These four scrap books were compiled by Margaret Smith, a long time member of the Orbost & District Historical Society. They were donated by her family after her death in 2015.These items are useful reference tools.Four large scrap books containing clippings from the Snowy River Mail. They are pasted in. Two books, 2529.1 and 2529.2 are for 2007 and 25209.3 and 2529.4 are for 2007. All books are large format books for NEWS & CUTTINGS. they contain personal items and news articles.Labelled 2006 and 2007smith-margaret news-orbost scrap-books

This pocket with the school badge was part of the girls' uniform at Orbost High School. The blazer pocket forms part of the Mary Gilbert collection. The Latin inscription, :acti labores lucundi" can be freely translated as "finished work is pleasant". The school badge with its stalk of maize was designed by Clarke Cowell who was in the first Senior Class of Orbost Higher Elementary School in 1912.Orbost High School / Orbost Secondary College has played a significant role in the education of senior students in Orbost as the sole facility in the distruct. This item represents the history of the institution.A navy coloured cloth pocket badge from Orbost High School. It has the school motto, "acti labores lucundi" around a yellow/gold stalk of maize.On back lining : PR in black marker 1922 badge school-uniform education orbost-high-school

This is a photograph of Elizabeth Lawless on her 102nd birthday. The Lawless family lived in Orbost from 1907 - c 1920. John Francis Lawless had a saddlery shop. He died at an early age - 47 years - June 7 1912, leaving his wife, Elizabeth and seven children. The eldest son, Victor Rowland lawless volunteered for service in WW1 but did not leave Australia because of illness. The second son, Edward Vincent Lawless (b 1895 d 1917) worked for McCoy & Co. in Orbost, coachbuilding, undertakers, general blacksmiths and farriers, prior to enlisting in WW!. He was trained as a signaller and was sent to France where he was killed in action on 9.10.1917. Elizabeth Lawless worked as a ladies' nurse (midwife) in Orbost prior to leaving the district in 1920. She lived to 6.6.1975 aged 104 years.The Lawless family was a prominent family in Orbost in the early 20th century.A large black / white photograph of an elderly lady seated and holding a cup of, with biscuit. She has a shawl draped over her shoulders.

This miner's right certificate was issued in Orbost to Donald Munro of Orbost. It was valid from 24.10.1904 until 23.10.1905 and cost two shillings and sixpence. Donald Munro, with his brother, Archie carried on a boot-making business in one of the rooms of a three-storeyed barn at Lochiel. The Munros were musically inclined and through them a band was formed in 1889. Donald Munro was involved in many of the town's activities. (More in Mary Gilbert's Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District). The Miner's Right was introduced in 1855 in the colony of Victoria, replacing the Miner's Licence. Protests in 1853 at Bendigo with the formation of the Anti-Gold Licence Association and the rebellion of Eureka Stockade in December 1854 at Ballarat led to reform giving the right to mine gold, the right to vote, and the right to own land. This new system proved economical and sustainable, operating substantially unchanged up until 1975. This item is of historical significance as it is associated with positive outcomes for gold miners brought about by the Eureka Stockade rebellion and its subsequent democrat changes. It is also associated with the Munro family who were early settlers in Orbost.A white paper miner's right certificate. It has black print with hand-written details. It is an elaborate document with the Victorian coat-of-arms at the top.on back- date, hand-written notescertificate-miner's-right munro-donald

The author, Denis O'Bryan was an assistant forester in Orbost, 1977/78.This book is a chronological history of East Gippsland.A small paperback book with a bright orange front cover. It has a stylised picture with historical drawings of a settler, sheep and Aboriginal art. The book was written by Denis O'Bryan and is a chronological account of the history of East Gippsland. It contains black and white photos.In pen - Marina Johnson $5.95 stamp of Orbost Historical Society Box 344 2190 Orb ostpionering-east-gippsland o'bryan-denis history-east-gippsland

