First bridge over the Snowy River at Orbost built 1891Black and white photographic print showing early first bridge across Snowy River thick vegetation along river banks. Orbost Victoriabridges, waterways

This souvenir wine glass was made for celebration of the centenary of the Orbost Football Club in 1994. The Orbost football club players were known as the Busters and wore green and gold guernseys. An Orbost football team has participated in the East Gippsland League since the early 20th century. In 2003 in response to a dwindling population, the Snowy Rovers and Orbost Football Clubs were driven to merge into the Orbost Snowy RoversOrbost Football Club through its many changes has always been an important social fabric of the Orbost community. Sport is often regarded as an important part of life in rural Australia, contributing to community identity, sense of place, social interaction and good health. A clear wine glass produced for the centenary of the Orbost Football Club -1894-1994. On an oval (representing a football) is O F C with "ORBOST FOOTBALL CLUB" in a banner above and "CENTENARY YEAR 1894 -1994" in a banner below. all written in gold. On an oval (representing a football) is O F C with "ORBOST FOOTBALL CLUB" in a banner above and "CENTENARY YEAR 1894 -1994" in a banner below. all written in gold.souvenir wine-glass orbost-football-club

This minute book was used by Mrs J. Trewin as secretary of the Ladies Social Committee of the Orbost Rifle Club.The Orbost Rifle Club existed in the early 20th century. (There are records from 1900). It folded in the late 1970's. It had a substantial membership.A light blue covered book with a red cloth spine. It is a minute book used by the Ladies Social Committee of the Orbost Rifle Club.Label on front cover - Ladies Social Committee Rifle Club Secretary - Mrs J. Trewinminutes orbost-rifle-club mrs-j.-trewin ladies-social-committee

This photograph shows spectators watching the Orbost Races on the flat in 1899. Some of the earliest horse races were held on a course in a paddock belonging to Mr James Cowell at Jarrahmond. For a long time horse races were part of the Marlo Picnic Races. Bellagoogan on Majors Creek near Orbost was the site of the first race courseThis item is a pictorial record depicting the popularity of horse racing in Orbost in the late 19th century.A black / white photograph on a grey buff card. It is of a man on a horse holding a whip in his right hand. A horse with jockey is approaching. Spectators are standing on the right hand side under the trees.on front - "Finish Orbost Cup 1899: on back - "Mr Edlington"horse-racing-orbost sport recreation

Used by students at Orbost High School c. 1970s, 1980s.Orbost High School / Orbost Secondary College has played a significant role in the education of senior students in the district. It is the sole institution for secondary education. This item is representative of its history.Navy blue vinyl school bag with yellow piping, 1970s, with Orbost High School badge embossed on one side. It has an adjustable handle strap, a compressed board base with five studs on bottom side.Orbost High School badge embossed on outside.orbost-high-school school-bag

John Rowe began his teaching career at Orbost and Jarrahmond in 1886, a career which continued at Orbost until 1908 when he retired due to ill health. He began teaching at Orbost, (initially part-time with Jarrahmond) on 10th May 1886, following the very short tenure of the first appointee, Campbell MacKay. (more information Newsletter June 2018 - Lois Crisp)This item is associated with the history of education in the Orbost district.A large enhanced photograph in black / white of the head and shoulders of a moustached man in a suit.on front - "John Rowe Esq, First Head Teacher of Orbost State School"rowe-john education-orbost

