Police diary belonging to Constable Joseph Wyer, issued 1882. Wyer was a member of the water police, many of the pages in his diary record the movements of ships in and out of Port Philip Bay. The loose papers are personal notes, including a letter from his sister and a list of the births and deaths of family members. The list includes the names and dates of death of several of Wyer's children, including a set of twins. It also lists the death of his wife. Small paper diary and four loose folded papersJoseph D. Wyersdiary, police, water police

Vintage Australian book for the homemaker c1958. The book is published prior to granting of equal pay, affirmation of women's rights, acceptance of working mother and career woman as the norm . The book reinforces the socially accepted concept of the married homemaker and mother as perceived at the time, now the idealised concept is questioned. At the time of publication and reprints this book was envisaged to empower women. Whether' a teenager, career woman,a young married or mother' as a 'guide, philosopher, and friend' The editor Alleyne Jukes was born in Warrnambool to Charles and Mary Jukes of the Floral Farm Warrnambool. She attended Braemar Grammar School and Warrnambool High School. She lived and worked in Melbourne as a journalist and secretary living in St Kilda and Elsternwick 1949, Bentleigh 1954, Oakleigh 1963. In 1961 she gathered together a number of writers and consultants to produce Woman's World, a book designed as the woman's Bible to enable her to have access to expert advice and information about home and outside work fields.The book was hailed at the time at the time as the only work of its type produced entirely for Australian conditions and was an immediate success appealing to a wide range of readers. A similar subject book of smaller size and format has been sighted 'The People's Home Library', 1910 reprinted in 1923 by RC Barnum published by The Oceanic Publishing Company. A Library of three practical books, Medical 478 pp, Home Recipe 238 pp and Home Stock 315pp.This book is a guide for everything from how to answer a telephone correctly to sorting out marital problems. A reference guide for how to be a complete and successful young woman. Courses on Beauty, Fashion, Poise and Personality, Cooking,Every Wise Woman, Love and Marriage, The Home, The Family and Interests and Hobbies. This book has significance for Warrnambool as Alleyne Jukes was born in Warrnambool and has strong family connections to the district.A hardback reference book 'Woman's World' with a cream vinyl binding of flecked fabric outside cover and spine. Gold gilt lettering for the title and a gold gilt rose motif on the front; gold gilt lettering and publisher's name on the spine; plain back cover. The endpapers are repeated of black and white pen ink drawings showing the roles of women on varying splashes of a vairety of mono-coloured backgrounds. A general index on page 602 plus cooking index page 606 and dressmaking and sewing index page 607. The 607 pages are printed on thick, gloss white paper for 64 pages and coarser, white matt paper for the remainder. The table of contents lists a pictorial Introduction and nine chapters (courses) 'that is a 'bible' to the woman 'cares' and is vital to her as her femininity'. The editor has a heading "WOMAN" The Unacknowledged Specialist" and signed with her printed signature...Alleyne Jukes.' No dedication included although a text from Proverbs.alleyne m jukes, woman, self improvement, 'bible', warrnambool

This album contains a number of photographs of British royal family, ministers of religion persons of renown such as Florence Nightingale and family members. Most are named.This album contains a typical collection of photographs which people of the later part of the 19th century put together of people of importance, especially the royal family and leaders of state. Religion also played a major part in the lives of people at that time hence the inclusion of the ministers. Small green leather bound cover with geometric pattern. Two metal clasps. Edges of pages edged in gold. First page is photograph of page from the Book of Proverbs snd last photo is of prince Alfred with ships in the background.warrnambool, photograph album of warrnambool

Ralph Reeves purchased an established cordial factory in the early 1900’s from the estate of J Fletcher. It was operated by the Reeves family, firstly Reginald, followed by his son-in-law Murray Moon until the latter part of the 20th century. A common object familiar to a large number of people in the Warrnambool area with links to one of Warrnambool’s longest established family businesses.Two clear glass bottles with rib pattern and circles at bottom of neck. Transfer label with small white circles and one larger red one. Top is white with orange writing. Contains Dry Ginger.Enjoy Reeves’ ice cold on the front, Bottled by R.J Reeves Warrnambool. Preservative added artificially coloured. Net contents 7 FL. OZ. warrnambool, reeves, reeves soft drink, reeves cordial.

This album contains a number of photos taken around the Otways. They depict a number of people with horses, buggies and tents along bush tracks. There are scenes of Lochard Gorge and the Curdies River at Peterborough, as well as farming scenes. The Otway Ranges was a popular place for day trips and small holidays for the people of the district. Warrnambool and District Historical Society has albums from the Swinton family which depict similar scenes. Dress of the people in the photos would indicate that this trip occurred around the turn of the 20th century. This album has artistic and aesthetic significance as the photos contained within this album are quite beautiful. It also has historical and social significance as it is depicts a typical activity of the time. Brown cover with black floral pattern on front. Back cover is plain. Rectangular in shape. Contains photographs mounted on heavy card.warrnambool, album, photo album, otway ranges, the otways, loch ard gorge,, warrnambool photographs of the past, warrnambool photos

