NSWTD Railway Marker OIl lamp, No.1 RA Oil burning lamps have always been an important part of Australian railway signalling systems and have been used for communication, safety and lighting. It is called a marker lamp and was hung on rolling stock (carriages and wagons) such as the guard’s van to indicate the rear of the train at night. They were also used to indicate the rear of steam locomotive tenders for identification and safety purposes. This type of lamp was introduced to the railways around 1860 and continued to be used for over one hundred years. Oil lamps were phased out on the railways during the late 1960s and early 1970s, when they were replaced by battery lamps. Railway lighting included not only stations but yards, engines, rolling stock, signals, signal-boxes and crossings. There were a number of different types of lamps used for a variety of railway purposes. Historic - New South Wales Transport Department.- Railway Marker Oil Lamp NSWTD Railway Marker lamp, No.1 RA made of metal and Glass Railway lamp, paraffin, metal/glass/fabric, used for attaching to railway rolling stock to mark the end of the train, made by the New South Wales Transport Department, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1870 - 1970 This lamp comprises a hollow cube of metal. One lens at the front transmits light from an interior light source. Fuel was either signal oil or kerosene. The burner inside the lamp used either cotton or felt wicks to create the light source. The lamp has a carry handle for carrying by hand and a bracket with a slot on the back for hanging onto the hook of a locomotive or item of rolling stock. It is marked "NSWTD" which stands for New South Wales Transport Department.NSWTD 1 RApuffing billy railway , pbr, nswtd railway marker oil lamp, no.1 ra

Four NSWTD Railway marker Oil lamps at Nobelius Packing shed Item stamped numbers unknown Oil burning lamps have always been an important part of Australian railway signalling systems and have been used for communication, safety and lighting. It is called a marker lamp and was hung on rolling stock (carriages and wagons) such as the guard’s van to indicate the rear of the train at night. They were also used to indicate the rear of steam locomotive tenders for identification and safety purposes. This type of lamp was introduced to the railways around 1860 and continued to be used for over one hundred years. Oil lamps were phased out on the railways during the late 1960s and early 1970s, when they were replaced by battery lamps. Railway lighting included not only stations but yards, engines, rolling stock, signals, signal-boxes and crossings. There were a number of different types of lamps used for a variety of railway purposes. Historic - New South Wales Transport Department.- Railway Marker Oil LampFour NSWTD Railway marker Oil lamps made of metal and glass Railway lamp, paraffin, metal / glass / fabric, used for attaching to railway rolling stock to mark the end of the train, made by the New South Wales Transport Department, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1870-1970 This lamp comprises a hollow cube of metal. One lens at the front transmits light from an interior light source. Fuel was either signal oil or kerosene. The burner inside the lamp used either cotton or felt wicks to create the light source. The lamp has a carry handle for carrying by hand and a bracket with a slot on the back for hanging onto the hook of a locomotive or item of rolling stock. It is marked "NSWTD" which stands for New South Wales Transport Department.NSWTDpuffing billy railway , pbr, four nswtd railway marker oil lamps

Fittings out of the Mitcham Station Master's house, the last block of land on the east side of Station Street, now a car park. Railway Department house number 1273 brass and ceramic light switches. 2 brass picture hooks. 1 brass and lead counterweight for lamp. 2 gas jets on wooden base. 1 door bell pull. 2 brass curtain holders. All on wooden base.metalcraft, brassware

Associated with CarisbrookPhotograph of a woman standing beside railway tracks and six people standing on the platform. Two seem to be folding lamps. em22, carisbrook, carisbrook railway station, carisbrook railway platform

RAAF badgeEmbossed RAAF

Aldis Signal Lamp complete with lead and alligators clips with globe Khaki army issue

RAAF under Eagle Trench art Car badge / lamp badgeRAAF under Eagle

This street lamp is located in Barkly Street opposite the East Ballarat Fire Station.street lamp, barkly street, ballarat, east ballarat fire station

this signal lamp was used at the Numurkah Railway StationBlack-painted tin, cylindrical in shape, with handle. Circular lens at the front with brass-coloured edging. Smaller red lens at the back with white edging. Side slot for hanging lantern onto post or hook. Round chimney/vent at the topNumurkah (metal embossing)railway, lamp, lantern, kerosene

Brass, metal and wood tripod for use with a heliograph complete with canvas and leather carrying handleStand. Lamp for helio a mark III. Number 3710 PMG Vic 1941

