Originally built by John Hill, a shoemaker at Kangaroo Ground around 1878. In the late 1970s when our Society was the Shire of Eltham Historical Society, an offer was made to the Society regarding use of an old cottage at Christmas Hills. The cottage sat beside Watsons Creek just outside the then Shire of Eltham but following municipal restructuring it now lies within the Shire of Nillumbik. For various reasons the offer ultimately lapsed. At that time some research on the cottage was carried out for the Society by Keith Chappel as part of a larger research project that he was doing. Keith’s notes were taken from Lands Department records and showed that the property was the subject of a permissive occupancy of Crown land comprising the creek reserve. In 1903 a Miner’s Right of one acre in area was granted to Edwin Samuel Birch. In 1907 Birch applied to purchase this land but was unable to because it was part of the creek reserve. The documents show that the cottage existed at that time. Upon Birch’s death in 1932, his daughter, Honor Mary Birch was granted a permit to occupy the residence. Honor Mary Birch, known as Nora, was born 1900, the daughter of Edwin Samuel Birch and Honor (nee Young). In 1939 she married George Henry Williams (aka Henry). Honor died 8 July 1976. Her siblings were Margaret Martin (dec), Bert Birch and Brigidene Brinkkotter. In her will she gave and bequeathed “all the improvements on the land held by me at Christmas Hills under Permissive Occupancy from the Department of Land and Survey consisting of the house property thereon and all the contents of the said house to my nephew Brian Joseph Martin of Christmas Hills aforesaid farmer”. The will described the property as a four room, five square house, about 100 years old with enclosed verandah, including kitchen, combined lounge dining room, bedroom and store room; built of ‘bush slabs’ with a corrugated iron roof. A dairy had been erected in 1935. After her death, the property was acquired by the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works in 1978. The property is listed on the Victorian Heritage Database HO200-Hill, later Birch farm complex, 945 Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Watsons Creek and described as: The house has a steep but simply gabled roof form clad with corrugated iron, vertical adzed hardwood slab front wall construction, split palings to the gable ends; rubble freestone chimney at one end (with added gsi flue), pole-framed Graeme Butler & Associates, 2006: 101 Shire of Nillurnbik Planning Scheme Amendment C13 Heritage Assessments verandah (rebuilt?); six-pane double-hung sash windows; T&G bead-edge boarded ledged & braced door; and paling clad rooms added at verandah ends. A slab-clad large fireplace is at the north corner of the house, with a gsi upper cladding added and an internal lining of rubble stone. The rear facade is different construction, being drop-slab, and sits beneath a rear skillion addition to the main gabled form: this may be more recent construction. The house appears to have been once set up for public display and may have been recreated in part for that purpose. Outbuildings are reached by a track along the east side of the house, including what may have been a creamery (typical standard inter-war design clad with corrugated iron and lined with 1938 Lysaght Queens Head Australia galvanised sheet iron) and a paling clad gabled out-house. Timber outbuildings of differing eras are to the north-west of the house, with pole framing and paling infill construction and Redcliffe brand corrugated iron. Post and rail (front) and split paling (rear) fence remnants line the front boundary. Pepper trees part of house yard landscape49 born digital images (includes one panoramic stitch and nine frames from drone video)birch cottage, christmas hills, early settlers, edwin samuel birch, honor mary birch, john hill, watsons creek

Original newspaper article from "The Age" May 11, 1963. Place with a view at Kangaroo Ground by Basil Hall about the construction of the War memorial. The Hall family resided at "Fairview" Panton Hill in the 1920s. Hall was a Eltham Shire Councilor in the 1920s and was associated with the Eltham Shire war Memorial Tower Bulding Committee from 1924 to 1926. Photocopies from "The Road to Gundagi" by Graham McInnes (Hamish Hamilton, 1965), Chapter 9 pages 132 - 153 an autobiography in which the author reminiscences about visiting the Hall family at "Fairview" in Panton Hill as a child. References also to Watson's Creek where MacPherson Robertson ("The Chocolate King") had a summer home, the Shannons, Shanhun and McLaughlin familes. Includes description of the day that Hurstbridge was declared a township (May 26th, 1924), a ralway journey, picnics and rabbiting. McInnes' reminiscences about the periods of his childhood spent visiitng the Hall family in Panton Hill in the 1920s are a rare first hand glimpse into the recreational, social and municipal life in the 1920s within the this rural area within the Shire of Eltham. "Road to Gundagi" was the first of three widely acclaimed autobiographies.Original newspaper article Photocopies, 12 pages.HG Booklet 36basil hall, click here to add keywords, cr. basil hall, eltham war memorial, graham mcinnes, harry gilham collection, hurstbridge, kangaroo ground tower building committee, macpherson robertson, mclaughlin family, panton hill, picnicing, rabbiting, reminiscences, shanhun family, shannon family, shire of eltham war memorial, war memorial tower, watson's creek

Subjects cover: . Bourke Street Melbourne Market . Wood carting . Kersosene lighting and Mr Barrett of Eltham . Royal Mail coaches, routes, horse changes . Cobb and Co blacksmith . Eltham Market . various road routes Extract of memories written by William John Taylor during a period of illness in bed, c.1920Photocopy. Top of the article missing.adamson, barrett, blackburn, blacksmith, bourke street market, christmas hills, cobb and co, dr martin, eltham hotel, eltham market, eltham road district, ferny hill, fountain hotel, jamieson, kangaroo ground, queenstown, kersone lamps, kingston, lamp lighters, lower plenty, matlock, mcphail bros, mergers, morris, panton hill, rolfe, royal mail coach, shire of eltham, st andrews, steer and sons, strettle and co, trail, w. tiggs, w.a. blake, watsons creek, williams, wood carting, woods point, yan yean picnic, yarra glen,, r.d. taylor, reminiscences

