In the late 19th century in the Orbost area roads were just bush tracks which generally were unsuitable for any type of vehicular traffic so were traversed mainly by horseback. As the settlement grew, a weekly mail service from Cunninghame (Lakes Entrance) was estab-lished. The settlers had to carry the mail for three months and each took a turn as mailman during that time. The first coach was driven by Mr Alex Hall. Eventually a daily mail service was set up and many drivers included B. Sutherland, W. Middleton, Jonson Bros., J. Mitchell, F. Newport, J. Geddes, A. Coulson, Bert Cessor, H. Weekes and A. Barthile. (info. from Newletter August 2007) This photograph is one of A. Coulson’s Coach crossing the Sand Bar at Lake Tyers.This is associated with early transport in East Gippsland.A black / white postcard photograph of four horses alone on a beach.on front - At Lake Tyers on back - "Mr A. Coulson, coach driver, Orbost"lake-tyers coulson-coach-driver transport-horse-drawn

A new bridge over the Snowy River at Orbost was opened for traffic on June 20th 1922. It was a new timber and steel girder structure, a joint Country Roads Board — Victorian Railways venture and was built and completed at a cost of £41,000 (the steel girders came from the Flinders Street viaduct reconstruction). Subsequently it was decided not to take the railway across the river, and the bridge was only ever used by road traffic. Postcards form a vital part of social and historical records for researchers. This postcard is a pictorial record of an earlier bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost.A black / white postcard photograph of a bridge over the Snowy River at Orbost.0n front - The Rose Series P1200 copyright Bridge Over Snowy River Orbost Vic.snowy-river-bridge

A new bridge over the Snowy River at Orbost was opened for traffic on June 20th 1922. It was intended as a road and rail bridge, and was again partly washed away by flood waters in 1934. After the end of the first World War the Victorian Railways considered an extension of the railhead across the river at Orbost, and in 1922 a new timber and steel girder structure, a joint Country Roads Board — Victorian Railways venture, was built and completed at a cost of £41,000 (the steel girders came from the Flinders Street viaduct reconstruction). Subsequently it was decided decided not to take the railway across the river, and the bridge was only used by road traffic. This is a pictorial record of an early bridge over the Snowy River at Orbost.A black / white postcard photograph of a bridge across a shallow river with men on horseback underneath.snowy-river-bridge

Livistona australis - the Cabbage Tree Palm, is a fan palm that grows naturally in the lowland forest and swamps of southern Queensland and along the east coast of Australia and it occurs further south than any other Australian palm species. It is the only palm that is found naturally in Victoria. The early settlers supplemented their meagre rations with the hearts of the Cabbage Tree Palm.This is the southernmost stand of Cabbage Tree Palms in Australia and the only location in Victoria where these palms grow naturally. This is a pictorial record of a rare native Australian palm.A black / white photograph of small palm trees in a dense bush surrounding.cabbage-tree-palm-east-gippsland

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

The photograph shows a chaff cutter on John Watt's farm about 1892. Mr John Watt set up farming in 1879. He was a native of Port Fairy. He was educated in Scotland and came back to Victoria and selected 320 acres on the Snowy River.The property extended from Majors Creek Road to around about Gilbert's Gulch.this item is associated with John Watt an early Orbost settler.A black / white photograph of a large wooden slatted barn with motorised farm machinery outside . There are three men with the machines and a young girl watching.agriculture-machinery farming-orbost watt-john

The Stony Creek Trestle Bridge was built in 1916 when the existing rail line from Melbourne to Bairnsdale was extended to Orbost. This 97km Bairnsdale to Orbost extension through rugged terrain was reputed to have been the most difficult rail project undertaken in Victoria. In service for over 60 years the bridge was damaged by bushfire in 1980, with the last train crossing in 1987. At 247m long and 20m high, it is the largest standing bridge of its kind in the State, and is listed on the Register of Historic Sites. Built of red ironbark and grey box timber, it is a fine example of the early engineering skills that utilised the resources and materials found on site. (More information Newsletter July 2013)Built during the period 1914-16, of Gippsland Grey Box and Red Ironbark, the Stoney Creek bridge on the East Gippsland Railway is a fine example of early engineering skilll , being constructed without the aid of any of the modern machinery available today. This is a rare photograph and of high significance in showing the bridge under construction.Landscape format black + white photograph (unframed). Four pin holes in each corner, tear to top left quadrant and fold / crease top to bottom in centre of image.construction, 1916, railway bridge, timber industry, trestle construction, stony creek bridge, east gippsland, bairnsdale to orbost line

