The Mahogany Ship is today regarded as a legend and refers to an ancient wreck that is purported to lie beneath the sand beside Armstrong Bay, several kilometres west of Warrnambool, Its location is currently unknown. For well over a century the mystery of this ship has fascinated Australians because the existence of such a vessel could throw a different light on the earliest phases of exploration of eastern Australia by Europeans. The story is that in January 1836 a party of whalers from Port Fairy travelled to the mouth of the Hopkins River in search of seals. Their boat overturned and one man was drowned. The three survivors were walking the 30 kilometres back to Port Fairy along the coast when, about halfway along, they discovered the wrecked ship in the dunes. It is said that Captain John Mills, who was in charge of the whaling station at Port Fairy promptly visited the wreck with several of his men, including Hugh Donnelly. Donnelly who was the originator of that version of events is now regarded as unreliable. Local history researcher Joan Fawcett believes Donnelly could not have visited the wreck in 1836 because he did not arrive in Victoria until 1841. The "mahogany" description can be traced to a letter from Port Fairy builder, architect and surveyor John Mason and published in the Melbourne Argus in 1876. He said he had seen the hull in 1846 and it "had the appearance of either cedar or mahogany." In 1884 Argus journalist `The Vagabond' wrote that the hull was built of "Spanish mahogany" and six years later Mason wrote another letter saying it might not have been mahogany but red gum or ironbark from New South Wales. He was too late with this new description as the wrecks mahogany tag was here to stay all through the hull was not visible as it had disappeared beneath the shifting sands by 1880. A more reliable account was later presented by the former editor of the Warrnambool Examiner, historian Richard Osburne, who wrote about the wreck in his book History of Warrnambool (published 1887). In it the author remembers to have noticed a wreck in the hummocks between Belfast and Warrnambool, in 1847 or 1848; he stated it was much nearer Warrnambool than Belfast, now known as Port Fairy, going on to state “in fact, it was only two or three miles from the former place, to the west of the big hummock which was supposed to fill Warrnambool Bay with drift sand washed by the Merri River before the cutting was made.” Osburne followed up with a letter to the Port Fairy Gazette on June 25, 1876, during a period of heightened interest in the wreck, although he was unsure of the provenance of the ship he went on to state in his letter. “The old wreck was, in fact, miles away from the Port Fairy beach, and only about four miles from Warrnambool. In the years 1847 and 1848. I have often seen the wreck and I regret to say I do not believe she was a foreign ship at all.”The ship model is significant for its association with the Warrnambool story of what is now referred to as the Mahogany Ship, an ancient shipwreck. The model is significant as it is an interpretation of a Portuguese caravel and possibly associated with the early history and exploration of Southern Australia. The model is a fine example of a hand crafted ship made from plans, not from a kit. Some of the materials used for the model are significant to the Gembrook community in that the timber used is a portion from a 30-meter pine tree that fell onto and destroyed the 120-year-old Gembrook church building. The model is also a dedication to Edward Kermond, who grew up in Warrnambool and claimed to have seen the shipwreck in the dunes when he was a lad in the late 19th century. (See note section of this document for further information on the creator and donation of the subject item).Ship model, an interpretation of a mahogany Portuguese carvel vessel in a glass display case with wood frame and a description plaque. Model is made from dark stained wood. The three masted vessel is fully rigged, with a Portuguese-like flag on mast. Plaque is rectangular, free standing on a pedestal. The model was handmade by Joe Hilder (Senior) in 1999 from flooring obtained from the Gembrook Uniting Church in Victoria. Inscriptions, hand written, under base of case and on plaque.Under base, black felt tip pen “Ship & Case made From / Flooring from Gembrook uniting Church, Flattened in 1999 / By Large Pine Tree.” On plaque, white paint "This interpretation of the Fabled Mahogany Ship was made by Joe Hilder, Gembrook Vic. is displayed in the memory of the late Edward Kermond (Ted) 1887-1973, a Warrnambool son who claimed to have seen the original ship as a child." flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, ship model, mahogany ship, mahogany ship story, portuguese caravel, joe hilder, edward kermond, ted kermond, gembrook uniting church, gembrook storm 1999, port fairy whalers, belfast whalers

Mirranatwa Gap was originally known as Yarram Gap; this name was given to the opposite gap on the Mt William side of the Dunkeld Road sometime in the mid 20th century. An early touring car, claimed to be the first, crossing Mirranatwa (then Yarram) Gap.Photo shows car on Yarram Gap Road Road is rocky and unsealed. trees on left side of photo has been felledaccess routes, roads, yarram gap

Mirranatwa Gap was originally known as Yarram Gap The name later given to the adjacent gap in the Mt William Range sometime in the mid 20th century. This is an early touring car, claimed to be the first , crossing Mirranatwa gapPhoto shows car on road with man standing beside it. Road unsealed Trees on left side of road have been felled. access routes, roads, yarram gap

