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Puffing Billy Railway
Sectioned Tangye Steam Operated Water Pump, 1900s
Sectioned steam pump so that the pump workings can be seen. Inscriptions & Markings: Tangye Birmingham, This steam pump was presented by the colonial gas Assn Ltd (brass plaque) The Colonial Gas Association was originally formed in London on 2 February 1888, as The Australasian Gas Association Limited. The primary objective of the company was to provide investment capital to help finance the construction and management of gasworks being established by the London engineering firm John Coates & Co in metropolitan cities and regional towns throughout Australia and New Zealand. By 1890, the Australasian Gas Association had acquired gasworks at Benalla, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warragul, Maldon and Seymour, and had constructed a large gasworks at Box Hill to supply the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. In 1893, the company's name was changed to the Colonial Gas Association Limited. During the 1890s, the company acquired regional gasworks in Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia, followed by its first gasworks in New South Wales, in 1911. In 1914, the company consolidated its metropolitan supply area by purchasing the Oakleigh and Footscray gasworks. Further expansion occurred in the 1920s with the purchase of established gasworks at Williamstown, Frankston and Dandenong and the acquisition of ten further gas undertakings in Queensland and New South Wales, making the firm the fifth largest gas producer in Australia. info from The Colonial Gas Association Limited, circa 1893 https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/1553322 Originally formed by the five Tangye brothers from Cornwall as James Tangye & Brothers in 1857, this Birmingham engineering firm grew to become one of the largest suppliers of jacks, pumps, steam and oil engines, hydraulic presses, gas producers and machine tools in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The successful sideways launching of I.K. Brunel's 'Great Eastern' from the mud of the Thames in 1857 using Tangyes hydraulic jacks gave the firm much needed publicity and new orders flowed in. To finance expansion, George Price provided additional capital and the company name became Tangye Brothers & Price in 1859. A new factory known as the 'Cornwall Works' was built in Clement Street, Birmingham. In 1872, the firm became Tangye Brothers and in about 1879- 1880 began production of internal combustion stationary engines based on Horace Robinson's patents, later using the Otto four-stroke design for its Soho range of gas engines. Examples of the Soho engine were exhibited by the firm at the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition. Petrol and oil engines were made from the 1890s onward, and by 1910 had developed into the Model B, BR and AA series engines. Tangyes supplied custom-built pumps and presses for particular applications, becoming a major exporter of engineering equipment. In 1884, Tangye Brothers opened a custom-built branch office, showroom and warehouse in Melbourne at Cornwall House in Collins Street West, advertising the full range of engineering products. These lantern slides images are taken from Tangyes product catalogues from the 1910-1925 period and are believed to have been used as sales promotional aids in Australia by the Tangye Brothers. info from https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/articles/4670 Historic - Industrial Steam Operated Water Pump built by Tangye Bros and used by the Colonial Gas Company - Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaSectioned steam pump so that the pump workings can be seen. Tangye Birmingham, This steam pump was presented by the colonial gas Assn Ltd (brass plaque)puffing billy, steam pump, sectioned, tangye bros -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Map, Directory Maps of the County of Bourke, 1892
Copies of Directory maps:(i) Title Page, (ii) Preface (iii) Heading section of Map of Melbourne and Suburbs (iv) Parish of Bulleen - includes 'North - East portion of the Parish of Nunawading (v) Village of Burwood. Note: 107(a), 107(b), 107(c) are copies of the same set of sheets.Copies of:(i) Title Page, (ii) Preface (iii) Heading section of Map of Melbourne and Suburbs (iv) Parish of Bulleen - includes 'North - East portion of the Parish of Nunawading (v) Village of Burwood. Note: 107(a), 107(b), 107(c) are copies of the same set of sheets.Copies of Directory maps:(i) Title Page, (ii) Preface (iii) Heading section of Map of Melbourne and Suburbs (iv) Parish of Bulleen - includes 'North - East portion of the Parish of Nunawading (v) Village of Burwood. Note: 107(a), 107(b), 107(c) are copies of the same set of sheets.maps, parish of bulleen, parish of nunawading, burwood -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Book - MCCOLL, RANKIN AND STANISTREET COLLECTION: INDIVIDUAL LEDGER, M-Z, 1894/95