The origin and owner of this album are unknown but the name’ Vickers’ suggests some local connection. There are twelve photographs of people and twenty-nine photographs of buildings and scenes, mostly of places in England (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire). The photographers’ names listed are from Nottingham. The photographs probably date from the 1860s and 1870s. This is most likely an album of some significance as the name ‘Vickers’ on the inside cover of this album suggests that the photographs belonged to the Vickers family. Robert Vickers, who came from Nottingham, was a farmer at Summerside in Panmure in the 1860s, 70s and 80s so the photographs in the album are likely to be of his family members. This is a small photograph album with a brown leather cover There is a raised gold-coloured metal belt motif on the front cover and one piece of gold-coloured metal on the lower side of the front cover,Inside the front cover, in blue biro, the handwritten name ‘Vickers’ The word ‘Album’ is printed on the spine. warrnambool, vickers, robert vickers

Copy of possible Rose Stereograph Co. postcard “View at Eltham, Vic.”, c.1924 looking southwest from Main Road near York Street to Bridge Street and the original 1875 bridge across what is now the Alistair Knox Park The land in the foreground was first bought from the Crown by J.M. Holloway in 1851. The land was sub-divided and called "Little Eltham". Bridge Street was created as part of the sub-division. Most of the sub-division was residential lots but the creek valley was divided into lots for small farms. Council started to buy the land for the Eltham Town park in the early 1960s. The area was used as a garbage tip and filled above the flood plain of the creek. Development of the land for a park began in the early 1970s. The house on the right was owned for many years by the Hill family until Council bought it in the early 1960s. The house was built in the 1850s or 60s. The house on the left stood on what is now the southwest corner of Susan and Bridge Streets. The Braithwaite family was associated with this house. The double line of fencing in the foreground was a continuation of York Street to the creek. The Bridge Street bridge was built in 1875 and replaced in 1958. (Ref: Early view of Little Eltham; Byways of History by Colleen Ison, Publication unk, 24 August 1982) Reproduced on p61 of 'Pioneers & Painters' Date estimated on same as View at Hurstbridge featuring Wattle Valley EstateThis photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 120 format B&W negative Prints 17 x 25 cm and 10 x 15 cmsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, bridge street, bridge, alistair knox park, braithwaite, bridge street bridge, eltham town park, hill family home, main road, pioneers and painters, york street

Main Road, Eltham, south from Brougham Street to Dalton Street, c.1911 View looking down Policeman’s Hill on Maria Street (Main Road) from near Brougham Street towards Dalton Street, site of the Avenue of Honour established in 1916-1917 in memory of the soldiers who served in the First World War, 1914-1918. At the bottom of the hill on the right is White Cloud Cottage, home of the Jarrold family, three women standing out front observing the photographer. The road passes over a culvert which runs to the west in front of the cottage. The cottage was originally located closer to the Diamond Creek but was subject to flooding. It was dragged by horse to the present site shown, which was chosen for the higher ground that had been created as a result of land fill being deposited here from the quarry further around the bend on Main Road (site of present-day Eltham Primary School carpark) where the stone had been quarried for building the State School in Dalton Street. Immediately at the end of the straight section of the main road can be seen the gas streetlamp in front of the Jarrold home and the pond at the bottom of Dalton Street. The cottage had previously been rented for use as a Police Station / residence prior to the building of the permanent police house and station at the corner of Maria and Brougham streets in 1859. At the time of collection of photos for the centenary of the Shire of Eltham (1971) the cottage was owned by the Skipper family and remains in the family to present day (2021). On the left is the Grant house on the corner of Main Road and Dalton Street now the present-day site of Eltham Clinic. Cross Ref: 0749 for another view of the Jarrold family home Photographer: J.H. Clark John Henry Clark was the youngest of three boys born to William Henry Clark (1823-1877) and Maria White (1843-1914). He and his brothers, William Charles Clark (1872-1945), Clement Kent Clark (1874-1912) operated a photography business (Clark Bros.) from 25 Thomas Street, Windsor near Prahran during the period c.1894 to 1914. Following death of Clement in September 1912 and their mother in 1914, the Clark Bros business appears to have dissolved, the premises demolished, and a new house was under construction in 1915. John set up business independently in 1914 operating out of 29 Moor Street, Fitzroy where he is registered in the 1914 and 1915 Electoral Rolls. By 1916 John had relocated to Eltham where he continued his practice as a photographer and took many of the early images around the district of Little Eltham. Around 1930 John changed professions and opened a small cobbler's shop in 1931 near the pond opposite Dalton Street adjacent to the Jarrold family cottage. He never married and continued his profession as a bootmaker from this little shop, maintaining a close relationship with Mrs Jarrold for the rest of their lives. His bootmaker shop remains today beside the Whitecloud cottage and is one of only three remaining shops in the area from the early 20th century. There are a couple of images of Eltham taken by Clark Bros. in the Eltham District Historical Society collection, one such example being Hunniford’s Post Office with Miss Anne Hunniford out front (EDHS_00140 - marked on the back of the print, Clark Bros., 25 Thomas St. Windsor), which would date this image between c.1894 and 1914. Other early images of Eltham taken by John Henry Clark are marked on the face “J. H. Clark Photo” and it is assumed these are dated between 1914 and 1930. It is noted that the Grant of Probate for John H Clark of Eltham South dated 5 April !957 (513/387) records his occupation as "X Photographer".This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Negshire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, main road, jarrold family, dalton street, j.h. clark photo, white cloud cottage, avenue of honour, eltham clinic, gas lamp, grant house, jarrold cottage, 1900

