Two rectangular black and white photographs of the Beechworth Mental Hospital (Mayday Hills) administrative building showing the left and right hand sides of the exterior building with three cars parked in driveway turning circle in the foreground taken in the 1950's by E. Yellard. Mayday Hills Hospital, originally known as the Beechworth Lunatic Asylum was constructed between 1864-67 designed by The Public Works Department. The hospital is made up of a number of buildings, landscaping, ha-ha, workshops, laundry, administrative facilities and farmland, it was constructed in 'Italianate' style by a team of up to two hundred and fifty workers (Woods p. 122). The asylum was established in response to the need for the regional shire to locally care for those particularly affected by their time working the Ovens goldfield during the Indigo Shire gold rush era where poor living conditions and isolation were significantly affecting the welfare of a great many people through poverty and lack of resources. The gaol and orphan labour systems were not able to effectively support to give housing, rehabilitation and ongoing care for the mentally ill, and transporting to Melbourne by waggon was a time consuming and counter-productive solution when the metro facilities were already overcrowded. According to Woods (A Titan's Field p. 122), between 1901 and 1911 a large percentage (thirty five percent in 1901 and twenty four in 1911) of the Beechworth population were either patients or inmates of Beechworth institutions, Mayday Hills accounted for some six hundred and seventy four patients in 1901, Beechworth's Mayday Hills was chosen as the site of Victoria's newest asylum, at the time, due to the landscape and altitude. The hilltop atmosphere and the native fauna, it was argued, would assist in the cure of the patients kept at the hospital (Wood 1985, 122). The positioning of the hospital had a beneficial effect on the rural town and the large volume of people living at the hospital and contributing to this population growth is counted as reason for the survival of Beechworth as a regional township. According to the Victorian Heritage database, during the period 1921-1950 Mayday Hills underwent some modernisation by Public Works Department architect Percy Everett which included a nurses' hostel and new ward which were further developed and continued to function as a mental hospital up until 1995 when it was sold to LaTrobe university. The building and grounds are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register under criterion A, B, D, E and F.These photographs give a good indication of the ongoing use of Mayday Hills from its original establishment in the 1860's through to almost one hundred years later when these photographs were taken. The clarity of the images combined with the style and make of the cars in the foreground give a good indication of the time period and show the continued use and need for the facility over the years. Through images of building facades such as these, we might gain fuller understanding of the structural and aesthetic characteristics to be used in any future development or restorative work.2 x black and white rectangular photographs [copies] printed on Ilford photographic paper8688.1 reverse: Beechworth / Mental / Hospital / 80% 19cm / 12 cm / 80% / 728 / New / Print / BMM / 8688.1 / E. / Yellard / [Stamped : ILFORD] 8688.2 reverse: Beechworth / Mental / Hospital / E. / Yellard / BMM / 8688.1 / [Stamped : ILFORD]administrative building, black and white photographs, beechworth, mental hospital, beechworth mental hospital, mayday hills, cars, 1950, e. yellard, the public works department, public works department, hospital, mayday hills hospital, beechworth lunatic asylum, lunatic asylum, asylum, ovens goldfield, indigo shire, indigo shire gold rush

Eastern Rosellas are multi-coloured medium-sized Australian parrots with distinctive white cheek patches. The Eastern Rosella is found throughout south-eastern Australia, from Queensland to Victoria, south-eastern South Australia, and eastern Tasmania. Despite their vibrant colours, Rosellas camouflage well into their surroundings when perching or when on the ground. The Eastern Rosella is found in open woodlands, grasslands, farmlands and remnant bushland. These birds are often found in urban habitats such as parks, gardens and golf courses. Early European settlers encountered the Eastern Rosella at Rose Hill, New South Wales, now Parramatta, and so they called it the Rosehill parakeet which became "Rosehiller", and eventually shortened to "rosella". This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century. This mature Eastern Rosella has a red head and breast, with a light green belly and distinctive white cheeks. The back is yellow-green with black mottling, the yellow-green turning green then to blue across the wings. The tail feathers are blue/black, with a red base on the underside. This specimen stands upon a wooden platform and has an identification tag tied around its leg.Label: 79/ Rose-hill Parakeet / See catalogue, page 22 taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, australian birds, rosella, eastern rosella, rosehill parakeet, rose-hill parakeet

