A punt crossed the Snowy River at Orbost from 1884. A bridge was constructed in 1893, but was soon damaged by a huge flood. Flooding was a regular occurrence, the worst inundations being in 1870, 1893, 1925, 1934, 1952 and 1971. Over the years major flood protection works have been implemented. The Princes Highway, which passes Orbost, now crosses the flood plain on raised concrete supports. (info, from Victorian Places Orbost)This item is associated with the Snowy River and its history. It is a pictorial record of transport in the late 19th century.A black / white photograph (copy) of a punt loaded with people and a horse-drawn carriage making its way across a river.on front at bottom - "Snowy River Punt"snowy-river-orbost transport shipping

The pumpkin in this photograph was an award winner and was grown by Fred Mundy Snr. It weighed 194 lbs (approx. 88 kgs). Pumpkins were grown widely on Orbost farms and used to feed pigs. There was usually a competition for the heaviest or biggest pumpkin at the annual Orbost agricultural Show.This photograph is associated with the history of pumpkin growing in the Orbost district.A small black / white photograph of man with three children sitting in a hollowed out pumpkin in water. An Australian flag is on the left side of the pumpkin.on back - "Alec Cameron, Mr Fred Mundy" ; "Record pumpkin - Mr Fred Mundy 194lbs"mundy-fred pumpkins-orbost

This photograph was taken in 1900 at Buchan. The River View Hotel was established in Buchan in 1884 and was possibly first called the Cricket Club Hotel. The isgn at the front of the building suggests that a ? Cameron ran the establishment.This an early pictorial record of Buchan in the 1900s.A small black / white photograph of a group of people standing outside a hotel A motor vehicle is in the foreground and another behind the people. On the right side of the wooden building is a sign indicating that this is River View House an accommodation business. At the front is a sign with the name ?. Cameron on it.on front - "Buchan Caves - 1900" on back - "E.A. Paige"buchan-river-view-hotel

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)This item is a pictorial record of Marlo in the late 19th century.A black / white photograph of a beach with a sloping hillside covered in thick vegetation. There is a pole at the top with a light on it. It overlooks the jetty. A sailing ship can be seen in the background - left.on back - "Marlo showing light on pole on the point above the jetty about 1890"marlo-19th-century marlo-jetty

This photograph is of Captain's Point, Mallacoota.This is a pictorial record of Mallacoota in the first half of the 20th century. It shows the young township.A small black / white photograph / of a flock of sheep on a hilltop with the ocean behind them. A township can be seen in the background.on front - " Captain's Point Mallacoota"mallacoota-captains-point

This postcard is addressed to Tom Lloyd from Uncle Frank c/o F. Lloyd Esq, Bairnsdale.This item is a pictorial record associated with the agricultural history of Orbost. .The extensive Snowy river flood plain was swampy, but by the 1880s the river flats were being drained. The Orbost flats are very fertile and crops were planted on the rich deep soil, with maize rapidly becoming widespread.A black / white photograph of the Orbost farming flats. The sky is very cloudy. There are paddocks of crops in the foreground.on front - "Orbost Flats" on back - "How are you enjoying your holiday.......Uncle Frank"orbost-flats-farming lloyd-frank

This photograph shows a distant view of the Orbost township taken from Grandview Lookout at Newmerella. It appears to have been taken before the railway line was there.This is a pictorial record of early Orbost.A small black / white photograph of the Orbost township taken from Grandview Lookout , Newmerella. The main road can be seen below with paddocks of crops on both sides.on back - "Distant View, Orbost from Grandview"orbost-township-c19th grandview-lookout orbost-flats-paddocks

This is a photograph of the "Diggers Reunion" for the "Back To" celebrations held in Orbost in March 1937.This is a pictorial record of a significant event in Orbost's history.A black / white photograph on a grey buff card. It shows a large group of people sitting or standing on the floor of what appears to be a church hall.on back - "Mrs Mars. View St ?????????" on front - "Diggers Reunion Back to Celebrations Orbost 3.3.37"orbost-back-to-celebration festivals

This photograph shows the former Orbost Police Station in Wolseley Street before it was demolished and a new larger brick building was built behind it in Lawson Lane - late 1980s.This is a pictorial record of a significant community building no longer existing.A large black / white photograph of the Orbost township police station. It is a weatherboard building surrounded by trees. A sign "POLICE" is hanging from a pole.on back - " Orbost Police Station in Wolseley Street, Donated by Debbie Hall 31/8/94"orbost-police-station

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 photograph is of Cape Conran in Far East Gippsland.Cape Conran has always been a popular fishing destination for Orbost people. This photograph is a pictorial record of that recreational activity in the early20thy century.A black / white photograph of two men fishing from rocks with the ocean in the background. There are other people standing and sitting on the rocks.on back - "Cape Conran"cape-conran-fishing