This raker/jointer/guage set is a sharpening tool for cross cut logging saws. The logging saws used in the early 1900's for the clearing of forests required constant sharpening of their "cutting teeth". The logging of forested areas during these times was very much a "hands on" method of either one or two men by the use of saw or hand axe. Chain saws, chain and ball(clearing) and bulldozing methods came in the mid 1900's.This particular saw sharpening method was used by surveyors laying down boundaries for the S.E.C. Victoria Hydro Electricity Scheme (1920's). This item was given to a local Kiewa Valley lad who accompanied the initial surveyors. The lad was responsible for the tendering and feeding of the surveyors "pack horses". Surveys during this period and in the dense mountainous terrain of the Victorian Alps was both exhausting and hazardous. Overnight accommodation at various log cabins was not always possible and swag/tent alternative was the "fall back" This raker/jointer saw sharpener was made in the USA (DISSTON) from cast and flat iron. The main body has been painted in orange. It has three adjustment screws on the top horizontal bar and one bolt on(adjusting) leveling platform on the bottom. The small size and weight of this saw sharpener was ideal for the travelling/mobile logger or surveyor(as in this case). The main frame resembles two towers connected by two horizontal bars and the top of the towers has a horizontal bar with adjustment screws. See KVHS 0090 (B) for setting stake wedge adjusting the rake and cutting angle and KVHS 0090 (C) for a small spanner (for adjustments).On one inner supports is stamped "DISSTON" and on the other "U.S.A."hand tool, saw, sharpening method, tree felling.

This is part of a crosscut saw raker/jointer/guage set used to bend the tip of each cutter tooth for cross cut logging saws. The logging saws used in the early 1900's for the clearing of forests required constant sharpening of their "cutting teeth". The logging of forested areas during these times was very much a "hands on" method of either one or two men by the use of saw or hand axe. This item was used by the surveyors commissioned by The S.E.C. Victoria Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme project mapping the relevant Alpine region. Chain saws, chain and ball(clearing) and bulldozing methods came in the mid 1900's.This particular saw sharpening method was used by surveyors laying down boundaries for the S.E.C. Victoria Hydro Electricity Scheme (1920's). This item was given to a local Kiewa Valley lad who accompanied the initial surveyors. The lad was responsible for the tendering and feeding of the surveyors "pack horses". Surveys work during this period and in these dense mountainous terrain of the Victorian Alps was both exhausting and hazardous. Overnight accommodation at various log cabins was not always possible and swag/tent alternative was the "fall back".This cast iron Spring Setting tool has a main body of angle iron contours with one end tappered into a flat circular extension with a slit (3/32" wide) running from the top to nearly the centre(15mm). This slit is to allow the bending of each "cutter tooth" of the cross cut saw. The "bottom of this slit has a semi circular ending. Protruding from one side of the bar body, and close to the "slit" is a tounge like extension (wedge) to fasten the spring set tool into a tree stump. See KVHS 0090 (A) for its Raker/Jointer saw sharpening guage set partner. Also see KVHS 0090 (C) for the associated wrench. On one side of the bar "DISSTON U.S.A."hand tool, saw, sharpening method, tree felling

This spanner, part of a raker/jointer/guage set which is a sharpening tool for cross cut logging saws. The logging saws used in the early 1900's for the clearing of forests required constant sharpening of their "cutting teeth". The logging of forested areas during these times was very much a "hands on" method of either one or two men by the use of saw or hand axe. Chain saws, chain and ball(clearing) and bulldozing methods came in the mid 1900's.This particular spanner was part of a crosscut saw sharpening tool and method was used by surveyors laying down boundaries for the S.E.C. Victoria Hydro Electricity Scheme (1920's). This item was given to a local Kiewa Valley lad who accompanied the initial surveyors. The lad was responsible for the tendering and feeding of the surveyors "pack horses". Surveys during this period and in the dense mountainous terrain of the Victorian Alps was both exhausting and hazardous. Overnight accommodation at various log cabins was not always possible and swag/tent alternative was the "fall back"This small spanner is part of the Raker/Jointer Gauge saw set and is made from forged steel. The nut grip is of the two tightening nuts on the main construction frame. See KVHS 0090 (A &B) for the other items making up the sharpening tools.hand tool, saw, sharpening method, tree felling.

"Protest against the depradation of the State Electricty Commission 1956" - Alistrair Knox (1980), We are what we stand on, pp48-49Photocopy of original owned by Lesley Martin. L-R: woman?, Matcham Skipper, Lesley Martin, Margot Knox with baby Hamishevents, matcham skipper, leslie martin, margot knox, hamish knox, trees

Six men, some with tools stand on or beside a very large tree which has been recently felled. Pat Ryan identified at front left. In 1920 the Hurstbridge Sawmill operated as part of a local logging industry where among other things large logs were used for bridge building and railway construction. 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 imageWritten on photocopy: "Pat Ryan (front)" with arrow pointing to him "Timber felling for railway construction Diamond Creek - REF 1050"sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, hurstbridge, logging, lumber trade, felled tree, railway construction, diamond creek, pat ryan

