Thomas Crouch Watts was born on March 7th. 1865, to Joseph and Susan Watts. Before the real estate business commenced, Thomas and his brother were in partnership as booksellers and stationers in a shop at View Point. Thomas lived in a fine house in Rowan Street, which was called 'Ottawa' Thomas started his real estate business in the early 1900s in a shop in View Street. His daughter Edna was the book keeper and typist, Stewart Watson was the salesman and Stanley Phipps (Edith Lunn's father) was the property manager and valuer. When Thomas Watts died in 1914, his daughter took over the running of the business. She married Stewart Watson in 1918. Eventually the name of the business was changed to Bishop and Earl. From a letter from Edith Lunn re T.C. Watts & Son. 'The firm of T.C. Watts & Son later became Bishop and Earl. When the firm of Bishop and Earl ceased to operate after the death of Edith Lunn's father, S.P. Bishop, Miss. June Parry, Secretary of the BHS was a member of staff. June rescued all the photos of properties listed for sale from the office and placed them into the custody of the BHS.' Black and white photograph: weatherboard house, corrugated iron roof, bullnose verandah, picket fence, cast iron lace, one chimney visible , central door, window each side of front door, wrought iron gate. 'Mr Syme, Houston Street, Bendigo' written on back of image. 'Date 16 May 1930'. 2012 photo of the house attached to the record.Frank A. Jeffreebendigo, business, t.c. watts & son, t.c. watts collection, real estate

Joseph Bell - documentation on life of 'The Late Joseph Bell' - part of page from 'Bendigo and Vicinity (Watson and Bell - Garden Gully line of reef, Bendigo). Bad copy - right-hand column incomplete, no page number)Bendigo and Vicinityperson, individual, joseph bell, garden gully reef. mr watson, white hills, huntly lead claim, niagara mine, annabel mine, crushing plant "ajax"

294 p. : pale blue cover embossed with pattern of leaves/treesfictionBook centres around the life of Joseph Quinney, a London antique dealer. Explores Quinney's relationship with his family, his business rivalries, love, and romance. fiction, antique dealers, horace annesley vachell

Rules and regulations of the Sparrowhawk Quartz Mining company dated 27th. May 1865. Operations carried out at Wilson's Reef, Sparrowhawk Gully, Sandhurst (Bendigo). Document signed by Joseph Millin, J. Woodward, S? Heogy?, J. Walker, John? Geo Lansell, Wm. Drivar, J. Creeth, D. Watson, Alex Graham, David Sterry, George Wills, James …? Chas Colley, Thomas Molloy, Robert Hollis, John Charles, William Gibbs, Robert Grieve, …Hay, …. Jones, Henry Hattam, James Hosking, Carl Roeder, Thomas M..ulloy, by his attorney, John Scanlon. (some names faded, difficult to decipher)bendigo, mining, sparrowhawk quartz mining company

Document. Various legal papers. 1 - Twigg re Osterfield. 2 - 1894 - Macoboy and Jones and Watson, John. Account with Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop. 3 - 1895 - Letter from Warden's Office to Dunlop, A. G. regarding Mining Lease applied for by Dunlop, A. G and Gill, T. 4 - 1893 - Letter from Geake J. E. to Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop regarding Wallis Joseph death. 5 - 1899 - Account of Trethewey Mr.connelly, tatchell & dunlop, macoboy and jones and watson john, warden's office, dunlop a. g., gill t, geake j e, wallis joseph, trethewey mr.

Hard cover book, blue cover, buff spine and corners, 'Share Register' written on spine. Affixed to front page Act No. 228, blue document, certifying that the mining company called 'The Prince of Wales Tribute Company' was incorporated at the Court of Mines Sandhurst. Dated 30th May 1870. Book contains an alphabetical listing of shareholders, dates 1869 - 1870, providing details such as who the shares were transferred from and to, calls on shares. Names include: Francis Babett; William Blackham, Joseph Bell, Joseph Brandon, Joseph Bullen, Josephy William Carrs, Charles Henry Colliers (Collins?), W.J. Cocking, J Davies, John Gregory Edwards, P. Fletcher, George Freeman, Peter Gilbert, John Henry Giles Harry Giles, Thos Gilbert, J.P Gray, J. Greenslade, Alfred Horbury, Michael Hayes, J(?) Holman, Geo Hull, Hugh McColl Henry Marshal, Matthew Moran, Alfred Miller, John Miller, Henry Oates, Phillip O'Neill, John Powell, Morris Phillips, William Piggott, Charles Quinn, John Roberts, Aime Ruedin, Nm Rae, John Scott, John Sinclair, P Simonsens, R Southby, William Thomas, Edward Tinsdale, William Henry Templeton, Sam Trant, John Taylor, David Veale, Walter Watkins J & S Williams, S. Williams, N (?) Winter, Geo Watson N (?) Webb, ITEMS IN THIS BOX HAVE NOT BEEN SCANNED.business, mining, prince of wales tribute co.

