Showing 876 items
matching letter and photograph.
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Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Photograph - Silver gelatin print, c.1910
Nothing is known about this young sailor but the photograph was possibly taken by the mission's staff for their newsletter or report.This photograph demonstrates this importance of the mission in delivering messages, letters and news to the seafarers.The young sailor is probably in front of the Seamen Institute Siddeley Street. The building in the background on the right of the photograph could be the Goods Shed.sailor, seaman, letter, seamen's mission, melbourne -
Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Photograph, New Year 1923 - Jules Michelet, 1923
In January 1923, 5 years after the end of WWI, the two French cruisers Jules Michelet and Victor Hugo went on a tour in South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand consolidating the friendship between the countries. The cruisers arrived in January 1923 and Melbournians were invited to visit the ships. Amongst them the ladies from the Guild. In the "Jottings from Our Log"number 69 dated from January 1923 we can read: Our French Visitors The French cruisers, “Jules Michelet” and “Victor Hugo”, each with a complement of 26 officers and 747 men, paid a visit to this port towards the end of the year. Many of the sailors made good use of our institute, and were supplied with French magazines and papers, and were delighted to find that quite a number of ladies could speak French fluently. Over one hundred men were present at the Institute on one of our special nights during Christmas week, when each French visitor was supplied with refreshments and a cigar. Through the great kindness of some of our ladies, each man aboard the two cruisers was supplied with a packet of cigarettes. These were greatly appreciated by the men, and a warm letter of thanks was received from each of the captains."Reflects strong community and LHLG links via the Mission and as a result of WW1 support and fundraising efforts.Sepia tone blurry photograph with a white frame depicting two French seafarers with their traditional uniform and beret on shore near a pier shed children or women in the far distance at lwr right.Handwritten at the back in pencil: New Year 1923 Jules Micheletfrench cruiser, jules michelet, victor hugo, wwi -
Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Photograph - Photograph, Black and white, 1923
In January 1923, 5 years after the end of WWI, the two French cruisers Jules Michelet and Victor Hugo went on a tour in South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand consolidating the friendship between the countries. The cruisers arrived in January 1923 and Melbournians were invited to visit the ships. Amongst them the ladies from the Guild and especially Dora Walker. In the "Jottings from Our Log"number 69 dated from January 1923 we can read: Our French Visitors The French cruisers, “Jules Michelet” and “Victor Hugo”, each with a complement of 26 officers and 747 men, paid a visit to this port towards the end of the year. Many of the sailors made good use of our institute, and were supplied with French magazines and papers, and were delighted to find that quite a number of ladies could speak French fluently. Over one hundred men were present at the Institute on one of our special nights during Christmas week, when each French visitor was supplied with refreshments and a cigar. Through the great kindness of some of our ladies, each man aboard the two cruisers was supplied with a packet of cigarettes. These were greatly appreciated by the men, and a warm letter of thanks was received from each of the captains."Reflects the close links and mutual friendships developed between French and Australian community developed between LHLG members from 1906 onward especially during WW1 and support of the French Red Cross.Black and white photograph jules michelet, victor hugo, french cruiser, ww1, france, dora walker, french sailors, dora simpson, lhlg, navy -
Greensborough Historical Society
Correspondence, Letter to Peter Blackbourn, 19/05/2001
Part of the Chapman Stock collection of photographs and family history from Peter Blackbourn.Copy of letter from Nell Budge to Peter Blackbourn. Includes photo of Mrs Budge with daughter Jennifer at St Katherine's Church St Helena. Letter includes transcript of an article on the church, source unknown.chapman stock family, peter blackbourn, nell budge, st katherines church, st helena -
Greensborough Historical Society
Correspondence, Colin Brooks, North East Link - connecting our community, 2018_05
Circular letter sent by Colin Brooks MP to Mrs Marilyn Smith, discussing the proposed North East Link.Single sheet, printed in both sides, col. photographs.north east link, marilyn smith, colin brooks -
Greensborough Historical Society
Letter - Digital Image, Samuel Rich injury notification letter, 1917, 21/05/1917
Private Samuel Rich. Notification of wounding to next of kin 1917, following an injured arm. Other photographs taken by Samuel Rich during WWI are available at items 3973-3987.Digital copy of black and white photographsamuel rich, world war 1 -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Photograph - Shire of Glenelg Councillors, c. 1963