GC advised that when they first arrived in Eltham in the late 1960s, he would enjoy driving out to Yarra Glen. The Eltham-Yarra Glen road was unmade at the time. He passed this residence on the north side of the road. It was totally remote. GC found the juxtaposition of this little cottage with its surburban wire gate out in the remoteness of the landscape intriguing. Since then the road has been reconstructed and diverted away from the cottage which is now owned by Parks Victoria.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford HP4 black and white transparencyIlford HP4birch cottage, christmas hills, early settlers, edwin samuel birch, eltham-yarra glen road, honor mary birch, honor mary williams, john hill, watsons creek

GC advised that when they first arrived in Eltham in the late 1960s, he would enjoy driving out to Yarra Glen. The Eltham-Yarra Glen road was unmade at the time. He passed this residence on the north side of the road. It was totally remote. GC found the juxtaposition of this little cottage with its surburban wire gate out in the remoteness of the landscape intriguing. Since then the road has been reconstructed and diverted away from the cottage which is now owned by Parks Victoria.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford HP4 black and white transparencyIlford HP4birch cottage, christmas hills, early settlers, edwin samuel birch, eltham-yarra glen road, honor mary birch, honor mary williams, john hill, watsons creek

GC advised that when they first arrived in Eltham in the late 1960s, he would enjoy driving out to Yarra Glen. The Eltham-Yarra Glen road was unmade at the time. He passed this residence on the north side of the road. It was totally remote. GC found the juxtaposition of this little cottage with its surburban wire gate out in the remoteness of the landscape intriguing. Since then the road has been reconstructed and diverted away from the cottage which is now owned by Parks Victoria.Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford HP4 black and white transparencyIlford HP4birch cottage, christmas hills, early settlers, edwin samuel birch, eltham-yarra glen road, honor mary birch, honor mary williams, john hill, watsons creek

Black and White photo Company "A" 2/21Rare item of historical value due to the battallion being taken prisoner by Imperial Japanese soldiers at Ambon. The Australians suffered at the hands of their captures.Photograph of members of " A" Company 2/21st Battalion Australian infantry Taken in Melbourne. Vic. Group portrait of A Company, 2/21st Battalion. Left to right: front row: Chafer, Hartley, Bailey, Fisher, Breen, Marsh, Lance Corporal (L Cpl) Billings, Smith, Knuckey, McKenzie, Wilson, Dallagh, Jones, Redwood, Turnbull, Rutley, Minetti, Gravener and Corporal Borr (?). Second row: Winter, Brander, M.F. Osborne, V.F.H. Hubbard, Gladigou, Alison, Davies, Blair, Edney, Tuddenham, B. Tucker, Sergeant (Sgt) Stanbridge, Captain (Capt) Wesley, Lieutenant (Lt) Thomas, Sgt Stayte, Beachley, Hallowell, A. Osborne, Thatcher, Watson, unidentified, Ericson, Hadlow, Tucker, McGregor, C.R. O'Bryan and Bradley. Third row: Walker, R.R. Hubbard, Hutchins, L Cpl Kirwan, Mason, J.M. Francis, Corson (?), Leslie, Dunbar, Arnold, Inkster, Balcombe, Corporal Leary, Beckwirth, Barclay, Blanks, Conway, Bolwell, Rigney, Orange, Taylor, Dihood, Mitchell, Donchi, Howard, Flintoff, Hill, Capon, Lewin, L Cpl Eouid (?), Sgt Jacobs. Fourth row: Sgt Seabrooke, Privates King, Jorgenson, O'Halloran, Simmons, Amesbury, Kofoid, Daff, L Cpl Guest, Cooke, Ordish, Stratton, three cooks named Keel, Tullett and Brown, Privates Turner, Dahlberg, Uren, Ansett, Moran, Fry, Penny, Phillips, Lock, Loch, Perrin, Snodgrass, Argus, Gee, Corp Boyce.Photo and frame A Coy 2/21 with names inscribed there on. Black ans white photo by H.M. Walker, Wentworht House, 203 Collins Street, Melbourne.a coy 2/21 battallion

Brown cardboard covered, spiral bound A4 size book.Collected summary papersballarat college of advanced education, summary papers, peter coman, ian moore, john burrell, norm barling, roger slee, helen hayes, ross whitefield, denise walsh, geoff mcrae, wendy crebbin, frank williams, iteraera abera, valo valo, rob baker, george baume, chris bigum, nerida blair, bob boyd, david symington, geoffrey burkhardt, majorie carss, dawn muir, jim christensen, margaret clyde, desmond connelly, jack darmody, barrie dickie, gwenda chapman, pat duffy, anne piggott, laurie andrew, john budby, stephen duggan, maryann ehle, alison elliott, terry evans, daryl nation, barry fields, sue gillard, max gillet, mon khamis, noel gough, richard gunstone, jeff northfield, maurice hale, brian hansford, bill harrison, janice wilson, win haseloff, trevor hutchins, brian jacka, james lukabyo, hugo mccann, r. kerrison, peter mcnally, ian macpherson, dianna mannigel, genne marks, margaret marks, alan peacock, susan moore, judy mousley, helen watson, john henry, robin mctaggart, charles myers, john nicholson, lynne noone, peter olsen, marion curry, david bull, geoff orr, phil meade, john pearson, ray preston, ross price, robert peake, les regan, ian robottom, richard tinning, g. di chiro, maurice robson, carol scott, bob semmens, tony simpson, janette stapleton-hill, arthur smith, peter smith, frank sofo, rosemary stack, david townsend, tony townsend, geoff treblico, ted wadsworth, kathleen warren, don williams, john williamson, john lake, joseph zajda