Pons asinorum was the name given to a wooden carving made by road worker Finlay Munro in the early 1920s at Boulder Creek, on the old Princess Highway, between Orbost and Cann River. The carved face was said to mock the supervising engineer after an argument about putting the road alignment across a swamp that required new bridges. The Italian workmen had advocated for a different route to avoid the need for building new bridges across the swamp. This photograph is from a set of thirteen black and white postcards in a fold-out format.This is a photograph of an iconic tourist attraction which records the woodworking skills of workers in the early 20th century. The carving is no longer there.A small black / white photograph of a face carved into a tree stump.on front at bottom - ON THE ORBOST CANN ROADwoodcarving pons-asinorum boulder-creek-east-gippsland princess-highway

This fence post is from the original Snowy River Station stock yards which were where "Merindah" stands today. It was probably owned by the Marshall family at the time of transfer to "Merindah" in 1985. It was lifted out by Geoff Stevenson with a bucket on a tractor in 1986. The post was originally twice the length. The Snowy River Station was established in 1842 by Peter Imlay. In 1845 the land was sold to Norman MCLeod who named the area Orbost. After financial difficulties in the 1870's the run was taken over by W.J.Clarke and known as Orbost Station.Peter Imlay established the first white settlement in 1842 settling on the eastern side of the Snowy River where the township of Orbost now stands. This settlement was the Snowy River Station. A corner post from a post and rail fence. It is possibly made of red box.. On one side are three rectangular sections cut out with a similar one on the other sides. The post is hollow and has metal staples in the sides for attaching wires.orbost-station mcleod fence-post

The Richardson family was one of the very early settler families to establish themselves in the Orbost district. Samuel Richardson was a sawmiller and farmer in Orbost. He built The Curlip, a wooden paddle-steamer of 9 tons gross and dimensions of 43 feet long, 10 feet wide and a depth of 3 feet, on the slipway at their Tabarra sawmill in 1890. The Ballarat Horticultural Society was established in 1859 by a group of thirteen men with the aim of establishing an association for all lovers of horticulture. There were many such societies throughout the colonies making a contribution to their communities.Samuel Richardson, with his family, was a very early settler in the Orbost / Marlo district. A black / white portrait photograph of a full-bearded man sitting at a table with one hand leaning on his knee and the other holding a piece of paper. He is wearing a dark suit with a longis coat.on back - Samuel Richardson 1821-1892richardson-samuel curlip timber-orbost

From The Argus (Melbourne) on January 10 1934 "Damage estimated at £500,000 has been caused by the floods in the Orbost district. No loss of life occurred, largely owing to the heroic efforts of rescue parties. Many families spent Monday night on the roofs of houses or in trees, surrounded by deep, rushing flood waters." This 1934 flood was devastating, destroying a section of the 1922 Orbost bridge - the centre span was washed away -. wrecking fences, bridges and roads, dumping silt and debris on the rich river flats and drowning cattle. This is a pictorial record of the 1934 flood, a significant event in the history of Orbost.A black / white photograph of floodwaters. In the middle of the water can be see debris including a large spoked wheel. In the background are houses and fences.on back - "near Hilyer's garage at foot of hill Main Street Caravan Park on right" on front at bottom left - "1934"orbost-flood-1934 flood-orbost

These are photographs of the construction of the current cement road bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost. Construction of the bridges commenced in January 1975, with an expectation to open the bridge across the Snowy River as soon as possible. Less than two years later, on 25 November 1976, the bridge across the Snowy River was opened to traffic, allowing the old bridge to be demolished. The remainder of the Orbost Bypass, both the floodplain crossings and the eastern section around the township itself, was declared ‘Princes Freeway’ and opened to traffic in December 1977. (ref http://mrv.ozroads.com.au)The opening of this Snowy River Bridge was an important development in the accessibility to the township of Orbost. These photographs record its construction.Two black / white photographs showing the construction of a road bridge across a river. 3257.1 shows piles being dropped beside the bridge, 3257.2 is of the early stages of construction of this bridge.snowy-river-bridge-orbost road-construction-orbost bridge-orbost

