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Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Album Parterre, 1947
This book tells the story of the Rev. William Hamilton (1807-1879), a pioneer Presbyterian Minister in the Western District. He studied at Glasgow University, became a Presbyterian Minister and came to Australia in 1837. He spent some time in the Goulburn area in N.S.W and then moved to Kilnoorat in Victoria in 1846, building a manse and a church at Darlington and later two churches at Mortlake. He retired from active ministry in 1873. This book is significant in that it was written by a Presbyterian Minister in 1946 and gives details of the life and work of a local pioneer Presbyterian minister, the Rev. William Hamilton. It is a rare book.This is a small paper back book of eight pages with a mottled green cover with a blank back and a black and white photograph of Rev. William Hamilton on the front. The pages include printed material and three more black and white photographs. The pages have been stapled but the rusty staples have been removed. Front cover: ‘The Pioneer of Presbyterianism in the Western District, Rev. William Hamilton, by Rev. H. Clark, M.C, M.A., Terang, 1947’presbyterianism in the western district rev., william hamilton -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Administrative record - Electoral Roll, 1915
Electoral Roll for the Commonwealth Division of Bendigo, State Assembly District of Bendigo, and State Electoral Province of Bendigo for 1967 (made up to 22nd June 1967). Voting registers, or electoral rolls, are a census of those who were eligible to vote. They are valuable because a country-wide census was not taken until 1911. Early electoral rolls give an individual name, residence, status of property occupation/ownership, and the rate value of the property. Electoral Rolls are arranged by electoral district and subdistrict. Name, Address, Occupation and gender for thirteen subdivisions. Electoral rolls were published by each state during election years. Electoral Roll for the Commonwealth Division of Bendigo, State Assembly District of Bendigo, and State Electoral Province of Bendigo for 1967 (made up to 22nd June 1967). Includes Name, Address, Occupation and gender for thirteen subdivisions. Assembled and bound with string, with a faded light green card cover..electoral rolls, voting in bendigo -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - OLD PEOPLES WELFARE SOCIETY COLLECTION: INCORPORATION ACT CERTIFICATE
COLLECTION OF RECORDS OF BENDIGO AND DISTRICT OLD PEOPLES WELFARE SOCIETY INC./ framed Associations Incorporation Act certificate for BENDIGO AND DISTRICT OLD PEOPLES WELFARE SOCIETY INC. dated 17.8.1987document -
Clunes Museum
Booklet, BAXTER & STUBBS, BALLARAT, 124th Annual Report, 1995
Contains reports and photographsWhite booklet, photo on front cover of Clunes Health Service, Clunes & District Hospital operating as the Clunes District Health Service 1994-95 32 pages. 124th Annual ReportNilclunes health service, 124th annual report, annual report 1994-1995 -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Drawing - The Green Hills School
Green Hills School was the first school in the Wodonga area. Before the school could open and a teacher commence duties, the Government had to be assured that a minimum of 20 children would be attending. The school was built of round timber, slab walls, bark roof, dirt floor and shuttered windows. The school opened in 1850 and closed in 1870. This sketch, completed by Jim Parker, a Life Member of Wodonga & District Historical Society, was included on a commemorative plaque as part of the Wodonga Heritage Drive established by the Society to recognise the story of key historic locations in the Wodonga area.This drawing is significant because it depicts the first school opened in Wodonga.A sketch of Green Hills School completed by Jim Parker, a life member of Wodonga & District Historical Society. This sketch was completed as part of a project to place commemorative plaques at key locations around Wodonga green hills school, wodonga schools, education wodonga -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Telephone Diretory 1974, 1974