Emma was one of the first white children born in the Barrabool Hills (Geelong) to parents Richard and Elizabeth Phillips. Emma Eliza Jane Phillips was one of the first white children born in the Barrabool Hills (South Geelong) in the Port of New South Wales on 25/04/1844 and died at "Gracedale" Yendon 12/10/1925, age 81. Emma was the daughter of Richard Price Phillips and Elizabeth Anne Goodenough. Richard, originally a coach plater, was the licensee of "The Thistle Inn", a small hotel on the corner of Corio and Yarra Streets. Elizabeth appears to have had a dressmakers shop around the corner in Yarra Street. Emma married Thomas Watson in Ballarat in 18--? Thomas William Watson was born in Harston, Cambridge, England on10/11/1838 and died at "Gracedale", Yendon, Victoria, Australia 27/04/1920, age 81. He came to Australia seeking gold but instead of finding a fortune he worked for the Victorian Railways. After living in Sebastapol and Ballarat North they settled on a small farm at Yendon named "Gracedale" They were married in Ballarat at Saint Paul's Church of England in Ballarat East. Emma sang in the choir and was a member of the Ballarat Philharmonic Society. They first lived in Sebastapol, then Crompton Street, Ballarat North before building a house at Yendon. Thomas and Emma had 10 children, five boys and five girls, also rearing 3 grandchildren. Thomas and some of his sons ( including John Richard) helped to cut the original steps at Lal Lal to the bottom of the Lal Lal Falls.Photograph of a woman seated at a table with one elbow resting on books. Her jewllery has been hand painted in gold and the top book cover in green. C1860Front: Benson & Stevenson 108 Elizabeth Street Melbourne Copies can be obtained at any time Verso: Emma Eliza Jane (Phillips) Watson; 1844-1925; 81yrs; Died "Gracedale" Yendon, Vic; Born - South Geelong/Barrabool Hills; Dad's (John Richard Watson) motheremma eliza jane phillips, emma eliza jane watson, barrabool hills, yendon, thomas watson, richard price phillips, elizabeth goodenough, lal lal falls

A man seated with his wife standing alongside. Probably Richard and Elizabeth Phillips. Photograph removed from its frame.emma eliza jane phillips, barrabool hills, yendon, lal lal falls, thistle inn geelong, elizabeth anne goodenough, richard price phillips

This horse trough is the only survivor of the two troughs originally installed in Raglan Parade, Warrnambool, in 1932. It was later moved to the Pony Club at Albert Part, near the north corner of Coulstock and Craig Streets. Over the time there its purpose was changed from a horse watering trough to a colourful garden bed of agapanthus plants. By February 2013 the horse trough had been transferred to Flagstaff Hill for display in the Maritime Village’s grounds. This trough is one of hundreds provided by the Annis and George Bills Estate Trust since 1927 for the welfare of working horses and dogs. The original concrete cap over the small compartment is still retained. There are also markings on the right side of the trough where it probably had a birdbath, tap or a dish for the horseman’s dog, similar to other troughs donated elsewhere by the Trust. Less than half of the troughs produced for the Annis and George Bills Trust still survive. In 2017 Felicity Watson, National Trust Victoria’s advocacy manager, said that the troughs were treasures and becoming rare, with more than a dozen across Victoria now being heritage protected. ABOUT ANNIS AND GEORGE BILLS The 1927 Will of George Bills included setting up the Annis and George Bills Estate Trust, which provided for hundreds of horse troughs to be supplied and installed throughout Australia, Britain, USA and other parts of the world for the welfare of horses. Town and city councils could apply to the Trustees for a horse trough for their communities. George “Joe” Bills was born in Brighton, England, in 1859. The family migrated first to New Zealand then to Australia in 1873, settling in the Echuca-Moama district. George moved to Brisbane in 1882 where he met Annis Swann, formerly from Sheffield. Both were animal lovers. George and Annis married 1885 and moved to Sydney to join George’s brother Henry in his mattress wire weaving business, later known as the Bills Brothers. They patented their own machine in 1893 and the business became very profitable. George was able to donate to charities that supported his passion to improve animal welfare. He and Annis joined the Victorian Society for the Protection of Animals and in 1924 George received a Life Membership with the RSPCA. George retired in 1908. The couple moved to Hawthorn, Victoria, in 1910, where they donated troughs for the work horses of Melbourne. During a visit to England Annis passed away. In 1927 George moved from Hawthorn to Camberwell, where he passed away at the end of that year. George had requested in his Will that a trust fund be set up from his estate "…construct and erect and pay for horse troughs wherever they may be of the opinion that such horse troughs are desirable for the relief of horses and other dumb animals either in Australasia, in the British Islands or in any other part of the world subject to the consent of the proper authorities being obtained." The troughs were to bear a plaque inscribed “Donated by Annis and George Bills, Australia”. In 1927 the cost to make a trough was about £13 (which converts to about $1079 in 2020 ), plus transport and installation costs. Most of the troughs were installed between 1930 and 1939 in Victoria and New South Wales. It is estimated that over that time around 500-700 Bills Horse Troughs were installed in Australia and another 50 overseas. Most of the troughs made in Victoria had three moulded front panels like this trough, and no panels moulded on the rear, whereas troughs made in NSW had four panels on the front and five on the back. Victorian troughs were made by a Bills’ relative, J H Phillips. Later, other manufactures for the Trust’s troughs included Rocla Concrete Pipes Ltd, in Auburn Road, Hawthorn, Victoria, who produced to the same original design. No further troughs produced after the end of World War II. A memorial to Annis and George Bills was first erected in Hawthorn in 1929. It included a drinking fountain and a dog dish. Its current location is unknown. In 1964 the George Bills RSPCA Resource Centre opened in Burwood East. This Bills horse trough is nationally significant as one of the surviving examples of the standard Bills memorial horse troughs that still has its compartment cap and evidence of it once having had attached fittings, possibly for a birdbath or dog dish. This trough has State historical significance for being produced in the early 1930s by a business in Hawthorn, Victoria. This example of a Bills horse trough is significant for being in comparatively good condition. The trough is locally significant for being the sole survivor of the two Bills horse troughs installed in the City of Warrnambool in 1932, originally installed on Raglan Parade and continued to be used in the community at the Pony Club, then finally transferred to its current location at Flagstaff Hill by early 2013. It is culturally significant as it represents the community’s dependence on horses for travel and transportation previous to motorised vehicles. It is morally significant as a generous gift from a couple concerned with the welfare of animals.Horse trough; a long narrow rectangular container used for storing water. Trough is made from pre-cast concrete with one large open compartment and a small covered compartment. The base of the small compartment is raised slightly above the base of the trough and is covered by a removable concrete cap. The design of the front of the trough includes three panels moulded into it that align with the shape of the back pediment (panel). The pediment is shaped with side arcs that step up to a wide centre arc. A rectangular concrete plaque is cast into the centre of the pediment and is engraved with the names of the original donors, Annis and George Bills. The trough was made in Hawthorn, Victoria, by J H Phillips circa 1932. “DONATED BY / ANNIS & GEORGE BILLS / AUSTRALIA”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, annis and george bills, bills trust, j h phillips, rocla concrete pipes ltd, hawthorn, water trough, watering trough, horse trough, animal welfare, bills horse trough

