Newsletter of the Adult Deaf and Dumb Society of VictoriaThe Deaf Citizen Newsletter (Organ of the Adult Deaf and Dumb Society of Victoria) is significant publication as an historical record giving and insight into the people, activities and events of the Deaf Community in Victoria.No. 1, First Quarter 1931; Size 24.5cmHx18.5cmW; 16 pagesaustralian congress of deaf mutes, ernest j. d. abraham, thomas bent, mr rose, education act of 1910, adult deaf and dumb society, e. r. peacock, r. j. oehr, edward newbigin, h. sumner martin, w. h. adeney, j. j. halley, john griffiths, hannah martin, mrs luke, matt miller, j. e. muir, r. j. oehr, l. a. cleveland, norman armstrong, hugh grant rowell, f. g. barnes, g. studdert kennedy, victorian deaf and dumb institution, w. j. mccaskill, john adcock, f. w. g. gilby, lieut. colonel olden

Under the auspices of the Deaf Committee of the Adult Deaf and Dumb Society of Victoria - Edited by A. Hull assisted by R. H. LambertThe significance of these newsletters is in the detail of information they contain about the people and activities of the Deaf community in Victoria and interstate.Vol. 1 No. 3, May-June 1930; Size 21.5cmHx14cmWalex hull, arthur stephens, emma reade, l. p. jacks, katie whitehead, selwyn oxley, a. j. wilson, mrs g. h. hawkins, victor trotman, colin mcnutt, bert savage, myrtle walscott, e. walker, lina virgona, gwen hawkinsm. gibson, mrs g. damman, mrs j. muir, d. hickey, w. chapman, mrs gladman, j boortz, r. white, bert hague, w. grant, r. jose, w. o'bryan, t. tonkins, a. colins, mrs g. damman, mrs g. caldwell, w. rees, e. r. peacock, a. c. muir, mrs f. e. frewin, d. ashby, phyllis johnston, h. puddy, l. sutton, w. anderson, a hatley,

A Bi-Monthly News Letter - Under the auspices of the Deaf Committee of the Adult Deaf and Dumb Society of Victoria'The Victorian Deaf' Newsletter is a significant publication as an historical record giving and insight into the people, activities and events of the Deaf Community in Victoria.Vol. 24 No. 7,8,9 July Aug Sep 1928, Size 37cmHx21cmW; 14 pagesh. sumner martin, e. r. peacock, edward newbigin, w. a. dickens, frank tudor, rev. j. i. halley, g. g. mercy, i. m. griffiths, h. w. h. adeney, h. bickford, j. dudley, g. vial, s. massana, ernest j. d. abraham, empson, e. burke, a. mclellan, brown, solomon moss, ruth peters, m. g. b. mortimer, j. m. johnston, r. miller, j. butterworth, p. cunningham, e. doney g. caldwell, warrie ashby, vernon griffiths, cecil griffiths, joe allen, bryon taylor, joe allen, j. e. muir, s. ferguson, walter grant, maisie reiffel, a. williamson, w. burge, myrtle groves, harold sutton, j. dickenson, david cornish, waggett, fulton, vera west, mabel ball, tennis, lacrosse, j. boortz, percy swain, e. smith, ethel dempsey, mrs frewin, empson, deaf worker's club, men's guild, deaf women's guild, british deaf conference, deaf national club, a. t. story, sam cashmore, a. a. peverill, a. h. spencer, gladys mahoney, c. h. reynolds, d. hickey, h. abbott,