Looking south along Main Road from the south side of the intersection of Bridge Street with Main Road. Anne Hunniford's Post Office and Burgoyne's store on left. Miss Harriet (Minnie) Williams's Cash Drapery Mart (est. 1902 and enlarged in 1906), also known as Eltham House on the right. Harriet (Minnie) Williams was born London, 1857, the daughter of George John Williams (1812-1895) and Jane Mansfield (1812-1895). In September 1885 she was operating Williams’s Drapery Establishment in premises on Main Road owned by R. Wallis who advertised them to let in September 1885. In 1902 she opened Williams’s Cash Drapery Mart at the southwest corner of Bridge Street and Main Road (opposite the Post Office), owned by W.J. Taylor. In 1906 she bought the premises and one quarter acre of land and expanded the business with a re-opening in April 1906. Harriet was also well-known and esteemed as an active worker in Methodist circles and also Superintendent of the Sunday School. Harriet fell ill in August 1907 and died 15 August. She is buried in Eltham Cemetery with her good friend Ada Ford. Note also the gas street lamp on right. Watson's Hotel on corner of Pitt Street visible in distance. The CBA bank building is hidden behind trees, the chimney and part roof visible. The photo was possibly taken by John Henry Clark of Clark Bros Photographers who operated from 25 Thompson Street, Windsor near Prahan 1894-1914. Evelyn Observer and Bourke East Record (Vic. : 1902 - 1917), Friday 30 March 1906, page 5 ________________________________________ ELTHAM. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) For over three years Miss Williams has carried on a drapery business in very small and inconvenient premises opposite the Eltham post-office. Recently she bought the building and a quarter-acre of land from Mr. W. J. Taylor. Thus having a free hand, she at once matured plans to enlarge and improve the premises to make them suitable for her growing business. The result being that she consulted Mr Roach, contractor, of Heidelberg, put the matter in his hands, and now he has completed in a very satisfactory manner and up-to-date style extensive improvements. A large addition, of very neat and attractive design, with three large windows, has been built right along the front of the old building, and the counters and inside fittings are very neat and convenient, harmonizing well with the attractive outside appearance. Miss Williams has now got in a large now stock of goods, and is making extensive arrangements for a “reopening week," commencing 2nd April, during which time she will make 10 per cent reduction on all cash purchases in the form of gifts of that value. Miss Williams has gone to considerable expense and liability both, in the enlargement and improvement of the premises and in purchasing additional stock. We therefore trust that the public will stand by her by heartily and en masse patronizing her re-opening effort to show their appreciation of pluck in this advance movement. Google Street View Feb 2017: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.7191341,145.1462046,3a,50.5y,191.91h,88.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sARwwqEQfMSfH9oTWWapPgQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 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 '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 image (x2) 4 x 5 inch B&W Neg B&W Print 16 x 25 cmsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, main road, anne jane hunniford, burgoyne store, christopher watson, commercial bank of australia, drapery store, eltham house, gas lamp, harriet (minnie) williams, post office, street lamp, watson's hotel, williams's cash drapery mart, clark bros. photo

Loggers from Brown's Mill, Kinglake use a hand saw to remove bark and split a tree trunk after its felling in the Kinglake forest. Circa 1923.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, kinglake, browns mill, logging, loggers, lumber trade, brown's mill, kingake national park, forest, bush

The Ballarat Benevolent Asylum was demolished in 1941. A large tree is in the process of falling in a garden setting of the Ballarat Benevolent Asylum.Verso: "1941 Benevolent Asylum. Trees being removed."ballarat, benevolent asylum, asylum, ballarat benevolent asylum, queen elizabeth benevolent asylum, garden, tree felling, demolition