Taken around 1858, depicting a row of five business buildings on a rocky, sloping hillside at New Town, with a view across to residences and open land. Businesses included, Joseph E. Bishop, Coach Builders; Straughair Duncan, Engineers, Blacksmiths & Farriers; Straughair Duncan, Beechworth Foundry; Wholesale & Retail Est. 1855, Mackenzie Family Store ; and T. Pratten, Grocer. Eleven men may be seen outside the Foundry building. The Mental Hospital can be seen in the background. Mark Straughair and John Duncan, established the Beechworth Foundry, Newtown in 1858 and went on to build an important industry, employing around sixteen men, after acquiring Alexander Roger's New Ford Street Foundry in the late 1860s. Making and repairing mostly mining and agricultural machinery for the Ovens District and a Beechworth brewery, the business continued to function after Straughair's death in 1882, up until the death of Duncan in 1896, when the business folded. This photograph is historically significant because it shows the development of the businesses in Beechworth from the early establishment of the town.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on photographic paperReverse: [Agfa wordmarks: diamond-shaped watermarks for Agfa photographic paper] 1997.2642/ refer to/ 1997 2650/ 3056joseph e. bishop, mark straughair, john duncan, mackenzie family store, beechworth foundry, coach, coach builder, engineer, blacksmith, farrier, t. pratten, beechworth grocers, grocer, new town, newtown beechworth, newtown, foundry, 1858, local business, new ford street foundry, alexander rogers, victorian agricultural history, mining machinery, beechworth brewery, ovens district, mayday hills mental asylum, beechworth mental hospital, beechworth mental asylum, mental hospital, mental

This specimen is from Barefoot Hills, Victoria. Sandstones are economically important as major reservoirs for both petroleum and water, as building materials, and as valuable sources of metallic ores. Most significantly, they are the single most useful sedimentary rock type for deciphering Earth history. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.A sedimentary rock composed mostly of quartz sand. Sandstone is the second most common sedimentary rock after shale. Sandstones consist of sand-sized grains principally quartz, feldspar and rock fragments. The two major classes of sandstone are arenite and wacke. the colour of sandstone varies from grey, yellow, red and white reflecting the variation in mineral content and cement and is gritty to touch (like sandpaper).Geological survey / R.... S 61 / Loc Bareboot Hills / Sheet / 24SE / 94 /burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, beechworth museum, geological, geological specimen, mineralogy, sandstone, yellow sandstone, victoria, barefoot hills

Doug Craig was born in Beechworth but had lived in Stanley. His parents had been in Stanley since the 1850's. He went to secondary school in Beechworth. His family roots are from France and Scotland. Doug gave an account of his younger years as a student at Beechworth in the post war periods of 1959 to 1953, his employment and the culture within companies he worked for, the changes brought by the new drug era, working in the hospital, This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.beechworth, mental hospital, drugs, burke museum, stanley state, hospitals, hospital patients, cocky's loft, may day hills, may day

