Opened in 1891, the bridge formed part of the Maroondah Aqueduct carrying water from Watts River near Healesville to the reservoir at Preston where it joined Melbourne's metropolitan water system. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p99 Built to supply thirsty Melbourne in the late 19th century, the siphon bridge spanning the Plenty River off Leischa Court, Greensborough, was part of an engineering masterpiece. Opened in 1891, the bridge formed part of the Maroondah Aqueduct carrying water from the Watts River near Healesville to the reservoir at Preston where it joined the metropolitan distribution system. A major link in Melbourne’s water supply, it also had a huge impact on communities, which mushroomed along its route. Named after the Aboriginal word for the area around the Maroondah Reservoir, the Maroondah Aqueduct was fully operational until the 1970s. Since the 1980s the land along parts of the aqueduct have been used for walking and bicycle riding, shaded in places by Monterey Pine trees planted to stabilise the surrounding ground. From 1857 the Yan Yean Reservoir supplied Melbourne’s water but the growing city needed additional catchments.1 In 1886 work began on a weir on the Watts River to enable the aqueduct to carry most of the river water 41 miles (66km) to Melbourne. The aqueduct, built by the Board of Works, is the oldest remaining aqueduct near Melbourne and was probably the first built with concrete.2 Although the aqueduct is now only used between the Maroondah and Sugarloaf Reservoirs, it can still be traced across the Shire. It extends from the Maroondah Reservoir through Christmas Hills, Kangaroo Ground, Research, Eltham, St Helena and then previously wound west through Greensborough to Reservoir.3 Built by horse and manpower the aqueduct gravity fed 25 million gallons (113.6ML) of water a day to Melbourne along a gradient of one foot to the mile. It included 25 miles (41km) of open concrete and brick channel, six miles (10km) of tunnels, and nine miles (15km) of 14 inverted siphons of riveted wrought-iron across creeks. Bricks for the aqueduct were made from clay found near the sites and remains of several kilns can still be found between Kangaroo Ground and Christmas Hills. Building the aqueduct transformed local communities. An abattoir was established at Christmas Hills. Grog shanties and labourers’ camps sprang up and local courts dealt with cases of ‘petty pilfering and boisterous behaviour’.4 The Kangaroo Ground school population jumped to 91, crammed into a room with one teacher. Miners who built the tunnels camped just north of Churinga in Greensborough – then called Tunnel Hill Camp – and adjacent to the Evelyn Arms Hotel. The miners’ high spirits were sometimes quenched in horse troughs or by a ‘welt under the ear and kick on the behind’ as the local constable calmed them down rather than lock them up.5 But the growing city of Melbourne needed more water, so the O’Shannassy catchment, east of Warburton, was added to the system in 1914. In 1920 work began on the present concrete Maroondah Dam one mile (1.6km) from the weir on the Watts River. The aqueduct capacity was thus doubled to 50 million gallons (227ML) a day.6 Intense land development threatened to pollute the open water supply, so channel sections were replaced with large pipes. In the late 1960s a large water main was built from the tunnel outlet at Research and extended through St Helena and Greensborough, so this section of the aqueduct was taken out of use. Long sections of the unused open channels in Greensborough and Bundoora were destroyed, but the old channel in Research and Eltham North remained largely intact. In the 1970s, the Sugarloaf Reservoir was constructed, inundating 445 hectares of land in Christmas Hills. Sugarloaf was officially opened in 1980 and serves as a water storage and treatment plant supplying Melbourne. In the early 1980s pipes replaced the section from Sugarloaf Reservoir to the tunnel entrance at Kangaroo Ground. The Research-Kangaroo Ground tunnel operates as part of the pipeline system.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, maroondah aqueduct, pipe bridge, siphon bridge

Moyne river bridge photograph taken in 1956 showing Blakes caravan park in backgroundColoured landscape of the Moyne River bridge taken from the balcony of the house (Riverside) on the corner of Regent Street and Gipps street From Tom Bartlett's Gipps Street looking East over bridge 1956bridge, moyne river, traffic, gipps street

Ron Peck machined the driving sprockets for Bren Gun Carriers which were sent to North Africa. The Rats of Tobruk, the Egypt and Rommell campaign used these munitions. He boarded at Orbost House while doing 12 hour day shifts.During WW11 munitions and defence equipment were manufactured by state government and private engineering firms, co-ordinated by the Commonwealth government. They worked together to meet Australia’s defence needs and create ‘mass production, on a nation-wide scale, of materials and articles of a higher degree of complexity and accuracy than had before been attempted in Australia. These sprockets were manufactured locally.Two metal sprockets for a Bren Gun carrier. One metal ring gear.munitions sprockets bren-gun-carrier peck-james-ronald orbost-motor-works