Orbost locals have been fishing recreationally at Cape Conran since at least the early 20th century. The original of this photograph was possibly a glass plate negative.This is a pictorial record of family recreational activity in the late 19th to early 20th century.A black / white photograph of three people fishing off rocks into the ocean. Others are sitting on the rocks nearby.on back - " Cape Conran"recreation-fishing-cape-conran

Back Lake track is near Metung, East Gippsland.This is a pictorial record of the Gippsland Lakes in the early 20th century.A black / white postcard photograph of a beach scene. Small groups of people are standing on a vegetated sand dune overlooking the water. on front - " Gippsland Lakes via Bairnsdale - the Back Lakes, S. Vogt"gippsland-lakes back-lake-bairnsdale

Orbost has been subject to major floods throughout its history, such as those which left the town isolated in 1934, 1952, 1971 and 1978. It is recorded that the Snowy River broke its banks and flooded the flats 104 times between 1884 and 1978. Extensive flooding in Eastern Victoria during June 1978, caused widespread damage to roads, road closures and hazards to traffic, particularly over the Queen's Birthday holiday weekend.This is a pictorial record of a significant event in Orbost's history.A very faded black / white photograph of flood water under the railway viaduct at watt's Gulch.orbost-flood-1934 railway-viaduct-orbost

Damage estimated at £500,000 was caused by the 1934 floods in the Orbost district. This 1934 flood was devastating, destroying a section of the 1922 Orbost bridge, wrecking fences, bridges and roads, dumping silt and debris on the rich river flats and drowning cattle. This photograph shows Lochiel Lagoon ( the billabong) in the foreground. Ten minutes after this photograph was taken, the centre span of the Orbost Bridge was washed away.This item is a pictorial record of the 1934 floods, a significant part of Orbost's history.A black / white photograph of swirling floodwaters with township in the background.orbost-floods-1934 natural-disasters-floods

Damage estimated at £500,000 was caused by the 1934 floods in the Orbost district. This 1934 flood was devastating, destroying a section of the 1922 Orbost bridge, wrecking fences, bridges and roads, dumping silt and debris on the rich river flats and drowning cattle. The centre span of the Orbost Bridge was washed away. This item is a pictorial record of the 1934 floods, a significant part of Orbost's history.A black / white photograph showing the flood damage to the Snowy River Bridge. There is a gap in the bridge where the centre span has been washed away. In the background is a punt.orbost-floods-1934 natural-disasters-floods snowy-river-bridge

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

This bridge over the Snowy River was opened on July 4 1922. It was constructed in 1922 alongside the previous suspension bridge. Its building was a combined effort of the Victorian Railways and the Country Roads Board at a cost of 35,000 pounds. It was replaced in 1976 by the present bridge after several major floods. This photograph shows people walking over the bridge for the last time.This is a pictorial record of the former Snowy River Bridge at Orbost.A black / white photograph showing a group of people walking across a bridge. There are several cars, a man on a horse and people standing on the side of the roadway.on back - "1976 - old bridge"snowy-river-bridge-1976

Ruston & Hornsby, later known as Ruston, was an industrial equipment manufacturer in Lincoln, England, the company's history going back to 1840. The company is best known as a manufacturer of narrow and standard gauge diesel locomotives and steam shovels. This machine is probably a drag line excavator.This photograph records early an early type of excavator used to construct drainage channels in rural Victoria.A black / white photograph / postcard of a man digging in a very large trench, probably a drainage channel, with an earth mover in the background. The machine has the name "RUSTON" on it.drainage-channel earth-moving-machinery

Ruston & Hornsby, later known as Ruston, was an industrial equipment manufacturer in Lincoln, England, the company's history going back to 1840. The company is best known as a manufacturer of narrow and standard gauge diesel locomotives and steam shovels. This photograph records early an early type of excavator used to construct drainage channels in rural Victoria.A black / white photograph / postcard of a man digging in a very large trench, probably a drainage channel, with an earth mover in the background. The machine has the name "RUSTON" on it.drainage-channel earth-moving-machinery

Ruston & Hornsby, later known as Ruston, was an industrial equipment manufacturer in Lincoln, England, the company's history going back to 1840. The company is best known as a manufacturer of narrow and standard gauge diesel locomotives and steam shovels. This photograph records early an early type of excavator used to construct drainage channels in rural Victoria.A black / white photograph / postcard of a man digging in a very large trench, probably a drainage channel, with an earth mover in the background. The machine has the name "RUSTON" on it. In the foreground is a man, dressed in a long dark coat, watching.agricultural-machinery drainage-channels ruston