The postcard shows a photograph of William Ferrier, the 25-year-old Warrnambool fisherman from South Warrnambool whose rescue of two sailors from the wrecked La Bella made him an overnight National hero, quoted as “one of the most heroic rescues in Victoria’s shipwreck history”. The La Bella was wrecked on 10th November 1905 and the photograph was taken on the next day. In the photograph, William Ferrier is seated in the centre, with four of the five survivors beside him: (from left to right) Leonard Robertson, R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. The photograph was taken by Foyle Photography Studio in Warrnambool, originally owned by James Charles Foyle. He previously had a photographic studio in Melbourne 1882 1887, then opened “Foyle’s Photo Card Studios” in Liebig St, Warrnambool. James Foyle died on 13th July 1905 and his son and daughter, Charles and Lilian Foyle continued on with the business until 1945. This photograph was most likely taken by either Charles or Lilian Foyle. The story of William Ferrier’s brave act follows on below … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, the company was one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. She was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the Pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October 1905, the twelve-year-old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia. She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. Bad weather en route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a northwesterly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with seawater and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on the shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11 pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11 pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2 am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise, the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning, Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25-year-old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days, an unidentified body of a young person had washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues, he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor-General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy), Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy, she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ. As well as this postcard, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and the letter from the Prime Minister and other Members of Parliament that was sent to William Ferrier to commend him for his bravery. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. This postcard is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The photograph of William Ferrier and four of the five survivors demonstrates the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The postcard is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it portrays William Ferrier, a local fisherman whose descendants continue to live in the area. It highlights the way of life of people who lived in coastal towns in 19th century Victoria and the effects of shipwrecks upon them. The postcard connects to the congratulatory letter which was sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia and demonstrates the importance they attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The postcard is also an example of the photography of Foyle Photographers who were in the town of Warrnambool from the late 1800’s. Charles and Lillian Foyle took over the business when their father James died in 1905. Lillian Foyle is significant as the first woman photographer in Warrnambool. It is not known whether Charles of Lillian took this photograph. This postcard is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella”. The “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Sepia photograph of William (Bill) Ferrier (seated in the middle), heroic rescuer of two crew members of the La Bella, wrecked at Warrnambool. The photograph is a postcard and shows five men dressed formally in suits and hats. Printed below the photograph are the name and place of the photographer, a royal crest and the details of two patrons of the photographer. Also below the photograph are some handwritten words in black pen. On the back of the postcard is a handwritten message in the same writing as the front.Printed on the front of the card is “Foyle, WARRNAMBOOL” “PATRONS: / HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CORNWALL & YORK. / HIS EXCELLENCY LORD BRAS_ EY, R.O.B.” Handwritten on the front of the card is “Bill Ferrier / rescuer / Oh my hero _ _ _ “ Handwritten on the back of the card is a message. “La Bella” Wrecked off W.Bool Breakwater Nov. 1906 (_ _ _ _ show night) Payne Noake Rosenholme Robertson and Capt Mylius (saved) (moonlight bright) Watson (_ _ _ _ boy) Richwoud [possibly Richmond] drowned” and signed “Desdewoua [possibly Desdemona] Slogos”la bella, foyle, william ferrier, bill ferrier, lady bay, 1905, 10th november 1905, 11th november 1905, parliament of the commonwealth, royal humane society medal, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village

This journal provides the reader with glimpses of the adventures and hardships of a seaman's life. Many of the stories are of sailing ships.Contributes to our knowledge of the importance of shipping and places on record those stories of the sea which would otherwise be lost.Contents Foreword - Commodore Rodney Rhoades, D.S.C., R.A.N. (Ret.) - 9 Editorial - "Restoration and Replicas" - S. A. E. Strom - 11 "Polly Woodside" Remains Afloat - Dr. E. Graeme Robertson - 17 Gleams Through the Darkness - N. S. Smith - 23 Captain W. E. Smith - Captain E. Molyneux - 33 Nearly Sixty Years Ago - Captain W. J. Cowling - 35 Some Time - C. L. Lewis - 47 Father Tremblay Builds a Boat - Captain F. K. Klebingat - 48 A Memory of White Russia - F. L. Ogle - 56 The First of Port Phillip Pilots - Darren Baillieu - 58 Captain Robert Pattman of the "Loch Torridon" - Captain W. R. Chaplin - 72 With "Antiope" in the Northern Waters - Captain A. R. Nancarrow - 77 Rottnest Island - B. D. Goldfinch - 82 "Port Nicholson" to the Rescue - J. R. Brazier - 87 Glossary - - 91 Lights on the Hill - C. E. Bonwick - 93 Murray River Shipping - Ross Holloway - 94 What's in a Name - - 103 That was the Trouble - Dr. Stanislaw Bernatt - 110 "Eight Bells" - H. F. Watson - 111 Musings of an Old Sailor - Captain J. W. Carr - 112 A Voyage on the SS "Orange Branch" - I. L. Barton - 114 Book Reviews - - 129sailing ships, steamships, shipping, seafaring life, shiplovers' society of victoria, dog watch, herzogin cecile