A colour image of the first Prince's Bridge built across the Yarra River in Melbourne. It was later known as Queen's Bridge.princes bridge, queen's bridge, yarra river, rowboats

Collection of thirty-nine postcards donated by Jillian Rigby which had been owned by her grandparents, George and Edith Weir, who from c.1917 lived at 84 Princess Street, Kew. The mostly 'mint' postcards were purchased in Victoria and while travelling overseas. The sole dated postcard is dated from 1929. The postcards are numbered sequentially from 2017.0058.01-39. The remainder of the collection donated by Jill Rigby which was once owned by the Weirs of Broken Hill and Kew consist of costumes, costume accessories, photographs, and documents.The postcards in the Weir collection, especially those purchased on a trip or trips to the mother country, i.e. United Kingdom, represent a representative sample of sites that were considered significant to those Australians undertaking a reverse grand tour by member of the erstwhile colonies. Those postcards which are early views of Melbourne must have been produced commercially for some decades from the early part of the 20th century.River Yarra from Alexandra Avenue, Melbourne. Coloured postcard. Weir collection."River Yarra from Alexandra Avenue, Melbourne"postcards, george and edith weir, alexandra avenue - melbourne, yarra river, weir collection

This photograph shows the floodwaters during the 1971 flood at Orbost. The two mahogany trees in the photograph stopped the Snowy River from changing its course. The 1971 flood was the the worst flood on record. At Jarrahmond it was at least 11 metres and up to one and a half kilometres wide on the flats causing enormous damage to the flood plain. Records say that "The brown floodwater stain in Bass Strait could be seen from passing airliners." Considerable damage was done to railway infrastructure, roads and farms. More information from the APRIL, 2008 newsletter by John Phillips. (see orbosthistory.com.au)This is a pictorial record of a significant event in the history of floods in Orbost.A black / white photograph of raging floodwaters at the bottom of the Orbost township.orbost-flood-1971

View of San Remo showing Suspension Bridge - completed in 1940 - demolished in 1970. From the Jack Jenner Collection.Old Suspension Bridge right hand side of photograph. View looking towards San Remo with pier at middle left.P3460 The Rose Series. View from the Bridge looking toward San Remo - Vic.local history, photographs, civil engineering, bridges, phillip island bridge, sea transport, black & white photograph - post card - rose series, jack jenner collection, phillip island bridges, public construction

This is a report of 1966-67 functioning of the Apex Club of Orbost. It has a membership list at the back of the booklet and also contains the names of office bearers etc. This Report was presented to the Handover Dinner 5 August 1967. President Don McKenzie; Vice Presidents Dennis Robinson, David Neal; Treasurer Graeme Duff; Secretary Keith MurrayEvidence of the functioning of the Apex Club of Orbost 1966-67 with names of members, activities, finances.A booklet of 13 pages with a grey coloured cover. On the cover are the words Ninth ANNUAL REPORT 1966-67 Apex Club of Orbost ZONE 12 DISTRICT 6 CLUB No. 251. Inside are copied pages of the Report including names of committee members, board members, and past presidents, also several b/w photos of activities, financial report, awards, and the President's Report 5 August 1967. as aboveapex club, orbost

Councillor J.D. Torley was the chair of this committee. The Bicentenary of James Cook in Australia was commemorated in Australia in 1970. The British explorer Lieutenant (later Captain) James Cook sailed and charted the East Coast of Australia in 1770, and claimed the eastern seaboard of the Continent for the British Crown. This was not considered the official bicentenary of Australia, but rather the mapping of the Eastern coastline.This item reflects the commemoration of a significant event in Australian history.750 is a red coloured plastic folder. The front cover has "SHIRE OF ORBOST" in gold print with the shire seal beneath it. It contains event programs, flyers, booklets, letter heads, souvenir programs, a catalogue for an art contest and minutes of the committee meetings. 750.1 is a manila folder which contains a program and tickets to the 1770 Ball held on Friday 17th April,1970. It also contains letter heads, envelopes and copies of correspondence concerning the Captain Cook 1970 centenary celebrations.cook-james centenary-1970 orbost-shire-council

This souvenir wine glass was made for celebration of the centenary of the Orbost Football Club in 1994. The Orbost football club players were known as the Busters and wore green and gold guernseys. An Orbost football team has participated in the East Gippsland League since the early 20th century. In 2003 in response to a dwindling population, the Snowy Rovers and Orbost Football Clubs were driven to merge into the Orbost Snowy RoversOrbost Football Club through its many changes has always been an important social fabric of the Orbost community. Sport is often regarded as an important part of life in rural Australia, contributing to community identity, sense of place, social interaction and good health. A clear wine glass produced for the centenary of the Orbost Football Club -1894-1994. On an oval (representing a football) is O F C with "ORBOST FOOTBALL CLUB" in a banner above and "CENTENARY YEAR 1894 -1994" in a banner below. all written in gold. On an oval (representing a football) is O F C with "ORBOST FOOTBALL CLUB" in a banner above and "CENTENARY YEAR 1894 -1994" in a banner below. all written in gold.souvenir wine-glass orbost-football-club

This photograph shows Peter Nixon, Minister For The Interior officially opening the Orbost Historical Society Museum on December 1st, 1967. The first Orbost Museum was opened in 1967. It was situated in Nicholson Street, Orbost. Peter Nixon grew up on the family farm on the Snowy River. He entered Federal Parliament in 1961 as the Member for Gippsland, holding various portfolios before retiring in 1983.Peter Nixon grew up on the family farm on the Snowy River. He entered Federal Parliament in 1961 as the Member for Gippsland, holding various portfolios before retiring in 1983. The Nixon family has been in the Orbost district since 1885.A large black / white photograph of a man in a suit with one hand in his pocket Standing behind him are two men and a woman. The photograph has been taken inside the museum. The photograph is mounted on a white buff card and is in a white wooden frame. on front below the photograph - " Opening of the Orbost Historical Society Museum by Mr Peter Nixon M.H.R., Minister of the Interior 1st December 1967"museum-orbost-opening nixon-peter

The Snowy River Boat Club was formed in 1950, went into recess in 1972 but re-formed in 1977. It was a power boating club based in Marlo.A brim and band from a Snowy River Boat Club hat. There is a cloth badge of the Snowy River Boat Club. It is embroidered in blue and black with a boat outlined in red. The badge is square shaped and has rounded corners. It is loosely sewn above the black brim.snowy-river-boat-club power-boats

Edward James Pardew died in 26/9/1927 aged 92. He came to Orbost from New Zealand in 1886 and selected 720 acres of hill land in the Brodribb area. He was a member of the first Orbost Shire Council. His daughter had a fruit & meat shop in McLeod Street. He was an inaugural vestryman of St James Church of England. One of the most prominent farmers on the Snowy was John Gilbert, a large landowner. His breeding establishment was at Tullagoota, about two and a half kilometres down the river from Orbost.Dairying in the Orbost district was once a mainstay of the farming community. Today the properties are fewer and smaller.Two black / white photographs of dairy herds. 3188.1 - on front - printed -"ORBOST EAST GIPPSLAND"; hand-written - :PARDEWS DAIRY & BARN" 3188.2 - on front - printed - " W. S. VOGT"; hand-written - "DAIRY HERD TALLAGOOTA< ORBOST"dairying-orbost agriculture-orbost pardew-dairy tallagoota-dairy

The Hopkins River One Mile Swim started in 1960 as part of an Aquatic Day to raise funds for the Warrnambool Olympic Pool. Since 1961 a measured One Mile Course (1600 metres) was used, the course being up river for approx. 286 metres, then to the bridge and back to the jetty to the finishing line. It was a handicap race. The race was abandoned after 46 years (2005). The booklet is of some importance as it gives the details of the Hopkins River One Mile Race, an event that was a prominent one in Warrnambool for 46 years. The booklet records the achievements of the competitors and the work of the committees involved and will be useful for researchers. This is a booklet containing a souvenir program for the 40th Annual One Mile Swim in the Hopkins River in 1999 and a Full Race History from 1960 to 1999. It has been produced in-house by the Warrnambool Surf Lifesaving Club and has a blue cardboard front cover and a grey back cover. The photocopied and typed pages have been bound with black plastic. The contents include newspaper cuttings, photocopies of photographs, lists of winners and a list of the race’s sponsors. There are three loose sheets.Front Cover: Warrnambool Surf Lifesaving Club, 40th Annual One Mile Swim in the Hopkins River, Sunday 14th March 1999, 2 p.m., Souvenir Program and Full Race History 1960-1999warrnambool surf lifesaving club, hopkins river mile swim, hopkins river

