Tobacco was grown in the Kiewa Valley mainly by Italian families. The stories and photos in this folder give a history of the tobacco industry in the Kiewa Valley and also of the migrants that settled in the valley.Blue plastic A3 size folder with bright yellow paper attached to the front cover with the title printed in black. Enclosed in clear plastic sleeves are photos and descriptions of families of the Kiewa Valley who grew tobacco.tobacco. italian people. migrants. farming. kiewa valley.

Historically this ledger not only details the legible hand writing of this era but also the day to day commercial activity in this region(first entry in 1895).The neatness and the diligence of those who were required to pen the information was a requirement by all who were in commercial trade. Emphasis on neatness was ingrained in students at a young age. This era was well before general typewriters and computers. Generally all students of commerce required an accuracy in writing and arithmetic. Neatness and order were a selection requirement. This ledger belonged to a general store, which was a forerunner to supermarkets and specialty stores. The shop provided everything from food, postage stamps, nails, tobacco, boots and Epsom salts. The general store provided nearly every product required to exist in a remote rural area of Australia in the 1800's.This item clearly identifies the Kiewa Valley as having a substantial financial hub to accommodate the various commercial enterprises within a rural environment Circa 1880's. Although Kiewa Valley had mining, agriculture, cattle and sheep it was also composed of a mixed society, encompassing all levels of society at that period. It identifies some the commercial activities(newsagency/general store) undertaken by specific families farming in the Kiewa Valley and relates their history in the pioneer period of the late 1800's. Some of those pioneers still have descendants living on the same home sites provided by the 1847 Land Act.This ledger has a very thick cover of strong compressed cardboard. Originally it had a cloth covering both front and back(Glued on) but due to wear and tear it is only attached to the back cover) and is a faded blue colour. The corners of the opening side of the cover are reinforced by suede cloth,in a triangular shape, and enclose both the front and inside portions of the the ledger. The spine is reinforced by a suede section to provide increased strength and protection. The inside cover (both front and back) has an orange bubbles with red and blue sinuous lines forming shapes in a haphazardous pattern. The grammage of the lined sheets (blue) is approximately 120g/m. Originally the first seven of twelve pages were indented and alphabetically marked with black letters (one letter per page) however this ledger had been modified to cover only the initials of customers and the pages of unused letters were glued to the previous page. The remaining pages are numbered in black print at the top outside edge of each page. There are 890 page numbers. Each page has thirty seven blue horizontal lines and one double red line ( top). Each page has thirteen vertical lines starting from the top horizontal double red lines and ending at the bottom of the page. These lines segregate the page into blocks for the date, the transaction and financial input. There are three double vertical red lines which designate the amount of money of each transaction (in pounds, shillings,and pence).On the suede spine in gold lettering and on a red (port coloured) background "LEDGER"grocery shop, haberdashery, general store

The photograph depicts the magnitude of the tobacco industry in the late 1960s to 1970s era when many Myrtleford district growers contributed to the annual tobacco harvest. The impact of post-war migration from southern Europe was playing an important role in reaching harvest records.The photograph reflects the "golden years" of tobacco growing in the district, which continued into the 1970s, prior to later deregulation in the 1980s and 90s and the ceasing of production altogether in 2006. This sales floor attracted local farming families to observe activities off-season in Melbourne, before the sales were conducted at a complex in Myrtleford. A monochrome photograph displaying a large tobacco selling floorInscription: "VIEW OF THE SHOW FLOOR OF DALGETY-NZL's BROOKLYN WOOL STORE ON 27-6-1966 WHEN 15,940 BALES OF TOBACCO LEAF VALUED AT $3,507,000 WERE DISPLAYED. IT WAS THE BIGGEST DISPLAY OF TOBACCO LEAF EVER SEEN IN AUSTRALIA" tobacco industry, myrtleford tobacco selling floor

The photograph represents the migratory labour force involved in hop growing, the major farm activity on "Panlook's Hop Gardens", Eurobin in 1934. William Panlook a descendant of a Chinese storekeeper on the Buckland Diggings, had originally commenced tobacco growing at the location until devastating frosts and unreliable tobacco prices brought a change in land use. The photograph represents the transition that occurred from tobacco to hops cultivation in the early 1930s. It is now a permanent feature of the farming landscape at Eurobin. It depicts the reliance on migratory seasonal labour and the importance of local expertise, some of Chinese descent. A sepia-coloured photograph of 30 hop pickers.Inscription: "The Panlook Boys, 1934"hop growing. panlooks hop gardens. eurobin

Stencil used by Sgt. Albert David Lowerson, VC, a soldier settler on Merriang Estate near Myrtleford. Lowerson acquired one of 19 blocks assigned by the Closer Settlement Board on the 700 acre estate in 1920. The stencil marked bales of cured tobacco leaves prior to shipment to Melbourne. Lowerson was one of the few successful soldier settler farmers in the district, operating a piggery, dairy farming and growing tobacco for almost 20 years on "St. Quentin". (Lowerson was awarded the Victoria Cross at Mont St. Quentin on September 1, 1918.) His success and status enabled him to lead a submission on farm debt and infrastructure problems when the soldier settlement scheme was being reviewed at government level. He was active locally on these issues and supported fund raising for a war memorial, memorial hall and veteran welfare.The stencil represents the achievements of A.D.Lowerson, VC as an isolated example of success as a WW1 soldier settler and as a local identity who stridently supported the need for recognition and support of ex-service personnel.Stencil made of thin sheet metal, rusted .Wording of stencil "A.D.LOWERSON. MYRTLEFORD." lowerson a.d., merriang estate, myrtleford, closer settlement board, tobacco, st. quentin, victoria cross, world war 1

History Option H.3.C. Tobacco Industry at Dadwells Bridge Contains various photographs.Clear Plastic cover with dark blue edge. on Plastic History Option P. Van Diesen. On Paper underneath cover Tobacco Growing in Dadswell Bridgestawell farming