Black and white photograph of Venga Guest House,. It shows the fire damage caused when the neighbouring premises, shop and Cafe Francis, was completely destroyed in a fire. Three people on veranda believed to be Mr and Mrs Hansen and their daughter Bertha. Lakes Entrance Victoriarestaurant, guesthouses, disasters

Information pertaining to the former Jarrold Cottage built in the early 1850s which has been in the Skipper family since 1944 Contents: 1 Journal Article: Jarrold Cottage; This quaint house survived fire and flood, Eltham Shire, newsletter c.2002, p10-11 2. Newspaper article: Cottage of 1800s, 100 Years of News Special Edition, (Leader Newspapers), August 27, 1997, p36 3. Jarrold Cottage (7), extract from tourist drive map publication (unknown) 4. Journal Article: Eltham . . . then and now, written by Judy Lewis, Eltham Town Community News, pp10-11, date unknown with hand written comments/corrections by Diana Bassett-Smith. Features Jarrold Cottage, Southernwood and Walter Withers and the former CBA Bank building. 5. Artice: Jarrold Cottage or White Cloud Cottage, compiled by Harry Gilham (2 pages)Folder of information on Jarrold Cottage consisting of 5 A4 photocopies and one A3 (colour) two page journalbootmakers cottage, cba bank, eltham, jarrold cottage, main road, southernwood, walter withers, white cloud cottage

Items about Preps starting, new principal, 19th Surrey Downs visit, Kosciusko St PS fire, Safety House Program, Junior sports Week, Admin upgrade, tabloid sports carnival, Education Week, Greyathon, restoration work in Traralgon, satellite dishes for interactive learning, Bookweek, Mr Coverdale's American Reunion, Childrens Week, School Fair, PASE courses, Presentation NightContact covered scrapbook

The Warrnambool Fire Brigade was formed in 1863. The first fire engine house was in Liebig Street and carters were required to carry water to fire scenes. In 1889 the Council built a new Fire Station on Liebig Street and Warrnambool hosted its own Annual Demonstration in 1894. In 1891 the volunteer brigade became part of the Country Fire Brigade. The Fire Station relocated to Raglan Parade in 1915 and then to Timor Street in 1961. In 1989 the Brigade moved back to Raglan Parade. This booklet is a memento of the State Urban Championships that were held in Warrnambool in 2009 (Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria and Country Fire Authority)This is a booklet of 96 pages containing printed material, maps, advertisements, photographs and tables. The back cover is white with a Powercor Australia symbol in red and printed material. The front cover is multi-coloured with a photograph of the Fire Station at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The pages are stapled.Front Cover: VFBV, Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria, CWA, 126th State Urban Championships, 7th, 8th and 9th March 2009, Victorian State Senior Championships, Warrnambool 2009, Warrnambool City Council logowarrnambool fire brigade, state urban championships (2009)

The Warrnambool Fire Brigade was formed in 1863. The first fire engine house was in Liebig Street and carters were required to carry water to fire scenes. In 1889 the Council built a new Fire Station on Liebig Street and Warrnambool hosted its own Annual Demonstration in 1894. In 1891 the volunteer brigade became part of the Country Fire Brigade. The Fire Station relocated to Raglan Parade in 1915 and then to Timor Street in 1961. In 1989 the Brigade moved back to Raglan Parade. This booklet is a memento of the State Championships that were held in Warrnambool to mark 150 years of community service to Warrnambool by the Warrnambool Fire Brigade. (2013)This is a booklet of 63 pages containing printed material, maps, advertisements and photographs. The back cover is red and the front cover has a black background with an image of flames and a badge with the title of the booklet. The pages are stapled.Front Cover: VFBV, CFA, 40th State Urban Junior Championships, February 23rd and 24th 2013, Friendly Societies Park, Hyland Street, Warrnambool, Warrnambool City Council, Powercor Australia Back Cover: Powercor Australia warrnambool fire brigade, state urban junior championships

Photo album, brown hard cover, writing in gold leaf ' Victorian Centenary Illuminations 1934' Contains black and white images of Melbourne, taken at night. Includes, south bank of Yarra, Princes Bridge, Collins Street, Flinders Street, Elizabeth Street, Shrine of Remembrance, St. Kilda, Swanston Street, Hawthorn War Memorial, State Electricity Commission Head Office, Electricity supply Building, Electricity Commission and Port Authority buildings, South Melbourne Town hall, Hotel Windsor, Parliament House, Town hall, Fire Brigade building, State Savings Bank, National Bank, Melbourne town hall, Bank of Australia, Port Authority Building, Steam Tower. All the photographs in this album pertain to the City of Melbourne, and have NOT been scanned.cottage, miners, melbourne, melbourne, centenary

Elaine Mann was married to David Mann, a successful Wodonga businessman and community leader who passed away in Wodonga in June 2012. David was a member of the Mann family who began their business in Wodonga in 1920. Elaine was a teacher in Wodonga for many years and an active member of the community.This photo collection is of significance as it documents how the businesses and buildings in Wodonga have evolved and contributed to community throughout the late 20th century.This was Wodonga's second police station, built in 1900. It was built on High Street, next to Bond Street. The Court House can be seen in the background. The building was formerly used as a custom-house or bond store where people paid import duties on goods coming into Victoria from other states, including N.S.W. This is reflected in the street name. The Court House was destroyed by fire in 1964. This police station was in use until a move was made into a new police station in Elgin Street (next to Elgins Hotel) in December 1967. This area is now part of the newly developed Junction Place Precinct.high st wodonga, woldonga police station, wodonga court house, bond store

This an advertisement / souvenir for Merrangbaur House in Lakes Entrance. Merrangbaur was in , Lakes Entrance and stood on the on the Prince's Highway, about a kilometre from Lakes Entrance. It was destroyed by fire on the early morning of December 15, 1935. The original residence of the Roadknight family, the first white settlers in the Lakes Entrance district, Merrangbaur House had been conducted as a guest house for many years. Much of the furniture was lost, although a portion of the building, consisting of the ballroom and several bedrooms, was saved Mrs. Anne McInnes, aged more than 80 years, the mother of the proprietress, Miss McInnes, was the only guest sleeping in the house when the fire began and had to be assisted from her blazing bedroom on the ground floor. She was carried through a window by members of the fire brigade and spent the remainder of the night at the house of a friend. Miss McInnes was in Melbourne on a business visit arranging for Christmas bookings, when she was informed of her loss. (info. from The Argus Melbourne Monday December 16 1935)This item is associated with tourism in East Gippsland in the early 20th century.A black / white photograph / postcard.There is a photograph of a Lakes Entrance scene in each corner with a banner for "ROADKNIGHT'S MERRANGBAUR HOUSE' in the middle.In a circle is "FIRST CLASS ACCOMMODATION TARIFF 30/- WEEKLY". It has a note that "Coaches for Buchan Caves call at Merrangbaur daily".merrangbaur-lakes-entrance roadknight-lakes-entrance postcard-lakes-entrance

The Warrnambool Fire Brigade was formed in 1863 with the first fire engine house in Liebig Street. Since then the brigade has been situated in Raglan Parade, Timor Street and today is in Mortlake Road. Fire Brigade demonstrations were a feature of rural Fire Brigades, particularly in the 19th century. At these demonstrations firemen from all over the state were involved in competition using hose reels, pumps and ladders etc. A torch light procession was always part of the demonstration. The state Fire Brigade Demonstration was held in Warrnambool in March 1929. One hundred and nineteen teams entered the Champion Fours and there were ninety one entrants in the one man ladder competition which was won by a fireman from Carrum who was carried shoulder high around the oval. This badge has considerable significance as it is our only memento of the Fire Brigade demonstration held in Warrnambool in 1929. A gold coloured metal badge featuring a profile of a fireman's helmet at the top, a horizontal bar, ornate capital Letters; C F B painted ( the letter F is missing some paint ) in the centre and a dark blue scroll with text at the base. There is a small hook and a small hollow cylinder on the reverse. The clip is missing.1929 DEMONSTRATION WARRNAMBOOL country fire brigade, country fire brigade demonstration, warrnambool

