The Coat of Arms of the Shire of Orbost has been designed in the form of a cross in which five stars are set on a shield. This was typical of those used by many shires and cities throughout Victoria and the Commonwealth. A small crown above the cross indicates the loyalty of the President, Councillors and Ratepayers to the reigning King or Queen. The inner circle of the shield contains four figures, a sheaf of wheat, a factory, a cow, and a ship, which represents the activities of agriculture, fishing, industry and dairying undertaken in the district. Originally part of the Bairnsdale district, Orbost split away as part of the Shire of Tambo in 1882, and became a Shire in its own right as the Shire of Croajingolong on the 30th may 1892. The name changed to the Shire of Orbost on 17 February 1893. Orbost was divided into four ridings on 31st May 1895, they were the North, South, East and Central riding, which was represented by three elected councillors. The Shire coat of arms was on the wall on the right of the front entrance to the building and was removed from the current building when Orbost Shire Council was amalgamated into East Gippsland Shire in 1994.The current building was opened on Friday 28th February 1969 by the Premier of Victoria, The Hon. Sir Henry E. Bolte, K.C.M.G., M.P. Local governments play an important role in the lives of citizens in Australia. Local government authorities exist to provide services and amenities to local communities, and are also responsible for regulating and providing services for land and property in their district. This item is representative of a time when Orbost had its own Shire Council. A large round metal plaque with the words SHIRE OF ORBOST1892 in gold letters around a crown and shield divided into four sections to represent four industries : Shipping ; farming - maize ; dairy and mining.SHIRE OF ORBOST 1892government orbost-shire-council coat-of-arms plaque

Ferdinand von Mueller was born at Rostock, Germany, on 30 June 1825 , died at Melbourne, Australia, on 10 October 1896. He studied pharmacy and took his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Kiel in 1847. He came to Australia in 1848 for health reasons and became a great botanical collector and writer. He was Victorian Government Botanist from 1853, and for a time Director of the Botanic Gardens. He travelled widely in Victoria and was on the A.C.Gregory expedition to northern Australia in 1855-57. He supported botanical exploration and collecting throughout the colonies. 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 varioius public roles. In 1911, he shifted to Queensland, but later returned to Victoria and died at Box Hill. (Ref. Nov 2014 Newsletter) Mueller was one of the first people to take a scientific interest in Victorian forests, and argued against indiscriminate clearing of land. This item is a useful research tool. It is associated with Carl Grove, a prominent early resident of Orbost.A black book with the title "Key To The System of Victorian Plants 1" in gold print.inside cover - "To Carl Grove from Baron Von Mueller March 1896"von-mueller-ferdinand botany-victoria plants-victoria grove-carl

This ledger was used by the Shire of Orbost from 1906 to 1910. The item was donated to Orbost & District Historical society from P.R.O.V. as a Place of Deposit (POD) item for safe keeping by a local history group or museum. The shire covered an area of 9,347 square kilometres and existed from 1892 until 1994 when it became part of the East Gippsland Shire Council. Orbost was at first included in the Bairnsdale Shire from 1882 and was later part of the Tambo Shire. Because of travelling distances the Croajingalong Shire was created in 1892 (name changed to Orbost Shire 17.2.1893 with James Cameron as the first Shire President. In 1994 it amalgamated to become part of East Gippsland Shire Council. In Australian suburbs and rural towns where the sewer wasn't connected, people usually had an outside toilet. The toilet seat was made of a plank of wood secured at its ends to the walls of the building with a large round hole in the middle. Underneath was the removable sanitary pan and on a regular basis, usually weekly, the full pan was taken away and replaced with an empty one. This was the job of the sanitary carter. the sanitary depot was in Martins Lane, Orbost Development of the Orbost Wastewater Treatment Facility began in the 1960’s with the construction of four treatment lagoons. Shortly after the construction of the lagoons the sewerage system was installed throughout Orbost.This item is a record of accounting for the local government. The collection of sanitary pans was a necessary service before the Orbost township was had its own wastewater treatment facility.A large register of pan fees for the Shire of Orbost. A black hard cover book with red binding and marbled end pages. Entries are hand-written in black ink.On spine - "PAN FEES REGISTER: in gold lettering. In centre of front cover in gold - "SHIRE OF ORBOST (underlined) PAN FEES REGISTER"orbost-shire-council ledger-pan-fees sewage orbost-township-sanitary-service

This map includes the population of each County in Victoria according to the 1871 Census, as well as the population of each Australian colony and New Zealand. Telegraph Route is given in a detail at the top right. victoria, victorian counties, robert brough-smyth, telegraph, population, bourke, rodney, dalhousie, evelyn, mornington, buln-buln, tanjil, dargo, delatite, moira, bogong, bendigo, gunbower, grant, talbot, hampden, heytesbury, polwarth, ripon, kara-kara, gladstone, grenville, croajingolong, tambo, benambra