These cloths were embroidered by Mrs J.W. Bird of Orbost for her daughter's trousseau. Hilda Bird, the only daughter of Mr and Mrs J.W. Bird married Mr. John Russell of Caulfield in April 1940. Jane Annie (Jean) Herbert married John Whitney Bird on December 18 1902. she was a long-time member of the St James Church of England choir and a very keen tennis player. she died in 1953. (ref, Mary Gilbert - "Personalities and Stories of The Early Orbost District")This item has aesthetic significance and shows the needlework skill of the women of the early settler families.Two white linen cloths with drawn thread work and embroidery in white. 1582.2 has a fringed edge. 1582.1 has a crocheted edge.

The Snowy River Mail is a weekly newspaper published in Orbost in the Shire of East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Previously published as The Snowy River mail and Tambo and Croajingolong gazette from 1890 to 1911. The Gippsland Courier merged with the Snowy River Mail when proprietor Lachlan Ross moved to Orbost in 1910. In 1999 the paper was acquired by the Yeates family when the Hollins family retired from the newspapers business The paper is still being produced by the fourth generation of the Yeates family as part of East Gippsland Newspapers.This newspaper is a contemporary record of local events.A Snowy River Mail newspaper dated 17.1.1968. It contains news items, photographs and advertisements in black/white print.newspaper snowy-river-mail

The Snowy River Mail is a weekly newspaper published in Orbost in the Shire of East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Previously published as The Snowy River mail and Tambo and Croajingolong gazette from 1890 to 1911. The Gippsland Courier merged with the Snowy River Mail when proprietor Lachlan Ross moved to Orbost in 1910. In 1999 the paper was acquired by the Yeates family when the Hollins family retired from the newspapers business. The paper is still being produced by the fourth generation of the Yeates family as part of East Gippsland Newspapers Thisnewspaper is a contemporary record of a significant local events.A Snowy River Mail newspaper dated 27.7.1983. The main story is "Blaze at Golf Club". It contains news articles, photographs and advertisements - black/white.newspaper snowy-river-mail orbost-golf-club

The Snowy River Mail is a weekly newspaper published in Orbost in the Shire of East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Previously published as The Snowy River mail and Tambo and Croajingolong gazette from 1890 to 1911. The Gippsland Courier merged with the Snowy River Mail when proprietor Lachlan Ross moved to Orbost in 1910. In 1999 the paper was acquired by the Yeates family when the Hollins family retired from the newspapers business. The paper is still being produced by the fourth generation of the Yeates family as part of East Gippsland Newspapers. These newspapers are useful research tools as they are contemporary records of events in Orbost.A cardboard box of black/white newspapers. There are 38 issues of the Snowy River Mail from 1987. All contain news reports, articles, photographs and advertisements.newspapers snowy-river-mail

The Snowy River Mail is a weekly newspaper published in Orbost in the Shire of East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Previously published as The Snowy River mail and Tambo and Croajingolong gazette from 1890 to 1911. The Gippsland Courier merged with the Snowy River Mail when proprietor Lachlan Ross moved to Orbost in 1910. In 1999 the paper was acquired by the Yeates family when the Hollins family retired from the newspapers business. The paper is still being produced by the fourth generation of the Yeates family as part of East Gippsland Newspapers. These newspapers are a useful reference tool as they contain contemporary reports of local events.A cardboard box of black/white newspapers. There are 32 issues of the Snowy River Mail from 1988. All contain news reports, articles, photographs and advertisements.newspapers snowy-river-mail

The Snowy River Mail is a weekly newspaper published in Orbost in the Shire of East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Previously published as The Snowy River mail and Tambo and Croajingolong gazette from 1890 to 1911. The Gippsland Courier merged with the Snowy River Mail when proprietor Lachlan Ross moved to Orbost in 1910. In 1999 the paper was acquired by the Yeates family when the Hollins family retired from the newspapers business. The paper is still being produced by the fourth generation of the Yeates family as part of East Gippsland Newspapers. These newspapers are a useful reference tool as they contain contemporary reports of local events.A cardboard box of black/white newspapers. There are 42 issues of the Snowy River Mail from 1989. All contain news reports, articles, photographs and advertisements.newspapers snowy-river-mail

The Snowy River Mail is a weekly newspaper published in Orbost in the Shire of East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Previously published as The Snowy River mail and Tambo and Croajingolong gazette from 1890 to 1911. The Gippsland Courier merged with the Snowy River Mail when proprietor Lachlan Ross moved to Orbost in 1910. In 1999 the paper was acquired by the Yeates family when the Hollins family retired from the newspapers business. The paper is still being produced by the fourth generation of the Yeates family as part of East Gippsland Newspapers. These newspapers are useful research materials as they are contemporary records of local eventsA cardboard box of black/white newspapers. There are 48 issues of the Snowy River Mail from 1990. All contain news reports, articles, photographs and advertisements.newspapers snowy-river-mail

The Snowy River Mail is a weekly newspaper published in Orbost in the Shire of East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Previously published as The Snowy River mail and Tambo and Croajingolong gazette from 1890 to 1911. The Gippsland Courier merged with the Snowy River Mail when proprietor Lachlan Ross moved to Orbost in 1910. In 1999 the paper was acquired by the Yeates family when the Hollins family retired from the newspapers business. The paper is still being produced by the fourth generation of the Yeates family as part of East Gippsland Newspapers These newspapers are useful reference tool as they contain contemporary records of local events.A cardboard box of black/white newspapers. There are 36 issues of the Snowy River Mail from 1991. All contain news reports, articles, photographs and advertisements.newspaper snowy-river-mail

The Snowy River Mail is a weekly newspaper published in Orbost in the Shire of East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Previously published as The Snowy River mail and Tambo and Croajingolong gazette from 1890 to 1911. The Gippsland Courier merged with the Snowy River Mail when proprietor Lachlan Ross moved to Orbost in 1910. In 1999 the paper was acquired by the Yeates family when the Hollins family retired from the newspapers business. The paper is still being produced by the fourth generation of the Yeates family as part of East Gippsland Newspapers These newspapers are useful references as they contain contemporary records of local events.A cardboard box of black/white newspapers. There are 17 issues of the Snowy River Mail from 1992. All contain news reports, articles, photographs and advertisements.newspapers snowy-river-mail

The Snowy River Mail is a weekly newspaper published in Orbost in the Shire of East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Previously published as The Snowy River mail and Tambo and Croajingolong gazette from 1890 to 1911. The Gippsland Courier merged with the Snowy River Mail when proprietor Lachlan Ross moved to Orbost in 1910. In 1999 the paper was acquired by the Yeates family when the Hollins family retired from the newspapers business. The paper is still being produced by the fourth generation of the Yeates family as part of East Gippsland Newspapers. These newspapers are useful research tools as they contain contemporary accounts of local events.A cardboard box of black/white newspapers. There are 49 issues of the Snowy River Mail from 1993. All contain news reports, articles, photographs and advertisements as catalogue inserts.newspapers snowy-river-mail

The Snowy River Mail is a weekly newspaper published in Orbost in the Shire of East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Previously published as The Snowy River mail and Tambo and Croajingolong gazette from 1890 to 1911. The Gippsland Courier merged with the Snowy River Mail when proprietor Lachlan Ross moved to Orbost in 1910. In 1999 the paper was acquired by the Yeates family when the Hollins family retired from the newspapers business. The paper is still being produced by the fourth generation of the Yeates family as part of East Gippsland Newspapers These newspapers are useful research tools as they contain contemporary accounts of local events.A cardboard box of black/white newspapers. There are 49 issues of the Snowy River Mail from 1994. All contain news reports, articles, photographs and advertisements a catalogue inserts. newspapers snowy-river-mail

This book was used by Orbost Cemetery Trust to record letters written especially to provide a running account of the trust's activities. Although the cemetery was officially gazetted in November, 1891, it seemed certain that burials had taken place before that time. The early trusts were diligent in their record keeping and visionary in their planning.The original Trust members approved by the Public Health Department included C. N. Henderson, E. Watt (Ernest), D. Munro (Donald), M. R. Coote (Massy) and James Cameron (recorded at the first meeting of the Trust dated 29th May 1891. The first mention of a Mr. C. Richardson wasn’t until 25th February 1916 whilst the cemetery was under the control of the Orbost Shire Council with select councillors on the committee. Orbost Cemetery is an important part of Orbost's history. Its records are essential in research of local history.A grey covered letter book used by the Orbost Cemetery Trust to record letters written between 1894 and 1907.On spine-Letter Bookorbost-cemetery letter-book

Mrs John Draffin was the wife of a Shire President of Orbost Shire Council. She is reported to have made this lace herself. The design might have been copied from a book of laces.Associated with the wife of an early resident of Orbost who was Shire President. A large white cotton lace collar, roughly rectangular in shape, made from tape lace and with decorative infills. This collar is very pretty and beautifully made. tape-lace lace-collar women's-clothing

All photographs seem to have been takenfrom the Telecom tower on the corner of Browning and Wolseley Streets in Orbost 3259.1 is a view of the Orbost township looking north-east. The swimming pool and bowling club can be seen in the foreground. 3259.2 is aview looking north-west and showing the tennis courts and clubhouse, the Recreation Reserve oval, the Youth Centre, Historical Museum, Municipal Offices, Senior Citizens clubrooms with the fire station in the foreground. 3259.3 is a view looking south with the Shire of Orbost Municipal offices and Ruskin Street in the foreground. Munro Street can be seen running from Ruskin Street to St Joseph's School in the middle distance. Lochiel Park oval, Lochiel House, the Snowy River and highway bridge are in the background. 3259.4 is a view looking south showing the Club Hotel, C.B.C. Bank in the middle distance and Hoffman's paddock (Forest Park) and the Snowy River beyond. 3259.5 is a view looking north-east over houses. 3259.6 is aview over the main street, Nicholson Street.showing the main shopping precinct. Shop signs for Permewans, Williams Shoes, F.B. Dicken and Orbost Bakery can be seen. 3259.7 is a view looking south west and shows Forest park and beyond towards Bete Bolong.These photographs are detailed pictorial records of the township of Orbost.Seven black / white photographs taken from above a township. Chimney smoke can be seen in the photographs.orbost-township-1980s aerial-photograph-orbost

This ledger was used by the Shire of Orbost from 1927 -1940. 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. This item is a handwritten record of the accounts of the Orbost Shire local government. It pre-dates computer records. The Orbost Shire Council no longer exists having been absorbed by the East Gippsland Shire Council.A ledger with a black cover and brown leather binding. It has marbled end pages. On the front cover in gold print is " LOAN LEDGER (underlined) NEWMERELLA DRAINAGE AREA ACCOUNT (underlined) SHIRE OF ORBOST.on spine - "Newmerella Drainage Area Loan Ledger"ledger orbost-shire newmerella-drainage-area accounts

Wehner's Blacksmith's was founded at Orbost in 1889. This door was in the blacksmith shop. The door has many brands burnt into both sides. These brands are for local farmers and the brands would have been made at Wehner's.The Wehner family is/ was a prominent family in Orbost from the late 19th century. Herman Wehner founded Wehner's Blacksmith's at Orbost in 1889. Oswald Wehner began working in 1910 with his father. In 1947 Ossie's son Tom started blacksmithing, retiring in 1991 and closing the business, The building remains in Nicholson street.A large solid wooden door - tongue and grooved oregon. It is made of 12 vertical boards. On it are local branding marks. wehner's-blacksmith brands