This ledger was used by the Shire of Orbost in the late 1950's - 1970's.The item was donated to Orbost & District Historical society from P.R.O.V. as a Place of Deposit (POD) item for safe keeping by a local history group or museum. The shire covered an area of 9,347 square kilometres and existed from 1892 until 1994 when it became part of the East Gippsland Shire Council. Orbost was at first included in the Bairnsdale Shire from 1882 and was later part of the Tambo Shire. Because of travelling distances the Croajingalong Shire was created in 1892 (name changed to Orbost Shire 17.2.1893 with James Cameron as the first Shire President. In 1994 it amalgamated to become part of East Gippsland Shire Council. The Country Roads Board was the government authority for the construction and maintenance of main roads in Victoria between 1913 and 1983. It was succeeded by the Road Construction authority on 1 July 1983 and later merged with the Road Traffic Authority on July 1 1989 to form the Roads Corporation. James Cameron, an Orbost farming pioneer and Member of the Legislative Assembly, fathered the Country Roads Board This item is a hand-written record of Orbost Shire Council accounts. It pre- dates computer records. The Shire of Orbost local council no longer exists having been absorbed by the East Gippsland Shire Council.A black ledger with wooden covers. It contains hand-written records of transactions between Orbost Shire Council and the Country Roads Board.bottom left corner - Orbost in black on a white East Gippsland Shire logoledger accounts shire-of-orbost country-roads-board

This photograph was taken at the 1937 Back to Orbost celebrations. Some of the family names recorded are: Boucher; Farquhar; Nixon; Richardson; Gilbert; Henderson; Rodwell; Herbert; Cameron; Reynolds; MacDonald; Cowell; Lyons; Warren; Pleydell; Ralston and Perry.This is a useful research tool. It is a contemporary pictorial record of Orbost residents in 1937.Two long black / white photographs of a large group of people standing or sitting outside a building. 983.1 has some names written underneath it. Both are on grey buff cards.on front - "Orbost Celebrations 1937 Back To School'orbost-back-to-celebrations-1937

A sports carnival was held annually in Orbost from the late 19th century onward. Usually the carnivals raised money for worthy local causes.Closer to the date, a program of events was published, including the prizes on offer and entries invited for the footrace and woodchop events, as nomination and acceptance fees applied. Entries for other events were taken on the day. The Sports Day would end with a concert in the evening. (info. Jenni York)This is a pictorial record of a significant annual event in the late 19th century in Orbost.A black / white photograph of a group of men wearing athletic clothing ready for a foot race. There is a large group of supporters standing behind them.on front - "Sports Day at Orbost"recreation orbost-sports day athletics foot-racing carnival

This photograph was taken at the Golden Jubilee of Orbost High School in 1962. Bert May is addressing crowds. Bert May served as the Member for Gippsland in the Legislative Council from 1957 until 1973. With earlier levels of schooling available at the Orbost State School or nearby schools of Newmerella and Jarrahmond School, it was not until April 1912, and after much campaigning from parents and other notable community members, that the Orbost Higher Elementary School was opened. Mr Richard Trembath was appointed the new Head teacher of Orbost Higher Elementary School and was assisted by Miss Olga Hirst. The senior class consisted of 26 pupils, and the junior class, 16 pupils. A limited curriculum was available which included lessons in Latin, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Geography, History, Drawing and advanced English. (info. from O.S.C. website.Orbost High School / Orbost Secondary College has played a significant part in the education of senior students in the Orbost district . It is the sole senior educational institution. A black / white photograph of Mr Bert May, on a stage, addressing an audience, most seated, some standing behind him.back - hand-written - "Orbost H.S. Jubilee, 1962 - Bert May".orbost -education orbost-high-school

This book was compiled by Margaret Smith a long time member of Orbost Historical Society and Slab Hut manager/volunteer.This book documents the education history of the Orbost district and is a useful research tool.The School Book - a display book containing the history and photographs of schools in the Orbost district from 1890 to 1959. The texts and photographs are in plastic sleeves.slab-hut orbost-education education schools