Sourced from Casterton Town Hall (Former Shire of Glenelg)Black and white photo. Shire of Glenelg Councillors, 1962/1963 South Riding. Left to right- F. H. Silvester, C. Emerson, D. W. Matheson, sitting behind desk with Honour Board behind them on wall - Past Presidents of Shire of Glenelg, 1863 - 1963. Council Chambers Casterton Town HallBack: Black stamp '003635' Blue biro line, arrowed each end, drawn across photo. '3" ' above line 'Councillors 1962/3 South Riding L. to R. Cr. F.H. Silvester Cr. C. Emerson Cr. D. W. Matheson' handwritten in pencil. Letter 'C' in black birof h silvester, c emerson, d w matheson -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Photograph Photocopies of Portraits, n.d
Envelope containing a number of photocopies of portraits - people unknown. Also part of a letter to 'Sonny' Keiller advising him that the subjects of the portraits are Keiller, Keans or their friends -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Photograph - Shire of Glenelg Councillors, c. 1963
Sourced from Casterton Town Hall (Former Shire of Glenelg)Black and white photo. Three councillors for the Central Riding, Shire of Glenelg 1962/3, sitting behind desk, Honour Board on wall behind them, with names of Past Presidents of the Shire of Glenelg, 1863 - 1963 Left to right: H. D Mitchell, J.J. Howlett, J. R Hargreaves Council chambers, Casterton Town HallBack: Black stamp '003635. Letter 'A' heavy pencil. Blue biro line, arrowed each end, drawn across photo. '3" ' above line. 'Councillors central Riding 1962/3 '1/4 black' -pencil L to R Cr H.D. Mitchell Cr. JJ. Howlett Cr. J.R. Hargreaves' - handwritten pencil -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Photograph - Henty Beach, Portland, n.d
Black and white photo. Henty Beach, Battery Point and Fishermen's Breakwater in background. Second Baths on left, in disrepair, two bench seats on grass.Back: Handwritten letter to Mrs. Vivian, from Glad. at 'Kooringa'portland, henty beach, public baths, portland public baths -
Greensborough Historical Society
Card, Greensborough Methodist Church - The Window, 05/02/1966
Sent to Jessie Scholes who was a donor to the cost of the church window and the letter (Item167) and accompanying card are thanks for the donation. The card details the design and symbols of the triangular window.The Methodist Church in Greensborough was relocated to make way for Greensborough Plaza shopping centre. Mrs Scholes (nee Partington) and her family were long-time members of the church and Greensborough pioneers.Card: photograph and explanation of the design of the triangular window at the Greensborough Methodist Church.jessie may partington, jessie angus, jessie scholes, partington family, greensborough methodist church -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Folder, Building of Pensioners Cottages at St Andrews
Letter from Postmaster-General's Department to J.T. Niclassen of Buttermans Track, St Andrews concerning telephone equipment destroyed in recent bushfires, 22 Feb 1962 Letter, Joan Kennedy to Mavis Gill, 8 Nov 1962 Letter, Dick (Windy) Gale to Mavis Gill, 18 Apr 1962 Letter, Winnifred Whyte to Mavis Gill, 25 Jun 1962 Letter, N. Cleary to Mavis Gill, 18 Dec 1962 Letter, Doris Young to Mavis Gill, 22 Dec 1962 Re-building of Pensioners Cottages, St Andrews 1962c Declaration of Trust, Eltham and Diamond Valley Benevolent Society, c/o Mrs Mavis Gill, 1973Newsletter No. 136, January 2001 Mavis Gill who is known to our 'older generation' of members (oh to be an octogenarian) has given the Society papers and photographs of the 1962 fires in the St Andrews area. Mavis was involved in obtaining funds for "building relief' purposes so that volunteers could rebuild for those who lost their homes in that area. It lists many voluntary groups who were also involved in the rehabilitation of the fire victims in the area.Folder of letters and documentsvictorian bushfires - 1962, bushfires, fire damage - buildings, houses, st andrews, mavis gill, pensioners cottages, christmas hills, alistair knox, arthur leonard sloman, brian redmond smyth, buttermans track, con sloan, d. goddard, dick (windy) gale, doris young, e. howard, frederick thomas scott, gaunt henry, grant lane, j.t. niclassen, jack niclassen, joan kennedy, joseph kennedy, kangaroo ground relief committee, molly clark, n. cleary, n.r. cleary, patterson, pmg, postmaster-general, robert barclay, robert william fell, winnifred whyte -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Liz Pidgeon, Heritage Excursion; Back-track walk to Fitzsimons Lane, 2 July 2016, 2 July 2016
Newsletter No., 228, June 2016 Heritage Excursion – Back-track walk to Fitzsimons Lane – Saturday 2nd July Our July heritage excursion will be a walk to Yarra Hill Close and Fitzsimons Lane Bridge, based on the story on pages 3 and 4. Although the route is close to Fitzsimons Lane it will follow streets and paths that may not be familiar to many local residents. It will include commentary on the history of this corner of the Town of Eltham. This walk on Saturday 2nd July will follow a “there and back” route, that is returning over much the same course. It is about 2.5 km in length and will take 2 to 2.5 hours. It includes some hills. It will start at 2pm at the corner of Bolton Street and Old Eltham Road (Melway ref.21 F10).Born Digitalelection day, heritage excursion, activities, eltham district historical society, fitzsimons lane, letter box, mail box -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Booklet - Chicks' Camp Rockpool Road Mt Beauty
The Chick family went fishing and lived on Rockpool Road beside the East Kiewa river from c1934-43. This was before the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme. The Chick family camped in the Upper Kiewa Valley prior to the KHES being constructed.The memories and photographs are important for their contribution to this time.Black folder bound with plastic spiral ring. Page 1. includes a letter from Jan Hunter (nee Chick) to KVHS. Pages 2 -4 Written history. Page 5 An index to the 7 photosOn letter: 'Barbara - had this ready before I spoke to you. Jan'chick family, rockpool road, early camping -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Journal - Reference, Mountain Work and Walks 1945-48,The Joy of Being Alive, circa 1950s
