built on the remainder, which he still retained. In 1884 he found himself in a position to retire from active business.He celebrated his 100th birthday in 1923. He was later to die in the same year. The Argus, 17 January 1923.Rare and historic hand-tinted framed portrait of one of the founding pioneers of the district.Hand tinted photograph in a gilt frame of the Kew pioneer James Venn Morgan (1823-1923).james venn morgan, kew - pioneer families, kew - landowners

James Venn Morgan was known affectionately as ‘The Father of Kew’. Born in Somersetshire on February 21, 1823, he sailed to Australia in April, 1851. James V. Morgan, was a member of one of the first parties to leave for the diggings. At Chewton, near Castlemaine his party tried their luck in an abandoned shaft, and in two weeks returned to Melbourne after having won 35lb weight of gold. James Venn Morgan was content with his success, and induced his partners to invest their money with him in land. After obtaining the advice of a friend, the party negotiated with Mr Samuel Watts, of Collingwood, who had recently purchased land from the Crown, and from him they took over at £15 an acre about 32 acres of land in the district that is now known as Kew. This land extended from where the Kew Post-office now stands to the locality of the Boroondara Cemetery. Here it was that Mr Morgan decided to settle, and, after having had the land surveyed, the partners apportioned it by drawing straws for the four sections into which it had been divided. One of them sold his holding later in the year for £100 an acre, and was sorry for it afterwards. In 1853 Mr. Morgan built the first house in Kew, and this house is the one in which he still resides. Here with his wife, he settled down to market gardening and dairying. So successful was the new venture that he induced his father and other members of the family to come out to Australia to assist him. Gradually the district became settled, Mr. Morgan parted with a portion of his holding, and subdivided and built on the remainder, which he still retained. In 1884 he found himself in a position to retire from active business. He celebrated his 100th birthday in 1923. He was later to die in the same year. The Argus, 17 January 1923.Rare and-tinted framed photograph af Annie Morgan, the wife of one of the founding pioneers of the district.Hand tinted photograph in a gilt frame of Anna Morgan (nee Chidgey), the wife of James Venn Morgan. Anna Morgan was the wife of one of Kew's earliest pioneers and landowners. She died in 1915.anna morgan, kew - pioneers

Small hanging scales at the top of which there is a metallic ring to fasten the object. This is attached to the main body which on one side has measurements inscribed into the metal surface. Inside the body is a spring loaded mechanism which moves along the scales when weight is added to a hook at the bottom of the shaft. [Ed. The maker's initials have not to date been identified.]"Pocket Balance / MR Product / Made in Australia"pocket balance, hanging scales, weighing instrument

This photograph was printed from a glass negative held in the Society's picture collection. The original glass negative is part of a set donated to the Society by Ian McKenzie, a professional photographer in Kew. Stationary engine, After 1920. A print from a glass negative that has been reused to document an early stationary engine. The equipment, designed to be bolted to a larger object such as a floor, is comprised of wheels and shafts. The content of the original photograph is too unclear to be identified. stationery engine, farming technology, farming equipment, glass negatives

These are sales photographs for William Tatham Ltd. of Rochdale. These photographs are taken in the fitting shop at William Tatham Ltd. where final assembly would have taken place. An Automatic Feeding Machine automatically and sequentially supplies uncarded wool to carding machines, The photographed machine was made by William Tatham Ltd, a textile engineering company based in Rochdale, UK. Established in 1866 Tatham developed innovative textile machinery and send their products to Australia and other countries around the world.A black and white photo of a Patent Automatic Feed Machine in a portrait format. Black wiritng on the rear, typed with a typewriter.Front - mid left corner - Wm. TATHAM Ltd. ROCHDALE. Machine Maker Front bottom right corner - 1129 Rear - Patent Automatic Feed with Extended Hopper fitted with balanced pressure plate which operates through Variable Speed Device to regulate speed of spiked lattice in accordance with material in Hopper. Electro-Magnetic Clutch Drive to spiked lattice controlled by Mercery Switch on scale arm. Diagonal Scale Pan with improved knife edge suspension. Dual Trap Doors over Pan actuated by Solenoid. Automatic device to slow spiked lattice just prior to weigh being obtained. Ball or roller bearings to main shaft, combs and other parts. Self-aligning bearing to timing shaft etc.textile machinery, tatham, wool manufacture, carding, automatic feeding machine, wool

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2003. The last of the gang: Mr. Wilson stands by his mine. We have been told he was the last miner in Bendigo. Bendigo Advertiser from 2003. Memories of an old miner: I think your photo depicting what could have been the very last miner in Bendigo may be that of an old timer who sunk a shaft in the Flora hill area (now Hyett Estate?) in about 1950. He was known to us as ''old Tim''. The shaft was close to an existing mine drive which children of the day referred to as ''the Devil's Den''. We regularly assisted him with the windlass winding and panning. The site consisted of a small clearing, similar to the one depicted, occupied by a small tent, the shaft and windlass. He later sank another shaft adjacent to Retreat Road, towards the Spring Gully hotel. Letter written by Ron Nancarrow, Britain street Eaglehawk.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

