These unused labels would have been used at the Orbost Butter and Produce Factory.The Orbost Butter and Produce Co. Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893 and was an important source of income to the Orbost district.Large square white labels with red print - "ORBOST BUTTER".labels-orbost-butter commerce

This bike belonged to Wally Paten who worked in the Orbost Butter Factory in the 1940's. Wally's father, Thomas Paten came to Orbost in 1893 and began growing fancy seeds in 1907 for H. James. He built the first levee bank in Orbost (ref. Mary Gilbert). The Comet bike was distributed by the Myer Emporium. "Comet:" was their house brand. They also sold the "Peter Pan". It was named "The Comet" probably because it was a fast bike. At the time it was an expensive bike . Ted Waterford made headlines riding Melbourne to Adelaide one way then return on a Comet in 1932.Bicycles have been a part of Australian life for more than 140 years. The bicycle soon began competing with the horse as a convenient and economical way for people to get around. This bicycle is an example of an early style which was used by an Orbost local.A man's road bicycle. It has 26inch wheels, back pedal brakes and has a wire basket attached to the curved handle bars. There is a leather seat in poor condition. The back wheel has a mudguard painted white. The bike is ungeared. This is probably the original frame with newer wheels. The pedals are metal.Tyres - made in Korea down tube -COMETcomet-bicycle bicycle paten-wally transport

This photograph shows the Orbost Butter factory, which in 1917, installed a very successful electric light. the dark heap to the left of the road is Supposedly the grave of "Dan the Cook" who was speared by Aborigines in 1857. Dan Moylan, known as "Dan the Cook"was speared to death in 1851 at Orbost Station, Snowy River as punishment for kidnapping a young Aboriginal girl and holding her for three days, refusing to release her. The men of the tribe congregated at Dan's hut. When Dan came outside, a volley of spears was launched at him, killing him. In the tragic aftermath, the camp at Milly Creek was attacked in retribution and a number of Gunai/Kurnai people were killed. The Orbost Butter and Produce Co. Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893 and was an important source of income to the Orbost district. These photos are pictorial records of the Orbsot Butter Factory.A black / white photograph showing a large white building and factory beside it. on the verandah are about thirty milk churns. There are three men standing astride bicycles in front of the verandah. On the left hand side is a mound of dark soil??

Robert Pullar Cameron was a Shire Councillor for many years. He married Penuel Hossack and had a family of James, Flora, Penuel and Alex. William Cumming was a prominent Orbost identity. He was born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, in 1866 the son of William Cumming and Mary Ann Montgomery. He came to Australia, aged 28, and to Orbost in 1890. He farmed at Bete Bolong and during WW1 ran a butcher's shop on his farm. He was a shire councillor and served as a South Riding representative for 38 years. He was a keen Newmerella football supporter, a member of the Orbost Bowling Club as well as a director of the Orbost Butter Factory. Cumming was married to Ellen Louise Mundy and had four children ( Harold, Mary, William and Gordon).This item is an example of a hand-written account for a local early 20th century business in Orbost. It is a useful research tool.A white paper account with blue lines and black ink . It has a pink receipt attached as well as a yellow duty stamp. It is from W. Cumming, butcher, to R.P. Cameron.cameron-robert-pullar cumming-william-butcher

The identity discs of Australian soldiers of the First World War were initially made of aluminum and then made of a fibre material. Like other soldiers of the Great War the Australian 'Diggers' were issued an identity tag or disc. The first official disc was a small flat metal disc of aluminum, then there were two identity discs issued, made of a fibre one was a red disc the other was grey and octagonal. The discs were usually stamped with the information that the Military required. The Regimental number, Regimental name, soldiers' surname and initials and his religion were on the tag. Douglas Russell was a farmer, the son of John Russell, director of the Orbost Butter Factory for 50 years. Alex Pullar Cameron died from injuries in 1919.Two World War 1 identity tags. Both are aluminium and engraved on front. There are loops at the top for a chain around the neck..1 22046 Vet Sgt G.H D. Russell.........Pres. .2 6267 GNR A.P. Cameron................Presworld-war-1 identity-disc russell-g.h.d. cameron-a.p.