Ellen Thomas was an Aboriginal woman who lived in Newmerella. George Thomas who lived with his family at Newmerella on Grand View Road until the 1950's. The family was a very well-respected local Aboriginal family.The Thomas family were early residents of Newmerella.A black / white portrait photograph of a lady in a long-sleeved top and long skirt. The photo is oval -shaped and mounted in a light grey card.on back - Ellen Thomasthomas-ellen

Marlo was once a very busy port. Goods needed by the early settlers were carted by sea-going vessels to Marlo. At the Marlo wharf goods were unloaded from the large vessels onto barges and towed by paddle steamers to Orbost. (information - In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall) The vessel on the right hand side is possibly the Curlip.This is a pictorial record of Marlo when it was a busy port.A black / white photograph of boats in the shipping channel at Marlo. Most appear to be sailing boats. In the background on a hill above the water is a large building.on back - view at Marlo in 1898 Xmasmarlo shipping transport

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

This is a fishing party at Bream Point, Marlo C 1900.Marlo has always been a popular destination for fishing. This is a pictorial record of an early fishing group at Marlo.A black / white photograph of a small group - possibly a family - fishing off a river bank. A small ketch is on the water.on back - Near Bream Pointmarlo-fishing recreation

Robert Ingram and his family were very early settlers in Bonang - possibly the first at Bonang House.This item is associated with the Ingram family early settlers in the Bonang district.A small black / white photograph of an elderly lady, wearing a dark dress, sitting against a wall. She is wearing a bonnet and has glasses.on back - Mr & Mrs Robt Ingram were the first settlers at Bonang at Bonang House.ingram-bonang

Martin Jorgenson lived at Marlo for 60 years. He had built his home there in the early years, and worked on the paddle boats and barges that plied their trade on the Snowy River from Marlo to Orbost. He and his wife ran a guest house in Marlo.Martin Jorgenson was a prominent Marlo resident.A black / white photograph of a man with a hunting dog on a leash standing in front a fence. To their left are animals hung on a rod.on back - Martin Jorgensonjorgenson-martin marlo

This photograph shows men fishing in the Snowy River at Marlo - possibly at Bream Point. The man in the white coat is Lancelot Herbert. Lancelot Herbert came to Orbost in 1886, taking up a partnership with local store-owner George Temple. After Mr Temple’s death in 1891, Lancelot took over the store and progressively developed Herberts Snowy River Stores which grew into a department store of several shops along Nicholson St. He also had small shops at Cann River, Noorinbee and Genoa which were run by members of his family, as well as a carrying business and fuel outlets. Lancelot died on 2/6/1911 and his wife Martha [died 1945] are buried in a joint grave in Orbost Cemetery. (info. Noreen and Lindsay Thomson. More from "In Times Gone By' by Deborah Hall)This item is associated with the Herbert family very early settlers in the Orbost district. It is also associated with Marlo which has always been a popular fishing destinationA small black / white photograph of four men fishing from a river bank. Three are sitting and one is standing.on back - Lancelot Herbert in white coat fishingfishing-marlo herbert-lancelot

A black / white photograph of an early settler's home on a small clearing in bushland.on back - Boarding House at Sardine Creeksardine-creek

In 1977 great efforts were being made to preserve this bridge, the highest trestle bridge in Victoria at Stoney Creek. The Stony Creek Trestle Bridge was built in 1916 when the existing rail line from Melbourne to Bairnsdale was extended to Orbost. This 97km Bairnsdale to Orbost extension through rugged terrain was reputed to have been the most difficult rail project undertaken in Victoria. In service for over 60 years the bridge was damaged by bushfire in 1980, with the last train crossing in 1987. At 247m long and 20m high, it is the largest standing bridge of its kind in the State, and is listed on the Register of Historic Sites. Built of red ironbark and grey box timber, it is a fine example of the early engineering skills that utilised the resources and materials found on site.The Bairnsdale to Orbost rail line contains the most varied range of timber & timber composite bridges on any Victorian line. The Stoney Creek bridge is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register for its architectural and historical significance.A black / white photograph of a very large trestle bridge. a steam locomotive, with loaded goods trucks, is on the bridge. stoney-creek trestle-bridge railway east-gippsland-railway