Bi-Monthly News Letter - Under the auspices of the Deaf Committee of the Adult Deaf and Dumb Society of Victoria 'The Victorian Deaf' Newsletter is a significant publication as an historical record giving and insight into the people, activities and events of the Deaf Community in Victoria.Vol. 25 No. 2 November 1929; Size 27cmHx21cmW; 15 pagesa. c. muir, william p. muir, w. g. marsh, ymca, john muir, armsstrong, abraham, peacock, simpson hill, hoath, thomas purves, j. stephens, a. course, f. crowther, f. garfield, g. sheahan, h.s. tainton, w. wilcox, alice graham, bessie graham, brooke nicholls, j. m. johnston, deaf women's guild, mrs moss, s. moss, t. peters, frewin, thelma stephens, lacrosse, cricket, lodavia nicholson, elsie stephens, o'callaghan, deaf worker's club, geelong, m. gibson, j. boortz, a. taylor, walter grant, byron taylor, g. edwards, reginald gilbert, mrs cross, mrs hartley, john anderson, w. moloney, a. collins, colin johns, ferguson, damman, j. hunt, c. hunt, winn, j. kenworthy, w. mcmillen, g. henry, l. sanders, m. aram, moss, j. hunt, w. rees, d. driscoll, daphne tyzzer, roy martyr, emily anderson, pat cunningham, patrick o'keefe

The City of Warrnambool Rowing Club (CoWRC) received a grant from the Warrnambool City Council Community Development Fund for the project: to hold a public event to install a plaque – dedicated to members and ex members who enlisted in WW1. The original honor roll had been lost to history. The date chosen was August 7 as this was 100 years since the death of a particular member, Major Thomas (Tom) Redford. Process: the Club wrote a book about its 140 year history and learnt of the honor roll. Every effort to find it was exhausted. The Club applied for funds to produce a replacement plaque and have a public event to unveil it. Outcome: There is now a permanent plaque in the rowing ‘prescient’ on the Hopkins River. one meter high stone with brass plaque‘Lest we Forget’ Honour Roll of Warrnambool Rowing Club Members and ex-Members who enlisted for the First World War. Archibald W. Artso E. Baillie T. Battarbee M. Beeching J. Beeching W. Brown J. Brown S. Butler G. Chapman R. Chew A. Collins A. Cordner J.A. Curtis J.P. Davidson W.J.S. Dickson J.R. Dwyer T. Fary G. Fisher C. Fisher R. Flett C. Flett F. Flett V. Foote E. Gartlan L. Granter J. Harris H. Hope W. Humphreys C. Jackway W.R. King C. Lee R. Levy J. London D. MacKinlay W. MacKnight C.C. Manson A. Marfell W.L. McDougall K. McGee W. McKay M. McKay R. McKenzie W. McLennan W. McMeekin W. Mitchell S. Murphy R.S. O'Donnell J. Parsons L. Redford T. Richter F. Roper H. Robinson C.F. Robinson G. Ryan P. Sarll W. Spotswood D. Thompson A. Thompson H.G.(J) Tinker E. Titford R.A. MC Webb W. Williamson C. Every Club member of military age enlisted. A Norfolk Island Pine was planted in November 1916 to perpetuate the memory of former member, Major Thomas Redford, who died at Gallipoli. The tree is believed to be beside the Hopkins River in EJ King Park. Honour Roll rededicated by the City of Warrnambool Rowing Club and Warrnambool City Council, August 7 2016. city of warrnambool rowing club, warrnambool, warrnambool rowing club, hopkins river, hopkins river warrnambool, world war one, first world war, rowing, rowers