The tent model mentioned in the letters was displayed in the Ballarat School of Mines Museum. During the 1960s it was transferred to the Ballarat Historical Society. Two handwritten letters on paper with black mourning edge written by Walter M. Hitchcock to the Ballarat School of Mines, and another written by Walter's brother George M. Hitchcock.Letter transcription follow: Letter from Walter M. Hitchcock regarding the death of James Oddie and early gold mining at Ballarat, 1910 and 1911 48 The Memorial Hall Farringdon St London Dec1/10 The Secretary Ballarat Museum Dear Sir, I am just now sending you this line, i anticipation of further correspondence later on, simply to forward you a Post Card of the 1st mining tent erected 1851 on the site of he then newly proclaimed Township of Ballarat, which, as the sole survivor of the party who built the original, I have had the pleasure in making, and have decided to present it to your museum, Sir Jno Lasenor out Agent General for Victoria came to a Bazaar recently held in London. where I had it on view in the museum from 3 days, - and desired I would allow its [ ? ] exhibited in the first large window of the beautiful new building of the Victoria Agency situate in the Strand. It is there for the past few days and he may wish it to remain a week or two longer, I know of no other exhibition of it to delay it being packed and shipped to my relatives in Geelong (Mr [?] Bright of Hitchock's Firm) who may wish to show it in one of their windows before forwarding it to your museum - I have had an itemised pane glass case made for it with drop down end and [?} it stands on a plateau of moss, to represent grass 32 x 13 x 13 high and chimney 14 1/2 - the case is made 34 x 26 x 20 high inside - I shall have it very carefully packed - tent emptied tools, beds, &c &c in separate packing and insured for 50 pounds - I will send you full details later on. I hope and believe your President will accept it in due time Meantime believe me to be very truly Cat Walter Hitchcock G.F.B. 48 The Memorial Hall Farringdon St London March 15th 1911 The Secretary Ballarat School of Mines Dear Sir, Thanks for your letter received last week – I have unaccountably mislaid it, so cannot address you personally, shall no doubt find it among office papers. The model is being fetched today from Victorian Agent General’s (Sir John [Lavernor?] office window in the Strand where many thousands, he tells me, have stopped in passing to see it (their first peep of Ballaarat). It will be on view at Blackheath (Kent) for a week, then packed and shipped without further delay. I shall enclose in the glass case (which is 26 x 34 x 16 in high) some spare minced moss and gas (smoke) in case in transit the plateau suffers by shaking (though it is well glued down). All the tools, mining appliances, cradle, windlass, &c will be separately packed enclosed – which you can easily place in respective positions. HRH Prince of Wales has graciously accepted a photo of it – and in my letter to him when sending it for his acceptance I said – as he would probably ere long visit Australia as did his grandfather and father, which ought to (and certainly will) include at least a day or two in seeing your beautiful City, and also something of your mines &c instead of the hurried visit of his father (2 hours) when he, as Duke of York, unveiled a statue to the memory of those slain in the sad Boer War, which now is admitted by almost everybody to have been a big political mistake, - though in the future with England’s present wise policy towards that country it will prove for Africa’s welfare. It may interest you to know that when I ascertained that Geelong was not to be visited by the Royal Pair – I went up to St James’s Palace by appointed time the Duke’s private Secy Sir Arthur Bigge – taking with me a specially illustrated paper issued in Melb. showing many pictures of the beauties and industries of Geelong – Sir Arthur was impressed but said all the arrangements for the Royal stay in Victoria (10 days) were made locally, by Lord Hopetoun and collegues and committee, and were practically closed – which meant that only a brief trip to Ballarat to uncover the memorial was intended outside Melbourne. Perhaps if we were Melbourne residents we should have succumbed to the prevailing spirit of selfishness – forgetting (or trying to forget) that there are many beauty spots in Victoria and centres of great interest - Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo, &c that ought to have been visited instead of Melbourne only. Finding Sir Arthur favorably impressed about Geelong I thanked him and returned to City work again. I at once called to Geelong whose mayor and friends had been twice unsuccessful in trying for the Melbourne functions programme being altered to include a visit to Geelong and lovely spots in the Western District, reporting my interview with Sir A B and his favourable reception of my representations, but that any alteration to the programme of engagements during the Royal visit must be made locally and by the local authorities. This had the desired success for on receipt of my message the Geelong mayor and colleagues again reopened the question and went to Melbourne, resulting in a concession (but what an altogether inadequate one) and they graciously ? consented to the train, on its way with the Duke and Duchess to your city, to stop at the Geelong stn (15 minutes) and so it came about that by a hasty local effort, 3,000 school children, and not a few of the leading people including the Mayor &c were gathered to welcome them in Geelong. The National anthem being sung, an Address read and presented and kindly replied to. Now Ballarat should doubtless has influence. See to it when our P. Of Wales visits Victoria – an unselfish ¬ programme is fixed up – and HRH afforded ample opportunity of visiting leisurely your city, Geelong, Bendigo and other centres of beauty and importance. The Prince himself will be the gainer by such an equitable and enlightened programme, - and come back with all the more favourable views of the marvellous development ever since our family first settled in Geelong in 1850. A far preferable result of such a visit than night after night having Melbourne Banquets and the visiting of its undoubted attractions - whilst all the rest of the State remained unvisited. Such an official mistake must not be made again. I will write you again, stating name of steamer of which the model is shipped and date of departure – it is firmly built on a backing of 3/8 in oak tall uprights so through the 7/8 in plateau and am entrusting the packing be very careful. I expressed firm – so that except possibly any breakage in glass case – it should reach you in due time all right. The top of case will be screwed so that it can be readily removed temporarily to enable my [ ? ] firm to show it in one of their windows. Believe me Yours very truly Captn Walter M. Hitchcock My brother will deliver it on my a/c – all carriage paid. Mt very kind regards to my friend since 1850 Jas Oddie. University of Ballarat Historical Collection Cat. No. 8133.3 & .4 Letter from Walter M. Hitchcock regarding the death of James Oddie and early gold mining at Ballarat, 1911 48 The Memorial Hall Farringdon St London April 20th 1911 My Dear Sir, It is with no ordinary feeling of regret that I received the tidings of the death of my good friend, your fellow citizen for many years, Mr James Oddie. Living at Geelong from March 1850 I came to know him there as carrying on a foundry business in Ashby. With the discovery of gold at Ballarat started off almost of the working people, as well as of all other classes of the male population. Mr Oddie arrived in Ballarat I believe on or about September 1st 1851. My three comrades and I arrived October 1st 1851 – among the many thousands soon gathered within a mile or so of Golden Point – my friend Oddie and I often met. I returning to Geelong after a year mining – my friend on the other hand remaining at Ballarat ever since – a marvellous record, and I am sure his life has been one of unique value to your City in many ways, - his age (87) naturally prepared me for his call home – and only two mails before the news came I received from him on of his kindly chatty letters in which amongst other things – he referred with pleasure to having received from me two 10 x 12 photos – one being of my model and that he was arranging to have it placed in a shop window in your city. I am interested in the fact of your having known each of my three comrades of 1851/52. It was J.M. Garrett and I who got permission to conduct public Sunday morning service in their large Marquee – used all the week for issue of Licenses in the absence of any church buildings, and it being on wet Sundays impossible to have services as usual under the trees – Ballarat then was more like a Gentleman’s Park – than bush country – but the axe soon did its work – and all were felled for our cooking, and hencewith to make our kindling etc. Shafting of holes not being at first done because too shallow – our deepest (at Eureka) was only 115 ft. Bendigo I hear had now mines of 4,000 ft in depth (deeper than our tin or coal mines here). I fortunately have, in excellent state of preservation, my last of 12 licenses dated October 1 1852 and have recently purchased here a Miner’s Right dated 1864, to that when explaining on matters re Gold Licensing I can show sample of each. With kind regards Believe me Yours sincerely Walter M. Hitchcock Geelong June 20/11 Dear Sir, By rail to day through Messrs Bannister I send the model of miner’s tent packed in a case 50 donated by my brother Captain Walter M. Hitchcock of London. This model was made by my brother and represents the tent he worked in on the Ballarat Gold Fields in the year 1851 or 2. In a separate parcel a few extras omitted from the case. Please send me receipts in duplicate, one for my brother, the other for the Customs, Geelong, as being donated to your institution, after some little correspondence it was admitted [??] any payment for duty. You probably have my brother’s address and would like to acknowledge its arrival, direct. I hope it is in good order. I did not open it for show in Geelong, as there would be less risk of breakage on repacking. With kind remembrances. I am Yours Faithfully Geo. M. Hitchcock. A Mr G. F. B. Sharick who is living near my home called in to see my model – he said he knew FM [Fred Martell] and was lately at Ballaratballarat school of mines, frederick martell, fred martell, james oddie, walter m hitchcock, walter hitchcock, f m garratt, george hitchcock, hitchcock, golden point, gold discovery, j m garrett, gold license, j.m. garrett, t.m. hall, george m. hitchcock, f.m. garratt, walter m. hitchcock

