The history of the Thunderchild gun is not known. It was presumably manufactured in Torquay in the second half of the 19th century. Such guns were often attached to a ship’s rail through the holes in the swivel base, as in the base of this gun. The guns fired grapeshot and were originally used on ships to repel boarders. They were also used to launch whaling harpoons and were sometimes employed for signalling. The relatively late date makes the latter application most likely. This Thunderchild gun is complete with ramrod and wad remover. It is in good working order and easily assembled. It is used locally for special ceremonies and for Whaleboat Races as a starting gun. (Guns and Cannon, South Wester Victoria, May 2008, ref W/F/03) The small bore cannon is part of a collection of nineteenth century Flagstaff Hill Guns and Cannon, which is classified as being a high level of significance, on State, National and World The nineteenth century artillery pieces are a very rare and representative collection of artillery of this era. The artillery pieces, individually and as a collection, are highly significant for historical, scientific and aesthetic reasons at the state, national and world levels. The artillery pieces are excellent examples of nineteenth century artillery designed for the shore defence of western Victoria in the mid to late 1800s. The collection demonstrates the system of nineteenth century Imperial Defence implemented by Britain and of the recycling of obsolete technology to the colonies by Britain. The collection represents the methods of artillery technology, its advancement and its modifications in order to remain active. It also illustrates the transference of defence technology from Britain to Australia and demonstrates the level of reliance Australia had on British defence equipment. The artillery pieces form prominent elements in their landscapes and, together with the batteries and sites in which they are located, create a strong visual link to the region’s defence history. Importantly the artillery pieces, individually and as a collection, represent a very rare and intact group of nineteenth century artillery. Very few examples of nineteenth century artillery have survived worldwide, the largest collections being sited in Canada. The collection is a rare collection of artillery which demonstrates the advancements made in artillery technology during the nineteenth century, and is one of the largest collections of nineteenth century artillery in Australia. Further, the collection is extremely intact, with most pieces retaining original carriages and many located within their original emplacement. This collection of artillery, with their carriages and in their locations, are of exceptional national significance as they represent the largest intact collection of artillery within a single defensive network, outside of major colonial ports. The collection of nineteenth century carriages and slides are in themselves an extremely rare and important collection, however their significance is enhanced by their placements within batteries and with guns. (Conservation Management Plan for Victorian Guns and Cannon, South Western Victoria, May 2008) Cannon; small 1pdr cast iron, smooth bore muzzle loading swivel gun, painted glass black. 19th century cannon has polished wood handle, two detachable metal stirrups and metal swivel base with cuff, attached to block of wood by four bolts. Accessories are a wood tamper and wood ramrod. Name on gun is Thunder-Child, Torquay, Vic. There are Maker’s Marks on the gun and base, and a number on the cannon.. Marks; Barrel "Thunder/ Child". Base cuff " THUNDER / -CHILD / TORQUAY / VIC ", Trunnion "2825/H"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, cannon, torquay, thunder child cannon, thunderchild cannon, signal cannon, muzzle loading cannon, ordinance, munitions

Supporting documentary letter outlining the literary activities of a group of residents in Kew and its environs, which operated from 1897 to c.1912. 2-page letter from J. F. Richardson, outlining the donor's connection to The Pickwick Club of Kew which operated in Kew in the final decade of the 19th Century and the first two decades of the 20th Century. The transcript of the letter is recorded in the Inscriptions field.22 Kalimna St., Balwyn VIC 3103 16th November, 1967 Mrs E. West, Secretary, Kew Historical Society, 24 Marshall Ave., Kew VIC 3101 Dear Mrs West, In 1897 some residents of Kew formed a literary group which they called “The Pickwick Club”. My mother and father (the late Judge J.A. Richardson) were members of the group. The Pickwick Club produced two issues of its “Proceedings”, issued under the title of “The Pickwick Portfolio”. The first issue was dated 1st October 1904, and the second was dated 1st January, 1912. I have no knowledge of any later issues. I have one copy of each of the publications referred to above and I should be pleased to present them to the historical Society, if they were felt to be suitable material. The issue of 1/1/1912 contains a list of members of the Club and this may be of interest to the older members of your Society. Yours Sincerely J.F. Richardsonpickwick club -- kew (vic.)

