A Rifle Association was formed in Bacchus Marsh in April 1868. In 1882 this Association was reformed as the Bacchus Marsh Rifle Club and given the number 4. This photograph was taken at the first range used by the club which was near the old Woolpack Inn on the Melbourne to Ballarat Road. Rifle Club members in this image are known to include, W. H. McFarlane, F. Lewin, W. Marshall, T. Heath, E. A. Jones, W. Meikle, J. Dodemaide, D. Murray, W. H. McFarlane Jnr., J. Young, W. Mahoney, W, Rae. The Bacchus Marsh Express newspaper of 6 October 1883 reported that this image was taken during a married versus single match on the 3rd October, 1883. The match was interrupted to allow the photograph to be taken. This resulted in the match finishing in the dusk with the win going to the married team. This image is one of a series of photographs taken by Melbourne based photographers Stevenson and McNicoll who visited Bacchus Marsh and its nearby districts between September and November 1883. Black and white photographic print copy of original sepia 'carte de visite' style unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Part of the original inscription can be seen on the front left side of the photograph, which is one of a set of images taken in and around Bacchus Marsh in 1883 by the photographers Stevenson and McNicoll. The image shows a group of nineteen men holding rifles standing on either side of a white target board, the central bullseye showing a number of hits. All are posed against a backdrop of hills.Printed On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, bacchus marsh rifle club, rifle clubs

This photo evokes Australian stories of shearing as an occupation, the hard work, the itinerant life-style, its legends and heroes. A strong part of the Australian identity is based on the perceptions of shearers. Banjo Paterson's song "Click Go The Shears" is still widely known and sung; the Tom Roberts painting" Shearing the Rams" is a much-loved and reproduced painting. The story of Jackie Howe who shore a record 321 sheep in October 1892 in seven hours and forty minutes remains an integral part of the shearing canon. In modern times, the film "Sunday Too Far Away", starring Jack Thompson, is ever-popular. The centrality of the shearer in Australia's understanding of itself may be traced to the central role played by the wool industry in the nation's economy, dating from its earliest colonial days. Fine Australian wool still enjoys a premier reputation in the fashion and furnishing industries. Greystones station was originally part of the Glenmore run, established in 1840 by Charles Griffith. Originally a run of 55,00 acres, Glenmore was subdivided in the 1870s to form the Greystones property, owned and managed by Molesworth Greene, the nephew of Charles Griffith. The property had 11,000 sheep and was renowned for its high quality wool. In November 2023, the property of 4033 hectares was sold to overseas investors.The wool industry was a major industry in the development of the Australian economy from pre-colonial times. It gave rise to the saying that Australia 'rode on the sheep's back.' Small black and white 'carte de visite' style unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. One of a set of photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by the photographers Stevenson and McNicoll. This photo shows a group of sixteen men, ten standing in the back row, six lying or sitting in a row at the front. From a similar photo in this collection, (VC ID 918) it can be seen that this is a group of shearers standing outside a large shearing shed at Greystones station.Printed On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. Handwritten in biro across the top: Shearers at Greystones.stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, shearers, greystones estate bacchus marsh, wool industry

Greystones station was originally part of the Glenmore run, established in 1840 by Charles Griffith. Originally a run of 55,00 acres, Glenmore was subdivided in the 1870s to form the Greystones property, owned and managed by Molesworth Greene, the nephew of Charles Griffith. The property had 11,000 sheep and was renowned for its high quality wool. In November 2023, the property of 4033 hectares was sold to overseas investors. The wool industry was a major industry in the development of the Australian economy from pre-colonial times. It gave rise to the saying that Australia 'rode on the sheep's back.'Small black and white 'carte de visite' style unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. One of a set of photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District taken in 1883 by the photographers Stevenson and McNicoll. The photo shows a group of sixteen men standing or kneeling outside a large shearing shed at Greystones, Rowsley. Behind them are two mounted men, probably overseers or managers. The standing group includes a man with a fiddle and one with a concertina. The cook, wearing a white apron and hat can also be identified. Six men have hand-held shears, three in poses of shearing a sheep. Printed On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. Handwritten in biro along the top: Shearers at Greystones. stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, shearers, greystones estate bacchus marsh, glenmore run, wool industry, charles james griffith 1808-1863, molesworth r. green 1827-1916

