The Bendigo Ordnance Factory began operating in 1942, producing heavy artillery and naval guns. In the late 1990s the then Federal Government-owned facility was sold to the multinational Thales, which continues to operate the factory today. This Bendigo Historical Society collection of glass negatives includes some slides of women working in the munitions factory. Seven slides were included in an album that was prepared for Dr Edith Summerskill who visited Australia in 1944 as part of an Empire Parliamentary Delegation. The album included photographs of Australian women working at the factory during WW2. A copy of the album is in the Collection of the Australian War Memorial.Box 2 of 3, Glass Slide Negatives of the Bendigo Munitions Factory, later known as the Ordnance Factory and then the Australian Defence Industries. Each negative is sealed between two pieces of glass. The edges are sealed with thin pieces of tape. The slides are contained in three wooden boxes with hinged lids and grooves (slots) to house them.history, bendigo, bendigo munitions factory, bendigo ordnance, bendigo adi, doctor edith summerskill, ww2, slide box 1 10165, slide box 2 10166, slide box 3 10167

Albury Pottery was established in the late 1970s to supply pottery for the party plan company Cooperware, a spin-off from Faberware. Located in Hudson Crescent, Lavington, the pottery was managed by Rudolph Dybka until 1983, then by Ron Petch, who had previously worked as sales manager for Cooper Pottery, one of Cooperware's UK suppliers. By the mid-1980s, the pottery had four throwers and a further 5-6 employees, and was specialising in stoneware with distinctive ribbed forms and light blond glazes. In 1985, the pottery was sold to the NSW Government as a workers' cooperative, and Petch moved to Old Ballarat Pottery as production manager. In 1987, the Petch's bought back into the business with partners Pat and Ken Snape, moving to slip casting, doubling the operating area, opening a terracotta plant in a separate location and establishing a tourism presence in the Old Cheese factory between Albury and Wodonga. As the business grew it took on more partners and this proved problematic in a declining market for production pottery. The Petch's pulled out in 1991 and the pottery closed shortly afterwards. (CC BY NC SA Judith Pearce, accessed https://www.flickr.com/groups/1281707@N21/discuss/72157629392131982/, 15 October 2024.)A ceramic jug with a brown top, and an emu on a white ground.albury pottery, emu

Pamphlet on the Central Goldfields Restoration Fund issued by the Victorian Ministry for Planning and Environment. Includes a map of the central goldfields region, introduction by Jim Kennan (Minister) and 3 photographs. Also a description on how the fund operates and how to apply for assistance. An insert of 2 blank application forms. Photos show , Miners using a sluice at Tarnagulla c.1880. Cnr of Sturt and Lydiard Sts, Ballarat c.1880. E. Eberhard Cordial Factory at Clunes c.1890.Victorian Ministry for Planning and Environmentorganization, government, central goldfields, restoration fund, ministry for planning and environment, j. kennan, tarnagulla, ballarat, clunes.

Letter, response and report on quarto paper - 10 sheets .1 - Letter from Frank Clancy, Historical Records Officer of the Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Supply (with Munitions over typed), to the MMTB dated 28/4/1950 asking for a summary of the Board's wartime activities. Letter response by Lewis Russell, MMTB Publicity Officer. Response dated 4/5/1950 saying the original letter had not been received, attaching further information. .2 - A second document (7 sheets) that was with the first, a response dated 3/8/48, primarily concerned with the provision of bus services to Munitions and aircraft factories, purchase of chassis, for buses, issues with supply, bus and tram numbers, services, Fisherman's Bend, patronage, tramcar construction and a table giving passenger numbers over the war period.In pencil and ink on top of the first sheet of 3843.2 - "Supplied to Official Historian Canberra 3/8/48" and a note "Affixed? by Foreman? 2/8/48"trams, tramways, world war 2, buses, munitions factory, fisherman's bend, workshops, commonwealth government

Black and white negative, by Wal Jack, of S 157 in Gordon St (possibly near Monash St.) Tram has the "Special E" destination indicating it was on an Explosive factory working. Note the CGA (Commonwealth Government of Australia) sub-station for the works on the other side of the road. There is a high voltage power line in the background and behind the substation. Could be very near the terminus as no passengers. Photo not dated in Wal Jack album. Could be the same date as Reg Item 5446 - 20-4-1945.trams, tramways, gordon st, footscray, world war 2, special e, s class, tram 157

