A pocket magnifying glass was a versatile scientific tool. It was ideal for situations in which the specimen was too small to be observed under a magnifying glass and access to a larger microscope would have been impossible.It could be taken on field expeditions and used to examine botanical, zoological and mineralogical specimens.Simple,pocket microscopes had a significant impact on the the general public’s appreciation of both science and the natural world by making the microscopic world accessible and exciting.Small pocket magnifying glass with glass viewer.magnifying-glass instruments-optical

Handmade by Mary Tomlinson in approx. 1900. Daughter of Arthur James Tomlinson who in 1887 selected at Tabbara.This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the first half of the 20th century.Handmade square shaped point lace doily with linen centre.doily handcrafts lace-making tomlinson-arthur

Used in the timber industry for making split palings. The palings are shaped by hand with the bottom edge put onto the timber and a mallet hit onto the top of the blade. This pre-dates sawn palings. Associated with the timber and household building industry in the Orbost region.A rectangular flat iron blade attached to a wooden handle. The cutting edge of the knife is along the bottom (rather than the end as with an axe). The wooden handle appears to be made from a small tree branch.paling-knife splitting-timber

This item was worn by Marjorie McKeown (nee Ford)Until well into the 20th century, the corset was an essential element of fashionable dress. Corsets were worn by women (and much earlier by men) to enhance their figures and to hold their stockings in place. Although still sometimes used they were mainly used prior to the making of pantyhose approximately 1960.A corset of pink/apricot coloured cotton with small flowers embroidered onto the fabric, with whale bone stays, and with suspenders and metal clasps attached to the bottom. It has tape lacing and metal eyelets as can be seen in the photograph. It is marked as size 32, Jenyns Patent Corsetry.Size 32, Jenyns Patent Corsetrywomens-corsetry body-shaping womens-appareil

This item was worn by Marjorie McKeown (nee Ford)Until well into the 20th century, the corset was an essential element of fashionable dress. Corsets were worn by women (and much earlier by men) to enhance their figures and to hold their stockings in place. Although still sometimes used they were mainly used prior to the making of pantyhose approximately 1960.A corset made of apricot / pink cotton fabric embroidered with flowers in the same colour. It has whalebone stays, and laces through metal eyelets. This corset is similar to 822 in the collection. It is size 33 and manufactured by Jenyns.Size 33, Jenyns Patent Corsetry (manufacturer) womens-corsetry womens-undergarments female-underwear

Made and presumably worn by Mrs McKeown (nee Ford)A full length white cotton nightgown without sleeves. It has a crocheted border in white cotton around the neckline and also making a small trim on the front upper bodice/neckline. Arm holes also have the same crochet trim. The bottom of the garment is hemmed and without any trimming.costume-female underwear

Handmade by Alice Cowell as an entry for the annual Bombala (southern New South Wales) Show.This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the first half of the 20th century.A white machine-made petticoat with hand embroidery and pink ribbon threaded around middle. It has broderie anglaise along scalloped edge and comes with a blue certificate for First prize at the Bombala Annual Show.petticoat costume female-underwear handcrafts dress-making

Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She was a fine amateur photographer who supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert)This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the first half of the 20th century.Two dolls - one male and one female - made of maize husks. They are both painted colourfully and are in a plastic box. There is a certificate from the country Women's Association for First prize in Basket Weave Handcrafts and Home Industries.doll handcraft toys maize cwa

Metal rope making machine, "The New Era Rope Machine". It has three claws through which roping material is threaded. The internal wheels have cogs around the perimeter and it is bolted together in two pieces.rope-making-machine handcraft

Likely used by the Jensen family who were early settlers in the Martin's Creek area, 35 miles north of Orbost, along the Bonang - Orbost Road in c. 1890. Peter Jensen came from Denmark. A flat iron blade, sharpened on the bottom and attached to a wooden handle. The blade has a pointed end.BRADES CO.shingle-making roofing-shingles house-construction

