The plaque of Oppy reads: Hubert Opperman was born in Rochester, his early job as a Telegraph Boy encouraged his love of cycling. Throughout the 1920’s and 1930’s “Oppy” was the dominant figure in Australian cycling. He first won the Australian Road Cycling Championship in 1924. He won it again in 1926, 1927 and 1929. At the same time he was becoming and international star. This statue is modelled on his on his stunning victory at the Bol D’Or in Paris in the same year that he was highly placed in the prestigious Tour de France. His first place in the 1265 kms Paris - Brest- Paris road race was the highlight of his sporting career. That year he was voted Sportsman of the Year by a French newspaper. In 1991 Sir Hubert attended the Centenary Celebrations of the race and was honoured with Gold Medal of the City of Paris “Oppy” retired from cycling in 1940. Typically he celebrated his retirement with a 24 hour marathon at the Sydney Velodrome breaking one hundred and one records in the process. After war service with the RAAF he entered Federal politics holding the Victoria seat of Corio for the Liberal Party from 1949 until 1967. During this period he served as Minister for Shipping and Transport and Minister for Immigration. In 1967 he was appointed Australian High Commissioner for Malta, receiving the OBE in 1952 and was knighted in 1968. This Statue was officially unveiled by SIR HUBERT OPPERMAN On his 90th birthday, 29th May 1994Oppy signing Edna Barrie's leatherbound copy of 'Melton-Plains of Promise'. . The Inscription reads - To Edna with my Melton remembrances as the place I first rode a bicycle Hubert Opperman ‘Oppy’ [ 29/5/1904 – April 1996]. Edna Barrie contacted and organised for Hubert Opperman to launch the book. (She was also present at his last bike ride at Rochester in 1995.)local identities, local significant events

Born in 1904, Opperman attended Melton School 430 1913/14. Achieved fame in bicycle racing, later was a well known Member of Parliament, held ministerial positions both in Australia and overseas. On October 27th he launched Melton’s History – Plains of Promise 1985 The famous bicycle was left at its permanent “home” at the rooms of the Rochester Historical Society formerly Rochester Railway Station 1994.local identities, local significant events

Edna Barrie at the cairn, photo received from Graeme Minns in 1988. The cairn marks the site of Jimmy Melrose's plane crash in Melton South. The accident which happened on July 5th 1936. In 1934 Melrose made headlines with a series of spectacular flights. In July of that year, he set around Australia record and in that year established a new solo Australia England record when he flew to England to compete in the MacRoberston race with a De Havilland Puss Moth VH- YQO. The only Australian and the only solo pilot to complete the course within the time limit. He was seventh in finishing order and third in the handicap section making news again during the race with a dramatic landing in Darwin with empty fuel tanks. Late in 1935 Melrose imported the Phoenix for his “Adelaide to Anywhere” Charter Service. The previous year the Heston Aircraft Company had taken over the interests of the well known Comper Aircraft Company, and the first production of the new firm was the Phoenix, a single-engined all wooden five seater machine of sesquiplane configuration. The forward half of the fuselage was a streamlined rectangular section and the rear portion was a monocogue shell; the whole was of plywood fabric covered. The wing was built up of spruce box spars and lattice ribs, ply covered from the leading edge to the front spar and the fabric covered over the remainder. The tail surfaces were of similar construction. The most notable feature of the design was the lower stub wing which ran right across the fuselage embodying two box spars, plywood covered it housed the main undercarriage wheels when retracted and provided a substantial anchorage for the Nu form wing struts. The Dowty undercarriage retracted inwards, operated manually by hydraulic packs, Dual control fitted, with side by side seating for the pilots and three passenger seats behind. Power was a 200 h.p. De Havilland Gipsy VI 6 cylinder inverted in-line air-cooled engine. Six Phoenix were built; five of them registered in Great Britain and one of those was later sold abroad the remaining four were impressed into the R.A.F. in 1940. Specifications were: 40 feet 4 inches length 30 ft 2 ins height, 9ft 7ins, wing area 270 sq ft, Tare weight 2,600lbs loaded weight 3,300lbs; cruising speed 360 m.p.h. landing 50mph ceiling 14,000 ft range 700 miles. Melrose’s machine the first production aircraft was built early in 1936 and test flown of the 24th March. Painted green it carries the words “South Australian Centenary 1936” in silver of the fuselage and the name “Billing on the engine cowling in honor of Melrose’s uncle Noel Pemberton Billing, pioneer designer and founder of the Supermarine Aviation Company. The delivery flight was planned as a goodwill mission to publicise the forthcoming South Australian Centenary celebrations. Melrose left Dympne on the 9th April 1936, and flying via Marseilles, Naples, Athens, Baghdad, Basra, Karachi, Jodphur, Calcutta, Akyab, Penang, Singapore, Lombok, Darwin, Newcastle Waters and Alice Springs reached Adelaide on the 25th of April. Continuing the goodwill flight to other States, he visited Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Grafton, Brisbane, Coff’s Harbour, Sydney again, Launceston, Hobart and Mount Gambier before returning to Adelaide on the 13th May. During June Jimmy made some charter flights and early in July was engaged by Mr. A.J. Campbell a director of several mining companies from Melbourne to Darwin to commence at Essendon on the4th July. However on that day low cloud and steady rain caused the postponement. There was little improvement and Melrose was advised to delay the departure again. However he wished to reach Oodnadatta that night, and when he observed the break in the clouds decided to leave. He planned to climb above the cloud and fly to Adelaide at 3,000 feet. The aircraft was airborne about 8.10 a.m. and was last seen from Essendon climbing above the clouds. At 8.45 people at Melton (30 miles West of Melbourne) heard an approaching aircraft. The engine noise increased abnormally and eye witnesses saw the machine fall out of control from the cloud base about 800 feet and then disintegrate, fragments were scattered for 1½ miles and both occupants were killed. Hand written carbon copy by Edna Barrie.Typed by Wendy Barrie March 2014 Last Flight of Jimmy Melrose by John Burke Parade Magazine July 1972 Page 2 –4 This article gives the take off time of 7.50 am from Essendon Airport Eyewitness account at the time Maisie Arthur’s description. Newspaper article. Edna Barrie at the site of the 'Cairn'local identities, local significant events