Guards lamp - of the type used by the Victorian Railways to give a green, red or clear or white signal while shunting or authorising trains to proceed. Used by station staff, shunters, guards and signal men.While not directly related to Ballarat tramways, of the type used by the Railways in the Ballarat district.Hand Lamp, Guards - Exterior casing of a black painted metal railway signal lamp with circular blue (for green colour) and red glass filters and a turning mechanism on the top under a circular handle. Includes the kerosene burner with wick and reflector plate. Item was specifically donated to the Museum by a member who died May 2022.railways, lamps, signals, guards

2971.1 - Photocopy of the cover of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria Magazine, Contact, Vol 3, No. 3, Nov 1938 . Features Miss Winifred Gurr of the Queenscliff office, as the Good Fairy, Electricity at the Geelong Centenary Celebrations. Has the SEC logo or motif on the top of the cover. 2971.2 - Photocopy of an article in the State Electricity Commission of Victoria Magazine, Contact, Vol 3, No. 3, Nov. 1938 titled "The Development of Ballarat's Electricity Supply". One A3 sheet and one A4 sheet. The article details the SEC's part in the celebration of Geelong's Centenary Celebrations in October 1938. Opened by Mayor, Alderman C. N. Brown. Details the lighting needs for the celebrations, 400kW, the large motor traffic who came to see them, damage due to Gales, public buildings illuminated and the procession. Includes details of the decorated trams - 1500 paper floors and 400 lamps. Has photos of Moorabool St, a decorated Pengelly tram and Power Station. On page 4 is a letter from an American visitor, Dorothy Bradner congratulating the tramways. Record revised 3/4/2019 to add digital images with those from Andrew Cook CD. Images added of pages 22 and 37 Page 22 - image 12 - titled "The Provincial Big Three" - photos of the Managers of the Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo Regions - Mr. T. A. Farr, Mr. H.N. Hornabrook and T.H. McNaught. Page 37 - image 11 - Staff movements of General Interest - records the retirement of W. White Tramways Inspector Geelong, and appointments - W. J. McKinnon appointed as Tramway Inspector and Mr. C. S. Ball, appointed Senior Traffic Inspector. Each item had a thin strip of paper attached by staple to the top left hand corner, giving the Vol. No. details. trams, tramways, sec, geelong, geelong centenary, power station, decorated trams, letters

Black and White print contained within the Wal Jack Bendigo and Geelong Album, see Reg Item 5003 for more details. Photo of an illuminated street sign, lamp, near Geelong Railway Station, at Mercer St corner, 11-7-1950. Photographer not known. Photo is glued into album. Sign has the words "Geelong Electric Tramways / Board tram at Curve" with a hand and finger pointing the direction to walk in.trams, tramways, geelong, signs, railway station

Photo of the installation of an electric arc type street lamp in Lydiard St North, near the Provincial Hotel Ballarat. The tower wagon is drawn by a single horse. Two boys standing alongside while two men are on the top of the wagon, a man on the top of the ladder is positioning a lifting beam while two men on the ground hold the rope for this beam. On the side of the wagon is possibly an extension that could be lifted onto the top of the tower itself to give a greater working height. The buildings between Mair St and the railway station on the west side of Lydiard St North remain in position. Yields information about the methodology of the late 1890's to install street lighting in BallaratDigital print of a Positioning street lights Lydiard St North Ballarat late 1890sarc lamps, ballarat, lydiard st north, electric lighting, tower wagons, horses, workmen, street lights

Research provided by Stuart Tompkins Studio, Box Hill, into alternatives for median strip street lighting to be used in Burke Road, Kew. The photographers identified variants in different suburbs appropriate to Kew's needs. The series from which the photograph is drawn provides a snapshot by a commercial photographic studio of each named vicinity in 1965 as well as providing examples of public works infrastructure being commissioned by local government in the 1960s. The photos originally formed part of the Engineering Department's files in the City of Kew before being donated to the kew Historical Society.Electricity Supply Poles, Warrigal Road, Holmesglen, 1965. Stuart Tompkins Studio provided this photograph for the Kew City Council. The photograph of Warrigal Road, north of Holmesglen looking north depicts wooden poles with bracket light fittings. These were the same as those proposed for Kew, except the lights and fittings were not to be 350 watt. Mercury lamps were preferred. [There are three copies of this photograph in the Collection.] Typed inscription on reverse: "Electricity Supply Poles. Photographed for Kew City Council 8/2/65. No.3 Warrigal Road - North of Holmesglen looking north. Wooden poles with bracket fittings same as those proposed for Kew except lights and fittings are not for 250 watt c. c. mercury lamps proposed. Wooden pole 3' up 11 3/4" dia." Studio stamp: "Stuart Tompkins Studio. 547 Station Street, Box Hill. WX1439."stuart tompkins studio, warrigal road (holmesglen) 1965, street lighting