This journal detailing the author and friends walks and observations together with black and white photographs of the Kiewa Valley and the Bogong high plains regions during various "walks during the years 1945 to 1948. These walks were undertaken during the various Hydro - electricity generating plants and infra structures were being installed. It relays how the walker and adventurer enjoyed the pristine Alpine regions of Victoria. The wilderness and higher sense of adventure encountered by the author and his "walking party" is now no longer that intense. The isolation of the region was, at that time, still a barrier for the casual adventurer and required a dedication of the "pioneer" mountain walker.The significance of this journal is that both the photographs and accounts of those intrepid adventurers walking throughout the Victorian Alps and the Bogong High Plains details the countryside in one of the remaining years of relative pristine and minimal "tourist" developed regions of rural Victorian. The necessity of greater electrical power supply to the rapidly growing demand from cities and larger towns, post World War II immigration, had resulted in drastic changes to the infrastructure of the Victorian Alpine regions and particularly the Kiewa Valley. The photographs and the written accounts of the "adventurers" in this journal presents the last phases of the " Australian rough outback environment" and also the typical "bush wise" city/town dweller that although lived in towns and cities still had the adventurers heart of their fore fathers.This item has been photocopied by the author of his journal, consisting 27 pages of A4 size paper. A covering letter by the author is at the front of this loose leafed journal. The journal is bound in a yellow plastic cover with spirals. At the back is a 2 page biography of Myrtle Emily (Grigg) Deamer 1922-2006, then a photo of Meg with baby Bryn and son Tony followed by a letter from David BottomleyThe author's correspondence and covering letter has his signature "D Bottomley"alpine country, bush walking, bogong mountain, alpine adventures -
Doncaster RSL Sub Branch
Hard cover album, Roll of Honor, Doncaster east State School, no.2096
The album lists students and teachers from the school that served in WW1, personal and career details and photographs.Historical information about Doncaster East district.A4 Hard Cover brown with gold lettering album.Typed letter to Parents of Schollars of Doncaster East State school from the Head Teacher, R.R Hobbs. Requesting names and addresses of past scholars that attended the school. Written 21st of October 1919. -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Booklet, Basil G Watson, 1967
This is a booklet produced in 1967 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the aeroplane flights of Basil Watson in 1917 (the Mount Gambier to Melbourne 1917 Experimental Air Mail). In the 1967 Mount Gambier/Melbourne air mail flight re-enactment the aircraft was from Aviation Services (Hardingham) Limited, a Piper Cherokee, and on board was Douglas Watson, Basil Watson’s nephew. Basil Watson was a pioneer aviator who built his own plane which had a 50 H.P. Rotary Gnome engine. He flew the first aeroplane to Warrnambool in January 1917, bringing with him the first air mail to the town. In Warrnambool he amazed the crowds with his dare-devil aerial acrobatics over the Warrnambool Racecourse. He died two months later, crashing into the sea near Point Cook. This booklet is of great interest as it gives details of the life of Basil Watson, important in Warrnambool’s history as the first man to fly into the town in 1917 and the first person to bring air mail to Warrnambool, including a letter from the Lord Mayor of Melbourne to the Mayor of Warrnambool. This is a booklet of 16 pages produced to commemorate the Mount Gambier to Melbourne 1917 Experimental Air Mail Flight. It has a grey cover with black printing and an image of an early model aeroplane on the front cover. The text includes illustrations, maps and black and white photographs. The first page has two signatures. The booklet has been stapled but the staples have been removed.‘Donated by Mrs Giles W’bool’ ‘J.C.Hardingham, Pilot’ ‘D.Watson’ basil watson, history of aviation in victoria, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool RSL Sub Branch
POSTCARD 29 December 1915 to MADGE from H.M.A.T. 'DEMOSTHENES' just after embarkation. Secretly married, Bob addresses his wife as 'Miss McLaughlin' c/- her parents. PICTURE POSTCARD of 8th Reinforcements, 6th Field Ambulance, photographed on board the Demosthenes. Every member's name has been carefully recorded by Bob on the reverse side. PHOTOS x 2: Fancy Dress on board Demosthenes. POSTCARD 2 January 1919 to MADGE from Belgium. By this stage, Madge had stopped writing to Bob after she was shown Bob's '2nd Trip to Paris' letter (15 August 1918) by her mother-in-law. By now, Bob had virtually given up on the marriage