This photograph shows the Battery Goldmine at Club Terrace from 1896 - 1905. Gold was found at Club Terrace in 1896. One of the best finds at Club Terrace was the 'Ace of Clubs' mine which was later sold to the Mallina Gold Mining Company. Syd Cadwallader was appointed manager of the company. The gold was smelted and brought to Orbost on horseback. The only protection against thieves was a revolver and riding crop, which the manager always carried. The 'Ace of Clubs' was eventually closed as the company was unable to cope with the rising water problem. (information Newsletter February 2011 - John Phillips) This is a pictorial record of gold mining in East Gippsland during the late 19th - early 20th century.A black / white photograph of an operational mine with scaffolding and bridges. There are several men standing in front.mining-club-terrace mallina-mine battery-mines gold-mining-east-ippsland

This photograph shows Ina Warren with Jack warren, Linda Warren and Cora Lynn. The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images. Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert). This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker,A black / white photograph of a woman with three small children sitting in a pumpkin on water . There are small flags (Australian and British) at each end. On the pumpkin is "HMAS ORBOST".pumpkins-orbost warren-helena-photographer

This photograph shows Percy De Forest and his brother, Alfred of McLeod Street, Orbost. The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images. Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert). This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker,Two black / white photograohs of two small children sitting in a large pumpkin on water.on front - An Orbost Pumpkinpumpkins-orbost de-forest warren-helena-photography

The photograph shows Linda Warren, Enid Eaton, Jim Trewin and Jim Nixon. The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images. Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert). This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker,A black / white photograph of a young girl on a horse pulling a group of children in a large pumkin. On the side of the pumpkin is "HMAS ORBOST"pumpkins-orbost warren-helena nixon-jim trewin-jim warren-linda eaton-enid

This photograph is of Percy Nixon, son of James Nixon and Alice Roberts Percy Nixon married Evelyn Harding. The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images. Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert). This item is associated with a prominent Orbost family. George Nixon was the son of James and Alice Nixon. The Nixon families were among the earliest settlers on the Snowy River. This photograph also has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker.A black / white photograph of a young boy standing next to a very large pumpkin. His right arm is resting on the top.pumpkins-orbost warren-helena-photography nixon-percy

This is a photograph of Percy Nixon's sons - Jack, Allen, Pres, Keith and Jim. The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images.This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker. It is also associated with the Nixon family, early settlers in the Orbost district.A black / white photograph of four young boys in a pumpkin with an older boy pushing them. There is a Union Jack flag at each end of the pumpkin with "HMAS ORBOST" on the side. The boys are wearing shirts and ties. A baby has his hand over the side trying to touch the water. pumpkins-orbost warren-helena-photographer nixon-percy nixon-jack nixon-pres nixon-keith nixon-jim nixon-allen

Many farmers on the flats at Orbost used to grow a lot of maize and harvest the maize by putting the pigs in to eat the maize.. Maize and pumpkins fed in conjunction were largely used for fattening pigs. The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images.This item is a pictorial record of farming in Orbost in the early 20th century. It is also associated with Helena Warren. a well-known photographer born in Orbost.a black / white photographagriculture farming-orbost pumpkins maize pigs warren-helena

These children are the Rice family. In 1925 Walter Rice built a general store in Marlo and in 1930 built the "Ozone Picture Theatre" also in Marlo.This item is associated with a popular activity of the Orbost community in the first half of the 20th century. Pumpkins have been been part of the district's agricultural history since settlement. It is associated with Walter Rice a prominent citizen of Marlo in the early 20th century.A black / white photograph of a group of six children sitting in a pumpkin in water. there is a flag on each side and "HMAS VICTOR" on the side of the pumpkin.pumkins-orbost warren-helena rice-walter