Disston Saw Works of Philadelphia was one of the better known and highly regarded manufacturers of handsaws in the United States. During the Machine Age, the company was known as Henry Disston & Sons, Inc. a supplier of industrial saw blades. History: The story of handsaws in the United States mirrors the technical and development of steel in Sheffield, England, which was the center of handsaw production during the 18th century and through most of the 19th century. England's political and economic lock-on steel making in the colonies held American saw makers at bay until well after the Revolutionary War. American steel producers were unable to compete until the US government introduced import tariffs to level the playing field in 1861. Henry Disston: Henry Disston (1819–1878) began his career as an American saw maker in Philadelphia. He had emigrated from England in 1833 and started making saws and squares in 1840. In 1850, he founded the company that would become the largest saw maker in the world, the Keystone Saw Works. Some five years later, Disston built a furnace—perhaps the first melting plant for steel in America and began producing the first crucible saw steel ever made in the United States. While his competitors were buying good steel from Britain, he was making his own, to his specification, for his own needs. Disston subsequently constructed a special rolling mill exclusively for saw blades. Over the following decade, the Disston company continued to grow, even while dedicating itself to the Union Army's war effort. In 1865, when his son Hamilton Disston rejoined the business after serving in the Civil War, Disston changed the company's name to Henry Disston & Son. Henry Disston and his sons began to set the standards for American saw makers, both in terms of producing high-quality saws and files in 1865 through his development of innovative manufacturing techniques. In September 1872, Henry Disston and two other men dug a part of the foundation for what was to become the largest saw manufacturing facility in the world: Disston Saw Works. This was in the Tacony section of Philadelphia. Having previously moved his expanding business from near Second and Market Streets to Front and Laurel Streets. It took over 25 years to move the entire facility to Tacony. Henry Disston was renowned for having one of the first industries that exhibited environmental responsibility, as well as a paternalistic view towards his employees. For example, he had thousands of homes built in Tacony for his workmen. Funds to purchase these homes were made available through a building and loan association set up by the Disston firm. His caring influence on the community was evident in everyday life. To meet employees' cultural needs, a hall and a library were built with Henry Disston agreeing to pay a fixed sum towards its maintenance. The Tacony Music Hall was erected in 1885, also with the assistance of Disston money. Henry Disston had fallen ill by 1877 and never truly recovered; he suffered a stroke and died the next year. This came only one and a half years after seeing his products receive the highest honors at the great Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of 1876. His vision of a working-class community and the completion of the transfer of his enormous saw plant was carried out by his wife and his sons. The company, by the early 20th century, cast the first crucible steel in the nation from an electric furnace in 1906. The firm's armor-plate building near Princeton Avenue and Milnor Street contributed tremendously to the World War II effort. But the company's innovation and industriousness would not last forever. In 1955, with mounting cash-flow problems and waning interest on the family's part to run the firm, Henry Disston and Sons were sold to the H.K. Porter Company of Pittsburgh. Porter's Disston Division was sold in 1978 and became the Henry Disston Division of Sandvik Saw of Sweden. This division was then sold in 1984 to R.A.F. Industries of Philadelphia and became known as Disston Precision Incorporated, a maker of specialized flat steel products. In 2013, R.A.F. Industries sold Disston Precision Inc. in a private sale. Although the company has ceased making Disston handsaws, the Disston brand name still exists in this firm. A tool used to set and sharpen cross cut saws used to fell trees for building construction made by a well known American maker whos firm pioneered the making of saws and their related items including files.combination cross cut saw raker and gauge/jointerDisston USA in the castingflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Faded sepia chatham-holmes collection, tree felling

James (Jim) Smith, (died 03/08/1974, aged 93 years) established an orchard growing snow apples in Happy Valley after returning from mining activities in South Africa. The orchard was called "Springdallah" and was beside the Linton/Happy Valley Road across from the old Happy Valley railway station. Jim was the son of George Henry Smith (18/12/1840 - 26/11/1903) and Emma Keys Smith born Keys (07/08/1842 - 28/08/1888). George and Emma left Liverpool with other unassisted immigrants on the "Bates Family" with baby Clara on 08/06/1863 arriving in Melbourne on 08/06/1863. George and Emma emigrated to Australia on the invitation of Emma's brother Edward Keys who owned a property near the school at Happy Valley on which there were two houses. Teddy offered George and Emma the smaller one to live in. When "Teddy" decided to go into hotel keeping George took over the 200 acres of his property and made it a pleasant orchard and garden called "Cress Green Gardens". George had various secretarial jobs - rate collector; paymaster at the mines; until he became Shire Secretary for the Shire of Grenville, whose centre was Linton and Government Auditor for Western Victoria (1894-1903), the means of transport being horse and buggy. Another son followed his father as Shire Secretary. George and Emma had 14 children, Emma dying giving birth to Emma Keys who lived for 16 months. George later married Annie Bolte with 2 more children being born. Annie later sold the property. The land was used for grazing and the two houses fell into disrepair. In 1995 George's grandson Ernest (Alf) Alfred Watson visited the site and reported a wrought iron gate at the site and a mulberry tree near the site of his grandmother's family home. Bluestone blocks can still be seen in the paddocks from the roadside. Jim Smith was the brother of Clara Emma Yung nee Smith.Sepia photo of two men and a girl. One of them is Jim Smith who established on orchard at Happy Valley. He also went to South Africa - mining activities. The orchard is now part of Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary located at 360 Linton-Piggoreet Rd, Linton, Vic. 3360. Verso: Jim Smith South Africa (Mining) Established orchard halfway between Yendon and Happy Valley. Clara Emma's brother. [ Orchard established near Linton at Happy Valley.]jim smith, james smith, clara emma smith, happy valley, yendon, piggoreet, south africa, mining, orchard, edward keys, george henry smith, emma keys smith, clara emma yung, annie bolte, shire of grenville, clarkesdale bird sanctury

Early settlers had to clear the land of trees and shrubs to establish and maintain their farms and market gardens. Some settlers worked in the Gippsland region felling timber for transport by bullock wagons to Melbourne. Two-man crosscut saws were primarily important when human power was used. Such a saw would typically be 1 to 4 m (4 to 12 feet) long, and sometimes up to 5 m (16 feet), with a handle at each end. The technique in using a two-man saw involved a sawyer standing at each end and together the sawyers would alternate pulling the saw through the wood. If the kerf -slit- began closing, causing the saw to bind, wedges would be inserted behind the saw blade in order to keep the kerf open.Two-man saws were designed to cut in both directions. Careful tooth design was necessary to clear the sawdust during the cut. This is a typical two-man tree felling saw that was necessary to clear the land when the pioneers were establishing their market gardens and farms in Parish of Moorabbin c1850A long steel blade saw with 2 wood handles c1900tools, saws, axes, early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, dairy farms, orchards, vineyards, timber mills, bullock wagons, tree felling, timber mills, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, parish of moorabbin, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis,

Merle made her own dress,as she had been a Home Economics Teacher, specializing in dressmaking. Dress is of silk chiffon, over tree bark satin, made on princess lines, with a Dior bow at the neckline. The brief sleeved bodice was cut with an oval neckline, trimmed with a flat bow. Fullness for the circular skirt was drawn to the back of the seven panel dress. A watteau pleat, train of embroidered nylon fell from high at the back of the bodice (refer 11400.493). A short tulle veil was held in place by a triple Dior bow. Skirt extends to a small train at back.Refer 11400.492.costume, female, wedding dress

A series of photographs were taken when heavy snow fell in Sunbury in August 1986. The snow began falling overnight and remained on the ground for 24 hours. Snow fell across the metropolitan area during that 24 hour period in a very unusual event for the area.A coloured photograph of the new main entrance to the former Shire of Bulla Council Offices and the garden immediately outside the portico area. The trees are bare and the lawn is covered with snow.snow falls, weather patterns, shire of bulla council offices, george evans collection

Note by T.H. Kneen 8 April 1992, "The tree was prepared for felling by Geo. Manley and Andy Tylee in the early 50's." (Also see B91.262.) This area is still known as the Cypress Bed.Black and white photograph. Large Cypress tree with lower limbs removed.geo. manley, andy tylee, cypress tree, cypress bed

(a) Note by T.H. Kneen, "Interested observors are: Joseph Cade (Agrostology Branch), Rosemary Hamley 1951, Alison Howie 1951, students, one not identifiable. (b) Note by T.H. Kneen 8 April 1992, "The operator is George Manley - note the equipment - crow bar, crosscut saw, axe, sledgehammer, power driven crosscut saw."Black and white photograph. (a) Huge root ball with 4 people standing beside it. (b) Man working on large trunk of fallen tree. Chainsaw on wheels stuck? in the tree trunk, man holding a sledgehammer.(c) George Manley (Stockman) standing beside root ball.root ball, joseph cade, agrostology branch, rosemary hamley, alison howie, students, george manley, crow bar, crosscut saw, axe, sledgehammer, stockman, cypress tree, power driven crosscut saw