The people are L to R: Kathy McMeel (secretary), Annie Blanch (Boat Captain), Joanne Bone (president), James Tait (director of Gwen and Edna Jones and Ray and Joyce Uebergang Foundations, Susan Finnigan (Grants Officer) and Clive Wooster (treasurer). • In February 2017 the club filled the base of the boathouse and poured a new concrete floor. • They had an opening to thank the donors, especially the Gwen and Edna Jones and Ray and Joyce Uebergang Foundations and to celebrate with the community and rowers, past and present • Since 1996 rowers had to wade in foul, ankle to thigh high water to access the boat shed- this was for 3-5 months of every year- our facilities are now accessible and Warrnambool has a sporting venue for rowers that is safe and one the public can be proud of. • The Club thanked Barry Wilson for generously donating the plans and acknowledged the ‘term deposit’ raised over the last 10 years, by past and present members, which allowed the Club to contribute the additional funding required. • In particular The Foundations assistance made the project possible. The two philanthropic Foundations are a treasure for the community as they can step in and fill the gap where other funding sources cannot. In our case they were the major donors and we could not have contemplated this project without their assistance. We are truly grateful for the assistance of The Gwen and Edna Jones and Ray and Joyce Uebergang Foundation. • Mr James Tait, a director of both Foundations to unveiled the commemorative plaque. Color photograph taken at the opening of the Redeveloped City of Warrnambool Rowing Club. Includes a brass plaque. The people are L to R: Kathy McMeel (secretary), Annie Blanch (Boat Captain), Joanne Bone (president), James Tait (director of Gwen and Edna Jones and Ray and Joyce Uebergang Foundations, Susan Finnigan (Grants Officer) and Clive Wooster (treasurer).james tait, warrnambool, city of warrnambool rowing club, warrnambool rowing club, boathouse, boathouse redevelopment, gwen and edna jones foundation, ray and joyce uebergang foundation

This book was compiled by Sue Barnett at the request of the project participants from material gathered as part of the project "Beyond the Garden Wall". This project was devised and managed by a team at Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre Inc. with funding from the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development (VDPCD) under the "Images of Age' grant 2007. It involved conducting oral histories, reflection on the part of the participants through visual diaries, photography and painting. A short video of some of the gardens was also commissioned. All the elements came together during Seniors Festival in an exhibition held at the Augustine Centre, and opened by Jane Edmanson. At the request of the VDPCD, a modified exhibition was held in 2008 at 'Australia on Collins' during the 2008 Seniors Festival. Sue Barnett and Jo Reitze (Mrs de Carteret) are Surrey Hills residents. This provides a snapshot of 20 gardens and the 22 passionate gardeners who created them. The prose provides a potted history of the gardeners and their philosophical approach, accompanied by portraits of them and cameo photos of their gardens, as well as a photo of the painting of the garden as seen by artist Jo Reitze. All the gardens were situated within the City of Boroondara and all the gardeners were over 60 years of age. Prose written by Sue Barnett; photography by Sue Barnett and Jo Reitze.gardening, anecdotes, (ms) jo reitze, (ms) susan barnett, sue barnett, paintings, gardeners

This film documents part of the project "Beyond the Garden Wall". It was devised and managed by a team at Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre Inc. with funding from the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development under the "Images of Age' grant 2007.This video presentation focuses on gardening and its place in the lives of 22 seniors from across the City of Boroondara. The owners of the gardens speak about their earliest recollections of gardens and gardening, influences and inspiration, benefits and frustrations and above all its pleasures.gardening, boroondara, anecdotes, (ms) jo reitze, (ms) susan barnett, taxidermist, gardens, glenburn bend park, birds, (ms) julie morrison, (ms) ann scally, (mr) gary hegedus, (ms) nola sharp, (ms) carol blackett-smith, (ms) sheryl pascoe

Articles in annual report include: branch committees, President's report, finance report, balance sheet, hospital homes, community centre, welfare, volunteer service group, auxiliaries, life governors, guiding light appeal, Isadore Smith's bravery, Prime Minister Hon. J.G. Gorton opening the Ballarat section of the Guiding Light Appeal, Victorian Governor General Sir Rohan Delacombe the Bendigo section and Victorian Premier Sir Henry Bolte the Metropolitan section, Hubert Opperman being knighted in the Queen's Birthday honours, waiting list time for admission is 18 months - two years and are almost exclusively nursing cases as the peak for active aged recedes, erection of the two storey wing at Brighton thanks to grant from estate of the late Herbert Engelbert, the demolishing of the 100 year house at Brighton required for the extension, Mrs Laura Clarke - a resident of Mirridong - celebrated turning 102, and the need for additional room and accommodation for a resident caretaker has necessitated the purchase of a block of flats facing Glenferrie Road, with the assistance of the William Buckland Trust.16 pages of text and photographsassociation for the blind, isadore smith, e.a. soderstrom, miss tobias, annual reports