These postcards are part of the Rose series of photograph / postcards taken around Victoria. Rose was born in Clunes in 1861 and later worked in his father’s boot-making business in Prahran while studying photography. In 1880 he founded the Rose Stereograph Company and became famous for producing stereographs, or stereoviews, which gave the illusion of being in 3D when seen through a hand-held viewer, a big craze of the era. Rose produced stereoviews of the Western Front during the First World War. In all, he took about 9000 images in about 38 countries. As stereographs lost popularity in the 1920s, Rose switched to production of postcards and decorative cards, and he and the photographers who followed took thousands of scenes around Victoria as well as interstate that became iconic images of Australian life.These postcards are pictorial records of Orbost in the mid 20th century.Postcards such as these were a way of showing the scenic attractions of Orbost to potential tourists.Three black / white postcards of views over the Orbost flats and railway viaduct. 3183.1 is of a railway viaduct in the foreground and farming flats. 3183.2 is a view over the Orbost flats taken from Grandview Lookout. 3183.3 is a view from the Grandview Lookout showing the back of a woman looking across a rail fence. 3183.1 - bottom front - Rose Series P 478 SNOWY RIVER FLATS, ORBOST VIC 3183.2 - bottom front - Rose Series P 49 ORBOST, FROM GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS,VIC 3183.3 - bottom front - Rose Series P 14443 A VIEW FROM THE LOOKOUT, ORBOST, VICpostcards-orbost rose-series orbost-railway-viaduct grandview-lookout-orbost

The children in this photograph are Frank abd Ivy Warren. Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert). This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker,A black / white studio portrait photograph of a young boy and girl standing against an outdoor wall. The girl is wearing a long white dress and has a ribbon bow in her hair.The boy a tunic with a wide belt and lace collar. His long sleeved have wide cuffs. The photograph is an oval shape on a grey / white background.warren-frank warren-ivy

This snagging team is on the Brodribb River, east of Orbost. The Brodribb bridge can be seen in the background of the Photograph. The Snowy River was used for commercial navigation after 1880 and extensive de-snagging A shipping company was formed in 1880, poling barges upstream until the removal of large trees and branches that had fallen into the river was carried out to make the river upstream of Marlo easier to navigate. "The snaggers played an important part in making the river free for transport. By 1880 Captain Collins, R McNair engineer, J McNair and the two Winchesters were at work with a punt on the Snowy and Brodribb. Mr. Jim Winchester took charge soon after. Early snaggers were Johnston, J Renton, Nat Lynch, John Drew, Hatton, J Scott and Harry Wilkinson. The system used was to use a tree on the river bank as a lever and with heavy manila ropes, slowly to haul the snags out. They were piled up around a tree and burned when dry. The snaggers lived in a row of cottages in Snaggers’ Lane." (info. John Phillips Newsletter March 2004)The snaggers played an important role in the early settlement of the Orbost / Marlo district helping bto open it up to commercial shipping.Two copies of a black / white photograph of nine men on a snagging boat, a flat-bottom barge. In the background is a bridge.on back - "Snagging boat on Brodribb with R.McNair"snaggers-brodribb-river snagging-east-gippsland transportation

This item was worn by Sarah Archer, born 9.11.1881, and her daughter Irene Jean Maiden, born 1.7.1923, She lived in Orbost all her life having been born at the oOld Orbost Hospital in Nicholson Street. Irene died aged 86. Until well into the 20th century, the corset was an essential element of fashionable dress. Corsets were worn by women (and much earlier by men) to enhance their figures and to hold their stockings in place. Although still sometimes used they were mainly used prior to the making of pantyhose approximately 1960. A corset made of heavy apricot / pink cotton fabric . It has back tape acing through metal eyelets, and slide hooks. It has suspender straps with clips attached to the bottom of the corset. The stays, possibly whalebone, are sewn vertically into the fabric.on label - in red ink - "Liberty Reg'd "6/2815 D" small below waist size 32" exactcostume-women corsetry clothing

