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

Set of 7 Agfa Colour slide, cardboard mount, by Keith Caldwell of 10 March 1960 - .1 - X2 677 - at the Williamstown Road terminus of the Footscray tram system. Tram photographed in Somerville Road, showing the return destination of Russell St. In the background are a row of shops. .2 - X1 460 turning from Leeds St into Barkly St. Tram has the destination of Ballarat Road. In the background is the bus stop and tram stop and the Trocadero Theatre side wall. See Image i6 for the Theatre. Has a Gant Motors advert. .3 - X1 467 out bound turning into Nicholson St from Irving St. Footscray with the Rockmans Store in the background. This store was later demolished for the Ring Road. Tram has adverts for Gant Motors and Swing Bridge Motors - Holdens. .4 - X1 460 turning from Barkly St into Leeds St, showing the destination of Ballarat Road. Has adverts for Calders watches and Coca Cola - drive safely. In the background is a cafe advertising Oysters, Grey Cigarettes and Vincents Powders. .5 - X1 464 turnings from Nicholson St into Irving St. Footscray with the Rockmans Store in the background. This store was later demolished for the Ring Road. Also is J. Boltons Chemist shop advertising Kodak film and another shop - ? dry cleaners, Footscray Fish Shop and Kings Hotel. Tram has adverts for Gant Motors and Doods Dry cleaning. There is a PMG truck parked outside Rockmans. .6 - X2 677 turning from Barkly St into Leeds St with the Trocadero Theatre in the background. Tram has the destination of Williamstown Road. Tram has an advert for Bridge and Webster. .7 - X1 467 outbound to Williamstown Road, turning from Leeds St into Irving St Footscray. Tram has adverts for Doods dry cleaning and Gant Motors.All hand stamped "10 Mar '60". .1 - marked "Footscray" .2 - "Footscray (NB curves)" .3 - to .7 "Footscray"trams, tramways, footscray, x2 class, russell st, williamstown rd, leeds st, ballarat rd, barkly st, nicholson st, irving st, tram 677, tram 460, tram 467, tram 464

Inventor Biography: Percival Everitt was a Norfolk-born engineer and regarded as the father of the coin-op industry. in 1884 he patented one of his many inventions the coin-operated scales. For many people, it was their first exposure to coin-operated machines. As a young man in 1877, Everitt invented a hay and corn pitcher, a turnip thinner in 1878 and an “Automatic Travelling Anchor” in 1880. But he hit his stride in 1883 with the first postcard-vending machine over a hundred of which he distributed around London. Everitt went on to invent the one penny scale which prompted the formation of the Weighing Machine Company in 1885. Further inventions followed a blow tester in 1887 also the machine for testing a person grip in 1888 and the dispensing machine that opera glasses could be hired from in 1889 also the fortune-telling machine in 1890. He also invented a mechanism to shut coin slots when vending machines were empty, but then as now vandals posed a problem by jamming paper into the slot. Everitt sadly did not make his fortune he died suddenly in February 1893, in his late forties with £71 to his name. Penny Slot Weighing Machine: When the Australian colonies federated to form the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901 their post and telegraph departments were merged to form the national Postmaster General's (PMG) Department. The subject scale is an automatic public weighing machine, No.387, made in England by George Salter and Co. of West Bromwich. The Australasian Automatic Weighing Machine Co. Ltd in 1923 tendered for the right to place Automatic Weighing Machines on railway and tram premises throughout New South Wales subsequently for five-year terms in return for a fixed payment per machine and a portion of the revenue to the NSW Government. The company also made arrangements with the Postmaster General's Department to place machines outside post offices across the country. Weights were measured in stones and pound's up to 20 stone (127 kg) and average weights were shown separately for men, women, boys and girls by various heights in feet and inches. The subject item has had its scale change by the Eastern Scale Company to metric and it is believed to have occurred shortly after April 2000 as the company was first registered and began trading on this date. This weighing machine was originally installed by the Australasian Automatic Weighing Machine Co. Ltd at Warrnambool Post Office and was made by the firm, George Salter and Company, in West Bromwich, England to the Percival Everitt patent. Salter advertised that these machines were suitable for hotels, pleasure gardens, theaters, exhibition halls, clubs, baths and places of public resort. The company had been established in 1760 by the brothers, Richard and William Salter, manufacturing springs and pocket steelyards (spring balances). After several generations, the