Book; Large leather bound accounts book with index section and accounts ledger section on numbered pages.. (NOT SCANNED).MCCOLL RANKIN & STANISTREETorganisation, industry, accounting., mccoll rankin & stanistreet -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Clothing - Black Lace Front
This lace front is another example of Pusher lace using matte black silk called grenadine. The head opening has yet to be cut out and the panel itself was most likely made for a specific garment possibly in a contrasting paler colour to show off the leafy pattern The Pusher machine is a variation of Heathcoat’s Bobbinet machine and was so called for the rods which pushed the carriages through the machine. There appears to be an outline on the leaves which would have had to be worked either by hand or by embroidery machine.Churchill Island has a large lace collection, which was added to by three successive generations of the Amess family - Jane, Janet, and Unity. The Amess family owned Churchill Island from 1872 to 1929. Jane was wife of Samuel Amess, who was the first Samuel Amess to own Churchill Island. The examples of lace are notable for their variety, and provide respresentative examples of techniques from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth centuries. Rectangular section of lace with intricate leaf design and a matte circular section. Designs are reinforced with multiple layers of stitching.Packaged with note: "Black lace "Front" with neckline hole"churchill island, lace, janet amess lace collection, amess, machine -
Friends of Kurth Kiln
Railway Track
Section of Narrow Gauge Railway Track. Two standard spaced section joining holes at one end of the Rail -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Book, The Ironmonger Diary 1894, circa 1894
The Ironmonger Diary 1894 is titled on top of the inner pages "The Ironmonger Diary and Text Book". The inner pages contain blank diary pages, two weeks to an opening, with a light weight, blank pink page between the weeks. There are also Cash Book pages. The front and back sections of the diary contain product advertisements for ironmonger's wares, hardware, household goods, farm machinery, bicycles and even some clothing. There are Tables of measurements, a green-aged section called Classified List of Trade Marks and Brands, The Buyer's Guide and a list of Hallmarks on Plate (such as gold) and the years of manufacture.The Ironmonger Diary 1894 is a hard covered book bound book with gold lettering on the front cover and spine. The front cover includes an index to the information inside. It is titled on top of the inner pages "The Ironmonger Diary and Text Book". The inner pages contain blank diary pages, two weeks to an opening, with a light weight, blank pink page between the weeks. There are also Cash Book pages. The front and back sections of the diary contain product advertisements for ironmonger's wares, hardware, household goods, farm machinery, bicycles and even some clothing. There are Tables of measurements, a green-aged section called Classified List of Trade Marks and Brands, The Buyer's Guide and a list of Hallmarks on Plate (such as gold) identifying the years of manufacture.Pencilled letters on the Hallmarks on Plate page beside some of the letters, identifying the letter on the Hallmark. On the cover is also stamped in gold lettering "OFFICES: 42 CANNON ST, LONDON. E.C./MELBOURNE AND SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, ironmonger diary, 1894, hardware catalogue, hardware diary -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Sign - Run Number Plate A38
Run Number pressed metal plate with corners trimmed and rounded, top section with two slotted holes, painted with a white background and the letter "A" and number "38" painted in red, to give a Run Number Plate for South Melbourne Depot. Painted with the same detail on either side of the plate.Used by South Melbourne Depot until they were phased out and replaced with the Automatic Vehicle Monitoring system c1990. Used to identify the depot and "run number" or timetable that the tram was running on, two in each tram, to enable monitoring by inspectors and crews.Run Number pressed metal plate with corners trimmed and rounded, top section with two slotted holes, painted with a white background and the letter "A" and number "38" painted in red, to give a Run Number Plate for South Melbourne Depot. Painted with the same detail on either side of the plate.tramways, trams, signs, south melbourne, south melbourne depot, run number plates, timetables -
Falls Creek Historical Society
Booklet - Falls Creek Guide 1996 - HERE IT IS!