To the Editor of the Ringwood Mail Dear Sir, would you please publish in your widely read paper the following letter for the information of the residents of the City of Ringwood- Re the passing of my brother Mr. J.P. Howship, who was an ANZAC one of the pioneer family of Howship of Ringwood which name is connected with the early history of Ringwood or more particularly Ringwood East as the late J.P. Howship and myself purchased the Nursery of Mr. John Hill around the year 1912 and after a couple of years my late brother Bert was taken into partnership and we bought the adjoining nursery of Mr. Will Hill and traded under name Howship Bros. Rosedale Nursery and the name of one street in the old property Howship Avenue is named after the old firm as well as Rosedale Crescent. The move for the establishment of the Ringwood East station started with myself and in a meeting up with a Mr .T. Birkitt who I felt was the man I needed as he was a sub Estate Agent .A meeting was called and held in our packing shed at the end of Federal Road which at that time ended at Mr. Charlie Burdens property and abbuted (sic) on our property. This meeting was attended by about sixty residents and the late Mr. C. Wedge was elected as the first President of the Ringwood East Railway League and Progress Assoc. with Mr. T. Birkitt as Secretary and myself as assist. Secretary. This League raised the sum of about 1,600 from residents and land owners for the erection of the Ringwood East Railway Station & after the station was erected and paid for the League part was canceled and the Progress Assoc. carried on. The present Ringwood East Cricket Club was formed at meeting and the Prog .......and my three brothers Bert, Mervyn and played cricket in the Ringwood district for many years and most of us were members of the Ringwood at first and then the Ringwood East Football clubs and followed the teams for years a few names of the old players came to mind in E. Thomas , C. Weil, T. Homewood, the Pratt family and others. I might mention for the benefit of the City of Ringwood residents my eldest brother Laurie late of New Street and now living at Blairgowrie was with what was then known as Coopers Mills and designed and helped to build some of the first buildings in that property now known as Ringwood Timber & Trading Co .Also that myself and others namely the Reidy Brothers, Mr. Taylor, & L .Cleary & voluntary labour formed the tennis courts at East Ringwood with the help of our young Ladies of the time, those courts I'm pleased to say are well established and two more are added and provide good activities for the young people of the district. Also with the aid of C .Thomas, Norm Blood and others we formed the Methodist courts. From the Ringwood East Progress Association came the move to have a Health Centre for Ringwood. This was established by a good deal of enthusiastic work by some mothers after spending nearly fifty years in Ringwood watching it grow from town surrounded by orchards to a City and I must congratulate the Civic Fathers and their staff in the growth of Ringwood and the fine roads, Parks, Elderly Citizens Club and have all done a good job but why oh why have you neglected mines Road Ringwood east. Why has this road not been made the drainage there is something to be seen to be believed in such a city .The only solution is making and curbing this road & I would ask those responsible why the curbing was put down Dublin Road where there are no residents this curbing could well have solved the problem in Mines Road if used there. I recently spent a weekend with my Daughter, Mrs. Munro at the corner of Maroondah highway and Mines Road and was disgusted at the condition of Mines Road and drainage and had to air my views and suggest a trip to Mines Road by the Civic Fathers led by the Health Inspector I am yours sincerely H.C. Howship Sheila Street, Rye. (copied here verbatim)3 pages of hand written letter detailing the early history of the East Ringwood Railway and Progress Association, football, cricket and tennis clubs.. Written as a draft in 1963.

Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She was a fine amateur photographer who supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert)This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the early 20th century.A hand-crafted toy fluffy dog. It is cream coloured with brown patches.It is made from sheep skin and has a pink silk protruding tongue, ears lined with brown silk and felt foot pads. It has one glass eye.handcraft toy needlework warren-helena

Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She was a fine amateur photographer who supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert)This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the families of the early settlers.A hand-made papier mache basket in a floral pattern - roses, pansies and frangipanni. It is coloured red, purple, cream and green. It has a glossy finish. It is octagonal shaped and has a handle.papier-mache handcrafts warren-helena