This photograph shows three generations of the Russell family in Orbost. On the left is John Russell with his son Bill Russell and his wife Ede and their son Ian. John Russell Senior was a blacksmith, wheelwright, farmer and chairman of the Orbost Butter Factory, makers of Sunny South Butter (today part of Murray Goulburn Co Ltd). Bill was born at Orbost in 1893, the youngest son of John and Elizabeth Maud (nee Clarke). Upon his father’s retirement he took over the homestead part of the holding, 1,000 acres of river flats and hill land. He was involved in dairying and was also a successful beef cattle breeder and maize grower. He was elected to the Orbost Shire Council in 1929 and shortly afterwards was President for 18 months (from May 1930 to August 1931). He served a further term as President in 1934-35. He represented the South riding. He was chairman of the Bean Board and a well-known horse and show judge and a member of the Royal Agricultural Society. He was an elocutionist of some note and a member of the committee of management of the Orbost Hospital. He was also a prominent member and Past Master of the Masonic Lodge and a Justice of the Peace. He served as president of the Orbost Golf Club and assisted with the preparation and layout of the present Orbost Golf course. This item is associated with the Russell family, early settlers in the Orbost district.A black / white photograph of a family. A lady is in the middle with a man on each side and a young boy in front. They are standing outside a house in the garden.on back - "3 generations, Johnny Russell, Ede & Bill Russell & Ian Russell"russell-family-orbost

This is a photograph of Councillor William Cumming who represented South Riding 1895-1911 and 1921 - 1943. William Cumming was a prominent Orbost identity. He was born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, in 1866 the son of William Cumming and Mary Ann Montgomery. He came to Australia, at the age of 20, in 1890 and to Orbost in c.1890. He farmed at Bete Bolong and during WW1 ran a butcher's shop on his farm. He was a shire councillor of the Orbost Shire Council and served as a South Riding representative for 38 years. He was a keen Newmerella football supporter, a member of the Orbost Bowling Club as well as a director of the Orbost Butter Factory. Cumming was married to Ellen Louise Mundy (b1880, d1945) and they had three children ( Harold, William and Gordon). Information from Lori Fellows (Grand-daughter) April 2020: William Cumming. My paternal grandfather born in Ballymena Northern Ireland. Came to Australia aged 18. Married Ellen Mundy on 25/08/1902. This photo taken during his time as Orbost Shire Council President. Father of Harold, William and Gordon. Died in Orbost 24.11.1950. William Cumming (1866-1950) arrived in Australia in 1884 on the "Orient". His brothers David (1868-1932), John (1870-1920) & Samuel (1871-1953) arrived in 1887 on the "Orizaba". On the passenger list Samuel is listed as David. Also my grandfather was Chairman of Directors of the Dandenong Bacon Factory [later Australian Bacon Co]....he raised pigs on the farm at Bete Bolong, that supplied the butchery on the farm and also the Dandy Bacon Factory. This item is associated with the Orbost Shire Council. The shire covered an area of 9,347 square kilometres and existed from 1892 until 1994 when it became part of the East Gippsland Shire Council. It is associated with William Cumming who was a prominent Orbost identity.A black / white head and shoulders portrait of a moustached man in a suit.On back - "Cr W. Cumming, South Riding"cumming-william orbost-shire-council

This share certificate is made out to Herman Wehner of Orbost for 25 shares at 20/- per share in the Orbost Butter & Produce Co.. It has been signed by M. Blacklock as the secretary and James Nixon and H. James as directors. The Wehner family is/ was a prominent family in Orbost from the late 19th century. Herman Wehner founded Wehner's Blacksmith's at Orbost in 1889. Oswald Wehner began working in 1910 with his father. In 1947 Ossie's son Tom started blacksmithing, retiring in 1991 and closing the business, The building remains in Nicholson Street. The original Orbost Butter and Produce factory was built in 1893 by a group of landholders described in The Snowy River Mail in 1916 as including “two or three exceptionally constituted individuals who did not know when they were beaten”.The Orbost Butter and Produce Co. Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893 and was an important source of income to the Orbost district.A pink paper certificate with black print and handwritten details. It has a "Not Negotiable" stamp vertical centre. It has also been cancelled.orbost-butter-produce-co.

This butter pat is typical of the period when food processing was done at home. It would have been before the time of mass food processing factories.A hand-made wooden butter pat.butter-pat hand-made dairy butter

This memorial card follows a style that was commonly used in the 1890s. The size of the card make it useful for presentation and handing out. There was a remarkably large production of memorial and funeral cards in Australia during the latter 19th and early 20th centuries and the style did not change (and many of the styles are still in effect today). Many of the card companies, in this case ‘The Memorial Card Co.,’ located at 143 King St, Sydney, published standardised plates which had areas for customisation. The card has the area for name, photograph, date of death and age. Poetry was often standardised, but could be requested at the behest of the person who commissioned the card Isabella Battley (nee Goad) was born in 1867, in Smythesdale, Victoria, Australia. She was married to James E. Battley when she died aged 45. James E. Battley was a director of the butter Factory in Orbost in 1915. Their son Ernest Albert Battley enlisted in the AIF from Orbost in 1916. His father is listed as Next of Kin and his mother as deceased. James was remarried to Eda May Battley (born Sargent) in 1914. He passed away in 1925, at age 57 Memorial cards are often treasured for a long time, and often become part of family history. The Battley family was an earlyn Orbost family.A black memorial card printed in memory of Isabella Battley. It has gold printed writing, a gold etched border and wreath. There is a photo of Isabella Battley and a memorial poem.memorial battley mourning

