The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Mr. James McCain Meek boasted of building the first house in Ballarat, on the corner of Dana and Lydiard Streets, which was also a lemonade store and some say a sly grog shop. Meek arrived in Australia in 1847. He was in Ballarat 1851-1853, and in later life he returned to Ballarat to live at the Benevolent Asylum. When he became very ill in 1898 his daughter Marianne Dallimore took him to live with her, and he died at her property near Warrnambool in 1899. He wrote these reminiscences for the AHRS, of which he was a member. He was an excellent penman and illustrator and he produced several extraordinary complicated works. Meek was the subject of a PhD project undertaken at Federation University Australia by Joan Luxembourg, resulting in the 2015 publication The Inimitable Mr Meek. ballarat, illustration, goldrush, lithography

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Reminiscences narrated before the AHRS in the City hall, Ballarat, August 25th, 1899, by John P. Murray, from the Orkney Islands, who arrived in Melbourne as a 15 year old in 1849. He served as President of the Ballarat Shire Council 1871-72. In these reminiscences he recalls a time before the goldrush.

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Several copies of the little rule book of the AHRS have been preserved with the Society's papers. historical societies, ballarat

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.John Hood was originally from London, and arrived in Melbourne from Tasmania in 1842. He first dug for gold in Little Bendigo / Nerrina, in 1852. He died in 1909, a very old man, at the Ballarat Benevolent Asylum.

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Thomas Bath came to Australia in 1849, establishing a butchering establishment at Geelong. He mined during the rushes at various sites, eventually coming to Ballarat where he established a hotel now known as Craig's Royal Hotel. He held the first publican's license on Ballarat (1854) and his hotel was known as The Ballarat, later changed to Bath's Hotel; after the sale to Mr Craig in 1857 Thomas Bath established his farm Ceres, at Learmonth. Thomas Bath was instrumental in the formation of Ballarat and was a champion of all public institutions. He died in 1901. These reminiscences appear to have been recorded by the AHRS rather than Mr Bath writing them himself.goldrush, sailing ships, coach fares

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Mrs Charlotte Drew was a long term resident of Canadian, an area of Ballarat East. She first arrived in Australia in Adelaide. She and her husband George, who was a carpenter, arrived in Ballarat in 1851, and in these reminiscences she recalls a very lively life.

View of the gardens along the Sturt Street median strip between Raglan and Errard Streets. sturt street, ballarat, gardens, raglan street, errard steet

View from the West Ballarat Fire Station looking north west looking towards Drummond and Errard Streets. Both the Base and St John of God Hospitals roofs and chimneys are seen.west ballarat fire station, ballarat, drummond street, errard street, base hospial, st john of god hospital

Peter Lalor statue and close up of bronze reliefs. Eureka Stockade relief on the south side and Lalor in Parliament on the north side of the statue. Located at the western end of the median strip where Dawson Street crosses Sturt Street.peter lalor, eureka stockade, statue, sturt street, dawson street, parliament

This aerial view of the Ballarat CBC was taken sometime in 1957 or 1958. Sturt Street can be seen running from the right centre to top left.aerial view, sturt street, ballarat, central business district, cbd

The first photo shows the troop appear to practicing a fire drill. The photographer was F.H. Preston. The second photo shows the Scout Musical Band possibly in Learmonth. Most of the boys are holding instruments. The third studio photo shows the troops as winners of the Herald Cup in the South Street Competitions. The Band Leader is H. Leech.4th ballarat scout group, scouts, ballarat, bands, royal south street competitions., herald cup

Looking west along a bluestone goods shed at the Ballarat Railway yard in 1960.ballarat railway, building, goods shed, ballrarat, railway

Photo was taken on the south east corner of Sturt Street and Lydiard Street North looking north west. ballarat, sturt street, median strip, lydiard street north

Photo taken from the Town Hall Tower showing lower Sturt Street looking east. The Camp Hill Gardens can be seen.town hall, ballarat, sturt street, ballarat east

The view from White Hill over White Flat.white hill, white flat, ballarat

Eyre Street facing east.eyre street, ballarat, ballarat central, trees

View down Mair Street from the south east corner of Mair Street and Drummond Street North. St Andrew's Church Spire can be seen in the background.mair street, drummond street north, st andrew's church, ballarat, street view

A night scene looking west along Sturt Street during the Centenary Celebrations in 1938. The Town Hall Tower can be seen in the background.sturt street, centenary, town hall, ballarat

A night scene on Sturt Street looking east at night during the Centenary Celebrations in 1938. The dome on the National Mutual Building can be seen in the foreground.sturt street, centenary, national mutual, ballarat, traffic

Some of the businesses in the photo include Berry Anderson Stationers, Wilson's Tailors and the National Mutual building.national mutual, centenary, berry anderson, wilson's tailors, sturt street, ballarat

Sturt Street during the Centenary Celebrations in 1938. You can see decorations on the Eyre Bros building. Other businesses shown are Sutton's Boot Palace and Whiteside's.sturt steet, centenary, ballarat, eyre bros, sutton's boot palace, whiteside's, decorations

Dr Longden's Residence at 5 Errard Street North. During World War 2, it was used as Army Nurses accommodation.errard street, ballarat, longden, nurses, world war 2

Sturt Street looking north east. You can see the shade frames over the seats in the median strip, spear iron fences enclose the garden beds and a drinking fountain. An open ended tram travels along the length of Sturt Street.sturt street, ballarat, tram, gardens

Demolition of Orphanage iron frieze and brackets. It also shows the Polychrome brickwork.ballarat orphange, ballarat, victoria street, iron work, demolition

The Phoenix Hotel was situated opposite the Fire Station in Barkly Street, Ballarat East. phoenix hotel, barkly street, ballarat east

23 Raglan Street was built in 1855.raglan street, ballarat, house, housing

C. Morris Undertakers premises and horse drawn hearse. Two storey doctor's residence and the tower of the City Fire Station.c.morris, undertakers, city fire stations, sturt street, doctor

This street lamp is located in Barkly Street opposite the East Ballarat Fire Station.street lamp, barkly street, ballarat, east ballarat fire station

Jeffree Muir Pty Ltd was situated in Armstrong Street North. They sold crockery, seeds and hardware.jeffree muir, armstrong street north, ballarat, hardware