This account form was made for the Orbost Motor Garage owned by George Nixon. George Nixon (1862-1941) selected land in Bete Bolong in the 1890's. He married Emily Warren in 1889 in Orbost. He was a shire councillor. He was a prominent breeder of Clydesdales and after a serious fall off a horse walked with a walking stick and special boot for the rest of his life. He was well-known for his interest in cars, horse-racing and politics.He was married to Emily Warren in 1889 in Orbost. Mrs Nixon (Emily)was the first Red Cross president during WW1. They had ten children.both George and Emily are buried in the Orbost Cemetery. (ref:From White Knowle to Pumpkin Point by Hon Peter Nixon A.O.) This item is associated with a prominent Orbost family. George Nixon was the son of James and Alice Nixon. The Nixon families were among the earliest settlers on the Snowy River. It is an example of the early book-keeping of an Orbost business in the early 20th century.A white paper account form. It has black print, blue ruled lines and is unused. t the top is "Orbost Motor Garage" in black capital letters. document-book-keeping nixon-george

This ledger was used by the Shire of Orbost from 1892 - 1909. The item was donated to Orbost & District Historical society from P.R.O.V. as a Place of Deposit (POD) item for safe keeping by a local history group or museum. The shire covered an area of 9,347 square kilometres and existed from 1892 until 1994 when it became part of the East Gippsland Shire Council. Orbost was at first included in the Bairnsdale Shire from 1882 and was later part of the Tambo Shire. Because of travelling distances the Croajingalong Shire was created in 1892 (name changed to Orbost Shire 17.2.1893 with James Cameron as the first Shire President. In 1994 it amalgamated to become part of East Gippsland Shire Council. This is a hand-written record of the accounts of the local government. The Orbost Shire Council no longer exists having been absorbed into the East Gippsland Shire Council.A heavy ledger with a dark brown cover and lighter brown binding. it has marbled end covers and marbled page edges. It contains accounts records hand-written in ink.on spine in gold lettering - on a red square : "Ledger" - on a black square : "Shire of Orbost"accounts ledger orbost-shire-council

This photograph appears to have been taken during the construction of the rifle range just north of the Orbost township. "The photo shows the range stop butt being formed by the scoops being pulled by the horses. It appears that the rear of the mound there is a wall of logs lining it, most likely to help with being eroded or washed away. They haven’t yet formed the mantlet and target machines." ( Info, from Victorian Rifle Association) The Orbost Rifle Club existed in the early 20th century. (There are records from 1900). It folded in the late 1970's.Target shooting is one of the oldest organised sports in Australia. Records date back to the British Marines at Sydney Cove in 1788. The Victorian Rifle Association (VRA) was formed in 1860. After Federation in 1901, rifle clubs came under army control, but in 1921 they were reconstituted as a civilian organisation, which they have remained ever since. After World War I a system of national training was embodied in the Defence Act and the rifle clubs reverted to their purely sporting role. A black / white photograph of four men and four horses standing an a soil bank with another man, a lady and a small girl at the base of the hill. It is in a clearing in forest. It appears to have a row of targets set at the edge of the bank. The photograph is mounted on a very mouldy cream coloured buff card.on front - "Wood" ; "Rifle Range - 1901" ; "Orbost 1901"sport-shooting orbost-rifle-range

This photograph shows the floodwaters during the 1971 flood at Orbost. The two mahogany trees in the photograph stopped the Snowy River from changing its course. The 1971 flood was the the worst flood on record. At Jarrahmond it was at least 11 metres and up to one and a half kilometres wide on the flats causing enormous damage to the flood plain. Records say that "The brown floodwater stain in Bass Strait could be seen from passing airliners." Considerable damage was done to railway infrastructure, roads and farms. More information from the APRIL, 2008 newsletter by John Phillips. (see orbosthistory.com.au)This is a pictorial record of a significant event in the history of floods in Orbost.A black / white photograph of raging floodwaters at the bottom of the Orbost township.orbost-flood-1971