On June 15, 2007 Vision Australia Radio (formerly 3RPH) celebrated its 25th anniversary of broadcasting. Despite earlier broadcasts on community radio stations, a dedicated radio service for people who wanted to listen to in depth information on news and current events as well as serialisation of books had not eventuated. With the support of Commonwealth funding in 1982, stations were permitted to transmit on marine band frequencies in Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart. With the eventual movement of major stations to FM in the 1980s, provision was finally granted for RPH stations to allow them to move to the AM band in metropolitan areas. In the 1990's regional stations were established, later linking to provide the Vision Australia Radio network. Throughout all of these changes, volunteers have supported the radio station in a range of ways, including collating and reading the newspaper articles for broadcast, helping source interviews and program ideas, operating studio equipment as well as presenting programs themselves.38 digital images of the 25th anniversary of VARvision australia, 3rph radio station, vision australia radio, gerard menses, stephen jolley, pam adams, lynne kells, tim evans, roberta ashby, marj west, norm richards, vince september, norm rees, graeme dawson

This white Toyota Corolla is one of the fleet of cars driven by Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) Sisters to visit patients in the community to administer nursing care. 1985 was the centenary of the founding of the Melbourne District Nursing Society; founded in 1885; the Society was given Royal patronage in 1966 and became the Royal District Nursing Service. The Coat of Arms shown on the car was granted by the College of Arms in London in 1970. Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) has had various modes of transport over the last 130 plus years. At first, from 1885 as Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), their Trained nurses (Nurses) walked the streets and lane ways amid the slums of central Melbourne. As the Society expanded public transport was used, and bicycles were bought by the Society in 1903 and used in inner areas until 1945. During the Spanish flu epidemic, in 1919, MDNS appealed for assistance to procure Motor vehicles so the Nurses could visit an influx of cases. Through trusts, grants and donations four 'Ford T Model' cars were procured which enabled the Nurses to triple their visits. Through constant use the cars were in such a poor state two were sold in 1922 and the others later. In 1922-23 three Peugeot cars were purchased and a woman Chauffeur, 'Miss Sword', was employed who lived in the Home and was also in charge of the garage. MDNS was expanding and a Motor Auxiliary was formed in 1929 to take the Trained nurses (Sisters) to patients, and some Sisters used their own cars; even a motorcycle was used by one Sister in 1933. All these forms of transport were intermingled and in the early 1950s, and now as Melbourne District Nursing Service, seven Ford Prefect cars were bought followed by twelve Ford Anglia cars 1955. Having received Royal patronage; the now Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) had its own fleet of Holden vehicles by the mid 1960s and the Motor Auxiliary ceased operating in 1971 as by then all staff employed were required to have a driving licence. Seat-belts had been introduced to Victoria in 1959 and District fitted them to their cars from 1962, even though they did not become compulsory until 1970. The Holden vehicles were replaced with grey Holden Torana vehicles. After several years the fleet was changed to white Toyota Corolla vehicles. The Melways Directory of maps was introduced in 1966, which was a boon to the Sisters, though it was a few years before it went beyond Seville, so a large paper map was used by the Sisters visiting patients in the areas passed Seville. By 2009 there were 598 cars in the fleet and the Sisters travelled 9 million 200,000 kilometres – this is equivalent to 12 trips to the moon and back. Coloured photograph of the side on view of a Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS).white Toyota Corolla sedan displaying the RDNS Coat of Arms on the upper centre of the front door. The car is the same width all over and the flat bonnet joins to a sloping large front windscreen. on the side, at the level of the windscreen are two windows, above the metal body work of both doors. The roof runs from the top of the windscreen to the rear of the vehicle where it joins with a short back window which sits above a short boot. Part of the front grill and headlights either side of it are seen, and a bumper bar below this. A black tyred wheel with solid hub cap is seen under a wheel arch in the body work, at the front and rear of the vehicle.melbourne district nursing society, mdns, royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns crest, rdns transport