Photograph of 1926-27 B Team premiership teammurrumbeena, murrumbeena cricket club, cricket, cricket clubs, cricketers, w mitchell (umpire), l hill, wally grant, lew bristowe, joe jackson, j p? (umpire), jim watson (treas), tom walker, edmund forscutt (vc), t j riley (pres), wal bristowe (capt), albert forscutt, peter robertson (sec), len gregory, eddie cove, albert bristowe

Main Road looking north from Pitt Street. On the far left is Mrs Mary Ann Morris' house and shop and Hill's House. William Morris was the publican for the Eveyn Hotel which was on the opposite corner of Pitt Street and Main Road. Also believed to be the Scarce house at some stage, Mrs Emily Scarce was President of the Australian Women's National League. On the right is Webster's then the Commercial Bank of Australia branch, the Methodist Church just behind it on John Street. To the immediate right out of visibility is Watson's Eltham Hotel.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Negshire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, main road, scarce house, cba bank, gas lamp, hill's house, hostelry, john street, methodist church, pitt street, websters house, mrs morris shop

Mrs Georgina Hill (wife of Henry), nee Reynolds (of Research, Vic.) in cap [possibly misidentified by donor - see note below] with Mrs Isaac Hill and her children (left to right) Amelia Hill, (born 1853) Mrs Isaac Hill with baby Isaac (born 1860, Eltham) on her lap. Mary Jane Hill (born 1857, Eltham) seated on Mrs Henry Hill's lap and Bob Hill. The Hill family were early settlers of the Eltham area. Daguerreotype photo enclosed in a leather bound clam shell box with felt lining and gold trim. Donated by Mrs Ivy Edna Hill, 4/1 Bridge Street, Eltham, 4 June 1966 and includes copy of her note identifying the people. Daguerreotypes were one of the first forms of early photographs. They initially appeared in Europe in 1839 and were produced in large numbers to the early 1850s but were superseded by more modern and flexible forms of technology by 1860. The photo was usually formed on a thin copper plate with light sensitve silver iodide. They have a mirror-like appearance and the image itself was mirrored. They were usually inserted into a case or frame made of wood bound in leather or velvet and cost about one guinea in Australia, the equivalent of a week's wages. With the advent of the gold-rush and growing population came an increase in numbers of photographers both studio and travelling. The daguerreotype process was protected by patents and could only result in a single image from which no copies could be made. With new technology involving wet colloidion glass plate negatives and albumen paper prints of which multiple copies could be produced at significantly reduced cost, the dauguerreotype quickly fell out of favour. An accompanying note with the photo written by Edna Hill of 4/1 Bridge Street Eltham dated 4 June 1966 states: "Dear Mr Watson, I think the enclosed old time photograph will be of interest to you. It would have been taken about 1860. The two ladies are the wives of the original pioneers of the Hill family. The one in the cap was the wife of Henry Hill, the other of Isaac Hill. The children are those of Mrs Isaac Hill, and grandchildren to Henry Hill. The little girl on the left is Amelia, the baby Isaac, the second girl is Mary Jane, and the boy on the right is Bob Hill. They grew up tobe Uncles and Aunts of my late husband. I greatly appreciated a letter received a few months ago per Cr Pelling, from the Shillinglaw Cottage Committee. Yours sincerely, Edna Hill" Victorian birth registrations show Mary Jane Hill was born 1857 in Eltham (9879 / 1857) and Isaac Hill at Eltham in 1860 (1972/1860) NOTE: Mrs Isaac Hill was Ellen Fitzsimons (1834-1863), mother to Henry Hill. Mrs Georgina Hill, wife of Henry cannot be the lady in the cap as she was not born till 1864. Georgina Reynolds (1864-1927) married Henry Hill (1862-1948) in 1884. This lady has significant wrinkling of the face, especially around her mouth. It is possible that she is the mother of Mrs Isaac Hill (Ellen Fitzsimons) who was Isabella Fitzsimons (nee Ferguson).This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Negsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, hill family, research (vic.), women, amelia hill, bob hill, daguerreotype, early settlers, georgina hill (nee reynolds), isaac hill, mary jane hill, mrs henry hill, mrs isaac hill, ellen hill (nee fitzsimons), isabella fitzsimons (nee ferguson)

The David Christmas memorial is situated on the south side of One Tree Hill Road, at Watsons Creek. As a young man, Welshman David Christmas had been transported to Van Dienman's Land for a relatively minor offence. In 1836, having received a pardon, he came to Port Phillip, where, in 1842, he was hired as a shepherd by district pioneer, Joseph Stevenson. In 1992, a roadside plaque commemorating the shepherd who gave his name to the district was set in place over his presumed bush gravesite. The plaque was unveiled by two of Stevenson's grandsons, Bruce and Don Ness. FROM: Christmas Hills Past and Present, Yarra Glen & District Historical Society, 2004. 1842-1992 In memory of David Christmas born Cardiganshire 1797 Transported to Van Dieman's Land for the term of his natural life 1822 Granted a free pardon 1826 "From this humble shepherd these hills have gained their name" Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 1 strip (2 frames)Fuji 200david christmas, christmas hills, memorials, watsons creek, plaque