These letters are part of communication which took place between Sir Robert Menzies and Mr. G. R. Coulthard, President of the Australian Institute of Dairy Factory Managers and Secretaries Inc. (Victorian Branch) in 1965 and 1966. The Butter Factories’ Managers Association was formed in the 1890s and held its first annual conference in 1893. This organisation became the Australian Dairy Institute and then was incorporated with the Australian Society of Dairy Technology on 24 March 1986 to become the Dairy Industry Association of Australia. Ross Coulthard was a former manager of the Tallangatta dairy factory and later manager of the North Eastern Dairy Company at Kiewa. He had gained experience at several dairies across Victoria and was a qualified Butter Maker, Milk and Cream Grader and Tester and later a Cheesemaker. He took over as manager at Tallangatta in 1954 and later became Manager of the North Eastern Dairy Company at Kiewa after a merger with the Tallangatta Butter Company. He served as Victorian President of the Dairy Industry Association in 1966 and 1976 and was the Australian National President in 1980. These letters are significant because they are linked to Australia's longest serving Prime Minister and the Victorian Dairy Industry.2 letters from Robert G. Menzies and Private Secretary to Mr. G. R, Coulthard printed on Commonwealth of Australia Government letterhead.robert g menzies, australian institute of dairy factory managers, dairy industry victoria

These shell cases were donated along with other items from the St Nicholas' Mission to Seamen's Church at 139 Nelson Place, Williamstown, Victoria. The Church was operated by the Mission to Seamen organisation. The symbol of the broad arrow on the base of the shell case signifies that it was owned by the Australian Army. The dates of the shell cases - 1940 and 1941 - link the shell cases with World War II. Both cases' headstamps have "N", which could indicate that they were made for use by the Navy. Shell Case 1298.01: The headstamp code on the label "MEC" means that it was made by the Explosives Factory Maribyrnong - Cordite Annexe, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, which made cordite propellant for cartridges and shells. Shell Case 1298.02: The headstamp "MF" indicates it was made by the Small Arms Manufacturing Factory in Footscray, Melbourne, and the stamped year was 1941. THE MISSIONS TO SEAMEN (Brief History): - The Missions to Seamen was an Anglican charity that has served seafarers of the world since 1856 in Great Britain. Its symbol is a Flying Angel, inspired by a Bible verse. Today, there are centres in over 200 ports worldwide where seamen of all backgrounds are offered a warm welcome and provided with a wide range of facilities. In Victoria, the organisation began in Williamstown in 1857 as a Sailors’ Church, also known as ‘Bethel’ or the ‘Floating Church’ in an old hulk floating in Hobson’s Bay, Port of Melbourne. It soon became part of the Missions to Seamen, Victoria. In the year 2000, the organisation, now named Mission to Seafarers, still operated locally in Melbourne, Portland, Geelong and Hastings. The Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild was formed in 1906 to support the Missions to Seamen in Melbourne and other centres, such as Williamstown. Two of the most significant ladies of the Guild were founder Ethel Augusta Godfrey and foundation member Alice Sibthorpe Tracy (who established a branch of the Guild in Warrnambool in 1920). The Guild continued its work until the 1960s. In 1943, a former Williamstown bank was purchased for the Missions to Seaman Club. The chapel was named St Nicholas’ Seamen’s Church and was supported by the Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild, the Williamstown Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary and the League of Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Friends. It ceased operation in 1966. A Missions to Seamen Chapel and Recreation Room was a significant feature of ports during the late 1800s and into the 1900s. It seemed appropriate for Flagstaff Hill to include such a representation within the new Maritime Village, so the Melbourne Board of Management of Missions to Seamen Victoria gave its permission on 21st May 1979 for the entire furnishings of the Williamstown chapel to be transferred to Flagstaff Hill. The St Nicholas Seamen’s Church was officially opened on October 11, 1981, and closely resembles the Williamstown chapel. These shell cases are significant for their relationship with the Australian Army in general and in particular with the defence of Australia during World War II. The may have also been made for the Navy. Their significance is increased by their association with the Williamstown Missions To Seamen, which donated them to Flagstaff Hill in 1979, an organisation that has supported seafarers for many years.Shell case: two brass 4" rimmed shell cases with headstamps (inscriptions) on the base plate around the firing pin three holes evenly spaced around the centre of the base. A label is attached to one shell. The shell cases are part of the St. Nicholas Seamen's Church Collection. Shell Case 1298.01 - Printed stamp “P.2BT” “M.E.C.111” “I.E. 10/43”. Stamped into base “N”, “1940” “W [within lozenge]”, “S” symbol [Australian Government Arrow] “360“ . Around firing pin “MF I 422” “ME” “II” “4 I N” “5-“ ”MF [within rectangle]” “f” “B – [within circle]”, Shell Case 1298.02 - headstamp “N 1941 MF / F symbol [square box] LOT 679”, [in oval] 101 / 4 / S /U2) M GUNS 7 “, symbol [Australian Government Arrow], Stencil [in red circle] “B J”, symbol [Diamond with line top to bottom] Stamped in red ink “R5G 11 1 2B7”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, munitions, shell case, ammunition 1940, ammunition 1941, firearms, cannon, australian government, borad arrow, australian army, wwii, world war 2, australian defence, australian ordinance, small arms manufacturing factory, explosives factory maribyrnong, cordite, world war ii, ww2, 1940, 1941, defence, n headstamp, footscray