"The Mechanics Institute movement flourished in Victoria from 1839 to 1950. It was based on the development of Mechanics’ Institutes in Scotland and England from the 1820s, which were intended to educate and enlighten the working classes. The term ‘mechanic’ in those days meant an artisan, craftsman or working man, especially those who had moved from rural areas to work in new city factories during the Industrial Revolution. The early Institutes were usually equipped with a reading room, a library and a lecture room. Although enjoying mixed success in Britain, they contributed to the development of public education and library services. The movement was adopted more enthusiastically in the colonies. It began slowly in Victoria but its expansion after the gold rushes population influx was rapid, especially in rural areas. Every suburb and town wanted to have a Mechanics’ Institute. During the 1850s approximately forty Institutes were established, with even greater growth in the period 1860 to 1900. By 1900 there were 400 Institutes in Victoria. The establishment of a Mechanics’ Institute was often a great achievement for a local community, requiring organising committees to raise substantial funds for a building site (where this had not been granted by the Government), and the building. Once built, the committee then had to purchase books, provide a caretaker or librarian, and finance the ongoing use of and improvements to the building. ‘The history of many Institutes is a story of tremendous community effort, and often, financial difficulties’. In addition to being monuments to local enterprise and community life, the Mechanics’ Institutes played a vital role as an intellectual forum, and in contributing to an informed and participatory democracy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They provided journals and other reading matter on local, state, national and international issues, and hosted of lectures and held debates about wider issues such as Federation, colonial nationalism, defence, female suffrage, the price of land and labour. With the development of the school and technical education in the latter part of the nineteenth century, the need for community technical and adult education declined. As a result of the introduction of government library grants in 1867, many Mechanics’ Institutes incorporated a free library in their buildings to finance collection of their books. By 1884-85, there were 257 free libraries in Victoria. However, government support and library grants dropped off in the 1890s depression. Entertainment took on a greater role in the 1890s, with the introduction of moving pictures, billiards rooms, games rooms (chess), concerts and dances. The First World War had a devastating impact on many rural communities, and some Mechanics’ Institutes were no longer viable. On the other hand the early twentieth century was also a time of agricultural development, and many country towns were growing in this period. The 1930s depression further limited growth of many libraries and reduced grants substantially. In response many Mechanics’ Institutes were renamed, for example as memorial halls, in order to retain and attract more patrons (eg at nearby Sunbury). The diminishing role for Mechanics’ Institutes and the preference for larger and better appointed halls (with supper rooms, cloak rooms etc) resulted in demolition of some small Institutes. The advent of cars, radios, and television also provided other opportunities for recreation, learning and entertainment. The greater role of municipalities in providing library services also eroded the need for free libraries. While over 500 Mechanics’ Institutes or halls are extant, very few of these retain their original role as ‘diffusers of useful knowledge’. Most are still available for community purposes, as venues for meetings, socials, civic occasions etc, while others are employed as museums, shops and theatres. Most buildings are on Crown land, and managed by a delegated committee of management, who are responsible for raising revenue to maintain aging buildings. Many of those which were originally established on private land, such as Melton, have since reverted back to the Crown, and municipal Councils. The most common Mechanics Institute building form is the simple weatherboard gable building with iron roofs, notable for their ‘honest simplicity’ rather than as ‘monuments of the ancients’. At the other extreme there are some magnificent two storeyed brick and stucco structures with elaborate ornamentation (as was apparently envisaged by some in Melton in 1905-10)". The future of Melton Mechanic Institute Gazette articlelocal architecture