The directory contains both White Pages and Pink Pages listings. The White Pages listings are in alphabetical order of names for the entire district. This is a soft cover booklet with a green cover and a colour photograph of an Irish Setter on the front cover and a map of the telephone area on the back cover. Front cover – ’74 Telephone Directory, Camperdown, Casterton, Edenhope, Hamilton, Portland, Warrnambool districts. STD area code 055. See back cover for area covered by this directory Spine – Camperdown, Casterton, Edenhope, Hamilton, Portland, Warrnambool districts. See the pink pages for business & trade listings. V1- 1974 Back Cover – Country directory areas. The area covered by this Directory is the coloured portion of this map. See the pink pages for business and trade listings. warrnambool 1974, warrnambool telephone directory 1974 -
Mont De Lancey
Book, A. H. Massina & Co, A.H. Massina and Co's Weather Almanac and General Guide and Handbook for Victoria for 1894, 1901
A plain red hardcover book - Weather Almanac and General Guide and Handbook for Victoria 1894. A.H.M. & Co's Almanac 1894 - 01. There are maps, calendars, diagrams and general information throughout the book for the guidance of village settlers.A red hardcover Weather Almanac and general Guide and Handbook for Victoria for 1894 - 01 with Calendar and Map of Railway Systems. It has advertisements, tables, calendars, maps, memoranda tables, diagrams and other notes of general interest throughout. non-fictionA plain red hardcover book - Weather Almanac and General Guide and Handbook for Victoria 1894. A.H.M. & Co's Almanac 1894 - 01. There are maps, calendars, diagrams and general information throughout the book for the guidance of village settlers.almanacs, documents, calendars -
Sunshine and District Historical Society Incorporated
Honour Board, CHAIRMEN of BRAYBROOK ROAD DISTRICT 1860-1871 and PRESIDENTS of SHIRE OF BRAYBROOK 1871-1950, Unveiled 15 March 1940
By around circa 1850 Braybrook was already well established, and during the gold rush period also became a staging point for prospectors on their way to the diggings. Local government for the area began on 28th May 1860 when the BRAYBROOK ROAD BOARD DISTRICT was proclaimed, however this authority was soon superseded on 23rd January 1871 when the SHIRE OF BRAYBROOK came into existence. The Shire of Braybrook continued as the local government authority for the district until the CITY OF SUNSHINE was proclaimed in 1951. This Honour Board was unveiled on Monday 18th March 1940 at 8:30 p.m., and was hung in the Council Chamber, at the Shire of Braybrook Hall, Sunshine.The Honour Board is a historical record of the people who served as heads of local government in the district from 1860 to 1950.Large brown stained wooden structure comprised of two board sections positioned side by side to make one display board. Contains in gold coloured lettering the names of people who served as CHAIRMEN of the BRAYBROOK ROAD DISTRICT and as PRESIDENTS of the SHIRE OF BRAYBROOK during the years 1860 to 1950.braybrook road district, shire of braybrook, chairmen, presidents, 28 may 1860, 23 january 1871, 1950, sunshine., braybrook road district, shire of braybrook, chairmen, presidents, 28 may 1860, 23 january 1871, 1950, sunshine. -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Administrative record - Electoral Roll, 1915
Electoral Roll for the Commonwealth Division of Bendigo, State Assembly District of Bendigo, and State Electoral Province of Bendigo Subdivision of Eaglehawk for 1970 (made up to 2nd January 1970). Voting registers, or electoral rolls, are a census of those who were eligible to vote. They are valuable because a country-wide census was not taken until 1911. Early electoral rolls give an individual name, residence, status of property occupation/ownership, and the rate value of the property. Electoral Rolls are arranged by electoral district and subdistrict. Name, Address, Occupation and gender for thirteen subdivisions. Electoral rolls were published by each state during election years. Electoral Roll for the Commonwealth Division of Bendigo, State Assembly District of Bendigo, and State Electoral Province of Bendigo, Subdivision of Eaglehawk for 1970 (made up to 2nd January 1970). Includes Name, Address, Occupation and gender for thirteen subdivisions. Assembled and bound with staples, with a light grey card cover..electoral rolls, voting in bendigo -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Souvenir Glass, Rotaract club, Late 20th century
Rotaract is a club with connections to Rotary International specifically for younger people. This glass relates to the local Warrnambool group.An item linked to a local group.Stemmed glass with gold rim and text. Club logo on side of glass.Rotaract club Warrnambool district 978 rotaract warrnambool, warrnambool -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Shire of Eltham War Memorial, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, 1938