Kilpatrick house which stood on the site until the 1970s on the land now occupied by the Regional Shopping Centre later to be renamed Woodgrove. Opening of the Centre views from the parking areas and paddocksOpening of the West Melton Regional Shopping Centre taken from the carparklocal significant events, local identities

Opening of the shopping centrelocal identities, local significant events, council

Opening of the shopping centre, in front of the butcher shoplocal identities, local significant events, council

Opening of the shopping centrelocal identities, local significant events, council

Opening of the shopping centrelocal identities, local significant events, council

Standing L- R : George Ford, Jack Ferris, Dick Arthur ?, Albert Paulet, Chas Woodley, Mrs Ford, Geo Coburn, Mrs Arthur, Fred Minns?, Charlie Palmer, Mrs Ferris, Mr Alf Minns, Mrs George Coburn, Judge Front row - seated 6 women and 4 men. C.E. Barrie 2nd from the left. Identified by Wendy Barrie, granddaughter. This photograph is part of a scrap book which was photographed by Wendy Barrie c1971. It possibly came via Elizabeth and Ruth King of Alexander Street. Photograph of the group standing beside the Melton Mechanics Institute council, local identities, local significant events

Speedboat Carnival and Canadian Hell Drivers event at the weirmisc., local significant events

Melton State School float was part of the Shire centenarycouncil, education, local significant events

Bon Barrie, Graeme Cooper, N. Gillespie, Peter Barrie, Ken Robinson, Ray Allen, Tom Barrie, John Roaers and Graeme Gilliland, members of the Mt Cottrell Fire Brigades Group In the background of the photo is the pavilion during construction, Melton Recreation Park on Reserve Road.Melton South Trailer tank, pump and Syd Coopers Car at the Shire centenarycouncil, local significant events, emergency services

Group of people at the centenarycouncil, local significant events, local identities

Crowd of people at the Shire Centenary council, local significant events

A large crowd in front of the portable classroomscouncil, local significant events, education

Students assembled in school grounds with portable classroomscouncil, local significant events, education

Float was part of the Shire centenarycouncil, local significant events, local identities

A float which was part of the Shire centenary council, local significant events

Float part of the Shire Centenarycouncil, local significant events

Aulsebrook Collection: 1971 E.G. Griffith Cup Program Booklet -Australiasian motorboat championship unlimited -A4 booklet, 10 pages, typed with many photographs -Comprehensive booklet for a significant event. With information about the event and what is involved. Lists of boats, drivers and events. Various images of racers and their boats.

