"On 5 July 1936, locals in Melton South saw a plane emerge from behind clouds above the railway station, in heavy wind and rain. Engine roaring, the plane went into a spin and disintegrated into pieces in mid-air, before crashing to the ground near Arnold’s Creek. The pilot, young Australian aviator Jimmy Melrose, and a passenger, Alexander Campbell, were killed.Jimmy Melrose was a popular figure in international aviation, having been the youngest and only solo pilot to finish the London to Melbourne Centenary Air Race in 1934. His death, at the age of just twenty-two, caused an outpouring of sorrow. He was honoured with a state funeral two days later at St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne, which was attended by thousands of people. Locals Maisie Arthur, Ted Wickham and Bill Cahill gave eyewitness accounts of the accident to the authorities, and an inquest found that it was the result of structural failure and poor weather. A cairn erected by locals near the scene was reconstructed by the Melton and District Historical Society in Brookfield, opposite the Melrose Memorial Reserve, on the 40th anniversary of the crash in 1976".Regional Gazette article of a cairn erected by locals near the scene of the plane accident which involved Jimmy Melrose, and passenger, Alexander Campbelllocal significant events, landscapes of significance

The ceramic insulators were used by the PMG to insulate telephone lines connecting to the lightstation accommodation. The installation of a single galvanised wire telegraph line in 1873 provided the lightstation with a vital link to the outside world via Morse code. In 1875, the Australasian Sketcher reported on the new facility, writing that ‘the lighthouse on the extreme point of the promontory is connected with Melbourne by a line of telegraph, and as a large number of vessels pass in sight of the lighthouse, useful information is gained respecting their movements’.The system was immobilised in 1885 when a thunderstorm caused some of the poles to explode and connection wires to fuse and turn into molten metal. During WWII the lighthouse line was upgraded to four copper wires, and in 1971 a radio link replaced the line. The lines required constant maintenance. Some poles remain along the length of the promontory’s Telegraph Track as reminders of this former communication link. Insulators can also be found in the collections at Cape Schanck; Cape Otway and Gabo Island. Comprises a white ceramic insulator attached to a rectangular metal plate.

A gold coloured metal Junior Legacy Club badge patch that was given to Junior Legatees. Date is unknown but probably from the 1950s or 1960s. This badge was donated to Legacy after it was found in an charity shop. It was photographed and sent to a former Junior Legatee as a replacement for their badge that had broken. No longer have an example in the archive.A record of the membership badge given to Junior Legatees when they joined Legacy.Gold Junior Legacy Club badge on a bar with safety pin and chain.Imprinted on back "Stokes".junior legatee, jlc, badges

A watercolour artwork of a soldier found in the archive. From the title it appears to be by Legatee Fred Holdsworth for an art show in 1965. He joined Legacy in 1957.A record of a Legatee.Watercolour on paper mounted on board of a soldier.Handwritten in green texta 'LEG AT EASE By RAAF No.54091 Holdsworth Fred C'. Handwritten in pencil on reverse 'Art Show 65'soldiers, fred holdsworth

An article by Legatee Syd Birrell about comradeship. The Legacy newsletter in the 1940s was aimed at the young junior legatees. It encouraged citizenship and values of Legacy. This article compared comradeship to dogs and cats. Cats being poor comrades and dogs being very unselfish. 'Legacy was founded on comradeship . . . In return for any help which may come your way through Legacy, it expects you to help yourself and your families. You must work hard at school or at your jobs. You must be cheerful and helpful in the home; courteous and comradely to your friends and business associates; regardful of the rights and comfort of other people at all times.'A humorous article written by a long serving legatee.Print out x 1 page of an article in the Legacy Newsletter in June 1949.comradeship, junior legatees, syd birrell