Black and white photo print 8 x 4.5 cmElthjam District Historical Society stampeltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial, war memorial tower, garden hill -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Accessory - Badge - Portland & District Caledonian Society, n.d
Owned by Mrs Elsie McPherson Wilson. Displayed at History House.Enamelled copper badge. Red enamelled lion on gold field. Red enamelled outer rim; yellow enamelled banner across lower front.Front: Portland & District/Caledonian/Societycaledonian society, badge -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Album, Photo Album, 1920s
This is an album of Australian official photographs of Australian participation in World War One. Enlargements of the photographs could be obtained in the 1920s from the Australian War Museum in the Exhibition Buildings in Melbourne. World War One (1914-1918) was a highly significant event, not only in world history, but also in Australian history – a time when Australia participated to a strong degree, with a great number of Australian men and women dying in the war. These photographs were important in the 1920s as they showed war scenes and military activities that were not available to the public when the war was in progress. They are still important today showing Australian military action in World War One, a signal event in Australia’s history. The number of World War One War Memorials in most Australian towns and small settlements is an indication of the effect on the Australian people of the sacrifice of the lives of so many young people. Warrnambool was just one place in Australia that built a war memorial in the 1920s and continues today to remember World War One heroes as well as those from later wars. This is a brown photograph album containing 72 black and white photographs of Australian soldiers in World War One (Gallipoli, Palestine, France etc). The photographs have been commercially produced. There are four photographs to each page mounted on card. The cover is cardboard and the pages are bound with multi-coloured string. The cover has an imprint of a lady (ancient Greek style).Stamp of Warrnambool & District Historical Society world war one, history of warrnambool -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Book, Lillian Louisa Pitts et al, Merrigum Frank, 1990
Photo essay made by Lillian Louisa Pitts c 1915. Photographs part of the biggest family album in Australia. Originals owned by Frank Pitts, copied for Museum of Victoria collection. Merrigum Frank compiled by Evan McGillivray and Matthew Nickson.Photo essay made by Lillian Louisa Pitt, c 1915. Glossy hard cover, white, blue design. Photo of boy winking. Front and back in sepia, text left hand pages, pictures on right. Pages framed in grey. no page numbers.Tatura and District Historical Society 1990 -
Clunes Museum
document, 1870
MR. DUNCAN MENZIES KEEPS A LICENSED BEER SHOP AT MT. BECKWORTH, AND CONVICTED OF SLY GROG SELLING AT CLUNES POLICE STATION.POLICE REPORT OF MR. DUNCAN MENZIES. CONVICTED OF SLY GROG SELLINGBALLARAT DISTRICT. CLUNES POLICE STATIONlocal history, government, report, police force -
Clunes Museum
Photograph
SEPIA PHOTOGRAPH OF FIRE BRIGADE DEMONSTRATION IN CLUNES 1939 .DISTRICT FIRE BRIGADE DEMO 1939local history, photography, photographs, fire brigade -
Northern District School of Nursing. Managed by Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - School 58 Nurses in the Garden, 1963
The Northern District School of Nursing opened in 1950 to address the issues around nurse recruitment, training and education that had previously been hospital based. The residential school was to provide theoretical and in-house education and practical training over three years. The students would also receive practical hands-on training in the wards of associated hospitals. The Northern District School of Nursing operated from Lister House, Rowan Street, Bendigo. It was the first independent school of nursing in Victoria and continued until it closed in 1989.School 58 Black and White photo of five nurses in the garden at Lister House. On the rear of the photo is written: Northern District School of Nursing 37 Rowan Street, Bendigo, Front Garden - old building, School 58 24/4/1963. Left to Right: L.A. Lawton, P.A. Ripon, ?, Jenny Ayson (Deceased BBH), ?nurse training, ndsn, lister house, lister house dining room, school 58 -