Mrs Pam Croswaite was born 1928 in Beechworth. Her father was one of the Zwar brothers who co-owned the Beechworth Tannery until it was sold in the 1950s. Her grandfather was the founder of the Zwar Bros. Tannery and one of the first car owners in Beechworth. Pam went to university to become a pharmacist, studying in Beechworth and Melbourne. She returned to Beechworth to raise her family after quitting her work and travelling with her navy husband to England twice. In 1984 she returned to work as a pharmacist at Mayday Hills psychiatric facility, the former 'Beechworth Lunatic Asylum'. Her grandfather, on her mother's side, was the former superintendent of the psychiatric facility. She retired in 1993, but remained active in the community in the choir and book clubs. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Pam's story is significant because of her familial links to the Zwar Bros, who owned the tannery and employed a large percentage of the township and her work as a pharmacist in the Mayday Hills facility. She was the granddaughter of the tannery's founder and daughter of one of the three brothers who owned it until the 1950s. She become a pharmacist after studying in Melbourne and via correspondence from home, which demonstrates how university study was conducted in the 1940s. She worked in the psychiatric facility Mayday Hills, the former 'lunatic asylum', as a pharmacist after her separation form her husband from 1984 to 1993. Pam's story also demonstrated the expectation of women to leave their work to raise their families and the general expectations of women during the 1930s,40s and 50s. The project is significant because it records locally important stories and memories of the township in the 1900s. By recording the memories of some of the older members of the community, information on Beechworth's evolution as a township can be preserved. This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.beechworth, burke museum, beechworth lunatic asylum, mayday hills, zwar bros. tannery, beechworth tannery, pharmacist

Mrs Sheila Parkinson was born in Wagga in 1916 and came to Beechworth as a young woman around 1938. Sheila trained as a psychiatric nurse at Mayday Hills hospital prior to the second World War. At that time, unmarried women were accommodated and received nursing training on-site. Shiela was obliged to cease professional training and employment when she married in 1941, which disrupted completion of her final nursing examinations. Following post-war changes to the law that allowed married women to work, Sheila returned to Mayday Hills. Sheila's husband, Don, returned to Beechworth after four years abroad as a serviceman in the Australian Air Force. Beechworth's institutions were a major source of local employment throughout the twentieth century. As well as providing limited employment opportunities to young women like Shiela, post-war European migrants from Bonegilla Migrant camp found at Mayday Hills, encouraging European migrant settlement in the district. Mayday Hills was renamed several times since its establishment in 1867. At the peak of operations, it comprised sixty-seven buildings housing over twelve hundred patients patients and five hundred staff. The hospital officially closed in 1998. Today, the decommissioned two-storey Italianate style main building stands on eleven hectares of botanical gardens under National Trust protection. The site remains a popular cultural heritage destination for visitors. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. The cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Employed as a psychiatric nurse at one of Beechworth's large welfare institutions, Mayday Hills, Mrs Sheila Parkinson recalls the conditions faced by staff and patients at the hospital, which cared for chronically ill people from the Ovens region and patients from the Yarra Bend Asylum, Melbourne, which closed in 1925. When Sheila first began her nurse training, Mayday Hills suffered from a lack of resources and rudimentary facilities and patients frequently suffered from the cold due to poor heating and inadequate clothing and bedding. However, as the twentieth century progressed, Sheila recalls how conditions and treatments improved as a result of increased government funding of services and advances in psychiatry and pharmaceutical medicine. Mrs Sheila Parkinson's oral history recording is historically and socially significant for its witness to life in Beechworth in the pre- and post-WWII period. Sheila's story enriches our understanding of processes of modernisation with regard to psychiatric and welfare services, while the course of Sheila's professional training and employment brings attention to systemic and socio-economic barriers faced by women, as well as the valuable contribution women and migrants make in the delivery of care and ancillary services. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the twentieth century, many of which would have been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mrs Sheila Parkinson /twentieth century beechworth, mayday hills, psychiatric care, benevolent asylums, nursing, wwii, psychiatric treatment, country women, psychiatric hostpital, beechworth's institutions, local employment, government institutions, listen to what they say, oral history, burke museum, sheila parkinson, beechworth lunatic asylum, beechworth mental hospital, beechworth hospital for the insane, the kerferd clinic, bonegilla migrant camp, working women, white australia policy