There are records of members of the Helmers family attending Bendoc State School. George Helmers was a prospector who mined all the gold from the dry gullies that ran into Bendoc. George was born in 1866, in Bombala, New South Wales, Australia. He was married to Euphemia Lock, born on October 19 1870, in Bendoc Upper, Victoria, Australia.This photograph is associated with early settlers of Bendoc, East Gippsland.A large black / white photograph of a man standing in front of a wooden cottage. there is a horse beside him, a woman standing on a verandah in the background and on the left is a clothes line with what seem to be nappies pegged out. There is also a copy of the original. on back - "George Helmers, Errinundra"helmers-george-bendoc

This is a pictorial record of Buchan in the first half of the 20th century.A black / white photograph / postcard of a township in a valley. The photograph has been taken from a distance.on front - A Distant View of Buchanbuchan

Ian and Jean McDonald were the children of Mr and Mrs Norman McDonald of 42 Gladstone Street, Orbost. This photograph was taken in late January, 1919 on Jean's first day at school.. It was taken at the home of John Rowe, the former headmaster of Orbost Primary School. He was then living opposite the school. Norman Alexander McDonald was a book-keeper at Macarthur‟s and was very musical. He was proprietor of the Capitol Cafe, Nicholson Street, Orbost, selling the business to Mr Coad on 4th December 1947. This photograph record an important event in the life of an Orbost family in the early 20th century.A black / white photograph of two young children, a boy and a girl, sitting on the verandah of a house.mcdonald-ian mcdonald-jean education-orbost

Jack Bruton selected land at Murrungowar and held the licence for the Murrungowar Hotel. He later became a butcher in Orbost. He was on the first Orbost Golf Club committee in 1906. .The golf club was established in 1906 it was originally formed as the Snowy River Golf Club and played on private land near the banks of the Snowy River just to the south of town.This is a pictorial record of Jack Bruton, one of the early settlers of Murrungowar, a former township east of Orbost.A black / white photograph of a man standing outside alone with his hands in his pocket. He has a moustache and has a pipe in his mouth. He is wearing a hat.on front - "Jack Bruton died 1921" on back - "Mr Jack Bruton, Murrungower Hotel"bruton-jack murrungowar-hotel orbost-golf-club

Ian and Jean McDonald are the children of Mr and Mrs Norman McDonald of 42 Gladstone Street, Orbost. This photograph was taken in late January 1919 on the occasion of Jean's first day of school at the house of John Rowe, a former headmaster, who then lived opposite the school. Norman Alexander McDonald was a book-keeper at Macarthur‟s and was very musical. He was proprietor of the Capitol Cafe, Nicholson Street, Orbost, selling the business to Mr Coad on 4th December 1947.This is a pictorial record of a significant event in the life of the McDonald family of early Orbost.A black / white photograph of two children, holding their hats , standing in front of a tree outside a school fence. on back - "Ian & Jean McDonald opposite the school"mcdonald-ian mcdonald-jean orbost-education rowe-john

This is a scene of Cape Conran, East Gippsland taken by Bairnsdale photographer, Stanley Vogt. It was probably one of a collection of commercial post cards available to tourists or East Gippsland residents to send to friends or relatives. Cameras in the early 20th century were not a common family possession and a postcard was a common souvenir and way of sending a short message.Between 1901 and 1914 a wide range of subjects were recorded by often anonymous artists and photographers and published by everyone from major companies to enthusiastic individuals. As a result, postcards provide a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in how our forebears lived, laughed and loved one hundred years ago. They are very interesting records of places gone, architecture gone and people gone, showing social history such as dress, or early automobiles. Postcards form a vital part of social and historical records for researchers. A black / white postcard photograph of a scenic view of the beach and ocean at Cape Conran in Far East Victoria.on front - "Stanley Voigt - Bairnsdale - Cape Conran"postcard-cape-conran

This is a scene of Cape Conran, East Gippsland. It appears to have been a postcard which was trimmed. Cameras in the early 20th century were not a common family possession and a postcard was a common souvenir and way of sending a short message.Early photographs are very interesting records of places gone, architecture gone and people gone, showing social history such as dress, or early automobiles. This scene is of a popular tourist destination in East Gippsland.A black / white photograph of a rough ocean over rocks at Cape Conran in Far East Gippsland. It looks as if the photograph has been trimmed.cape-conran

this photograph is of Cape Conran in Far East Gippsland. It appears to be a copy of a commercial postcard available to tourists or East Gippsland residents to send to friends or relatives.Cameras in the early 20th century were not a common family possession and a postcard was a common souvenir and way of sending a short message.Postcards form a vital part of social and historical records for researchers. A black / photograph of trees and a beach with rocks and the ocean in the background. It appears to be a copy of a postcard and has been hand trimmed.cape-conran

This is a photograph of a man fishing off the rocks at Cape Conran in Far East Gippsland.Cape Conran has always been a popular fishing destination for Orbost people. This photograph is a pictorial record of that recreational activity in the early 20th century. A black / white photograph of a man fishing from rocks into the ocean.