Typed copy of what appears to be a speech. Mentioned is that after 1910 the Commonwealth took over the minting it's own money. Gold mining was chosen for the one pound note and a Bendigo scene was chosen. The scene chosen shows boring operations in the Victoria Quartz Mine. The picture was taken by Vincent Kelly of the five figures but for engraving only three were shown. They were Mr W Healy, Mr J Smith and Mr James Beverage. James Beverage was a member of Bendigo's first fire brigade. He went to Beechworth for a demonstration and on the way home stopped at Christie's Hotel in Swanston Street. There was a fire at the hotel and Mr Beverage rescued Mrs Christie, her baby and a servant. At a later date Mr Beverage saved a woman from a burning building in Moore Street in Bendigo. He received the Royal Humane Society's Medal which is now housed at the Bendigo Fire Station in Hargreaves Street. In the City's formative years the area that deposited its rain water into the Long Gully Creek was considered to be in Long Gully and for many years the Victoria Quartz Mine deposited many thousands of gallons of water into the Long Gully Creek. Mr Steve Gibbons unveiled the plaque.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - banknotes and james beverage, victoria quartz mine, vincent kelly, shepard's bush, mr rickards, mr abraham, mr w healy, mr j smith, mr james beverage, south iron bark mine, rae's hill, sandhurst no 1 fire brigade, christie's hotel, mrs christie, royal humane society's medal, bendigo fire station, long gully history group, mr steve gibbons, department of environment water heritage, arts commnmoration of historic events and famous persons

These photos were collected and copied by Di Edmondson for the 'Back To Tawonga' Event in 2010 when she launched her book "Tawonga Remembers".An historical photographic collection of Tawonga and its surrounds, places and people up to 20101. Saw Mill - Mill house 2. The Rock Pool 3. People at the Rock Pool x 2 4.Old Saw mill 5. Back to Tawonga Celebrations x6 6. Tennis Curts opposite the Tawonga Store, Bakery in the background 7. Bowling Club 8. Old Guide Hall 9. The Old Boarding House 10. Old Fire Brigade Shed 11. Building the New Tawonga Memorial Hall 12. Tawonga Go Kart Track - 1960s 13. Tawonga Pony Club 1969 State Championships 14. Tawonga Recreation Reserve Newspaper article 15. The Damm Children 19. 1980s Brian Edmondson, Geoff Edmondson, Mick Harvey, David Piera. Geoff Edmondson's car 20. Tawonga Speedway Track - 1970s Mick Harvey and Paul Harkin's car 21. 2000 22. Tawonga Sports Vera Ryder and Allie Briggs 23. Tawonga School Photos x8 24. Harry Cooper's Farm Looking South 25.View from Edmondson's Farm - looking north 26. Mount Emu 27. St Aiden's Debutante Ball 27. Grand Opening Ball 1961 Tawonga Hall 28. The Kiewa Valley Road at Tawonga. Vic. 29. Tennis Courts opposite the Bogong Hotel 30.Opening of the new Toilet Block in Pioneer park 31. Old Tawonga Store x 3 32. Tawonga Memorial Hall 33. Anglican Church, St Aiden's x 2 34. Motor Khana held at Recreation reserve 35. 1970 State Champioships Team 36. Kiewa Valley School Sports at Dederang 37. Miscellaneous photos x27 Some photos have headings and some headings have been writtentawonga remembers, back to tawonga 2010, di edmondson

This scar or 'toe hold' tree fell over 50 yrs ago. It had died 50yrs before it fell and is estimated to be around 400 years old. It has a diameter of 1.3 m and is the only 'toe hold' tree in Nillumbik. Heritage Excursion - Killeavey Walk and Talk - Saturday 5th November Jane Woollard’s book Laughing Waters Road Art Landscape and Memory in Eltham devotes several chapters to the property Killeavey situated on the Yarra River at the end of Reynolds Road, Eltham. Jane has written about the natural history and indigenous history of the area and stories of the family who lived at Killeavey for many years. Killeavey was the home of Sir William Irvine, Victorian and Federal Parliamentarian and Supreme Court Judge. Later it was the home of his daughter Beatrice Morrison, a significant figure in the Eltham community. The original house was destroyed by fire and its replacement was demolished by Parks Victoria. Its sits high above the Yarra River and contains significant garden remnants. The surrounding bushland is valued for its significant plant communities. In September 2011 we visited Killeavey but without the benefit of the information more recently available from Jane’s research. We are fortunate that Jane will be joining us on this walk. There will be an extended stop at the house site for a discussion on the environment and history of the area. Inside the cover panels of Jane’s book is a reproduction of the complete artwork from ‘The Symbiogenesis Project: Laughing Waters 2011 by Aviva Reed and Paul Kalemba, as displayed in the Eltham Town Centre. This walk will start at 2 pm on Saturday 5th November at the corner of Laughing Waters and Overbank Roads. - EDHS Newsletter No. 230 October 2016fay bridge collection, 2016-11-05, activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, heritage excursion, kileavey, laughing waters road, parks victoria, cameron beardsall

Part of the original cottage named Culla Hill built by Thomas Sweeney (a former convict) remains as a small section of today’s house. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme National Estate National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Local Sifgnificance Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p19 Thomas Sweeney, a former convict who became a respected citizen, once lived on a property at what is now the corner of Sweeneys Lane and Culla Hill, Eltham. As Sweeney was one of the district’s first settlers, the property is registered by the National Trust. Thomas Sweeney was born in 1802, son of impoverished tenant farmers in Tipperary County, Ireland. He became a ploughman, then at 21 he was sentenced to hang for setting on fire the house of Patrick Guyder at Gullshill. It is said the arson was due to a dispute over undelivered guns to a social justice guerilla group, the White Boys, of which Sweeney was a member. But the sentence was commuted to life transportation to Australia in 1823.1 Apparently in Sydney he became a servant to James Chandler at Botany. Soon James Chandler leased his farm and became a catechist on the Hawkesbury River, so Sweeney was reassigned to a former convict, John Brown, at Liverpool. Later Sweeney was assigned to George Brown of Lake Illawarra. In 1831, Sweeney was granted a ticket-of-leave and bought a boat to carry goods between Illawarra district and Sydney Town. He married his first wife who had come to Australia as a free woman. However she drowned after bearing him a daughter. In 1838, one month after he had received a conditional pardon, Sweeney married a blacksmith’s daughter, Margaret Meehan, newly arrived from Ireland. They then moved to Port Phillip and squatted on the south side of the Yarra River, about seven miles (11km) from Melbourne. Around 1842, Sweeney bought 110 acres (44.5ha) in the parish of Nillumbik for £110. He built a slab hut 12 x 10 feet (3.6m x 3m) and then his homestead, Culla Hill, a typical Tipperary style cottage, now known as Sweeney’s Cottage. It was here that many generations of Sweeneys lived for almost 100 years. Culla Hill became a social centre for the district and the Catholic community used it as a church. Sweeney was apparently on good terms with a tribe of Aborigines living on the river nearby, who helped him build his house.2 Sweeney proved himself a civic-minded leader. In 1844, he led a call for a bridge over the Plenty River. He was on the first school board and supplied the first grain for Eltham’s mill. Sweeney profited during the gold rush, not by gold digging, but by providing supplies for nearby fields and others as far away as Beechworth.3 Thomas Sweeney died in 1867 and was buried at the Eltham Cemetery, leaving two sons, five daughters, and 300 acres (121.4ha), as well as Culla Hill. Culla Hill – by then reduced to 75 acres (30ha) – was sold out of the family in 1939, then renamed Sweeneys. The present Sweeneys Lane, running diagonally through the original holding, was the track to the house. Part of the original cottage remains as a small section of today’s house. The dining-family room fronted by a veranda is original, and although there have been some changes, the cedar door and most of the small 12-paned wooden-framed windows are original. The walls are made of the original hand-made brick. After buying the property in 1952 Mr and Mrs Burston demolished a dilapidated slab hut, a three-roomed detached kitchen and cellar, as materials needed to restore them were very difficult to obtain so soon after the war.4 However the barn remains almost in its original condition. It is believed to have been built from stone quarried on the property. Now roofed with iron sheets it was probably originally thatched. The sandstone barn has a peaked roof supported by the original saplings and a doorway large enough to accommodate a fully loaded wagon.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, culla hill, eltham, sweeney's cottage, sweeneys lane, thomas sweeney

