An ink bottle was made of glass or ceramic and typically sat on a desk. The writer would dip the pen (or quill) into the bottle to put more ink on the pen. Because they sat on a desk, ink bottles were often decorative.We have mostly dispensed with ink bottles and quills. This item is an example of early stationery equipment commonly used in schools, households and commercial enterprises.A cylindrical brown glazed ceramic ink bottle with the neck narrowing to a pouring lip.Below the pouring lip - ANGUS & CO INK COMMERCIALcontainer ink-bottle ceramic angus-&-co writing-materials

Children used slates to practise writing letters and numbers. They sometimes used their slates to play games when not learning their lessons Early models of small, hand-held chalkboards were slates encased in a wood frame to keep the slate from breaking. Pencil and paper were available but paper was very expensive. Using a small, hand-held slate meant that a child could practise writing, erase and write again without having to consume expensive paper.This item is an example of early educational equipment and can be compared to modern school equipment.A double-sided rectangular-shaped school slate with a wooden frame.Chalk markings - number sentences. On frame-Made in Portugalschool-slate education writing educational-equipment

This compass as used by Noreen Cuthbertson when she was teaching at St Joseph's Catholic School ,in Orbost. These blackboard accessories were common in the classroom in a time before whiteboards became the norm.This item is an example of an item commonly used in schools before the 21st century.Two wooden pieces which are joined by a wingnut so that it can be opened or closed and held in position. It functions as a chalkboard compass and was used by schoolteachers. One end holds a piece of chalk. The other has a black pointed tip to mark the centre of the circle to be drawn.Noreen Cuthbertsoneducation chalkboard compass st-joseph's-orbost

Born Celia Elizabeth Prince in 1930, Celia Rosser began painting Australian wildflowers early in her artistic career. She first began painting Banksias after seeing a Banksia serrata near her home in Orbost, Victoria. She lived in Orbost in the 1960's( her husband had been posted to Orbost High School) where she painted and drew native flowers , in particular, banksias. Her first exhibition was at Leveson Gallery in Melbourne in 1965, and included three watercolours of Banksia species. Two years later she published Wildflowers of Victoria.Celia Elizabeth Rosser (born 1930) is a renowned Australian botanical illustrator, best known for having published The Banksias, a three-volume series of monographs containing watercolour paintings of every Banksia species. She began painting Australian wildflowers early in her artistic career. She first began painting Banksias after seeing a Banksia serrata near her home in Orbost, Victoria.A small book titled Wildflowers of Victoria and written by Celia Rosser. It was published in 1967 by Jacaranda Press. The covers are stiff card and it has an illustration of a banksia on the front cover. It has 105 pp and contains coloured illustrations. This book was the third part of the Jacaranda wildflower guides series. The book is designed to carry around in a pocket or purse.rosser-celia wildflowers banksia australian-flora

This trophy was won by H. Cumming, member of the Orbost Rifle Club. Harold Cumming was the son of William Cumming a Bete Bolong farmer who was a Shire councillor, a well-known local sportsman and a Rechabite. Jacob Perry was an Orbost farmer. Born 1874. Died 1950. He was a Boer War veteran , 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen. a shire councillor and worker for school affairs.This trophy, in excellent condition, is aesthetically significant as well as having a well-provenanced historic significance. Harold Cumming was the son of William and Ellen (Mundy) Cumming who farmed land at Bete Bolong from c1880s. A silver plated trophy - a coffee pot - won by H. Cumming. It is an Orbost Rifle Club trophy - the Jacob Perry Memorial Trophy - 1954.O.R.C. JACOB-PERRY MEMORIAL TROPHY 1954 Won by H. Cummingorbost-rifle-club trophy cumming-h

The photograph shows students watching the Orbost High School Golden Jubilee celebrations . Two girls in the front are Cheryl Matthews and Chris Herbert who are still local women.Orbost High School / Orbost Secondary College has played a significant part in the education of senior students in the Orbost district . It is the sole senior educational institution. This item is representative of its historyA black / white photograph of studentssitting on lawns outside the Orbost High School.on back - "Orbost H.S. Golden Jubilee 1962" on front - " Cheryl Matthews, Chris Herbert"education-orbost orbost-high-school-golden-jubilee

The photograph shows Mary Gilbert, Nan Pardew, Alex McDonald (head of Dept of Education), Harry Perry, Bruce Osborne (Head Master), Bruce Evans (M.L.C.), Peter Nixon (minister For the Interior), Mr Truscott (Orbost Shire Councillor) and Colin Lyons (Senior Master) at the Orbost High School Golden Jubilee celebrations 1962.Orbost High School / Orbost Secondary College has played a significant part in the education of senior students in the Orbost district . It is the sole senior educational institution. This item is representative of its historyA black / white photograph of a man on an outside stage addressing an audience with other officials sitting on the stage behind him,on back - " Nam??" Golden Jubilee 1962"

