Owen 'Doc' Matthews is remembered for his spectacular Grand Prix dressage exhibitions with his horse Aintree Boy, performed to music under spotlights at Melbourne Royal Show from 1965-1975. He also performed at smaller country shows. Doc Matthews was born in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy in 1923, during the Great Depression. He and his brother Paddy were placed in a foster home and then in a Geelong orphanage before being put to work at a dairy farm. Doc was given an elderly piebald mare to ride, which ignited his passion for horses. When he was 16, he enlisted in World War 2 but captured by the Japanese and ended up working on the Burma Railway, spending years as a prisoner of war in the notorious Changi Prison. Doc joined Victoria Police in 1952 and by 1962 was chief horse master and riding instructor in the mounted branch. He drilled teams to perform musical rides and horses and riders were always turned out to perfection. Doc and Aintree Boy became a partnership after the horse had been used in the mounted branch for four years. Doc decided to try his hand at dressage and as there were few instructors, trained Aintree Boy with nothing to go by but a couple of books and film of a single dressage competition. Owen 'Doc' Matthews was truly a pioneer of Grand Prix dressage in Australia. ( ref. TOPHORSE )Agricultural shows are an important part of cultural life in small country towns and the Orbost Show is an integral part of Orbost 's agricultural history.A square shaped ticket for Orbost Show - Monday, March 10th 1975. It is on white card with blue print.Orbost Wonder Horse "Aintree Boy". Monday, March 10th 1975aintree-boy dressage equestrian matthews-owen

The photograph shows a chaff cutter on John Watt's farm about 1892. Mr John Watt set up farming in 1879. He was a native of Port Fairy. He was educated in Scotland and came back to Victoria and selected 320 acres on the Snowy River.The property extended from Majors Creek Road to around about Gilbert's Gulch.this item is associated with John Watt an early Orbost settler.A black / white photograph of a large wooden slatted barn with motorised farm machinery outside . There are three men with the machines and a young girl watching.agriculture-machinery farming-orbost watt-john

Pigs were taken to Bairnsdale by coaxing them with maize thrown from a wagonette . From Bairnsdale they were freighted to market by train. The journey to Bairnsdale took about five days . This method of transport continued until the rail line to Orbost was opened in 1916.This photograph is a pictorial record of farming practices in the early 20th century.A black / white photograph on a brown buff card showing pigs being taken to market. The photograph shows the pigs close up with men on horseback behind them. The pigs are on a gravel road with a fence on one side and and the Orbost flats can be seen in the background.on back - "Pigs being driven from Orbost to Bairnsdale. M.Gilbert, Orbost"agriculture farming-orbost pigs

This photograph shows Sam Lynn with his team of Clydesdales. Samuel James Lynn was born in 1865 in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. His father was James Lynn and his mother was Mary Jane Keith. Sam, as he was known, was the second of three brothers, his older brother being William and his younger brother was John Wilson Lynn. (info. Margaret Hollands) Samuel Lynn was a well-known Orbost pioneer. He owned much property throughout the district , bred Clydesdale horses and fattened about 600 cattle. He was in great demand as a judge of both cattle and horses at agricultural shows in Victoria and interstate. He was a shire councillor for 30 years and president several times. He took a great interest in the sporting clubs of the town and played cricket until late in life. He was goal umpire for the local football team for many years, judged for the Orbost Racing Club and was the first president of the Orbost Bowls Club. He was also a member of the first municipal band. Sam Lynn was a well-known Orbost pioneer. The Lynn family has a long historic connection with the Orbost agricultural history.A small black / white photograph of four men, two standing and two sitting, in a horse draw buggy. Four large horses are harnessed to it.lynn-sam transport-horse-drawn clydesdale-horses

This is a photograph of Dave Hawkless crossing the Snowy River at Bete Bolong with a wagon load of maize from the farm of Sam Lynn. David Hawkless was married to Mary Downey in 1906. They had five children. Samuel James Lynn was born in 1865 in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. His father was James Lynn and his mother was Mary Jane Keith. Sam, as he was known, was the second of three brothers, his older brother being William and his younger brother was John Wilson Lynn. (info. Margaret Hollands) Samuel Lynn was a well-known Orbost pioneer. He owned much property throughout the district , bred Clydesdale horses and fattened about 600 cattle. He was in great demand as a judge of both cattle and horses at agricultural shows in Victoria and interstate. He was a shire councillor for 30 years and president several times. He took a great interest in the sporting clubs of the town and played cricket until late in life. He was goal umpire for the local football team for many years, judged for the Orbost Racing Club and was the first president of the Orbost Bowls Club. He was also a member of the first municipal band.This is a pictorial record of the transporting of maize in the Orbost district in th late 19th century. It is associated with Sam Lynn, a prominent citizen of early Orbost.A small black / white photograph of wagons crossing a river. There is a man on a horse beside what appears to be a team of bullocks pulling a loaded wagon.hawkless-david agriculture-maize transport