Mary Tolhurst M&DHS - March 29th Dunvegan Willows Park Melton 1992 Ladies Oral History Day Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transfer to CD 2011 by Tom Wood Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 I was born in Rockbank, and when I was five years old moved to Toolern Vale and started and finished school there. Toolern Vale only consisted of the Store, Post Office and shop, where you could buy your fodder, and pollard supplies, the Hall, the little Church and the bluestone School. The School changed shape three times from the 1800s[1869] til the time I went there. There was four generations of my family that went there and it was destroyed by fire in 1965. Marjorie nee Myers Butler. Yes, I remember along with it your lovely Ronisch piano. Mary, quite true! Marj what you say about the Ronisch piano. When I came the age to learn music my mum and dad couldn’t really afford it, but still what parents do for their children. They had Marj go along with them and pick this lovely Ronisch piano. It was known round the district. Everyone commented about the loss that lovely piano. After leaving school it was war time, 1939, then it was work, When I was 7 year old I was put out into the cow yard. In 1940 when the soldiers were going away our milk was confiscated it had to go to Bacchus Marsh. It used to go the Sunbury to be brine cooled and then go to Melbourne. Then they took it then to the Lifeguard Milk Factory at Bacchus Marsh. It had to go as condensed milk to the soldiers. This year is 50 years of the Land Army. I was an unofficial Land Army but they still kept check on me. I went onto married life and I followed the cows right through [howls of laughter] and we went on until the 1965 fire. That’s when we got out of the cows. Marjorie asks, was Granny Watts your grandmother or great grandmother? Mary: She was my great grandmother, the midwife of Melton. The 1965 fire started ¾ of a mile above our place, Frank Ryan’s sheds were burnt and his house was saved, then it wiped the School out, the Hall, the Church the Post Office and Store and little house that was Charlie Charlton’s in the early days. Mrs Wilson’s place was saved by the Fire Brigade by pulling boards off the side, and from there it went over the hill and it was stopped at the Rockbank Railway Station. If it had of got over the railway they said it would have gone into Werribee. A lot was burnt out in that strip. Mary nee Nixon Collins: 18 houses burnt that day. Audience question, did Melton get burnt that day? Ray: No. It came down through the Toolern Vale road and cut across about a mile and a half from the cross roads at Toolern Vale from north westerly to the south east and cut through over the Keilor road. Mary: It came in across the creek at Funstons in Toolern, then through Jim Minns. Dorothy was it your place then [nee Knox Beaty] to Ken Beatty’s and from there it went through to Doug McIntosh’s and to Cockbills and the wind changed and it came across to the railway line, and that is where they stopped it. [the cause of the fire was controversial, they had been burning off the night before and there was some talk of someone starting it. It was very hot and very strong wind, it was a terrible day] Ray: When the fire went through McIntosh’s they had a haystack on the north side of their house and the haystack got caught and the fire burnt a hole through the side of the house and the boys pyjamas on the bed. The house was saved. It came through like and express train roaring at you, I was at McIntosh’s when it went roaring past. You couldn’t see, dust and ash and tremendous heat. The fire started about 12 o’clock Jack [husband] said to me, fire, I said where, where? Just up the road, what have I got to do? and he went out and he had gone to the fire and left me. I tried to get the animals and I put out buckets of water, putting the buckets of water out saved my life. Chas Jones and another friend of his came in and they picked up the buckets of water, I thought I had better get out because the fire was on the haystack up the paddock and when I went to go out through the north side of the house and couldn’t get out, I’ll go through the front gate so I went around the other side of the house. I got caught there and Chassy Jones and his friend came round carrying the bucket of water and I panicked. He threw the bucket of water over me. Well that is what saved my life because I was damp, whenever we tried to leave the ball of fire came over me and over my shoulder and my hair was scorched. Chassy Jones lost his truck and Keith Watt his big truck because he had the water tank on it and they couldn’t get out of the yard. Granny Watt’s house, the first private hospital had condemned and Jack and I pulled it down and had it moved up to Toolern and had it in the yard a fortnight and it was all burnt and we didn’t get the shed we wanted. Every 13 years right up until Ash Wednesday fires, there has always been fire close at hand. The 1952 fire went down the back of the house, the 1965 fire took the house, and the house that I live in now, it is the third house that has been on that spot. When the Hunters owned it, Mrs Hunter was nearly burnt in her bed. They had a 13 roomed house. In 1924 the house burnt down, and there was another house was built there and that was the one that burnt down. Edna: So Mary built a brick veneer house. Marjorie: like the three little pigs [laughter] Mary Tolhurst member of the Melton & District Historical Society in the Melton and Moorabool Leader local identities, local special interest groups