This item would have been very common on farms throughout the Orbost area. Prior to bulk milk, cream was the major commodity which was sold to the butter factory. This is a small separator, typical of home use. This domestic kitchen appliance is typical of the period when food processing was done at home. It would have been before the time of mass food processing factoriesHand operated rusted metal cream separator with metal and wood handle.Front - A.O Handle-75.T.PR.MIN Back- (RHS) A.O. (LHS) Co-op in outline of Australia.cream-separator domestic-food-preparation dairy-farming

This domestic kitchen appliance is typical of the period when food processing was done at home. It would have been before the time of mass food processing factories and before domestic refrigeration was common.Round earthenware butter cooler. Red/orange in colour.Has lid. Small holes at bottom so that butter could breathe. Handle on top for lifting cover. Inside is glazed.butter-cooler ceramics earthenware domestic food-storage food-preservation

This photograph shows land clearing at Bendoc. From 1845 the Bendoc area was part of pastoral leases. In the 1850s alluvial gold was discovered in the Bendoc River. This was quickly exhausted, and a number of mines began successful reef operations. At the head of the river, the settlement of Clarkville clustered round several other mines. Many miners, including numbers of Chinese, sluiced the rivers. The population of the area was as high as 500 during this period. The township was surveyed in 1869 and the hotel built in 1870. This building was burnt down in the early 1900s and rebuilt. A school was also begun at this time. In the 1870s there was a decline in gold mining. Some miners selected land, which in many cases is still held by descendants. Dairying was common in the early days, supplying a butter factory at the New South Wales border, and a milk factory at Orbost in more recent times. Wheat was grown for the settlers' own use and ground at Bombala. Now beef cattle grazing is the main occupation. (info. from Victorian Places)This is a pictorial history associated with the early settlement of Bendoc in East Gippsland.A badly distorted black / white photograph of a horse drawn wagon, three men and two women clearing land.on back - "Clearing land at Bendoc"bendoc-land-clearing bendoc-early-settlement

The Orbost Butter and Produce Co Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893. The site of the factory was purchased at a cost of five pounds from Mr James Cameron. (See In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall) The Orbost Butter and Produce Co. Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893 and was an important source of income to the Orbost district.A time sheet book. Some of the front pages have been torn off.The back page, p 100, has been filled in. Each page is printed with "ORBOST BUTTER & PRODUCE CO LTD." at the top with details of the employee, pay rates and hours worked to be hand-written.orbost-butter--produce-company

A letter is a book in which letters or copies of letters are kept especially to provide a running account of a business or enterprise. This one was probably used by H. James & Co. with some letters written by Alan Richardson. Henry James (1860-1932) was an agent and auctioneer. Record secretary of the Snowy River Shipping company. Shire councillor. Foundation member of Butter Factory. This iotem is an example of very early book-keeping in Orbost and is probably associated with Henry James who was a prominent Orbost identity very much involved in the local community.A correspondence book with a blue suede fabric cover and brown binding. It has a red label on the spine. the end papers are marbled. It contains handwritten copies of correspondence.on spine - Letter Bookbook-keeping correspondence-book h.james-&-co richardson-alan

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

Henry James (1860-1932) was an agent and auctioneer. Record secretary of the Snowy River Shipping company. Shire councillor. Foundation member of Butter Factory.Henry James was a prominent Orbost identity who was very much involved in the local community.Invitation to James, H. (Mr) to the opening of Federal Parliament by the Prime Minister Edmund Bartonon 9 May 1901. Framed in wood, white paper with print of the young queen on a horse holding court. Colour invitations shows a young woman with armour and sword dismounting from a white horse in front of an older woman who has a crown in front of her. Several other women look on. The room is hung with heraldic bunting and shields, including one of the Union Jack and one showing the Southern Cross. The older woman is dressed as Britannia, and her shield and trident are at rest beside her.Printed: His Majesty's Ministers of State for the Commonwealth of Australia/ request the honour of the presence of... / in the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, on Thursday, 9th May, to witness/ the Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth./ Edmund Barton/ Prime Minister invitation 1901 parliament james-harry federation snowy-river-shipping-company

This beautiful costume was the 'going-away' dress worn by Mrs John Russell at her wedding in c.1884. It has been passed down through the Russell family and was donated by her grand-daughter Mrs David Nixon. John Russell was an early Orbost blacksmith in Orbost, and director of the Orbost Butter Factory for 50 years. He came to Orbost in c. 1890 at the invitation of another early settler, James Nixon, became a blacksmith, and later a farmer and landholder. Many of his descendants still live in the Orbost area. This full length female costume is made of moroon satin with gold velvet inserts. It has a small train at the back, scalloped folds with lace edging down the front of the skirt, and two rows of 14 buttons each down the bodice.going-away-dress 1890s-dress

