The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. hand tinted photograph of two men working in the Botanical Gardens at the fork in the pathThe Gardens, Port Fairygardens, botanical, gardener

The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. PhotographThe Gardens, Port Fairygardens, botanical

A card sent to Miss R. Atkinson of West Warrnambool to add to her collection of postcardsHand coloured Photograph of the Moyne river road bridge, a domestic windmill in foreground and in the background large sheds made for use as a postcard with reverse side stamped Front:- Moyne bridge & river, port Fairy. Reverse:- aug.13/8/08- i hope this will be a welcome addition to your collection yours Sincerly, L Murphy - To Miss R Atkinson, West Warrnambool moyne bridge, moyne river, windmill

Battery Hill- Looking toward South West Passage. Photograph used as a post cardBlack and white Photograph of cannon on Battery Hill in the fort overlooking the South West passageSouth West Passage Port Fairy A.C.A.defence, battery hill, port fairy, cannon, fort, flagstaff hill, south west passage

Street Scene Heywood c1888Black and white photograph of Post & rail fences children in foreground, buildings on right, cattle in far centre(Heywood),heywood, street, road, buildings

M.J.Horan's post office and general store with the mail car out the frontBlack & white photograph of a weatherboard building (shop) with a verandah and a large lantern in front and carMail car Orford Real Photo Post card, the "Rose" series deluemail, car, orford, m.j.horan, post office, store

Goose Lagoon Campsite 1918 A post card of the area a few miles from Port Fairy near BoodcarraBlack and white Photograph of Goose Lagoon campsite.Campsite Goose Lagoon 1918 WRBtgoose lagoon, campsite, post card, port fairy, grassland, swamp

The former Borough Chambers in Bank Street once incorporated the Post Office as evidenced by the early pillar box outside. The box was relocated from its former site on the corner of Cox and William Street in 1975. It is still in use todayColoured photograph of five men with a hoist on a truck being used to remove the red post box from corner of Bank and William Streetspillar box, bank street, post office, post box

Three of the Telephonists at the telephone exchange in the Post office building in Sackville Street.Black and white photograph of two males and a female gathered around the telephone exchange deskTELE EX PF 1927_0001telephones, telephonists, port fairy, telephone exchange, equipment

This is one of a series of post cards drawn by artist Mrs Irene Bartlett of Port Fairy. This one depicts the Stag Hotel on the corner of Cox Street and Sackville Street. Now known as Seacombe Houseblack and white drawing of the Stag Hotel and Cottages drawn showing Sackville and Cox street aspects to be used as a post cardStag Hotelhotel, sketch, i.bartlett, post card, sackville street, cox street, seacombe house, stag inn, irene bartlett, stag hotel

John J. Huntly appears to have been the only licensee of the Royal Oak Hotel, built in 1858. Commercial Hotel Bank Street Port Fairy Formerly known as The Royal Oak and then renamed The Royal Oak in the 1990's. A verandah was added in 1900. Around 1877 the hotel various rooms for visiting doctors and a dentist. Dr Berncastle who was associated with the Sydney Eye Infirmary performed several operations there on those suffering from cataracts. It was the meeting place for the Port Fairy Freemasons, before their lodge was built in James Street and all local sporting clubs at one time or another. Also a Cobb & Co staging post.Large Black and white Photograph of the Commercial Hotel Left hand top corner in Ball point pen- PRESENTED BY MR RON McLEAN Right hand top corner in pen - COMMERCIAL HOTEL Museum Number - 62.04B.012hotel, bank street, port fairy, doctor berncastle, commercial, royal oak, sydney eye infirmary, freemasons, lodge, cobb and co, livery stables

Illustrates conditions at South Beach post WW1Black & white photographBathing Beach Port Fairybeach, sea, seascape

Black and white photograph of East beach with post and rail fenceEast Beach, Port Fairybeach, sea, seascape, east beach, battery hill

South Beach bathing boxesColoured post card of South Beach taken from the West and depicts the bathing boxes in the backgroundSouth Beach Port Fairybeach, sea, seascape

Alexander George Hill Mayor 1944 1945 1962 1970 His home and boot shop was in Sackville Street - first shop from the old Post office corner. Alex was very involved in the Port Fairy Football Club.Black & white portrait of Alexander Hill wearing mayoral robes and jabotmayor, government, shire, council, municipal, portrait, local government, football club

Post card of the Moyne River BridgeBlack and white photograph of the Moyne river and Bridgehe Rose Series P. 10810 The Moyne River and Bridge, Port Fairybridge, moyne river, traffic, road

Mrs Irene Bartlett made a series of postcards depicting landmarks around Port Fairyblack and white post cardcottage, building, home, house, sketch, irene bartlett

Light Horse Procession. Corner of Cox and Sackville, you can see old Post Office and Eastside of Sackville Street shops.Black and white Photographdefence, light horse, procession, sackville street