Falls Creek Resort Management produce a range of marketing materials for each season. This publication titled "HERE IT IS!" aims to include everything you need to know about skiing at Falls Creek in one guide. It also included a Ski Trail map. Sections included are:- What's new in Falls Creek for 1995 A little bit of History/fast facts Trail map and skiing tips Falls Creek Ski School Village map and directory A - Z Resort facilitiesThis item is significant because it illustrates how Falls Creek has been marketed and promoted over time.A coloured publication including images, maps and text covering all aspects of Falls Creek for the 1996 season. The cover features an image of a skier in the air. Seven sections are colour coded on the right hand edge of At bottom of page logos are included Left to right;- Alpine Resorts Commission Victoria; Falls Creek: Falls Creek Ski Guaranteefalls creek facilities, falls creek activities, falls creek marketing -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, Plan of Lots in Bel-Air Estate 1991
4 photographs of sections of the plans.a. Written on back of photograph, "20/6/81. Plan of Bel Air Estate. Werac Drive runs down left side of plan. Kubis Drive crosses top. Debbie Place drops down from Kubis. Manuela Tce. runs right from Werac, ends at a bend and becomes Rudolf Court running North. Lyn Court takes off right from Rudolf and Burlock Ave. touches estate with an elbow" b. Written on back of photograph, "20/6/81. Plan of lots in Bel Air Estate. Glenvale Road down left side of plan, Kubis Dr. Runs across picture. June Square drops from and Jenken Close rises form Kubis Dr. Werac Dr. drops to bottom of picture and Manuella takes off to right". d. Written on back of photograph, "20/6/91. Lots in Bel-Air Estate. Kubis Dr. rises from bottom left to Oban Road top. Pamela Crt. drops from Kubis at left, Iluka Crt. takes off right. Whitlam Dr. runs left at top and Menzies Cr. drops off it to centre of picture". c. Written on back of photograph, "20/6/81. Plan of lots on Bel-Air Estate. Kubis Dr., Debbie Place, Pamela Crt, Iluka Crt. Menzies Drive" -
Federation University Historical Collection
Plan, Survey of Mines, Maryborough District, not dated
Maryborough is a Central Victorian town. Printed section of the Maryborough Districtmaryborough, carisbrook, majorca, horizontal sections, vertical sections, chalk's no 4, east kong meng, craigie -
Running Rabbits Military Museum operated by the Upwey Belgrave RSL Sub Branch
Picture
Peter Clarke & Tracker Sectionpicture, vietnam, army -
Working Heritage Crown Land Collection
Container - Glass shard, Mint Glass shard
Broken section of blue glasspottery, ceramic, archaeology -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Document - Form/s, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), "Fares Changes from 29/8/1971", Aug. 1971
Small slip or printed paper or form detailing the Adult and Child fares to apply from 29/8/1971 for each Section. Has a gummed section on the rear of the form for adhering to the Fares and Sections book.trams, tramways, tickets, fares, sections -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Administrative record - Application Register
The volume has green front and back cover. It has a leather spine with red and black labels. The pages in the volume are divided in columns: 1) Number of application, 2) Date of registry, 3) Date of application, 4) Surname, 5) Christian name and address, 6) Parish, 7) Allotment, 8) Section, 9) rea, 10) Local land board schedule, 11) Decision, 12) Special condition, 13) License, 14) References and remarks.On the spine red label with gold letters: Application register. A black label with gold letters: all other sections land act 1901. Also on the spine in red texter "Stock Lith."application register, land act 1901 -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Ceremonial Object - Baptismal Font, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Port Melbourne, Jim Hillis
On the pending sale of Holy Trinity church, this baptismal font was removed from the church for safe keeping by the Society and placed in storage at McClusy's garage. When McClusky moved out in 1997, the font was again removed and placed in sections in the Spring Street foyer of the Port Melbourne Town Hall. In February 1998 it was assembled by members of the Society.Baptismal font, eight sided, ornamental, free standing, in three sections: base, column, water bowl; made of concrete and finished in plaster of Paris for relief sculptures; painted an off-white. Base of Tasmanian oak added in 1998. Pic ref item 1485.02religion - anglican (holy trinity) -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Photograph - 'Studley House', Nolan Avenue [Kew], c. 1965
