A shock of different voltages was delivered to a person using the two metal handles or two heavy soft wire combs (missing but known of) were moved across the skin. Perhaps this was an early TENS Unit. The unit came to the donor's grandfather (Roy F. Leibig - Chief Electrical Inspector of the Brunswick (Melbourne) Electric Supply) for repair and returned to his keeping once it had become obsolete (upgraded by newer machine). Donor often helped his Pa repair electrical equipment.Historical: The Resuscitator or Electric Therapy Unit was used in hospitals, possibly Mental hospitals. Provenance: The donor worked at Mt Beauty in the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme with the State Electric Commission of Victoria as an electrician. Black wooden smooth box with clip fastener which is screwed on - 3 screws for the base and 2 for the lid. On top of the box is a leather strap for the handle fastened by steel screwed into the box. Inside: A mask with attached strap. Tap fitting loosely into steel box. Metal cylinders and a Cardboard box. A wooden lockable case, housing electrical equipment suitable for issuing high voltage shocks.In red, middle of the side with fastener - "SPARKLETS RESUSCITATOR" Scruff marks inside the lid. A cream plastic tag is screwed on and inscribed"Manufacturers:- / SPARKLETS LIMITED / EDMONTON, LONDON, N.18 / Made in ENGLANDmedical, hospital equipment, resuscitator, tawonga district hospital, doctor

Historically this item was used before the spirit and the electrical iron took over Circa 1930s -1950s. The main body of the iron was placed on a flat heated surface of a stove (wood, coal or gas fired). It was mainly used by women in their domestic role, ironing the family clothes and linen. In the Kiewa Valley the supply of coal or gas was not available or too expensive than the locally cut hard wood trees. This particular iron was an improvement on the fixed handled iron because it allowed (by use of its easily detachable handle) to use multiple bases and thereby allowing a constant heat supply to be maintained and not having to waste time for a base to reheat to the required level of application.The significance of this item was that it allowed for a faster method of ironing clothes and linen. It's invention was a progress towards reducing the time it took to undertake a very labour and intensive domestic function. The reduction of time taken for this household duty provided women great flexibility to undertake other activities. These type of improvements to basic domestic tasks liberated housewives not only physically but also mentally from the isolation of the home environment.This flat iron has a removable, clip-on handle. The handle and its release knob are of wood. The base of the handle together with the heavy flat body are made of cast iron. The body of the iron is oval shaped tapered at each end and is 40mm thick.Underneath the handle frame and on the main body, on one side, in raised lettering is "Mrs Potts" and on the other side "Iron". Both are clearly visible when viewed from an aerial position. Under removable handle and on a plate (screwed onto the main body) is "No 2"iron, antique, household, pressing clothes, domestic, laundry

This photograph is a "snap shot" in time circa 1950s detailing the rural environment before the effects of the Kiewa Valley Hydro Scheme altered the basic rural setting of the valley. The golfing fairway was being mapped out on previous grazing land, before the laying of a golf course, for use by the construction workers and auxiliary administration employees of the Victorian State Electricity Commission. This photograph details a dramatic period in time which saw an enormous change to the exclusively rural area of the Kiewa Valley region in the mid 1900s. This change presented both physical and mental challenges to the existing quiet rural inhabitants of the valley. The State of Victoria had to make adjustments to the changing demands imposed by population and industrial expansions. The development of cleaner energy supplies to a growing population has its downside ,which ever way the intrusion into the "natural" landscape is made.Black and white photograph detailing surveyor posts for construction of golf course. Land used, before establishment of the Mount Beauty Village, as farming/grazing cattle and viewed towards Mount Bogong and its Alpine ranges. The photo is on 200gms paper and not on photographic paper.nilmount beauty in the 1940s - 1950s, grazing in the kiewa valley, sec victoria