This is one of the very few surviving pieces of correspondence between Bob and his wife, Madge. Bob destroyed the bulk of such correspondence between the pair, although some of Bob's typed letter/stories that Bob sent to Madge survived, pasted into a large hard-backed journal, and later passed on to grand-daughter, Margaret Davey. The Registry Office marriage was a secret business. Perhaps an Irish nationalist, Madge's father, Andrew McLaughlin, had absolutely forbidden any of his daughters to marry a soldier. The Snapes were taken by surprise too and Madge wore the wedding ring on a string about her neck. Bob wrote to Madge McLaughlin c/- her parents's home in at 22 Hull Street, Richmond (near West Richmond Railway Station).Picture Postcard.snape collection -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Alone in West Africa by Mary Gaunt, Printed 1912
“Alone in West Africa” is one of a number of works written by Mary Gaunt. Her other works include, A Woman in China, The End of the Earth, Kirkhams Find, The Moving Finger and Deadman’s. Mary was born at Indigo near Chiltern in 1862 and lived for many years in Ballarat where her father W.H. Gaunt was gold commissioner and later a judge. The original Gaunt family home was converted into St Patrick’s College. She married Dr Lindsay Miller and moved to Warrnambool and after his death in 1899 she embarked on her travels which took her to many parts of the world. She died in Cannes, France in January 1942. Mary Gaunt wrote over 25 novels, numerous travel books and many stories and articles. She had a strong link with Warrnambool and details of the district are included among her writings. She also wrote regularly in the early 1900’s for the Times in London on women issues. She was an independent thinker and worker. Apart from the text of “Alone in West Africa,” the work contains 97 black and white photographs which Mary had taken and developed herself. These photos are a significant view of aspects of life in Africa at that timeDark blue cover with gold text. Title, “Alone in West Africa” with sketch of two children in the centre, with Mary Gaunt underneath. The back cover has an embossed letter “L”. Inside the front cover is a rough sketch of the author’s route of the French Ivory Coast. It contains a number of black and white plates and index. 399 pages.T Werner Laurie on bottom of spine. Black and white photograph of author with autograph underneath. T Werner Laurie Clifford’s Inn London. Acknowledgements included in the dedication , Sir Charles Lucas, Sir George Denton, Elder Dempster and Co. Messrs. Swanzy and Co.,gaunt, mary gaunt, alone in west africa, french ivory coast 1912 -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Album - Portrait photos Frisch, Circa 1888
A collection of photographs depicting numerous people. Some have been taken by studios such as Lovewell & Co, Hider, Jordan and Daniel Clarke of Warrnambool. Most of the photos are unnamed but of those that are there is a Thom Wickham, E. M. Fleming, Henry and Stanly Frisch. There are also a number of photographs depicting land clearing and wood cutting also a couple of cards, one happy New year and Glaedelig Jul( Danish Merry Christmas)An album typical of the era with local family connections as well as work by local photographersBrown leather cover with gold figure work over embossing on the front with possibly the letter,”C”. The back cover is entirely embossed. Edges of metal clasp are on front and back cover but clasp part is missing. Gold edges to pages, which are all heavy card. Front inside page has pink briar roses with “Album” on card inserted through it.Jan 17th 1888. To Morris from H Bambrick?warrnambool, warrnambool photographers, lovewell & co, jordan photographers, daniel clarke, thom wickham, e m fleming, henry frisch, stanley frisch -
RSL Victoria - Anzac House Reference Library and Memorabilia Collection
Letters of John Albert Cashmore & Arthur Cashmore, John & Arthur Cashmore, 1915 to 1918
Both Cashmore brothers embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT Palermo on 7th May 1915, and returned to Australia in mid-1919. Nine letters by Jack and two by Arthur were sent from Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine. A letter by Jack from Palestine on 26th October 1917 tells of an upcoming action that "may be pretty big", and a later letter (March 1918) tells of men known to him who were lost at Beersheba.Eleven WW1 letters by Jack and Arch Cashmore (4th Light Horse Regiment, 5th Reinforcement). Includes several postcards and two small photographs. ww1, gallipoli, letters, palestine, beersheba, arthur cashmore, john albert cashmore -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Mary Owen, granddaughter of Walter Withers, unveiling the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
[from EDHS Newsletter No. 75, November 1990:] WALTER WITHERS PLAQUE At long last we have unveiled our plaque in the Walter Withers Reserve. The function was attended by a number of members and friends of the Society and descendants of the Withers family. Following the unveiling, the group proceeded to the Eltham Shire Office for afternoon tea and a small exhibition of Withers' paintings arranged by Andrew Mackenzie. The unveiling was performed by Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Walter Withers. Her speech provided an interesting personal perspective on Withers and is repeated in full here: I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of paying tribute to the man you have all come to honour today. I have the feeling that most of you probably know more about him and his work than I do. Walter Withers died nearly seven years before I was born and so I never knew him. Sadly, although other members of his family inherited some of his talent, I was not among them and I know very little about art. This is doubly hard to bear because my husband had some ability to draw and my second daughter also has some talent in this direction. My children are all artistic - mostly in the field of music