Lighting was by gas before electricity was installed in houses. Before the 1800s most homes, workplaces and streets were lit by candles or oil lamps.The cities had gas before the country areas.Gas lighting was available in the Kiewa Valley before electricity was installed.Early 20th century. Gas light used indoors and made of copper tubing, brass, and bakelite.gas lights, home lighting

J.E. Bleckmann were German Blade makers, registry shows Bleckmann (1899, No. 37190):J.E.Bleckmann, Solingen, registry class 9b). As well as blades for wood working tools they were also sword makers (used in American Civil War), Bayonet makers 1871-1918 and also pocket cutlery (pocket knives) as per advertisement 1907.This wood plane holds historical importance as carpentry tools such as this would have been used in the construction of local homes, outbuildings, furniture. It represents an era before power tools. Investigation is ongoing as to ownership and specific use in the area. Hand made wooden hand plane with metal blade. Carpentry tool from 19th century1/38 / 34 mm stamped into wood on front edge of plane. Metal Blade inscribed "J.E. BLECKMANN/ WARRANTED / CAST STEEL / SOLINGEN/GERMANY"tool, blade makers, hand plane, woodworking.

Nine recent 21st century photographic drop-down multiple views of Bendigo including postcards.bendigo, tourism

From the collection of the Rev James Watkin. The Rev James Watkin, 1805-1886, was a Pioneer Wesleyan missionary. He was born in Manchester, UK, in 1805. In 1830 was accepted as a candidate for the Wesleyan Ministry and married Hannah Entwistle. They sailed with a missionary party to Tonga. The work of the mission was jeopardised by prolonged and involved struggles between Christian and non-Christian Tongan chiefs. He left with his family for Sydney in September 1837. He was offered a free passage for a missionary appointed to Waikouaiti, New Zealand and arrived there in May 1840. He established the first mission station in the South Island of New Zealand. Watkin established schools at Waikouaiti and Matanaka, and stationed partly trained Maori teachers at Stewart Island and at Moeraki. He had a natural flair for languages, preached in Maori four months after his arrival, and compiled an elementary reading book to be printed in Ngai Tahu. Watkin was relieved by Charles Creed and inWatkin finished his posiion in Waikouaiti in June 1844 when he sailed for Wellington, leaving 227 church members in Otago. In 1855 Watkin settled in New South Wales, Australia, and was president of the National Methodist Conference at Adelaide in 1862. He retired in 1869 and died on 14 May 1886, at Ashfield, New South Wales. Source: https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/watkin-jamesETH071.1 and ETH071.2: Mid nineteenth century woven palm fans with red coloured bamboo handles.rev james watkin

Reprint of original map of Shire of Nunawading with various update but mostly showing 19th century landholders.Reprint of original map of Shire of Nunawadingmaps, shire of nunawading

The young lady in the photograph is Sophia Alice Victoria Benzley who was born on 16th December 1974 at he Gap and died in Carlton 0n 12 December 1956 at Sandringham. At the age of twenty five she married Norman henry Hallo in 1897 at Carlton. The couple had eight children. They were Hilda b. 1899, Norman 1901 - 1979, Olive 1903 - 1958, Howard b.1905, Thelma b. 1907, Leonard b. 1911, Beryl b. 1913 and Constance b. 1916. The Benzley family acquired land and settled in Sunbury in the mid 1800s. Later generations of the family lived at 7 Barkly Street opposite the former Sunbury State School and had a little shop. The Benzley family were farmers and business people who settled in Sunbury from the 1850s onwards.A sepia studio photograph with a cream border of a young lady taken in the late years of the 19th century.benzley family, sophia alice victoria benzley

A page from 'Century' magazine, advertising tennis products from Granbery. Materials: Paper, Inktennis

Small 19th century china tea cup with crest of first Bishop of Ballarat Michael O'Connor.transfer printed overglaze crest of Michael O'Connor with motto "Quis et Dei".