View of Main Road, Eltham from Arthur Street towards the railway station which can be seen on the left. Cross Ref: 609 (opposite direction) Photographer: J.H. Clark John Henry Clark was the youngest of three boys born to William Henry Clark (1823-1877) and Maria White (1843-1914). He and his brothers, William Charles Clark (1872-1945), Clement Kent Clark (1874-1912) operated a photography business (Clark Bros.) from 25 Thomas Street, Windsor near Prahran during the period c.1894 to 1914. Following death of Clement in September 1912 and their mother in 1914, the Clark Bros business appears to have dissolved, the premises demolished, and a new house was under construction in 1915. John set up business independently in 1914 operating out of 29 Moor Street, Fitzroy where he is registered in the 1914 and 1915 Electoral Rolls. By 1916 John had relocated to Eltham where he continued his practice as a photographer and took many of the early images around the district of Little Eltham. Around 1930 John changed professions and opened a small cobbler's shop in 1931 near the pond opposite Dalton Street adjacent to the Jarrold family cottage. He never married and continued his profession as a bootmaker from this little shop, maintaining a close relationship with Mrs Jarrold for the rest of their lives. His bootmaker shop remains today beside the Whitecloud cottage and is one of only three remaining shops in the area from the early 20th century. There are a couple of images of Eltham taken by Clark Bros. in the Eltham District Historical Society collection, one such example being Hunniford’s Post Office with Miss Anne Hunniford out front (EDHS_00140 - marked on the back of the print, Clark Bros., 25 Thomas St. Windsor), which would date this image between c.1894 and 1914. Other early images of Eltham taken by John Henry Clark are marked on the face “J. H. Clark Photo” and it is assumed these are dated between 1914 and 1930. It is noted that the Grant of Probate for John H Clark of Eltham South dated 5 April !957 (513/387) records his occupation as "X Photographer".\This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, main road, railway station, eltham railway station, j.h. clark photo

People pose for a photograph at the Eltham tennis court. Four men set to play a doubles match while a group of women look on. The sandy looking court (with weeds growing) is surrounded by wooden posts with wire mesh, in the middle of a park with mature gum trees in the background. The tennis court was situated in Eltham South at Bremner’s Flats (near present day Wingrove Park). The court is approximately the location of the present day small carpark. Main Road can be seen in the background from centre left and Mount Pleasant just above, the intersection just above the centre of court. The photo by J.H. Clark has been taken outside the court. Cross Ref SEPP_0721 of the Lady Premiers for 1909-1910 in which an umpires raised seating platform has been erected and the court surface is more refined with marked lines. The Eltham Lawn Tennis Club was formed on a Saturday evening, the 29th of October, 1898 at a meeting held at the Eltham State school. The meeting was large and representative. Twenty members were enrolled, and eight more have since been added. Officers and a committee were duly elected, and the Treasurer was instructed to purchase the necessary requisites without delay. By the end of the first week in November all the requisites were to hand, two courts were marked out, and practice begun. The formal opening of the Courts of this Club took place on Saturday, November 12, 1898, when 26 members and their friends assembled. After several sets had been contested an adjournment was made for tea provided by the members and nicely laid out under the shade of the trees. Afterwards, sets were again formed and the game was proceeded with in a lively spirit till nearly dark, when all dispersed having thoroughly enjoyed themselves during the afternoon. (Evelyn Observer, and South and East Bourke Record (Vic. : 1882 - 1902), Friday 18 November 1898, page 2) Reproduced on p89 of 'Pioneers & Painters' Photographer: J.H. Clark John Henry Clark was the youngest of three boys born to William Henry Clark (1823-1877) and Maria White (1843-1914). He and his brothers, William Charles Clark (1872-1945), Clement Kent Clark (1874-1912) operated a photography business (Clark Bros.) from 25 Thomas Street, Windsor near Prahran during the period c.1894 to 1914. Following death of Clement in September 1912 and their mother in 1914, the Clark Bros business appears to have dissolved, the premises demolished, and a new house was under construction in 1915. John set up business independently in 1914 operating out of 29 Moor Street, Fitzroy where he is registered in the 1914 and 1915 Electoral Rolls. By 1916 John had relocated to Eltham where he continued his practice as a photographer and took many of the early images around the district of Little Eltham. Around 1930 John changed professions and opened a small cobbler's shop in 1931 near the pond opposite Dalton Street adjacent to the Jarrold family cottage. He never married and continued his profession as a bootmaker from this little shop, maintaining a close relationship with Mrs Jarrold for the rest of their lives. His bootmaker shop remains today beside the Whitecloud cottage and is one of only three remaining shops in the area from the early 20th century. There are a couple of images of Eltham taken by Clark Bros. in the Eltham District Historical Society collection, one such example being Hunniford’s Post Office with Miss Anne Hunniford out front (EDHS_00140 - marked on the back of the print, Clark Bros., 25 Thomas St. Windsor), which would date this image between c.1894 and 1914. Other early images of Eltham taken by John Henry Clark are marked on the face “J. H. Clark Photo” and it is assumed these are dated between 1914 and 1930. It is noted that the Grant of Probate for John H Clark of Eltham South dated 5 April !957 (513/387) records his occupation as "X Photographer".This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Negshire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, bremner's flat, eltham, eltham tennis court, j.h. clark photo, pioneers and painters, tennis court, wingrove park, 1905, eltham lawn tennis club, main road, mount pleasant road