The Cash Accounts contain the names and transaction details of all Gembrook Nursery clients. As well as private individuals, clients also included the following: Fitzroy City Council (p.2, 23, 41, 58. 93); Collingwood Council (p.2, 11, 54, 62, 71, 93); Lands Dept (p.2,5, 28, 30, 45, 61, 73); Melbourne Water Supply (p. 2); Victorian Railways (p.4, 6, 7,17,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 35, 37, 47......); Salvation Army (p.5, 36, 72, 94); Hawthorn Council (p.11, 37, 57, 69); Kew Council (p.12, 34, 55); Caulfied Shire Council (p.14, 35, 37,53, 69, 90, 93, 108); City of Melbourne (p. 26, 54, 96); Narre Warren Library (p. 44)., Public Works Dept (p. 55); Nunawading Shire Council (p. 70); Prahran Shire Council (p. 91, 102, 108); Dept of Agriculture N.Z.(p. 93); Hawkesbury Ag College (p. 93); Cremorne Nursery (p. ......., 94); Stawell Shire Council (p. 95); Monbulk Jam Factory (p. 100, Euroa shire Council (p. 108))The accounts also track Nobelius' travel expenses.The cash account books are historically, and socially significant as the entries give an insight into the growth of the company and the details payments from local and other government offices and overseas customers as well as significant companies associations and people. The earlier account books also detail wage payments.Hard cover cash book, brown leather binding, black cover, pink marbled end paper, book has 239 pages all used, date starts 16th October 1903 and ends 18th December 1910. c. a. nobelius & sons, gembrook nurseries, horticulture, accounting, emerald

The Cash Accounts contain the names and transaction details of all Gembrook Nursery clients. As well as private individuals, clients also included the following: Fitzroy City Council (p.2, 23, 41, 58. 93); Collingwood Council (p.2, 11, 54, 62, 71, 93); Lands Dept (p.2,5, 28, 30, 45, 61, 73); Melbourne Water Supply (p. 2); Victorian Railways (p.4, 6, 7,17,19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 35, 37, 47......); Salvation Army (p.5, 36, 72, 94); Boroondara Council (p.11, 37, 57, 69); Kew Council (p.12, 34, 55); Caulfied Shire Council (p.14, 35, 37,53, 69, 90, 93, 108); City of Melbourne (p. 26, 54, 96); Narre Warren Library (p. 44)., Public Works Dept (p. 55); Nunawading Shire Council (p. 70); Prahran Shire Council (p. 91, 102, 108); Dept of Agriculture N.Z.(p. 93); Hawkesbury Ag College (p. 93); Cremorne Nursery (p. ......., 94); Stawell Shire Council (p. 95); Monbulk Jam Factory (p. 100, Euroa shire Council (p. 108))The accounts also track Nobelius' travel expenses.The cash account books are historically, and socially significant as the entries give an insight into the growth of the company and the details payments from local and other government offices and overseas customers as well as significant companies associations and people. The earlier account books also detail wage payments.Hard cover cash book, with maroon embossed cover (alligator print cover), inner cover marbled front and back, cash book has a total of 139 pages all used, date starts 1895 and concludes in 1908c. a. nobelius & sons, gembrook nurseries, horticulture, accounting, emerald

