Business owners collectionCollected for archival reasonsMaterial in foldernewspaper cuttings, certificates, photographs, articles re the business operationswestern district industries, warrnambool, elmac hydroponicswestern district industries, warrnambool, elmac hydroponics

The business connected to this ledger, dated from 1904 to 1907, is unknown. There are some local Warrnambool and district names but most refer to other places in Victoria and interstate. The entries mostly deal with the sale of produce - onions, potatoes, barley, oats etc. and the names of ships are usually appended . One can guess that the ledger comes from a Steamship Company, a produce buyer or a cartage contractor.This ledger is of minor interest and is retained for research purposes.This is a ledger of 755 pages. The cover is charcoal-coloured hard board with brown leather on the spine and the edges of the cover. The spine has a red label with gold-coloured lettering. The pages have ruled red lines and handwriting in black ink. The ledger is much stained and tattered at the edges.Day Bookwestern district produce, warrnambool, onions, potatoes, barley, oats

The photograph shows the steam launch Lady Loch towing five rowing boats full of passengers on the Hopkins River at Warrnambool. The boat is travelling downstream from the riverbank near Jubilee Park towards Warrnambool and the river mouth. A similar trip in 1909 was a fund-raising excursion when the Lady Loch was to tow boats from Flett & Sons' boating establishment on the Hopkins River, travelling towards Jubilee Park. The photograph was taken between February 1907 and June 1910 by Mrs A. G. Dawson from the Hopkins River Bank at “Allandale”, which she was leasing. She took another photograph that day, which was published in the Warrnambool Standard on 24th March 1973. At the time of the photograph the launch Lady Loch was owned by James Flett & Son who operated a boatshed on the bend of the Hopkins River. The boat was described as “a fine little steamer”. In 1916 it was licenced to carry 42 passengers. The LADY LOCH: - In February 1884 Mr Sutton’s steam launch had the name of Lady of the Lake. The boat was part of the entertainment for a Sunday school picnic at Ballarat Lake and Gardens. In October 1884 Mr Ivey from Lake Wendouree purchased two vessels, the steamer Ballarat and Mr Sutton’s well-known and popular launch, Lady of the Lake, to join his own fleet of pleasure boats. In November 1887 Mr Mark Hooper’s purchase of a ‘new’ pleasure boat, Lady of the Lake, arrived in Colac to be an addition to his boating business. The launch had been transported by road from Ballarat, but the boiler and the engine had travelled by rail the previous day. In June 1888, Fanny Nelson purchased the steam launch Lady of the Lake for her Nelson’s Boating and Fishing Establishment on the Hopkins River, Warrnambool. She renamed it Lady Loch. People have suggested the mane was in honour of the wife of the then-current Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Loch, and the local paper stated that Lady Loch flew the Governor’s colours of yellow, black and blue on her first trip under Nelson’s ownership, Sunday 12th August 1888. In 1890 Fanny Nelson sold her complete business, including Lady Loch, to Mr Chapman. in January 1897 James Flett & Sons, already involved in boating, purchased the business from Chapman. In January 1916, Flett advertised everything for sale, including the boatshed and the steam launch Lady Loch. NOTE: - at least three vessels in Victoria were named Lady Loch; a river launch (ca 1884-ca 1916), a steamer ferry (1884-1920s) and a government steam lighthouse tender HMS Lady Loch (1886-1962)The photograph of the Lady Loch pleasure steamer represents the social and recreational activities of late 19th-century people from Warrnambool and the local district. It shows an example of the pleasure craft of that era. The history of the Lady Loch includes the history of fishing and boat hire businesses of that period. The photograph is also connected with an early Warrnambool buat builder James Flett & Sons. representing the maritime history of the town.Photograph, black and white, of the steam launch Lady Loch towing five rowing boats downstream on the Hopkins River from Jubilee Park towards the river mouth. There are many figures on the boats. The photograph was taken from a property called Allandale on the south river bank between February 1907 and June 1910. The photographer was Mrs A. G. Dawson. The Lady Loch was owned by Mr James Flett & Sons at that time. The photograph is mounted on card.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, lady of the lake, lady of the lake steamer, lady loch steamer, lake colac steamer, hopkins river warrnambool, jubilee park warrnambool, francis maria mann, andrew abernathy nelson iiird, hopkins hotel, nelson's boathouse, chapman's boathouse, flett's boathouse, fanny (francis) nelson, james flett & sons