This photograph is a "snap shot" in time circa 1950s detailing the rural environmental change and the progressive effects of the Kiewa Valley Hydro Scheme on the basic rural setting of the valley (note the sparsity of rural infrastructure). This photograph shows the beginning of the accommodation and administration buildings for use by the construction workers and auxiliary administration employees of the Victorian State Electricity Commission. It also provides a view of the landscape before extensive development of Pondage and other non rural buildings.This photograph details a dramatic period in time which saw an enormous change to the exclusively rural area of the Kiewa Valley region in the mid 1900s (see sparse rural buildings/houses). This change presented both physical and mental challenges to the existing quiet rural inhabitants of the valley. The State of Victoria had to make adjustments to the changing demands imposed by population and industrial expansions. The development of cleaner energy supplies to a growing population has its downside ,which ever way the intrusion into the "natural" landscape is made. The construction of the large Pondage at the centre of the photograph is a good example.This black and white photograph of a panoramic view of the Kiewa Valley (Mount Beauty SEC construction workers village) shows the newly completed transmission line towers delivering electrical power(66KVA) from the Clover Power Station. The photo is on 200gms paper and not on special photographic paper.mount beauty 1940 to 1950s, development of sec kiewa hydro scheme, sec victoria

The can(product) of powdered Mortein was used throughout Australia and especially in rural regions where environmental conditions of crops, cattle and other livestock resulted in greater amount of "invasions" from insects. The eradication of unwanted invaders into the homestead required either manual extermination or a relevant poison which in low doses would not affect humans. Fly squats were still a good measure of eradication of flying pests however those lurking in cupboards or "hard to get at" locations needed a method, such as the Mortein powder to do the deed. This product and especially this can was used at the fore front of pest eradication. Powders and pellets are still in use 100 years later and the core ingredient is still environmental friendly and meets health conscious modern Australians. The basic product has survived the passage of time and was invented by a German immigrant to Australia in the late 1800s.This can and what it represents to rural households and outhouses, is in some ways immeasurable to the peace, health and tranquility within the household of all the families within the Kiewa Valley. Although small in size the relief of those within the sanctity of the home from annoying pests is enormous. The relief not only physical but also mentally to those residents, from the sometimes grueling and painful rural existence in a "sunburnt" countryside cannot be truly expressed in words. Kiewa Valley residents are part of the sometimes harsh rural environment where the introduction of helpful products such as this powder are noticed and used more prolifically. Any product, especially invented within Australia, which allows for a easier existence is of a great significance.This small cylindrical can contains powder of crushed the chrysanthemum flowers(pyrethrum extract) and has two circles of small circular perforations in the lid (to allow contents to be sprinkled onto other surfaces). It is constructed of mild steel with both ends crimped onto the main cylinder. A paper information label has been adhered to the outside of the cylinder.Printed on the outside label is: 1st line "MORTEIN!" 2nd line "THE GREAT INSECT DESTROYER" underneath "(Registered)" and underneath "It is without doubt the best and most reliable Insect powder in the World" underneath this line "In order to use Mortein with profit it is best to get a Mortein spreader through", next line "which by pressure of the hand the powder is ejected and well diffused." An inflection mark appears over the e in "Mortein" as to signify that the word "mort" is french for (dead) and the "ein" is german for "one". The word "mortein" therefore is diffused and translated into "dead one". A thin line separates the above from the list of insects which the powdered contents will kill together with the suggested application targets. T the bottom of the instructions is printed the manufacturer "J. HAGEMANN PTY. LTD., MELBOURNE," Below is "Sole Proprietors"natural insecticide products, environmentally friendly products, household pest dispensers, australian inventions

This teacher's aid publication was used by the teachers in the The Bogong Primary School from 1941 and also the Mount Beauty Primary School from its establishment in 1947. Both had most of their pupils recruited from SEC(Victoria) Hydro Electricity Scheme employees working for a limited time scale. Rural based children benefited greatly by the decision by the SEC to provide these facilities for their worker's families. This bypass of the "typical rural provisions" offered to other schools, by the Victorian Department of Education was a bonus to the Kiewa Valley educational community. These schools had a higher level of facilities available to them than other "typical" rural schools. Treasured facilities such as a comprehensive library, movie projector, tape recorder and public address system placed these two schools at the level of the Greater Public School of city or the larger towns rather than the small rural schools in Victoria.This item was used in Mount Beauty Primary School as part of a teacher's curriculum. The fact that it is in a rural area, in an enclosed SEC construction worker's village in the Kiewa Valley did present a slightly different learning atmosphere than in the larger towns and cities. The majority of parents within the Kiewa Valley, had a slight resentment of the "high and mighty" attitude of city dwellers with a "plum in their mouths" and the effectiveness that city bred teachers had to achieve was to overcome these ingrained mores. The majority of students at this primary school had parents who were working for (the closed "village" of the SEC Hydro Electricity Scheme. In the 1940s this school would have children from multi-cultural backgrounds as many of the parents were recruited as labourers or with European technical backgrounds. In the book,the black and white photographs detailing the classroom sizes and configurations point to larger classes and slightly different teaching methods than that which existed in Australia. This teacher's aid book presents the Australian rural teachers with an advanced American approach to teaching methods. These methods were based on the then modern "group" psychological teachings and were a good guide in the development of a more effective and progressive teaching platform. The one thing that it did not address was the easy going Australian psyche of "she'll be right mate" of the Australia rural community. The socio-economic identity of the Kiewa Valley rural community was not that of the typical city community (American) and this was a challenge for city based and trained teachers. The principles that the book presents is not constrained by the date of publication or its time of use (1954).This hard cardboard covered book is sleeveless but bound by a red cloth glued onto a thick cardboard base. It has the title printed in gold script on the spine with horizontal and fifteen black horizontal lines at the top and bottom. The front cover has the title printed in gold coloured letters (the first and last words are in freehand script style)On the spine and front cover is printed "The TEACHER IN THE MODERN ELEMENTARY School" school organisation, developmental stages of children, subliminal classroom mental and physical stimulation, usa 1940s teacher aids.