The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). Rob Andrew’s career was as an Environmental Health Officer with various councils around Victoria. As an Altona resident he became interested in the Truganina Explosives Reserve when he heard the site was to be sold. He was concerned that because of the prospect of commercial development the community would lose tranquil open parklands. Through his involvement with the Reserve he realised the historical, geomorphic, flora and fauna significance of the site. A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,VictoriaDigital copy of original cassette recorded in 2000 and digitised in 2018native grasses, explosives, cheetham wetlands, cheetham salt works, doug grant, chirnside, cliff gibson, lava plain, brown coal, sand ridges, selwyn fault, rowsley fault, victorian coastal strategy, aboriginal stone artefacts, aboriginal habitation, aboriginal remains, red gums, casuarinas, altona skipper butterfly, orange bellied parrot

William Grant was an early European colonist in the Bacchus Marsh township. Before arriving in Bacchus Marsh he conducted a bakery business in Melbourne in the 1840s. He arrived in Bacchus Marsh around 1850 and became successful in business and was prominent in many community and local government organisations. He died in 1884. Bound ledger book with hand written entries listing products and services provided by a bakery business conducted by William Grant in Melbourne. The entries cover the period 1842-1843.william grant 1813-1884, grant family bacchus marsh

Alec William Bond was Secretary and Engineer for the Shire of Bacchus Marsh from 1924 until his death in 1968. The position of Secretary was similar to a Chief Executive Officer in contemporary terminology. Mr Bond was a prominent figure in the Bacchus Marsh community for nearly 50 years and as Shire Engineer was responsible for the design of a number of local infrastructure projects including the buildings and water scheme at the Lady Northcote Children's Farm at Glenmore and the public swimming pool in Grant Street, A physical memento that recognises the long and notable contributions of an important local government official and their service to the Bacchus Marsh Shire and community.A sound block with a green felt base and inscribed brass plaque with accompanying small hardwood mallet in a cradle.Engraved text on a brass plaque which reads: Presented by May Bond and Family to the Shire of Bacchus Marsh in memory of Alec William Bond Shire Secretary & Engineer 1924 – 1968.alec william bond, bacchus marsh shire council, gavel and sound blocks, local officials and employees, local government