The first section of Studley House, now part of the preparatory school for Xavier College conducted by the Society of Jesus in Kew, was built in about 1857 for Parliamentarian John Hodgson, an early settler in the district, as a two-storey residence in the Classical Revival style. The name Studley House was first recorded in the Kew ratebooks in 1862, after the house was purchased in 1860 by James McEvoy, squatter. Alterations and an extension, designed by William J Ellis were undertaken in 1875. The house was again altered in 1919 during the ownership of John Wren, former bookmaker, ALP lobbyist, influential Irish-Catholic and millionaire. After 1969 the house was used by the school. (Victorian Heritage Database, 2023)This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers (1905-1973), donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand. The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian from the 1960s to the 1970s. Original monochrome photograph of the first floor verandah of Studley House in Nolan Avenue, Kew. The photo shows the detail of the cast iron lace work used on this section of the verandah.dorothy rogers, studley house -- nolan avenue (kew) -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Photograph - 'Studley House', Nolan Avenue [Kew], c. 1965
The first section of Studley House, now part of the preparatory school for Xavier College conducted by the Society of Jesus in Kew, was built in about 1857 for Parliamentarian John Hodgson, an early settler in the district, as a two-storey residence in the Classical Revival style. The name Studley House was first recorded in the Kew ratebooks in 1862, after the house was purchased in 1860 by James McEvoy, squatter. Alterations and an extension, designed by William J Ellis were undertaken in 1875. The house was again altered in 1919 during the ownership of John Wren, former bookmaker, ALP lobbyist, influential Irish-Catholic and millionaire. After 1969 the house was used by the school. (Victorian Heritage Database, 2023)This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers (1905-1973), donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand. The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian from the 1960s to the 1970s. Original monochrome photograph of the first floor verandah of Studley House in Nolan Avenue, Kew. The photo shows the detail of the cast iron lace work used on this section of the verandah.dorothy rogers, studley house -- nolan avenue (kew) -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Functional object - Fishing Float, n.d
Handmade fishing float, top and bottom narrow sections - wood, central wider section - cork. Top section painted red with black and white bands, bottom dark green, narrow red band at junction of wood and cork. Cork section lacquered. Small wire ring and bottom end. -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Photograph, The Poor Bloody Infantry
A three section collage. Section 1 - Coloured Photograph of soldier squatting in the jungle reading a book. There are quotes above and below the photograph. Section 2 - Three Coloured Photograph of Battlefields during the offensive. Section 3 - 3 RAR Charlie Company Patch with Inscription "Combat soldiers outside the wire"Quotes " The Poor Bloody Infantry" " All battles and all wars are won in the end by the infantryman"photograph, patch, 3 rar, coral balmoral, charlie company -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Bottle, J Fletcher's aerated waters, Circa 1900
The making of cordials and aerated waters was an important industry in Warrnambool from the time of the first settlement up to the 1980s. John Fletcher succeeded John Davis in Koroit Street in 1885 and manufactured aerated waters, soda, lithia, tonic waters, lemonade, ginger ale, hop beer, hop bitters, sarsparilla and cordials. He installed many improvements around the late 1880's including an improved soda water machine which was also used for bottling lemonade, ginger ale and syphons. He sold to Ralph Reeves in 1930 and the business continued until the 1980's under the name of Reeves. The premises in Koroit St were auctioned in 1989.Warrnambool cordial bottles are of considerable significance as examples of an important local industry now gone. The Fletcher business was a well-known business in Warrnambool for 45 years.Round bottle with raised lettering in glass and indented sections on top section of bottle with marble enclosed. Clear greenish glass.J Fletcher’s Aerated waters Koroit Street Warrnambool vertically on bottle with lemonade horizontally on the other side. M on bottom of bottle.warrnambool,fletcher's aerated waters, fletcher's cordial , cordial bottle, -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Functional object - Fishing Float, n.d
Plastic 'pencil' float, top section white, with metal loop for fishing line. Bottom section red, pointed end. -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Domestic object - Cooler, First half of the 20th century
An unusual item believed to have been made by carving from a solid piece of sandstone for domestic use no history or manufacturing provenance currently available item could have been made as a one off.The subject item at this time cannot be associated with an historical event, person or place, provenance is unknown, item assessed as a collection asset as it is believed to have been produced before 1950.Sandstone cooler round barrel shape. 2 equal sections. Top section has small wooden knob for lifting.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, cooler, kitchen ware, sandstone cooler, kitchen item, ice bucket -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Tool - Pocket Knife, ca 1855
When the ship Schomberg was launched in 1855, she was considered the most perfect clipper ship ever to be built. James Blaine’s Black Ball Line had commissioned her to be built for their fleet of passenger liners. At a cost of £43,103, the Aberdeen builders designed her to sail faster than the quick clippers designed by North American Donald McKay. She was a three masted wooden clipper ship, built with diagonal planking of British oat with layers of Scottish larch. This luxury vessel was designed to transport emigrants to Melbourne in superior comfort. She had ventilation ducts to provide air to the lower decks and a dining saloon, smoking room, library and bathrooms for the first class passengers. At the launch of Schomberg’s maiden voyage, her master Captain ‘Bully’ Forbes, drunkenly predicted that he would make the journey between Liverpool and Melbourne in 60 days. Schomberg departed Liverpool on 6 October 1855 with 430 passengers and 3000 tons cargo including iron rails and equipment intended the build the Geelong Railway and a bridge over the Yarra from Melbourne to Hawthorn. The winds were poor as Schomberg sailed across the equator, slowing her journey considerably. She was 78 days out of Liverpool when she ran aground on a sand-spit near Peterborough, Victoria, on 27 December; the sand spit and the currents were not marked on Forbes’s map. Overnight, the crew launched a lifeboat to find a safe place to land the ship’s passengers. The scouting party returned to Schomberg and advised Forbes that it was best to wait until morning because the rough seas could easily overturn the small lifeboats. The ship’s Chief Officer spotted SS Queen at dawn and signalled the steamer. The master of the SS Queen approached the stranded vessel and all of Schomberg’s passengers were able to disembark safely. The Black Ball Line’s Melbourne agent sent a steamer to retrieve the passengers’ baggage from the Schomberg. Other steamers helped unload her cargo until the weather changed and prevented the salvage teams from accessing the ship. Local merchants Manifold & Bostock bought the wreck and cargo, but did not attempt to salvage the cargo still on board the ship. They eventually sold it on to a Melbourne businessman and two seafarers. After two of the men drowned when they tried to reach Schomberg, salvage efforts were abandoned.32 In 1975, divers from Flagstaff Hill, including Peter Ronald, found an ornate communion set at the wreck. The set comprised a jug, two chalices, a plate and a lid. The lid did not fit any of the other objects and in 1978 a piece of the lid broke off, revealing a glint of gold. As museum staff carefully examined the lid and removed marine growth, they found a diamond ring, which is currently on display in the Great Circle Gallery.33 Flagstaff Hill also holds ship fittings and equipment, personal effects, a lithograph, tickets and photograph from the Schomberg. Most of the artefacts were salvaged from the wreck by Peter Ronald, former director of Flagstaff Hill. The Schomberg, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S612), has great historical significance as a rare example of a large, fast clipper ship on the England to Australia run, carrying emigrants at the time of the Victorian gold rush. She represents the technical advances made to break sailing records between Europe and Australia. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from the Schomberg is significant for its association with the shipwreck. The collection is primarily significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the Schomberg. It is archaeologically significant as the remains of an international passenger Ship. It is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and for its association with the shipwreck and the ship, which was designed to be fastest and most luxurious of its day Piece of pocket knife, metal, end section; blade section has broken away. Recovered from the wreck of the Schomberg. warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, schomberg, shipwrecked-artefact, clipper ship, black ball line, 1855 shipwreck, aberdeen clipper ship, captain forbes, peterborough shipwreck, ss queen, pocket knife -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Photograph - Blacknose Quarry, n.d