The Old Station at Corringle was a popular picnic spot in 1901. Late in 1857 Mr Thomas T. Stirling took over Corringle Run ("Corringle" means "shallow water"). Mr Stirling and his family came from the wester district - Winchelsea. He settled at the Old Station. A few people were employed at the Orbost Stationb and there was settlement on the Orbost flats, Mr T. T. Stirling held the land from Lake Tyrers to Bemm River as a cattle run. About 1888 he became Secretary of the new Tambo Shire.This is a contemporary pictorial record of rural family life in Orbost in the early 20th century.A black / white photograph of a group of early settlers (it appears to be a family group) having a picnic underneath trees. There is a young boy on a horse on the left hand side.on back - "Picnic at the Old Station"family-rural-life-orbost old-station-corringle

This is a photograph of a group of people dressed up in traditional Japanese costumes for a Church of England bazaar and fete C 1900. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries Churches in Orbost provided venues for social activities, fellowship and entertainment. Many concerts, festivals and money-raising fetes were held by the church committees. St. James' Anglican Church, Orbost, was conceived and built as a memorial to the men 'who served and suffered during the Great War' as noted on the foundation stone. The Right Reverend GH Cranswick, DD, Bishop of Gippsland, laid the stone on 1 October 1927.This item is reminiscent of the late 19th - mid 20th centuries when church-going was more commonA black / white photograph on grey buff card. It is of a large group of men and women dressed in traditional Japanese costume.on front at top - handwritten - "E. H. NIXON" with an arrow pointing to the first lady standing in the back row.churches-orbost church-of-england-orbost anglican-church-orbost festivals celebrations

In the photograph are the Rice family, Billy Nixon' family and Charlie Johnston. William Nixon, son of James Nixon and Alice (Roberts) Nixon was married to Ilma Muriel (Cadwallader) Nixon on 2 Apr 1902 in Orbost. They had six children - Llewella Adele (Nixon) King, Sydney William Columbo Nixon, Arthur Harry Nixon, Jack Warton Nixon, Claudine Frances (Nixon) Taylor and Daphne Joyce (Nixon) Menz Damage estimated at £500,000 was caused by the 1934 floods in the Orbost district. This 1934 flood was devastating, destroying a section of the 1922 Orbost bridge, wrecking fences, bridges and roads, dumping silt and debris on the rich river flats and drowning cattle. Note: although this card has the date 1934 written onto the rear, the flood incident depicted most likely dates from 1920 (ref. Weekly Times, Saturday 6 March 1920 p 41 when this photo was printed).This item is a pictorial record of a flood in 1920 (ref. Weekly Times, Saturday 6 March 1920 p41). Snowy River flood are a feature of the Orbost area. These floods cover the rich agricultural land. A black / white photograph / postcard of a group of people standing in floodwaters outside a timber building. Included are young children and babies being held by women. Two boys are holding dogs in front of them.on back - "Billy Nixon's house (now Downys 1991)"orbost - floods - nixon - 1920

These photographs were taken on November 25, 1976 at the official opening of the current Snowy River road bridge. Included in the photographs are: John Duggan; Pat Hall, C.R.B. chairman, R.E.V. Donaldson (3240.7) and J.A.Rafferty, the state minister for Transport, who cut the ribbon (3240.8). Di Young and Cheryl Dusting (3240.9) distributed souvenir information pamphlets to official guests. The Snowy River road bridge is one of four built as part of the 8.4 km project spanning the Orbost flood plains. The Snowy River bridge and another over the nearby Ashbys Gulch are among the 10 longest bridges in Victoria, being the eighth and fifth longest respectively. The new bridge removed through traffic from Orbost township crossing the Snowy River 45 m downstream of the old bridge.This bridge is the fourth to provide a crossing to the township of Orbost. (info from CRB NEWS No. 34. DECEMBER, 1976) These photographs are pictorial records of a significant event in Orbost's history.Eleven black / white photographs all related to the official opening of the current Snowy River Bridge. Details are in catalogue folder.snowy-river-bridge