Northern District School of Nursing. Managed by Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Decorative object - Police Assocation Plaque
The Northern District School of Nursing opened in 1950 in to address the issues around nurse recruitment, training and education that had previously been hospital based. The residential school was to provide theoretical and in-house education and practical training over three years. The students would also receive practical hands-on training in the wards of associated hospitals. The Northern District School of Nursing operated from Lister House, Rowan Street, Bendigo. It was the first independent school of nursing in Victoria and continued until it closed in 1989.A wooden shield shaped plaque with an eight centimetre diameter blue and gold coloured insignia of THE POLICE ASSOCIATION VICTORIA which has red and gold coloured crown in the middle. A metal plate six and a half centimetres by two and a half centimetres has engraved on it NORTHERN DISTRICT SCHOOL OF NURSING MANY THANKS POLCE EXAMINATIONS 1980on the back, MADE TO APPROVED SPECIFICATIONS by LEGA PTY LTD 24-26 WILLIAM STREET BALACAVA VICTORIA AUSTRALIA ndns, police association victoria, police examinations 1980 -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Administrative record - Electoral Roll, 1915
Voting registers, or electoral rolls, are a census of those who were eligible to vote. They are valuable because a country-wide census was not taken until 1911. Early electoral rolls give an individual’s name, residence, status of property occupation/ownership, and the rate value of the property. Electoral rolls are arranged by electoral district and subdistrict. Electoral rolls were published by each state during election years. Supplemental Electoral Roll for the Commonwealth Division of Australia Electoral Roll, State Assembly District of Bendigo, and Supplementary Roll of Electors for the Subdivision of Bendigo, 1943 (made up to July1943). Includes Name, Address, Occupation and gender. Assembled and bound with string.Stamp of owner Harold Curnowelectoral rolls, voting in bendigo -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Administrative record - Electoral Roll, 1915
Voting registers, or electoral rolls, are a census of those who were eligible to vote. They are valuable because a country-wide census was not taken until 1911. Early electoral rolls give an individual name, residence, status of property occupation/ownership, and the rate value of the property. Electoral rolls are arranged by electoral district and subdistrict. Electoral rolls were published by each state during election years... Supplemental Electoral Roll for the Commonwealth Division of Australia Electoral Roll, State Assembly District of Bendigo, and Supplementary Roll of Electors for the Subdivision of Bendigo, 1947. Includes Name, Address, Occupation and gender. Assembled and bound with staples, grey/brown cover.Stamp of owner Harold Curnowelectoral rolls, voting in bendigo -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Administrative record - Electoral Roll, 1915
Voting registers, or electoral rolls, are a census of those who were eligible to vote. They are valuable because a country-wide census was not taken until 1911. Early electoral rolls give an individual name, residence, status of property occupation/ownership, and the rate value of the property. Electoral rolls are arranged by electoral district and subdistrict. Electoral rolls were published by each state during election years. Supplemental Electoral Roll for the Commonwealth Division of Australia Electoral Roll, State Assembly District of Bendigo, and Supplementary Roll of Electors for the Subdivision of Bendigo, 1948. Includes Name, Address, Occupation and gender. Assembled and bound with staples, faded green cover.Harold Curnow on front coverelectoral rolls, voting in bendigo -
Orbost & District Historical Society
book, Constitution of Rechabites, 1906
