Kew, in Melbourne, Victoria, was declared a Borough in 1859, following which the first Council was elected in 1860. Kew became a Town in 1910, and a City in 1921. It was amalgamated into a new City of Boroondara in 1994. The centenary celebrations of 1860 marked 100 since the first Kew Council was established.This reel-to-reel tape, now digitised, is both rare (ie unique) and historically significant. While the recording clearly has local significance, it is also of national and international significance due to the content of the Prime Minister's address. The focus of his speech is the nature of Australian democracy and its strengths, deriving from universal suffrage and the acceptance of democratic values by the Australian population, gained through historic participation in democracy at local, state and federal levels. RG Menzies mounts a strong case for each level of government having value in the development of Australian democracy. He also describes the emerging democracies of Africa in the period following decolonisation, and suggests that the success of these countries is dependent on democratic institutions not being imposed from above by colonial powers. City of Kew Centenary 1860-1960 Speeches by The Hon RG Menzies, MHR for Kew, and Cr WHS Dickinson, Mayor of Kew. Recorded on 13th December 1960 at the Kew City Hall 34 minutes 29 seconds From the archives of the Kew Historical Society Inc Copyright Kew Historical Society Inc Timings 00.14-17.00 The Right Hon RG Menzies MHR 17.07-32.33 Cr. WHS Dickinson 32.38-33.10 The Right Hon RG Menzies MHR 33.30-33.50 Cr. WHS Dickinson 33.51-34.25 Song - 'For He's a Jolly Good Fellow'Label on original boxcity of kew, centenary of kew 1860-1960, robert gordon menzies, william henry shorey dickinson, bill burrell, mayors of kew, town clerks of kew, australian prime ministers, australian democracy, democracy

Certificate presented to 3798359 "Keith Cooper", acknowledging his service in Vietnam on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. See catalogue No. 9586.2 for details of his service. Part of the Cooper Collection.1. A.4 sized white card certificate. Australian Coat of Arms in colour at top. text in gold and black type, including name and number for the recipient. Replica signatures of the Gov-General and Prime Minister in blue at bottom of certificate, gold coloured border with 50th Anniversary logo at bottom. Medal ribbon colours included above signatures. 2. White coloured card folder. 50th Anniversary logo on front. Back has Australian Coat of Arms in black.cooper collection, keith e cooper, vietnam war, certificate

Henry Beardmore represented the Green Hills Riding on Wodonga Shire Council from 1898 to 1922, including terms as President from 1900-01, 1903-4, 1908-10, 1911-12, 1914-17. He won the seat of Benambra in the Victorian Legislative Assembly at a by-election on 20th April 1917. After a few years serving simultaneously at both local and State government levels, in 1922 Mr Beardmore retired from the Wodonga Council due to his increased workload in State politics. He continuously represented the Benambra electorate as a Nationalist and United Australia Party Member for more than 15 years being returned unopposed on four occasions. Mr Beardmore was a strong advocate for country development and decentralisation. He was an Honorary Minister in 1924 and for a short time in 1929, Minister of Railways, Minister in-charge of Electrical Undertakings and Minister of Labour. He was a leading supporter of Kiewa Hydro-Electric Project and opponent of Yallourn coalfield. He remained as the Member for Benambra until his death in Wodonga on 1st August 1932. At the time this letter was written, William Hughes had been expelled from the ALP over his stance on conscription. He formed the National Labor Party which later merged with the Liberal Party to become the Nationalist Party. Henry Beardmore was a newly-elected Member of the Victorian Parliament and became a member of the Nationalist Party. Two of Henry Beardmore’s sons were on Active Service at the time and were later joined by another of their brothers. The letter aimed to gain support for Hughes at the Federal Election to be held on 5th May 1917 which his new party won with a large majority. However the Second Referendum held on conscription on 20th December 1917 at William Hughes’ instigation was defeated.This letter is significant because it was sent to an important Wodonga politician by the Prime Minister at a critical time in Australia's history.A typed letter sent to Mr Henry Beardmore by W. M. Hughes, Prime Minister 25th April 1917. It is printed on the Commonwealth of Australia letterhead. The letter has been damaged over time and has been repaired. Commonwealth of Australia letterhead Signed W. M. Hughesw. m. hughes, henry beardmore, conscription debate 1917