These photographs were taken at the 1980 annual Orbost Show. The first photograph is of Mr Frank Rourke congratulating Combienbar rider, Gavin Chester, East Gippsland Olympian ( a member of the 1980 Australian team which did not compete in Moscow). He won the title of Champion Show Jumper riding his mount "Blue Trick" on Monday March 10 1980. The second photograph shows Mr Frank Rourke placing the winning ribbon around the neck of Gavin Chester's winning mount, "Blue Trick" The third photograph is the winner of the coveted R.L.Fisher Memorial Plate won by Eric Musgrave being congratulated by Mr Frank Rourke. Frank Rourke was the Gippsland and Northern manager. G. & N. sponsored the event which carried a prize of $500. On the left in this photograph is Mr J. Horstman, ring four judge.This is a pictorial record of a significant event in Orbost. This item is also associated with the Orbost Agricultural Society 's Annual Show which has been a major event in Orbost for over a century. Agricultural shows are an important part of cultural life in small country towns and the Orbost Show is an integral part of Orbost 's agricultural history.Three black / white photographs of a rider on horseback receiving congratulations. There are details on labels on the back of each photograph.orbost-show equestrian chester-gavin musgrave-eric show-jumping

3084.1 is titled "Ready For Launching" and is of Mr Lachlan Macalaster on the left and Mr Jim Holden preparing to release two roosters for a competition - The Rooster Chase,. 3084.2 was taken at the 1978 annual Orbost Show in a new division for goats. the photograph was taken during the judging. Linda and Val Donald are in the photograph' 3084.3 and 3084.4 are of the new pavillion at Newmerella Recreation Ground,This is a pictorial record associated with the annual Orbost Show which has been a major event in Orbost for over a century. Agricultural shows are an important part of cultural life in small country towns and the Orbost Show is an integral part of Orbost 's agricultural history.Four black / white photographs. 3084.1 shows two men each holding a rooster. 3084.2 shows a group of five people standing near some goats. 3084.3 and 3084.4 are of the construction of a large metal shed.Each photograph has a label on the back with detailed information.orbost-show macalaster-lachlan holden-jim donald-val agriculture

The Potosi was built in Scotland in 1873 by John Elder and Co.It was a cargo/passenger iron screw steamer and sailed from 1880-1887 under the Orient Line Australia service. Samuel James Lynn was born in 1865 in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. Sam left his home in Coleraine in 1883 at the age of 17. (More information in O.D.H.S. newsletter No. 91 September, 2012 by Margaret Hollands) Samuel Lynn was a well-known Orbost pioneer. Ho owned much property throughout the district , bred Clydesdale horses and fattened about 600 cattle. He was in great demand as a judge of both cattle and horses at agricultural shows in Victoria and interstate. He was a shire councillor for 30 years and president several times. He took a great interest in the sporting clubs of the town and played cricket until late in life. He was goal umpire for the local football team for many years, judged for the Orbost Racing Club and was the first president of the Orbost Bowls Club. He was also a member of the first municipal band. A paper passenger's contract ticket for Samuel Lynn on the Steam Ship Potosi from Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool, United Kingdom to Melbourne, Australia. It is white with black print and hand-written details.front - signed "Samuel Lynn"lynn-samuel potosi-steamship

Comprises extracts from the monthly journals covering rural changes in Victoria, improvements in agriculture and horticulture, Royal Shows and farming history.This item is a useful reference tool.A 448 pp book with a dark blue fabric cover with gold print.agriculture-history-victoria