This item belonged to Alan Richardson, a sawmiller at Tabbara. He helped to build and held a ticket for the paddle steamer "Curlip". He was a member of the Rechabites from March 3 1892. The Independent Order of Rechabites began in Salford, England in 1835. It was named after Rechab, a leader in the Old Testament, who instructed his tribe to refrain from drinking alcohol. During the Industrial Revolution the idea of temperance became popular as damage was caused to families by alcohol. In Australia it was first established in Tasmania in the mid 1800s. In 1847 a branch was created in Victoria, and it then spread to other States. Members were provided with assistance during times of sickness, death and hardship. This item is associated with the Richardson family, early settlers in the Orbost district.A small grey book with a black spine. The title and details are in black print. Inside is a magazine cutting - "The Rechabite July 1st 1931". This book is the "Constitution of the Victorian District, No 82" and contains the district by-laws."This is to certify that Bro. A.J. Richardson was admitted clearance a member of the Orbost.........."richardson-alan rechabites -
Marysville & District Historical Society
Book, Mary Kenealy, The High Way to Heaven-A Story of Marysville and District, 2006
A history of Marysville and the local district.Front cover has a drawing which depicts the Black Spur. There are timber workers on the road cutting timber as well as a man riding one horse whilst leading a pack horse. The drawing is done in green pencil.non-fictionA history of Marysville and the local district.marysville, history, local history, timber, tourism, victoria -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Panoramas of Terang and District, Early 21st century
This is a book containing early 20th century photographs of the town of Terang in the Western District of Victoria. Most of the photographs were taken by Robert Frederick Scott (1877-1953). He was born in Koroit and came to Terang in his early years. He took up coach building and in 1906 he moved to Cobden where he continued coach building with W.J. Silvester. He was regarded at the time as a clever mechanical engineer and was a pioneer in the motor garage business. In the 1930s he was a representative for the Melbourne firm of A.H. McDonald & Co. in the machinery business. He installed milking machines in the Western District and Gippsland. His hobby was photography and he took many photographs in the Western District and supplied photographs to the Victorian Railways for inclusion in the train carriages. This book is of considerable interest as a record of the town of Terang in the early 20th century. The photographs are of high quality and the book will be useful to researchers.This is a soft cover book of 52 pages. It contains black and white photographs of early 20th century Terang and district. The photographs are set in a grey-coloured frame and on the page opposite the photograph is a description of the photograph. The cover is made of lightweight cardboard and the front cover has the title of the book and a black and white photograph of the town of Terang. The book is bound with plastic spirals.history of terang, robert frederick scott, history of western district, warrnambool history -
Orbost & District Historical Society
book, 1939
The Committee of Management held monthly meetings and "the members were conscientious in their attendance". 1938/1939 were busy years for the Orbost Hospital as there was a serious outbreak of poliomyelitis and some cases had to be sent on to Sale. There was also pressure from Dr Nettleton to begin a garbage collection in the town to clean up the town As the polio epidemic abated, diptheria took over and Dr Nettleton urged the shire to fund a further free immunisation campaign. In February, 1939t here were major bush fires in the district and the fire came within 300 yards of the Orbost Hospital. (info. from Orbost Hospital History, Personalities and Stories by Margaret Hollands)The Orbost Hospital was completed by the end of October 1929 after more than twenty years of agitation and preparation. Orbost is an isolated town and the importance of the medical service in the community is immense. This report is a reminder of its early history.A small book - 9th annual report of the Management Committee of Orbost & District Hospital, incorporated 1930. In black print inside rectangular border is title plus "For the Year Ended 30th June, 1939."orbost-hospital report-orbost-hospital-committee-of-management -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS NO. 3770 COLLECTION: CORRESPONDENCE
Question written on blue paper. Date 15 February 1864. Secretary's signature illegible. Question was whether it is legal for a Quarterly District Meeting to appoint or Call a Special District Meeting for the purpose of making arrangements for holding the Anniversary of the District & whether any member, or Court can be fined for not attending that Meeting, or held responsible for any loss, if any.societies, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - correspondence, high court -
Bacchus Marsh & District Historical Society
Map, Bacchus Marsh District (A). Proposed Irrigation and Water Supply Trust. Plan shewing boundaries of Trust District
The 1886 Irrigation Act in Victoria introduced the first legislation in Australia designed to enable the creation of a detailed scheme for agricultural irrigation. Part of the legislation saw the use of government funds for local irrigation projects. These local projects were managed by local irrigation trusts. The Bacchus Marsh Irrigation and Water Supply Trust was formed in 1889. This map depicts the proposed area of the Trust.Printed paper map of the proposed Bacchus Marsh Irrigation and Water Supply district. Circa 1889. Plan showing boundaries of Trust District. The District lies within the Parishes of Korkuperrimul, Merrimu, Parwan and Gorrockburkchap in the Counties of Bourke and Grant. At the top of the map above its title is the letter 'A; in capital lettering. Scale: 40 Chains = 1 inch.irrigation, water supply, bacchus marsh irrigation and water supply trust -
Clunes Museum
Map, Dept. of Mines, Untitled, c1859
All maps show names and locations of mines operating in the district (see reference section link to article).1 Map of Creswick Clunes - lists 45 mines in the Clunes enlargement and 100 mines in the Creswick enlargement .2 Department of Mines map of Clunes Creswick and shows the McDonald & Co. Pre-emptive area. Indexes for quartz and alluvial mine locations .3 Topographical map Ref GF23 Clunes Mt. Greenock Talbot.1 360 Scale 1:2500 .2 303/59 33 hand written in ink "received 15 October 1859" signed by R Broughton, James Stevenson - District Mining Surveyor .3 40 chains to an Inchgold mining, dept of mines -
Melton City Libraries
Newspaper, Oral History Day, 1992
Mary Tolhurst M&DHS - March 29th Dunvegan Willows Park Melton 1992 Ladies Oral History Day Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transfer to CD 2011 by Tom Wood Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 I was born in Rockbank, and when I was five years old moved to Toolern Vale and started and finished school there. Toolern Vale only consisted of the Store, Post Office and shop, where you could buy your fodder, and pollard supplies, the Hall, the little Church and the bluestone School. The School changed shape three times from the 1800s[1869] til the time I went there. There was four generations of my family that went there and it was destroyed by fire in 1965. Marjorie nee Myers Butler. Yes, I remember along with it your lovely Ronisch piano. Mary, quite true! Marj what you say about the Ronisch piano. When I came the age to learn music my mum and dad couldn’t really afford it, but still what parents do for their children. They had Marj go along with them and pick this lovely Ronisch piano. It was known round the district. Everyone commented about the loss that lovely piano. After leaving school it was war time, 1939, then it was work, When I was 7 year old I was put out into the cow yard. In 1940 when the soldiers were going away our milk was confiscated it had to go to Bacchus Marsh. It used to go the Sunbury to be brine cooled and then go to Melbourne. Then they took it then to the Lifeguard Milk Factory at Bacchus Marsh. It had to go as condensed milk to the soldiers. This year is 50 years of the Land Army. I was an unofficial Land Army but they still kept check on me. I went onto married life and I followed the cows right through [howls of laughter] and we went on until the 1965 fire. That’s when we got out of the cows. Marjorie asks, was Granny Watts your grandmother or great grandmother? Mary: She was my great grandmother, the midwife of Melton. The 1965 fire started ¾ of a mile above our place, Frank Ryan’s sheds were burnt and his house was saved, then it wiped the School out, the Hall, the Church the Post Office and Store and little house that was Charlie Charlton’s in the early days. Mrs Wilson’s place was saved by the Fire Brigade by pulling boards off the side, and from there it went over the hill and it was stopped at the Rockbank Railway Station. If it had of got over the railway they said it would have gone into Werribee. A lot was burnt out in that strip. Mary nee Nixon Collins: 18 houses burnt that day. Audience question, did Melton get burnt that day? Ray: No. It came down through the Toolern Vale road and cut across about a mile and a half from the