This badge, which was used in the mid to late 1900's (Scouts started in Australia in 1909) clearly demonstrates that the families in the Kiewa Valley although slightly remote were still able to participate in one of the prime "boy" only social groups. The Boy Scouting movement brought together boys from all the socio-economic areas in the Australian population. The scouting group applied the concept of self sufficiency and friendship to all its membership. It was an avenue to cross the boundaries of distance and regional mores. Many of the boys in the Kiewa Valley and its regions would have been more "in tune" with the core principles of the scouting movement because being in a rural environment and "living on the land" was a day to day part of their life. What was an important aspect to they was the "mateship" and the belonging to a very large, and international, group of "like minded" boys. This avenue of interacting with a larger group of boys cut through the "small population" mores of a rural and at times isolated environment. This Boy Scouting activity was both mentally and physically significant to growing boys within the Kiewa Valley as it opened up the world to them.This brass badge has a front formed in a half circle base supporting a "Fleur de Leis" in a spear shape with "cut outs" at the appropriate places to provide the emphasis needed to project the form. Attached to the badge is a crescent moon shaped pronged frame for attaching the badge to lapels or collars or button eyelets. On the bottom scroll "BOY SCOUTS" and on the back type fastener "STOKES & SONS" below this "Melb".societies, boy scouts, apparel badges, numismatics badges

This sign is a part of the "human" factor required for remote and difficult, large impact (both labour and other resources) projects. It is one of the "human" factors which was clearly used in the big 1930's to the 1970's "landscape redevelopment" schemes which started in the early 1900's and is highly regarded as lifting the Australian psyche of only primary producers to an industrial level, equal to any in the world.This "Wet Canteen" sign was installed at the entrance of the Bogong "workers" village "provision's hut" detailing the operational times for the SEC Victorian staff and construction workers, involved in the building of the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme to obtain alcoholic beverages. This facility lasted for over the extensive period (1938 to 1961) of the "Schemes" building phase. This large project was the forerunner when industrial legislation provided for the welfare of workers living in the Bogong Village. The provision of facilities such as a "wet canteen" was of the utmost importance not only to ensure that the long running project was both successful, production wise, but also that its employees were not only physically but also mentally healthy. This sign details that all aspects required for a fit and productive labour force were in place, in this remote and demanding work environment. The majority of heavy equipment and machinery used was either made in England or Europe. A section of the specialised workforce came from local and European expertise in dam construction and water management in alpine terrain. The majority of labour came from migrants and some specialists recruited from England and Europe. At this point in time, the quality of the machines used came from England, Europe and the USA and could not be matched from anywhere else in the developed world. With a specialised workforce came the responsibility of providing all the "comforts of home" including alcoholic beverages. On site accommodation for the workforce is still a requirement for some mining areas but high market returns have produced fly in/out labour.This anodised metal sign has been "block" stenciled on. Black lettering and numbers with the main headings underlined with a red and a yellow line(emphasising the headings)In black stenciled type "BOGONG WET CANTEEN" underneath this "TRADING HOURS" Below this "MONDAY TO THURSDAY 5.15 PM TO 5.50 PM, 7.00 PM TO 9.00 PM" "FRIDAYS SHORT WEEKEND 4.30 PM TO 5.20 PM 7.00 PM TO 9.00 PM" Below this "FRIDAYS LONG WEEKEND 10.00AM TO 11.30 AM" Below this "SATURDAYS PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 4.30 PM TO 5.30 PM 7.00 PM TO 8.30 PM" bELOW THIS "CANTEEN WILL BE CLOSED ON SUNDAYS, GOOD FRIDAY AND UNTIL 4.00 PM ON ANZAC DAY"saucer, plate, secv, state electricity commission of victoria, canteen, bogong mess hall, recreational amenities, socialisation of sec vic kiewa hydro scheme labour force