company was taken over by a nephew, George, and in 1884 the Salter trademark was registered to show a Staffordshire knot pierced by an arrow. The company's expanded range of products included the first coin-operated public weighing machines in the 1880s and in 1895 the first English made typewriter. When the last George Salter died in 1917, the company passed into the hands of other relatives but continued to grow before being bought out by Staveley Industries in 1973. Despite several subsequent mergers, the Salter name continues today on home ware products such as digital scales.A very rare example of a penny in the slot weighing machine imported into Australia and used in public places the item is significant as it gives a snapshot into community life at the time where the public could go and get weighed given there were no personal weighing machines or equipment that people could use at home. So if they needed to post a letter or go on a train journey they could use a machine to check their weight. Whats interesting is that this patent by Percival Everitt was the worlds first slot machine and the start of casino, arcade and other types of slot machines. Personal weighing scale metal large silver painted penny coin operated. Weight measurements are in stones and pounds. Australian Automatic Weighing Machine 60 lb Everitt Patent. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Manila folder, Wotan flat file, with built in fold back metal clips (see images 5624i and 5624i12) holding 12 large and 6 small plastic sheets that have been made to hold railway (Edmondson pasteboard) or tramway paper tickets. Where relevant the rear of the sheet has been scanned as well. Sheet 1 - 21 No. SEC mainly imperial currency tickets, including City Section and concession. Sheet 2 - 7 SEC decimal tickets, 9 Ballarat Tourist Tramway and Ballarat Vintage Tramway (BTPS and BTM) and 5 VFL Park tickets. Sheet 3 - 6 City Section and City Section Plus One tickets Sheet 4 - as above and City Saver Sheet 5 - 5 Day Tripper Sheet 6 - machine tickets and Junior 3rd term 1975 Scholars Concession ticket issued to Gavin Cox Sheet 7 - machine tickets and 3rd 1974 Scholars Concession ticket issued to Elizabeth Wignell Sheet 8 - MMTB and MTA Single journey card tickets, including a Herald Take a Tram campaign tickets, Check tickets Zone 1 and Single Journey paper tickets. Sheet 9 - 8 MMTB imperial tickets & 1 yellow Cable Tramway City Ticket 1 1/2d, issued by the Tramway Board. On rear are adverts for Stamina Trousers, John Randle hair dresser and Bushels Tea. Sheet 10 - 25 MMTB imperial tickets. On rear are adverts for Stamina Trousers, John Randle hair dresser, Blind Babies, Major 8, Promote Thomastown Committee, Hicks and Leighton Home plans. Sheet 11 - 25 MMTB Imperial and decimal tickets - some have date and tram notes on rear. Sheet 12 - 24 MMTB decimal tickets Sheet 13 - 25 Pensioner an d machine issued tickets Sheet 14 - 2 machine issue, 20 section tickets (PMG, Telecom, Incapacitated, MMTB Employees, :Police, Aust Post, Hospital and 1 School Swimming class. Sheet 15 - 14 Section tickets - Adult and Child Hospital, and 1 Restricted MMTB single journal tickets. Sheet 16 - 10 MTA paper tickets, 2 The Met priced tickets and 5 The Met Paper Single Journey tickets. Sheet 17 - 6 The Met Paper Single Journey tickets.7 The Met City Saver tickets Sheet 18 - 13 - MMTB City Concession check tickets and 5 Zone 1 check tickets and 1 Heidelberg Road check tickets (not on scan)trams, tramways, tickets, mmtb, vr, the met, btps, btm, ptc, mta

Thursday, December 15, 1949, the quiet little bank was embroiled in an infamous wild shoot-out between a daring thief and two bank officers. Today, the building still carries the scars ; a bullet hole remains visible in a cedar bench testifying to the events that played out that day. 3.30 a.m., Friday, December 9. The manager of the Commercial Bank branch at Greensborough, Mr Harry Wallace and his wife are asleep in their bedroom of the little house behind the branch. Harry is awakened by a noise and sees an intruder in a corner of the bedroom. He calls out but the intruder who has switched off the power in anticipation flees through a side door and scarpers down Main Street. Harry summons the police but a search by First Constable Thomas of the Greensborough Police assisted by a wireless patrol car is unsuccessful. A report is filed noting the theft of a .25 calibre pistol from the wardrobe. Thursday, December 15th. It is 1pm and the Commercial Bank has just opened. The branch is only open Mondays and Thursdays from 1-3pm. The morning started off a little cool with some scattered showers but it has fined up and the temperature is now around 61 degrees (16 C). A new grey Singer sports car with soft-top pulls up on the opposite side of the road and a young man, neatly dressed in a dark blue suit, wearing a grey hat and carrying a brief case exits the