This photograph shows Harry Perry (School Council President); Bruce Osborns (Orbost High Head Teacher); Alex McDonald (head of Dept of Education); Bert May; Bruce Evans (M.L.C.) and Peter Nixon (minister For The Interior). It was taken at the Golden Jubilee celebrations for Orbost High School in 1962.Orbost High School / Orbost Secondary College has played a significant part in the education of senior students in the Orbost district . It is the sole senior educational institution. This item is representative of its historyA black / white photograph of seven men wearing suits sitting on a stage with one man addressing an audience.on back - names + Orbost H.s. Golden Jubilee"education-orbost orbost-high-school-golden-jubilee

The photo shows the Orbost Marching Girls at the Golden Jubilee of the Orbost High School in 1962.Orbost High School / Orbost Secondary College has played a significant part in the education of senior students in the Orbost district . It is the sole senior educational institution. This item is representative of its historyA black / white photograph of female students marching at the Orbost High School with a crowd watching.front bottom - "1962 Back To + High School Gold Jubilee opening new block" on back - "Golden Jubilee 1962. Girls marching"education- orbost orbost-high-school-golden-jubilee orbost--marching-girls

Buldah School was No. 4555. Mrs L. Petterson made application for a school at Buldah during 1936. It was opened on 8th of August 1937 by Herbert H. Eynstone acting as Head Teacher. He held this position for only about two weeks. The school closed during 1941. The Petterson brothers were early settlers in Cann River - late 19th century. This is a pictorial record of a school route in the first half of the 20th century. The Buldah School no longer exists.A black / white photograph of a bush track in a forest. There is water running across the track.on back - Don. by Mrs D. Petterson, only track to Buldah School in winter 1939...."buldah-east-gippsland

History unknown. Oswald Stuart Green taught at the Bete Bolong State School in the 1920s /30s. He wrote many books about East Gippsland including several on thee Orbost / Marlo district.Oswald Green has an association with the Orbost area.A black / white photograph of a dirt road in the bush with a motor vehicle on the road and a man standing beside it.on back - " O.S. Green 31 Malcolm St Blackburn Princes Highway east of Coolwater Creek."princes-highway-coolwater-creek green-oswald-stuart

This photograph was taken at the 1937 Back to Orbost celebrations. Some of the family names recorded are: Boucher; Farquhar; Nixon; Richardson; Gilbert; Henderson; Rodwell; Herbert; Cameron; Reynolds; MacDonald; Cowell; Lyons; Warren; Pleydell; Ralston and Perry.This is a useful research tool. It is a contemporary pictorial record of Orbost residents in 1937.Two long black / white photographs of a large group of people standing or sitting outside a building. 983.1 has some names written underneath it. Both are on grey buff cards.on front - "Orbost Celebrations 1937 Back To School'orbost-back-to-celebrations-1937

This photograph was taken at a combined denominational Sunday School picnic in 1905. The group was at the Orbost Show. Back Row: Miss A. winchester; Mr A. Royce; Miss M. Pardew; Miss D. Pleydell; Mr a. Pardew; Mr G, Ford Next Row: Mrs J. Pleydell; Mrs Hossack; Mrs Kant; Mrs J. Cameron; Mrs Stirling; Mrs H. Ross; Mrs Draffin; Mr Hossack; Mr Winchester Next Row; Mrs Shortell; Mrs Shortell; Mr Battley; Miss C. Pleydell; Miss J. Munro; Mr D. Munro; Mrs Scharlemann Front Row: Mr A. Munro; Mr Kent; Miss M. Hildyard; Mrs BattleyFor many years the people of Orbost enjoyed the fellowship of the church and the children, in particular, were socially and spiritually involved. This item is reminiscent of that time.A black / white photograph of a group of ladies and gentlemen sitting outside on tiered seats. The ladies are wearing hats and the men , in suits, are holding their hats. The photograph is on a cream buff card.on front - list of namesreligion sunday-schools churches-orbost orbost-show-1905

This photograph is of a combined Sunday School group of children at the old showgrounds about 1905.Sunday School at that time involved a lot of commitment on the part of the teachers towards the children and this was reflected in the efforts they went to to make Sunday School an interesting and enjoyable event. Going to Sunday School was an important part of children's lives in the early 20th century in small towns such as Orbost. This item reflects the importance of Sunday Schools and the churches in Orbost in the early 20th century.A large soiled black / white photograph of many children sitting on bench seats, some standing in an outdoor area.on front - "Combined Sunday School Picnic - Old Show Grounds about 1905"orbost-churches orbost-sunday-school

From L-R : Nathan Spielvogel, Hector Young, Percy Watt and George Holden. . Taken on the front porch at Illfracombe in 1908 after the four men had enjoyed a weekend fishing There appears to be a photo hanging on the wall in the background which looks like it could be of a young Marion Watt and the family's dog, a golden retriever In "The Gum Sucker at Home: Bound for Croajingolong 1908" by Nathan Spielvogel, published in Mary Gilbert's Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District, 3rd edition, p. 107-116, Spielvogel talks of his trip to Orbost, and fishing with Watt, Bruce and Young aboard Percy Watt's boat, the Maris Stella. Spielvogel's story says Young was the secretary at James & Birds auctioneers and "was one of the builders of the first foot bridge over the Backwater". It says George Holden was a Bank Manager at the Bank of Victoria. (info. from Campbell Watt) This photograph shows Mr Nathan Spielvogel on the left. He was a school teacher at the Orbost State School following Mr Rowe. Nathan Frederick Spielvogel (1874-1956), teacher, writer and historian, was born on 10 May 1874 at Ballarat, Victoria, son of Newman Frederick Spielvogel, pawnbroker, and his wife Hannah, née Cohen. As well as his stories he published a number of books about the history of Ballarat. Spielvogel taught at Orbost for at least a year Nathan Frederick Spielvogel (1874–1956) was a teacher, writer and historian. As a country schoolteacher, he traveled widely in the eastern Australian outback and also made a journey to London. Spielvogel gained distinction as one of the only Australian Jewish writers of his time. Many of his early books were best-sellers. He has an association with the history of Orbost having spent a year as a teacher at Orbost. The Watt family were early Marlo settlers.A black / white photograph / postcard of four men sitting around a small table playing cards. Two of the men have pillows behind their heads. Three are smoking pipes.on back - "On R - N. Spielvogel"spielvogel-nathan-orbost

This is the annual photograph of Grades 111 and 1V for pupils of the Orbost State School. The 19th of March 1886 proved an important day in the lives of many early settlers in the Orbost area, because on this day the Orbost State School opened. The fact that the school had first operated tem­porarily in a leased building, and on a half-time basis with SS2745 Jarrahmond, did not dampen the enthusiasm of the local inhabitants as they saw their offspring commence their education under the guidance of Head Teacher Campbell Mackay. However he remained in charge only until 12th of May 1886. The second Head Teacher, John Rowe, served until 1908. On 30th of June 1887, a portable room was provided; it being brought to the area by schooner. The school now had accommodation for 30 pupils; the teacher's welfare was considered because quarters of two rooms were attached. As the population increased so did the needs of the school. This was reflected in the provision of a larger classroom in 1898. This item is associated with the history of education in Orbost.A black / white photograph mounted on brown car. There are five rows of school children standing outside a wooden building. Some are sitting and others standing. A female teacher is seated on a chair in the second front row. A girl in the front row is holding a card - "Grades 111 & 1V Orbost".on front - "W. Stanley Vogt Bairnsdale"orbost-state-school education-primary-schools

The lady in this photograph is probably Mrs Eveline Trevaskis who taught at the Wairewa School. Mrs. Trevaskis taught school from her early 20’s in different parts of Victoria. She gave it up to get married, has four children and 11 grand-children. Four of her grand-children are at Wairewa school. Mrs. Trevaskis went back to teaching during the wartime teacher shortage. She relieved at Buchan East State School for two years, getting up at 3.45 am to drive the 24 miles in pony and jinker. Wairewa State School, No. 3739 was built in 1923. The school closed at the end of 1973. Mrs Trevaskis was the teacher at Wairewa 1919-22 and 1945-1956. ( more information in News letter No. 123 NOVEMBER, 2015 - John Phillips)This item is associated with the history of education in East Gippsland.A black / white photograph in a small cream coloured folio. It is of an older lady seated on a chair with a young child on her lap. The child is laughing.inside cover - "Teacher at Wairewa"educatio-east-gippsland wairewa-state-school trevaskis-eveline

This is a photograph of Councillor Jacob Perry who represented Central Riding in the Orboast Shire Council from 1928 - 1931. and from 1934 - 1944. He was president twice in 1934-1935 and 1943-1944 Jacob Perry was an Orbost farmer. Born 1874. Died 1950. He was a Boer War veteran , 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen. He was a shire councillor and worker for school affairs.This item is associated with the Orbost Shire Council. The shire covered an area of 9,347 square kilometres and existed from 1892 until 1994 when it became part of the East Gippsland Shire Council. It is also associated with the Perry family early Orbost settlers.A black / white head and shoulders portrait photograph of a moustached man in a suit.on back - "Cr Jacob Perry J.P."perry-jacob orbost-shire-council