Research provided by Stuart Tompkins Studio, Box Hill, into alternatives for median strip street lighting to be used in Burke Road, Kew. The photographers identified variants in different suburbs appropriate to Kew's needs. The series from which the photograph is drawn provides a snapshot by a commercial photographic studio of each named vicinity in 1965 as well as providing examples of public works infrastructure being commissioned by local government in the 1960s. The photos originally formed part of the Engineering Department's files in the City of Kew before being donated to the kew Historical Society.Electricity Supply Poles, Warrigal Road, Holmesglen, 1965. Stuart Tompkins Studio provided this photograph for the Kew City Council. The photograph of Warrigal Road, north of Holmesglen looking north depicts wooden poles with bracket light fittings. These were the same as those proposed for Kew, except the lights and fittings were not to be 350 watt. Mercury lamps were preferred. [There are three copies of this photograph in the Collection.] Typed inscription on reverse: "Electricity Supply Poles. Photographed for Kew City Council 8/2/65. No.3 Warrigal Road - North of Holmesglen looking north. Wooden poles with bracket fittings same as those proposed for Kew except lights and fittings are not for 250 watt c. c. mercury lamps proposed. Wooden pole 3' up 11 3/4" dia." Studio stamp: "Stuart Tompkins Studio. 547 Station Street, Box Hill. WX1439."stuart tompkins studio, warrigal road (holmesglen) 1965, street lighting

Research provided by Stuart Tompkins Studio, Box Hill, into alternatives for median strip street lighting to be used in Burke Road, Kew. The photographers identified variants in different suburbs appropriate to Kew's needs.The series from which the photograph is drawn provides a snapshot by a commercial photographic studio of each named vicinity in 1965 as well as providing examples of public works infrastructure being commissioned by local government in the 1960s. The photos originally formed part of the Engineering Department's files in the City of Kew before being donated to the kew Historical Society.Electricity Supply Poles, South Road, Moorabbin, 1965. Stuart Tompkins Studio provided this photograph for the Kew City Council. The photograph of South Road, Moorabbin, west of Jasper Road, looking east depicts steel poles with two lamps in a median strip and supply wires from pole to pole. The poles were described as 100′ apart. The notation on the rear of the photograph was that there were lamps along the median strip except at intersections. A wooden pole is recognised as supporting heavy supply lines across the road. The steel poles in the photograph were said to be between 3′ to 3.5′ whereas the wooden poles were three to 12.25″ in diameter. [There are three copies of this photograph in the Collection.] Typed inscription on reverse: "Electricity Supply Poles. Photographed for Kew City Council 8/2/65. No.2 South Road - Moorabbin, west of Jasper Road, looking east. Steel poles with two lamps in median strip and supply wires from pole to pole along median strip (poles only 100' apart). Lamps along median only except at intersections. Wooden pole supports heavy supply lines across the road. Wooden poles 3' up and 8 1/2" dia. Wooden poles 3' up and 12 1/2 dia." Studio stamp: "Stuart Tompkins Studio. 547 Station Street, Box Hill. WX1439."public infrastructure -- kew (vic.), city of kew - engineers department