A Souvenir Booklet recording the Section photos and a Nominal roll of those who served 1942-45 at the Land Headquarters Cartographic Company, Australian Survey Corps located at "Fortuna Villa" Bendigo was produced at the end of WWII. Each member of the unit was presented with a copy of the booklet. The booklet besides being a great memory for those who served is a very valuable resource as it names the individuals in the photographs and very importantly records a Nominal Roll of unit members and their Military details. This booklet is one of those original booklets. The booklet has been reprinted on a number of occasions with different coloured covers. The first and original booklet had a red cover. Editions with brown, dark blue and black exist. The black covered edition was the last reprint. This booklet was donated by Carol Hargrave of Grenfell, NSW after discovering it in an old trunk that she purchased. A black covered edition was donated by a local Bendigo Antique Dealer in September 2024.A4 sized red cloth covered hard covered book mainly containing sub-unit photographs of section members and includes their names. 23 x double sided pages of photographs and 2 double sided pages of a Nominal Roll of those who served at Fortuna 1942 - 45. Each of the 50 pages were scanned at 600 dpi in JPEG (.jpg) format and stored on the attached 16GB USB Memory Stick. The images have been converted into MPEG-4 (.mp4) video format, 9Mb in size that runs for 4 Minutes and is also stored on the memory stick.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr

Pigs were taken to Bairnsdale by coaxing them with maize thrown from a wagonette . From Bairnsdale they were freighted to market by train. The journey to Bairnsdale took about five days . This method of transport continued until the rail line to Orbost was opened in 1916.This photograph is a pictorial record of farming practices in the early 20th century.A black / white photograph on a brown buff card showing pigs being taken to market. The photograph shows the pigs close up with men on horseback behind them. The pigs are on a gravel road with a fence on one side and and the Orbost flats can be seen in the background.on back - "Pigs being driven from Orbost to Bairnsdale. M.Gilbert, Orbost"agriculture farming-orbost pigs

Edward James Pardew died in 26/9/1927 aged 92. He came to Orbost from New Zealand in 1886 and selected 720 acres of hill land in the Brodribb area. He was a member of the first Orbost Shire Council. His daughter had a fruit & meat shop in McLeod Street. He was an inaugural vestryman of St James Church of England. One of the most prominent farmers on the Snowy was John Gilbert, a large landowner. His breeding establishment was at Tullagoota, about two and a half kilometres down the river from Orbost.Dairying in the Orbost district was once a mainstay of the farming community. Today the properties are fewer and smaller.Two black / white photographs of dairy herds. 3188.1 - on front - printed -"ORBOST EAST GIPPSLAND"; hand-written - :PARDEWS DAIRY & BARN" 3188.2 - on front - printed - " W. S. VOGT"; hand-written - "DAIRY HERD TALLAGOOTA< ORBOST"dairying-orbost agriculture-orbost pardew-dairy tallagoota-dairy

3154.1 is a postcard of the Orbost viaduct over the flooded Snowy River flats. 4153.2 is of a goods train on the viaduct. 3154.3 is of a loaded goods train with the driver at the window. Two men are standing on the plate and there are two workers below where there is some water and flood debris. 3154.4 is of amachine moving flood debris on the rail line. 3154.5 shows flood damage to the viaduct across the Snowy River flats. Two men are driving a dozer.This item is associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost.Five black / white photographs associated with the Orbost railway line during a flood.orbost-railway east-gippsland -railway orbost-floods

A user booklet from the Australian Army australia - armed forces - service manuals, booklet

A green coloured cover with the Australian Coat of Arms insignia in white at the top left hand side of the booklet. Ina a white oxed rectangular reads D.F.R.B. Booklet. Athe bottom of the booklet in black in reads Issued by the Defence Forces Retirement Benefits Board. There is a black thick line under this. There are two rusty staples holding the booklet togetheraustralia - armed forces - service manuals, defence force retirement benefits

On 24 January 1991 a severe hailstorm occurred in Orbost. The Insurance Council of Australia estimated the 1991 damage at $12 million.This is a contemporary record of a significant event in Orbost.The front and back page of The East Gippsland News dated Thursday January 1991. The main article is a photograph of the hailstorm damage to Nicholson Street in Orbost.hailstorm-orbost east-gippsland-news newspaper-article