Found in an opportunity shop in Melbourne and purchased by the donor. 'Souvenirs in relation to the Chalet and Mount Buffalo were first mentioned in December 1912... A large range of souvenirs has since been associated with the Chalet and Mount Buffalo from crafted wooden items, silver spoons, cups etc... The collection includes a broad selection of products that have been sold throughout much of the Chalet's history, each representative of the transient fashions of their period.' (Pg 114. Historica) Tatra Inn was built in 1964, after an Act was passed in 1960 to allow private development leases in national Parks. The lease was terminated in 1975 and Tatra was taken over by the Government. Tatra was renamed the Lodge throughout the Belles 10 years management, from 1993.Listed in Draft Inventory of Significant Collection Items . Appendix A.3. Souvenirs. (Pg 168. Historica).A pair of ceramic mugs / goblets. The foot is black and the top of these mugs is sandy coloured with a black buffalo and a black inscription on reverse sideTATRA INN CRESTA MOUNT BUFFALO

The manufacture of firebricks is believed to have begun in Bacchus Marsh in the 1880s when William Thomas Wittick in partnership with a Mr Ackers, and later a Mr Telford, quarried a rich deposit of fire clay at Darley. In 1902 financial assistance was provided by David Mitchell a significant businessman and contractor from Melbourne and the business then expanded and became a major supplier of refractories for gas works in Melbourne, with side lines in moulded fire bricks for foundries and smelting furnaces and complete kiln lines for potteries. The business traded under the name Darley Firebrick Company and later as Darley Refractories Ptd Ltd and was in business for over 100 years. The tile (aka refractory) described in this record was possibly produced for use in very high temperatures (in excess of 1,000°F [538°C]) encountered in modern manufacturing. More heat-resistant than metals, they are used to line the hot surfaces found inside many industrial processes. The date the tile was produced is unknown.Rectangle shaped ceramic tile'Darley 26' inscribed within a circledarley firebrick company, refractory materials, wittick family bacchus marsh, william thomas wittick 1857-1939, darley refractories ptd ltd

Soft cover foolscap size book. 96 pages with b & w illustrations, images and maps (some folded). Part of Occasional reports series (Victoria Archaeological Survey) ; No. 27. Published by Department of Conservation and Environment, Melbourne, 1990. Author, Hilary Du Cros. BMDHS Loc. AR/SU5This study aimed to locate and document Aboriginal archaeological sites in the western region of Melbourne. This area was defined by the study as extending out from the western suburbs of Melbourne to the Brisbane Ranges and north beyond Bacchus Marsh. The specific aim of the study was to investigate the Aboriginal archaeology of the Western Plains area in the vicinity west of Melbourne. The Bacchus Marsh, Melton and Werribee shire boundaries of the time defined the areas of the study. The study contains extensive lists of the types of artifacts found the the locations where they were found. aboriginal australians victoria western plains, aboriginal artifacts, archaelogical sites victoria western plains, aboriginal artifacts bacchus marsh region

An electric lamp in the shape of the Legacy Torch with an orange glass flame. It was dedicated in a church service at St Paul's Cathedral in October 1973 as part of the 50th Anniversary of Legacy celebrations. At the Jubilee dinner afterwards several copies were given out to Legacy branches as in photo number 00452 (copy attached).A record that the torch emblem is highly revered and celebrated by the commissioning of a unique piece for Legacy Clubs in the 1970s.Gold coloured torch symbol made into an electric lamp on a wooden base with an orange glass flame. It has a white switch on the dark varnished wooden base and an electric cord about 2 metres long.Paper note found with the torch said it was dedicated in St Pauls on 7 October 1973 as part of the 50th anniversary.golden jubilee, 50th anniversary, torch