This catalogue is for the 39th Annual Orbost Show held in 1931. Admission was 2/- for adults and 6d for children under 14. The first meeting to form an Agricultural society in Orbost was convened by the then Orbost Progress Association and held in the Mechanics Hall on Saturday, 10th October 1891. Its first show was held on 3rd March 1904...on a site alongside the Bonang Road where the present Golf Club stands. It is currently held at the Recreation Reserve at Newmerella.(Ref: In Times Gone By-Deborah Hall)This item is associated with the Orbost Agricultural Society 's Annual Show which has been a major event in Orbost for over a century. Agricultural shows are an important part of cultural life in small country towns and the Orbost Show is an integral part of Orbost 's agricultural history. A thin side stapled paper catalogue for the 39th Orbost Annual Show. It has a red cover and black print"Catalogue of 39th Annual Show Saturday 14th March 1931". It contains details of entry requirements. There are also advertisements for local businesses. 755.1 is a complete stapled photcopy.orbost-agricultural-society orbost-events

James came to Australia from Plymouth on the ship "Mobile" arriving 16/11/1853 aged 22. he married Alice Roberts on November 27, 1861. With a large young family he moved from Central Victoria to Glengarry in Gippsland where he farmed and set up sawmills at Glengarry and Rosedale. After hearing of land grants at Orbost and investigating the possibilities with Elizabeth, his eldest daughter he selected land at Pumpkin Point, Bete Bolong. The whole family (ten children from 23years - 2years) eventually moved to Orbost around 1885. ( read "From White Knowle to Pumpkin Point" by Hon Peter Nixon A.O.) He had the first saw mill. He convened the meeting that established butter factory foundation and shares and was the first Agricultural Show president,James Nixon was a significant and influential citizen of Orbost's early years.Portrait done in oils of Nixon, James Mr. The portrait is of the bust of Nixon in a tuxedo with blue to grey background. Timber finish frame.nixon-james orbost-bete-bolong pumpkin-point

This ribbon was won at the Orbost Annual Show Gymkhana in 1944 by Ron Cameron on a horse called Gene. The first meeting to form an Agricultural society in Orbost was convened by the then Orbost Progress Association and held in the Mechanics Hall on Saturday, 10th October 1891. Its first show was held on 3rd March 1904...on a site alongside the Bonang Road where the present Golf Club stands. It is currently held at the Recreation Reserve at Newmerella. Ref: In Times Gone By-Deborah HallThis item is associated with the Orbost Agricultural Society 's Annual Show which has been a major event in Orbost for over a century. Agricultural shows are an important part of cultural life in small country towns and the Orbost Show is an integral part of Orbost 's agricultural history.A white felt ribbon with gold writing - "Orbost Annual Show Gyhkhana-1944"ribbon equestrian cameron-ron orbost-show gymkhana

Used in agriculture in the Orbost district, to cut hay or silage, most likely on the Mundy farm. The original Mundy family moved to a land "selection" at Betebolong in the early 1880's from Buchan. A large flat iron blade with an iron handle attached. The blade is sharper on the bottom side and shows some evidence of perhaps having been serrated.agricultural-implement hay-silage-knife

The Weekly Times was first published on September 11, 1869, by a group of Melbourne businessmen who owned the now-defunct Daily Telegraph, with the stated aim to be a “journal of literature, sport, agriculture, science and politics”. It is Australia’s oldest rural newspaper, and is known far and wide as the Bible of the Bush. (ref Weekly Times web-site)This magazine is a useful reference tool on the history of the Royal Melbourne Show as well as The Weekly Times.A souvenir edition of The Weekly Times dated Wed. Sept 7 1994. Price $1.10. It marks the anniversary of the first Weekly Times, Sept 11 1869. Inside is a special preview of the Royal Melbourne Show, a history of the show and a history of The Weekly Times. It also contains a brief history of 125 years of rural news. On the front cover is a colourful picture of an older man sitting on a tree stump outside a bark hut. He is reading an early edition of The Weekly Times.weekly-times souvenir-newspaper magazine royal-melbourne-show rural-history

This was created for the annual Orbost Show 1975. It provides information to potential exhibitors. The first meeting to form an Agricultural society in Orbost was convened by the then Orbost Progress Association and held in the Mechanics Hall on Saturday, 10th October 1891. Its first show was held on 3rd March 1904...on a site alongside the Bonang Road where the present Golf Club stands. It is currently held at the Recreation Reserve at Newmerella. Ref: In Times Gone By-Deborah HallThis item is associated with the Orbost Agricultural Society 's Annual Show which has been a major event in Orbost for over a century. Agricultural shows are an important part of cultural life in small country towns and the Orbost Show is an integral part of Orbost 's agricultural history.A six fold sheet of white paper with information on categories for the Orbost Annual Show, March 10th 1975. Tet is black print.orbost-show