John Tomlinson was the eldest son of Arthur James and Jessie Tomlinson who selected land at Tabbara in 1887. He worked in Temple's , the Herbert's store and for the Butter Factory until beginning his own business in 1906. He remained in business until 1933.A round metal tray with decorated edge. It is an engraved advertisement for J.S. Tomlinson.advertisement tomlinson commerce-orbost

These butter pats are typical of the period when food processing was done at home. It would have been before the time of mass food processing factories.A pair of small wooden butter pats with ridged surface on one side and smooth on the back . Each has a hole in the handle for hanging. butter-pats domestic food-preparation

This butter mold is typical of the period when food processing was done at home. It would have been before the time of mass food processing factoriesA wooden bowl which uses the lid as an imprint plunger. The imprint is a floral design and has a long handle. The bowl has a hole in the base for easy removal of butter.butter-mould domestic food-preparation

The seed bean industry was a major industry in the Orbost district for the first half of the 20th century. The total area sown with beans for seed at Orbost was estimated to be about 1000 acres. Fisher Bros, grew or supervised the growing of approximately one quarter of the bean seed produced at Orbost, and, in addition, prepared for market and sold a considerable quantity for other growers. From Newsletter February 2015 : "the Fishers took over the old Butter Factory in Lochiel Street. They had sorting tables there in the 1920s. In Orbost, the Fishers had a Shell fuel depot at the back of the bean factory. The Fishers were very enterprising people, very smart. One of their uncles is supposed to have invented the knot that was used to tie the sheaves of hay in the fields. At their Lochend Barn, they had a Blackstone engine which ran on oil. They used to light a fire under it and hot it up to start it. This engine drove all the bean machinery in the barn" The seed bean industry was a major industry in the Orbost district for the first half of the 20th century. the Fisher Brothers were a significant part of that industry.A black / white photograph tajen from a river bank. On the right behind some trees is a barn. On the left between tres is a small building. Reflections can be seen in the water.on back - "Snowy River, Fisher barn on right. Mary Gilbert"bean-industry fisher-beans snowy-river

These photographs were probably taken in the late 1940s - mid 1950s. 3275.1 was taken at the roundabout in Nicholson Street / Salisbury Street intersection looking south. On the right is the The Commonwealth Hotel and the Gippsland Northern Store can be seen on the right. The war memorial can be seen in the centre of the intersection. 3275.2 has been taken from a height (possibly from behind the hardware store) overlooking Orbost House in McLeod Street. The butter factory can be seen in the background. Back yard toilets and paling fences can be seen with a narrow lane for the sanitary truck. Mrs Ruth Hannah Macalister, 1861-1932, established “Orbost House” as a boarding house in about 1900. Following her demise “Orbost House” was taken over by her son, “Reg” and his wife and they continued the Macalister family‟s association until the accommodation house was purchased by “Slim” and Eileen Somerville and Lindsay and Joan Jensen, in partnership, in 1963. (info. from Marilyn Morgan)These photographs are detailed pictorial records of Orbost in the mid 20th century. They show the objects in their spatial context with detail.Two coloured photographs. 3275.1 is a streetscape with a large hotel on the right, a main shopping area in the background and a wooden fence on the left. 3275,2 is overlooking backyards and fences. In the middle is an extensive red roof with "ORBOST HOUSE" in white print.on back - 1948-1954orbost-1950s orbost-house commonwealth-hotel

The American Truck History Association is an international organization, with over 21,000 members in the United States, Australia, Canada, and 20 other countries worldwide. A.H. McMullen & Co P/L, established by Arthur McMillan in February, 1951, had a long history as transport operators in Orbost and Gippsland districts. The company became Gippsland's largest transport company. It carted timber from the Orbost/ Cann River district district sawmills to the railway station. Two trains a day left the sloaded with timber. Beans were carted from Fisher's Bean Factory to Melbourne and Sydney. Cream from the farms was transported to the butter factory and for almost twenty years Fuel was carted from Melbourne to the RAAF base at Sale by McMullens. In 1970 the company was sold to F.J. Stephens and then to Mayne Nickless Transport. (ref.Deborah Hall "In Times Gone By') A.H. McMullen was a significant business in the mid 20th century in Orbost. This book is a useful reference source.A 40pp book with a dark blue cover titled "The Gearchange". It is a "Classic Edition Issue No. 2" and features A.H. McMullan & C0 P/L. It has a cost of $20.00. It contains illustrations, photographs and text.transport mcmullen-transport-orbost trucking