This item was used to measure accurately the length of cloth on a bolt of material without unwinding it. It also measured lace, all types of textiles and spools of ribbon. It is surmised it would have been used in general stores or department stores in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This item was discovered in the late 1980s behind an old safe at Swintons Stores in Timor Street in Warrnambool. The item appears to have been used extensively and would have been very useful during a stocktake. It may have been used in the Swinton Stores which were first established in Timor Street in 1865 with one section of the stores selling furnishings, furniture, clothing and clothing materials. The item was manufactured by A.E. Putnam of Iowa, U.S.A. There was a patent registered in 1896 and a later 'improved' model with a patent date of 1907. This item is of considerable interest because of its rarity and survival, its connection to Warrnambool General Stores in the past and its value as a research tool in local social and economic history. The possible connection to Swintons Stores is important as this business operated from 1865 to 2024 and was one of the longest-surviving family businesses in Australia. This is a rectangular-shaped wooden pole with one slightly flattened side and numbers marked on each side in patterns resembling brick walls. At the top of the pole are two wooden pieces attached to the pole by metal clips held by screws. The two wooden pieces are attached at a slight angle to the pole. The lower wooden piece is movable along the pole and has incised numbers. The wooden pieces are rectangular in shape with a large curved piece cut out to form the shape of a pennant. The maker's name is incised into the metal on the top attached wooden piece. Putnam's Cloth Chart Copyrighted 1896 Patent Pend'ggeneral stores in warrnambool, swintons stores in warrnambool, vintage measuring instrument for cloth

This well indexed booklet was produced by the Warrnambool Standard with the assistance of the City of Warrnambool. It contains lists of local government council and councillors for the surrounding south western district. There are photographs of the Warrnambool City Council members and main officers. Information provided covers services for accommodation, animal welfare, Churches, community organisations, complaints, counselling, courts, education, employment, health, legal, material aid, public safety, recreation, recycling, community support, tourism and transport. The booklet contains advertisements for some local businesses. This service directory provides a snapshot of businesses and support services available in Warrnambool and the South Western District in 1991. It will be useful for researchers looking at this area in the late 20th century. The booklet also provides an insight into how community awareness of recycling improving our environment was undertaken in 1991.A 32 page booklet of yellow newsprint with black printing. The staples have been removed. The front cover has a green background with yellow printing on the top half. There is a black and white photograph of a man accepting bagged recycling from a woman and two children. The top left hand corner of the photograph has a small red rectangle and yellow writing. The bottom right hand corner of the front cover has a red triangle with yellow writing. The rear cover has black printing and a stylised cartoon of a man emptying a rubbish bin at the tip being tapped on the shoulder by a man holding a recycling bag.Front cover: 1991/92 South~West Information Guide The Standard Warrnambool; Keep with your telephone book for quick reference produced in conjunction with Warrnambool City Council Rear cover: Remember... If it can be recycled, It's not rubbish! Contact your local council about recycling.warrnambool city council, warrnambool service directory 1991, recycling, south western district service directory

Dry foods such as oats were packaged in cloth bags from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century. Parsons' Brothers and Company were involved in packaging a variety of produce for the Australian market including oatmeal for porridge.The oat bags provide a snapshot of a well-known Australian food company and how the bags were used to advertise other items available from the business.A set of two Oatmeal Bags from the Parsons' company. Each bag is made from calico with ornate writing and images on the front that relate to the product and company. The back of each bag is used to advertise a different product from the company – Saline Powder (8649.1) and Mustard (8649.2).Front (both): 7-lbs. Net, PARSONS', TRADE MARK, THE ORIGINAL FLAKED OATMEAL, DELICIOUS PORRIDGE, WITH ONLY TEN MINUTES BOILING, PARSONS BROS & COY., PROPY. LTD., MELBOURNE Back 8649.1 : TRY Parsons', PARSONS' SALINE POWDER, NET ? LB, SALINE POWDER, A COOL, REFRESHING AND HEALTHFUL DRINK Back 8649.2 : UNSURPASSED in Quality and Price, PARSONS' MUSTARD, (further writing is faded)flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, warrnambool, calico, domestic object, textile, food storage, parsons' bros, oatmeal, porridge