Used as a tourist souvenir of Orbost. Possibly made and distributed via the Slab Hut (Orbost Visitor Information Centre) in 1980's/1990's.The souvenir is an important component of the tourist experience with most tourists bringing back mementos and souvenirs as evidence. Fridge magnets are popular as souvenir and promotional items because they are relatively cheap to manufacture and very portable for tourists. This item is an example of a typical souvenir of Orbost.A rectangular shaped flat fridge magnet with a colour photograph of the Orbost War Memorial and the words " ORBOST VIC" on one side. The reverse is a grey/ black flat surface."ORBOST VIC"souvenir frig-magnet

This photo shows the extent of the 1902 drought. Also shows the state of the river pre-irrigation A black & white photograph of the Central Darling River, near Wilcannia in the 1902 drought. The river is very low. A bridge leads to a settlement on the left, and there is a boat underneath the bridge.There is a National Library of Australia stamp on the back. Also written in pencil is the following; "originals from H.Coulson Collection.drought, darling river, wilcannia, 1902, irrigation, bridges

Plaque commemorating the opening of the Yarra River Footbridge opened by Nillumbik Shire Mayor Cr. Tony Ranuic, Member for Eltham, Mr Steve Herbert MP, and Manningham City Mayor, Cr. Patricia Young on Monday 30 August 2004. Nillumbik Shire Couuncil acknowledges the support of the Victorian State Government and City of Manningham. The footbridge links the Diamond Creek Trail between the Shire of Nillumbik and City of Manningham. It is a shared pathway and also links with the Main Yarra Trail. It affords lovely views over the Yarra River.One of three colour photographsbridges, yarra river, eltham south, eltham lower park, lenister farm, homestead road, plaque, yarra river footbridge, steve herbert, tony ranic, patricia young

This stencil was used to mark bags of dried bean seed, in this case Brown Beauty bean seeds, produced by farmers in the Orbost district and clean and bagged by Fisher Bros., seed bean merchants of Orbost. This stencil is significant because it was specially made for the seed bean industry which was a major industry in the Orbost district for the first half of the 20th century. A galvanised iron sheet from which words have been cut out to form a stencil. BROWN BEAUTY BEANS 1948 CROP PRODUCE OF AUSTRALIA SOUND, CLEAN, FRESH ORBOST, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA PACKED FOR LAMBERT OVERSEAS PTY LTDseed-beans bag-stencil farming

This collection was compiled by Peter Fagg who worked as a scientist with the Department of Sustainability and Environment (now DELWP) to study dieback in eucalypts. He specialised in the silviculture of the eucalypt forest types of South-East Australia for most of his 40-year career, which started with the Forests Commission Victoria. He was in Orbost from 1968 - 1973. The contents of the book are all related to sporting groups in Orbost at the Mechanics Hall. Peter Fagg was the Publicity Officer for the group as well as president. He was also associated with the Orbost municipal bands.This item is related to Peter Fagg, a prominent member of the Orbost community. The item is a record of sporting activities in Orbost.A hard-covered book with a green spine and a green thatched cover. It contains financial statements, newspaper cuttings, photos which have labels hand-written in pen, minutes and a brief history of the Orbost Mechanics Hall.on front cover in black marker - Affiliated Sporting Bodies of Orbost ( Mechanics Hall Committee)fagg-peter sport-orbost mechanics-hall-orbost

Extracts Heidelberg Council Minutes re Plenty Bridge, 3 September1862, 10 May 1865, 22 May 1865, 5 June 1865 , 10 October1866, 14 November1866, 13 February 1867.main road, property, houses, shops, businesses, plenty bridge

These were compiled for the WW1 exhibition held in Orbost in April 2015.During World War 1 letters were a welcome means of personal communication for many people. Most information came from newspapers or broadcasts. Two blue plastic folders containing copies of letters from Gallipoli. They are printed copies of letters which had ben publuished in the Snowy River Mail from 10.9.1915 - 10.10.1915.On folders -Folders Made in Chinagallipoli-correspondence ww1 soldiers-orbost

The first Orbost Brass Band was formed in 1889. Around 1908 the town band split and the Orbost Workers' Band was formed. Eventually the two bands merged in 1913 to reform as the Orbost Municipal Band under conductorship of Charles Spink. The band continued for many years but was later disbanded and again reformed. This was to happen a number of times, the last time being in 1961 and continuing through to the late 1970's. Further info and Ref: In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall The various Orbost bands over the years played a major role in community activities providing entertainment and musical experiences for the many members.A black / white photograph of a group of band members in uniform and holding their instruments. In the front is a young boy holding drum sticks standing in front of a large drum which has ORBOST MUNICIPAL BAND written around its circumference. It is on a white buff card under glass in a white wooden frame.on front - Orbost Municipal Band -1965 with a typed list of names