Eureka is a significant event in Ballarat's History3 page handwritten document 3pm 3 December. Speak up, Mr Speaker ! Ballarat is calling! 100 years have gone by - Celebrations are at hand.. . but lo! there is no speaker 3 O'clock has past and gone, the official party to open the centenary celebrations of Eureka has not arrived. Of course the programme has been changed so often and so much that a little event like this wouldn't even matter. Only Peter Lalor might mind; he's been waiting since 18 to see this anniversary. He's not even cold but my, is he wet! Time 3.15 pm, still no sign of the elusive meeting and commemoration; only a few stalwarts are waiting now... What Rain! Plenty of it but just then a glimpse of brightness appeared under the western sky. Tho' warming up perhaps Peter's cold .... Its' Ballarat, we know , but are you referring to the weather or public spiritedness. Perhaps there have been too many partisan influences in the great Australian event at Ballarat and the tacit official attitude. Very hard for them to eat their cake and give it to us too! 3.30pm The appointed hour has dragged on... the possibility of paying a commemorative respect to a fine, hard thinking flesh and blood builder of Australia and particularily Victoria has lapsed. We wonder whether such things as races, the dogs and beer are worth more nowadays? Oh well got to push on , but we remebered at least Peter!eureka, centenary celebrations, peter lalor

Eureka is a significant event in Ballarat's History1963 & 1964 Annual Reports of Eureka Improvement and Progress Association. Foolscap typed documentseureka improvement and progress association, eureka, mrs e. parsons, mr f. pearce, orphange christmas tree, arthur jones

Eureka is a significant event in Ballarat HistoryTyped foolscap sized document titled The Story of Eureka written by Keith Rash eureka, fred brown, james regan, john dunlop, thomas hiscock, governor latrobe, charles hotham, james scobie, james bentley, farrell, hanse, d'ewes, milnes, captain thomas, peter lalor, black, vern

Possibly made for some significant event small pottery coffee mug with a dark rim and grey bone baseYarrawonga on Lake Mulwalapottery,mug, coffee souvenir

Nineteen local schools participated in the project which was co-ordinated by Hazel Mournay, and the two artists assisting were Michael Chanter and Richard Price. Daniel Robertson Brick Company provided the tiles and the completed amphitheatre was opened by the Member for Koonung, Mr Bruce Atkinson on Sunday 4th June 1995.A series of coloured photographs showing school children designing and decorating tiles to be used to pave the Nunawading Amphitheatre in 1995. Each school was given a year to research, design and paint tiles to fit a given shape. This project was one of the significant events organised to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the former City of Nunawading in 1995. There are also photographs of the erection of the design on site, the finished product, and the opening day.nunawading amphitheatre, amphitheatre, ceramic tile project, artists in school, mourney, hazel, atkinson, bruce, chanter, michael, price, richard, robertson, daniel

Documents in the collection relating to George Ross Freeman No 2485 57th Bn AIF. The 2 page letter to George from Percy appears to be from a Brother. Refer Cat No 3251P for Freeman's service details.(.1) Document, paper, hand written, blue ink with dates from Nov 14th 1915 to Aug 8th 1917 showing significant events during the war. (.2) Letter, pink paper, dated 2.7.1963 re an application for a pension to the Deputy Commissioner Repatriation from G.R.Freeman. (.3 - .4) Two page letter, blue ink to George from Percy dated 29.9.1918 France documents, letters, 57th

Significant events in the history of Preston, includes the names of Mayors and Councillors.8 p., black and pink on white paperpreston, city of preston, preston victoria

It follows the intertwined history of nursing and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Significant events, people and places. 572 pages. Orange toned cover of nurses c.1934 with handwriting overlay. White pages with black and white images throughout. Added Index booklet 32 pages attached. inside the cover handwritten inscription from the author in blue ink reads "For the Queen Vic Women's Centre, Warmest good wishes, Susan Sherson 7/2/2008"women health professionals, historic buildings, hospitals

No information to indicate significance of item regards association with a historic or significant event, person, maker or place.Item is significant as regards to it's possible age of manufacture believed to be early 20th century.Cedar Chest of drawers, wooden varnished 4 narrow drawers, 2 sets on either side of a square drawer and 3 wide drawers. 4 turned legs.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast