The Warrnambool Woollen Mill was established in 1910 in South Warrnambool by a local company, with the building erected on a site that formerly housed another woollen mill destroyed by fire in 1882. The Warrnambool Woollen Company operated successfully for many years with over 700 employees in the 1940s and a good national reputation for quality goods. It made blankets and other woollen goods and was the first company in Australia to manufacture electric blankets. In the 1960s the mill was sold to the Dunlop Company and for the next thirty years it was bought and sold several times, finally closing in 2000 after 90 years of operation. The woollen Mill was built on a site which was in easy access to the railway line which operated along the original tramway line from the town to the jetty. It is possible that this land would have been used for parking during the period of 1950's to 1970's which was a successful period of manufacturing and trade for the Woollen Mill. A link between an important infrastructure and one of Warrnambool's most important industries.Four page folded document cream in colour . Printed form with diagram of the land in question coloured in pink . Seals of both Victorian railways and Warrnambool Woollen mill are stamped beside signatories on page 3. Dated 30th April 1952. Signed R Naylor for the Warrnambool Woollen Mill and two unreadable signatures for Victorian Railways.warrnambool, warrnambool woollen mill, warrnambool railways, lease victorian railways and warrnambool woollen mill

Bruce & McClure were manufacturers of windmills and agricultural machinery including motor engines , pumps, tanks,and appliances for supplying and conserving water.Also included was brass,iron and steel foundry works. They won 11 first prizes at the Grand national Show of 1907 and in 1914 designed and manufactured a new water boring machine which could also be used for oil and gold exploration They operated from Lava Street well into the 1940's as well as from the geelong area. This plaque is possibly from one of their machines.A tangible link to one of Warrnambool's manufacturing businesses which was innovative and an essential part of the beginnings of machine use in farms and industry in the district. Cast iron plaque with moulded text which is coloured in gold. rectangular with rounded corners. Back is painted grey.Bruce & McClure Distributer Pat 2480.21warrnambool, bruce & mcclure, bruce & mcclure machinery

Alan Papworth operated a motorcycle sales and repairs business around the latter part of the 20th century. Alan Papworth is a life member of the Warrnambool Motorcycle Club. A common item which relates to the automotive and motorcycle industry and a Warrnambool business. Small white plastic tag with blue writing on one side and red on the reverse Alan Papworth Motorcycles 152 Fairy St Warrnambool. Ph. 627004-625298 warrnambool, motorcycles, a. papworth, alan papworth, fairy street

Historical information: this medallion has historical details on three fronts. Firstly the Villiers & Heytesbury Agricultural Association. This association began with the first meeting held on May 17th 1853 at Woodford. The minutes of that meeting read “That in the opinion of this meeting, the formation of an agricultural association would be of great benefit to persons in this district engaged in farming and pastoral pursuits. It initially embraced the following: ploughing, agricultural produce, machines and implements, and livestock of all descriptions. The first show was held at Warrnambool on April 10th 1855 on a green bounded by Fairy, Henna, and Koroit Streets. It was held there until 1875 when it moved to the present Showgrounds site in Koroit Street. At the 37th Annual show in 1890 Warrnambool held its first Grand National Show, being granted by the Chamber of Agriculture in turn, in Victoria. It became known as the Warrnambool Agricultural Society in 1911. Secondly the winner, Mr Hugh Lennon. He was one of the most successful innovators and manufacturers of agricultural implements in early Australia. Although born in Ireland, he served an apprenticeship in Scotland in mechanical engineering. The Lennon plough became known Australia wide. For many years he operated his business at the northern of Elizabeth Street in Melbourne. He was active in local affairs. He died in 1886 at the age of 52. Thirdly, Stokes and Martin. Thomas Stokes came to Australia in the 1850’s and established a successful business at Mincing Lane Melbourne, manufacturing buttons, medals and tokens. Martin joined the partnership in 1873, which lasted until a disastrous fire in 1893. The business was renamed Stokes & Sons Pty Ltd and it became a public company in 1962. It is currently situated at Ringwood in the business of spare parts for electrical equipment The Villiers and Heytesbury Agricultural Association was a significant event and organisation within the Western District over a large number of years. It was one of the earliest organisations in the district and is testament to its importance to the agricultural, social, and cultural life of the district. It is significant that this particular medallion was awarded to an innovator in the ploughing industry and that it was made by a company which is still in business 130 years later. Circular copper medallion cast with Villiers & Heytesbury Agricultural Assoctn around edge with winner and event details engraved in centre. The reverse is cast with horse, cow and sheep standing above wheat sheaf and farm implements. The edge of the medallion is plain.Villiers & Heytesbury Agricultl Assoctn around rim. 1st Prize awarded to Hugh Lennon for double furrow plough, Warrnambool Oct 19 1880. Stokes & Martin Melbourne in small lettering on the reverse.warrnambool, villiers & heytesbury, hugh lennon, stokes & martin, lennon plow, lennon plough

Used in the printing process in the later part of the 19th Century.Used in the printing industryCream fluted bowl shaped item. Ceramic. Top has large split in middle with two smaller openings at either end.Registered copying press water well 4409 in black lettering on top surfacewarrnambool, water well, printing

Labourers grading and wrapping apples in paper and packing into wooden cases at the Hurstbridge packing shed. W.G. Gray's Allwood Nurseries was the largest orchard in the district and exported domestically and internationally. At one time the Hurstbridge railway station held the record for the number of apples sent away in one season. 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, hurstbridge, packing apples, fruit industry, export, apple industry

W.G (William George) Gray, owned and managed Allwood Nurseries in Hurstbridge. By 1922 he operated a well cultivated property of 64 cleared acres, 56 of which were under nursery healthy stock, principally apples, peaches, plums and cherries. In addition to 4 acres of potatoes. 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, hurstbridge, gray's orchard, nurseries (plants), apple industry, allwood, allwood nursuries

Three colour photographsbridge street, bunnings, construction, industries, susan street

Dross Drossou sold his cordial manufacturing business to Phillips and Stone, a Bairnsdale company, in 1948. Phillips & Stone continued to manufacture soft drinks at Orbost until the early 1970s when the factory became a distribution centre. It closed as a distribution centre in 1978 and later served as the headquarters of the Orbost State Emergency Service. The site of the Cordial Factory now forms part of the carpark at the rear of the Orbost Newsagency. (John Phillips) This bottle is an example of a product manufactured/distributed by a local industry no longer existing.A narrow-shouldered, clear glass bottle with white and red lettering. The neck is threaded (cap is missing). It is labelled "P & S 850ml; Phillips and stone; refreshing drinks. BAIRNSDALE AND ORBOST. Manufactured by Phillips & Stone Bairnsdale & Orbost E2361. Preservative added. Artificially coloured and flavoured."glass-bottle container phillips-and-stone

When early settlers began to arrive on the Snowy River somewhere in the 1880s, the land was mostly swamps and heavily timbered jungle on the river frontages. The swamps were drained bit by bit using hand tools. The frontages were cleared by axe and shovel and fire. Several kinds of crops were experimented with such as hops, hemp and maize. Maize grew particularly well and became the main crop of the district. (info. from October 2006 ODHS Newsletter) The Argus was a morning daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia that was established in 1846 and closed in 1957. It was considered to be the general Australian newspaper of record for this period.Maize-growing has been an important agricultural industry in the Orbost district since early settlement. This item is associated with that history.A typed letter sent to a local maize farmer requesting information on maize growing. The letter has the "Argus" letter head. The name of the recipient is unknown.maize agriculture-orbost correspondence-argus

Orbost and East Gippsland Railway League had proposed a railway extension through East Gippsland in 1908, which aimed to develop an isolated part of the country. At the time, construction of a railway could be considered a beneficial investment for the country as it could increase the population in the region. The proposed railway length in 1908 was about 140 miles and the cost was estimated £800,000. The line was proposed to proceed from Bairnsdale by way of the Lower Nicholson to Bruthen. “After crossing the Tambo River, it would be carried to near Nowa Nowa; the head of Lake Tyers, forward to Orbost. From Orbost it would proceed in a north-easterly way to the New South Wales border. There were different suggested routes between Orbost and the New South Wales border, the first was through Bendoc, another by the Cann River and another which is located between these two. This item is associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost. The Bairnsdale-Orbost railway was opened in 1916 to serve the agricultural and timber industry. Because of the decline in traffic and heavy operating costs, the line was finally closed in August, 1987. Two small magazines showing the railway extension through East Gippsland. 678.1 has a dark maroon cover with gold print writing. It contains b/w photographs. 678.2 has a red cover with black print writing. Both are bound. 678.1 - inside front cover - M. Beattie ???????? Newmerella 678.2 - inside front cover - Gordon Fisher Orbosteast-gippsland-railway-league railway

This book records the minutes of th Orbost Maize Growers' Association from December 10 1926. Meetings appear to have been held monthly.This item is an example of the hand - written records of an early Orbost agricultural association. It is associated with the large maize growing industry in the Orbost region 1880s - 1950s.A black covered exercise book containing hand - written minutes for the Orbost Maize Growers' Association.orbost maize agriculture orbost-maize-growers-association