"A perpetual spring in the adjacent creek provided a steady supply of fresh water to the site on which the homestead is built. Although we can not be certain of the identity of the builder, the first stage of ‘The Willows’ homestead appears to have been constructed in the mid 1850s. The house is situated on Crown Allotment No.1 (No Section), Parish of Kororoit, an allotment of 5 acres 3 roods 4 perches. Although it had surveyed the land, the Crown did not offer it for sale until 22nd November 1861, at which time it was purchased by Charles March Williams. (Although the property is directly opposite and immediately adjacent to the Township of Melton, and was sold as ‘Suburban Allotment 33’, it was situated within the Shire of Braybrook rather than the Shire of Melton until 1917.) Considerable improvements had taken place on the land prior to the Crown sale. When CM Williams purchased the allotment in November 1861 he paid £23.5.0 for the land itself, and valued the improvements at £400. Even allowing for some exaggeration by Williams, this is an extremely high valuation for improvements, and must have included a house. Some local research has claimed that in 1858 Williams had taken over the interest of a Mr Parkinson in the property, and that Parkinson built the house upon taking possession of the land c.1855. It was definitely built by 1861, when a map shows a square building on the site marked as ‘House’. The property is important in the district for its association with the establishment of the pound. The district pound had been established in 1854, when George Scarborough of Mount Cottrell (Mt Cottrell Road, south of Greigs Road) was appointed pound-keeper. Scarborough resigned in 1857. The pound was moved to Melton following agitation from local farmers and Charles March Williams appointed pound-keeper on 26th April 1858. Williams, the son of a doctor, had been born in London. Reminiscences of local residents of the time, as recorded in the Express newspaper, note Williams’ success in breeding horses on the property. Sales of up to 60 guineas were noted. Whether this was from Williams’s own stock or from unclaimed pound stock is not made clear. Williams appeared before a government inquiry in 1860 and advocated registration of all stock brands in the State. Williams died in 1862 leaving a widow, Catherine, and five living children aged 15 years to five months. At the time of his death Williams had entered negotiations with one Matthew Devenish and had a mortgage of £100 on allotments 1 and 2, Parish of Kororoit. Catherine Williams was appointed pound-keeper on 2 September 1863, with her eldest son Charles as her assistant. Her tenure was short for on 22nd March 1864 George Minns senior paid Matthew Devenish £135 for allotments 1 and 2 Parish of Kororoit (considerably less than Williams had claimed the property was worth in 1861) and on the same day paid William Tullidge £45 for the adjoining allotments 3 and 4. In April 1867, James Ebden Minns, the newly married son of George senior became the owner of The Willows property having entered into a mortgage arrangement with his father to the extent of £200. At the time George Minns was residing in Kaarimba having left Melton in 1867 for a short trip to England and upon his return having taken up a selection in the Kaarimba district with his son Frederick who had a hotel licence there. James paid out the mortgage on 2-1-1873. James Minns was appointed pound-keeper in 1872; in 1885 the pound was moved elsewhere and Minns purchased the old pound site and added it to his farm. The Willows residence underwent a major change about this time. A two room extension, similar in style but with a lower elevation was added to the original rear of the house with a chimney matching the distinctive originals. Window arrangements did not match the original but became a feature of the façade when the new addition became the front of the building. Six buttresses were attached to the east and west walls of the old building, two to the south wall and the whole rendered with mortar to give the appearance of dressed stonework around the windows. Galvanized iron was placed over the shingles and a verandah added on three sides. By 1876 The Willows was the homestead for a thriving mixed farm of 340 acres of which 156 was rented from a H. Ruck. In October of that year the Australasian travelling reporter visited and reported on the property. In common with the nearly every other property in the district the farm had ‘recently’ (generally within the last two years) abandoned cultivation of crops, and turned over completely to cattle pasture. Butter making was the principal occupation of the farm, which had about 50 head of cattle, a large proportion of which were milking cows. The reporter also noted that a ‘large number of pigs are kept upon this farm and are found to be very profitable stock’. Their manure was used in an orchard and garden in which ‘large quantities of lucerne and prairie grass are grown for the use of stock when ordinary feed is scarce’. Two bores attached to deep brick lined wells supplied water for the house in addition to the farm. A commodious timber barn and necessary sheds had also been constructed. Access to the property was improved following the construction of the bluestone ford across the creek c.1887, when the recreation ground came into use. Prior to this date it may have been that the crossing referred to as ‘Mr Minns bridge’ was used. This appears to have been a flimsy structure and has but two references in Council reports in the Melton Express in the 1880’s. It is believed that in the late 1890’s a timber building was added near the rear of the building to house a kitchen, ablutions and laundry rooms and rooms for seasonal workers. This was attached to the house by means of a trellised walkway using the original front entry to the house (long since the back door). A photograph of this building appears in a local history of Melton. This was demolished in recent decades during the period when the house was tenanted (after the Minns family had left). James Minns son, George, took over the property following his marriage to Alice Walsh in 1903. James and Caroline moved into a house on the former JH Games property at the eastern end of Henry Street. George held the position of Shire Secretary for Melton for 40 years. He was a most prominent member of the community being Secretary to, among others, the Melton Coursing Club, the Shooting Club and the Cemetery Trust. He also rode with the hunting parties who sported across the Plains and were entertained at Mount Kororoit. George and Alice had one son, Norman who followed his father into local government and became Secretary of the Shire of Werribee completing a record term in this position. George retired to Werribee in 1951, where he died in 1965. The National Trust records note that James Ebden Minns and his sons were ‘leading men of the district, Justices of the Peace, and Shire Councillors’. It claims that Sir Thomas Bent was a frequent visitor. The Willows passed into the hands of George’s grandson, Bruce Minns and the property was let for a number of years. In the 1960s it became vacant and was subject to vandalism. Major structural problems arose with the part demolition of the roof, the loss of windows and doors and holes dug into and under the floorboards. The outbuildings were particularly targeted. Following widespread public support, the Shire of Melton purchased the house, with 3.75 acres of land, in 1972. In 1975 the Shire of Melton and the Melton and District Historical Society were successful in nominating the building for National Trust classification, and then the Australian Heritage Commission’s Register of the National Estate. The AHC particularly noted its ‘townscape importance’. It was envisaged that the farmhouse would form ‘a picturesque centrepiece to Melton’s planned … historical park, along with Dunvegan bluestone cottage … and similar structures as they become available.’ In a time of great Melton’s ‘satellite city’ development the Council spelt out its broader vision in its submission to the AHC: ‘Melton is destined to become, by the end of the present century, a city of between 75,000 and 100,000 people. Significant relics of the past, such as ‘The Willows’, regrettably will be rare in that situation. It is essential that sufficient tangible links with Melton’s pioneering days remain to promote in the new community a sense of history and continuity’. Under the direction of ‘The Willows’ Restoration Committee and consultant architect John Hitch, all outbuildings, with the exception of the garage and toilet, were demolished and the dwelling house restored. Finances were provided by the Shire of Melton and the National Estate Grants Program, and considerable amount of voluntary labour was provided by the local community. The orchard was removed, and remaining wooden buildings were relocated to provide an open vista for visitors to the Park. The property was furnished with donations from district families keen to preserve this example of pioneer life in the area. The Willows became the headquarters of the Melton and District Historical Society". Invitation to the family reunion at the Willowslocal identities, pioneer families