Brochure with an invitation to visit Historical and Mining Museum in Mechanic's Institute, Eaglehawk. Drawing of poppet legs on the front with The Royal Historical Society of Victoria Bendigo Branch. Historical Guide to Bendigo including Self Tours of Bendigo's Famous Goldfields. Forward by John Hattam. Contributors are: H Biggs, Miss L J Parry, A Richardson, L C Bennetts and Edith Checcucci. Credits - The Bendigo Advertiser, Cambridge Press, Mines Department (Bendigo) and J R W Purves. Items include Bendigo Tramways Compiled by H Biggs, Early Bendigo Hotels Compiled by L C Bennetts, Eaglehawk Compiled by H Biggs, Noted Events Compiled by June Parry, The Bendigo Post Office Compiled by LC Bennetts, The Bendigo Goldfield. Introduction to Field and Guide to Some Famous Mines Compiled by A Richardson. Photos include: Pall Mall Bendigo, Ravenswood Homestead, An Early Battery at Kangaroo Flat, Historic High Street Golden Square, The Lonely Grave, Battery Tram c1888, Steam Tram c1892, Electric Tram c1903, The New Chum Railway Golden Square, United Hustlers and Redan Mine Sandhurst Road, Central Deborah Violet Street, Deborah Mine Quarry Hill, Deborah Mine 1000 ft level, First Motion Winding Engine at Central Deborah, Victoria Hill Area, and Looking south from New Chum Hill in 1890's. Also 11010.254, 255, 268, 288a, 288b, and 289.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - historical guide to bendigo, the royal historical society of victoria bendigo branch, historical and mining museum, mechanic's institute eaglehawk, librarian mechanic's institute, miss j parry, john hattam, h biggs, a richardson, l c bennetts, edith checcucci, bendigo advertiser, cambridge press, mines department (bendigo), j r w purves, mr a o'keefe, shire of marong, the sandhurst and eaglehawk tramway company, mr j taylor, mr j hanson, the bendigo tramway company, electric supply company, coliban water suply, juvenile industrial exhibition, geo lansell, cr a harkness, salvation army, vine and fruitgrowers association, decentralisation league, constable thomas ryan, miners association, art gallery, post office, miss broadfoot, bendigo hospital, opera company, bendigo development league, victorian women's franchise league, ana hall, the bendigonian, law courts, temperance hall, trades hall (old wardens court), roman catholic cathedral, shamrock hotel, bendigo philosophical society, old bendigonian society, bendigo fire brigade, bendigo volunteers to south african war, hawkins, porcupine inn, criterion hotel, royal hotel, bendigo hotel, black swan hotel, gillies bakery, hibernian hotel, sandhurst hotel, freemasons hotel, courthouse hotel, shamrock hotel, governor hotham, heffernan & crowley, new chum railway, victoria quartz, shenandoah, shamrock mine, hercules no 1 (originally pearl east), hercules new chum (late pearl), carlisle mine, mr arblaster, meurer, sandhurst bee, benevolent asylum, bendigo gas company, a lloyd, coliban water supply scheme, cr w v simons, eaglehawk council, j mouat, sir henry barkly, agricultural and horticultural exhibition, sandhurst and eaglehawk boroughs, cr john mcintyre, latham and watson's mine, galatea (model ship), st paul's church of england, rev g p despard, fine arts exhibition and exposition, bendigo rifle association, strathfieldsaye shire hall, corporate high school, bendigonian society, richard andrews, easter fair, g aspinall, j burnsides, sir h manners sutton, beehive stores, mining exchanges, bendigo water works, city family hotel, bendigo united friendly society medical institute and dispensary, benevolent asylum, jewish synagogue, masonic hall, school of mines, mr j h abbott, australian natives association, royal princess theatre, albion hall, central state school, high school, gravel hill state school, electricity commission, james mouat, warring natives, the rocks, joseph crook, gold discovery, marong district roads board, camp hotel, mr charles sherratt, city of bendigo, mt alexander north run, grice and heape, ravenswood, gibson and fenton, mrs john kennedy, mrs patrick farrel, mr j a paton, mr lachlan mclachlan, theatre royal, sir charles and lady hotham, harney's bridge, e j ennor, sandhurst fire brigade, the health of towns act, mr townsend, cornish & co, bendigo pottery, bendigo agricultural society, pike or pyke, baby health centre, sandhurst post office, government survey office, sandhurst trustees company, mr h b briston, savings bank, telegraph office, sir henry brougham lock, hon sir john nimmo, sandhurst public offices, the new prince of wales mine, new prince of wales no 2, the whip and jersey, lansell's big 180, new chum and victoria mine and battery, new chum railway, koch's pioneer, south new moon, catherine reef united, new moon, virginia mine, south belle vue, new chum railway, central nell gwynne, north nell gwynne, ironbark mine, new chum syncline, hercules, herculesl energetic, roberts & sons, harkness & co, horwoods, great southern, ulster, carlisle, cornish, new st mungo, duchess tribute, south devonshire, hopewell mine, saxby mine, mcnair & co, mr king, bourke and wills, sandhurst hotel, the dascombe nugget, victoria nugget, r r haverfield, ballerstedt, rae, wittscheibe, lazarus, cave and amos, bendigo amalgamated goldfields, bendigo mines limited, the deborah, north deborah, central deborah, the new red white and blue consolidated (big blue), union, lansell's new red white and blue 9later no 3 shaft), h harkness & co, thompson & co, central deborah, lansell's bendigo battery, north red white and blue, central red white and blue, roberts and sons, little 180 (originally lansell's 180 no 2 shaft), john brown knitwear factory, south ironbark originally victoria consols east shaft, ironbark (originally ironbark east shaft), manchester arms hotel, wattle gully mine chewton, hercules, old wheal-owl, central nell gwynne, gold mines hotel, bendigo city council, jack barker, the new chum syncline, the courier of the mines, telegraph office, bendigo cemetery, white hills cemetery, eaglehawk cemetery, kangaroo flat cemetery, new moon, suffolk united, north new moon, fortuna hustlers, buckell & jeffrey's, royal hustlers reserve no 2 (city and park shafts), jonathan harris, latham and watson, great hustlers, great extended hustlers, j hustler, latham, watson, tribute or pups shaft, bendigo's worst mining disaster, hustlers reef (old hustlers), hustlers reef no 1, lansell's comet, the old comet (cooper's claim), united hustlers and redan, comet hill state school, k k shaft, north or new hustlers (agnew hustler), johnson's no 3, south johnson's, lansell's sandhurst needle, cleopatra needle top, british american, collman and tacchi, south virginia, saddle reefs and spurs, pall mall bendigo, ravenswood homestead, an early battery at kangaroo flat, historic high street golden square, the lonely grave, battery tram c1888, steam tram c1892, electric tram c1903, teh new chum railway golden square, united hustlers and redan mine sandhurst road, central deborah violet street, deborah mine quarry hill, deborah mine 1000 ft level, first motion winding engine at central deborah, victoria hill area, looking south from new chum hill in 1890's