This portrait was taken during the visit of Stevenson & McNicoll to Bacchus Marsh September-November 1883. It is probable that they used the silver albumen process. The subject of the portrait is Peter Murray, bootmaker, who set up his business in Bacchus Marsh at 181 Main Street in 1872. In 1889 he added an extension to his dwelling. In later years, Mrs Murray advertised Board and Lodging at "Murri House", in premises adjoining the shop and dwelling. Mr. Murray was active in the local community, and was a Councillor on his death. He was also the local Electoral Registrar. His death may have been hastened as a result of a serious accident in 1893 when he fell heavily and broke his right leg above the ankle, which necessitated the removal of a protruding portion of bone. He was taken by train to the Melbourne Hospital, accompanied by Dr Vance and a number of his neighbours. He made a recovery and in 1904 hosted a meeting of the local Quoit Club. On 14th June 1908 Peter Murray died at his home in Main Street Bacchus Marsh. He had been suffering from Brights disease for about 6 months. He was aged 65 at the time of his death. His first wife had predeceased him. His second wife, Margaret survived him. Later in 1908, Mr. W. Bullock advertised that he had taken over the business of the late Mr. P. Murray.The Melbourne photographers Stevenson & McNicoll visited the Bacchus Marsh district in 1883. They took photographs of many local families and individuals in front of their houses or businesses. More than 50 of these images were preserved by the Hawkins family of Bacchus Marsh and passed to a granddaughter of that family Mrs Beryl Jeremeas who donated those images to the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society in 1973. Stevenson & McNicoll are known to have taken numerous studio portrait photographs of Bacchus Marsh people. This was probably the larger part of their work. However very few of these images have been acquired by local historical societies. This image of Peter Murray is the only known example of one of the 1883 studio portraits of Bacchus Marsh residents produced by Stevenson & McNicoll. It is therefore particularly significant as a rare example of their portrait photography in the Bacchus Marsh area and beyond.A sepia coloured photograph on cardboard. Carte de Visite size. Portrait in an oval frame of a young man with full beard and moustache. He is wearing a suit coat with breast pocket and a buttonhole arrangement on the lapel. On the front: Stevenson and McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St, Melbourne. Copies can be obtained at any time. On the Back: Logo of the rising sun with the words LIGHT & TRUTH on a banner. Copies of this portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to Stevenson & McNicoll Late Benson & Stevenson, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. By Hand in black Texta: PETER MURRAY BOOTMAKER. 1883 In ink (faded) : Pete Murray In biro: Courtesy C. McFarlane bootmakers, stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, stevenson and mcnicoll photographers, dr vance, murri house, early surgery, peter murray bootmaker bacchus marsh 1843-1908

This photograph is believed to be of the farm "Glencairn" at Coimadai near Bacchus Marsh. The family includes Mrs Alice Jeffrey (nee Dickson), Mr. William Jeffrey, daughter Annie and two sons. Mr William Jeffrey died at "Glencairn", Coimadai, in 1906, at the age of 80. His homestead and farm were known as a model of neatness and planning. The sheep held by Mr. Jeffrey appears to be a Lincoln Long- woolled sheep. The unusual lead, which has a handle, suggests that this sheep was often exhibited at Agricultural Shows and may have won prizes in its class. Mr Jeffrey was a frequent exhibitor and prize-winner at the Bacchus Marsh Agricultural Society.Small photographic copy of an original Carte de Visite picture. Housed in the album, 'Photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by Stevenson and McNicoll'. The image shows a family group. They are standing in the garden in front of a farm house. The group comprises two women and three men. The older man on the right of the picture is believed to be William Jeffrey who is holding a sheep on a lead with a handle. A dog stands in front of a younger man in the centre of the picture. In the background is the weatherboard farm house, a simple construction with two large chimneys and a skillion extension.On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. N.B. The above inscription would have appeared on the original of this photo.stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, farmers, jeffrey family, glencairn, farms, long woolled sheep