inherited partly from their father - a Welshman who sang like a Welshman - and partly from my grandmother, Fanny Withers who, I believe was no mean pianist. However all this talent gave me a miss and for many years I felt a complete ignoramus in the fields of the arts. It was not until I was nearly fifty years old that I walked into a gallery in Brisbane and, as I wandered around the room, suddenly one picture leapt at me and I knew instantly that it had been painted by my grandfather. I had never seen the picture before and it gave me quite a shock to find that I had recognized the style of painting. I realized then that I had absorbed more than I realized simply by living with pictures and with people who painted them and talked about their painting and the painting of others. When I was a child I sometimes spent school holidays with my Aunt Margery Withers and her husband, Richard McCann. Aunt Marge painted me several times but I'm afraid I was a restless subject and used to sit reading a book and look up grudgingly when she wanted to paint my eyes. During the September holidays my aunt and uncle were busy preparing paintings far the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Twenty Painters, to which they both belonged. I remember how important I used to feel when they took me along to the Athenaeum Gallery on the Friday night before the opening to help hang their pictures. There were many artists there but the two I remember are perhaps surprisingly both women: Miss Bale and Miss Tweddle. I remember how cold it used to be up in that gallery at night. They used to heat water on a gas ring to make tea and Aunt Marge used to bring sandwiches and fruit for our evening meal. Everyone seemed to be poor in those days and no-one dreamed of going out for a meal. It was a case of make-do - even to cutting down frames to fit pictures or cutting pictures to fit the frames. They had to use the same frames from year to year if the pictures didn't sell. The opening was an exciting event for me. I felt I was privileged to meet important people - people who knew a lot more than I - and Uncle Dick would get quite merry after a couple of the tiny sweet sherries which were always distributed. I realise now that quite a lot of "art talk" rubbed off on me during my visits to the Athenaeum and during my stays with my aunt and uncle. I suspect that much of our most useful learning comes this way and those of us who have had the privilege of associating with artists, writers, philosophers and other thinkers have a richness in our lives of which we may be unaware. Walter Withers was a prolific painter and, although he painted for love of it, I suspect that the need to provide for his family drove him, like Mozart, to greater efforts than he might otherwise have achieved. Reading old letters and articles about the Heidelberg artists, I have come to realize something of the constant strain placed on many of them - particularly Withers and McCubbin - by poverty and the need to make ends meet. Withers was ever conscious of the need to provide for his wife and his five children and there are touching letters to his wife, regretting that he was not able to earn more for them. In addition to his painting, he worked hard at teaching and illustrating and, as he grew older, the strain began to tell and his health deteriorated. He seems never to have had a very strong constitution and suffered from rheumatism, which must have made painting quite painful at times. His eldest daughter, Gladys, was eventually confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and I have a tendency to arthritis myself, so I am particularly aware of what this could have meant to him. Recently I found a short letter written by my mother to her mother, Fanny Withers on the anniversary of her father's birthday in 1919, in which she said: "Poor old Dad, I often think now what a lot he must have suffered. His life was too hard and too strenuous for him. He had too many chick-a-biddies, I think. He wasn't equal to so much town life and train journeys with so many delicacies as he had. Since I have been ill, I have realised what he must have felt like.” He certainly drove himself to produce. He travelled all over Victoria by train, buggy, bicycle and on foot and for a time he travelled from Eltham to Melbourne every day by train, although later he lived in Melbourne during the week and only returned to Eltham for the weekends. My mother died seven years after her father's death, when my twin sisters were 10 days old and I was 16 months. So I never knew my mother or my grandfather. But my two aunts, Gladys and Margery, sometimes took me to stay with Gan Withers at Southernwood in Bolton Street . No cars in those days and it seemed a very long hot and dusty walk from the Station. Three memories remain with me of Southernwood. One is the well at the back which I found quite terrifying; the second is Gan killing a snake - even more terrifying. She was a formidable woman, my grandmother and a great ally and support to her husband. I think she was the business end of the partnership. The third memory of Southernwood is my grandfather's studio – down what seemed like a toy staircase inside the room. This and the big walk-in fireplace stayed in my mind from the age of about six until I saw them again about forty years later when the house was being used as a Sunday School. I just wish that money could be found to purchase this old house for the City of Eltham so that a permanent museum could be established in memory of a man who did so much to put Eltham on the map of art history. Recently I have become interested in family history and spent some