Associated with - Newspaper Buildings - "Trees, Power Lines, Cars" People - "Slimmon, Barb"

The article describes the decision to move an 80 year old weeping elm tree from Mitcham Road to Campbell's Croft Reserve. The removalist cost of $17,000 raised some objections from local residents. The tree was valued at $100,000 in 1984, described as an outstanding example displaying perfect form and a good size - one of the largest in Victoria.fell, les, trees, campbells croft, city of nunawading, brandenburg, john p

Dated July 14th 1899. Sent to Mr W. Cooper / c/o Mr Barrie / Storekeeper / No. 2 Valley / Chiltern / "Copy of Land Act 1896 / Regulations. Chapter XI Thinning Licenses"Document on stiff paper. Letter to Mr W. Cooper granting license to thin trees on a block of land at Chiltern Reserve. On back, copy of Land Act Regulations 1890"Department of Lands and Survey. On Forest Business"license, timber felling, cooper family, forestry, chiltern reserve

Black and white postcard with two oval photographs with "Greetings from Rutherglen" on a banner between them. The top photograph is of workmen cutting down trees. The bottom one is a view of Main Street looking west.At bottom of top photograph: "Forest Clearing." At bottom of bottom photograph: "Main Street."land clearing, timber felling, main street, bank of australasia, s younkman & co, victoria hotel

Diggers & Mining. Stores at the diggings. And here is a picture of Dr. Preshaw's camp at Forest Creek. Slide shows camp and other dwellings, wagon people, 2 trees in foreground 1 has been felled both have signs attached to them. Along bottom of slide: Dr Preshaws's Camp. Markings: 27 994.LIF. 5. Used as a teaching aid.hanimount

Original building was established by Whyke's family Grocery, built in 1860s. Stripped to apricot brickwork. Verandah removed. Situated East Side of Warrenheip St between Eyre St and Forest St, Buninyong. Building much altered and used as a restaurant in 1970s. Fell into disrepair. Revival took place but not restoration. 1990s under threat of demolition if not conforming to council safety requirements. Building has since been renovated as a pizza restaurant (2023). Vacant lots have since been built on.Established by a prominent local family, an example of a mid 19th century shop. Black and white photo of former Whykes Grocer, 1860's. Streetscape photo of former Whykes Grocer brick building. Power pole with Warrenheip St sign. 3 other shopfronts visible, street trees and vacant land between shops.buninyong, whykes, grocery, building, street scape, warrenheip st

Built in 1861 on land made available by Mr. Robert Allen. Grant received through municipal council and State Government. Building functioned as a library until 1926. Taken over by Buninyong Cemetery Trust and eventually fell into serious disrepair. Restored in the 1980s after great community effort, dedication and financial contributions.An important early building in the township noted for its unusual and individual classical facade of Oregon pine. Placed on Historical Buildings Register.Black and white photograph of Former Free Library built in1861. Warrenheip streetscape of former free library, currently Buninyong Information Centre, Eastern facade fully visible and Southern weatherboard side. Mature pine trees visible to the side and rear of building. Reading room on left of entrance door and former shop and residence on right.free library, information centre, mr. robert allen, buninyong cemetery trust, mechanics institutes