This portrait is of James Cameron who was the first president of the Croajingolong Shire ( later Orbost Shire). He was also an inaugural member for East Gippsland in the Legislative Assembly from 1902 until 1920. In 1882 Cameron was the first Orbost councillor of the newly constituted Tambo Shire. In the next twenty years he served as justice of the peace, shire councillor, guardian of St James's Anglican Church, Sunday school superintendent, and president of the local agricultural society and railway league Orbost was at first included in the Bairnsdale Shire from 1882 and was later part of the Tambo Shire. Because of travelling distances the Croajingalong Shire was created in 1892 (name changed to Orbost Shire 17.2.1893 with James Cameron as the first Shire President. In 1994 it amalgamated to become part of East Gippsland Shire Council.This item is associated with James Cameron, a prominent early Orbost identity. It is also associated with Orbost Shire Council.A black / white head and shoulders portrait photograph of a moustached man in a suit.on back - "James Cameron"cameron-james orbost-shire-council governance-orbost

By 1905 there was an Orbost Bicycle Club. E. Donchi was a member and was a successful competitor around 1927. It is likely that the Orbost Cycling Club disbanded during WWI, and evidence from the Snowy River Mail is that it reformed again in 1945. There is no doubt that bikes were a dominant form of personal transport until the 1960s when cars ownership became more common, although children still rode to school. As far as theOrbost Cycling Club was concerned, the golden years were from 1945 to 1950. (information Newsletter August 2018 - Geoff & Lee Stevenson)This item is associated with a popular recreational activity in early Orbost. The period between the First World War and the 1950s was the heyday of cycling. After 1900 the efficient mass production of standardized safe bicycles, as well as the wider availability of second-hand bicycles, caused rapidly dropping prices and it was therefore easier for people to purchase a bicycle not only for utilitarian use but for racing. A small black / white photograph of a young man on a racing bike. It is on an unsealed road in a forest. on back - "E. Donchi, Cyclist, Orbost"donchi cycling-orbost recreation

There are records of members of the Helmers family attending Bendoc State School. George Helmers was a prospector who mined all the gold from the dry gullies that ran into Bendoc. George was born in 1866, in Bombala, New South Wales, Australia. He was married to Euphemia Lock, born on October 19 1870, in Bendoc Upper, Victoria, Australia.This photograph is associated with early settlers of Bendoc, East Gippsland.A large black / white photograph of a man standing in front of a wooden cottage. there is a horse beside him, a woman standing on a verandah in the background and on the left is a clothes line with what seem to be nappies pegged out. There is also a copy of the original. on back - "George Helmers, Errinundra"helmers-george-bendoc

Ian and Jean McDonald were the children of Mr and Mrs Norman McDonald of 42 Gladstone Street, Orbost. This photograph was taken in late January, 1919 on Jean's first day at school.. It was taken at the home of John Rowe, the former headmaster of Orbost Primary School. He was then living opposite the school. Norman Alexander McDonald was a book-keeper at Macarthur‟s and was very musical. He was proprietor of the Capitol Cafe, Nicholson Street, Orbost, selling the business to Mr Coad on 4th December 1947. This photograph record an important event in the life of an Orbost family in the early 20th century.A black / white photograph of two young children, a boy and a girl, sitting on the verandah of a house.mcdonald-ian mcdonald-jean education-orbost

Ian and Jean McDonald are the children of Mr and Mrs Norman McDonald of 42 Gladstone Street, Orbost. This photograph was taken in late January 1919 on the occasion of Jean's first day of school at the house of John Rowe, a former headmaster, who then lived opposite the school. Norman Alexander McDonald was a book-keeper at Macarthur‟s and was very musical. He was proprietor of the Capitol Cafe, Nicholson Street, Orbost, selling the business to Mr Coad on 4th December 1947.This is a pictorial record of a significant event in the life of the McDonald family of early Orbost.A black / white photograph of two children, holding their hats , standing in front of a tree outside a school fence. on back - "Ian & Jean McDonald opposite the school"mcdonald-ian mcdonald-jean orbost-education rowe-john