This was the seal for the snowy River Improvement Trust (1952-1997). The trust inaugurated the push with governments and government authorities to return the environmental flow of fresh water to the Snowy River at Jindabyne. During its existence the Trust worked hard to improve the health of the Snowy and Brodribb Rivers (revegetation, erosion prevention, fencing, drainage).This Common Seal will remind the lower Snowy district of the beneficial work of the Snowy River Improvement Trust during its existence from 1952 to June 30 1997.Common seal for the Snowy River Improvement Trust - 1952-1997. It is made of metal and has a lever to press down for the embossing stamp. The lever is spring loaded.snowy-river-improvement-trust snowy-river embossing-machine white-max

Orbost Aero Club began in 1969 with Basil Dowie as Chair, David Nixon as Secretary/Treasurer. The group went into recess from 1977-1991 closing in 1997. The mid 1960s were boom years in flying training in Australia and the number of Aero Clubs grew rapidly. The Club played a significant role in the establishment of the small airport at Marlo and in the ongoing operation and development of the airport over the years particularly for patient transfer by aerial ambulance. The Orbost Aero Club Club played a significant role in the establishment of the small airport at Marlo and in the ongoing operation and development of the airport over the years.A buff coloured folder with green cloth spine binding. It contains a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation (18.8.1983) of the Orbost Aero Club. It contains legal documents pertaining to Section 24 of the Companies act 1961. These are carbon copies.On cover - Orbost Aero Club Memorandum of Articles of Association Bottom right corner - Mosley & Palmer Solicitors Orbostorbost-aero-club

This photograph comes from the Dowell collection. Related to P000202. At the turn of the 20th century, the railway line carried produce from southern New South Wales and the Riverina to Melbourne. Goods trains were a very important mode to transport to our region and industrialisation of Echuca. Photograph of the Murray bridge at Echuca at low river with a goods train crossing the bridge. Image is seen from bank facing north from Echuca.Recto :"MURRAY BRIDGE Echuca"; Verso: "C.1910" "Low river"dowell collection, murray river bridge , echuca, murray bridge, echuca, steam engine goods train, railway, transportation, industrialisation

This ledger was used by the Shire of Orbost from 1906 to 1910. The item was donated to Orbost & District Historical society from P.R.O.V. as a Place of Deposit (POD) item for safe keeping by a local history group or museum. 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. 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. In Australian suburbs and rural towns where the sewer wasn't connected, people usually had an outside toilet. The toilet seat was made of a plank of wood secured at its ends to the walls of the building with a large round hole in the middle. Underneath was the removable sanitary pan and on a regular basis, usually weekly, the full pan was taken away and replaced with an empty one. This was the job of the sanitary carter. the sanitary depot was in Martins Lane, Orbost Development of the Orbost Wastewater Treatment Facility began in the 1960’s with the construction of four treatment lagoons. Shortly after the construction of the lagoons the sewerage system was installed throughout Orbost.This item is a record of accounting for the local government. The collection of sanitary pans was a necessary service before the Orbost township was had its own wastewater treatment facility.A large register of pan fees for the Shire of Orbost. A black hard cover book with red binding and marbled end pages. Entries are hand-written in black ink.On spine - "PAN FEES REGISTER: in gold lettering. In centre of front cover in gold - "SHIRE OF ORBOST (underlined) PAN FEES REGISTER"orbost-shire-council ledger-pan-fees sewage orbost-township-sanitary-service

Book details the construction of the Thai Burma Railway & the bridge over the Rivew Kwai. Contains detailed photos & drawings. Taken from an oration by Fred Seiker in which he recalls the conditions under which the POW's lived & worked.Soft cover illustrated front & back with colour & black & white photos. 60 pages with cut edges. Bound with staples. Stamped inside front & back covers: Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch books-military-history, civil engineering/railways, river kwai, burma

Part of a slide show presentation "Bridges & Waterways of the Shire" by Russell Yeoman to the 13 September 1989 Society meeting. The presentation included slides of historic photos from the Shire of Eltham Pioneers collections as well as several recent views.Roll of 35mm black and white negative film, 4 of 7 stripsIlford HP4bridge, greensborough, para road, plenty river, railway bridge