Yields information about Ballarat c1940 and how the area was rate for insurance purposes.Map - paper mounted onto a heavy card backing titled "Sketch Map of Ballaarat including Ballaarat East and Sebastopol" with a printed label "General Accident Fire and Life Assurance" pasted to the top of the title. Drawn at 30chains to the inch. Map shows the boundaries between the carious insurance classifications in the district, which relates partly to the local government areas at the time. Shows the Yarrowee, Gong Gong Creeks, rail lines, stations, Black Hill and some other features. Includes the Explosives factory area. Does not show the tram lines.trams, tramways, ballarat, maps, insurance, sebastopol

Martini-Henry Artillery Carbin rifles were made by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, Britain, from 1877 until 1900. Many were distributed to the British Colonies, including this pair, which was allocated to the Woodford Police, Victoria Police District of Warrnambool, Southwest Victoria. The Carbine model rifles were shorter than the standard rifles and more suited to mounted police and troopers. It is likely that in the early 20th century, Victoria Police replaced the two carbines with more modern firearms, and the outdated guns were stored in the stables. The rifles were left there and likely forgotten about due to changes in police staff. In 1915, police authorities announced that they would be replacing patrol horses with bicycles and would also close some smaller police stations. This affected Woodford Police Station, which closed in 1917. The forgotten firearms remained in the stables and were noticed by schoolboy Robert Jellie in 1940 and seen again in 1946. In 1995, the property was sold by the Education Department to a private owner. The Woodford Community donated the pair of Martini-Henry Carbines to the Victoria Police Museum in the late 1990s for mounting and display, which was funded by the Victoria Police Historical Society Inc. The decorative wood and glass display case and frame were designed to preserve the significant history of the guns. On November 1st 1999, the display was presented to Warrnambool Police and the local community due to the historical significance of the Woodford Police Station. In 2025, these items were formally deaccessioned by the Victoria Police Museum, and ownership was transferred to the Warrnambool Police Station. On March 10th, 2025, the display was transferred to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village, where the historical story of the Martini-Henry Carbines could continue to be preserved and accessed by local families, the community, visitors to the area, and online visitors. WOODFORD POLICE: - The small settlement at Woodford was established in the 1840s around the Merri River where there was a ford across the water and a bridge from 1848 to 1851. The area was settled very early in Victoria’s history, and the river crossing provided travellers with access to the early route between Port Fairy (named Belfast at that time), Warrnambool and Melbourne. Occasionally, a Warrnambool police trooper would ride through Woodford and the district. In December 1854, Woodford Police barracks and stables were built on the hill by the Merri River on Bridge Road east, where Jubilee Park now stands. A local mounted trooper kept law and order in the area. In 1856, a lock-up was installed, and the first Woodford Police Station was in action in 1857. By 1871, the police station had been moved from the hill to land across the Merri River bridge, on the southern side of Bridge Road west, near Mill Street. In 1890, the police residence there was replaced by a stone Edwardian-style building with the stables and lock-up behind it and the old police station at the rear. The police continued to have a presence in Woodford until it was closed by the Police Commissioner in July 1917 for economic reasons. The residence was used for government housing until 1923, when it was taken over by the Education Department for the school teacher’s home. In 1995, it became privately owned. THE MARTINI-HENRY ARTILLERY CARBINE: - The Martini-Henry rifles were made in Britain from 1871 at the Royal Small Arms factory at Enfield and were stamped with the symbol of the Royal Cipher (Crown over VR) over ENFIELD to identify their origin. They were named after two of several people who helped design this method: Swiss Friederich von Martini and Scotsman Alexander Henry. The design was breech-loaded, and the inner barrel was rifled. A thumb rest was incorporated into the top right of the bullet receiver’s chamber. The small teardrop lever on the right side of the rifle showed whether the rifle was ready to be shot. In 1877, the shorter, lighter-weight Carbine version of the firearm was produced for mounted troops and artillery. Its official name was “Carbine, B.L., Rifled, Martini-Henry.” The