Mary Tolhurst M&DHS - March 29th Dunvegan Willows Park Melton 1992 Ladies Oral History Day Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transfer to CD 2011 by Tom Wood Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 I was born in Rockbank, and when I was five years old moved to Toolern Vale and started and finished school there. Toolern Vale only consisted of the Store, Post Office and shop, where you could buy your fodder, and pollard supplies, the Hall, the little Church and the bluestone School. The School changed shape three times from the 1800s[1869] til the time I went there. There was four generations of my family that went there and it was destroyed by fire in 1965. Marjorie nee Myers Butler. Yes, I remember along with it your lovely Ronisch piano. Mary, quite true! Marj what you say about the Ronisch piano. When I came the age to learn music my mum and dad couldn’t really afford it, but still what parents do for their children. They had Marj go along with them and pick this lovely Ronisch piano. It was known round the district. Everyone commented about the loss that lovely piano. After leaving school it was war time, 1939, then it was work, When I was 7 year old I was put out into the cow yard. In 1940 when the soldiers were going away our milk was confiscated it had to go to Bacchus Marsh. It used to go the Sunbury to be brine cooled and then go to Melbourne. Then they took it then to the Lifeguard Milk Factory at Bacchus Marsh. It had to go as condensed milk to the soldiers. This year is 50 years of the Land Army. I was an unofficial Land Army but they still kept check on me. I went onto married life and I followed the cows right through [howls of laughter] and we went on until the 1965 fire. That’s when we got out of the cows. Marjorie asks, was Granny Watts your grandmother or great grandmother? Mary: She was my great grandmother, the midwife of Melton. The 1965 fire started ¾ of a mile above our place, Frank Ryan’s sheds were burnt and his house was saved, then it wiped the School out, the Hall, the Church the Post Office and Store and little house that was Charlie Charlton’s in the early days. Mrs Wilson’s place was saved by the Fire Brigade by pulling boards off the side, and from there it went over the hill and it was stopped at the Rockbank Railway Station. If it had of got over the railway they said it would have gone into Werribee. A lot was burnt out in that strip. Mary nee Nixon Collins: 18 houses burnt that day. Audience question, did Melton get burnt that day? Ray: No. It came down through the Toolern Vale road and cut across about a mile and a half from the cross roads at Toolern Vale from north westerly to the south east and cut through over the Keilor road. Mary: It came in across the creek at Funstons in Toolern, then through Jim Minns. Dorothy was it your place then [nee Knox Beaty] to Ken Beatty’s and from there it went through to Doug McIntosh’s and to Cockbills and the wind changed and it came across to the railway line, and that is where they stopped it. [the cause of the fire was controversial, they had been burning off the night before and there was some talk of someone starting it. It was very hot and very strong wind, it was a terrible day] Ray: When the fire went through McIntosh’s they had a haystack on the north side of their house and the haystack got caught and the fire burnt a hole through the side of the house and the boys pyjamas on the bed. The house was saved. It came through like and express train roaring at you, I was at McIntosh’s when it went roaring past. You couldn’t see, dust and ash and tremendous heat. The fire started about 12 o’clock Jack [husband] said to me, fire, I said where, where? Just up the road, what have I got to do? and he went out and he had gone to the fire and left me. I tried to get the animals and I put out buckets of water, putting the buckets of water out saved my life. Chas Jones and another friend of his came in and they picked up the buckets of water, I thought I had better get out because the fire was on the haystack up the paddock and when I went to go out through the north side of the house and couldn’t get out, I’ll go through the front gate so I went around the other side of the house. I got caught there and Chassy Jones and his friend came round carrying the bucket of water and I panicked. He threw the bucket of water over me. Well that is what saved my life because I was damp, whenever we tried to leave the ball of fire came over me and over my shoulder and my hair was scorched. Chassy Jones lost his truck and Keith Watt his big truck because he had the water tank on it and they couldn’t get out of the yard. Granny Watt’s house, the first private hospital had condemned and Jack and I pulled it down and had it moved up to Toolern and had it in the yard a fortnight and it was all burnt and we didn’t get the shed we wanted. Every 13 years right up until Ash Wednesday fires, there has always been fire close at hand. The 1952 fire went down the back of the house, the 1965 fire took the house, and the house that I live in now, it is the third house that has been on that spot. When the Hunters owned it, Mrs Hunter was nearly burnt in her bed. They had a 13 roomed house. In 1924 the house burnt down, and there was another house was built there and that was the one that burnt down. Edna: So Mary built a brick veneer house. Marjorie: like the three little pigs [laughter] Collins - Mary M &DHS - March 29th 1992 Ladies oral history day at Dunvegan, Willows Park Melton. Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transferred to CD 2011 Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 Mary Collins nee Nixon born in Terang 1907 down in the Western District and we shifted to Melton when I was 5 and a half then I started school here in Melton, and spent all my school life at Melton State School, next to the Church of England, it’s called the Primary School now. I got my Qualifying and Merit Certificate then I left School because there wasn’t a High School. When I was 16 I got and job in the Melton Post Office and I worked there, I was the first girl in Melton to deliver the mail, and worked on the telephone and the Bank business. Mrs Ross and myself behind the counter, there were about 500 – 600 people in the Shire at that time and now when I go into the new Post Office there is 36,000 here there’s still 2 people behind the counter [laughter from the audience] and wait in a queue right out to the door. Times haven’t changed much have they! There was a manual telephone and you had to ring the handle, and there were eight subscribers when I went there and when I left there were 46 I had coaxed that number to join the telephone, even the police station didn’t have the phone on. The two Hotels and the two Chaff mills and Mr Ernie Barrie, Parkers the butcher, the Shire Office was No 8, and the Police house was next to the Courthouse on the corner. They were number 9. I can remember a lot of the numbers still. The Post Office was the Agency for the Commonwealth Bank [comment from audience member] I used to do the Bank business too, I left after four years there, mother wasn’t very well. The Inspector who used to come up to the Post Office asked me if I would take up casual Post Mistress and to go around the different districts but I refused and when Mrs Ross’s holidays were due I was the replacement. I wasn’t 21. I loved my work meeting everybody and most people had horse and jinkers and when the elderly would come in there would be Mr Tom Morrow, he only had one arm and Mrs Dunn came from Bulman’s road in their horse and jinker. They were elderly I would see them pull up out the front and quickly get their mail and run out to them because they didn’t have to get out of the jinker to tie up their horse. If someone had a baby in arms I would tear out and hold the baby while they got down. Mrs Ross was very very strict. I had to sweep the Post Office, she had a couple of mats and there would be a threepence or a sixpence under the mats show she knew whether I lifted the mat, I was whether I was honest or not. Graham: How much were your wages? I got 27/7 pence a week for a 52 hour week. I had to work every holiday except Good Friday and Christmas Day and even when it was Monday holiday I always had to go to work from 9am - !0 am, the Post Office was always open. In the winter I had to wait until twenty past six in case there were any telegrams to deliver. I delivered them on a push bike. One time Tom Barrie told me this years afterwards. I used to go home for lunch. We lived on the Keilor road and I used to ride my bike home. On the hot days the boys used to go and swim in the swimming pool down near a turn in the creek there was a hole where the boys would swim in the nude, they didn’t have any bathers and they didn’t have any watches in those days. Tom Barrie said they always used to watched for me as I was always about 3 minutes past 1, my lunch hour was from 1-2. One particular day they missed seeing me and swam on, and of course they were all late for school when they got back and were all kept in a night. I did get a fortnight holiday. I loved my work and I knew everyone in the district right from Toolern Vale to the Marsh and everybody at Melton South. Did you listen into conversations on the Switchboard? Oh no. [laughter] Melton did not have electricity then. I had to fill the lamps everyday with kerosene. The Staughton Memorial was outside the Post Office. It had four posts with the chain looped around it, and that’s where the people used to tie up their horses. Marjorie nee Myers Butler comments about sitting and swinging on the chains. Mr Fred Coburn lit the acetylene gas light in the Memorial. It was the only streetlight in Melton. There was no electricity until 1939. Ray Radford comments about another gas street light which was on the corner of Station road. [later] Mary passes around her school photos. Mary mentions the names of those who have passed away, Maisie McDonald, ,Marian Wraith, Hilda McCreey, and Valda McDonald. I have written the names on the back. Marjorie comments about Marie Jongebloed and Greta are the only two girls left out of big family of ten I think there were [hesitates] 4 or 5 girls and the rest were boys. Mary. Flora Woodley, Dorrie Flynn and Margaret McDonald are still alive. They are my age we were all born about 1907. Marjorie points out herself in a later photo [1921 and 1922 School ] Mary mentions the name Walsh and identyfies following names, the Parker boys, Ken Beaty, Malc and Linda Cameron, Maisie Mc Donald, Ted Radford, George Nixon, Norman Minns, he was later the Shire Secretary of Werribee. One of the Woodley girls. [Maisie Arthur] Marjorie: Rosie Shearwood, June Whiting Mary. Lily Mc Donald, she has passed away. Isabel Harrison nee Tinkler, she lives at Werribee, Doreen Rogers, Marjorie Walker, Jess McIntosh, Mary Gillespie. Mr Malone was the Junior teacher Mr Roe and Miss Cooke. Fred Myers, my sister [Elizabeth] and the year was 1921. Myers (Barrie) School Photo Collection. Many of the names were identified at the 1970 Centenary of Melton State School No. 430. Edna Barrie organised, compiled and typed the lists to accompany these photos for the year 1921. The 1922 photo shows the higher grades. Ladies Oral History Day event held by Melton and District Historical Society, article featured in the Telegraphlocal identities, local special interest groups