Port of Portland Authority ArchivesBack: 44 005 - stampport of portland archives, blacknose quarry -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Photograph - Photograph - Quarry, Cape Grant, 29/09/1953
Port of Portland Authority ArchivesFront: Back- Purple PHT stampport of portland -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - JAMES LERK COLLECTION: PYRAMID HILL BOTTLE SHOW
Card for Pyramid Hill lions Ladies committee. Bottle show, open section, First Prize. The Awarded to and For section are blank.event, exhibition, bottle collectors exhibition -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Harmonica
Used by internees at Camp 3, TaturaHarmonica, silver metal and wood, 10 holes or sections with storage box. Box in 2 sections, has decorative label.Echo|M Hohner|Made in Germany|(on back) Trare Marie, 1871 Ulm Stuttgartharmonica, echo, beck, h, hohner m, camp 3, tatura, ww2 camp 3, musical, instruments, wind -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Document - Folder - Family History, Dowell Family History
Dowell family history. Contains certificates, photographs (copies), family tree and letters.Blue folder containing 3 sections: 3rd section contains 23 plastic sleeves containing photocopies of family history.Dowell Family Historydowell family, dowell family history, family trees -
Bendigo Military Museum
souvenir - BADGE, ARMOURED CAR SECTION, E. B. Edwards
Part of the Leo Reoch Cohn Collection. See Catalogue No. 5527.2 for his service record. The badge represents the 1st Australian Armoured Car Section.A triangular metal and enamel unit badge depicting the colour patch of the Armoured Car Section suspended below a gold coloured disc. The disc and badge are connected with a gold coloured chain with a safety pin attached. The back of the disc has a pin and hook attached to allow the wearer to fasten it to a garment. The disc features Arabic writing. The triangular badge has a central enamel purple triangle which is bordered with white enamel.Stamped on the back of the triangular badge: 'E. B. EDWARDS, (hallmarks below)'.souvenir, armoured car section, leo reoch cohn, unit badge -
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Museum and Archives
Diplomatic gift, St Mark's Mallet
The mallet was given to the College by the staff of St Mark’s Hospital, London to celebrate the inauguration of the Proctological (later Colonic and Rectal) Section, on 28 May 1963. It was presented by J.C. Stewart to Alan Lendon, then Vice-President and Chairman of the Court of Examiners. Although it is usually described as a gavel, the form of the piece is in fact that of an ancient stonemason’s mallet. The action required to use it is a straight up-and-down motion, unlike that of a normal gavel, which is handled like a hammer. Made of black bean, 22.5cm high and 12cm in diameter, the mallet rests in a wooden stand made of Queensland walnut, with a square base of English oak. The mallet and stand are housed in a travelling case covered in red leather and lined in red velvet and white satin. On the front of the stand are four crests, those of St Mark’s Hospital, the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the Royal Society of Medicine, and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. St Mark’s was founded in 1835 as a specialist hospital for the treatment of fistula in ano, a common condition in the days of travelling on horseback, and other anorectal disorders. Over the years the hospital developed into a centre for gastroenterology, colonic and rectal surgery, and many Australians went to further their training there. Some noted Fellows of the College, including Robert Officer, James Guest, Reg Magee, Brian Collopy and Adrian Polglase, and three Presidents, Mervyn Smith, Sir Edward Hughes and Russell Stitz, are alumni of St Mark’s. This mallet is a reminder of the establishment of a significant surgical section within the College, and is a fitting gift from an institution with which so many eminent Australian surgeons formed close ties.GAVEL ON STAND WITH PAINTED COATS-OF-ARMS IN RED LEATHER PRESENTATION BOXPLAQUE ON GAVEL: "PRESENTED BY THE STAFF OF ST. MARK'S HOSPITAL TO COMMEMORATE THE FOUNDING OF THE PATHOLOGICAL SECTION OF THE RACS 28TH MAY 1963"