Zilles Printers was begun by Lewis Zilles in the early 1930s. It was in McKenzie Street Ballarat. His son Jeffrey also became a printer - letterpress, offset and screen printer. The business became Zilles Printers/Graphics and was in Armstrong Street and later Bell Street Ballarat. A form of sticker began in 1839 when Sir Rowland Hill invented adhesive paper. The first self-adhesive label was invented in 1935 by Stanton Avery - Avery Labels. In the 1940s "bumper strips"were created. Now referred to as bumper stickers. The stickers shown are for car dealerships, motor bike, tractor and agricultural equipment and entertainment. They are for places in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Wonthaggi, indicating that Zilles were well known for the quality of their products. These stickers were possibly produced in the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. The Swinger was a local dance that ran at the Ballarat Civic Hall between 1972-1975. Dress was neat casual and men were required to wear a tie. The average age of attendees was 18-25.Dark green vinyl cover, three bolts holding it together. Thirteen pages - black cover paperSticker on each pagezilles printers, stickers, bumper stickers, self-adhesive label, santo avery, sir rowland hill, car dealers, motor cycles, farm equipment, ballarat, bendigo, geelong, wonthaggi, ballarat motors, rambler, triumph, toyota, brown murphy geelong, leyland australia, berko datsun geelong, mental ballarat, sound conditioned bendigo, col hawkins, frank faulkner car sales, patron products ballarat, mil haven tractor cab ballarat, john basin ballarat, swinger, b & g myers pty ltd ballarat, arthur shultz, don mullin motors wonthaggi

Letter from James Oddie concerning a prospective student for the Ballarat School of Mines, J.S. Gilliganjames oddie, j.s. gilligan, wendouree hospital for the insane, ballarat mental asylum, scholarship, philanthropy

Circ 1923 historical information on the immigration to Australia.Part of an article from the The Argus Newspaper dated 16th June 1923 relating to the arrival of SS Moreton Bay and the British sailors due to enlist in the Australian Navy.Written on the article is a comment " On the other side is an account of the storm which the Moreton Bay passed through".the argus, ss moreton bay

Both patients and staff were in frequent possession of passports and bank books particularly during the 20th century. These objects give an insight into people lives. The objects belonging to Miss Isabella Beatrice White are significant as they show everyday objects used by both patients and staff of Aradale Mental Hospital. British Passport - bound in thick blue material with the British Coat of Arms embossed in gold. The Passport contains 32 pages. The State Savings Bank of Victoria Book - The bank book is grey with black printed type. The Passport has both printed and hand written information and personal details. The bank book contains account details and hand written deposits and withdrawals made.bank book, passport

The medical instrument is used for the treatment of Trichomonas Vaginitis. Insufflation has been a medical practice since the early nineteenth century, the earliest mention of it appearing in 1823. There are descriptions of its therapeutic and diagnostic purposes in connection with almost every cavity of the body. Despite being used widely across many Victorian health institutions, insufflation has not been regarded as a dangerous procedure.The object is significant because it is representative of medical treatments used to cure sexually transmitted diseases in Aradale Mental Hospital in the 1940's. Black leatherette covered wooden box with a metal latch on the front and 2 hinges at the rear. "Wyeth Vaginal insufflator for silver picrate" printed on inside of lid. Blue, painted wood, custom made interior. Contains: Four canisters of Silver Pictrate [Sealed] One canister of Silver Pictrate [attached to Insufflator] One canister of Silver Pictrate [Open but covered with a plastic top] One Vaginal Insufflator (Holmspray) Each bottle has a white paper label with blue banners at the top and bottom and blue text which reads in part reads "5 GMS Wyeth's compound silver picrate 1% powder" A receipt of sale dated 18 February 1944 is included in the box. Manufactured by John Wyeth & Bros Inc, Sydney, Australiamedical history, silver pictrate, trichomonas vaginitis, ararat mental hospital