The Orford family, a pioneer family remained continuously living and working in Eltham for 170 years from 1854 to 2024. James and Sarah Orford arrived in Sydney in 1839 aboard the ship “Orestes”; they had several children there before settling in Eltham in 1854. Three children, James Mathias, Sarah Amelia and Thomas Henry initially remained in the Eltham area. James eventually moved to Brunswick. Sarah married Arthur Butler Young and finally lived in Bunyip. Thomas who was six years old when the family arrived in 1854 remained in Eltham, married Helen Logan who died, leaving a large family. They lived in a slab hut by the Yarra at Laughing Waters and Thomas managed the Panton Park Estate, a selection owned by Magistrate Thomas Panton. Thomas’s son, Ernest Orford was born 1892 at Pitt Street, Eltham and also lived his entire life in Eltham working as a labourer, orchardist and later as a gardener and grounds keeper for Sir William Irvine, a former Chief Justice and Premier of Victoria. Ernest married Kate Thomas; their two sons Ron and Doug stayed in the area. Another of Thomas' sons, Arthur, also lived in Eltham. Four Orford generations attended Eltham schools. Doug Orford was born on the kitchen table (reference, son Ted Orford) of the family home at the corner of Reynolds Road and Mount Pleasant Road. Doug married Gwen and they established a family however Gwen died at a young age from cancer. Doug eventually remarried another Gwen and they lived for several decades in Napoleon Street, Eltham. Doug was actively involved in EDHS over many years, including serving as a committee member and vice president. Contributions by Doug and Gwen (Treasurer/Membership Secretary), his wife, assisted EDHS to continue to develop as a not-for-profit group intent on promoting and preserving our local history. Both Doug and Gwen were made Life Members of EDHS. They also acted as EDHS delegates to the Eastern Region of Historical Societies. His significant work with assisting to establish our valued Local History Centre helped develop our home base and supported the continued growth of our society. Doug’s local knowledge, suggestions and family connections were highly valued, Until recent times, he continued to regularly attend our Collections Team workshops providing his insights and historical information about photographs and society records. Doug died peacefully July 8, 2024, and represents the last link in the Orford Eltham chain which spanned 170 years. His funeral was held Thursday, July 18, 2024, at Le Pine Funerals, 848 Main Road, Eltham. Contents: Typed notes, no date: Memories of Ernest Orford [taped 1979] about his school days. Handwritten notes, no date: History of Ernie Orford Typed notes, no date: History of Thomas Henry Orford and family. Photocopy: Shire of Eltham General Rate Receipts. Received from D Orford 7 June 1923 and Received from E F Orford, 4 August 1924. Letter, no date: Nillumbik Shire to Russell Yeoman, Gwen Orford to receive Volunteer Recognition Award. Newsletter article: "The Orford Family, Eltham", Shire of Eltham Historical Society, No.80 September 1991. History of Orford family. Handwritten notes: 21 March 2011, genealogy of George Orford. On reverse Melways map makred with Orford and other land ownerships. Newspaper advertisement, 21 March 2011: "264 Reynolds Road, South Eltham", property for sale [land in ownership of Orford family]. Letter: St Margaret's Anglican Church Eltham to Doug Orford, 17 November 2011, Extracts from church records relative to Orford family. Newspaper article: "Timely facelift at war memorials', Diamond Valley Leader, 30 April 2024, Nillumbik war memorial will have some work and a bronze plaque will be installed at the Eltham Avenue of Honour, Wingrove Park; photograph of Doug Orford Newsletter item: "Welcome home medal", Eltham District Historical Society newsletter no.216 May 2014, World War I two 'Welcome Home Medals' in ownership of local men, being Harry Gilham and Doug Orford. Order of Service, Le Pine Funerals (Eltham), In Loving Memory of Douglas Frederick Orford 22nd August 1929 - 8th July 2024 Doug Orford Reminiscences (2002) in conjunction with Jock Read and Peter Bassett Smith; 4 pages - 3 typed, 1 handwritten possibly transcribed from an audio tape recording (location unknown). New word file and associated pdf created [\Dropbox\EDHS DATA\DOCUMENTS\COLLECTION CATALOGUE DOCUMENTS AND PDFs\2-2 Family Folders\EDHS_06110-2 Doug Orford reminiscences 2002.docx - 1 April 2025]Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcdoug orford, harry gilham, welcome home medal, eltham avenue of honour, nillumbik war memorial, wingrove park, henry dendy, alfred armstrong, james orford, 264 reynolds road south eltham, george orford, george joseph orford, maryanne george joseph, thomas henry orford, ernest orford, e f orford, eltham cemetery, helen orford, joseph panton, panton park, gordon lyon, banyule estate heidelberg, james matthias orford, wurundjeri, constable peter lawlor, george hill, franklin street eltham, ronald orford, eltham primary school, john brown, robert gamble school inspector, sarah orford, mary ann orford, james mathias orford, sarah amelia orford, james peet, arthur butler young, watsons creek victoria, kangaroo ground victoria, helen logan, william orford, jane orford, arthur orford, frederick orford, florrie orford, victor orford, chem orford, sunnymede eltham, panton hill estate, sir william irvine, gordon lyons, kate thomas, north eltham gospel church, harold clapp, eltham cricket club, research primary school, dalton street school eltham, keith banks, betty banks, benjamine boyd, laughing waters road eltham, freddie gilsinen, douglas frederick orford, eltham district historical society, funeral service, le pine funeral home, life member, order of service, 1934 flood, 1939 bushfires, alcock & pierce, ansell, associated schools sports, blacksmith shop, boakes, bridge street, bryce family, bullock track, butcher, catholic church, cliff lester, cliffy green, daisy smith, dave lyon, diamond creek, diana bassett smith, dick tooth, dr. frank may, eltham higher elementary school, ernie andrew, fire station, flower stall, fodder business, fruit shop, furniture store, gahan family, garni burges, greensborough, harold norman, harry hawker, hat factory, hawker & owen, hay and com store, henry hawker, henry street, j .harry butherway, jack burgoyne, jack ryan, jock read, john lyon, junk yard, kevin gahan, kilpatricks, len parsons, lyon family, machine factory, mc leans, memorial, metery road, miss reynolds, monteith 's bus, mr. gadd, mrs. bird, mrs. morrison, napoleon street, peter bassett smith, peter's gahan, plenty river, plumridge, produce store, public hall, rechabite hall, reynolds road, roger bird, rutter family, ryan family, shoe factory., staffs produce store, studley cairn gahan, sweeneys lane, swimming pool, taylor street, tennis court, warren family, wooden bridge, yarra brae road