time in England, Ireland and Wales looking for traces of my ancestors. I realized then how important it is to have records of people who have contributed to our society. We forget so soon and it is amazing how often, within two generations, names, dates and many details are forgotten. We are fortunate that so many of Walter Withers' works have been bought by galleries and that people like Andrew Mackenzie have taken the trouble to search out people who knew him and to write about him and his work. And I am very grateful to the Historical Society of Eltham for recognizing the importance of having a permanent tribute in Eltham to the contribution made by Walter Withers, who loved Eltham so much and who has assured this lovely district a place in the annals of history. I am indebted to Kathleen Mangan; the daughter of another famous Australian painter , Fred McCubbin, - featured in The Age this morning (thanks again to Andrew Mackenzie) for the most apt tribute to Walter Withers. Kathleen is not well and she rang me a couple of days ago, regretting that she could not be present today “to pay tribute” as she said, “to Walter Withers for I always think Walter Withers is the spirit of Eltham.” Thank you, Kathleen. And now I have much pleasure in unveiling the plaque commissioned by the Eltham Historical Society from Bob McLellan of Charmac Industries to commemorate the life and work of Walter Withers, the spirit of Eltham. Mary Owen, 13 October 1990.Three colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Mary Owen, granddaughter of Walter Withers, unveiling the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
[from EDHS Newsletter No. 75, November 1990:] WALTER WITHERS PLAQUE At long last we have unveiled our plaque in the Walter Withers Reserve. The function was attended by a number of members and friends of the Society and descendants of the Withers family. Following the unveiling, the group proceeded to the Eltham Shire Office for afternoon tea and a small exhibition of Withers' paintings arranged by Andrew Mackenzie. The unveiling was performed by Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Walter Withers. Her speech provided an interesting personal perspective on Withers and is repeated in full here: I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of paying tribute to the man you have all come to honour today. I have the feeling that most of you probably know more about him and his work than I do. Walter Withers died nearly seven years before I was born and so I never knew him. Sadly, although other members of his family inherited some of his talent, I was not among them and I know very little about art. This is doubly hard to bear because my husband had some ability to draw and my second daughter also has some talent in this direction. My children are all artistic - mostly in the field of music inherited partly from their father - a Welshman who sang like a Welshman - and partly from my grandmother, Fanny Withers who, I believe was no mean pianist. However all this talent gave me a miss and for many years I felt a complete ignoramus in the fields of the arts. It was not until I was nearly fifty years old that I walked into a gallery in Brisbane and, as I wandered around the room, suddenly one picture leapt at me and I knew instantly that it had been painted by my grandfather. I had never seen the picture before and it gave me quite a shock to find that I had recognized the style of painting. I realized then that I had absorbed more than I realized simply by living with pictures and with people who painted them and talked about their painting and the painting of others. When I was a child I sometimes spent school holidays with my Aunt Margery Withers and her husband, Richard McCann. Aunt Marge painted me several times but I'm afraid I was a restless subject and used to sit reading a book and look up grudgingly when she wanted to paint my eyes. During the September holidays my aunt and uncle were busy preparing paintings far the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Twenty Painters, to which they both belonged. I remember how important I used to feel when they took me along to the Athenaeum Gallery on the Friday night before the opening to help hang their pictures. There were many artists there but the two I remember are perhaps surprisingly both women: Miss Bale and Miss Tweddle. I remember how cold it used to be up in that gallery at night. They used to heat water on a gas ring to make tea and Aunt Marge used to bring sandwiches and fruit for our evening meal. Everyone seemed to be poor in those days and no-one dreamed of going out for a meal. It was a case of make-do - even to cutting down frames to fit pictures or cutting pictures to fit the frames. They had to use the same frames from year to year if the pictures didn't sell. The opening was an exciting event for me. I felt I was privileged to meet important people - people who knew a lot more than I - and Uncle Dick would get quite merry after a couple of the tiny sweet sherries which were always distributed. I realise now that quite a lot of "art talk" rubbed off on me during my visits to the Athenaeum and during my stays with my aunt and uncle. I suspect that much of our most useful learning comes this way and those of us who have had the privilege of associating with artists, writers, philosophers and other thinkers have a richness in our lives of which we may be unaware. Walter Withers was a prolific painter and, although he painted for love of it, I suspect that the need to provide for his family drove him, like Mozart, to greater efforts than he might otherwise have achieved. Reading old