[from EDHS Newsletter No. 75, November 1990:] WALTER WITHERS PLAQUE At long last we have unveiled our plaque in the Walter Withers Reserve. The function was attended by a number of members and friends of the Society and descendants of the Withers family. Following the unveiling, the group proceeded to the Eltham Shire Office for afternoon tea and a small exhibition of Withers' paintings arranged by Andrew Mackenzie. The unveiling was performed by Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Walter Withers. Her speech provided an interesting personal perspective on Withers and is repeated in full here: I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of paying tribute to the man you have all come to honour today. I have the feeling that most of you probably know more about him and his work than I do. Walter Withers died nearly seven years before I was born and so I never knew him. Sadly, although other members of his family inherited some of his talent, I was not among them and I know very little about art. This is doubly hard to bear because my husband had some ability to draw and my second daughter also has some talent in this direction. My children are all artistic - mostly in the field of music inherited partly from their father - a Welshman who sang like a Welshman - and partly from my grandmother, Fanny Withers who, I believe was no mean pianist. However all this talent gave me a miss and for many years I felt a complete ignoramus in the fields of the arts. It was not until I was nearly fifty years old that I walked into a gallery in Brisbane and, as I wandered around the room, suddenly one picture leapt at me and I knew instantly that it had been painted by my grandfather. I had never seen the picture before and it gave me quite a shock to find that I had recognized the style of painting. I realized then that I had absorbed more than I realized simply by living with pictures and with people who painted them and talked about their painting and the painting of others. When I was a child I sometimes spent school holidays with my Aunt Margery Withers and her husband, Richard McCann. Aunt Marge painted me several times but I'm afraid I was a restless subject and used to sit reading a book and look up grudgingly when she wanted to paint my eyes. During the September holidays my aunt and uncle were busy preparing paintings far the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Twenty Painters, to which they both belonged. I remember how important I used to feel when they took me along to the Athenaeum Gallery on the Friday night before the opening to help hang their pictures. There were many artists there but the two I remember are perhaps surprisingly both women: Miss Bale and Miss Tweddle. I remember how cold it used to be up in that gallery at night. They used to heat water on a gas ring to make tea and Aunt Marge used to bring sandwiches and fruit for our evening meal. Everyone seemed to be poor in those days and no-one dreamed of going out for a meal. It was a case of make-do - even to cutting down frames to fit pictures or cutting pictures to fit the frames. They had to use the same frames from year to year if the pictures didn't sell. The opening was an exciting event for me. I felt I was privileged to meet important people - people who knew a lot more than I - and Uncle Dick would get quite merry after a couple of the tiny sweet sherries which were always distributed. I realise now that quite a lot of "art talk" rubbed off on me during my visits to the Athenaeum and during my stays with my aunt and uncle. I suspect that much of our most useful learning comes this way and those of us who have had the privilege of associating with artists, writers, philosophers and other thinkers have a richness in our lives of which we may be unaware. Walter Withers was a prolific painter and, although he painted for love of it, I suspect that the need to provide for his family drove him, like Mozart, to greater efforts than he might otherwise have achieved. Reading old letters and articles about the Heidelberg artists, I have come to realize something of the constant strain placed on many of them - particularly Withers and McCubbin - by poverty and the need to make ends meet. Withers was ever conscious of the need to provide for his wife and his five children and there are touching letters to his wife, regretting that he was not able to earn more for them. In addition to his painting, he worked hard at teaching and illustrating and, as he grew older, the strain began to tell and his health deteriorated. He seems never to have had a very strong constitution and suffered from rheumatism, which must have made painting quite painful at times. His eldest daughter, Gladys, was eventually confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and I have a tendency to arthritis myself, so I am particularly aware of what this could have meant to him. Recently I found a short letter written by my mother to her mother, Fanny Withers on the anniversary of her father's birthday in 1919, in which she said: "Poor old Dad, I often think now what a lot he must have suffered. His life was too hard and too strenuous for him. He had too many chick-a-biddies, I think. He wasn't equal to so much town life and train journeys with so many delicacies as he had. Since I have been ill, I have realised what he must have felt like.” He certainly drove himself to produce. He travelled all over Victoria by train, buggy, bicycle and on foot and for a time he travelled from Eltham to Melbourne every day by train, although later he lived in Melbourne during the week and only returned to Eltham for the weekends. My mother died seven years after her father's death, when my twin sisters were 10 days old and I was 16 months. So I never knew my mother or my grandfather. But my two aunts, Gladys and Margery, sometimes took me to stay with Gan Withers at Southernwood in Bolton Street . No cars in those days and it seemed a very long hot and dusty walk from the Station. Three memories remain with me of Southernwood. One is the well at the back which I found quite terrifying; the second is Gan killing a snake - even more terrifying. She was a formidable woman, my grandmother and a great ally and support to her husband. I think she was the business end of the partnership. The third memory of Southernwood is my grandfather's studio – down what seemed like a toy staircase inside the room. This and the big walk-in fireplace stayed in my mind from the age of about six until I saw them again about forty years later when the house was being used as a Sunday School. I just wish that money could be found to purchase this old house for the City of Eltham so that a permanent museum could be established in memory of a man who did so much to put Eltham on the map of art history. Recently I have become interested in family history and spent some time in England, Ireland and Wales looking for traces of my ancestors. I realized then how important it is to have records of people who have contributed to our society. We forget so soon and it is amazing how often, within two generations, names, dates and many details are forgotten. We are fortunate that so many of Walter Withers' works have been bought by galleries and that people like Andrew Mackenzie have taken the trouble to search out people who knew him and to write about him and his work. And I am very grateful to the Historical Society of Eltham for recognizing the importance of having a permanent tribute in Eltham to the contribution made by Walter Withers, who loved Eltham so much and who has assured this lovely district a place in the annals of history. I am indebted to Kathleen Mangan; the daughter of another famous Australian painter , Fred McCubbin, - featured in The Age this morning (thanks again to Andrew Mackenzie) for the most apt tribute to Walter Withers. Kathleen is not well and she rang me a couple of days ago, regretting that she could not be present today “to pay tribute” as she said, “to Walter Withers for I always think Walter Withers is the spirit of Eltham.” Thank you, Kathleen. And now I have much pleasure in unveiling the plaque commissioned by the Eltham Historical Society from Bob McLellan of Charmac Industries to commemorate the life and work of Walter Withers, the spirit of Eltham. Mary Owen, 13 October 1990.Three colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen

[from EDHS Newsletter No. 75, November 1990:] WALTER WITHERS PLAQUE At long last we have unveiled our plaque in the Walter Withers Reserve. The function was attended by a number of members and friends of the Society and descendants of the Withers family. Following the unveiling, the group proceeded to the Eltham Shire Office for afternoon tea and a small exhibition of Withers' paintings arranged by Andrew Mackenzie. The unveiling was performed by Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Walter Withers. Her speech provided an interesting personal perspective on Withers and is repeated in full here: I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of paying tribute to the man you have all come to honour today. I have the feeling that most of you probably know more about him and his work than I do. Walter Withers died nearly seven years before I was born and so I never knew him. Sadly, although other members of his family inherited some of his talent, I was not among them and I know very little about art. This is doubly hard to bear because my husband had some ability to draw and my second daughter also has some talent in this direction. My children are all artistic - mostly in the field of music inherited partly from their father - a Welshman who sang like a Welshman - and partly from my grandmother, Fanny Withers who, I believe was no mean pianist. However all this talent gave me a miss and for many years I felt a complete ignoramus in the fields of the arts. It was not until I was nearly fifty years old that I walked into a gallery in Brisbane and, as I wandered around the room, suddenly one picture leapt at me and I knew instantly that it had been painted by my grandfather. I had never seen the picture before and it gave me quite a shock to find that I had recognized the style of painting. I realized then that I had absorbed more than I realized simply by living with pictures and with people who painted them and talked about their painting and the painting of others. When I was a child I sometimes spent school holidays with my Aunt Margery Withers and her husband, Richard McCann. Aunt Marge painted me several times but I'm afraid I was a restless subject and used to sit reading a book and look up grudgingly when she wanted to paint my eyes. During the September holidays my aunt and uncle were busy preparing paintings far the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Twenty Painters, to which they both belonged. I remember how important I used to feel when they took me along to the Athenaeum Gallery on the Friday night before the opening to help hang their pictures. There were many artists there but the two I remember are perhaps surprisingly both women: Miss Bale and Miss Tweddle. I remember how cold it used to be up in that gallery at night. They used to heat water on a gas ring to make tea and Aunt Marge used to bring sandwiches and fruit for our evening meal. Everyone seemed to be poor in those days and no-one dreamed of going out for a meal. It was a case of make-do - even to cutting down frames to fit pictures or cutting pictures to fit the frames. They had to use the same frames from year to year if the pictures didn't sell. The opening was an exciting event for me. I felt I was privileged to meet important people - people who knew a lot more than I - and Uncle Dick would get quite merry after a couple of the tiny sweet sherries which were always distributed. I realise now that quite a lot of "art talk" rubbed off on me during my visits to the Athenaeum and during my stays with my aunt and uncle. I suspect that much of our most useful learning comes this way and those of us who have had the privilege of associating with artists, writers, philosophers and other thinkers have a richness in our lives of which we may be unaware. Walter Withers was a prolific painter and, although he painted for love of it, I suspect that the need to provide for his family drove him, like Mozart, to greater efforts than he might otherwise have achieved. Reading old letters and articles about the Heidelberg artists, I have come to realize something of the constant strain placed on many of them - particularly Withers and McCubbin - by poverty and the need to make ends meet. Withers was ever conscious of the need to provide for his wife and his five children and there are touching letters to his wife, regretting that he was not able to earn more for them. In addition to his painting, he worked hard at teaching and illustrating and, as he grew older, the strain began to tell and his health deteriorated. He seems never to have had a very strong constitution and suffered from rheumatism, which must have made painting quite painful at times. His eldest daughter, Gladys, was eventually confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and I have a tendency to arthritis myself, so I am particularly aware of what this could have meant to him. Recently I found a short letter written by my mother to her mother, Fanny Withers on the anniversary of her father's birthday in 1919, in which she said: "Poor old Dad, I often think now what a lot he must have suffered. His life was too hard and too strenuous for him. He had too many chick-a-biddies, I think. He wasn't equal to so much town life and train journeys with so many delicacies as he had. Since I have been ill, I have realised what he must have felt like.” He certainly drove himself to produce. He travelled all over Victoria by train, buggy, bicycle and on foot and for a time he travelled from Eltham to Melbourne every day by train, although later he lived in Melbourne during the week and only returned to Eltham for the weekends. My mother died seven years after her father's death, when my twin sisters were 10 days old and I was 16 months. So I never knew my mother or my grandfather. But my two aunts, Gladys and Margery, sometimes took me to stay with Gan Withers at Southernwood in Bolton Street . No cars in those days and it seemed a very long hot and dusty walk from the Station. Three memories remain with me of Southernwood. One is the well at the back which I found quite terrifying; the second is Gan killing a snake - even more terrifying. She was a formidable woman, my grandmother and a great ally and support to her husband. I think she was the business end of the partnership. The third memory of Southernwood is my grandfather's studio – down what seemed like a toy staircase inside the room. This and the big walk-in fireplace stayed in my mind from the age of about six until I saw them again about forty years later when the house was being used as a Sunday School. I just wish that money could be found to purchase this old house for the City of Eltham so that a permanent museum could be established in memory of a man who did so much to put Eltham on the map of art history. Recently I have become interested in family history and spent some time in England, Ireland and Wales looking for traces of my ancestors. I realized then how important it is to have records of people who have contributed to our society. We forget so soon and it is amazing how often, within two generations, names, dates and many details are forgotten. We are fortunate that so many of Walter Withers' works have been bought by galleries and that people like Andrew Mackenzie have taken the trouble to search out people who knew him and to write about him and his work. And I am very grateful to the Historical Society of Eltham for recognizing the importance of having a permanent tribute in Eltham to the contribution made by Walter Withers, who loved Eltham so much and who has assured this lovely district a place in the annals of history. I am indebted to Kathleen Mangan; the daughter of another famous Australian painter , Fred McCubbin, - featured in The Age this morning (thanks again to Andrew Mackenzie) for the most apt tribute to Walter Withers. Kathleen is not well and she rang me a couple of days ago, regretting that she could not be present today “to pay tribute” as she said, “to Walter Withers for I always think Walter Withers is the spirit of Eltham.” Thank you, Kathleen. And now I have much pleasure in unveiling the plaque commissioned by the Eltham Historical Society from Bob McLellan of Charmac Industries to commemorate the life and work of Walter Withers, the spirit of Eltham. Mary Owen, 13 October 1990.Two colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen

A slab hut situated in Research, Victoria. An elderly man and woman stand in front of their small bark slab home with bark chimney. It has a tin roof and tin water tank to the side. A small garden is situated at the front. Reproduced on pp 38-39 of 'Pioneers & Painters: One Hundred years of Eltham and it's Shire" (1971) Article in "Australian Family Tree Connections" February 2000 by B. J. Parkinson claims that the people in this photo are "Jonas and Christina Jane (Gregg) PRIOR in front of their home at Ferny Hill, near Eltham, Victoria, 1877". Photocopy of photo also attached to 14 online family trees for the Prior family on Ancestry.com without the words "A Bush Home". References found to Prior in historical newspapers and the property "Ferny Hill". Jonas was a convict from Kent, England. He arrived in Hobart in 1821 aged 19 years. He married Christina Gregg in Hobart about 1834 and had 11 children. They came to Victoria about 1846. He died at Ferny Hill, near Research, Eltham in 1878 aged 74 years and was buried at Melbourne General Cemetery. His occupation was gardener.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Neg Print 20 x 25 cmshire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, research (vic.), ferny hill, jonas prior, christina prior, hut, prior, convict, pioneers and painters

Mrs Arthurena Dora Beattie (nee Morrison), had been teaching privately at Rosedale and came to Orbost with her husband and family in 1890. In 1892 she opened a private school in Salisbury Street (about the site of the Countryman Motor Inn) which she conducted for about 10 to 12 years. Her husband, John Wilson Beattie, a retired State School teacher, had been head teacher at the Rosedale School from July 1870 to August 1884. After coming to Orbost he selected land on Wall Creek. He was a widower with 7 of 11 surviving children when he married Arthurena in 1885. His fist wife, Georgina (nee KELLY) died at Rosedale in 1883 when the youngest child was just 5 weeks old. John and Arthurena had a further 8 children (5 born at Orbost), and after John's death she married George McCARLIE in 1916 at Sale and moved Mirboo North. (references:BEATTIE, Arthurena Dora Music teacher, Orbost - 1903 Electoral Roll. BEATTIE, Arthurena Dora Teacher, Orbost - 1912 Electoral Roll.) There was at least one other private school much earlier, in 1884. It was thought to be the first school in the district and conducted by William Ballantyne. It was located on the flat on the Newmerella side of the Snowy River near where the first railway crossing used to be. Wm Ballantyne had previously taught school at Sarsfield from June 1873 to November 1879. (information from John Phillips) This advertisement was for educational tuition by Mrs Beattie. Tuition would be from 10.00am - 12.00 and from 1.30pm - 3.30pm. Costs were thirteen shillings per quarter for children under the age of 12 years and one guinea for those over 12 years. A reduction would be given for more than one child in the same family. The 1872 legislation required all children aged 6-15 years to attend school unless they had a reasonable excuse. Parents who did not send their children to school were liable for fines up to five shillings for a first offence, with the penalty increasing to 20 shillings for each repeat offence. The Orbost State School had opened on 19th of March 1886 and this "private school" appears to have been a small private enterprise school. This is a useful research item associated with education in Orbost.A white A5 size paper advertisement which has black print. It is an advertisement for private educational tuition. Details of costs and hours are included.beattie education school advertising

Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows (MUIOOF) had its origins in Manchester, England. It was established in Melbourne on 7 December 1840 when Augustus Greeves, a member of the MUIOOF in England, migrated to Australia and formed the first friendly society. In 1840 Manchester Unity IOOF was founded in Victoria.Friendly Societies were founded in the Australian Colonies in the mid-19th Century by immigrants from England who had been members in Societies which dated back to the 18th Century. Like all working people these immigrants experienced sickness, accidents, unemployment, death and burial. They needed help of like fellows to tide their families over these times. So they formed a branch of one of the Friendly Societies back in the mother country. The idea was to make fixed contributions to a fund and when they were off work they would receive a payment. When they died funeral benefits would be paid and the widow and children would be cared for. It was a form of local insurance for hard times. This was a time of 'look after yourself' as the Colonial Governments did not provide pensions or benefits. This item reflects those times. A small hard cover blue book holding certificates of M.O.O.O.F. members.m.u.i.o.o.f. friendly-society