Mavis Jensen (nee Knight) was born in Broadford in 1920 and came to Beechworth with her family a year later, so her father could assist his father at Knight's Blacksmith at 1A Camp Street, where the Hotel Nicholas is now located. Mavis Jensen left school at the age of 13 and worked as a kitchen maid at Ovens Benevolent Asylum. She was employed as a ward assistant at Mayday Hills Hospital from 1939 to 1980, except for 1958-59 when she gave birth to her son, Noel. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Mavis Jensen's account of her life in Beechworth and the local area during the 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. She details important historical events and hardships in the region's history that had a lasting local, regional and national impact, including Australia during war time, economic struggles, and women's societal roles in a rural area. Her oral history is particularly significant for its insights into developments in psychiatric patient treatment and care in regional Victoria, as well as women's work conditions in the mid-twentieth century. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mavis Jensen /listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, jensen, mavis jensen, psychiatric hospitals, mid-twentieth century psychiatry, regional hospitals, regional mental health care, mid-twentieth century women's working conditions, mayday hills hospital., ovens benevolent asylum, beechworth hospital history

Mrs Beth Miller was born in February, 1924 in Latvia. Her family left for Germany after Russian occupation was implemented in Latvia, and eventually sailed for Australia from Naples, Italy in 1949. A working contract and position at the Mayday Hills Mental Hospital brought her to Beechworth, where she settled with her husband and parents. Mrs Miller recounts the daily work in the Mental Hospital during the 1950s, life in Black Spring and the isolation of the immigrant experience. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Mrs Beth Millers account of her life in Beechworth and the local area during the 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. She gives important insights into the life of post-war European immigrants in the area. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mrs Beth Miller /beechworth, beth miller, miller, listen to what they say, jennifer williams, oral history, latvia, bonegilla, immigration, mayday, mayday hills, mental hospital, asylum, black spring, bakery, lutheran, immigrant

Barry Pope left Melbourne at the intentions of travelling around Australia, met a local girl in Beechworth and decided to stay. He worked firstly in logging operations at the mill in Stanley, had some bartending jobs at Beechworth hotels, then got a job as a kitchen-hand at the Mayday Hill Hospital. Taking up new opportunities to advance his career and earning potential, he trained as a prison officer, working for several months at Pentridge Prison and Fairlea Women's Prison in Melbourne. He then returned to Beechworth to work in the prison system. In his story Mr Pope discusses many aspects of prison life for both prisoners and prison officers, from the food and daily routine, attitudes to discipline and rehabilitation, industries and opportunities available to prisoners and how prisoners were viewed in society after their period in prison was finished. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Barry Pope's account of his career is historically and socially significant as it details practices within the prison industry in the Twentieth Century as well as the operations of regional hospitals. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Barry Pope /beechworth, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, stanley mill, logging, hotel wentworth, oral history, hospital garden, mayday hill hospital, met hospital, social welfare department, loyola, lyolla, pentridge prison, fairlea women's prison, prison officer training, drug crimes, prison daily life, prison farm, prison wood workshop, prison industry, prison escapes, beechworth prison, prison suicides, prison violence, prisoner attitudes to crime, mental health, isolation cells, walking dog scheme, guide dogs, prison concerts, prison plays, george smee, prison food, prison officer accommodation

Born on the 24th of December 1912 at the Three Mile was Wilma Wells. Her mother born into English heritage bore four children, one who died shortly after birth, while her father had Irish heritage and worked at May Day Hills as a warden and a nurse. Wilma married Ted Wells when she was 23 and subsequently had two daughters. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke. Wilma Wells account of her life during the 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of Beechworth and the surrounding regions. She details important historical places and hardships within the region that have a lasting impact which includes but is not limited to issues with race, women's societal expectations and economic struggles. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mrs Wilma Wells /beechworth, may day hills, oral history, burke museum, wilma wells, hospital, listen, weddings, three mile, picnic