With the advent of electricity, so to came the invention of the Electrocardiograph Machine. This piece of medical equipment gave nursing staff and doctors a more precise indication of a patients heart beat and was used extensively across Victoria's medical institutions. The equipment is significant because it is a fully intact example of diagnostic equipment used in a mental health hospital in Victoria Australia.Cardiotrace Electrocardiograph Machine in blue plastic case with black handle. Contains: Electric cord Cords to link electrodes Graph paper to measure heart beats Instruments on panel marked 'stylus heat', 'off', 'run', 'position', 'test', 'record', '1', '2', '3', 'aVR', 'aVL', 'aVP', 'V', '1/2V', 'lmV', marker.Manufacturer: Medical Instrument Co. Pty. Ltd. Distributor: Watson Victor Limited Serial No: 3362 Cardiotrace Heat Mark III Electrocardiograph/Voltage 220-240 A/C /Frequency 50 cycles per second/Watts 45 serial 3362/Caution: Refer to Manual for full detail.electrocardiograph machine, medical instrument, medicine, health, mental health, ararat mental hospital, j ward

In green cloth with a pasted-on colour lithograph illustration. Black and red titles with a black and white frontispiece. 304 pages. Book is in fair the boards show some use and shelf-wear. The front and back covers are worn with some staining and foxing. Corners are worn and holes in spine. Binding tight and text unmarked. Internally there is some light soiling. No Jacket. fiction"The story of the boy chums hunting the blue herons and the pink and white egrets for their plumes in the forests of Florida is full of danger and excitement. In this story is fully told how the chums encountered the Indians; their battles with the escaped convicts; their fight with the wild boars and alligators; and many exciting encounters and escapes. This is the third story of the boy chums' adventures." -- 1910. A.L. Burt. https://c.web.umkc.edu/crossonm/boychums.htmadventures, boys

The book has a dark green and brown leather hardback cover. There are also water stains and what appears to be mould growth. The cover has an Imprinted border around the edges of the title. The spine is torn at the top and bottom. A page is torn out between front cover and introduction page. The pages have stains from use and some foxing. On May 20 1812, a group of Church of England evangelical clergy & laity met in The Freemasons' Tavern in Great Queen Street, London, to form "The Prayer Book and Homily Society." The founders were also members of the Church Missionary Society (founded 1799) and the British and Foreign Bible Society (founded 1804). The purpose of this Society was to print and distribute the Book of Common Prayer (1662) in English and in other languages, as needed by missionaries; and also to publish "The Book of Homilies" which is referred to in "The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion" as a source of the foundational doctrine of the Church of England by law established. The Society published the Prayer Book in at least 12 languages and seems to have been at the peak of its activity in 1828-1833. The Homilies were only published in English and in editions without the critical apparatus. http://pbs1928.blogspot.com/2003/01/prayer-book-homily-society.htmlreligion, religious text, sermons, homilies

This edition has blue cloth binding with black and gold lettering and decoration with the busy Strand street scene on the front board. The magazine's cover, an illustration looking eastwards down London's Strand towards St Mary-le-Strand, with the title suspended on telegraph wires, was the work of Victorian artist and designer George Charles Haité. The initial cover featured a corner plaque showing the name of Burleigh Street, home to the magazine's original offices. The lettering on the plaque in Haité's design was later changed when Newnes moved to the adjacent address of Southampton Street. Six issues bound in one volume. Complete with half-title and title page with an index of contents. Yellow endpapers, slight foxing, and some tears on pages. Text and illustrating are clean and readable. Inside, the inner hinges are firm with no splits at the endpapers making for a sound and solid binding. All complete and in good order. No jacket. fictionThe Strand Magazine was a monthly British magazine founded by George Newnes, composed of short fiction and general interest articles. It was published in the United Kingdom from January 1891 to March 1950, running to 711 issues, though the first issue was on sale well before Christmas 1890. The Magazine contains articles and fiction by various authors including; chapters VI to XXI of The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells illustrated by Claude A. Shepperson; My Life on Devil's Island by Captain Alfred Dreyfus; Strange Stories from Life: three stories by Conan Doyle, An interview with Conan Doyle, and A Visit to Tennyson by Lewis Carroll and others. With illustrations throughout, many by notable illustrators of the time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Strand_Magazine#fiction, magazine