After being out of print for 30 years this book has been reprinted in 1987 as a tribute to W.A. Bayley (dec.). WA Bayley had been a public school teacher and was principal of Bega Intermediate High when he researched and wrote his history in the 1940s. He wrote history books on all the towns where he worked,A 120 pp book titled "The Story of the Settlement and Development of Bega". The author is William Alan Bailey (1910-1981). it was published by Bega Intermediate High School.The book contains biographical sketches of some of the early settlers. It also includes maps, newspaper clippings of historical articles, official and handwritten correspondence. The cover title is History of Bega. bega bayley-w.a. bega-settlement

Born in Richmond, Victoria, in 1947 Bruce Pascoe is a school teacher, deck hand, barman, farmer, Director of Commonwealth Australian Studies project, editor, publisher, and works in Indigenous language retrieval. He published and edited Australian Short Storiesquarterly magazine for 16 years, and was joint winner (with David Foster) of Australian Literature Award (1999) and winner of the Radio National Short Story Competition (1998).( ref macquariepenanthology.com.au/BrucePascoe.html) He is married to Lyn Harwood, has two children and lives at Gipsy Point, Far East Gippsland in Victoria. A paperback book with tree sketch on the front cover . This is in black ink. The title is "A Corner Full of Characters" , the history, yarns and stories from the corner of a continent. The book wass compiled by Bruce Passcoe who was a secondary school teacher in Orbost in the 1980's.pascoe-bruce gippsland

This is a souvenir program made for the musical event, Hiawatha, presented by Orbost Rotary Club on November 28,29 1949. Miss Elsie Lambert was a teacher at Orbost State School for 25 year.This is representative of the entertainment popular in Orbost in the 1940's-1950's.Two small 12 pp cream coloured books with brown print and the head of an American Indian chief in head-dress on the cover. It is titled"Hiawatha" prod. and directed by F.C. Herbert. a musical event presented in Orbost 1949, performed and sponsored by the Orbost Rotary Club. This was a souvenir program.On the back cover 657.1 in ink - E. Lambert.souvenir-program hiawatha musical orbost-rotary

This book was produced at the Mallacoota Central School. Bruce Pascoe wrote the introduction for the book. He was teaching at Mallacoota.This book is a valuable reference book which is used by ornithologists to compare recordings of bird sightings in Mallacoota.A small 52 pp book titled Birds of Mallacoota 1979. On the front cover is a photo of a pelican at Coull's Point, Mallacoota. The photo was taken by Wayne Stevens. The title is in black. It contains photographs and maps.book birds mallacoota pascoe-bruce

The book was compiled by Allan B. Peisley. In 1891 a pineboard, portable school building was sent from Melbourne to Gabo by schooner, and transported to a site approximately 1½ miles SE of Genoa. When erected by Henry Bucknall, it was listed as Genoa River School. It opened on 24th of August with an enrol­ment of approximately 20 pupils under the guidance of Algernon de Havilland, and served the district until 1928 when a combination of white ants and dry rot caused the building to be abandoned. School was held in the Genoa hall as a 'temporary' measure until a new building was erected, and it was during this period that N. A. Wake­field, later lecturer and author of natural history articles and books, served as HT. The ‘temporary' measure proved seemingly permanent as it was not until 1953 that a new school was built on the present site, ½ mile W of Genoa. This school was opened by the late Sir Albert Lind on 15th of August 1953, the original name being amended to Genoa State School. Since then much has been done to maintain the grounds and buildings at a high standard.This item is a useful reference tool on the history of Genoa in East Gippsland.A book of 36 pp titled Genoa School History. On the front cover are black and white images of buildings and wrens. The text is black. The pages have been photocopied.education genoa

The book was written as part of the centenary celebrations of the Metung School.This book is a useful reference for the history of Metung and education in the East Gippsland area.A 116 pp book titled The Village School. with a b/w photograph of children standing outside a building in 1890. The building is Metung's first school and post office at George Grant's house an Shaving Point. The title and "Celebrating the centenary of Metung School 1890-1990 is in black . The book was written by Wendy L. Male of Metung.metung-history education-east gippsland

This is a 2nd edition of an earlier print, 1978. It has been revised and edited by John Phillips for the Orbost & District Historical Society in 2010. Harry Grosvenor was the headmaster at Newmerella School from 1962 to 1972. Harry was deeply involved in the 1978 publication by the Newmerella Progress Association called: Newmerella - Valley of Plenty. The book is a pictorial history of the early Newmerella district ( west of the Snowy River ).This is a local history book written by Harry Grosvenor a local author.A paperback book, titled Newmerella Valley of Plenty. The front cover is brown with white text and has three b/w photographs of the Snowy River flats as sen from the Newmerella hill. One is a photograph of the railway line with a steam train on the rail viaduct. newmerella-history