Elaine Mann was married to David Mann, a successful Wodonga businessman and community leader who passed away in Wodonga in June 2012. David was a member of the Mann family who began their business in Wodonga in 1920. Elaine was a teacher in Wodonga for many years and an active member of the community.This photo collection is of significance as it documents how the businesses and buildings in Wodonga have evolved and contributed to community throughout the late 20th century.This image is reproduced from a set of coloured slides. The Wine Café on High Street next to Woolworths Food Fair Supermarket. It was owned by the Costa family for many years, then taken over by Josephine Adams Bernardo Costa was born in Switzerland in 1829 and left his homeland for Sydney at the age of 27. He ventured south to the gold fields of Beechworth and Yackandandah. He moved to 1891. Bernardo applied for and was granted a wine licence on 24/14/1887 and established his Wine Saloon. After his death in 1915, the Wine Café continued to be operated by his daughters Annie, Angela and Gertrude. They also operated a boarding house behind the café. The business operated under a range of owners for approximately 72 years, closing in about 1963. It was estimated that hundreds of thousands of gallons of wines of all kinds were sold there. On façade of building "WINE CAFE"wodonga businesses, high street wodonga, woolworths food fair, peard plumbing, roy benson

Elaine Mann was married to David Mann, a successful Wodonga businessman and community leader who passed away in Wodonga in June 2012. David was a member of the Mann family who began their business in Wodonga in 1920. Elaine was a teacher in Wodonga for many years and an active member of the community.This photo collection is of significance as it documents how the businesses and buildings in Wodonga have evolved and contributed to community throughout the late 20th century.Melba Hall/old Shire Offices and Dr. Grant’s Surgery located on the corner of High Street and Melbourne Road. The building was constructed in 1890. Dr. Grant Sr.'s Surgery was in the house on the left. These were Wodonga’s second shire offices. The Wodonga Council operated from these chambers from 1890 until 1957 when they moved to Woodland Grove building. The Gas Company then took over the old Shire Hall. The entrance to the Melba Theatre is on the far right. The Melba Theatre screened its last film in 1968. The building was demolished in 1971 to make way for a Safeway supermarket and car park.On front of the building above door "GAS SUPPLY/ CO."wodonga businesses, high st wodonga, dr. grant, melba hall