bullets were slightly lighter in weight than those used for the longer rifle. The sight position was adjusted for the shorter gun, and wings were added to the sight on the tip, making it easier to slide the rifle back into a saddle bag. Some of the later Carbines also had leather sight covers screwed to the stock to prevent them from catching on the saddle bags. The Carbines had accessories available, such as barrel extensions with bayonets and swivels for adding slings. The Martini-Henry Carbine designs were later modified to fire the British .303 ammunition. Eventually, by 1900, the Martini-Henry Carbines were replaced by the Lee Enfield gun design. The pair of Martini-Henry Carbine firearms represents policing in the early pre-1900 days of colonial settlement; Woodford was one of the first townships settled in Victoria, and it had a police presence from 1854 until 1917. The rifles and display provide a historic connection between the location of Woodford and relatives and associates. The carbine rifles show a stage in the evolution of weapon design, adapted to suit mounted troops, and adding features to streamline use and storage. The ammunition was also improved during this progression. The carbines are important for their connection to policing law and order in a remote area. They are significant for their association with the township of Woodford, which was important to travel in the southwest Victoria district, providing access across a river for a road between Port Fairy and Melbourne, and later Warrnambool, and supplying food, goods and accommodation for the travellers. A pair of mounted rifles is mounted behind glass in a timer case, accompanied by a framed display of two photographs and an account of the rifles’ history. The case and display each have a horizontal board with a gently curved edge and carved decorations added. The identical firearms are British-made Martini Henry Carbine breach-loaded rifled guns, supplied by Britain to its Colonial troops from around 1877. The rifles are lever-action, single-shot .500 calibre weapons. They have a teardrop lever on their right side. They were used by Victoria Police mounted troops at the Woodford Police Station, Victoria. The black and white photographs were taken in 1946. The left photograph has a circled area; the right photograph is an enlarged view of the circled area, showing the Woodford Police Station in detail. The printed text is on textured paper with the Victoria Police watermark. It gives a summary of the rifle’s history. There is an inscription on the left photograph. Left photograph, handwritten in white pen: “WOODFORD” Document’s print: “During the late 1840s the small town of Woodford grew around the crossing of the Merri River on the Melbourne/Port Fairy Rad. Woodford was proclaimed a township in 1854 and a police quarters was established there in 1857. The police station remained until 1917 when it was closed and police service from then on was provided from Warrnambool. The building was then used as a school residence and is now privately owned. In !940 Robert JELLIE, then a schoolboy, observed two rifles mounted on the wall of the disused stable at the rear of the old police building. Following the devastating flood of 1946 (see photograph above) the rifles were again seen in the room next to the stable but were not seen again until the building was sold by the Education Department many years later. It was a recognition of the historical value of the rifles which led to their donation to the Warrnambool Police Complex. The rifles have been authenticated by the Victoria Police Armoury as being Victoria Police issue some time before 1900. The rifles are an identical pair of the famous British-made Martini Henry, a .500 inch calibre military weapon widely used by British Colonial troops. Victoria Police and the wider community of Warrnambool are indebted to the members of the Woodford community for their fine gesture in donating the rifles for mounting so that their historical importance can be preserved and they can be displayed for generations to come. This display was funded by the Victoria Police Historical Society Incorporated, and presented on the first day of November, 1999.”flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, martini henry, victoria police, woodford police station, rifle, carbine, display case, british, martini henry carbine, breech-loaded, rifled, colonial, single-shot, .500 calibre, weapon, gun, 1877, troops, mounted troops, merri river, victoria police woodford, victoria police warrnambool, victoria police melbourne, police quarters, robert jellie, school residence, stable, 1946 flood, victoria police armoury, identical pair, british colonial troops, victoria police historical society incorporated, woodford, bicycles, found by a schoolboy, edwardian-style building, victoria police museum, warrnambool police station