vehicle. He looks around then crosses the road and walks up the steps and through the door into the bank. There are three people inside; Mr. Jack Burgoyne whose grocery store is situated just 50 yards up the road, Mr. Lindsay A. Spears, the Eltham Agency Receiving Officer and by chance, Mr Harry Wallace, manager of the Greensborough branch. Jack Burgoyne takes note of the young stranger; thinking to himself he appears nervous. The man approaches the counter and introduces himself as John Henderson of Greensborough and explains that he wishes to open a new account. He places his hat and £3 on the counter. Mr Spears attends to the paperwork. He asks the young man to sign two forms, which he does but then he withdraws from the counter and starts walking towards the door. Suddenly he spins around pulling an automatic pistol from his right-hand pocket. He exclaims forcefully; “The game’s on! I’ll take the lot!” Spears appears to comply by pretending to open a drawer. The man shouts loudly, “Keep your hand away from that drawer.” Spears instead reaches for a pistol in his pocket and challenges the man, “Here it is. Come and get it!” At the same time, Harry Wallace pulls a pistol from his pocket as well. The bandit fires a shot but misses, the bullet striking the counter. Both Spears and Wallace open fire and Jack Burgoyne ducks for cover. As the bandit turns and runs for the door leaving his £3 behind, he fires another shot, which strikes the ceiling. Spears fires back, and thinks he may have hit him in the foot. The bandit flees the bank and heads for the grey Singer car, registration NO-106, parked opposite. Wallace and Spears pursue him to the door and open fire again, striking the car three times around the driver’s door. Spears lets off eight shots and Wallace, seven before his gun jams. The getaway car initially heads slowly down Main Road towards Bridge Street. About 100 yards down the road, Dave Adams, a PMG employee, who has heard the shots, throws a steel manhole step at the driver. It hits the roof of the car nine inches above the driver’s head and tears the hood. Another witness claims to have seen the door blow open and the driver raise his hand. The car gathers speed and swings left into Bridge Street racing along at about 60 miles an hour careering recklessly past council employee, Mr. Percy Williams, who is driving a dray along Smarts Road [believed to be Bridge Street]. At the end of the road the Singer fails to get round the sharp turn and crashes into an embankment skidding to a stop outside the home of Mr John Clifford. One side of the car is wrecked. Mr Clifford, an aircraft engineer hears the fast travelling car bump heavily into the road bank at about 1.25 p.m. Hearing the whine of an engine he goes outside to find the grey Singer parked at the side of the road. Jack George also lives at the corner and hears the car crash. “The bandit opened the car door, ran 50 yards, and suddenly turned back,” exclaims Jack. “He took something from the car. It might have been a gun.” In his haste, the bandit drops his grey felt hat, size 6 7/8, on the road and dashes up Sherbourne Road for about 200 yards then disappears into the scrub carrying a brief case and a bundle in which a sailor’s cap can be seen. About 3 p.m., Mr H.D. Pettie of Mountain View Road, Montmorency is looking through his field glasses and notices a young man walking through thick scrub on private property some distance from his house. The man is wearing a sailor’s cap and disappears along the railway track toward Montmorency. As the day progresses, ten police cars, one motor cycle, and about 40 police led by Det. Sgt. McMennemin of Malvern CIB are searching for him. They believe he is hiding in thick scrub along the bank of the creek about half-a-mile outside Eltham township. Wireless patrol cars, four mobile traffic cars and the CIB area cars from Malvern and Kew are taking part. Police check the thief’s car and discover it was stolen from Helen Baxter, of Doncaster Road, North Balwyn from outside Victoria Barracks. Harry Wallace informs the police that he believes he recognised the bandit as the man who took his pistol from his bedroom the previous Friday morning. As night falls, armed police are posted at strategic points in the Eltham-Greensborough district. Police in cars are watching the roads. Others are searching the bush and checking passengers on trains. Little do they realise the young man has already slipped out of the net. SEQUEL YOUTH OF 19 CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED ARMED ROBBERY OF BANK AT ELTHAM Weekly Times, Wednesday 15 February 1950, page 6 Detectives who raided a house in Bell St., Coburg, Melbourne, charged a 19-year-old youth, of South Yarra, with attempted armed robbery at the Commercial Bank’s Eltham (Vic.) receiving depot on Dec. 15. Police say they recovered a loaded automatic pistol, diamond and signet rings worth more