This item is a contemporary record of engineering equipment used in farming, industry and mining in the 1920's.A Bennie, Teare & Co catalogue in a loose leaf clip folder with a blue fabric cover. It has a red seal on the front. At the side is a metal brace for page removal. catalogue bennie-teare-engineering

This photograph, one of set of six, shows Ken Donchi, the youngest family member (at the time of photograph) at work as a sleeper cutter in the Orbost area since the 1890s. The photograph was used in an article for the Victorian Railways Magazine 1975. . It contains photographs and an article about Orbost as "Timber Country" and a detailed article titled, " Cutting Sleepers is a Family Business" which tells about the Donchi family.This item is associated with the timber and sleeper-cutting industry in the Orbost Region. Timber sleepers were superceded by concrete sleepers in c. 1970s. Orbost has historically been based on the timber industry, but that industry has declined considerably over the last 20 years. .The number of locals involved in the timber industry has declined and many of the mills have closed. This item reflects a time when that industry was a significant contributor to the economy of the district.A black / white photograph of Ken Donchi driving a bulldozer in bushland outside of Orbost.on back - Pr 8769donchi-pat sleeper-cutting timber-industry-orbost-railway

The Donchi family has been cutting sleepers since the 1890s in the Orbost area. This photograph , one of a set of six, was taken for an article in the Victorian railways Magazine in 1975. This was a pamphlet produced for Victorian Railways. . It contains photographs and an article about Orbost as "Timber Country" and a detailed article titled, " Cutting Sleepers is a Family Business" which tells about the Donchi family.This item is associated with the timber and sleeper-cutting industry in the Orbost Region. Timber sleepers were superceded by concrete sleepers in c. 1970s. Orbost has historically been based on the timber industry, but that industry has declined considerably over the last 20 years..The number of locals involved in the timber industry has declined and many of the mills have closed. This item reflects a time when that industry was a significant contributor to the economy of the district.A black / white photograph of a bush scene of a timber harvesting coupe used by the Donchi family.on back - Pr 8766sleeper-cutting-orbost donchi-orbost timber-industry-orbost

Pat Donchi's grandfather came to Orbost to cut sleepers in the 1890s. Pat and his sons have carried on since then. This photograph, one of six, was taken for the Victorian railways Magazine in 1975, a pamphlet produced for Victorian Railways. It contains photographs and an article about Orbost as "Timber Country" and a detailed article titled, " Cutting Sleepers is a Family Business" which tells about the Donchi familyThis item is associated with the timber and sleeper-cutting industry in the Orbost Region. Timber sleepers were superceded by concrete sleepers in c. 1970s. Orbost has historically been based on the timber industry, but that industry has declined considerably over the last 20 years. The number of locals involved in the timber industry has declined and many of the mills have closed. This item reflects a time when that industry was a significant contributor to the economy of the district.A black / white photograph of Pat Donchi, a local sleeper cutter, falling a tree with a chainsaw.on back - Pr 8708timber-industry-orbost donchi-orbost sleeper-cutting-orbost

The Donchi family has ben involved in sleeper cutting in the Orbost district since the 1890s. This phootograph , one of a set of six, was taken for the Victorian Railways Magazine, August,1975, a pamphlet produced for Victorian Railways. It contains photographs and an article about Orbost as "Timber Country" and a detailed article titled, " Cutting Sleepers is a Family Business" which tells about the Donchi family.Name Associated with the timber and sleeper-cutting industry in the Orbost Region. Timber sleepers were superceded by concrete sleepers in c. 1970s. Orbost has historically been based on the timber industry, but that industry has declined considerably over the last 20 years. The number of locals involved in the timber industry has declined and many of the mills have closed. This item reflects a time when that industry was a significant contributor to the economy of the district.A black / white photograph of Pat, Ken and Alan Donchi working a large saw at a timber coupe in Orbost.on back - Pr 8767timber-industry-orbost sleeper-cutting-orbost donchi-family

The three men in this photograph, one of a set of six), are all from the Donchi family who have been involved in sleeper - cutting since the 1890s. From left to right they are Brian, Ken and Alan Donchi. The photograph was taken for an article in the Victorian Railways Magazine in 1975, a pamphlet produced for Victorian Railways. It contains photographs and an article about Orbost as "Timber Country" and a detailed article titled, " Cutting Sleepers is a Family Business" which tells about the Donchi family.This photograph is associated with the timber and sleeper-cutting industry in the Orbost Region. Timber sleepers were superceded by concrete sleepers in c. 1970s. Orbost has historically been based on the timber industry, but that industry has declined considerably over the last 20 years..The number of locals involved in the timber industry has declined and many of the mills have closed. This item reflects a time when that industry was a significant contributor to the economy of the district.A black / white photograph of three members of the Donchi family working at sleeper - cuttingin a timber coupe in Orbost.on back - Pr 8764timber-industry-orbost sleeper - cutting donchi-family-orbost