A two sided pruning saw blade has a top cutting edge used for making an undercut of a limb while the bottom cutting edge is used for regular pruning. One side of the blade has very coarse, irregularly sized teeth for cutting quickly through large branches. The other side of the blade has fine teeth for making clean cuts on small branches and dead wood.This tool is an example of an early pruning saw commonly used in Orbost.Pruning saw with wooden handle and double sided toothed blade. The wooden handle is attached with three screws. The steel blade has teeth on both edges - small on one side and longer on the other.tool pruning-saw horticulture

The National Bicycle Game is an Australian-made and designed board game for 2, 3 or 4 players made by The National Game Company of Ballarat and Melbourne between 1930 and 1950. The earliest board games date from the mid-18th century and were printed on copper or steel plates and coloured by hand. By 1839 lithography was first used, making it possible for publishers to produce larger quantities of all types of toys. By the 1890s the games were mounted on to a folded board. Popular subjects were of an historical or geographical nature, as well as transport including motoring, aviation and railways and various sports. The board game 'A Motor Ride' ,made by The National Game Company, was possibly the first large-scale manufacturer of locally-designed board games in Australia. The firm was established in Ballarat, Victoria, at the beginning of the twentieth century by W. Owen. Other board games made by National include the 'Victory-United Nations" game, 'Fairyland', 'Yacht Race', 'Golf Game', 'Bicycle Game', Steeple Chase', 'Our Great Game' about football, 'Courtship and Marriage', 'Around the Commonwealth by Aeroplane', and 'Dugouts and Trenches' as well as the more traditional games such as Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, and Noughts and Crosses. This game board has been well-used. The game is significant because it uses scenarios familiar to Australian children in the first half of the twentieth century. This game board reflects the experience of being a child in the twentieth century. Toys were how children were socialised and taught. Most toys mimic the adult world, and looking at them can tell us something about how the world has changed. A folding game board for The national Bicycle Game for 2,3 or 4 players. It has a yellow spiral track on which the player progresses at the throw of the die, starting at the clubhouse until reaching home. In the background are pictures of rural scenes.board-games recreation cycling national-game-company

Australia was not self sufficient in glass making until the turn of the 20th century and many bottles were made overseas and shipped to Australia with their contents and when emptied were re-filled with other company’s products. These bottles have an aesthetic element in that the shapes , colours and textures are visually appealing. They reflect the type of glassware that was in circulation in the first half of the 20th century.. Four glass bottles. Three are clear and one (1528.3) is brown. They have non threaded necks with molded rims.bottles

Theodolites have been used to measure horizontal and vertical angles by surveyors since the 1500s. A theodolite is a precision instrument for measuring angles in the horizontal and vertical planes. Theodolites are used mainly for surveying applications, and have been adapted for specialized purposes in fields like meteorology and rocket launch technology. Theodolites, such as this one, were instrumental to early surveyors, and would have played a significant part in their everyday work. The plumb bob was used to set the instrument exactly over a fixed survey marker.This theodolite was made by Troughton and Simms, who were significant scientific instrument makers of the 19th century and early 20th century. In 1782 John Troughton purchased Benjamin Cole's shop in Fleet Street, London enabling him to sell his own signed products. His instrument making business supported several dynasties of Troughtons before becoming Troughton and Simms and later still Cooke Troughton & Simms. This firm was one of the most well respected firms of instrument makers of the 1800s. A grey metal theodolite - probably made of brass. It has movable parts and there is a weight ( a plumb bob) attached with string.Cooke Troughton & Simms Yorke England V012318 Supplied by A. E. Parsons Melbournetheodolite scientific-instruments surveying

Many home remedies involve making do with household substances ordinarily on hand. One such common household product is methylated spirits (ethanol), generally used as a fuel, solvent or cleaner, but also used to treat minor injuries. A tall brown tapered three sided bottle with a paper label. There is a cork in the top. The bottle is heavily embossed.MY T FINE METHYLATED SPIRITS, dangerous if swallowed. Seek medical advice. 19 FL OZ Inside a wreath is a butterfly.bottle methylated-spirits