Hutchings family 1. Wimmera River in flood below Whitehall running a banker c. 1920. Ted & Col Hutchings in foreground. 2. Wimmera River in flood looking downstream. No date but possibly same time as no. 1. from same place. 3. Looking over the Wimmera River to Island paddock towards Greens Creek 4. Wimmera River half a banker at Whitehall 5. Wimmera River in flood upstream from carpenter's shop looking towards engine house at Whitehall 5a. Wimmera River in flood. Left to right - blacksmith shop and carpenters' shop. 5b. Taken from the same spot with Emily & Ada Hole, E G (Ted) & Col Hutchings. Blacksmith shop & carpenters' shop, Whitehall. 5c. Wimmera River upstream from the carpenters' shop. Foreground is possibly Belladonna lilies which were all over the river bank in 1992. Whitehall. 5d. Looking downstream towards the loose boxes, Whitehall. 5e. Blacksmiths' shop and carpenters' shop from the pumping station. Wimmera River, Whitehall. 6. Wimmera River in flood at Whitehall. 7. Wimmera River half a banker in front of old hut at Whitehall. 8. Wimmera River Emily Hayes, Edward G (Ted) Hutchings & Colin J Hutchings. 9. Morrl-Morrl - Greens Creek Road opposite back paddock. Whitehall. Black Ford in distance. c. 1919 10. Whitehall woolshed north east aspect, Drive to the right of photo 11. Whitehall woolshed - north east aspect showing the drive to the right 11a. Whitehall woolshed - north aspect 11b. Same tree near woolshed 11c. Same tree again in centre, other trees came up after the 23 flood. Woolshed to the right out of photo. 12. Whitehall woolshed - south aspect, sheep entrance end 13. Whitehall. left to right, Stackyard, stables in the centre and the Wimmera River behind following the trees. 14. Whitehall horse paddock c. 1920. left to right, Machinery shed, stable in the centre. Homestead to the right in distance. There is no windmill. 15. Load of wool from Whitehall woolshed to right. 16. Whitehall c. 1920 before the windmill. left to right, garage and mens' hut. Wimmera river runs along the tree line. 16a. Stables, garage and mens' hut after the construction of the windmill. River behind. 17. Whitehall c. 1922. Note windmill addition. Garage to left, Mens' Hut to right. Jack Donnelly & Edward G (Ted) Hutchings with pet lambs. River behind trees. 18. Whitehall gardens. Summer house to the right, pine tree lined drive in the centre background. Ted & Col Hutchings on the lawn. C. 1920 19. Edward G. (Ted) & Colin J. Hutchings in Whitehall garden. Wimmera River in the background. The building behind the fence is the carpenters' shop which the family lived in while house was rebuilt after fire 15 Jan 1877 20. Whitehall c. 1920. left to right, cattle yard, killing house, Wimmera river behind the fence, and the loose box on the right. Black Orpington chooks in foreground. 21. Bay window (original blinds) in the master bedroom. Whitehall 20 Sep 1992 22. Master bedroom (original wallpaper) Joyce & Col Hutchings, Moyu, Ben & Rebecca Roe 20 Sep 1992 23. Col & Ted's bedroom (original) Marble mantlepiece had been removed. Whitehall. 20 Sep 1992 24. Whitehall kitchen. Large yellow meat oven to left of stove, bread oven far left, extreme right is oven where milk heated to skim cream. Chimney was a central one shared with meat oven. Bread oven chimney separate. 20 Sep 1992 25. Whitehall dairy, made of natural stone with dried brick corners. Entrance behind creeper which is over trellis. 20 Sep 1992. This building still remains in 1 Jun 2023 26. Inside charcoal lined meat cellar. Bottom right is concrete vat for pickling meat in brine. Top of brickwork slightly above ground level. Whitehall 20 Sep 1992 27. Fire foreground was stable flooring which was to left of photo. Machinery shed (thatch roof). 4 posts far left remains of cowshed. Large post in centre foreground is the gate post of corral. River to right. 20 Sep 1992 28. Whitehall machinery shed. Posts on far right are cow shed. Over the river is the island paddock. Wimmera river runs behind machinery shed. 20 Sep 1992 29. Posts of 10 sided corral. Killing house by side of gum tree in centre of photo on far side of corral. To left is one of the bales of the cowshed. Whitehall. 20 Sep 1992 29a. Similar photo in the 1920's. To the right is horsebreaking corral, then cow shed, loose box, haystacks and stable on left. Whitehall. 30. Dining room fire place put in the open fire of the mens' hut, only the chimney remains. To the left is the drive & river. Rebecca Roe, Col Hutchings granddaughter. 20 Sep 1992 30a. Looking down the Whitehall Drive. Mens' Hut (Jack Donnelly in doorway) and garage far left. 1920's 30b. The Drive, Whitehall taken from in front of the mens' hut. Wimmera River on the left. Gum tree on left still there 20 Sep 1992. 30c. Reverse from 30a. Whitehall drive from the front gate looking towards the mens' hut and garage. c. 1926 30d. Curly Donohue leaving for Warracknabeal. Ex mail contractor Omeo to Bright Victoria. C. 1926 30e. Looking down the drive towards front gate. Mens' hut on the right, river on the left. 31. Whitehall from the side. Building in centre behind David is separater room. 2 roomed hut to left of separater room and remains of mens' hut chimney. Photo 16 taken from similar spot. 20 Sep 1992 32. Benjamin Roe (Col Hutchings grandson) in the Carpenters' shop. The family lived in this building after the fire in the 1870's. Whitehall 20 Sep 1992 33. Ford across the Wimmera River at Whitehall (River abt. 5 feet higher than normal) 20 Sep 1992 33a. Wimmera River, Whitehall 34. Site of old bridge before Col Hutchings time. Tree in foreground to right still has bolt from bridge work protuding. A large post was in the centre of photo to make equal distance. 20 Sep 1992 35. Entrance to the old ford. Colin J Hutchings & his daughter, Moyu Roe. Wimmera River, Whitehall 20 Sep 1992 36. Summer house at Whitehall 20 Sep 1992 looking down to the orchard, dark green trees in distance old fruit trees. 36a. Edward & Colin Hutchings in front of the Summer house, Whitehall c. 1921 36b. Summer house looking towards front gate. Whitehall. 36c. Grey thrush in nest box which can be seen in previous photo with summer house in the background. Whitehall. 36d. Summer house from the orchard side. Whitehall. 37a. South side of Whitehall. First window Edith Sutherland's room, 2nd window, Ted & Col's room, bay window master bedroom 38. Taken in middle of front path looking towards front gate. Edith Sutherland in garden. Date palm in centre, cotton palm to left. Whitehall c. 1920's 38a. Garden at Whitehall taken from near the cotton palm. 39. Whitehall 20 Sep 1992 Bay window-master bed, small window to r. of bay-Colin Hutchings born in, front door, window to right-dining room, round the corner- drawing room, window on right, spare bed, verandah on left is spare bed. 39a. Whitehall c. 1920's Date palm on the right. 39b. Win, Colin T & Colin J Hutchings. Date palm in background. Whitehall 1943 39c. Edward George, Colin Thomas, Elizabeth Ambler & Colin James Hutchings wearing RAAF uniform. Date Palm in background. Whitehall c. 1943 39c. Front garden of Whitehall looking from the front right side of the house towards the drive & Wimmera River. Date palm on right, cotton palm on left 20 Sep 1992 40. Taken from bottom left corner of front garden looking towards the summer house. Cotton palm on right. River to the left. 41. Elizabeth A Hutchings beside master bedroom window. Whitehall c. 1920 42. Whitehall (photo of a painting by Wallace) owned by Colin T Hutchings 1982. 42a. Whitehall painting by Wallace after restoration now owned by Nick Hutchings 2021 42b. Whitehall c. 1923 42c. Taken from the side garden looking towards the right side of house. Front door is to the left out of photo. The cotton palm is to the left. c. 1923 43. Signpost showing Whitehall 20 Sep 1992, All ground up to the tree line behind the signpost was Whitehall property. 44. Colin T. Hutchings age 9 mths. Mar 1943 Whitehall 45. Colin James, Elizabeth Ambler & Edward George Hutchings. Front garden by the date palm, Whitehall c. 1939-40 45a. Colin James, Edward George, Edward Thomas Hutchings & E. Winifred May & Barney (dog) Whitehall. c. 1939-40. 45b. Colin James & Colin Thomas Hutchings during drought & World War ll c. 1944-45 in front of cotton palm, date palm to right. 46. Garden at Whitehall. Jack Donnelly on the hand mower. Cotton palm on left, date palm behind Jack and roof of carpenters shop to right. 47. Colin J Hutchings on tractor, E. Tom Hutchings behind. Whitehall, c. 1933 48. Jack Donnelly (Tad) & Colin J. Hutchings. Cotton palm to right. Whitehall c. 1917-18 49. Edward G (Ted) & Colin J Hutchings with cockatoo outside the dairy in rear garden. Whitehall c. 1923 50. Taken from the windmill looking across the roof of the mens' hut to the garden, orchard and drive in Winter time. House is behind the trees to right, Wimmera River to the left out of picture. Whitehall. 50a. Not labelled by Col Hutchings. It is an aerial shot looking towards the house in the trees & seems to be taken from the top of a tree...on the river side. 51. E. Tom Hutchings & George Chambers dam sinking. Whitehall. 51a. Tom Hutchings & George Chambers dam sinking. Whitehall. 51b. E. Tom Hutchings dam sinking. 52. Emily Hayes & Ada Hole (sisters) with Tom, Col & Ted Hutchings at the woolshed. 53. E T (Tom) Hutchings on reaper & binder. Whitehall. 54. Orchard looking towards the house. Carpenters' shop and river on the right. Whitehall. 54a. Orchard looking from the house, dark trees in background form part of the drive. 55. Grasshopper plague, Christmas Day 1933. Whitehall 56. Frost on the front lawn, Whitehall. 57. Little red hen & chicks with the river in the background 58. Edward (Ted) G. Hutchings muscovy ducks, hay shed and trees along the river in the background. 58a. Edward (Ted) G Hutchings muscovy ducks. 59. Swimming in the Wimmera River, either Ted or Col Hutchings in the foreground. 60. Looking towards the fowl house and pigsty, Whitehall. 61. Snake on the path, Whitehall. c. 1923 61a. E. Tom Hutchings killing a snake, Whitehall. c. 1923 61b. E. Tom Hutchings killing a snake, Whitehall. c. 1923 62. Notice of clearing sale, Stawell News & Pleasant Creek Chronicle on 5 Apr 1916 where the stock & whole of the household furniture was to be sold by James Hutchings widow. 63. Back to Greens Creek 7 Jun 1987 Colin J Hutchings left and Belle Kindred centre looking at photo 64. Back to Greens Creek 7 Jun 1987 Colin J Hutchings centre, Graham Stewart holding photograph on the right. 65. Colin J Hutchings & Bill Walker. Back to Greens Creek 7 Jun 1987 66. Colin J Hutchings delivering a speech before the plaque unveiling. Back to Greens Creek 7 Jun 1987 67. Graeme Williamson & Colin J Hutchings (2 'old boys') Greens Creek School Site 7 Jun 1987 68. Graeme Williamson talking to Moyu Roe (Hutchings) in background is May Williamson. Back to Greens Creek 7 Jun 1987 69. Greens Creek SS, Edward (Ted) & Colin J Hutchings attended. 70. Original students of first Greens Creek School 7 Jun 1987 Back row left 1. Kindred 3. Colin J Hutchings 4,5,6 not known 7. Graeme Williamson Sitting left 1. Not an original 2,3,4, not known 5. Belle Kindred 71. Terrier at Greens Creek State School 72. The new school students Back to Greens Creek 7 Jun 1987. Perry twins standing in centre and the teacher kneeling front left. 73. Will Rees water colour 1925 signature 74. Will Rees water colour 1925 75. Shearing at Kirkellar. Allen Simpson's 76. Back to Greens Creek 7 Jun 1987 Colin J Hutchings left and Belle Kindred centre looking at photo 77. Back to Greens Creek 7 Jun 1987 Colin J Hutchings centre, Graham Stewart holding photograph on the right. 78. Colin J Hutchings & Bill Walker. Back to Greens Creek 7 Jun 1987 79. Colin J Hutchings delivering a speech before the plaque unveiling. Back to Greens Creek 7 Jun 1987 80. Graeme Williamson & Colin J Hutchings (2 'old boys') Greens Creek School Site 7 Jun 1987 81. Graeme Williamson talking to Moyu Roe (Hutchings) in background is May Williamson. Back to Greens Creek 7 Jun 1987 82. Greens Creek SS, Edward (Ted) & Colin J Hutchings attended. 83. Original students of first Greens Creek School 7 Jun 1987 Back row left 1. Kindred 3. Colin J Hutchings 4,5,6 not known 7. Graeme Williamson Sitting left 1. Not an original 2,3,4, not known 5. Belle Kindred 84. Shearing at Kirkellar. Allen Simpson's 85. Terrier at Greens Creek State School 86. The new school students Back to Greens Creek 7 Jun 1987. Perry twins standing in centre and the teacher kneeling front left. Digital Copy of Parish Maps Kara Karahomestead