than £200, a complete set of house-breaking instruments, a sailor’s uniform, and chloroform gauze in the raid. The youth was charged that while armed with an offensive weapon, he attempted to rob Lindsay George Spears of a sum of money. He was further charged on six counts of breaking, entering and stealing. Police allege that the person who tried to hold up Mr Spears in the Commercial Bank receiving depot at Eltham on December 15. escaped in a stolen car, after Mr Spears and Mr Henry Wallace, manager of the bank’s Greensborough branch, had fired at him. After the car crashed, he escaped into thick scrub and is alleged to have changed into a sailor’s uniform. On December 9 an automatic pistol was stolen from Mr Wallace’s bedroom at the Greensborough bank. The chloroform pad recovered is alleged to have been stolen from the Dental Supply Company, Plenty Road, Preston. The rings are alleged to have been taken in a £513 burglary from the shop of James Paton. Sydney Road, Coburg. Det. Sgt. H. McMennemin conducted the investigations with Senior Dets. R. Newton and M Downie, Detectives l. Dent, R. Rayner, P. Pedersen and M. Handley and First Constable A. Thomas. The youth will appear at Eltham Court on February 22. Manager’s Gun Used in Holdup at Bank The Age, Thursday 23 February 1950, page 4 It was stated in Eltham court yesterday that a youth who robbed a bank manager of his pistol, later used it in an attempt to hold-up the bank. Kay Arthur Morgan, 19, draftsman, of Castle-street, South Yarra, was committed for trial on charges of breaking and entering, and stealing a pistol and attempted robbery while armed with an offensive weapon. He pleaded guilty. The manager of Eltham branch of the Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd., Henry Clifton Cabot Wallace, said he disturbed someone in the bedroom, in which he and his wife were sleeping, at 3 a.m. on December. 9, 1949. Later he found that his automatic- pistol was missing. On December 15 a youth, who said his name was John Henderson, entered the bank and opened a new account. As the youth was leaving the bank he turned round with a pistol in his hand and said: — “I want the lot.” Spear indicated a drawer under the counter; and said.— “Here it is. Come and get it.” The youth said:— “Keep your hand away from that drawer.” Witness said Spear then drew his pistol from his hip pocket. The youth fired at them, and Spear returned the fire. “I pulled my pistol and fired, too” said witness. The youth fired again, ran out to a car and drove off. Witness and Spear fired several shots at the car. The youth was the accused Morgan, sitting in court, witness said. Evidence was given that one bullet was found in the celling and the other in the bank. Morgan was allowed £100 bail on each charge. Morgan ended up serving three years for the failed armed robbery and became a notorious criminal. He had twin sons, Peter and Doug and even though only ten years old, Morgan would get his sons to act as lookouts whilst he committed burglaries. The lads became building contractors but when the industry suffered a downturn in 1977 and they were short on cash, they returned to the family business. Over the following 23 months they undertook 24 raids on country and outer-suburban TABs and banks. Whilst robbing one country bank for the third time, just like their father, it all went wrong ending up with a police officer shot. They were nick-named the “After-dark” bandits and are considered to be Australia’s last bushrangers. They were convicted and served 17 years in prison.5 x A4 photocopied pagesbank hold-up, cba bank, det sgt mcmennemin, eltham, h.d. pettie, harry wallace, jack burgoyne, kay arthur morgan, lindsay a. spears, main road

Dark blue printed instructions on paper mounted on a buff coloured cardboard card.LAMPS, SIGNALLING DAYLIGHT, SHORT RANGE Lamp can be used either (1) on the spike and spike extension stuck in the ground or (2) in the hand if necessary, or (3) withe the adaptor provided on a standard helio stand. SIGHTING TUBE: It is important to see that the lamp is so aligned that the distant receiving station is at the centre of the cross slots and maintained in that position the whole time that signals are being sent. BULBS: when fitting a new bulb, insert the locating tongue on the washer to the front and push the stem right back in the slot. BATTERIES: The correct replacment unit for this set is 8 "S" cells connected "in series". Screw up both terminal nuts tightly, ans see thar all connectors are in position. NIGHT SIGNALLING: An adjustable screen is supplied for reducing the light and one of the colour discs should always be used in conjunction with it when signalling at night under enemy observation. KEY CONNECTIONS. Use the two-pin plug in No.1 socket as long as the light is good enough, then cahnge to No.2. This will greatly lengthen the life of bulb. Used bulbs and batteries should not be relaced in the box, but discarded and a fresh supply obtained. Get a copy of detailed instructions "How to Use" this signalling outfit. KEEP LENS, MIRROR, BULB AND FRONT GLASS CLEAN.instructions, lamp, signalling, daylight, short range