cross roads at Toolern Vale from north westerly to the south east and cut through over the Keilor road. Mary: It came in across the creek at Funstons in Toolern, then through Jim Minns. Dorothy was it your place then [nee Knox Beaty] to Ken Beatty’s and from there it went through to Doug McIntosh’s and to Cockbills and the wind changed and it came across to the railway line, and that is where they stopped it. [the cause of the fire was controversial, they had been burning off the night before and there was some talk of someone starting it. It was very hot and very strong wind, it was a terrible day] Ray: When the fire went through McIntosh’s they had a haystack on the north side of their house and the haystack got caught and the fire burnt a hole through the side of the house and the boys pyjamas on the bed. The house was saved. It came through like and express train roaring at you, I was at McIntosh’s when it went roaring past. You couldn’t see, dust and ash and tremendous heat. The fire started about 12 o’clock Jack [husband] said to me, fire, I said where, where? Just up the road, what have I got to do? and he went out and he had gone to the fire and left me. I tried to get the animals and I put out buckets of water, putting the buckets of water out saved my life. Chas Jones and another friend of his came in and they picked up the buckets of water, I thought I had better get out because the fire was on the haystack up the paddock and when I went to go out through the north side of the house and couldn’t get out, I’ll go through the front gate so I went around the other side of the house. I got caught there and Chassy Jones and his friend came round carrying the bucket of water and I panicked. He threw the bucket of water over me. Well that is what saved my life because I was damp, whenever we tried to leave the ball of fire came over me and over my shoulder and my hair was scorched. Chassy Jones lost his truck and Keith Watt his big truck because he had the water tank on it and they couldn’t get out of the yard. Granny Watt’s house, the first private hospital had condemned and Jack and I pulled it down and had it moved up to Toolern and had it in the yard a fortnight and it was all burnt and we didn’t get the shed we wanted. Every 13 years right up until Ash Wednesday fires, there has always been fire close at hand. The 1952 fire went down the back of the house, the 1965 fire took the house, and the house that I live in now, it is the third house that has been on that spot. When the Hunters owned it, Mrs Hunter was nearly burnt in her bed. They had a 13 roomed house. In 1924 the house burnt down, and there was another house was built there and that was the one that burnt down. Edna: So Mary built a brick veneer house. Marjorie: like the three little pigs [laughter] Collins - Mary M &DHS - March 29th 1992 Ladies oral history day at Dunvegan, Willows Park Melton. Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transferred to CD 2011 Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 Mary Collins nee Nixon born in Terang 1907 down in the Western District and we shifted to Melton when I was 5 and a half then I started school here in Melton, and spent all my school life at Melton State School, next to the Church of England, it’s called the Primary School now. I got my Qualifying and Merit Certificate then I left School because there wasn’t a High School. When I was 16 I got and job in the Melton Post Office and I worked there, I was the first girl in Melton to deliver the mail, and worked on the telephone and the Bank business. Mrs Ross and myself behind the counter, there were about 500 – 600 people in the Shire at that time and now when I go into the new Post Office there is 36,000 here there’s still 2 people behind the counter [laughter from the audience] and wait in a queue right out to the door. Times haven’t changed much have they! There was a manual telephone and you had to ring the handle, and there were eight subscribers when I went there and when I left there were 46 I had coaxed that number to join the telephone, even the police station didn’t have the phone on. The two Hotels and the two Chaff mills and Mr Ernie Barrie, Parkers the butcher, the Shire Office was No 8, and the Police house was next to the Courthouse on the corner. They were number 9. I can remember a lot of the numbers still. The Post Office was the Agency for the Commonwealth Bank [comment from audience member] I used to do the Bank business too, I left after four years