This item belonged to Alan Richardson, a sawmiller at Tabbara. He helped to build and held a ticket for the paddle steamer "Curlip". He was a member of the Rechabites from March 3 1892. The Independent Order of Rechabites began in Salford, England in 1835. It was named after Rechab, a leader in the Old Testament, who instructed his tribe to refrain from drinking alcohol. During the Industrial Revolution the idea of temperance became popular as damage was caused to families by alcohol. In Australia it was first established in Tasmania in the mid 1800s. In 1847 a branch was created in Victoria, and it then spread to other States. Members were provided with assistance during times of sickness, death and hardship. This item is associated with the Richardson family, early settlers in the Orbost district.A small grey book with a black spine. The title and details are in black print. Inside is a magazine cutting - "The Rechabite July 1st 1931". This book is the "Constitution of the Victorian District, No 82" and contains the district by-laws."This is to certify that Bro. A.J. Richardson was admitted clearance a member of the Orbost.........."richardson-alan rechabites

This diary probably belonged to Alan Richardson who was a member of the Rechabites. Alan Richardson, was a wmiller at Tabbara. He helped to build and held a ticket for the paddle steamer "Curlip". He was a member of the Rechabites from March 3 1892. The Independent Order of Rechabites began in Salford, England in 1835. It was named after Rechab, a leader in the Old Testament, who instructed his tribe to refrain from drinking alcohol. During the Industrial Revolution the idea of temperance became popular as damage was caused to families by alcohol. In Australia it was first established in Tasmania in the mid 1800s. In 1847 a branch was created in Victoria, and it then spread to other States. Members were provided with assistance during times of sickness, death and hardship. This item is associated with Alan Richardson. The Richardsons were a prominent pioneering family in early Orbost.A small book, a diary with a fabric and paper cover. It contains handwritten costings for building projects, There are some loose pages with Literature associated with the Rechabites. rechabites richardson-alan

This photograph was found in the Orbost Historical Society's cupboard. School is unknown. A copy of this photograph has been donated by Gil and Heather Richardson via the Mary Gilbert Collection. It is probably of students of Jarrahmond school where Miss Cope was the head teacher C 1916. This photograph could be associated with a celebration of Empire Day. The celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday on May 24 was renamed Empire Day in 1903 after her death in 1901. It was celebrated throughout the British Empire culminating in fireworks and bonfires in the evening. Empire Day was first introduced in 1905 to promote loyalty among the dominion countries of the British Empire. (from https://dictionaryofsydney.org/event/empire_day) Celebrated on 24 May, Queen Victoria's birthday, it was directed especially at school children. Teachers were encouraged to promote special steps to develop a feeling of pride in the British Empire and the achievements of the British race. Often a morning of short addresses, recitations and patriotic songs such as 'Rule Britannia' and 'Advance Australia' was followed by a half-day holiday to mark the celebration of Australia's strong ties to the British Empire. (from MuseumsVictoria) Some identified are; Top row -E- Eva Trewin; N-Rita Mundy; G-Elva Trewin; N- Jack Mundy D-Jack Trewin Middle row - Miss Cope, teacher. I Daisy or Katie McLeod Front row - L -Jack Stephenson; A Lindsay Trewin ; N-Frank Richardson Helena Warren was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. The photographer, was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught. Although not clearly dentified the photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker, It is associated with education in Orbost.A very old and damaged photograph of students an a teacher under a tree. The students are holding up cards that read "England, Ireland, Scotland". The photo is on a black card frame. a woman is standing on the left. Children are posed into three rows. There is also a copy of this photograph.photograph-helena-warren education-jarrahmond

Black and white photograph of family group in front of house. There is a small photograph in the sleeve which enlargement must have been taken from. There is an inscription on this.Typed below photograph, "Britten Family and home (site became Church of England, Warrandyte Road). Note log walls and rain-water barrel at his pioneer home. c 1907." Inscription on back of small photograph reads, "Wm Grace (1876), James Claridge (1880s) C. G. Britten (1905). All occupied this cottage on site now Church of England vicarage, Warrandyte Rd. Ringwood. Group from left. C. G. Britten holding daughter (Muriel) with son (Reg) on his right. His wife (nee Ethel Banks, Claridges' granddaughter) at rear with her sister in front, and brother Wally on extreme right. (Back of house)."

Grace Cameron was the daughter of John Cameron who selected the first land on the Snowy River flats. She was the sister of Annie (later Mrs John Gilbert) who was the first white girl born in Orbost.This item is aesthetically significant and shows the skill and craftmanship of the women of the early settler families.Large oblong oil painting on green painted tin with the top and bottom rolled for decoration. Painting of three single petalled pink roses in full bloom with two small buds.tin painting cameron-grace art

Share certificate issued by New Gippsland Boulder Mine - operating at Errinundra and receipt for Herbert, Eric W. Receipt is for amount of four pounds - signed by Bird, W. Prospectus was printed in 1934 at office of Snowy River Mail - 4 page booklet. Gold, copper and silver were the target minerals.The crusher from the Boulder Mine is now at the Slab Hut in Orbost. The first Gippsland Boulder Co.,was at Boulder Creek – 13 miles north of Club Terrace, within 2 miles of Errinundra River. The company registered in January 1898 and commenced crushing in September with a 10-head battery. In the first nine months’ yields totalled 1,418 oz from 972 tons.There was a tramway between the mine workings and the battery.The crusher from the Boulder Mine is now at the Slab Hut in Orbost. This document is a reference for gold mining and exploration in the Far East Gippsland area. The Herbert family has reside in Orbost since the late 19th century.Copy of New Gippsland Boulder Mine share certificate and receipt. Framed in small black wooden frame.certificate-share-new-gippsland-boulder-mine mineralogy mining boulder-creek