Wooden tripod mount for lamp, signalling daylight, short range, MK II. The legs are shaped to a point at the bottom and shaped to form a circle when closed. Each leg has a metal fitting attached by metal screws at the top, which supports a circular metal collar fitting for the mounting of the lamp. A khaki coloured stiched canvas webbing with brass buckles is attached at one end to the metal fitting at the top of one leg. The other end has a circular sleeve for using to keep the wooden tripos mount legs closed for storage. One leg has a small brass ring mounted at the top. A metal hook is mounted under the lamp mounting collar.STAND LAMP OR HELIO A MK IItripod, helio, lamp, daylight

Installed on building at 528 Whitehorse Road, Mitcham between 1938 and 1944. Building was a Newsagency and Post Office.Patrick and Bertha Markham operated the newsagency and post office on this site from 1925 to 1944. In the late 30s a range of photographic and developing services and supplies were added to the business. The sign was installed under the veranda on the Whitehorse Road frontage to advertise Kodak services. Also, their daughter Mary was a keen photographer and started a business as a child photographer. In 1944, both her parents died and Mary inherited the premises and continued the Kodak agency as part of her business. Mary and her husband, Harold, sold the former Mitcham post office to the PMG in mid 1957 and removed the Kodak sign as they departed.Metal sign L 1220cm x H 295cm . Yellow background with red lettering 'Kodak Film'. Sign has black edging. Sign is identical both sides.Kodak Filmcommerce, signs

Construction on the Sydney Melbourne coaxial cable began in 1960 and was one of Australia's biggest and most important telecommunications projects of the 20th century. The laying of a coaxial cable between Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, allowed people to direct dial long distance phone calls (rather than operator assisted), and supported simultaneous television broadcasts for the first time. It was officially opened on 9 April 1962 by the then Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies. This souvenir coaxial cable was presented to Mr Roy Kerr on his retirement. Mr Kerr was the Assistant Chief Engineer, Headquarters Customer Networks Branch, Telecom Australia.This cable has strong historic significance as part of the historic and technologically important Sydney-Melbourne coaxial cable. The cable represents not only a feat of technology but a shift in social engagement with telecommunication technologies, as it allowed people to direct dial long distance phone calls (rather than operator assisted), and supported simultaneous television broadcasts for the first time; it put the power of connection directly into the hands of the Australian public. This souvenir length of cable is well provenanced, and the details of the cables use and significance is inscribed on the steel casing. A 6 tube copper coaxial cable with lead sheath, quad 20lbs conductor cable (paper insulated), and a presentation metal collar and base. Inscriptions around the top of the metal collar and the base. "OLYMPIC CABLES PTY. LTD / AUSTRALIA" "6 TUBE COAXIAL CABLE / WITH 32 PAIRS 20LBS/MILE UNARMOURED / SYDNEY MELBOURNE 1960"coaxial cable, cable, sydney-melbourne coaxial cable, telstra, postmaster general's department (pmg), telecommunications, subscriber trunk dialling (std), television, telephone

This yellow peacekeeper's brassard was worn by Lt Damien Batty whilst on Peace Keeping duty on Bougainville The Peace Monitoring Group (PMG) on Bougainville in Papua New Guinea was brought about by the civil unrest on the island in 1989.[1] The PNG government requested the Australian and New Zealand governments to provide a monitoring group to oversee the cease fire on the island. This group was made up of both civilian and defence personnel from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu. Both sides of the conflict welcomed the group being on Bougainville. This support remained strong throughout the PMG's deployment. The PMG played a role in facilitating the peace process on 30 April 1998 and took over from the New Zealand Truce Monitoring Group which then departed.Yellow brassard, featuring an Australian flag badge and a peace emblem of a dove holding an olive brand with the Island of Bougainville in the background and boarded with black text. Also featuring a slit for attaching to the lapel and fastened with velcro. Front - Australian flag badge, embroided - AUSTRALIA Peace emblem, embossed - PEACE / PEACE MONITORING GROUP Back - Written in texta - LT / BATTY / CHEpeace keeping monitoring group bougainville