Isabel Wells was born in Beechworth in 1914. Her father, Mr. Newey, was a butcher; his shop was in Ford street and he took over from his grandfather. The family business, along with the local residents, was supplying the main government institutions in the region, like Mayday Hills Hospital and The Ovens and Murray Home, making a large percentage of his profit. Mr. Newey was also a captain of the fire brigade and Isabel mentioned that there were more fires happening in those days. The menace of a huge fire was impending in Beechworth for many years, due to the lack of adequate water supply and the absence of trained firefighters. The first fire brigade in the town was voluntary and was formed in 1858 under Superintendent Luke Reilly. A few other schemes deployed the following years, with all failing to sufficiently control the fires that occurred, until the creation of the first reliable fire brigade in the 1870s. The worst fire in the town's history happened on 23rd March 1867; it swept through many shops and the post office, leaving behind a damage cost estimated at £12,000. Isabel's mother was in a wheelchair, suffering from osteoarthritis; thus, Isabel had taken over the responsibility for looking after her mother and assisting her with daily living needs and personal care activities. She used to play golf and tennis and she was a member of the town tennis club. In terms of social life, Boxing Day was a big occasion for the town, with horse-races and games taking place. According to her narration, the use of cars was a turning point in the town's social activities, since people were able to visit nearby places and take day trips, such as having a picnic at Lake Kerferd or Buffalo. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke. Isabel's account of her life in Beechworth and the local area during the 20th century is historically and socially significant as it offers valuable information about the business activity in the region and provides a deeper insight into the operation of butcher shops and meat supply during the first half of the previous century. Additionally, it offers invaluable information about the everyday life of people living in Beechworth, and highlights aspects of the overall social life and activities.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mrs Isabel Wells/ isabel wells, beechworth, mr. newey, ford street, butcher, mayday hills hospital, the ovens and murray home, fire brigade, 23rd march 1867, fire, osteoarthritis, boxing day, horseraces, lake kerferd, buffalo, picnic, cars, firefighters, luke reilly, wheelchair

Child-size rocking horse made and sold by a patient of Mayday Hills Asylum. Purchased in 1978 and used by a family for generations.Mayday Hills Asylum was one of the three largest psychiatric hospitals in Victoria, and played an important role in the treatment of mental health illnesses from its establishment in 1867 to its closure in 1995. As part of prescribed treatment, many patients participated in craft activities were they were able to create an array of objects. A small wooden rocking horse painted in green, white and brown, with carpet lining on seat.beechworth, burke museum, mayday hills asylum, rocking horse, children's toys

A knitted handbag made by patients of Mayday Hills Asylum.Mayday Hills Asylum was one of the three largest psychiatric hospitals in Victoria, and played an important role in the treatment of mental health illnesses from its establishment in 1867 to its closure in 1995. As part of prescribed treatment, many patients participated in craft activities were they were able to create an array of objects. A blue and white knitted handbag with cane handles, made by a patient of Mayday Hills.beechworth, burke museum, mayday hills asylum, knitting, handbag, bag, craft, fibre art

The first settler to occupy the Marlo township area was James Stirling around the year 1875. He built a bark hut on the bluff that had two rooms, bark walls, earthen floors and a shingle roof. By 1884, this structure had expanded to a 9 roomed accommodation house and in 1886 became the Marlo Hotel when a liquor license was granted. The Governor-in-Council declared Marlo to be a township on 18 February 1889. During May 1889, the government surveyor, E.L. Bruce set out 19 sections of the new township, with the first sales of subdivided land occurring the following May. At this time, Stirling's Marlo Hotel was the unofficial hub for the community. It was a general store, accommodation house and the unofficial post office, with settlers taking turns in bringing the mail from Orbost or Cunningham. This continued until Aug 1942, and in 1969 was located in a house adjacent to the Marlo Hotel, before being transferred to the Marlo General Store in this year. The official Post Office List states the Marlo Post Office opened around 1902. in 1925, the "Marlo House" (a nine room accommodation guest house) was granted a liquor licence. The "Marlo House" became "The Marlo Hotel". The Marlo Hotel was popular with many Orbost and district settlers, who travelled to Marlo by horseback or buggy. The Marlo Hotel, perched on the hill overlooking the estuaries and the entrance is a significat building in Marlo. Established in 1886, it has been operating for over 120 yearsA black / white photograph of the Marlo Hotel. Patrons are standing on the verandah and lawns. A horse-drawn carriage is on the left. The photograph is on a green buff card with a rough edge on R H side.on back - " Old Marlo Hotel"marlo-house marlo-hotel stirling-james