Australia was not self sufficient in glass making until the turn of the 20th century and many bottles were made overseas and shipped to Australia with their contents and when emptied were re-filled with other company’s products. This medicine bottle was filled with a mixture made by the chemist. This item reflects the changes and development in over-the-counter-medicine over the last century.A clear rectangular bottle with a screw top black plastic lid. It is labelled "peppermint and ginger mixture" on paper label. There is a patent number inside the lid.label : "The Mixture Dose one tablespoonful Shake The Bottle Peppermint and Ginger Mixture" Phone MF 1691 On base: F1837 Inside a capital A is S above the letter M. Mbottle pepper-ginger medicine

Fids were used for spreading strands of rope so that they could be spliced, for making knots, loosening or holding knots open and holding holes in canvas open. This item recognises the art and skill of knots and sailors’ ropework. Modern fids are typically made of aluminum, steel, or plastic.A narrow cone-shaped tool. It is made of wood.tool fid equipment shipping maritime

These items belonged to Helena Warren (nee McKeown) of Newmerella. Helena warren was a self taught photographer who became a competent commercial photographer. She was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She was known for her soft toy making and these items were probably purchased for that activity.These items reflect the popularity of needlework and the making of hand crafted items by women in the mid 20th century.Two packets of metal fasteners. One packet, 2494.1, contains 13 unused snap fasteners - Sew'n Save. They are on a rectangular piece of yellow cardboard. It has black print. There is a pink sticker on the back - 3 different sizes 1/0;3/0;2/0. 2494.2 is a torn piece of cardboard with 5 hooks/eyes attached.needlework warren-helena fasteners newey-goodman

These cotton reels were owned and used by Helena Warren of Newmerella. Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She was a fine amateur photographer who supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert).Helena Warren was a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker,Four wooden cotton reels. 2495.1 is an empty reel with paper labels at both ends. " Best Linen lace thread Barbours No 50 200 yards Wm Barbour & Sons Ltd Lisburn Ireland" 2495.2 is a wooden reel with thick linen thread. On one end " H11 underlined" 2495.3 is a narrow wooden reel with white thread and grey wound over it. It has paper labels at both ends. " J. & P. Coats 500 yards No 50 457 metres - Chain Brand Mercerised Cotton MR WHITE" 2495.4 is a wooden reel with synthetic thread - one paper label. "J. & P. Coats 6 Cord 200 yards 40 183 metres"needlework cotton-reels warren-helena

This felt deer was made by Helena warren of Newmerella. The deer was exhibited in the Royal Melbourne Show in the 1950's. Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She was a fine amateur photographer who supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert).This object reflects the needlework skills of women in the early to mid 20th century. This item also has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker,A handmade felt toy fallow deer which is light brown with darker brown spots. It has dark brown antlers, dark brown feet and plastic eyes.handcrafts needlework warren-helena

This item was made by Mrs Helena warren of Newmerella. Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She was a fine amateur photographer who supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert).This item reflects the needlework skills of women in the first half of the 20th century. This item also has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker,A handmade white fluffy squirrel holding a gum nut. It is possibly made of sheepskin. The eyes are pink plastic. The whiskers are white nylon thread (item no. 2495.4)toys needlework warren-helena handcraft

John Harding Nixon (Jack) was born in Orbost on July 16, 1905. He married Lydia May Trewin and had two boys, Max and Brian.He was a successful farmer, making the most of the land he owned, growing maize, seed and green beans and also dairying.This item is a pictorial record of early agriculture in the Orbost district.A disc of farming scenes of Max and Jack Nixon Snr on the Jarrahmond flats at Orbost.nixon-john-harding-jack agriculture jarrahmond

The early settlers of Orbost had to be self sufficient making their own clothes, tableware, bed coverings, furnishings and equipment. Many women were skilled dressmakers and craft workers. This item reflects that time.A small black hand-cranked lockstitch sewing machine. It has a backwards C-shaped body. The wheel and base are decorated with a gold pattern. On the end above the needle assembly is a brass plate The balance wheel has a handle. The pattern on the wheel is a gold border with two gold, red and green stars formed by interwoven triangles. On the cloth plate is stamped "Patent March 1867 Heron Gresham" with some indecipherable marks.sewing-machine needlework