Decorative samplers and needlework were usually made by young women. The completed work was usually framed and hung. Many of them were messages which reflected the values of the family.Hand sewn ornamental sampler on a cardboard canvas and bound in ribbon with small bows at each corner."Lost, somewhere between sunrise & sunset, two golden hours each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered for they are gone forever.' Ribbon and cotton are crimson. needlework handcraft

From the estate of Elsie Cooke. Elsie Cooke was a librarian in Orbost for many years. She was the daughter of John Cooke early Brodribb settler. Elsie Cooke lived all her life in Gippsland,. She was born at Brodribb in 1895 and died in 1970, Elsie Cooke lived at Bruthen for a short time and, in 1937, moved to live with her aunt, Miss Jean Munro. Miss Cooke was Librarian at the Mechanics Institute for many years. Kindness and consideration for other were Miss Cooke’s attributes and she endeared herself to all who knew her. She was a loyal member of the Presbyterian Church and a stalwart of the Ladies’ Guild, an energetic worker for the Municipal Auxiliary and a member of the Red Cross. (ref. Mary Gilbert) Owned by a local Orbost woman's family. Silver-plated watch fob, with two blackened silver double chains connected to a small clasp at base and a t-piece of silver-plated metal at the top for the button hole. Approximately 20cm in length.watch fob, silver chain, pocket watch, 1900s, elsie cooke

Illustration on plate is a family fishing party aboard the "Ripple" built by George Matthew Winchester. Shows Ethel (mother) with Lindsay Smooker on her knee. Harry, Elsie, Anita and H. Hermann about 1941. The Winchesters lived in Marlo and built boats near the Marlo hotel. The "Ripple" built by George Winchester at the age of 18 years was the first boat built by him. It was built in 1908. It has been noted in a profile of George Winchester done by his Daughter Olive Hunt (née Winchester) that was completed one year before her death in 2002.The Winchester family is a prominent local family.The Winchesters lived in Marlo and built boats near the Marlo hotel. This item is an example of a souvenir item made especially for Orbost.Very small white souvenir plate. Gold-rimmed with black illustration of people in a boat on the Snowy River.Front-Snowy River Orbost Back-Melba Bone China Guaranteed Made in Englandplate souvenir snowy-river orbost melba-china

Ruth Woodward was the daughter of Alan Richardson a sawmiller at Tabbara. Richardson Helped build and held ticket for paddle steamer "Curlip". Crochet covers for milk jugs, teacups and bowls were produced to repel the dreaded Australian blow fly. They were typically decorated with Australian flora and fauna and commemorative motifs and sometimes edged with beads, shells and other three dimensional forms, not only for appearance, but also to weigh down the crochet so it would stay safely in place on the jug. The three dimensional parts were stiffened with sugar syrup, or sometimes starch, paraffin or gelatine. The main sources for crochet cover and other needlework designs available to women were in journals, magazines and pattern books. This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the families of the early settlers.Small handmade star-shaped milk cover with a white tulle centre and beading coming down to points off the centre. Beads are clear and black.milk-cover handcrafts needlework beading richardson

This doily was handmade by Penuel Cameron (nee Hossack). The Hossack family farmed land on the Marlo Road. Like the Camerons they were staunch Presbyterians. Robert Cameron was one of earliest settlers on Orbost flats and ran the paddlesteamer "Cheviot". He served many years on shire council and built the first Presbyterian. church in Orbost.This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the families of the early settlers.Hand tatted medium sized doily. Small round linen piece in centre and large tatted border.doily handcrafts needlework linen lace cameron-robert

Owner and donor was daughter of Alan Richardson, sawmiller at Tabbara and holder of ticket for paddlesteamer Curlip.This item is a souvenir of a significant annual Melbourne event. The Richardson family played a significant role in the history of Orbost.Small ruby and clear glass mug. Souvenir from Melbourne Show.Front - Souvenir from Melbourne, Ruth 1909souvenir melbourne-show richardson-alan mug-glass

This beautiful costume was the 'going-away' dress worn by Mrs John Russell at her wedding in c.1884. It has been passed down through the Russell family and was donated by her grand-daughter Mrs David Nixon. John Russell was an early Orbost blacksmith in Orbost, and director of the Orbost Butter Factory for 50 years. He came to Orbost in c. 1890 at the invitation of another early settler, James Nixon, became a blacksmith, and later a farmer and landholder. Many of his descendants still live in the Orbost area. This full length female costume is made of moroon satin with gold velvet inserts. It has a small train at the back, scalloped folds with lace edging down the front of the skirt, and two rows of 14 buttons each down the bodice.going-away-dress 1890s-dress

This beautiful cap has been passed down through the McKeown family. It was donated by Marjorie McKeown (nee Ford). Womens art / handcrafts.A boudoir cap made from cream silk, sections are crochet silk thread with an insertion of silk brocade. Small pieces of bone have been inserted into the sides of the cap giving a stiffening effect over the ears of the wearer. boudoir-cap sleep-apparel female-costume