The first settler to occupy the Marlo township area was James Stirling around the year 1875. He built a bark hut on the bluff that had two rooms, bark walls, earthen floors and a shingle roof. By 1884, this structure had expanded to a 9 roomed accommodation house and in 1886 became the Marlo Hotel when a liquor license was granted. The Governor-in-Council declared Marlo to be a township on 18 February 1889. During May 1889, the government surveyor, E.L. Bruce set out 19 sections of the new township, with the first sales of subdivided land occurring the following May. At this time, Stirling's Marlo Hotel was the unofficial hub for the community. It was a general store, accommodation house and the unofficial post office, with settlers taking turns in bringing the mail from Orbost or Cunningham. This continued until Aug 1942, and in 1969 was located in a house adjacent to the Marlo Hotel, before being transferred to the Marlo General Store in this year. The official Post Office List states the Marlo Post Office opened around 1902. in 1925, the "Marlo House" (a nine room accommodation guest house) was granted a liquor licence. The "Marlo House" became "The Marlo Hotel". The Marlo Hotel was popular with many Orbost and district settlers, who travelled to Marlo by horseback or buggy. In the early 20th century the hotel advertised itself as " Under Vice-Regal Patronage. Situated on High Cliff, fronting Ocean, Lakes and Snowy River. Those in search of Health, Rest and Sport should visit Marlo. Boating, Fishing, Shooting, Bathing, Golf. Comfort and Convenience at Marlo Hotel, near Orbost, East Gippsland. Nixon's Cars would meet the train at at Orbost. Fare---6s single, 12s return. Telephone No. 1, Marlo. S, P, STEWART, Proprietor." The Marlo Hotel, perched on the hill overlooking the estuaries and the entrance is a significant building in Marlo. Established in 1886, it has been operating for over 120 yearsAn original black / white photograph and a black / white copy of a party being held under trees on the lawn of the Marlo Hotel. It is a postcard with advertising of Marlo on the back.on back - "Where to spend your holiday - Marlo" on front - "Vice Regal Party at Hotel, Marlo"marlo-hotel

The first settler to occupy the Marlo township area was James Stirling around the year 1875. He built a bark hut on the bluff that had two rooms, bark walls, earthen floors and a shingle roof. By 1884, this structure had expanded to a 9 roomed accommodation house and in 1886 became the Marlo Hotel when a liquor license was granted. The Governor-in-Council declared Marlo to be a township on 18 February 1889] During May 1889, the government surveyor, E.L. Bruce set out 19 sections of the new township, with the first sales of subdivided land occurring the following May. At this time, Stirling's Marlo Hotel was the unofficial hub for the community. It was a general store, accommodation house and the unofficial post office, with settlers taking turns in bringing the mail from Orbost or Cunningham. This continued until Aug 1942, and in 1969 was located in a house adjacent to the Marlo Hotel, before being transferred to the Marlo General Store in this year. The official Post Office List states the Marlo Post Office opened around 1902. in 1925, the "Marlo House" (a nine room accommodation guest house) was granted a liquor licence. The "Marlo House" became "The Marlo Hotel". The Marlo Hotel was popular with many Orbost and district settlers, who travelled to Marlo by horseback Perched on the hill overlooking the estuaries and the entrance, the Marlo Hotel is a significant building in Marlo. It was established in 1886 and has been operating for over 120 years,A black / white photograph of Marlo House with staff and patrons standing and sitting on the verandah.on front - "H.S. Marlo House"marlo-house marlo-hotel