This iron would have been used locally. Wehner's Blacksmith's was founded at Orbost in 1889. Oswald Wehner began working in 1910 with his father. In 1947 Ossie's son, Tom started blacksmithing, working alongside his father. Wehner's closed in 1991. (ref. In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall)This is an example of an implement used locally in the livestock industry in the last century. "Wehner's Blacksmiths was an important part in the business life of Orbost and was probably the most recent business to close with a link to our past." (Deborah Hall)Branding iron with either M or W as the brand. Circular, hanging.branding-iron rural-industry livestock

Newspaper found inside frame backing dated Tues, Nov,12 1918. Harry French was a well known architect in Bairnsdale for over 40 years. Harry French of Bairnsdale was A. J. Macdonald's supervising architect for Bairnsdale Court House built in 1893.This drawing is significant for its connection to the Brodribb family. The architect, Harry French, was a well-known Bairnsdale architect. Maize has been a major crop in the Orbost district since the late 19th century.Graphic illustration of Mr H Brodribb's maize shelter to half inch scale. In glass with wooden frame.H French A-R-V-I-A- Bairnsdale 6-8-1918drawing civil-engineering drafting rural-industry agriculture maize brodribb

Called a silage or hay knife, this implement is used to cut through compacted silage or hay and was in common use on farms in the Orbost area. An implement used in the farming industry which was, and is still, very significant to the Orbost region.A flat iron blade with large serrations on one side, two handles both with round wooden hand-holders. farming-implement hay-knife silage-knife

This knife would have been a common implement used in the Orbost farming community. It dates from the pre-mechanised era when silage and hay had to be cut by hand to be fed out to stock.Associated with the farming industry of the Orbost district.A flat iron blade with large serrations on one side, two iron handles which would originally have been covered with wood.farming-implement hay-knife silage-knife

This stencil was used to mark bags of dried bean seed, in this case Brown Beauty bean seeds, produced by farmers in the Orbost district and clean and bagged by Fisher Bros., seed bean merchants of Orbost. This stencil is significant because it was specially made for the seed bean industry which was a major industry in the Orbost district for the first half of the 20th century. A galvanised iron sheet from which words have been cut out to form a stencil. BROWN BEAUTY BEANS 1948 CROP PRODUCE OF AUSTRALIA SOUND, CLEAN, FRESH ORBOST, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA PACKED FOR LAMBERT OVERSEAS PTY LTDseed-beans bag-stencil farming

Livestock bells were once used extensively throughout the Australian countryside. The first ones were imported from England and America, but gradually local blacksmiths started turning out their own bells. These bells were used on a leader in a bullock team or on other stock so they could be easily located.A very corroded metal bullock bell with a handle and a small round gong.bullock-bell rural-industry livestock

Livestock bells were once used extensively throughout the Australian countryside. The first ones were imported from England and America, but gradually local blacksmiths started turning out their own bells. These bells were used on a leader in a bullock team or on other stock so they could be easily locatedAn iron bullock bell with handle and a large clapper inside.bullock-bell rural-industry livestock

There is no information with this photograph. It could be a photograph of the first house that Henry James occupied.Henry James (1860-1932) was a well-known identity in the Orbost district.He was a stock agent and auctioneer who helped to establish the seed bean industry in Orbost. He was the second secretary of the Snowy River Shipping Co. as well as a shire councillor and prominent member of MUIOOF.A black / white photograph of a light coloured timber house with a neat picket fence in front. On the right is a trellis with trees behind it. On the left there is a barn and a shed in the backyard.on back - JAMES HOUSE - November 1896 (Henry James?)house-james