Ferdinand von Mueller was born at Rostock, Germany, on 30 June 1825 , died at Melbourne, Australia, on 10 October 1896. He studied pharmacy and took his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Kiel in 1847. He came to Australia in 1848 for health reasons and became a great botanical collector and writer. He was Victorian Government Botanist from 1853, and for a time Director of the Botanic Gardens. He travelled widely in Victoria and was on the A.C.Gregory expedition to northern Australia in 1855-57. He supported botanical exploration and collecting throughout the colonies. 681.3 was presented to Carl Grove from G. Tadgell of Flemington. 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 was one of the first selectors at Orbost - in 1880 he selected 320 acres at Newmerella, which he called „Ulinda‟ 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 varioius public roles. In 1911, he shifted to Queensland, but later returned to Victoria and died at Box Hill. (Ref. Nov 2014 Newsletter) Mueller was one of the first people to take a scientific interest in Victorian forests, and argued against indiscriminate clearing of land. This item is a useful research tool. It is associated with Carl Grove, a prominent early resident of Orbost.Three copies of fabric bound book with a deep blue cover and the title, "Key To The System Of Victorian plants" in gold print. It has an ornate border around the edge.inside cover of 681.1 - To H. Grove, March 1891 Ulinda, Newmerella, Victoriaferdinand-von-mueller grove-carl botany plants-victoria

This is a photograph of the original Orbost / Snowy River Bridge , a suspension bridge which opened in 1893. It has been taken when the Snowy River was in flood. It is similar to other photographs held in The State Library, Victoria. The Snowy River Mail and Tambo and Croajingolong Gazette Sat 12 Aug 1893 records the opening of this bridge as "the most important public event that has yet been commemorated in Eastern ......The Messrs McLeod, with whom the first settlement of this district is generally associated, took up their residence on the eastern bank of the Snowy River about the year 1841 or 42. The late Mr W. Roadknight and Mr T. T. Stirling took possession of the territory on the western side of the Snowy about 35 years ago. During the occupation of the country by cattle owners, very little progress was made in the way of roads and bridges, and except to the hardy and lexperienced bushman, it might have been generally regarded as inaccessible. About the year 1877, however, the late Mr James Robertson eldest son of Mr James Robertson, of Lochend farm, selected land now occupied by his father, about four miles from Orbost on the west bank of the river, Mr John Cameron visited the. district shortly after a .tour of inspection and returned later with his brothers, James and Alick Gameron, but found that during their absence Mr Ernest Watt had found his way on the scene and pegged out a selection, thus anticipating the advent of the Camerons by about 12 hours. We understand that a Mr Kidd, who selected the property now occupied by Mr W. J. Ross, at Pumpkin Point, was one of the earliest batch of settlors.........."This is a pictorial record of an early bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost.A black / white photograph of a suspension bridge with flood waters below the bridge.orbost-bridge suspension-bridge snowy-river

This ledger was used by the Shire of Orbost from 1911 - 1914. It was used to record fees paid for Dairy Registration, Dog Registration and Sheep dipping. At that time dairy farmers were required to register all milking cows. Dogs, too, were to be registered and there were strict laws on sheep dipping. Every sheep-owner was to dip all his sheep immediately after shearing and directly from the shearing-board in every year and also at the time of dipping his sheep dip all his lambs. In case the sheep couldn't be conveniently dipped directly from the shearing board they were to be placed and kept in a securely fenced paddock to be dipped within sixty days after shearing. Sheep-owner who neglected or failed to comply with any of these directives were liable to a penalty of not less than One pound nor more than Twenty pounds. The shire covered an area of 9,347 square kilometres and existed from 1892 until 1994 when it became part of the East Gippsland Shire Council. Orbost was at first included in the Bairnsdale Shire from 1882 and was later part of the Tambo Shire. Because of travelling distances the Croajingalong Shire was created in 1892 (name changed to Orbost Shire 17.2.1893 with James Cameron as the first Shire President. In 1994 it amalgamated to become part of East Gippsland Shire Council. The item was donated to Orbost & District Historical society from P.R.O.V. as a Place of Deposit (POD) item for safe keeping by a local history group or museum. The shire covered an area of 9,347 square kilometres and existed from 1892 until 1994 when it became part of the East Gippsland Shire Council. This item is a record of local council accounting. The Shire of Orbost no longer exists as it was absorbed by the East Gippsland Shire Council.A dark blue, leatherette covered ledger cash book with tan spine, stitched marbled end covers. Records are handwritten in blue and red ink and blue pencil. It contains records of Dairy Registration fees, Dog Registration fees and Sheep Dipping fees.Inside the front cover is a list of contents.ledger orbost-shire-council sheep-dipping dairy-registration accounts