This building on the corner of Main and Gell Streets, comprised of two shops, a residence and sheds at the back, was built by Jeremiah Ryan in 1886-7. It became known as "Ryan's Corner". The first usage as mentioned in the Bacchus Marsh Express was as a jewellery in one shop and a fish and oyster shop combined with Watson's agency business in the other. Over the years, a variety of businesses operated in the two shops, including a barber shop, auctioneer and land agent premises, a hairdresser, solicitor's, costumiere, and bootmaker. Joseph Burbidge operated a greengrocery on this site for several years until the corner store was purchased in 1903 and became an ABC Cafe. Various businesses continued to operate on the site, with the neighbouring ABC cafe continuing in business with a number of different proprietors. The cafe was taken over by Miss Mary O'Donnell in 1922, assisted by Mr "Bill" Day, who became a business partner in 1924. In 1935, Miss O'Donnell sold her share of the business to Mr Day, who continued to operate the tea rooms with his wife. He remained the sole proprietor until his death in 1963. Because he was a well-known shop-keeper in the town over a period of forty years, his establishment became known locally as "Bill Day's Corner". In 1968 the building was demolished for the Commonwealth Bank, which continues to operate on this site.Black and white photograph mounted on brown cardboard. Photograph of M. O'Donnell A.B.C. Refreshment Rooms with a young woman and a gentleman standing outside on the footpath. They can be identified as Virgie McCusker and W.J "Bill" Day. The corner brick building has a corrugated iron roof with a verandah supported by pillars featuring wrought iron corners. The corner pediment bears the name : Ryan's Corner 1887. The space between the corner pillars has a large sign reading: Miss M. O'Donnell. A.B.C. Dining & Refreshment Rooms. Board & Residence. Motors Catered For. The front window has an advertising sign: Cadbury's Chocolate. A sign on the door reads: Luncheon Please. Items can be seen in the window. At the corner stands an ornate iron gas lamppost.On the back: Handwritten: Corner Main & Gell Sts built by Jeremiah Ryan 1)Day. demolishe 19 (incomplete date) Site now Commonwealth Bank. C.B.A. opened 1963. Virgie McCusker, niece of Miss O'Donnell. 21/3/23.shops bacchus marsh, small businesses bacchus marsh, refreshment rooms, w.j. "bill" day 1887-1963