Carrol Preston has used newspaper references from 1877 through to 1917, to document the history of the Orbost - Bairnsdael railway line.. It starts with the lobbying and jockeying, and moves through to the opening in 1916. The title is a reference to plans to further extend the railway beyond Orbost - but "The Iron Horse stopped at Orbost Railway Station". Most articles are from the Snowy River Mail and Bairnsdale Advertiser. All newspaper articles are dated and sourced. About 1912 work began at Newmerella on clearing the track for the railway line from Bairnsdale to Orbost. A canvas town sprang up on the higher land adjacent to the river flats. Local farmers supplied meat, milk and fresh produce to the camp, as well as gaining employment carting and labouring. The line opened in 1916, the Orbost railway station being built on the Newmerella side of the river.This item is associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost. On April 10 1916, the first scheduled train service left Orbost for Bairnsdale. The Bairnsdale-Orbost railway was opened to serve the agricultural and timber industries. This book has been compiled by a local historian. A spiral bound book titled, "The Iron Horse Stopped at Orbost Railway Station". The cover is blue / green with the title in black and red print. Underneath is a railway track leading to the bottom of the page. The book is 110 pages, A4 size and contains maps and photos. in black print on cover - "The Iron Horse Stopped at Orbost Railway Station ; The newspaper story of the eventual construction of the ORBOST RAILWAY LINE (in red print); Compiled and produced by CARROL PRESTON (in white print)railway-transport orbost-bairnsdale-railway east-gippsland-railway

Maize has been grown on the Orbost flats for at least 70 years. When early settlers began to arrive on the Snowy River somewhere in the 1880s, the land was mostly swamps and heavily timbered jungle on the river frontages. The swamps were drained, bit by bit, with short handled shovels working in mud and water. The frontages were cleared by axe and shovel and fire. Several kinds of crops were experimented with such as hops, hemp and maize which grew particularly well and became the main crop of district. The problem then was to thresh and deliver the product to the market. A small single cob machine was brought here and one man turned the handle, while the boy or Mum fed the cobs singly into the machine. A good day’s work would thresh about 50 bushels or about 12 bags (4 bushels). The task then was to cart the maize to market. For a few years this was done by horses and dray carrying about 60 bushels to Mossiface, where it was loaded onto river boats to Lakes Entrance, and then by ocean boats to Melbourne. (information from NEWSLETTER OCTOBER, 2006)The growing of maize in the Orbost district contributed significantly to the economy of the township for many years, The many maize cribs once seen on the surrounding farms have now disappeared and this photograph is a pictorial record of that significance.A small sepia photograph with six men in front of a wooden barn. They are bagging maize. In the foreground are two rows of filled bags. On the right is a lifting machine to take the bags to the top storey. On the far right is a water tank on a stand"on back - "Thrashing Maize"maize-orbost agriculture-maize industry

This knife was used by Lottie Rem who ran the cookhouse at Astergren;s Timber Mill at Cabbage Tree in East Gippsland from 1954 until 1966.. It was bought in Orbost around 1957 - 1958. Sited on the banks of the Cabbage Tree Creek, the township was built by the timber mills to house their workers. Although the timber mills have disappeared, some of the buildings still remain. The "Cook House" and "Manager's House" are two buildings. The Cook House was built to supply meals to the workers of the Alstergren Mill. Some of the original interior walls were made from hessian and wallpaper. The few houses to survive to today are now used as private dwellings.The Cabbage Tree Creek township was established to support the booming timber industry of the mid 20th century. Five timber mills worked full time supporting the families that were drawn to the area's wealth of natural resources. this item is associated with the history of Cabbage Tree.A stainless steel serrated edged knife with a cream coloured handle (bone?)on blade -""Made in Sheffield expressly for Orbost Hardware and Timber Co, Orbost"alstergren-timber-cabbage-tree rem-lottie cook-house-alstergren's-timber-mill bread-knife-orbost-hardware

3281.1 is a photograph of Terry Martin. "Terry Martin travelled to Melbourne to Melbourne to display his extensive collection of axes and to demonstrate the art of broadaxe cutting. The axe Terry is holding is over 200 years old and is believed to have been used by ship builders in their trade. Terry makes his own axe handles from district timber." (Snowy River Mail 23 September 1987) 3281.2 is of Erasmo Giove. who came to Australia with his wife, Mina. They eventually settled in Orbost where Erasmo worked as a sleeper cutter withn his wife working alongside him. The Gioves lived with their four children, Tina, Rocco, Benodino and Graziela, in Forest Road, Orbost,These photographs are associated with the timber and sleeper-cutting industry in the Orbost Region. Timber sleepers were superceded by concrete sleepers in c. 1970s. Orbost has historically been based on the timber industry, but that industry has declined considerably over the last 20 years..The number of locals involved in the timber industry has declined and many of the mills have closed. This item reflects a time when that industry was a significant contributor to the economy of the district.3281.1 is of a man standing holding a long handled axe. 3281.2 is of a man holding a cross cut saw and holding in the other hand a framed photograph of a swing saw.woodcutting-tools axe saw-cross-cut saw-swing timber-orbost sleeper-cutting giove-erasmo martin-terry