An article from the Melbourne Legacy Bulletin on the death of Legatee Brian Armstrong, a long serving Legatee and past president (1937). He was one of the founding group of Legatees, being enrolled in 1924, and served for 54 years. The Bulletin often published articles on Legatees when they passed away. John Henry Brian Armstrong was born 23 June 1894 and completed a law degree at Melbourne University. He served with the militia when at University and tried to enlist in December 1915. He was accepted into the Army Medical Corps in April 1916. He served in France and Belgium as a Lieutenant with 22 Infantry Battalion and was wounded near Dernacourt on 24th April 1918. He was wounded again and taken prisoner at Herleville, France on 18 August 1918 when leading a night patrol in an action in which the majority of the party were killed. For a number of years Brian was a Trustee of the Frances Ormond Estate, which was the genesis of The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). Along with Legatee Jim Gillespie (and Jim's grandfather) the trustees were identified with all the notable developments of RMIT. He remained a bachelor his whole life. He was one of the initial archivists of Melbourne Legacy. One of his speeches in 1961 gives an insight into why he became a Legatee. (see 02502)A record of the life and service of Legatee Brian Armstrong.Copy of 2 pages from the Legacy Bulletin on the death of Legatee Brian Armstrong in 1978.Bulletin No. VAW 2429. 19.9.1978. Pages 1 to 2.vale, past presidents, brian armstrong

An article from the Melbourne Legacy Bulletin of a Past Presidents' Day speech by Legatee Brian Armstrong, a long serving Legatee and past president (1937). It is poignant for it's insight into what he saw on the Western Front, in particular around Pozieres and the Windmill that had stood there and was destroyed in battle. He had recently visited France and recalled his personal feelings. “I have no doubt that each one of you had some special memory of war that is bound up with your membership of Legacy – some event, place or happening. This was one of mine – you will find the story in a book we all know ‘There goes a man’, a story of endurance, determination and incredible courage. The feeling came to me as I stood in that little enclosure that here began the long road that led to Legacy, for in the middle of that holocaust was the Victorian Brigade from which later came the first man of Legacy. I am certain that many splendid men, some of whom were my friends, whose last sight was that battered windmill, would, had the finger of fate but pointed another way, been original members of this Club. A question seemed to hang in the still air – not for me, for I was only a cypher, but for all of us for whom, in those or later years, the finger had pointed to ‘LIFE’ – what have you done to merit and repay your deliverance from this and similar ordeals." He was one of the founding group of Legatees, being enrolled in 1924, and served for 54 years. The Bulletin often published articles recounting the speech from the week before. John Henry Brian Armstrong was born 23 June 1894 and completed a law degree at Melbourne University. He served with the militia when at University and tried to enlist in December 1915. He was accepted into the Army Medical Corps in April 1916. He served in France and Belgium as a Lieutenant with 22 Infantry Battalion and was wounded near Dernacourt on 24th April 1918. He was wounded again and taken prisoner at Herleville, France on 18 August 1918 when leading a night patrol in an action in which the majority of the party were killed. For a number of years Brian was a Trustee of the Frances Ormond Estate, which was the genesis of The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). Along with Legatee Jim Gillespie (and Jim's grandfather) the trustees were identified with all the notable developments of RMIT. He remained a bachelor his whole life. He was one of the initial archivists of Melbourne Legacy. One of his speeches in 1961 gives an insight into why he became a Legatee. (see 02501)A record a speech that contained insight into the life of Legatee Brian Armstrong.Copy of 2 pages from the Legacy Bulletin on a speech by Legatee Brian Armstrong in 1961.Bulletin 28/02/1961. Pages 5 to 6.vale, past presidents, brian armstrong

A portrait of Stanley Savige, the founder of Legacy, by Ernest Buckmaster. It was presented to Melbourne Legacy in the late 1940s by the 24th Battalion. Ernest William Buckmaster was an Australian artist born in Victoria. He won the Archibald Prize in 1932 with a portrait of Sir William Irvine. He also served as an Australian war artist during World War II. A newspaper article at the time said it had been an entrant in the Archibald Prize (see item 00364).It indicates the high esteem in which Sir Stanley Savige was held by the Australian public for both his war service, and for founding Legacy, for him to be commemorated in a portrait at Legacy House by an accomplished artist.Colour oil painting of Sir Stanley Savige by Buckmaster.stan savige, portrait