Research provided by Stuart Tompkins Studio, Box Hill, into alternatives for median strip street lighting to be used in Burke Road, Kew. The photographers identified variants in different suburbs appropriate to Kew's needs.The series from which the photograph is drawn provides a snapshot by a commercial photographic studio of each named vicinity in 1965 as well as providing examples of public works infrastructure being commissioned by local government in the 1960s. The photos originally formed part of the Engineering Department's files in the City of Kew before being donated to the kew Historical Society.Electricity Supply Poles, South Road, Moorabbin, 1965. Stuart Tompkins Studio provided this photograph for the Kew City Council. The photograph of South Road, Moorabbin, west of Jasper Road, looking east depicts steel poles with two lamps in a median strip and supply wires from pole to pole. The poles were described as 100′ apart. The notation on the rear of the photograph was that there were lamps along the median strip except at intersections. A wooden pole is recognised as supporting heavy supply lines across the road. The steel poles in the photograph were said to be between 3′ to 3.5′ whereas the wooden poles were three to 12.25″ in diameter. [There are three copies of this photograph in the Collection.] Typed inscription on reverse: "Electricity Supply Poles. Photographed for Kew City Council 8/2/65. No.2 South Road - Moorabbin, west of Jasper Road, looking east. Steel poles with two lamps in median strip and supply wires from pole to pole along median strip (poles only 100' apart). Lamps along median only except at intersections. Wooden pole supports heavy supply lines across the road. Wooden poles 3' up and 8 1/2" dia. Wooden poles 3' up and 12 1/2 dia." Studio stamp: "Stuart Tompkins Studio. 547 Station Street, Box Hill. WX1439."city of kew -- engineers department, public infrastructure -- kew (vic.)

Research provided by Stuart Tompkins Studio, Box Hill, into alternatives for median strip street lighting to be used in Burke Road, Kew. The photographers identified variants in different suburbs appropriate to Kew's needs.The series from which the photograph is drawn provides a snapshot by a commercial photographic studio of each named vicinity in 1965 as well as providing examples of public works infrastructure being commissioned by local government in the 1960s. The photos originally formed part of the Engineering Department's files in the City of Kew before being donated to the kew Historical Society.Electricity Supply Poles, South Road, Moorabbin, 1965. Stuart Tompkins Studio provided this photograph for the Kew City Council. The photograph of South Road, Moorabbin, west of Jasper Road, looking east depicts steel poles with two lamps in a median strip and supply wires from pole to pole. The poles were described as 100′ apart. The notation on the rear of the photograph was that there were lamps along the median strip except at intersections. A wooden pole is recognised as supporting heavy supply lines across the road. The steel poles in the photograph were said to be between 3′ to 3.5′ whereas the wooden poles were three to 12.25″ in diameter. [There are three copies of this photograph in the Collection.] Typed inscription on reverse: "Electricity Supply Poles. Photographed for Kew City Council 8/2/65. No.2 South Road - Moorabbin, west of Jasper Road, looking east. Steel poles with two lamps in median strip and supply wires from pole to pole along median strip (poles only 100' apart). Lamps along median only except at intersections. Wooden pole supports heavy supply lines across the road. Wooden poles 3' up and 8 1/2" dia. Wooden poles 3' up and 12 1/2 dia." Studio stamp: "Stuart Tompkins Studio. 547 Station Street, Box Hill. WX1439."stuart tompkins studio, street lighting, south road (moorabin) 1965, public infrastructure -- city of kew, city of kew -- engineer's department

Research provided by Stuart Tompkins Studio, Box Hill, into alternatives for median strip street lighting to be used in Burke Road, Kew. The photographers identified variants in different suburbs appropriate to Kew's needs.The series from which the photograph is drawn provides a snapshot by a commercial photographic studio of each named vicinity in 1965 as well as providing examples of public works infrastructure being commissioned by local government in the 1960s. The photos originally formed part of the Engineering Department's files in the City of Kew before being donated to the kew Historical Society.Electricity Supply Poles, North Road, Ormond, 1965. Electricity supply poles photographed for the Kew City Council by Stuart Tompkins Studio. The photograph of North Road, Ormond west of Jasper Road, looking east depicts wooden poles carrying two lamps in a median strip and with two on each side alternately. It was noted that the supply wires were from one side only. The poles were described as 3′ above ground and 11.25″ in diameter. The plan was to use this approach for Burke Road, Kew. [There are three copies of this photograph in the Collection.] Typed inscription on reverse: "Electricity Supply Poles. Photographed for Kew City Council 8/2/65. No.1 North Road - Ormond, west of Jasper Road, looking east. Wooden poles carrying two lamps in median strip and two on each side alternately just as is proposed for Burke Road, Kew. Supply wires from one side only. Poles 3' above ground 11 1/4" dia." Studio stamp: "Stuart Tompkins Studio. 547 Station Street, Box Hill. WX1439."stuart tompkins studio, street lighting, south road (moorabin) 1965, public infrastructure -- city of kew, city of kew -- engineer's department