This postcard was sent to Annie Gilbert (Mrs John Gilbert) of Tullagoota, Orbost. It was written by "Grace", probably her sister, Grace Cameron Annie Gilbert was the daughter of John Cameron who selected the first land on the Snowy River flats. This is a photograph of the original Orbost / Snowy River Bridge , a suspension bridge which opened in 1893. It has been taken when the Snowy River was in flood. It is similar to other photographs held in The State Library, Victoria. The Snowy River Mail and Tambo and Croajingolong Gazette Sat 12 Aug 1893 records the opening of this bridge as "the most important public event that has yet been commemorated in Eastern ......The Messrs McLeod, with whom the first settlement of this district is generally associated, took up their residence on the eastern bank of the Snowy River about the year 1841 or 42. The late Mr W. Roadknight and Mr T. T. Stirling took possession of the territory on the western side of the Snowy about 35 years ago. During the occupation of the country by cattle owners, very little progress was made in the way of roads and bridges, and except to the hardy and lexperienced bushman, it might have been generally regarded as inaccessible. About the year 1877, however, the late Mr James Robertson eldest son of Mr James Robertson, of Lochend farm, selected land now occupied by his father, about four miles from Orbost on the west bank of the river, Mr John Cameron visited the. district shortly after a .tour of inspection and returned later with his brothers, James and Alick Gameron, but found that during their absence Mr Ernest Watt had found his way on the scene and pegged out a selection, thus anticipating the advent of the Camerons by about 12 hours. We understand that a Mr Kidd, who selected the property now occupied by Mr W. J. Ross, at Pumpkin Point, was one of the earliest batch of settlers.........."This item is associated with Annie Gilbert (nee Cameron) reported to have been the first white girl to be born in Orbost. It is a pictorial record of the suspension bridge over the Snowy River which has since been replaced twice.A faded black / white postcard of a bridge across a river. There are cattle in the river and the banks are tree-covered.on back - a hand-written letter addressed to Mrs J. Gilbert Tullagoota Orbost.cameron-annie suspension-bridge-orbost snowy-river-orbost

Angus McMillan named the Avon River after the river of the same name in his native Scotland. In 1840 he established a pastoral run at Bushy Park, north-west of the township. William Odell Raymond established a run in the area in 1842, and built his house, Strathfieldsaye, during 1848–54. European settlement did not take place without resistance, and in return, massacres were inflicted by Angus McMillan and others on Gunai people, especially between the years of 1840 and 1850. (wikipedia) The first application for the 'Bushy Park' run appears in the “Port Phillip Gazette” on 13 August 1843. It was taken up by Angus McMillan, who also took up the 'Boisdale' run for his employer Lachlan Macalister at the same time. In March 1844 a Licence to occupy the 16,000 acre 'Bushy Park' was granted to McMillan. In the late 1840s Andrew Martin and Matt McCraw built Angus McMillan's Bushy Park homestead. Aboriginal killings in Gippsland area most often were never formally recorded, but lived on in folklore, mainly in place names pinpointing what some historians now refer to as "massacres", and others as "conflicts". There is Boney Point, on Lake Wellington, Butchers Creek, near Metung, Slaughterhouse Gully, at Buchan, Skull Creek, at Lindenow, and, notoriously, Warrigal Creek, at Woodside. "Here, according to a couple of contemporary - though not eyewitness - reports, between 50 and 150 blacks were killed in an orgy of revenge after the murder and mutilation of a leading Scots settler, Ronald Macalister. If anybody had any doubts about the fitness of commemorating McMillan's name, no one voiced them then. Gippsland was, and still is, dotted with stone cairns tracing his route from Omeo, down the Tambo Valley to the fertile plains where he was to make (and lose) his fortune. And where, according to a growing body of opinion, he was to lead the "Highland Brigade", a band of armed settlers, against the Kurnai. History is fiction agreed on, and it is written by the winners. For most of the past 150 years, McMillan has been hailed as a trail-blazing pioneer. The legend began to crumble 20 years ago with publication of new histories, which at first outraged Gippsland historical societies and old residents, but which have gradually changed the way McMillan is viewed. ... Still, not all McMillan's contemporaries agreed with the "Highland Brigade" and its methods. Henry Meyrick, an English-born squatter, wrote to relatives in disgust about his neighbours. He estimated that 450 had been killed, and wrote: "Men, women and children are shot down whenever they can be met with. Some excuse might be found for shooting the men by those who are daily getting their cattle speared, but what they can urge in their excuse who shoot the women and children I cannot conceive." (http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/04/26/1019441303552.html, accessed 20 September 2016.) The Gippsland electorate is called 'McMillan' in his honour. Black and white image of a man wearing a coat and beret. He is Scottish born Victorian Squatter Angus McMillan of Bushy Park, Gippsland.angus mcmillan, squatter, aboriginal massacre, bushy park, gunai, avon river, pioneer

