The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Mr. James McCain Meek boasted of building the first house in Ballarat, on the corner of Dana and Lydiard Streets, which was also a lemonade store and some say a sly grog shop. Meek arrived in Australia in 1847. He was in Ballarat 1851-1853, and in later life he returned to Ballarat to live at the Benevolent Asylum. When he became very ill in 1898 his daughter Marianne Dallimore took him to live with her, and he died at her property near Warrnambool in 1899. He wrote these reminiscences for the AHRS, of which he was a member. He was an excellent penman and illustrator and he produced several extraordinary complicated works. Meek was the subject of a PhD project undertaken at Federation University Australia by Joan Luxembourg, resulting in the 2015 publication The Inimitable Mr Meek. ballarat, illustration, goldrush, lithography

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Reminiscences narrated before the AHRS in the City hall, Ballarat, August 25th, 1899, by John P. Murray, from the Orkney Islands, who arrived in Melbourne as a 15 year old in 1849. He served as President of the Ballarat Shire Council 1871-72. In these reminiscences he recalls a time before the goldrush.

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Several copies of the little rule book of the AHRS have been preserved with the Society's papers. historical societies, ballarat

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.John Hood was originally from London, and arrived in Melbourne from Tasmania in 1842. He first dug for gold in Little Bendigo / Nerrina, in 1852. He died in 1909, a very old man, at the Ballarat Benevolent Asylum.

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Thomas Bath came to Australia in 1849, establishing a butchering establishment at Geelong. He mined during the rushes at various sites, eventually coming to Ballarat where he established a hotel now known as Craig's Royal Hotel. He held the first publican's license on Ballarat (1854) and his hotel was known as The Ballarat, later changed to Bath's Hotel; after the sale to Mr Craig in 1857 Thomas Bath established his farm Ceres, at Learmonth. Thomas Bath was instrumental in the formation of Ballarat and was a champion of all public institutions. He died in 1901. These reminiscences appear to have been recorded by the AHRS rather than Mr Bath writing them himself.goldrush, sailing ships, coach fares

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Mrs Charlotte Drew was a long term resident of Canadian, an area of Ballarat East. She first arrived in Australia in Adelaide. She and her husband George, who was a carpenter, arrived in Ballarat in 1851, and in these reminiscences she recalls a very lively life.

Early pioneers arrived long before the railways, their battles with the environment, and getting supplies in and out of the Otways.Over the Otways. G.A. Facey. 1st ed. Anglesea (Vic); G.A. Facey; nd. ii, 26 p.; illus. Soft cover.(1) Signed by author. (2) "To Dad From allie" (3) "Belongs G. Bellchambers Beech Forest"otway ranges; g.a. facey; reminiscences;, otway ranges; g.a. facey; reminiscences;

Compilation of three works: Twelve Decades, a short history of Apollo Bay, 1850-1969; Otway Memories; Pioneering Days, a collection of short articles prepared by Loney during his days at Apollo Bay.The Otway. J.K. Loney. 1st ed. np; J.K.Loney; 1979. 142 p.; illus, map. Soft cover. ISBN 0 9092442 1 9 twelve decades; otway memories; pioneering days; j.k. loney; e.w. morris; apollo bay; history; reminiscences; anecdotes;