This photograph is of a cutting on a road at Bete Bolong known as Hofen's Cutting. This photograph was taken c. 1906 when transport was by horse, wagon and prior to cars and railways.This is a pictorial record of early Bete Bolong showing a road through a cutting which was known as Hofen's cutting. Two black / white photographs showing a dirt road heading down a cutting with a post and rail wooden fence on the left side in the background. In 958.1 there is a cut - away hillside beside the dirt road.on back - "Newmerella" (note: this location is at Bete Bolong and not on Newmerella Hill) 958.1 - on back - "Hofen's Bluff 1906"bete bolong, orbost, tracks/roads

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

Marlo was once a very busy port. Goods needed by the early settlers were carted by sea-going vessels to Marlo. At the Marlo wharf goods were unloaded from the large vessels onto barges and towed by paddle steamers to Orbost. (information - In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall)The Marlo Hotel, perched on the hill overlooking the estuaries and the entrance is a significant building in Marlo. Established in 1886, it has been operating for over 120 yearsA black / white photograph of the Marlo landscape. In the background is the Marlo Hotel. Appears to have been taken from Corringle looking out over ocean and Snowy River. The Marlo Hotel can be seen on the right.Thon front - "Marlo from Sand Hummock"; "Bulmer copyright"marlo-landscape marlo-hotel-township

This is a photograph of Councillor Charles Henry Grove who represented South Riding on the Orbost Shire Council. from 1893 - 1901. He was president in 1893-1894, 1895-1896 and 1900-1901. He also served on the Tambo Shire prior to the formation of the Croajingolong / Orbost Shire. Charles Henry [Carl] Grove died on 17/4/1938 at Box Hill at the age of 88 and was buried in Orbost. Prior to coming to the Snowy River district, Carl worked as overseer on Buchan Station. In 1880, he selected land at Newmerella after first coming here in 1874 with early selector James A Robertson. He married Annie Robertson in 1876. Carl was a farmer, hop and seed grower and nurseryman. He was an elected Councillor of the newly formed Tambo Shire in 1882, and then in 1892 to the Orbost Shire where he served for many years filling various public roles. In 1911, he shifted to Queensland, but later returned to Victoria and died at Box Hill. (info. Newsletter 113)This item is associated with the Orbost Shire Council. 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. It is associated with Carl Grove, a prominent early Orbost citizen.A black / white head and shoulders portrait photograph of a bearded man in a suit. There is also a framed copy.grove-charles-henry grove-carl orbost-shire-council

There is no information with this item. The Blays had a property on the opposite side of Lake Tyers C 1910 - 1950'This is a pictorial record of Lake Tyers in the early 20th century.A black / white photograph / postcard of a horse and coach with two young girls standing on a hill behind the coach, two men are sitting on the hill in front of the coach and two men beside it.on front - "Blays - Lake Tyers" on back is a letter beginning "Dear Albert......"lake-tyers blay-lake-tyers

This is a photograph of Councillor Charles Henry Grove who represented South Riding on the Orbost Shire Council. from 1893 - 1901. He was president in 1893-1894, 1895-1896 and 1900-1901. He also served on the Tambo Shire prior to the formation of the Croajingolong / Orbost Shire. Charles Henry [Carl] Grove died on 17/4/1938 at Box Hill at the age of 88 and was buried in Orbost. Prior to coming to the Snowy River district, Carl worked as overseer on Buchan Station. In 1880, he selected land at Newmerella after first coming here in 1874 with early selector James A Robertson. He married Annie Robertson in 1876. Carl was a farmer, hop and seed grower and nurseryman. He was an elected Councillor of the newly formed Tambo Shire in 1882, and then in 1892 to the Orbost Shire where he served for many years filling various public roles. In 1911, he shifted to Queensland, but later returned to Victoria and died at Box Hill. (info. Newsletter 113Carl Grove was a prominent early Orbost citizen.A small square head and shoulders photograph of a man. It is attached to a white card with tape.on front - "Mr C. Grove"grove-charles