This is a photograph of a railway camp, set up to house workers and their families when building the Bairnsdale to Orbost Railway from 1914-1916. The man in the foreground was one of three men killed in an explosion "noon on the railway construction works at Hagen's Cutting, about two miles from Orbost, three men being killed. The victims were John Carroll, con- tractor, his son, Peter Carroll, and John Sullivan, a navvy. The gang had just finished work, and the three stayed behind to draw a blasting charge, which had missed fire yesterday. J. Carroll was using a pick, and it is presumed that the tool struck a percussion cap, and fired the charge. He and Sullivan were killed instantly, Carroll being literally blown to pieces. Fragments of his body and garments were recovered from the surrounding bush, and the main portion of the trunk, with leg attached, was hurled a distance of 200 yards. Peter Carroll was terribly- injured, and he died before medical aid arrived." (from The Mercury Saturday March 114 1914) The Bairnsdale-Orbost railway was opened in 1916 to serve the agricultural and timber industry. Because of the decline in traffic and heavy operating costs, the line was finally closed in August, 1987. Orbost Railway Station was opened on Monday 10 April 1916 as the terminus of the Orbost railway line, and closed in 1987. The station was located on the west side of the Snowy River despite the town of Orbost being on the east side of the river, in order to save on the costs of a bridge over the river, which at the time had highly variable levels. This item is associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost.A black / white photograph of a campsite. There is a kitchen outside a rough construction. Men and women are standing in the backgroundd with one man and a dog in the foreground.on back - "Man with dog killed in explosion"orbost-railway transport railway-bairnsdale-orbost explosion-railway

Dodge was house at Ballarat between 1939 and 1960B&W photograph of 1938 dodge pumper taken in Barkly street beside the Ballarat Fire Station. Dodge has a brigade member in the drivers seat and an unknown woman sitting in the rear of the appliancenil

Photograph shows Tommy standing outside a very new brick engine house. This would date the photograph as being 1916 or later. As the brigade received it first motorised appliance in 1917 and second appliance in 1918 the brigade would not have kept horses after this date. Shows the original facade of the current station with the pillar and wooden doors intact (now removed)B&W photograph of Ballarat Fire Brigades horse 'Tommy' harnessed to a hose carriage. Photgraph was taken at the front of the current station. Photograph is mounted on a beige coloured cardNilballarat fire brigade, tommy, hose carriage