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

This teak wood sample was part of a handrail from the wreck of the ship Otago. The Otago 1869-1931 The iron-hulled 3-masted barque Otago was built in Glasgow by Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd, Kelvinhaugh, as a merchant ship and launched in 1869. The vessel changed hands several times in the late 19th century after being sold to an Australian firm in 1871. During one of its voyages, the captain died while the ship was in port at Bangkok. Marine author Joseph Conrad was on board and, being a qualified captain, he took command and continued the journey to Sydney and Mauritius. It was the only ship he ever commanded. In 1903 the Melbourne shipping company Huddart, Parko & Co., purchased the Otago and converted it to serve as a coal hulk for use in Sydney. The Otago was later sent to Hobart, Tasmania, where it continued as a hulk until 1931. It was sold for scrap and eventually abandoned on the banks of the Derwent River at a place now known as Otago Bay, opposite Conrad Drive, Otago. The outline of the hull is still visible and a nearby plaque tells the story. There are other vessels also named Otago, one of them in the same year. Joseph Conrad (1857-1927): - Polish-born Joseph Conrad became a British subject in 1886. He was a renowned marine fiction writer and, for a short time, a mariner and Captain. As a 13-year-old boy, Joseph Conrad desired to be a sailor. At 19, he joined the British merchant marine, working in several roles. He eventually qualified as a captain but only served in this role once: from 1888 to 1889, when he commanded the barque Otago, taking over from the deceased captain and completing the ship’s journey from Sydney to Mauritius. In 1889 he began writing his first novel, Almayer’s Folly. He retired from life as a mariner in 1894, aged 36. Conrad’s affection for Australia and his visits to Australia from 1878 to 1982 were later commemorated by a plaque in Circular Quay, Sydney. Conrad continued as an author; some characters in his books were said to be inspired by his maritime experiences and the people he had met. By the end of his life, he had completed 19 novels, many stories, and essays, plus one incomplete novel, Suspense, which was finished and published posthumously. In 1924, Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald offered Conrad a knighthood for his work but he declined. There is an 1882 sailing ship named the Joseph Conrad, after the author, that is now preserved at the Mystic Seaport Maritime Museum in the USA as part of the fleet of historic ships, used as an exhibit and a training ship. The Danish square-rigged training ship was originally named Georg Stage but was renamed by marine author Alan Villiers when he bought It in 1934. The wood sample from the Otago is significant for its association with renowned marine author Joseph Conrad, who had once commanded the vessel; it was his only command as Captain and was known as Joseph Conrad's Otago. The maritime connection with Conrad extends to items in the collection, including some of his maritime novels based on his first-hand knowledge, a wooden ship model of a ship named after him, and a navigation chart of Otago Harbour. The sample of teak is significant as an example of materials used in the construction of the 1869 iron-hulled sailing ship, built in Glasgow, Scotland, specifically for use to sail across the world with cargo to trade between the colonies including Australian ports. Wood sample; a rectangular section of a teak wood handrail that has a bead planed along one side. Two cards with the sample have inscriptions, one handwritten and one typed. The sample is from the wreck of the barque Otago, once under the command of Captain Joseph Conrad. Handwritten card: "PART OF TEAK HANDRAIL / from / Joseph CONRAD'S ship / OTAGO / (HULK at RISDON, DERWENT River, TASMANIA) Typed card: "PART OF THE TEAK HANDRAIL / FROM JOSEPH CONRAD'S SHIP / "OTAGO" / (HILK AT RISDON, DERWENT / RIVER, TASMANIA)"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, joseph conrad, joseph conrad's ship, captain joseph conrad, otago, barque otago, merchant ship, cargo ship, hulk, 1869 ship, iron hull, sailing ship, handrail, fitting, souvenir, wood sample, teak, new zealand, sydney, newcastle, tasmania, hobart, derwent river, otago harbour, otago bay, conrad drive, 19th century, mauritius, marine author, marine novel, alex villiers, georg stage