Research provided by Stuart Tompkins Studio, Box Hill, into alternatives for median strip street lighting to be used in Burke Road, Kew. The photographers identified variants in different suburbs appropriate to Kew's needs.The series from which the photograph is drawn provides a snapshot by a commercial photographic studio of each named vicinity in 1965 as well as providing examples of public works infrastructure being commissioned by local government in the 1960s. The photos originally formed part of the Engineering Department's files in the City of Kew before being donated to the kew Historical Society.Electricity Supply Poles, North Road, Ormond, 1965. Electricity supply poles photographed for the Kew City Council by Stuart Tompkins Studio. The photograph of North Road, Ormond west of Jasper Road, looking east depicts wooden poles carrying two lamps in a median strip and with two on each side alternately. It was noted that the supply wires were from one side only. The poles were described as 3′ above ground and 11.25″ in diameter. The plan was to use this approach for Burke Road, Kew. [There are three copies of this photograph in the Collection.] Typed inscription on reverse: "Electricity Supply Poles. Photographed for Kew City Council 8/2/65. No.1 North Road - Ormond, west of Jasper Road, looking east. Wooden poles carrying two lamps in median strip and two on each side alternately just as is proposed for Burke Road, Kew. Supply wires from one side only. Poles 3' above ground 11 1/4" dia." Studio stamp: "Stuart Tompkins Studio. 547 Station Street, Box Hill. WX1439."stuart tompkins studio, street lighting, south road (moorabin) 1965

Research provided by Stuart Tompkins Studio, Box Hill, into alternatives for median strip street lighting to be used in Burke Road, Kew. The photographers identified variants in different suburbs appropriate to Kew's needs.The series from which the photograph is drawn provides a snapshot by a commercial photographic studio of each named vicinity in 1965 as well as providing examples of public works infrastructure being commissioned by local government in the 1960s. The photos originally formed part of the Engineering Department's files in the City of Kew before being donated to the kew Historical Society.Electricity Supply Poles, North Road, Ormond, 1965. Electricity supply poles photographed for the Kew City Council by Stuart Tompkins Studio. The photograph of North Road, Ormond west of Jasper Road, looking east depicts wooden poles carrying two lamps in a median strip and with two on each side alternately. It was noted that the supply wires were from one side only. The poles were described as 3′ above ground and 11.25″ in diameter. The plan was to use this approach for Burke Road, Kew. [There are three copies of this photograph in the Collection.] Typed inscription on reverse: "Electricity Supply Poles. Photographed for Kew City Council 8/2/65. No.1 North Road - Ormond, west of Jasper Road, looking east. Wooden poles carrying two lamps in median strip and two on each side alternately just as is proposed for Burke Road, Kew. Supply wires from one side only. Poles 3' above ground 11 1/4" dia." Studio stamp: "Stuart Tompkins Studio. 547 Station Street, Box Hill. WX1439."stuart tompkins studio, street lighting, south road (moorabin) 1965

In the foreground is Dr Blakie's first surgery, later the Police Station, then a Service station. Behind and to the left are the two railway station buildings. On the horizon and in front of the pine trees is 'Montalto', home of the Hansen family, later Dr Box (demolished). Two storey terrace of shops in front of this is Hansen's Terrace. In centre, note smoke from steam train. On corner of Guildford Rd is a Gas Lamp. The first trees have been planted in Union Road and are protected with stout wood surround.Black and white photograph of a view of Surrey Hills. Written on the bottom left hand side "SURREY HILLS - FROM THE NORTH". In the foreground are two trees on the right hand side before a view leading up the hill. dr blakie, police station, hansen terrace, dr box, montalto, guildford rd, gas lamp, union road