Augustus Bostock was the 9th child of Robert & Rachael Bostock of Vauclause Epping Forest, Van Diemen’s Land. He was only 4 years old when his mother died. He was inspired by his father to seek his fortune in the Western District of Victoria. He arrived around 1850. He married Margaret Aitkin in July 1865. Augustus owned several properties in the district and leased others. He sat on the court of Warrnambool, Mortlake or Hexham as required. He resided at Marramook in Hawkesdale and later moved to Vauclause in Hopetoun Road Warrnambool.where he died in 1920 at the age of 87. He was involved in many aspects of life in the Western District, racing, cricket, and social acitivities to name a few. This ledger shows the expenses and costs associated with the farming business of Augustus Bostock, one of the earliest pioneers of Warrnambool. It lists names of people with whom he did business as well as expenses with shearing and rations. It lists the various categories of sheep, ewes, lambs, wethers, and different breeds of sheep and distinguishing features of cattle. It also contains the names of local shearers and workers.Augustus Bostock was one of the earliest pioneers of Warrnambool and the Western District. This ledger gives an insight into many aspects of this early life. It therefore has social, historical and interpretive significance.Hard cardboard coverer with cream covering. Line border on front cover. Mottled green, blue and pink paper inside front and back covers. Alphabetical index at front. 105 pages.warrnambool, bostock, angus, diary

This book containing tartan fabric samples belonged to the Warrnambool firm of Cramond and Dickson. It is presumed to have been brought from Scotland to Warrnambool by either John Glass Cramond or James Dickson Snr. for use in their Department Store where customers could choose which tartan they preferred. It is obvious that it has been well used as pieces have been cut from some samples. Tartan clothing has been a favourite over many years used for fashion garments and children's clothing in addition to its use in traditional Highland dress. The firm of Cramond and Dickson was established as a general store in 1855 and closed in 1974.This book is of considerable significance as it is our earliest memento ( 1850) of the prominent Warrnambool firm of Cramond and Dickson, a business that operated for 119 years.This is a hard cover book with a dark coloured leather cover with gold printing and a much damaged spine. Inside the cover is a mottled pattern. The pages contain some hand written information and swatches of tartan fabric pasted on separate pages. Some of the tartan samples have had pieces cut off. The pages have the name of the tartan and other annotations. There is one loose page.cramond and dickson warrnambool, tartan

These labels come from the pharmacy business of R.F.Kennedy who sold Lectar Company products and used a lighthouse image as his logo. Richard Kennedy (1826-1903), a wholesale, retail and manufacturing chemist in Timor Street, came to Warrnambool in 1880 and had what was described in the ‘Cyclopedia of Victoria’ as ‘the largest and best-appointed pharmacy in Victoria’. Kennedy was the Vice-President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria, on the Pharmacy Board and was prominent in community affairs n Warrnambool. He also made local perfumes with many varieties named after people or events of the time – Nellie Melba, Federation etc. His pharmacy building in Timor Street and his house in Canterbury Road (“Ivanhoe”) still stand today.These labels are of some interest as they are associated with the Warrnambool business of the chemist, R.F.Kennedy. This business was the most important historically of all the Warrnambool chemists. .1, .2 Paper with a decorative order, images in gold and black of grapes, flowers and a lighthouse and black printing .3 As .1 above .4,.5 Paper with a gold border, images of grape vines in gold and blue printing .1,.2 Vinegar manufactured by the Lectar Company .3 Lemon Syrup manufactured by the Lectar Company .4,.5 Vinegar manufactured by the Lectar Company

Pat King was a surgeon dentist in Warrnambool from the late 1920s through to the 1940s. In 1929 the King family owned the stone building in Liebig Street next to the old Tattersalls Hotel (now McDonalds fast food outlet). The King family remodelled the building and turned it into shops with living quarters upstairs. Pat King had his dental business in the centre of the building and his brother had a produce store at the northern end of the building. It was known at that time as Kings building. By the early fifties, at the time of his death, Pat King had been living at 32 Howard Street. Kings building was auctioned in 1953.This little box is of some interest as it came from the dental business of Pat King, a prominent dentist in Warrnambool in the 1930s and 40s. This is a small buff-coloured cardboard box with a lid. The four corners of the box and the lid have metal rivet reinforcements and a semi-circular cardboard inset has been stapled into the box. The box was used by the dentist Pat King of Warrnambool and the box appears to have been made to hold dentures. Lid of box: ‘P. V. King, L.D.S, B.D.Sc., Dental Surgeon, 187 Liebig Street, Warrnambool, Phone 451’. kings building,, warrnambool, pat king, dentist, history