Photocopy of a printed 'The Mining Record' Jan., 1862 Pages 5 to 11. There is information on the Paddy's Gully Reef and the Sheep's Head Reef. The owners, area and title, workings, reef and yield, cost of working, drainage, machinery and remarks of the The Comet Company (formerly Cooper's Little Redan), Hogg, Tipper, & Milroy's Claim, Alliance Company, Watson & Wade's Claim, Barker & Co's Claim, Union Company's Claim, Paddy's Gully Reef Quartz Mining and Drainage Company's Claim, Picken and Co's Claim, Holmes and Co's Claim, Keith and Co's Claim, Stevens, Hasker & Co's Claim, Blewitt & Co's Claim, Thomson & Co's Claim, Hooper, Wills and Co's Claim, Union Company's North, or Lower, Claim, Sinclair and Co's Claim, Fogarty and Williams' Claim, Red, White and Blue Company's Claim, Union Company's Lower Whim Claim, Thompson's Claim, Union Company's Little Engine Claim, Will's Claim and the Union Company's South Claim. Albert Richardson Collectiondocument, gold, mining reports, mining reports, the mining record jan., 1862, the comet company (formerly cooper's little redan), hogg, tipper, & milroy's claim, alliance company, watson & wade's claim, barker & co's claim, union company's claim, paddy's gully reef quartz mining and drainage company's claim, picken and co's claim, holmes and co's claim, keith and co's claim, stevens, hasker & co's claim, blewitt & co's claim, thomson & co's claim, hooper, wills and co's claim, union company's north, or lower, claim, sinclair and co's claim, fogarty and williams' claim, red, white and blue company's claim, union company's lower whim claim, thompson's claim, union company's little engine claim, will's claim, union company's south claim, john s mcnair, john mathieson, mr lomasney, mr kelly, mr clisshold, j b watson & co, milroy & price, hogg, tiper, millroy, mr ebden, mrssrs watson and wade, r o smith, edward hunt, h murdoch, samuel priestly, william goldsmith, david buchanan, robert anderson, bagshot company, barker, ladams, m'vey, claughton, gutteridge, good, cornell, simeon, rutherford, h jackson, murgatroyd, wormold, bashford, red white & blue claim, steven's and hasker's, blewitt and co, john blewitt, richard allingham, edward wills, john williams, richard williams, henry williams, joseph east, john thomson, thomas trownson, henry hooper, edward wills, thomas castelow, joseph castlow, william tongue, george nevinson, james griston, thomas porter, william a kenny, robert lisle, john sinclair, robert pritchard, william pritchard, thomas woods, james fogarty, daniel moon, william lindrea, john adams, brown, robert lisle, owen thompson, nicholson reef company, edward wills, p n russell & co, bendigo valley steam puddling company, metropolitan mills, bruce's, thos. woods