The text is a dark tan leather back hardcover book. The book was written by E. MacDowel Cosgrave, MD, and published by the St. John Ambulance Association (London) in 1916. It contains a clean firm interior. The print is clear and readable. Contains a few illustrations - a little dulled at the top closed-edge of pages. Front and back covers have faint shelf wear marks. Good in its appearance considering its age. Some tearing away of pages from the spine but mostly tightly bound. 177 pages. non-fictionA handbook for all who have to do with sickness. It is written in a hope that it may be of assistance to all who have to nurse the sick. The book is arranged according to the Syllabus of the Second (or Nursing) Course of Lectures and to be used as a book of reference.#nursing, homenursing, medical, #stjohnsambulance

271 page hardcover titled 'The Modern Self Instructor in Phrenology, Physiognomy and physiology or The Peoples Hand book of Human Nature. Red in colour with gold print.The first page is yellow paper which has a hand written note in black ink which reads: 'Presented to Henry Gough by his teacher A. Hampson for obtaining the highest number of marks during 1887 in his class at St. Paul's Sunday School dated 1/04/88. The book is Cohen's view into the mind, body, and sole of human beings.Gustavus Cohen. George Whitehead & Sons, Printers, New Street & Kings Street, Huddersfield.medicine, mental health, phrenology, henry gough, a. hampton

Two pages from the Bendigo 'Advertiser' Tuesday magazine section writing about and photographing some of the boys who live and work at the Sandhurst Boys' Centre. 2/12/1969bendigo, education, sandhurst boys' centre, lydia chancellor collection, collection, bendigo, sandhurst boys' centre, silver city, boys, male, home, mental health authority, youth, staff

Doug Craig was born in Beechworth but had lived in Stanley. His parents had been in Stanley since the 1850's. He went to secondary school in Beechworth. His family roots are from France and Scotland. Doug gave an account of his younger years as a student at Beechworth in the post war periods of 1959 to 1953, his employment and the culture within companies he worked for, the changes brought by the new drug era, working in the hospital, This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.beechworth, mental hospital, drugs, burke museum, stanley state, hospitals, hospital patients, cocky's loft, may day hills, may day

Mrs Sheila Parkinson was born in Wagga in 1916 and came to Beechworth as a young woman around 1938. Sheila trained as a psychiatric nurse at Mayday Hills hospital prior to the second World War. At that time, unmarried women were accommodated and received nursing training on-site. Shiela was obliged to cease professional training and employment when she married in 1941, which disrupted completion of her final nursing examinations. Following post-war changes to the law that allowed married women to work, Sheila returned to Mayday Hills. Sheila's husband, Don, returned to Beechworth after four years abroad as a serviceman in the Australian Air Force. Beechworth's institutions were a major source of local employment throughout the twentieth century. As well as providing limited employment opportunities to young women like Shiela, post-war European migrants from Bonegilla Migrant camp found at Mayday Hills, encouraging European migrant settlement in the district. Mayday Hills was renamed several times since its establishment in 1867. At the peak of operations, it comprised sixty-seven buildings housing over twelve hundred patients patients and five hundred staff. The hospital officially closed in 1998. Today, the decommissioned two-storey Italianate style main building stands on eleven hectares of botanical gardens under National Trust protection. The site remains a popular cultural heritage destination for visitors. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. The cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Employed as a psychiatric nurse at one of Beechworth's large welfare institutions, Mayday Hills, Mrs Sheila Parkinson recalls the conditions faced by staff and patients at the hospital, which cared for chronically ill people from the Ovens region and patients from the Yarra Bend Asylum, Melbourne, which closed in 1925. When Sheila first began her nurse training, Mayday Hills suffered from a lack of resources and rudimentary facilities and patients frequently suffered from the cold due to poor heating and inadequate clothing and bedding. However, as the twentieth century progressed, Sheila recalls how conditions and treatments improved as a result of increased government funding of services and advances in psychiatry and pharmaceutical medicine. Mrs Sheila Parkinson's oral history recording is historically and socially significant for its witness to life in Beechworth in the pre- and post-WWII period. Sheila's story enriches our understanding of processes of modernisation with regard to psychiatric and welfare services, while the course of Sheila's professional training and employment brings attention to systemic and socio-economic barriers faced by women, as well as the valuable contribution women and migrants make in the delivery of care and ancillary services. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the twentieth century, many of which would have been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mrs Sheila Parkinson /twentieth century beechworth, mayday hills, psychiatric care, benevolent asylums, nursing, wwii, psychiatric treatment, country women, psychiatric hostpital, beechworth's institutions, local employment, government institutions, listen to what they say, oral history, burke museum, sheila parkinson, beechworth lunatic asylum, beechworth mental hospital, beechworth hospital for the insane, the kerferd clinic, bonegilla migrant camp, working women, white australia policy