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographbuttermans track, watsons creek, christmas hills

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographwatsons creek, christmas hills, bridges, one tree hill road

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographwatsons creek, christmas hills, happy valley track

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographwatsons creek, christmas hills, bridges

EDHS Newsletter No. 182, September 2008 In the late 1970s when our Society was the Shire of Eltham Historical Society, an offer was made to the Society regarding use of an old cottage at Christmas Hills. For various reasons the offer ultimately lapsed The cottage sat beside Watsons Creek just outside the then Shire of Eltham but following municipal restructuring it now lies within the Shire of Nillumbik. At that time some research on the cottage was carried out for the Society by Keith Chappel as part of a larger research project that he was doing. Keith's notes were taken from Lands Department records and showed that house is the subject of a permissive occupancy of Crown land comprising the creek reserve. In 1903 a Miners Right of one acre in area was granted to Edwin Samuel Birch. In 1907 Birch applied to purchase this land but was unable to because it was part of the creek reserve. The documents show that the house existed at that time. Birch died in 1932 and his daughter Honor Mary Birch was granted a permit to occupy the residence. The future of the cottage remains precarious because of its location on Crown land. In 2007 the Andrew Ross Museum began a campaign to ensure that it is preserved. It included a video presentation on the history of the cottage under the title of "This Old House- Birch Cottage". Black and white photographWilliams Cottage Panton Hill 1969 Not to be reproduced without permission G.W. Bell Photographer Elthamhouses, cottage, early settlers, yarra glen road, smiths gully, williams cottage, watsons creek, christmas hills, birch cottage, edwin samuel birch, honor mary birch

EDHS Newsletter No. 182, September 2008 In the late 1970s when our Society was the Shire of Eltham Historical Society, an offer was made to the Society regarding use of an old cottage at Christmas Hills. For various reasons the offer ultimately lapsed The cottage sat beside Watsons Creek just outside the then Shire of Eltham but following municipal restructuring it now lies within the Shire of Nillumbik. At that time some research on the cottage was carried out for the Society by Keith Chappel as part of a larger research project that he was doing. Keith's notes were taken from Lands Department records and showed that house is the subject of a permissive occupancy of Crown land comprising the creek reserve. In 1903 a Miners Right of one acre in area was granted to Edwin Samuel Birch. In 1907 Birch applied to purchase this land but was unable to because it was part of the creek reserve. The documents show that the house existed at that time. Birch died in 1932 and his daughter Honor Mary Birch was granted a permit to occupy the residence. The future of the cottage remains precarious because of its location on Crown land. In 2007 the Andrew Ross Museum began a campaign to ensure that it is preserved. It included a video presentation on the history of the cottage under the title of "This Old House- Birch Cottage". Black and white photographWilliams Cottage Panton Hill 1969 Not to be reproduced without permission G.W. Bell Photographer Elthamhouses, cottage, early settlers, yarra glen road, smiths gully, williams cottage, watsons creek, christmas hills, birch cottage, edwin samuel birch, honor mary birch

EDHS Newsletter No. 182, September 2008 In the late 1970s when our Society was the Shire of Eltham Historical Society, an offer was made to the Society regarding use of an old cottage at Christmas Hills. For various reasons the offer ultimately lapsed The cottage sat beside Watsons Creek just outside the then Shire of Eltham but following municipal restructuring it now lies within the Shire of Nillumbik. At that time some research on the cottage was carried out for the Society by Keith Chappel as part of a larger research project that he was doing. Keith's notes were taken from Lands Department records and showed that house is the subject of a permissive occupancy of Crown land comprising the creek reserve. In 1903 a Miners Right of one acre in area was granted to Edwin Samuel Birch. In 1907 Birch applied to purchase this land but was unable to because it was part of the creek reserve. The documents show that the house existed at that time. Birch died in 1932 and his daughter Honor Mary Birch was granted a permit to occupy the residence. The future of the cottage remains precarious because of its location on Crown land. In 2007 the Andrew Ross Museum began a campaign to ensure that it is preserved. It included a video presentation on the history of the cottage under the title of "This Old House- Birch Cottage". Black and white photographDetail Cottage Entrance Williams Cottage Yarra Glen Rd Panton Hill Aug 1969 Photo - G.W.Bhouses, cottage, early settlers, yarra glen road, smiths gully, williams cottage, watsons creek, christmas hills, birch cottage, edwin samuel birch, honor mary birch

EDHS Newsletter No. 182, September 2008 In the late 1970s when our Society was the Shire of Eltham Historical Society, an offer was made to the Society regarding use of an old cottage at Christmas Hills. For various reasons the offer ultimately lapsed The cottage sat beside Watsons Creek just outside the then Shire of Eltham but following municipal restructuring it now lies within the Shire of Nillumbik. At that time some research on the cottage was carried out for the Society by Keith Chappel as part of a larger research project that he was doing. Keith's notes were taken from Lands Department records and showed that house is the subject of a permissive occupancy of Crown land comprising the creek reserve. In 1903 a Miners Right of one acre in area was granted to Edwin Samuel Birch. In 1907 Birch applied to purchase this land but was unable to because it was part of the creek reserve. The documents show that the house existed at that time. Birch died in 1932 and his daughter Honor Mary Birch was granted a permit to occupy the residence. The future of the cottage remains precarious because of its location on Crown land. In 2007 the Andrew Ross Museum began a campaign to ensure that it is preserved. It included a video presentation on the history of the cottage under the title of "This Old House- Birch Cottage". Black and white photographDetail of Front Wall Williams Cottage Yarra Glen Rd Panton Hill Aug 1969 Photo - G.W.Bhouses, cottage, early settlers, yarra glen road, smiths gully, williams cottage, watsons creek, christmas hills, birch cottage, edwin samuel birch, honor mary birch