In 1869, the Warrnambool Meat Preserving Company commenced their business on the site, where it operated until 1875 when it was sold to the directors of the Warrnambool Woolen Mill Company. After being destroyed by fire in 1882 it wasn’t until 1910 that the Warrnambool Chamber of Commerce was approached by Marcus Saltau and Peter McGennan to invest in a new mill. The original directors were James Dickson, P J McGennan, Robert Swinton, M Saltau, and J W Younger. In 1955 the Warrnambool Woollen Mill formed a partnership with the Wangaratta Woollen Mills. Dunlop bought the mill in 1968. From that time until its closure in 2000 it had a number of different owners, the last being the Smith Family Industries. This report contains the financial reports for the three years from 1951-1953.This report shows records of the Woollen Mill which was one of the most important industries in Warrnambool for nearly 100 years. As such it has links to many local families and organisations.Light brown paper cover with black text underlined in red. Bound in black tape. Accountants’ name along bottom of cover in black.warrnambool, warrnambool woollen mill, warrnambool woolen mill,

In 1854 in Melbourne George Rolfe Senior established an import business dealing in groceries, wines and spirits and tea. His son George, born in England, took over the business of Rolfe and Co in 1871. A keen sportsman, George Rolfe’s love of fishing led him to take frequent holidays in Warrnambool. He began buying blocks of land near the mouth of the Hopkins River in Warrnambool in the 1870s. By the 1880s Rolfe owned 50 acres in the Hopkins River area and named the property, Lyndoch. He built stables, chaff and bone sheds, a jetty, a boatshed, a water well, a windmill, a reservoir and extensive gardens. He also bought the nearby properties of Shipley and Fairy Hill, establishing a stud farm and breeding cattle. In 1891 he married Jane Ann Lake, the widow of his property manager, and when he died in 1919 his step-daughters, Florence and Annie Lake, inherited Lyndoch. The property was sold and became an aged care facility in 1952. The cutlery items were in use in the building erected by Florence Lake in 1920 and known today as Lyndoch but the ‘R’ monogram on the items suggest that they belonged to George Rolfe or even his father before him.These cutlery items are of considerable importance as mementoes of George Rolfe and his family. They were prominent in Warrnambool’s history in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the establishment and development of the property, Lyndoch, near the mouth of the Hopkins River. These are 17 pieces from a silver cutlery set that belonged to the Rolfe family (one tablespoon, six large forks, five smaller forks, four small spoons and one mustard spoon.) All the pieces of cutlery have a monogrammed ‘R’ at the end of the handles. Twelve of the items are tarnished and one small spoon is very worn. All the items have six hallmarks. ‘R’george rolfe, lyndoch, warrnambool, rolfe & co. melbourne, florence lake, lyndoch warrnambool., history of warrnambool

This bat was awarded to Thomas William Southcombe in 1876 for the best batting average during the 1875-6 season at Warrnambool Cricket Club. Thomas William Southcombe was the son of Thomas and Mary Southcombe of Port Fairy. With his parents, Thomas and Mary, he arrived in Port Fairy in 1854. Thomas Senior was a carpenter who established several businesses in Port Fairy and served on the local Council for many years as a Councillor and Mayor. Thomas Junior appears to have migrated to U.S.A. and died there in 1904. The cricket bat was manufactured by the British firm of James Lillywhite, Frowd & Co. James Lillywhite was an English cricketer whose uncle had originally established the sports store and manufacturing business which lasted under various names until the 21st century. A cricketer named Lillywhite played in Warrnambool in 1874 with an All England Team under the captaincy of W.G.Grace. It is not known whether this was James Lillywhite or another member of the Liilywhite family as several of them played first class cricket.. The impression of the signature of W.H.Ponsford on the bat is an intriguing one. W.H. (Bill) Ponsford was a famous Australian cricketer who retired in the late 1930s. The Southcombe cricket bat was given by Mary Southcombe (Thomas’ sister) to the old Warrnambool Museum in 1923 and it is surmised that Bill Ponsford visited Warrnambool in 1957 (tthis appears to be the date under the signature imprint) and was shown the bat. It is then surmised that he rested a piece of paper or an album page on the bat while he signed his name and the impression of the signature has come through onto the bat. The old Museum closed in the 1960s and the bat was then passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society from the Warrnambool City Council collection of items from the Museum. This bat is of considerable importance because of its provenance and its connection with the Warrnambool Cricket Club, the Southcombe family of Port Fairy, the Lillywhite manufacturers, the old Warrnambool Museum and Bill Ponsford. It is also a good example of the type of cricket bat used in Australia in the 1870s. This is a wooden cricket bat (light colour wood, presumably willow) with a handle covered in oiled thread. It has an etched inscription on one side of the bat and the names of the manufacturer and distributor on the other side. There is also a faint impression of another signature. The blade of the bat is slightly curved. ‘W.C.C. Season 1875-6 Presented to T.W. Southcombe, for Best Batting Average’ ‘James Lillywhite Frowd & Co., Manufacturers, Borough, England’ ‘Made for George Marsh, Melbourne’ ‘W.H.Ponsford, -/1/1957’ warrnambool cricket club, thomas william southcombe, w.h.ponsford, warrnambool’s old museum