The number of cattle in this photo suggests that it was a small holding, at the beginning of the dairy industry in Bacchus Marsh. This industry became a major source of employment in Bacchus Marsh. By the early twentieth century, the Bacchus Marsh region was a significant contributor to the dairy industry in Australia. Small sepia unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the album, 'Photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by Stevenson and McNicoll'. This is a photo of a dairy farm in an unknown location in the Bacchus Marsh district. It has been taken from an elevation looking down at the farm. On the left, the roadside can be seen running alongside a stream or river which is fenced off by a line of trees and a post and rail fence. Parked on the road outside the farmhouse is a wagon which is unhitched. The wagon has a white rooftop and on the side can be seen a professional logo, details unclear. This wagon is most likely the wagon used by the photographers to access outlying properties with their photographic equipment. The farmhouse itself faces the road with side doors giving onto the yard. The roof is partially covered by new slates, possibly slate covering bark. Six milking sheds of post-and-rail construction adjoin the farm yard. In the first and fourth stalls (l to r) the farmer and his wife can be seen seated, miking cows. The rest of the herd are awaiting milking in the yard which also has a post-and-rail fence. A bull of milking shorthorn breed stands outside the fence. The milking herd itself is of various breeds; Herefords, roan shorthorn and roan and white shorthorns can be identified. On the right is a shed of rough-hewn boards and a shingle roof. In the yard at the back of the house stands a cart or dray. On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. dairy farms, stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, shorthorn dairy cattle

This property was located near Bacchus Marsh not far from the Racecourse. The photo shows members of the Dickson family. The oldest man on the left is possibly George Dickson who died in 1885 aged 92. The man second from the right is possibly the younger George Dickson who died aged 77 in 1900. One of the men holds a sledgehammer over his right shoulder, possibly indicating work related to the bank of clay behind the group. This photograph was intentionally taken from an angle which included the clay, which may indicate this resource was of some importance to the family. Kaolin clay was found in the area and was used in the manufacture of high quality porcelain . Small sepia unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the album, 'Photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by Stevenson and McNicoll'. In the foreground of the image are members of the Dickson family standing on a hillside with a bank of white clay behind them. One of the men holds a sledgehammer over his right shoulder. In the background are yards, farm sheds, which are possibly milking sheds. Behind the sheds is the family home. In the background can be seen an image of a wagon which is probably a wagon belonging to Stephenson and McNicoll. A similar wagon can be seen in the photo of an unknown dairy farm in the Bacchus Marsh district. This wagon would have been used to transport the photographic team and their equipment to outlying areas.On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, dickson family bacchus marsh, farmers, farms bacchus marsh

This image shows the Rutherford family at their property near Bacchus Marsh. The bearded man to the right of the picture is probably Thomas Rutherford. The other people in the picture are probably members of his family. The Rutherford property was a dairy farm and was at one stage described as a 'model farm' by the Bacchus Marsh Express newspaper. It was located near the Bacchus Marsh Racecourse heading towards Rowsley. It was also described as being near the Rowsley Station which was a small railway station a few kilometres south-west of Bacchus Marsh. The Rowsley Station existed from 1889 until replaced by a railway siding in 1959. The Melbourne photographers Stevenson & McNicoll visited the Bacchus Marsh district in 1883. They took photographs of many local families and individuals in front of their houses or businesses. More than 50 of these images were preserved by the Hawkins family of Bacchus Marsh and passed to a granddaughter of that family Mrs Beryl Jeremeas who donated those images to the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society in 1973. Stevenson & McNicoll are known to have taken numerous studio portrait photographs of Bacchus Marsh people. This was probably the larger part of their work. However very few of these images have been acquired by local historical societies. A black and white photographic copy of sepia coloured Carte de Visite photograph on cardboard. The photo is of a family group standing and sitting in front of a substantial brick farmhouse. A plainer dwelling stands at the back of the farm house and is probably the day-to-day utility house. The group consists of a well-dressed gentleman, probably Mr Thomas Rutherford, two women and three children, a baby, a young girl and an older boy holding a saddled pony. The family's dog is included in the photo. On the front: Stevenson and McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St, Melbourne. Copies can be obtained at any time. On the Back: Logo of the rising sun with the words LIGHT & TRUTH on a banner. Copies of this portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to Stevenson & McNicoll Late Benson & Stevenson, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, stevenson and mcnicoll photographers, rutherford family bacchus marsh district