letters and articles about the Heidelberg artists, I have come to realize something of the constant strain placed on many of them - particularly Withers and McCubbin - by poverty and the need to make ends meet. Withers was ever conscious of the need to provide for his wife and his five children and there are touching letters to his wife, regretting that he was not able to earn more for them. In addition to his painting, he worked hard at teaching and illustrating and, as he grew older, the strain began to tell and his health deteriorated. He seems never to have had a very strong constitution and suffered from rheumatism, which must have made painting quite painful at times. His eldest daughter, Gladys, was eventually confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and I have a tendency to arthritis myself, so I am particularly aware of what this could have meant to him. Recently I found a short letter written by my mother to her mother, Fanny Withers on the anniversary of her father's birthday in 1919, in which she said: "Poor old Dad, I often think now what a lot he must have suffered. His life was too hard and too strenuous for him. He had too many chick-a-biddies, I think. He wasn't equal to so much town life and train journeys with so many delicacies as he had. Since I have been ill, I have realised what he must have felt like.” He certainly drove himself to produce. He travelled all over Victoria by train, buggy, bicycle and on foot and for a time he travelled from Eltham to Melbourne every day by train, although later he lived in Melbourne during the week and only returned to Eltham for the weekends. My mother died seven years after her father's death, when my twin sisters were 10 days old and I was 16 months. So I never knew my mother or my grandfather. But my two aunts, Gladys and Margery, sometimes took me to stay with Gan Withers at Southernwood in Bolton Street . No cars in those days and it seemed a very long hot and dusty walk from the Station. Three memories remain with me of Southernwood. One is the well at the back which I found quite terrifying; the second is Gan killing a snake - even more terrifying. She was a formidable woman, my grandmother and a great ally and support to her husband. I think she was the business end of the partnership. The third memory of Southernwood is my grandfather's studio – down what seemed like a toy staircase inside the room. This and the big walk-in fireplace stayed in my mind from the age of about six until I saw them again about forty years later when the house was being used as a Sunday School. I just wish that money could be found to purchase this old house for the City of Eltham so that a permanent museum could be established in memory of a man who did so much to put Eltham on the map of art history. Recently I have become interested in family history and spent some time in England, Ireland and Wales looking for traces of my ancestors. I realized then how important it is to have records of people who have contributed to our society. We forget so soon and it is amazing how often, within two generations, names, dates and many details are forgotten. We are fortunate that so many of Walter Withers' works have been bought by galleries and that people like Andrew Mackenzie have taken the trouble to search out people who knew him and to write about him and his work. And I am very grateful to the Historical Society of Eltham for recognizing the importance of having a permanent tribute in Eltham to the contribution made by Walter Withers, who loved Eltham so much and who has assured this lovely district a place in the annals of history. I am indebted to Kathleen Mangan; the daughter of another famous Australian painter , Fred McCubbin, - featured in The Age this morning (thanks again to Andrew Mackenzie) for the most apt tribute to Walter Withers. Kathleen is not well and she rang me a couple of days ago, regretting that she could not be present today “to pay tribute” as she said, “to Walter Withers for I always think Walter Withers is the spirit of Eltham.” Thank you, Kathleen. And now I have much pleasure in unveiling the plaque commissioned by the Eltham Historical Society from Bob McLellan of Charmac Industries to commemorate the life and work of Walter Withers, the spirit of Eltham. Mary Owen, 13 October 1990.Two colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, Last remaining house on Eastland Shopping Centre site in Ringwood - 1985, 1985
Photos (3) of the former McKinley home (Mayor 1927/28) and later Rymers' at 22 Adelaide Street, Ringwood, Victoria, 1985, prior to demolition for expansion of Eastland Shopping Centre. Covering letter from Connie White, 2014. 1. Ringwood house (Myer car park) 1985 shot 2. Ringwood - old house, Myer car park 3. Ringwood old house - Myer car park -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, Leader Associated Newspapers, Ringwood Garden Club floral display - Hartley Taylor, President, on left. C.1988
Photos are stored with a letter by Mrs E.V. Pullin, President Ringwood Historical Research Group Inc, dated 19 July 1988.Photograph of four people looking at floral display. L-R Hartley Taylor - President Ringwood Garden Club, Bob Flower - Waverley Garden Club, two ladies (perhaps from Waverley Garden Club, perhaps judges). +Additional Keywords: Taylor, Hartley / Flower, Bob / Pullin, Mrs E.V. / Lindsay, Mr J. / Cole, Gretta / Cole, Alex / McDonnell, Capt. Ralph -
Orbost & District Historical Society
black / white postcard, late 19th - early 20th century