These trousers have been made by Fletcher Jones and Staff. This business was established by David Fletcher Jones (1895-1977) in 1924 when he leased three shops in Liebig Street, Warrnambool. In 1928 he moved his business to the main retailing area near the Liebig Street/Koroit Street intersection. In 1931 a shop built to Fletcher Jones’ requirements was erected and by 1938 he had a staff of 40. By 1945 FJ trousers were sold in 123 stores in Victoria and in 1948 the Fletcher Jones factory was established in Flaxman Street Warrnambool, officially named Pleasant Hill. In 1951 the company became Fletcher Jones and Staff and by the mid 1970s the staff had 75% ownership. By this time FJ and Staff had become one of the largest clothing manufacturers in Australia with 55 shops and almost 3000 employees. The range of clothing was enlarged to include both men’s and women’s wear. In the 1980s, after the death of Fletcher Jones, the abolition of import tariffs and the availability of cheap imported clothing caused the Fletcher Jones Company to decline and to be sold to a Geelong company. By 2011 all Fletcher Jones shops had closed. These trousers are of great interest as they are a product of a Warrnambool business that was nationally and internationally known in the 20th century for its quality men’s wear, especially the Coverdine brand trousers. The Fletcher Jones business remains one of the most important businesses, (if not the most important), that ever existed in Warrnambool. It employed a great number of local people in the second half of the 20th century, and is remembered with great fondness by many people in the city and surrounds today. The Fletcher Jones Gardens at the Factory site are still maintained today and are a tourist attraction in the city. These are a pair of brown Fletcher Jones trousers made of Coverdine material (87.5% wool with nylon). There is some lining around the waist area and the legs are turned up at the end with some leather binding inside the bottom legs. The waist band is stiffened and is fastened with a metal clip and two buttons. The waist band has two adjustable areas using tabs and two buttons each side. The back pockets also have buttons.fletcher jones and staff, coverdine fletcher jones trousers, history of warrnambool, david fletcher jones

This is an advertising card for the business of E.D.Evans & Co., the Victoria Saddle and Harness Warehouse situated in Liebig Street Warrnambool next to the Victoria Hotel. This business operated in Liebig Street from 1872 to the last known date of 1911. Edward David Evan's saddlery business was prominent in Warrnambool but he also had a similar business in Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. He was a Warrnambool Councillor from 1875 to 1878 and from 1884 to 1888. He was also heavily involved with the Warrnambool Racing Club being President for some time. This is an interesting card because it comes from the saddlery business of E.D. Evans and Co., a prominent business in Warrnambool in the 19th and early 20th Centuries . A white card with black printing on both sides.The card is stained particularly around the edges.VICTORIA SADDLE AND HARNESS WAREHOUSE E.D. EVANS & CO.e.d.evans, saddler of warrnambool, saddlery in warrnambool, edward david evans

John Gibson was a tea merchant in Warrnambool in the 1930's and later went on to run a clothing business in Fairy Street Warrnambool which also involved travelling to areas outside of Warrnambool and district farms with a range of clothing. His wife Mary was associated with the Nella Maris cafe in Liebig St where John Gibson was seriously wounded in a stabbing attack. He and his wife Mary were killed in a road accident in May 1965. It was not uncommon for items such as tea and other basic commodities to be purchased in large amounts. In an article on A common item from the early and mid 20th century with a link to a Warrnambool person and family businessRectangular metal tin with attached hinged lid.The front of the tin has a dark blue background with a white teapot and palm trees and buildings also in white. Text is in red.The tea of taste Renown Tea. J Gibson Warrnambool. Nett weight 12lbs.warrnambool, john alexander gibson, renown tea, j gibson warrnambool