Mavis Jensen (nee Knight) was born in Broadford in 1920 and came to Beechworth with her family a year later, so her father could assist his father at Knight's Blacksmith at 1A Camp Street, where the Hotel Nicholas is now located. Mavis Jensen left school at the age of 13 and worked as a kitchen maid at Ovens Benevolent Asylum. She was employed as a ward assistant at Mayday Hills Hospital from 1939 to 1980, except for 1958-59 when she gave birth to her son, Noel. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Mavis Jensen's account of her life in Beechworth and the local area during the 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. She details important historical events and hardships in the region's history that had a lasting local, regional and national impact, including Australia during war time, economic struggles, and women's societal roles in a rural area. Her oral history is particularly significant for its insights into developments in psychiatric patient treatment and care in regional Victoria, as well as women's work conditions in the mid-twentieth century. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mavis Jensen /listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, jensen, mavis jensen, psychiatric hospitals, mid-twentieth century psychiatry, regional hospitals, regional mental health care, mid-twentieth century women's working conditions, mayday hills hospital., ovens benevolent asylum, beechworth hospital history

Barry Pope left Melbourne at the intentions of travelling around Australia, met a local girl in Beechworth and decided to stay. He worked firstly in logging operations at the mill in Stanley, had some bartending jobs at Beechworth hotels, then got a job as a kitchen-hand at the Mayday Hill Hospital. Taking up new opportunities to advance his career and earning potential, he trained as a prison officer, working for several months at Pentridge Prison and Fairlea Women's Prison in Melbourne. He then returned to Beechworth to work in the prison system. In his story Mr Pope discusses many aspects of prison life for both prisoners and prison officers, from the food and daily routine, attitudes to discipline and rehabilitation, industries and opportunities available to prisoners and how prisoners were viewed in society after their period in prison was finished. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Barry Pope's account of his career is historically and socially significant as it details practices within the prison industry in the Twentieth Century as well as the operations of regional hospitals. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Barry Pope /beechworth, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, stanley mill, logging, hotel wentworth, oral history, hospital garden, mayday hill hospital, met hospital, social welfare department, loyola, lyolla, pentridge prison, fairlea women's prison, prison officer training, drug crimes, prison daily life, prison farm, prison wood workshop, prison industry, prison escapes, beechworth prison, prison suicides, prison violence, prisoner attitudes to crime, mental health, isolation cells, walking dog scheme, guide dogs, prison concerts, prison plays, george smee, prison food, prison officer accommodation

Date not confirmed, a farm in the Beechworth Warner property with a farmer overlooking calves, poultry and timber. This photograph depicts the farming and agriculture industry in Beechworth. The property, known as Daintree Stud or the Warner property, was formed a part of the town on Beechworth, Victoria. Beechworth became famous in the 19th century from a short- lived gold-rush. The town grew to the extent of building a hospital and mental hospital, court house, hotels, convent, and prison. During this time, the industrial growth of Beechworth was significant, seeing a rise in practices including tanning, cobbling, blacksmithing, and the selling of livestock. This photograph perhaps reveals a small degree of insight into the livestock business.Black and white rectangular photograph on matte photographic paper, unmountedReverse: 5896/ BMM 8093-1farm, agriculture, farming and agriculture, beechworth, beechworth farm, industry

Carving of a large male head made by a patient of Mayday Hills Asylum. The sculpture has been roughly hewn from a single piece of wood.Mayday Hills Asylum was one of the three largest psychiatric hospitals in Victoria, and played an important role in the treatment of mental health illnesses from its establishment in 1867 to its closure in 1995. As part of prescribed treatment, many patients participated in craft activities were they were able to create an array of objects. A limb of a tree roughly carved into the shape of the man's face featuring heavy eyebrows, moustache and beard.beechworth, burke museum, mayday hills asylum, carving, wooden sculpture