Before the introduction of electricity, irons were heated by combustion, either in a fire or with some internal arrangement. An "electric flatiron" was invented by American Henry Seely White and patented on June 6, 1882. It weighed almost 15 pounds (6.8 kg) and took a long time to heat. The UK Electricity Association is reported to have said that an electric iron with a carbon arc appeared in France in 1880, but this is considered doubtful. Two of the oldest sorts of iron were either containers filled with a burning substance, or solid lumps of metal which could be heated directly. Metal pans filled with hot coals were used for smoothing fabrics in China in the 1st century BC. A later design consisted of an iron box which could be filled with hot coals, which had to be periodically aerated by attaching a bellows. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, there were many irons in use that were heated by fuels such as kerosene, ethanol, whale oil, natural gas, carbide gas (acetylene, as with carbide lamps), or even gasoline. Some houses were equipped with a system of pipes for distributing natural gas or carbide gas to different rooms in order to operate appliances such as irons, in addition to lights. Despite the risk of fire, liquid-fuel irons were sold in U.S. rural areas up through World War II. In Kerala in India, burning coconut shells were used instead of charcoal, as they have a similar heating capacity. This method is still in use as a backup device, since power outages are frequent. Other box irons had heated metal inserts instead of hot coals. From the 17th century, sadirons or sad irons (from Middle English "sad", meaning "solid", used in English through the 1800s[4]) began to be used. They were thick slabs of cast iron, triangular and with a handle, heated in a fire or on a stove. These were also called flat irons. A laundry worker would employ a cluster of solid irons that were heated from a single source: As the iron currently in use cooled down, it could be quickly replaced by a hot one. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clothes_ironThis iron is typical of the clothes iron used before electric irons superseded it.Salter iron no. 6, painted black but with rust showing through. Salter iron no. 6.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, iron, clothes, laundry

The breeches buoy and traveller block are part of the beach rescue apparatus used by lifesaving crew overseas and in Australia in the 1860s to 1960s. The breeches buoy (or chair bucket or petticoat breeches) were invented by Lieutenant Kisbee by the 1850s. It looks like a pair of canvas shorts with a cork lifebuoy ring attached around the top. The set-up works similar way to a zip wire and allows for two-way travel. Saving lives in Warrnambool – The coastline of South West Victoria has had over 600 shipwrecks and many lost lives; even in Warrnambool’s Lady Bay there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905, with eight lives lost. In 1859 the first Government-built lifeboat arrived at Warrnambool Harbour and a shed was soon built to house it, followed in 1864 by a rocket house to safely store the Rocket Rescue equipment. In 1878 the buildings were moved to the Breakwater area, and in 1910 the new Lifeboat Warrnambool arrived with its ‘self-righting’ design. For almost one hundred years the lifeboat and rocket crews, mostly local volunteers, trained regularly to maintain and improve their skills, summoned when needed by alarms, gunshots, ringing bells and foghorns. Some became local heroes but all served an important role. By the end of the 1950s the lifeboat and rescue equipment had become obsolete. Rocket Rescue Method - The first use of a lifesaving rocket rescue system is often credited to Captain Manby and his invention of a life mortar, first used in 1808 to fire a line onto a ship to rescue lives. Henry Trengrouse’s invention of 1820 was the first to use a sky rocket’s power to throw a line, and his invention included a chair for carrying the shipwrecked victims to shore. In 1832 John Dennett invented a rocket specifically for shore to ship rescue. It had an iron case and an 8 foot pole attached and could shoot the line as far as 250 yards (about 230 metres). From the 1860s the rocket rescue apparatus was in use. It comprised a breeches buoy and traveller block that was suspended on a line and manually pulled to and from the distressed vessel carrying passengers and items. Colonel Boxer, who had invented an early line-thrower, designed a rocket in 1865 with a range from 300 to 470 yards. It was the first two-stage rocket, with two rockets placed one in front of the other in a tube that carried the rescue line. The hemp line was faked, or coiled, in a particular way in a faking box to prevent twists and tangles when fired, and the angle of firing the rocket was measured by a quadrant-type instrument on the side of the rocket machine. Schermuly invented the line-throwing pistol around 1920, which used a small cartridge to fire the rocket. Victoria’s Government adopted lifesaving methods based on Her Majesty’s Coast Guard in Great Britain, which used Colonel Boxer’s rocket apparatus rescue method. The British Board of Trade published instructions in 1850 for both the beach rescue crew and ship’s crew. It involved setting up the rocket launcher on shore at a particular angle measured by the quadrant, inserting a rocket that had a light-weight line attached, then firing it across the stranded vessel. A tally board was then sent out with instructions in four languages. The ship’s crew would haul on the line to bring out the continuous whip line and attach the whip block to a mast or sturdy part the ship. The rescue crew on shore then hauled out a heavier hawser line, which the ship’s crew fixed above the whip block. The hawser is then tightened using the block on the shore end of the whip. The breeches buoy and endless whip are then attached to the traveller block on the hawser, allowing the shore crew to haul the buoy to and from the vessel, rescuing the stranded crew one at a time. The rocket system could also be used from one ship to another. This item is significant for its connection with local history, maritime history and marine technology. Lifesaving has been an important part of the services performed from Warrnambool's very early days, supported by State and Local Government, and based on the methods and experience of Great Britain. Hundreds of shipwrecks along the coast are evidence of the rough weather and rugged coastline. Ordinary citizens, the Harbour employees, and the volunteer boat and rescue crew, saved lives in adverse circumstances. Some were recognised as heroes, others went unrecognised. In Lady Bay, Warrnambool, there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905. Many lives were saved but tragically, eight lives were lost.Breeches buoy and traveller lock; white canvas breeches (shorts) with lifebuoy ring attached to its waistband, with ropes for attaching it to the traveller block. Wooden traveller block has double brass inline sheaves and brass rollers on each cheek of the block, and each shell is scored for the strop. The thimble attached to the strop has a wooden slat for quick release of the breeches buoy. The ropes comprise of two equal lengths of rope that have been bunched together to form two loops, then bound together just below the loops, while the four hanging ends are looped around the lifebuoy, equally spaced, with each end finished in an eye-splice. The apparatus is suspended by the loops at the top and attached to the traveller block, which has a quick release device.flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipwreck, life-saving, lifesaving, rescue crew, rescue, rocket rescue, maritime accidents, shipwreck victim, rocket crew, beach rescue, line rescue, rescue equipment, rocket firing equipment, rocket rescue equipment, rocket apparatus, beach apparatus, petticoat breeches, breeches buoy, rocket house, rocket shed, lifeboat men, rocket equipment, rocket machine, rocket head, rocket launcher, rocket line, marine technology, william schermuly, line-firing pistol, line throwing gun, schermuly pistol, pistol rocket apparatus, beach rescue set, traveller, block, running block, pulley, hawser, faking, faking box, faked line, rescue boat, lifeboat, lady bay, warrnambool harbour, port of warrnambool, tramway jetty, volunteer lifesavers, volunteer crew, breakwater, lifeboat warrnambool, rocket rescue method, rocket rescue apparatus, captain manby, mortar, henry trengrouse, sky rocket, john dennett, shore to ship, colonel boxer, two-stage rocket, italian hemp, quadrant, schermuly, line-throwing pistol, line throwing cartridge, rocket apparatus rescue, stranded vessel, tally board, light line, whip line, endless whip, petticoat buoy, traveller chair, traveller block, her majesty’s coast guard, harbour board, line thrower, line throwing, beach cart, hand barrow, sand anchor, hawser cutter, life jacket, faking board, irish hand barrow, government of victoria