The largest gold mine in the area originated from a find in 1862. The mine was closed January 20, 1915 when a fire destroyed nearly all the above ground plant. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p75 Beneath Mine Hill, as locals call it, runs a network of tunnels once of central importance to the fledgling township of Diamond Creek. These are relics of gold mines, which transformed early Diamond Creek.1 The tiny settlement of about 20 families soared to more than 200 because of gold. For around 50 years, from 1862, gold mining was Diamond Creek’s major source of employment. On September 7, 1854 The Argus newspaper reported a find of a four pound (1.8kg) gold nugget in Nillumbik (an early name for Diamond Creek). Exactly where, is not known.2 The largest mine in the district, the Diamond Creek Gold Mine, apparently originated from a find in 1862. It is said Joe and Dave Wilson were visiting former tailor then cook, Charles Orme, at the southern end of Fraser Street. Sitting on a stump outside the front gate on land belonging to Dr A. E. Phipps the Wilsons found a vein of gold-bearing quartz, which led to the discovery of four quartz reefs varying in width to eight inches (20cm), running north and south. A reef found at the foot of the hill opposite Challenger Street became the Union Mine. This reef was traced south to Allendale Road where a small mine began operations.3 Other smaller mines later operated as well. Dr Phipps immediately began to mine and also built the Diamond Reef Hotel as a boarding house for miners. But Charles Orme, who owned the land alongside, leased his mine to Dr Phipps probably because of insufficient funds and business skills. By mid 1865 the mine had produced 2530 ounces of gold – a 100% profit on the original outlay. Of course there were problems. When the local dam dried up a Blake pump was installed to draw water from the creek. The Union Mine operated under the Diamond Creek Gold Mine management except when disputes sometimes resulted in separate management. However disagreements had to be resolved as the Union Mine depended on Diamond Creek Gold Mine pumps to remove underground water from common reefs. In 1912 the main shaft of about 380 yards (350m) employed 200 men recovering an average of 5000 ounces (141.7kg) of gold a year. But not everyone did well out of gold. Records of failed mining companies in the Victorian Public Record Office, reveal that owner Dr Phipps leased his Right to others. Companies came and went over the next 40 years, most sponsored by Melbourne businessmen who sold shares to gullible locals and then became insolvent. Although there were some good profits, financial returns were haphazard until 1905. Some local residents, who were share holders in short- term companies, became well-known names in modern Diamond Creek such as Scott, Haley, Butler, Alder, Ryan, Wadeson, Reeves, Alston, Paul and Edwards. Gold mining was brought to a disastrous end on January 20, 1915 at 3 pm, when fire destroyed nearly all the above-ground plant. Fortunately no lives were lost. But reopening the mine was almost impossible because of the increasing depth of water in the main shaft. The closed mine destroyed the livelihood of 200 families and the debris took many years to clear.4 In 1946 the Diamond Creek Gold Mine was reopened by the Golden Hind Mining Company, but money ran out before the 600 feet (182.8m) or so of water could be removed. Gold remains in the mine but enormous capital would be needed to buy the land, equipment and to remove the water. Today 12 known sealed shafts along the ridge of the hills on private property extend west for around one kilometre from the corner of Fraser and Haley Streets, crossing Norma and Fyffe to Dering Streets. As recently as 1987, heavy rains revealed a former Union Mine shaft in the Georgiadis family Fyffe Street back yard.5 Allendale Mine, south of Allendale Road, is still open and one of the Union Mine’s main drives (horizontal excavation) remains unsealed, on the Creek Reserve.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, diamond creek, diamond creek mine, fraser street, gold mining, james cook drive, mine hill

Poster, printed on coated fabric, wooden hanger on top. Yellow background, printed in red and blue. 'Code of Signals, Section 45 (19) of the Mines Act 1961. lode and alluvial mines, signals for winding' Signals: 1 stop when in motion, 1 heave up, 2 lower, 3 hold fast danger, 4 pause men coming to surface, 6 cage at liberty, 7 change tanks or cages, 8 put drum in or out of gear, 9 turn air on or off, 10 accident, 15 serious accident. Also lists firing signals. Advertisements for suppliers to mining companies around border of poster. E.g. Jaques Bros., Engineers, Coppin Street, Richmond, Melbourne. Ore and Stone Breakers manufactured in various sizes (has illustration of machine). James Hardie & Co., 581 Little Collins Street, Melbourne. Necessaries for success in mining enterprises are: Dick's original balata belting to drive your machinery with; Genuine Dodge wood split pulleys on the shafting, and fibro ciment(sic) sheets to protect you from fire. These sheets are also acid-proof.bendigo, mining, code of signals

Plan on paper: on top of plan 'plan showing the position of the underground & surface workings in the claim of Mr. Ballerstedt Victoria Hill' Signed by Thomas Forbes, Mining Surveyor, 22nd. April 1868' Attached to plan is a letter report accompanying plans on the underground workings in (illegible) Ballerstedt & Sons, Victoria Hill (ink blot covering writing RH side) Text of letter begins : the underground level southwards from the shaft is 4ft 6' x 6 ft wide as shown on the plan; and is at a depth of (illegible) from the surface; along the (illegible) of which the timbering both upright and cap-pieces; are now in as good condition as when the work was being proceed with; with the exception of the uprights and one cap-piece which are slightly crushed from the general settlement of the mullock. The timbering of the drives is still standing in the same position though upwards of 12 months has elapsed after the slip in the open cutting had taken place, showing very clearly in my mind that the slip could not be attributable to the insufficient timbering of the underground workings; but rather to the action of the weather in this particular part of the cutting. The probably quantity of mullock that was detached or slipped from the west side of the cutting; would be (from careful enquiry and observation ) about 1500 loads at least; enough to crush the whole of the timber in the levels, if it had not been of the most substantial character and I think yours to prove that the fall was not caused by any defective timbering but from the cause already stated. I may state that I have inspected the underground workings generally in the mine, and the timbering is of the most substantial characterbendigo, mining, victoria hill