Melton South "The establishment of a settlement of Melton South was induced by the opening of the railway in 1884. This subsequently prompted a number of industries, initially sawmills, and in the early twentieth century, chaff mills. This development coincided with the Exford ‘Closer Settlement’ estate at the beginning of the new century, boosting local population and produce, and the development of the chaff industry which employed many people in the Melton area. (Around 1912 the government had brought out English migrants to settle the Exford estate.) By c.1912 the small Melton Railway Station settlement had a boarding house (probably for chaff or sawmill employees), store, a small church and a hall. The Melton Valley Golf Club originated near the railway station in 1927 (in 1931 it moved to the present Melton links). In 1910 the community had built the large timber ‘Victoria Hall’, which became the focus of community life for several generations. In August of that same year AR Robertson MP and D McDonald applied for the establishment of a school on land set aside for that purpose by the Closer Settlement Board, near the Melton Railway Station settlement. District Inspector McRae recommended that a school for classes up to Grade 3 be established as an adjunct to the Melton State School. And so SS3717, ‘Melton Railway School’, was established in the leased Victoria Hall on 1st December 1911. Thomas Lang, head master at Melton since 1896, was in charge of both schools. As a ‘prep’ school only, it was necessary that the older Melton Railway Station settlement students travel to Melton SS430 at Unitt Street. Since 1912 local residents had been petitioning for the establishment of a separate school at Melton Railway Station on the grounds that it would be better if all children from the one home could attend the same school, and that the Victoria Hall was unsuitable as a school building. As a result an area of 2 acres - Allotment 8, Parish of Djerriwarrh, Exford Estate - was reserved for a State School on 4th March 1914. However the Department wrote that a school would not be established there in the near future, as ‘there is no likelihood in sight that the Railway Station settlement will increase in importance’. Parents persisted with their petitions to the Education Department, claiming that the Victoria Hall was too large, had no fireplace, that teachers were unable to use the wall for teaching aids, and that, being less than 20 metres away from a chaff mill employing 30 men, was too noisy. The turning point came when in 1920 the Hall Committee decided to increase its rent for the hall. In 1920 Head Teacher Lang advised the Education Department to discontinue SS3717 as an adjunct. The District Inspector supported this recommendation, and the schools separated in 1923. In April of that year 41 children, comprising Grades 1-8, moved into an almost completed brick building on the present site. On the 6th July 1923 the official opening of the school took place; after a ceremonial journey from the Hall to the school, speeches were given by the Hon AR Robertson and the Chief Inspector of Education. Everyone then journeyed back to Victoria Hall for a ‘bountiful repast’. (These dates are at odds with the date of 5th March 1925 given in Blake as the date the children occupied the new SS3717 brick school building. ) A teacher’s residence had been purchased for ₤500 in 1923, and the school’s name was changed to ‘Melton South’ in the same year. Even though the older Melton South pupils would no longer have to travel to the Unitt Street school, an additional brick room was still required at the Melton SS430 in that same year. In 1961 a new room was added to the school. In 1972, at the beginning of Melton’s boom as a satellite town, the number of enrolments was 224. The school has since shared in the exponential growth of the town of Melton, and at the time of its jubilee celebration (1983), 524 pupils were enrolled. Victoria Hall, neglected and vandalised, was demolished in 1992. It had been handed back to the Council on condition that it be replaced by a new hall, with the same name, and was commemorated by a plaque. Apart from the 1923 brick school building, and the railway station, none of the principal early Melton South public sites survive. Few early residential sites remain. (Further research will establish whether the house on the corner of Station Street and the railway line was the original teacher’s residence.)" Melton State School "On 17th May 1858 a State subsidised, combined Denominational School was opened by HT Stokes, with an attendance of about 30 children. This school was conducted in the wooden Melton Combined Protestant Church, situated on ‘a creek flat’ thought to be on the north side of Sherwin Street between Pyke and Byran Streets. It is likely that the Church had been established by 1855 and that the first minister was the Rev. Hampshire, who lived in Cambridge House on the Exford Estate. Ministers of the Protestant denominations were invited to hold services there. As there was only one resident Minister in the town (Presbyterian Mr J Lambie), laymen of the various denominations often spoke on Sundays. In 1863 this building was declared a Common School with the number 430. One of its first and most prominent headmasters was John Corr, who served from 1860 to 1864. Most of Mr Corr’s children also became teachers, including Joseph Corr, at the Rockbank school, and J Reford Corr and WS Corr, headmasters and teachers at numerous prestigious private secondary schools around Australia. John Corr purchased land alongside the school and elsewhere in and near Melton, became secretary and treasurer of the new Cemetery Trust, and by July 1861 was deputy registrar of births, deaths and marriages. He walked three miles every Sunday to teach at the Weslyan Sunday School he had established. Despite good reports from the Education Department Inspector, and burgeoning enrolments, the local school committee recommended the dismissal of, firstly, his wife (from the work mistress position), and then him from the headmaster position. Corr saw his dismissal as an attempt to redirect state aid for education from the Combined Protestant school to the support of the Free Presbyterian Minister Rev James Lambie (by one account the owner of the land on which the Common School was erected), whose son-in-law James Scott subsequently assumed responsibility for the school. Rev Lambie failed in his efforts to keep the existing school, which the Education Department Inspector and the majority of Melton citizens regarded as badly situated and badly built. Following a conditional promise of state aid, local contributors in 1868-69 raised ₤72.10.6 towards the cost of an iron-roofed bluestone rubble building 43 ft x 12 ft. This was erected on a new site of 1.5 acres (the present site). The State contributed ₤120 to the new school, which opened in 1870. A very early (c.1874) photograph of the school shows its headmaster and work mistress / assistant teacher (probably James Scott and his wife Jessie) and its (very young) scholars. Similar photos show pupils in front of the school in c.1903, and 1933. In 1877 a second bluestone room costing ₤297 was added and further land acquired from the Agricultural Society (who only needed it two days a year) to enlarge the schoolground to 3 acres. In the early 1880s an underground tank augmented the school water supply and in 1919 a five-roomed wooden residence was added. During this period the school correspondents often compained that the walls of the bluestone buildings were damp, affecting the plaster. In 1923 a brick room 26 ft 6 in by 24 ft with a fireplace and four rooms facing south, was added, and a corridor built to link the three buildings. This served adequately for the next 40 years. The school bell probably dates to 1883. The school also has a memorial gate (1951) to World War One ex-students, and an honour board to the 64 ex-students who served in the First World War. The school roll fell to 42 in the early post war-years, but was boosted by an influx of migrants, mainly from the UK, from the late 1960s. This presaged the boom in Melton’s development, and the corresponding growth of the school, with timber and temporary classrooms added to the previous masonry ones. An endowment pine plantation established in 1930 augmented the school’s fundraising activities when it was harvested in 1968. Part of the site was planted with eucalyptus trees in 1959. Famous ex-students of the early twentieth century included Hector Fraser (internationally successful shooter) and cyclist Sir Hubert Opperman". The Express Telegraph articles about the history of Melton South and Melton State Schoolseducation