George Richard Oldfield was a butcher. Thomas Crouch Watts was born on March 7th. 1865, to Joseph and Susan Watts. Before the real estate business commenced, Thomas and his brother were in partnership as booksellers and stationers in a shop at View Point. Thomas lived in a fine house in Rowan Street, which was called 'Ottawa' Thomas started his real estate business in the early 1900s in a shop in View Street. His daughter Edna was the book keeper and typist, Stewart Watson was the salesman and Stanley Phipps (Edith Lunn's father) was the property manager and valuer. When Thomas Watts died in 1914, his daughter took over the running of the business. She married Stewart Watson in 1918. Eventually the name of the business was changed to Bishop and Earl. From a letter from Edith Lunn re T.C. Watts & Son. 'The firm of T.C. Watts & Son later became Bishop and Earl. When the firm of Bishop and Earl ceased to operate after the death of Edith Lunn's father, S.P. Bishop, Miss. June Parry, Secretary of the BHS was a member of staff. June rescued all the photos of properties listed for sale from the office and placed them into the custody of the BHS.' Black and white photograph mounted on rectangular grey board. House, weatherboard, corrugated iron roof, two chimneys. Dog at gate. Woven wire fence. Written on back of photo board " £850 Geo Oldfield, Cnr Somerville and Ellis St. Corner Somerville and Ellis Streets Bendigo, Cr ?on terms, Deposit required about £150' 2012 photo of house site attached to record for comparison.Frank A. Jeffree, Bendigoplace, building, residential, previous register no. ''mp12'' part of a collection of photographs used by estate agent t.c. watts and son