According to records searched, Donald John Hatton was born born in 1899 in Perth. His father was John and mother was Annie Rebecca Perry Hendon(?) He died in Victoria, aged 78, at Box Hill. This photograph could be related to the Rev, L. W. Hatton and Mrs. Hatton formerly of Healesville Presbyterian Church. They left there in January 1947 to take over Mr. Hatton's new charge at Orbost..A black / white photograph on a cream coloured buff card with red print at the bottom. It is of a small child sitting on a chair with a large dog sitting at the child's feet. on back - "Donald John Hatton, Xmas 1899" on front - "Tesla Studios 464 Hay Street Perth"hatton-donald-john

This is a 2nd edition of an earlier print, 1978. It has been revised and edited by John Phillips for the Orbost & District Historical Society in 2010. Harry Grosvenor was the headmaster at Newmerella School from 1962 to 1972. Harry was deeply involved in the 1978 publication by the Newmerella Progress Association called: Newmerella - Valley of Plenty. The book is a pictorial history of the early Newmerella district ( west of the Snowy River ).This is a local history book written by Harry Grosvenor a local author.A paperback book, titled Newmerella Valley of Plenty. The front cover is brown with white text and has three b/w photographs of the Snowy River flats as sen from the Newmerella hill. One is a photograph of the railway line with a steam train on the rail viaduct. newmerella-history

This photograph was captured sometime between an estimated 1940s-1950s. It depicts the Beechworth Benevolent Asylum (later the Ovens and Murray Hospital for the Aged) which was built in 1862. It is located on an elevated site in Beechworth, Victoria because it was believed the height was beneficial to the health of the patients at the Benevolent. Later wings were added to the original building between 1867 and 1890. The building was constructed in an unusual Flemish Gothic Revival style which contrasts with the classical style of the Mayday Hills Hospital in close proximity to the Benevolent. The Hospital was designed in Italianate Revival architecture. The appearance of buildings like the Mayday Hills Hospital and the Ovens Benevolent Asylum are representative of the importance of Beechworth as a town shortly after the goldrush. During the 1850s and 1860s, administration buildings were erected alongside churches, shops and structures of justice. This marks a movement away from the "chaotic" structure of life on the goldfields and towards a more civilised and cultural lifestyle. This social phenomenon is also witnessed in Melbourne with the creation of buildings like the State Library and the University of Melbourne. The Beechworth Benevolent Asylum was renamed the Ovens Benevolent Home in 1935. The Asylum had been set up to provide accommodation and care for permanently injured gold miners, and for women and children who were penniless, homeless, or whose parents were guests of the state. In 1954 it was renamed as The Ovens and Murray Home (as pictured in this photograph). The purpose of this building was to provide a refuge for the poor and destitute, homeless older men, deserted women and children along with providing care for the mentally ill. These buildings were built at the government's expense and are of great historical and architectural significance.This photograph depicts the Ovens and Murray Home (previously the Ovens Benevolent Home) during the 1940s or 1950s. Since this building is of great historic and architectural significance, photographs like this are especially valuable in reconstructing the use history and any changes/additions to the building over a period of time. This building is important for what it can reveal about society in Beechworth and also architectural styles. This building is made in the Flemish Gothic Revival style which is quite unusual for the 1860s. It is important as an early example of a building constructed for a specific purpose, in the case of this particular building: caring for the aged/destitute. This building is important for research into the civic development of Beechworth as an early Gold Rush town located in Victoria's North-East. During this period, Beechworth was developing as the main center of administration in this region which made it a very influential and quickly developed town. Photographs like this one which depict a building during one period in history can reveal important information for the use and alterations of a building and for preferences in architectural style. It can also be studied for what it reveals about society in Beechworth and compared and contrasted to similar institutions across Australia and with additional photographs in the Burke Museum collection.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on gloss photographic paperObverse: OVENS & MURRAY HOME / Reverse: KODAK PAPER / 727 / J. Collins BMM 8689.1 /mayday hills, beechworth benevolent asylum, ovens benevolent home, asylum, refuge, poor and destitute, goldrush, flemish gothic revival, architecture