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

Bill Cahill in conversation at Victoria Hall Melton South July 1974 Chaff Mills Melton’s hey day, as I call it in the days when more hay was grown in Melton and Rockbank than, I’d say in any where in Victoria. We had two chaff mills. If I can remember rightly I’m sure of this, that in one month the amount of hay and chaff that went from Melton to Melbourne was about 1800 tons, that’s hay and chaff. There was a lot of hay went from the Melton Railway Station. I have often seen whole train load going down the Schutt and Barrie, that’s Bonnie’s father’s mill at West Footscray. The mills in those days employed up to from 18- 20 men in each, that was before electricity when the mills were run on steam then, there was no power. At times those chaff mills they got a lot of shipping orders, to the Philipines and other Asian countries. They’d work shifts at night on the second shift at night time they would have an old hurricane lamp hanging above from the ceiling just over the chaff cutter, you could hardly see yourself, or see the anything. Well they worked through the whole night they might have an order come in for perhaps 100tons up 500 tons of chaff to go a boat would be in and be waiting to be loaded in Melbourne and they’d have to go and work two shifts. Then they brought in casual labour to help them through and get the order cut and get it down by rail to ship board to send it away. Talking about the hay I’ve seen wagons of hay in the farmers carting to both mills and also hay going down to West Footscray. There would be a quarter of a mile without exaggeration wagons and teams would be waiting to get into the mill, they would come down at the weighbridge at about 3-4- o’clock, 2 o’clock waiting for the bridge to open to weigh their loads, the ones that would be running late would be there at the weighbridge about half past 7 - 8 o’clock. They would be lucky to get away by night before getting their load off. A funny episode I remember well was a farmer from up, Alan Hurley you would remember him, Sam McCorkell he would put on his load in the afternoon or evening leave it up the yard, and would leave Toolern Vale about 12 or 1 o’clock in the morning and he would get down to the weighbridge and when it was breaking day he would bring half of his fowl yard down with him. The fowls would hop up on top of the load and have a ride down and when it came daylight they’d hop off and away they’d go, and I suppose everybody had some of McCorkells poultry. [laughter from the audience] That always tickled my fancy and everybody would be laughing about the fowls getting off his load of hay. I reckon that was about one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard of. The Victoria Hall, where we are tonight was originally known as the Exford Hall. I believe Bonnie’s father was the original builder and owner of the chaff mills here round the corner which is known as Wards today. Later on I understand that his father had a chaff mill here were this hall is, then Dixon Bros were just a bit on the other side. I believe Bonnie’s father sold it to Dixon Bros, and they shifted this part of the mill here and took it over and joined it up. That’s the history of the early chaff mills. Is that right Bonnie? You might like to correct, I’m about right am I? Bonnie answers yes. The original audio tape was recorded on the reel to reel tape recorder by Bon Barrie using his own tape recorder. Transferred to CD by Tom Wood using computer technology capable of adjusting the recording to a legible speed for reproduction to compact disk. Bill Cahill article featured in the The Mail Expresslocal identities

These types of metal and glass railway signalling lamps were used for communication, safety and lighting by train guards, shunters and signalmen, as well as station staff in the late 1880s to the early 1900s. They were hand operated and used fuel such as kerosene.The three railway signalling lamps have local significance as a set donated by a resident of Wodonga who worked for the Victorian Railways, as well as national significance as examples of the communication and safety equipment used by the railways in Australia in the late 19th century and early 20th century.Set of three painted black metal and glass railway signal lamps used for various purposes during train journeys. The largest signal lamp has circular blue and red glass filters and a turning mechanism on the top under the handle. "A y" on a small copper plate on one side of the largest signal lamp - Lamp 1.railway lamps, signalling lamp, train signal lamps

Metal and glass railway signalling lamps were used for communication, safety and lighting by train guards, shunters and signalmen, as well as station staff in the late 1880s to the early 1900s. They were hand operated and used fuel such as kerosene.The railway signal lamp has local significance as part of a set of three lamps donated by a resident of Wodonga who worked for the Victorian Railways. It also has national significance as an example of communication and safety equipment used by the railways in Australia in the late 19th century and early 20th century.Exterior casing of a black painted metal railway signal lamp with circular blue and red glass filters and a turning mechanism on the top under a circular handle. Small copper plate with the letters "A y" stamped on it, on one side of the lamp. "A y"railway lamps, signalling lamp, train signal lamps

Metal and glass railway signalling lamps were used for communication, safety and lighting by train guards, shunters and signalmen, as well as station staff in the late 1880s to the early 1900s. They were hand operated and used fuel such as kerosene.The railway signal lamp has local significance as part of a set of three lamps donated by a resident of Wodonga who worked for the Victorian Railways. It also has national significance as an example of communication and safety equipment used by the railways in Australia in the late 19th century and early 20th century.Black painted metal signal lamp with a circular metal cover over a clear glass disk at the front and an elongated oval shaped handle at the back. The circular metal cover has a vertical slit in it. There is an inscription on the top of the lamp with the date 1917 and the company name "Eli Griffiths & Sons, Birmingham"."ELI GRIFFITHS & SONS / 1917 / BIRMINGHAM"railway lamps, signalling lamp, train signal lamps, railway equipment