These documents belonged to the Orbost Rifle Club.The Orbost Rifle Club existed in the early 20th century. (There are records from 1900). It folded in the late 1970's. It had a substantial membership.A light blue folder containing carbon copies of reports from the president of the Orbost Rifle Club from 1958-1964. The folder also contains correspondence from the Australian Rifle Association.orbost-rifle-club shooting documents

This book was compiled after an Orbost Historical Society bus trip to the site of the Prisoner of War Camp at Bete Bolong.This is a locally produced history book which is a useful reference for research into the history of Orbost.A 26 pp spiral bound book with a pale grey cover titled THE CURLIP NO 5, PRISONER OF WAR CAMP, Bete Bolong, Vic. 1943-1946. On the front cover in the top right hand corner is black sketch of a large paddle wheel with the P.S. Curlip in front of it. There is a coloured photograph of the view from the site of the P.O.W. Camp at the intersection of Bete Bolong and Buchan Roads.orbost-history bete-bolong ww11 prisoner-of-war-camp italian-prisoners

This photograph shows the show ring at the Orbost Annual Agricultural Show in 1907. The first meeting to form an Agricultural society in Orbost was convened by the then Orbost Progress Association and held in the Mechanics Hall on Saturday, 10th October 1891. Its first show was held on 3rd March 1904...on a site alongside the Bonang Road where the present Golf Club stands. It is currently held at the Recreation Reserve at Newmerella. (Ref: In Times Gone By-Deborah Hall) This item is associated with the Orbost Agricultural Society 's Annual Show which has been a major event in Orbost for over a century. Agricultural shows are an important part of cultural life in small country towns and the Orbost Show is an integral part of Orbost 's agricultural history. A black / white photograph of a large group of riders on horseback. They are in a paddock. In the background is a wooden building.on back - "Orbost Agric. Show Ring, 1907, Mrs A M Marshal East Bairnsdale"orbost-agricultural-show-event

This photograph was taken at the Orbost High School Golden Jubilee celebrations in 1962. It shows Crs Truscott, Mr R. Osborne (1960-1963 Orbost High School Headmaster, and Mr George Cameron.Orbost High School / Orbost Secondary College has played a significant part in the education of senior students in the Orbost district . It is the sole senior educational institution. A black / white photograph of three men in suits.on back - hand-written -" Orbost H.S. Jubilee, 1962, Crs. Truscott, Osbourne & Geo. Cameron"education-orbost orbost-high-school

3289.1 has been taken in the main street of Orbost - Nicholson Street. 3289.2 has been taken on the outskirts of Orbost and indicates that the town population at the time was 2800.These photographs are pictorial record of Orbost C1960s - 1970s.3289.1 is a black / white photograph of a main street with cars parked on both sides of the road and buildings on the left hand side. 3289.2 is a black / white photograph of town entry sign - "ORBOST POP. 2800".orbost-nicholson-street main-street-orbost entry-sign-orbost orbost-1960s-1970s

This album was used at the Orbost Visitor Information Centre (the Slab Hut). The Slab Hut (Orbost Visitor Information Centre) is an Orbost icon. This slab hut was built in 1872 as a family dwelling on a site about 3 km upstream from the junction of the Buchan and Snowy Rivers about 40 kms from Orbost on the Yalmy Rd. No nails were used in the construction; it was all wired together. After a period in storage the slab hut was opened in its present location in Orbost as the Information Centre in 1987.This item is a useful reference tool for the history of Orbost.A large photo album containing copies of photographs, some historical articles and b/w photos of Orbost. The covers are brown with a narrow gold frame. it has no spine and the covers are tied with tape. The pages, all different sizes, are bolted in.orbost-history album-photographs

These documents were used by the Orbost Rifle Club.The Orbost Rifle Club existed in the early 20th century. (There are records from 1900). It folded in the late 1970's. It had a substantial membership.A large plastic envelope containing miscellaneous documents and books from the Orbost Rifle Club. Documents include receipts, cheque books, correspondence, cards, rules and an unused match record book.documents orbost-rifle-club match-records