Angus McMillan was born in 1810 at Glenbrittle in the Isle of Skye. He was one of fourteens sons of Ewan McMillan. Angus McMillan arried i New South Wales in January 1839, and became an overseer for Captai nLachlan Macalister. I n 1839 Angus McMillan travelled south. He settled for a time on Jame MacFarlane's statin at Currawong. IOn 28 May 1839 Angus MacMillan stated travelling southward toward the coast. Angus Macmillan named the Avon River after the river of the same name in his native Scotland. In 1840 he established a pastoral run at Bushy Park, near Maffra. William Odell Raymond established a run in the area in 1842, and built his house, Strathfieldsaye, during 1848–54. European settlement did not take place without resistance, and in return, massacres were inflicted by Angus McMillan and others on Gunai people, especially between the years of 1840 and 1850. (wikipedia) The first application for the 'Bushy Park' run appears in the “Port Phillip Gazette” on 13 August 1843. It was taken up by Angus McMillan, who also took up the 'Boisdale' run for his employer Lachlan Macalister at the same time. In March 1844 a Licence to occupy the 16,000 acre 'Bushy Park' was granted to McMillan. In the late 1840s Andrew Martin and Matt McCraw built Angus McMillan's Bushy Park homestead. Aboriginal killings in Gippsland area most often were never formally recorded, but lived on in folklore, mainly in place names pinpointing what some historians now refer to as "massacres", and others as "conflicts". There is Boney Point, on Lake Wellington, Butchers Creek, near Metung, Slaughterhouse Gully, at Buchan, Skull Creek, at Lindenow, and, notoriously, Warrigal Creek, at Woodside. "Here, according to a couple of contemporary - though not eyewitness - reports, between 50 and 150 blacks were killed in an orgy of revenge after the murder and mutilation of a leading Scots settler, Ronald Macalister. If anybody had any doubts about the fitness of commemorating McMillan's name, no one voiced them then. Gippsland was, and still is, dotted with stone cairns tracing his route from Omeo, down the Tambo Valley to the fertile plains where he was to make (and lose) his fortune. And where, according to a growing body of opinion, he was to lead the "Highland Brigade", a band of armed settlers, against the Kurnai. History is fiction agreed on, and it is written by the winners. For most of the past 150 years, McMillan has been hailed as a trail-blazing pioneer. The legend began to crumble 20 years ago with publication of new histories, which at first outraged Gippsland historical societies and old residents, but which have gradually changed the way McMillan is viewed. ... Still, not all McMillan's contemporaries agreed with the "Highland Brigade" and its methods. Henry Meyrick, an English-born squatter, wrote to relatives in disgust about his neighbours. He estimated that 450 had been killed, and wrote: "Men, women and children are shot down whenever they can be met with. Some excuse might be found for shooting the men by those who are daily getting their cattle speared, but what they can urge in their excuse who shoot the women and children I cannot conceive." (http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/04/26/1019441303552.html, accessed 20 September 2016.) The Gippsland electorate is called 'McMillan' in his honour. Photographs of the remains of a timber home used by squatter Angus McMillan at his "Bushy Park" property on the Avon River. angus mcmillan, bushy park, avon river, squater

This is a useful research tool.A large cloth map with black and red print. Regions are labelled in black capital letters. There are some hand-written notes.on back - J. Leathamcartography map-tambo-shire

A short book of Kurnai (Ganai) words - Kurnai-English only. Includes a short introduction with pronunciation and grammatical notes derived from R. H. Mathews? materials.word lists, b&w photographskurnai, gunai, bratauolung, braiakaulung, tatungalung, brabiralung, krautungalung, la trobe valley, mitchell-tambo watershed, gippsland, r. h. matthews

Colour photograph of Robin Minter Mitchell River Supervisor and Simon Robertson East Gippsland Catchment Authority Engineer beside a waterway during a training course East Gippsland Victoriawater resources

Black and white photograph taken during inspection at the waste water treatment plant Golf Links Road Lakes Entrance Victoriawater resources, public works

Black and white photograph of pipe laying above Golf Links Road Lakes Entrance Victoriawater resources

Black and white photograph of three earth moving machines making trenches for pipeline to Bruce's track Kalimna Victoriawater resources, public works

Black and White Photograph of Shire councillor Bob Crouch and his wife at opening of Bairnsdale City Council Offices 1991 BAirnsdale Victoriamuincipal history