Roderick William Mills, known as Saltbush Bill (left) with his sons, James Charles Mills (centre) and John James Mills (right), in London. In 1917 Saltbush Bill travelled from America to London after giving shows in various cities of the US, to spend time with his sons. James and John Mills were serving with the AIF and on leave from the French front in London. Saltbush Bill remained in London for the rest of the war as he was unable to return to Australia. Saltbush Bill, was the inspiration for several poems by A.B. Paterson. Born at Balnarring in 1869, Mills earned the title of Saltbush Bill whilst working on a cattle station in Queensland. On these long droving trips, he learnt the art of cracking stock whips of many different lengths and sizes, a skill that earnt him £100 after a Melbourne saddler, J.K. Jennings, suggested that no man could crack a 65-foot stock whip in three tries. Saltbush Bill succeeded on his first attempt and decided to make a career in entertainment with his skill. Over his career he performed for royalty, travelled and performed extensively overseas and lent his skill to fundraising efforts, particularly during the war. His last concert was given in the Boomerang Hall in Dandenong in 1926.A local resident of the City of Moorabbin, Saltbush Bill was an ambassador for Australia and a literary inspiration to A.B. (Banjo) Paterson. Saltbush Bill, his wife Hannah Louise Porter and their 11 children lived in Old Dandenong Road, Heatherton, where Saltbush Bill and Hannah conducted a market garden for many years. Saltbush Bill is buried in Cheltenham's Pioneer Cemetery.Black and white photograph of three men, one seated behind a table and two standing. The two standing are in military uniformsHandwritten in blue ink: K000733saltbush bill, stock whip, entertainment, heatherton

A photo of children at a Government House Christmas Party. They are watching the entertainment and eating ice cream. Melbourne Legacy would hold Christmas parties for junior Legatees at Government House for many years due to the Governor of Victoria being patron of Legacy. The children are wearing Legacy tags. The year is 1963. One of the photos appeared in a newspaper article about Legacy in 1965 (see item 01237). The boy in the first photo is Will Gaff, brother of Legatee Keith Gaff who advised that the year was 1963.A record of relationship of Legacy with the Governor of Victoria and the parties that Legacy provided for the children in their care.Black and white photo x 3 of children at a Government House Christmas party.junior legatee outing, christmas, government house party

Photographs of Legatees in fancy dress at a function at Grimwade House, Caulfield. 01381.1 Has names written above the Legatees. From left to right: Harry Anderson, Harry Rigby, Harry Sa__? in beefeater costume, Bob Law, Keith ?_? and three Junior Legatees or school boys. 01381.2 On the back are 7 names in pencil. From left to right: __?, McCure, Carleton, Morgan, Hugh Brain (at the piano in clown costume), and Harold Peters. 01381.3 On the back are 5 names for the 7 men. From left to right: __, E.A. Doyle, Hugh Brain, Murray, Cox, __, Mathew in barrow. 01381.4 On the back are 4 names for the men in the photo, children are not named. From left to right: Gavan Cox, S.H. Birrell, J.R. Hall, and F. Whitman. 01381.5 On the back are 5 names. From Left to right: Lee Murray, Frank Meldrum, G.B.Law, Cyril Smith, and Neville Beech. According to the text on the back of one photo the venue is Grimwade House. From comparative photos it would appear the buildings in the photos are part of Grimwade House, which has been part of Melbourne Grammar School since 1918. A record that in the 1920s the Legatees held events to gather together for entertainment and pleasure. Black and white photo x 5 of a Legatee function at Grimwade House in the 1920s.Handwritten on the reverse: 'At Grimwade House, Caulfield / in the 20s' in blue pen. Some names on each panel in pencil.legatee event, founding legatee, costume

Colour postcard of the outdoor swimming pool at Glenara Motel, Lakes Entrance, Victoria. Shows adults and children on the paved area around the pool and three people in the water.motels, recreation, entertainment, rsl clubs

This vehicle, an Axtrack is located outside the Falls Creek Museum. It was built by Axel Andre who worked in Falls Creek as a mechanic for several years in the early 1970s. Axel was an engineer by trade. He built this small twin track vehicle for Ivan Spargo at the Falls Creek Hotel and then progressed to building bigger and better models. This included one for Ziggy Doer at Koki and Neville Mashford at Snowland purchased two of them. Some of these machines were also exported to America. Axel Andre later established a company Axtrack Engineering in Melbourne. There are still three of these Axtrack vehicles on the hill at Falls Creek in 2024. The vehicles were used for commercial purposes such as transporting supplies and staff around the mountain. The Spargo family from the Falls Creek Hotel used this vehicle for oversnow transport and it advertised Harvey Wallbanger Happy Hour. Ivan and Joy Spargo relocated from Melbourne to Falls Creek in 1965. They purchased a piece of leasehold land and built Spargo Lodge. This was a dorm style chalet built to accommodate large groups and families. Their son Rob Spargo met his future wife Blanche in 1967 when she was on holiday in Falls Creek. They married and purchased the site where the Falls Creek Hotel is today. The steep gradient of the site was a challenge to build on but was the best location available in the village. In 1970 Rob’s sister Leonie and her husband Glenn joined the business, and they started operating the hotel in 1972. The family played a critical role in the growth of the Falls Creek community and were involved in the foundation of Falls Creek Primary School and Falls Creek Search & Rescue. Rob was also involved in the start-up of Ski Victoria and has served as a member of the Chamber and Resort Management Board. Rob’s eldest daughter Lisa competed with the Australian Ski Team from 1985 to 1989 and has worked as a ski instructor in Australia, Austria & Colorado. In 2010 Lisa and her husband Damien Allport joined the family business and her parents retired to Tawonga South in 2014. Their children are now the fourth generation of the Spargo family living at Falls Creek enjoying the alpine lifestyle and providing outstanding hospitality. The 40 year tradition of the Harvey Wallbanger Happy Hour held on Tuesdays and Thursdays continues at Falls Creek Hotel in 2024.This item is significant because it depicts an important form of transport at Falls Creek, VictoriaA coloured photo of a black Axtrack oversnow vehicle decorated with red and yellow advertising.FALLS CREEK HOTEL APRES ENTERTAINMENT HARVEY HOUR TUES & THURS 3.30 PM LIVE ENTERTAINMENTaxtrack, oversnow vehicles, falls creek transport, spargo lodge, falls creek hotel

Researched, written and designed by PMHPS members.The cover of the 2025 "Historic Port Melbourne -Growing up in Port Melbourne " shows a group of children in 1957, on and in a car at the Presbyterian Church Kindergarten, Bridge Street Port Melbourne. The calendar was produced by members of the Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society and focuses on children's experiences growing up in Port Melbourne in the 1920's to the 1950's.education - kindergartens, education - primary schools, sport - football, sport - cricket, frank vincent, george langley, entertainment - celebrations