This postcard seems to have been written by Grace Cameron to Annie (Cameron) Gilbert. There is mention of a harvest festival.The Cameron and Gilbert families are early settlers of the Orbost area. This photograph is a pictorial record of dress in the late 19th and early 20th century. It depicts the the high standards of dress at informal occasionsA photograph / postcard which shows a group of men and women in a large forest clearing. The women are dressed in white(?) dresses with ribbon bows at the neck. The men are in suits. Most are wearing hats. In the back right corner are two horse - drawn carriages.on the back is a hand -written lettercameron-annie celebrations-outdoor -
Orbost & District Historical Society
black and photograph / postcard, 1.4.1908
This postcard was sent to Annie Gilbert (Mrs John Gilbert) of Tullagoota, Orbost. It was written by "Grace", probably her sister, Grace Cameron Annie Gilbert was the daughter of John Cameron who selected the first land on the Snowy River flats. This is a photograph of the original Orbost / Snowy River Bridge , a suspension bridge which opened in 1893. It has been taken when the Snowy River was in flood. It is similar to other photographs held in The State Library, Victoria. The Snowy River Mail and Tambo and Croajingolong Gazette Sat 12 Aug 1893 records the opening of this bridge as "the most important public event that has yet been commemorated in Eastern ......The Messrs McLeod, with whom the first settlement of this district is generally associated, took up their residence on the eastern bank of the Snowy River about the year 1841 or 42. The late Mr W. Roadknight and Mr T. T. Stirling took possession of the territory on the western side of the Snowy about 35 years ago. During the occupation of the country by cattle owners, very little progress was made in the way of roads and bridges, and except to the hardy and lexperienced bushman, it might have been generally regarded as inaccessible. About the year 1877, however, the late Mr James Robertson eldest son of Mr James Robertson, of Lochend farm, selected land now occupied by his father, about four miles from Orbost on the west bank of the river, Mr John Cameron visited the. district shortly after a .tour of inspection and returned later with his brothers, James and Alick Gameron, but found that during their absence Mr Ernest Watt had found his way on the scene and pegged out a selection, thus anticipating the advent of the Camerons by about 12 hours. We understand that a Mr Kidd, who selected the property now occupied by Mr W. J. Ross, at Pumpkin Point, was one of the earliest batch of settlers.........."This item is associated with Annie Gilbert (nee Cameron) reported to have been the first white girl to be born in Orbost. It is a pictorial record of the suspension bridge over the Snowy River which has since been replaced twice.A faded black / white postcard of a bridge across a river. There are cattle in the river and the banks are tree-covered.on back - a hand-written letter addressed to Mrs J. Gilbert Tullagoota Orbost.cameron-annie suspension-bridge-orbost snowy-river-orbost -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Postcard, Card addressed to Miss Lena Williams, Bedford Road, Ringwood. Dated 1907
Sepia photographInscribed on back with letter to Miss Lena Williams of Ringwood- Image 10267(b) -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, Overlooking Ringwood from Loughnans Hill showing the antimony mine and brick works c.1914
Two postcards, same view but different reverse sides. One was made by "Empire" with a 1d postage (see description below); the other with "JB McAlpin, Estate and Financial Agent, District Government Valuer, Ringwood". A letter on one of the postcards is dated 1914 and is addressed to "Mrs. F. Palmer, c/- Mrs. E. F. Tregaskis, White Horse Road, Ringwood, via Melbourne". The letter is to her mother and the daughter's name is "Eveline". The following is written on the back of one of the enlargements, "View of Ringwood East taken from Loughnans Hill showing the antimony mine and brick works. Houses across centre are in Warrandyte Road. -
Orbost & District Historical Society
letter book, James Yeates & Sons (Printing) Pty Ltd, 1977
This book was prepared for the Buchan School centenary. In the Buchan District itinerant teaching was conducted in buildings with log walls and a bark roof typical of the mid 19th century. Not until 1878 was the first State school built on the same general site as the present school, on the Orbost Rd, ⅓ of a mile from the bridge over the Buchan River. This original school building must have been constructed from high quality timber, because it still serves as the shelter pavilion. On 11th of July 1878 William Scott opened the first school of approximately 40 pupils ranging from Grade 1 - 8. A larger weatherboard school was erected in 1914. A residence was provided for the HT in 1934 and in 1956 a second classroom erected and attached to the 1914 building. Unfortunately, all records of the Committee were lost in a fire when the homestead of Alex Cameron, then serving as Committee Secretary, was burnt to the ground, but it is well known to local citizens that Frank Moon, local prospector, explorer and discoverer of the famous Buchan Limestone Caves, attended school at SS1905 Buchan. (ref SCHOOLS EAST GIPPSLAND - John Phillips)This book is a useful research tool on the history of Buchan.Two copies of a 273 pp paper covered booklet. The cover is white with the title in black print. On the front is a sketch of an old school building. On the back is a black/white photograph of children running downhill. A book on the history of the Buchan school no.1905. Includes photographs, maps and lists of school students and staff.book buchan-history buchan-school