The theodolite was sold by T. Gaunt & Co. of Melbourne, a manufacturer, importer and retailer of a wide variety of goods including jewellery, clocks and watches, navigational and measuring instruments, dinnerware, glassware and ornaments. Thomas Gaunt photograph was included in an album of security identity portraits of members of the Victorian Court, Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1888. (See further details below.) History for Troughton & Simms: Edward Troughton & William Simms established a scientific instrument making business in London in 1826. Edward Troughton (1756-1835) had previously had his own scientific instrument business, inherited from his father. His achievement's included a transit telescope for Greenwich Observatory (1816) and the precision surveying instruments for the Ordnance Survey of Britain, Ireland and India. William Simms (1793-1860) had trained as a goldsmith and began to gain work dividing circles on fine astronomical instruments. When William Simms died in 1860, the business was taken over by his son James and nephew William. Troughton & Simms shop in Fleet Street became the hub of the finest scientific instrument made in London, in a period in which there was an expanding demand for precision instruments, for astronomy, surveying and precision measurement. They made instruments for Greenwich Observatory, for imperial surveys and exploring expeditions. When fire destroyed the Houses of Parliament in 1834, the firm was commissioned to create new standard lengths, this required 10 years of testing against the remaining old measurements. Troughton and Simms made several of the main instruments for Melbourne Observatory, including an 18 inch azimuth used of the Geodetic Survey, portable transit instrument (circa 1850), zenith sector (1860), a 4.5 inch equatorial telescope (1862), an 8 inch equatorial telescope (1874) spectroscope (1877) and an 8 inch transit instrument in (1884). While the firm had an excellent reputation for quality the company exasperated many of its customers with delays of years in delivering some instruments. History for Thomas Gaunt: Thomas Ambrose Gaunt (1829 – 1890) was a jeweller, clock maker, and manufacturer of scientific instruments, whose head office and showroom were at 337–339 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Thomas Gaunt established Melbourne's leading watchmaking, optical and jewellery business during the second half of the 19th century. Gaunt arrived in Melbourne in 1852, and by 1858 had established his own business at 14 Little Bourke Street. Around 1869 he moved to new premises in Bourke Street on the corner of Royal Arcade, Gaunt's shop quickly became a Melbourne institution. Gaunt proudly advertised that he was 'The only watch manufacturer in the Australian colonies'. While many watches and clocks may have had Gaunt's name on the dial, few would have been made locally. Gaunt did make some watches for exhibitions, and perhaps a few expensive watches for wealthy individuals. Gaunt's received a telegraph signal from Melbourne Observatory each day to correct his main clock and used this signal to rate and repair ship's chronometers and good quality watches. Thomas Gaunt also developed a department that focused on scientific instrumentation, making thermometers and barometers (from imported glass tubes), telescopes, surveying instruments and microscopes. Significance: With the rapid urban expansion, one of the most important needs of the new colony was to survey and map the landscape of the Australian Colony’s interior. Theodolites, such as this one, made by Troughton and Simms, who were significant scientific instrument makers of the 19th century were instrumental to the colony's surveyors and would have played an important part in their everyday work. This transit theodolite remains of national significance due to its pioneering role in Australian science and its association with Australia's earliest surveyors and astronomers. It is also significant for its association with nineteenth-century surveying instruments and instrument makers. Theodolite, Vernier repetition theodolite with enclosed horizontal circle (of about 130 mm diameter). Vertical circle exposed and somewhat corroded (diameter about 115 mm). Plate level 20" per division. Altitude bubble 20" per division. Horizontal and vertical circle intervals 20". Original (blue/grey) paint. Altitude bubble setting screw disabled. Tribrach allows movement of theodolite by 15 mm inside tribrach (for centering).Inscribed on the inner mounting plate,“Specially made in England for T Gaunt & Co Melbourne” and inscribed a little lower “Troughton & Simms London”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, theodolite, t. gaunt & co, troughton & simms, scientific instrument, measuring instrument, surveyor's instrument

This fire station was closed and a new one opened on Maroondah Highway on the site of the old miner's cottage near the corner of the Highway and Mt Dandenong Road.Five coloured photographs of the Ringwood fire station at 255 Maroondah Highway and of the fireman's house when it was sold. It later became 'The Fire Station Restaurant.'

City of Ringwood community information report for 1964, including sections covering Valuations-Rates, Sanitary Service - Sewerage, Private Street Construction, Loughnan Hill Road Scheme, Other New Works, Planning Scheme, Fire Hazards, Fly Control, Dogs, Annual Special Clearance of Refuse, Garbage Removal, Immunisation, Street Lighting, House Numbers, Home Help, Scholarships, Rubbish Dumping, Vandalism, and list of Council Representatives.rinx

City of Ringwood community information annual report for 1965, including sections covering Ringwood Planning Scheme, Extensions to Lionswood Village, Building Activity, Private Street Construction, Other Road Works, Drainage Works, Town Planning, Retention of Native Flora, General Rate Notice, Sanitary Service Charge, Dandenong Valley Authority Rate, Decimal Currency Conversion, Children's Playgrounds, Annual Special Clearance of Refuse, Garbage Removal, Immunisations, Infant Welfare Centres, Home Help Service, House Numbering, Dogs, Horse Riding, Fire Hazards and Burning Off, Secondary School Grants, and list of Council Representatives.rinx

City of Ringwood community information annual report for 1968, including sections covering Finance, General Valuation and Rater Payments, Property Ownership Changes, Refuse, Sanitary Serviced, Sewerage Connections to MMBW, Dandenong Valley Authority, Residential Flat Control Planning Scheme, Immunisation, Home Help, Elderly Citizens' Clubrooms, Library, Civic Centre, Golf Course, Sale of Council Land, Swimming Centre, Holiday Play Centre, Civic Week, Lake Reserve Improvements, Rubbish Dumping, Street Trees, Vandalism, White Ants, Street Construction, Fire Hazards, Dog Nuisance, House Numbering, Citizens' Advisory Service, Infant Welfare Centres, and a list of departing and current Council Representatives. Also includes general reminders regarding rat extermination, free firewood for age pensioners, overhanging vegetation, and spouses voting rights.Obituary - Mr. F.P. Dwerryhouse, Town Clerk for the past 9-1/2 years passed away on 6th December after a short illness.rinx

Peter McGennan (1839-1920) arrived in Warrnambool in the 1870s and established a cooperage in Kepler Street and a boating business on the Hopkins River. He rebuilt the boating establishment after a fire in 1876. In 1896 McGennan established a Box and Case Factory in Davis Street (Merrivale Drive), importing timber from New Zealand, using chartered vessels and his own ships which included the ‘Speculant’. The box factory was a successful venture employing over 30 men until it was destroyed by fire in 1923. Peter McGennan was involved in the establishment of the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory at Allansford and the Warrnambool Woollen Mill. He was a Director of the latter company until his death. Members of the McGennan family were also important business people in Warrnambool, being involved in the hotel business and civic affairs for many years. The tin box may have been used to house family papers or business documents during Peter McGennan’s life and it was used to house his estate papers after his death. Many of these documents are in the collection of the Warrnambool &District Historical Society.This box is of some importance as it belonged to a prominent Warrnambool businessman and his family. It has social significance as an example of the type of storage items used early in the 20th century to hold documents etc.This is a rectangular tin box with the black paint on the outside peeling and yellow paint inside. There is a metal lock which has no key. There is a small handle on the top added to the tin surface. The name ‘P.J.McGennan’ is painted on the front side in yellow paint.‘P.J.McGennan’ A typed label on faded yellow adhesive tape ‘Estate P.J.McGennan’ peter mcgennan, p j mcgennan, peter mcgennan metal box, mcgennan box factory, mcgennan warrnambool