there, mother wasn’t very well. The Inspector who used to come up to the Post Office asked me if I would take up casual Post Mistress and to go around the different districts but I refused and when Mrs Ross’s holidays were due I was the replacement. I wasn’t 21. I loved my work meeting everybody and most people had horse and jinkers and when the elderly would come in there would be Mr Tom Morrow, he only had one arm and Mrs Dunn came from Bulman’s road in their horse and jinker. They were elderly I would see them pull up out the front and quickly get their mail and run out to them because they didn’t have to get out of the jinker to tie up their horse. If someone had a baby in arms I would tear out and hold the baby while they got down. Mrs Ross was very very strict. I had to sweep the Post Office, she had a couple of mats and there would be a threepence or a sixpence under the mats show she knew whether I lifted the mat, I was whether I was honest or not. Graham: How much were your wages? I got 27/7 pence a week for a 52 hour week. I had to work every holiday except Good Friday and Christmas Day and even when it was Monday holiday I always had to go to work from 9am - !0 am, the Post Office was always open. In the winter I had to wait until twenty past six in case there were any telegrams to deliver. I delivered them on a push bike. One time Tom Barrie told me this years afterwards. I used to go home for lunch. We lived on the Keilor road and I used to ride my bike home. On the hot days the boys used to go and swim in the swimming pool down near a turn in the creek there was a hole where the boys would swim in the nude, they didn’t have any bathers and they didn’t have any watches in those days. Tom Barrie said they always used to watched for me as I was always about 3 minutes past 1, my lunch hour was from 1-2. One particular day they missed seeing me and swam on, and of course they were all late for school when they got back and were all kept in a night. I did get a fortnight holiday. I loved my work and I knew everyone in the district right from Toolern Vale to the Marsh and everybody at Melton South. Did you listen into conversations on the Switchboard? Oh no. [laughter] Melton did not have electricity then. I had to fill the lamps everyday with kerosene. The Staughton Memorial was outside the Post Office. It had four posts with the chain looped around it, and that’s where the people used to tie up their horses. Marjorie nee Myers Butler comments about sitting and swinging on the chains. Mr Fred Coburn lit the acetylene gas light in the Memorial. It was the only streetlight in Melton. There was no electricity until 1939. Ray Radford comments about another gas street light which was on the corner of Station road. [later] Mary passes around her school photos. Mary mentions the names of those who have passed away, Maisie McDonald, ,Marian Wraith, Hilda McCreey, and Valda McDonald. I have written the names on the back. Marjorie comments about Marie Jongebloed and Greta are the only two girls left out of big family of ten I think there were [hesitates] 4 or 5 girls and the rest were boys. Mary. Flora Woodley, Dorrie Flynn and Margaret McDonald are still alive. They are my age we were all born about 1907. Marjorie points out herself in a later photo [1921 and 1922 School ] Mary mentions the name Walsh and identyfies following names, the Parker boys, Ken Beaty, Malc and Linda Cameron, Maisie Mc Donald, Ted Radford, George Nixon, Norman Minns, he was later the Shire Secretary of Werribee. One of the Woodley girls. [Maisie Arthur] Marjorie: Rosie Shearwood, June Whiting Mary. Lily Mc Donald, she has passed away. Isabel Harrison nee Tinkler, she lives at Werribee, Doreen Rogers, Marjorie Walker, Jess McIntosh, Mary Gillespie. Mr Malone was the Junior teacher Mr Roe and Miss Cooke. Fred Myers, my sister [Elizabeth] and the year was 1921. Myers (Barrie) School Photo Collection. Many of the names were identified at the 1970 Centenary of Melton State School No. 430. Edna Barrie organised, compiled and typed the lists to accompany these photos for the year 1921. The 1922 photo shows the higher grades. Ladies Oral History Day event held by Melton and District Historical Society, article featured in the Telegraphlocal identities, local special interest groups -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Map - Map - scenic tours of Portland, n.d
Map - scenic tours guide of Portland and District (Portland Camera Club)map, tourism, portland camera club, travel