Book published in 2006 on the history of sport in the City of Boroondara dating back to the mid-nineteenth centurycamberwell, boroondara, sport

This book is a 1988 reprint of an 1897 novel by Mary Gaunt (1861-1942). She was an Australian writer of more than 20 novels and many travel books, short stories and magazine articles and achieved international recognition. The wife of Dr H.L. Miller, she lived in Warrnambool from 1894 to 1900. ‘Kirkham’s Find’ was written while she was in Warrnambool and is of particular local interest as it is partly set in an area that can be identified as Allansford. The novel outlines the difficulties faced by a woman in the 19th century if she wished to pursue a career and gives us a good description of 19th century rural Australia. Although it is only a reprint this novel is of some interest as it was written by Mary Gaunt, an Australian writer of considerable importance. As a one-time resident of Warrnambool and a writer using local places and situations in her stories, she has a place in Warrnambool’s history. This is a soft cover book of 340 pages. It has a purple cover with a reproduction of a 19th century painting on the front cover and material about the contents of the book on the back cover. The spine is an orange colour with black and white printing. The book has an introduction by Kylie Tennant, an afterword by Dale Spender and 29 chapters of a novel. mary gaunt, history of warrnambool, women in literature

The "Zion" Welsh Independent Chapel was established in Albert Street Sebastopol in 1861. The church moved from Albert Street to Walker Street in around 1882.B & W exterior photograph of the Zion Congregational Church, Sebastopol.From J.D. Northey to Rev S. M ... (?) Taken around the turn of the century before the hedge was planted.sebastopol, welsh, congregational, chapel, zion

Black and white photographs (2 copies- 1 Large, 1 postcard)Typed below photograph, "Ringwood Railway Station early in the century. Note the old telephone wires on the poles".

The Fashion & Textiles collections of Kew Historical Society include a number of art or household textiles manufactured or created in the United Kingdom as well as in Australia. As other cultures opened to Australian travellers in the 20th century, members began collecting and donating textiles produced in a number of other countries. Evening bag constructed from two silk embroidered Chinese rank badges. Authentic badges would have been used on Imperial court costumes in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The badges that comprise the bag are identical and were probably sold as souvenirs in Hong Kong during the 20th century. bags, evening bags, mandarin squares, chinese rank badges

Used in the late 19th century.A forged steel narrow headed mortising axe with a long wooden handle. It was used in the construction of post and rail fences where it could be used to chip out small pieces in the wood. It has Rob.Sorby Sheffield and Steel Pod stamped on the head with a kangaroo design. The company have been manufacturing 'edge tools' for more than 200 years. They adopted the kangaroo brand in the early 1800's when the new colony of Australia was a big market for their tools. It was used in the late 19th century.Rob.Sorby Sheffield. Steel Pod with a kangaroo design is stamped on the head.axes, cutting tools, hand axes, froes, woodworking tools, cleaving tools

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. In this image the lot to the left is vacantCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .02 - 1886 building marked, but actually a 20th century photo built environment - commercial, business and traders, state savings bank of victoria

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 1999. Travelling: the Manchester Arms late last century.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Coloured photograph of the sanctuary of St Johns Church Westgarthtown. Th organ was made in the late 19th century.westgarthtown, st johns church westgarthtown

Black and white historic postcard - envelope for the set 2 of postcards of early 20th century in the Shire of Nunawading.historic postcards, envelopes

A page from 'Century' magazine, advertising tennis products from Peck & Snyder. Materials: Paper, Inktennis

A page from 'Century' magazine, advertising tennis products from Wright & Ditson. Materials: Paper, Inktennis

A page from 'Century' magazine, advertising tennis products from Wright & Ditson. Materials: Paper, Inktennis

A page from 'Century' magazine, advertising tennis products from Wright & Ditson. Materials: Paper, Inktennis

A page from 'Century' magazine, advertising tennis products from Wright & Ditson. Materials: Paper, Inktennis

Wooden cigar box probably from the mid 20th century. The inside of the top of the box has a picture of an Eastern woman with coins and flowers. Perlas - is a small cigar taking 30 minutes to smoke. This cigar contains Manila filler.Top: GEM OF THE EAST / MANILA / FILLER Side: PERLAS (on label). 25 (burned on wood). Label along edges of top, sides and bottom - "PUROS FABRICA DE TOBACCO - FLORFINA"smoking, cigars, perlas, gem of the east