This is a photograph of Alan, Keith, Preston and Jim Nixon. George Nixon (1862-1941) selected land in Bete Bolong in the 1890's. He married Emily Warren in 1889 in Orbost. He was a shire councillor. He was a prominent breeder of Clydesdales and after a serious fall off a horse walked with a walking stick and special boot for the rest of his life. He was well-known for his interest in cars, horse-racing and politics.He was married to Emily Warren in 1889 in Orbost. Mrs Nixon (Emily)was the first Red Cross president during WW1. They had ten children.both George and Emily are buried in the Orbost Cemetery. (ref:From White Knowle to Pumpkin Point by Hon Peter Nixon A.O.) The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images.This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker, This item is also associated with a prominent Orbost family. George Nixon was the son of James and Alice Nixon. The Nixon families were among the earliest settlers on the Snowy River. It is an example of the early book-keeping of an Orbost business in the early 20th century.A black / white photograph of three boys and a baby in a carved out pumpkin with a flag at each end and "HMAS ORBOST" carved in the front.warren-helena pumpkins nixon

Farmers on the Orbost flats and nearby districts used to grow a lot of maize and harvest the maize by putting the pigs in to eat the maize. They had to get the pigs to Bairnsdale with other chaps, droving about 600 pigs. It would take them 12 days. A wagonette would go in front and dribble out the maize. When they reached Swan Reach, the drovers would often go over to the old grog shanty and got drunk while one man would stay to keep the 600 pigs together. It was a difficult job. The pigs were ferried across the rivers. This is a pictorial record of early farming in East Gippsland.A black / white photograph of men on horseback droving pigs from the Cann River district to market along a dirt road.pigs agriculture farming-orbost-cann river

Pigs were taken to Bairnsdale by coaxing them with maize thrown from a wagonette . From Bairnsdale they were freighted to market by train. The journey to Bairnsdale took about five days . This method of transport continued until the rail line to Orbost was opened in 1916.This photograph is a pictorial record of farming practices in the early 20th century.A black / white photograph on a brown buff card showing pigs being taken to market. The photograph shows the pigs close up with men on horseback behind them. The pigs are on a gravel road with a fence on one side and and the Orbost flats can be seen in the background.on back - "Pigs being driven from Orbost to Bairnsdale. M.Gilbert, Orbost"agriculture farming-orbost pigs

Pigs were taken to Bairnsdale by coaxing them with maize thrown from a wagonette . From Bairnsdale they were freighted to market by train. The journey to Bairnsdale took about five days . This method of transport continued until the rail line to Orbost was opened in 1916. This photograph is a pictorial record of Orbost farming practices in the early 20th century.A black / white photograph of pigs being taken to market. There are men on horseback with them.on front - On the Way to Market W.S. Vogt Bairnsdaleagriculture farming-orbost pigs

Maize, or corn as it is called in America and New South Wales, has been grown on the Orbost flats for at least 70 years. When early settlers began to arrive on the Snowy River somewhere in the 1880s, the land was mostly swamps and heavily timbered jungle on the river frontages. The swamps were drained, bit by bit, by stout hearted men with short handled shovels and working in mud and water. The frontages were cleared by axe and shovel and fire. Several kinds of crops were experimented with such as hops, hemp and maize, the latter grew particularly well and became the main crop of district. The problem then was to thresh and deliver the product to the market. A small single cob machine was brought here and one man turned the handle, while the boy or Mum fed the cobs singly into the machine. A good day’s work would thresh about 50 bushels or about 12 bags (4 bushels). The task then was to cart the maize to market. For a few years this was done by horses and dray carrying about 60 bushels to Mossiface, where it was loaded onto river boats to Lakes Entrance, and then by ocean boats to Melbourne. ( from NEWSLETTER OCTOBER, 2006) This is a pictorial record of farming practices in Orbost in the early 20th century.A black / white photograph of a horse team hauling a wagon loaded with bags of maize.A man is sitting on the edge of the wagon.farming-orbost agriculture maize corn transport

This house belonged to the Ashby family. Roy Ashby, son of James Rowland Ashby and Edith Annie Hall, was born on 21 Nov 1892 in Orbost. Victoria. Australia and died in 1942 in Orbost. Victoria. Australia at age 50. Roy married Elsie May Stephens, daughter of James Stephens and Sarah Taylor, in 1920 in Victoria.Australia. Elsie was born on 15 Sep 1898 in Beaconsfield Tasmania.Australia and died in 1974 in Orbost Australia at age 76. Their children were: Roy Ashby, William Henry Ashby, Cordelia Valma Ashby and Edith Ashby. .The Ashby family was one of the early settlers in Orbost at Newmerella.A black / white photograph of a house surrounded by a tall timber fence with. The house has vegetation growing over it. There are two people standing against the fence.ashby-orbost