EDHS Newsletter No. 182, September 2008 In the late 1970s when our Society was the Shire of Eltham Historical Society, an offer was made to the Society regarding use of an old cottage at Christmas Hills. For various reasons the offer ultimately lapsed The cottage sat beside Watsons Creek just outside the then Shire of Eltham but following municipal restructuring it now lies within the Shire of Nillumbik. At that time some research on the cottage was carried out for the Society by Keith Chappel as part of a larger research project that he was doing. Keith's notes were taken from Lands Department records and showed that house is the subject of a permissive occupancy of Crown land comprising the creek reserve. In 1903 a Miners Right of one acre in area was granted to Edwin Samuel Birch. In 1907 Birch applied to purchase this land but was unable to because it was part of the creek reserve. The documents show that the house existed at that time. Birch died in 1932 and his daughter Honor Mary Birch was granted a permit to occupy the residence. The future of the cottage remains precarious because of its location on Crown land. In 2007 the Andrew Ross Museum began a campaign to ensure that it is preserved. It included a video presentation on the history of the cottage under the title of "This Old House- Birch Cottage". Black and white photographDetail of Shed Wall Williams Cottage Yarra Glen Rd Panton Hill Aug 1969 Photo - G.W.Bhouses, cottage, early settlers, yarra glen road, smiths gully, williams cottage, watsons creek, christmas hills, birch cottage, edwin samuel birch, honor mary birch

Original photo from a scrapbook belonging to Heather Jenkins (nee Cone) who lived as a child in the Police Residence at 728 Main Road, Eltham from 1911 to the early 1920s. (Reported in Newsletter No. 98, Sept., 1994). View looking north up Policeman’s Hill across Main Road towards the Police Station, Police Residence and Courthouse, c.1910 prior to Brougham Street being made. The two rails / gap in the fence would be where Brougham Street now enters Main Road. Also visible are Knapman's Forge adjacent to Courthouse and E.J. Andrew's Store on top of the hill At the upper left can be seen the front of the Evelyn Hotel. On the opposite corner was Watsons Hotel. E.J. Andrew's store with its verandah was on the corner of Franklin Street. Behind the picket fence stands the 1860 Court House and Police residence with the weatherboard clad Police office. The enclosed fence is now the end of Brougham Street, opened to Bible Street in 1926. The Evelyn Hotel (formerly Fountain of Friendship) burnt down in the 1930s when it was being used as a boarding house since 1919. A cow is feeding on the grass verge in street. The photo is identified in white lettering typical of the style of Clark Bros., photographers of Windsor, Melbourne (1894-1914). One of the brothers, John Henry Clark, took many early photos around Little Eltham and moved to Eltham in 1916 where he lived at the bottom of the hill. Typically, he would add “J.H. Clark Photo” to his personal work, but this is not evident. There is however some ghost writing, a cheeky inscription in small white lettering in the grass verge in front of where Brougham Street is, which appears to state: “Heather or Hannah was here”. Perhaps J.H. Clark took the photo during a trip to Eltham and gifted it some years later after moving there as a gift to a young Heather Cone. The Police Station sign: E vii R ELTHAM POLICE STATION HEIDELBERG DISTRICT Edward VII ascended the throne in 1901 and died 6 May 1910. He was succeeded by George V.Heather Cone was the daughter of Constable John Thomas Cone (Badge 3935) the local police officer in residence at Eltham, 1 May 1911 to 9 July 1922. Heather McKnight Jenkins (nee Cone) was born 1911, possibly at the Eltham Police Residence and spent her childhood growing up in the Police Residence. Heather was the daughter of John Thomas Cone, Police Constable, and Charlotte Helena Cone (nee Black) who had married in 1906. Constable Cone was transferred to Eltham Police Station from Lauriston (near Kyneton) in May 1911. He retired from the force around September 1922 most likely as a result of significant health concerns experienced earlier that year from 22 April when he was hospitalised. He died 5 October 1922 at Maria Street at age 60 leaving behind a widow and two daughters; his son having pre-deceased him as a result of effects of the war. He is buried in Melbourne General Cemetery . In his probate it states that he owned a piece of land 200 links frontage to Maria Street and a depth of 241 links. It is believed that this is the land opposite the Police Station which Heather Jenkins referred to as being owned by her father and where he agisted the Police horses. Heather, her sister and mother Charlotte remained in Eltham until at least the 1924 Electoral Roll where Charlotte was listed as Home Duties however by 1925 she was listed at 229 Glenferrie Road, Malvern, occupation, Registrar of Births. In the 1934 (and 1936) Electoral Roll, Heather was a Clerk and her mother Charlotte was the Registrar of Births. in 1952 following her mother’s death she made application for Grant of Probate. Heather remains listed in the 1954 Electoral Roll at 13 Ashburton Road under her maiden name Cone however by the 1963 Electoral Roll she is listed at the same address as Heather McKnight Jenkins long with James Gardiner Jenkins. Neither appear listed in the 1958 Electoral Roll. James Gardiner Jenkins (1892-1975) first wife was Fanny Davison Carrucan (1899-1929), daughter of Denis Carrucan and Jane (nee McAleese). They married in 1925. Fanny died 11 November 1929. In the 1934 Electoral Roll he remained listed at John Street, Eltham, Railway Employee however by 1935 Electoral Roll, James Gardiner Jenkins, Railway Employee, was listed at 229 Glenferrie Road, Malvern and he remained living with Charlotte and Heather Cone when they moved to 13 Ashburton Road, Glen Iris. One of Constable Cone’s first investigations upon arriving in Eltham was the accidental fatal shooting in the head with a pea rifle by young Francis August Capewell, aged 11, of John Sutcliffe Deegan, 14, in Maria Street near the Railway. Constable Cone’s replacement was Constable William Charles Sargeant who commenced in charge of the Eltham Police Station from Thursday, 10 August 1922. Constable William Charles Sargeant, and his wife Elizabeth Agnes Sargeant were based at the Eltham Police Station until his transfer to the Police Station in Burwood Road, Hawthorn. He retired at Hawthorn Police Station in 1931, described by Hawthorn Council in 1927 as in a disgraceful condition and unfit for human habitation (Kathryn Griffin family tree – Ancestry) whereupon they moved to 28 Saunders Street, Coburg. Elizabeth died 16 July 1936 in Fitzroy. William then moved to 6 Queen Street Coburg in 1936 and then 1 Queen Street in 1942 where he died 7 August 1944. He is buried at Fawkner Cemetery.Sepia postcard photo glued on a brown paper scrapbook page (torn from scrapbook) along with 8 other black and white/sepia photos of varying sizes, 1 newspaper clipping and handwritten captions in ink.brougham street, constable w.c. sargeant, courthouse, cow, eltham, knapmans forge, little eltham, local history centre, main road, maria street, police residence, police station, policeman's hill, scrapbook, w.b. andrew corn store, j.h. clark photo, andrews store, heather jenkins (nee cone), clark bros. photo