In the early 1980s the firm of Watson, James & Rogers merged with the partnership of Every & Every and became the iconic “Rogers & Every” as known today. The firm is still located on Bull Street. https://rogersevery.com.au/about/* Agreement and Discharge between George Bill of Homebush and Jose Monsant, Joseph Monsant and Pratty Monsant. Agreement concerns 30 acres of land. Dated 5 March 1924. * Hand written note acknowledging receipt of agreement. Dated July 1925. Signed Geo. Bill.Signatureswatson james & rogers, bendigo, legal documents, monsant

The letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth recognised the significance of William’s brave and courageous lifesaving act to the people of Australia; “They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The story of that brave rescue follows on below … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, The company was one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. She was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the Pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October 1905, the twelve-year-old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia. She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. Bad weather en route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a north-westerly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with seawater and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on the shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11 pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11 pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2 am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise, the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning, Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25-year-old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days, an unidentified body of a young person has washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues, he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor-General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy), Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with the manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy, she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ. As well as this letter, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and a postcard of William Ferrier with four of the survivors. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. This original congratulatory letter sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia demonstrates the importance attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The letter is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The letter to William Ferrier from the Australian Government acknowledges the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The letter is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it honours William Ferrier, a local fisherman whose descendants continue to live in the area. It highlights the way of life of people who lived in coastal towns in 19th century Victoria and the effects of shipwrecks upon them. The letter connects to the postcard of William Ferrier with four of the five rescued crew, the photograph of the wreck of the La Bella and the artefact from the wreck, the rail holder. This letter is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella”. The “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament commending him on his bravery. The printed letterhead includes a coat of arms in the top centre and the official address. The letter is very neatly hand written in black pen and includes 4 signatures of Members of Parliament. The rectangular paper is cream coloured with some yellow/brown discolouring. It has the letterhead on the right hand side of it and the written letter begins below the letterhead. The paper has been folded so that the right side becomes the cover page of the letter. The writing is continued onto the inside right hand page of the folded paper and the writing ends here. There is more recent writing on the bottom right hand corner of the back page. The paper has been officially folded in half a total 3 times and there is heavy discolouration on the sections that form the front and back of the folded letter. There is a 4th fold line that is less pronounced that the other folds and would make the paper the size to fit into a pocket. At several fold creases the paper has worn through. The edges of the paper have minor tears. The printed coat of arms is that of the House of Representatives. Underneath is printed “The Parliament of the Commonwealth, / Parliament House / Melbourne”. The hand written, letter is dated “14th November, 1905” and addressed to “Mr. William Ferrier / South Warrnambool” The letter begins “The Speaker, the Prime Minister and Members of the Ministry and its supporters, the Leader and Members of the Opposition, the Leader and Members of the Labour Party, being all the Members of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Australia” … It continues “desire to express to you their appreciation of your bravery in skulling out to the wreck of the “La Bella” at Warrnambool on Saturday, 11th November, 1905, and recovering therefrom two of the crew who were in imminent danger of their lives. They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The letter is “Signed on behalf of the Members – Speaker (Frederick Holder ), Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Joseph Cook ), Prime Minister (Alfred Deakin), Leader of the Labour Party ( J.C. Watson)” On the back of the letter is blue ink handwriting “OWNER / G. FERRIER / TO. BE. PHOTOGRAPHED / 27-4-76”la bella, william ferrier, bill ferrier, lady bay, 1905, 10th november 1905, 11th november 1905, parliament of the commonwealth, prime minister, australian government, new zealand, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village

In the early 1980s the firm of Watson, James & Rogers merged with the partnership of Every & Every and became the iconic “Rogers & Every” as known today. The firm is still located on Bull Street. https://rogersevery.com.au/about/Sale notes to sell land in (Residence Areas), Wade St. Golden Square to Foggitt Jones & Co. Sold all Rights to Titles and Interests. Typed on light brown paper. 1. Joseph Mitchell and Mary Ann Roberts (10317 and 10318) 2. Elizabeth Roberts (10319) 3. Alice Emily Ann Roberts (13126) 4. John Frances Roberts (10363) 5. William Davies Osborne (9805) Release by Mrs Irene Catherine Orrock for Foggitt Jones & Co. handwritten on cream coloured paper.Signatures.land sales, foggitt jones and co.