Mrs Georgina Hill (wife of Henry), nee Reynolds (of Research, Vic.) in cap [possibly misidentified by donor - see note below] with Mrs Isaac Hill and her children (left to right) Amelia Hill, (born 1853) Mrs Isaac Hill with baby Isaac (born 1860, Eltham) on her lap. Mary Jane Hill (born 1857, Eltham) seated on Mrs Henry Hill's lap and Bob Hill. The Hill family were early settlers of the Eltham area. Daguerreotype photo enclosed in a leather bound clam shell box with felt lining and gold trim. Donated by Mrs Ivy Edna Hill, 4/1 Bridge Street, Eltham, 4 June 1966 and includes copy of her note identifying the people. Daguerreotypes were one of the first forms of early photographs. They initially appeared in Europe in 1839 and were produced in large numbers to the early 1850s but were superseded by more modern and flexible forms of technology by 1860. The photo was usually formed on a thin copper plate with light sensitve silver iodide. They have a mirror-like appearance and the image itself was mirrored. They were usually inserted into a case or frame made of wood bound in leather or velvet and cost about one guinea in Australia, the equivalent of a week's wages. With the advent of the gold-rush and growing population came an increase in numbers of photographers both studio and travelling. The daguerreotype process was protected by patents and could only result in a single image from which no copies could be made. With new technology involving wet colloidion glass plate negatives and albumen paper prints of which multiple copies could be produced at significantly reduced cost, the dauguerreotype quickly fell out of favour. An accompanying note with the photo written by Edna Hill of 4/1 Bridge Street Eltham dated 4 June 1966 states: "Dear Mr Watson, I think the enclosed old time photograph will be of interest to you. It would have been taken about 1860. The two ladies are the wives of the original pioneers of the Hill family. The one in the cap was the wife of Henry Hill, the other of Isaac Hill. The children are those of Mrs Isaac Hill, and grandchildren to Henry Hill. The little girl on the left is Amelia, the baby Isaac, the second girl is Mary Jane, and the boy on the right is Bob Hill. They grew up tobe Uncles and Aunts of my late husband. I greatly appreciated a letter received a few months ago per Cr Pelling, from the Shillinglaw Cottage Committee. Yours sincerely, Edna Hill" Victorian birth registrations show Mary Jane Hill was born 1857 in Eltham (9879 / 1857) and Isaac Hill at Eltham in 1860 (1972/1860) NOTE: Mrs Isaac Hill was Ellen Fitzsimons (1834-1863), mother to Henry Hill. Mrs Georgina Hill, wife of Henry cannot be the lady in the cap as she was not born till 1864. Georgina Reynolds (1864-1927) married Henry Hill (1862-1948) in 1884. This lady has significant wrinkling of the face, especially around her mouth. It is possible that she is the mother of Mrs Isaac Hill (Ellen Fitzsimons) who was Isabella Fitzsimons (nee Ferguson).Early pioneer settlers of ElthamAntique daguerreotypes in hinged gold frame, glass encased in a small clam-shell box lined with padded red felt and with catchamelia hill, bob hill, early settlers, eltham, hill family, isaac hill, mary jane hill, mrs henry hill, mrs isaac hill, daguerreotype, georgina hill (nee reynolds), research (vic.), sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, women, ellen hill (nee fitzsimons), isabella fitzsimons (nee ferguson)

Bend of Islands is named after a group of small islands at a bend of the Yarra River near Watsons Creek. It is located near the town of Kangaroo Ground. The locationn was a long time favourite spot for locals and visitors to fish and swim in the river. This is one of a series of four photographs that depict a mainly young group of people recreating in the area, particularly enjoying horse riding. Possibly weekend campers. Photos taken about 1926-1928. In 1938 "The Argus" advertised weekend cabins at the Bend of Islands estate 5-are Yarra Yarra frontage in the Christmas Hills Gorge ideal for weekend cabins. "Bathing, fishing, canoeing, shooting may be enjoyed in ideal surroundings". This photo seems to be depicitng women waiting to use the shower near the river, or are they going swimming?Black and white photograph (reproduction)Bend of Islands, c.1926 bend of islands, camping, shower block, yarra river, swimming