The Great Spotted Woodpecker is found throughout Europe and Asia. They are generally solitary birds and do not migrate unless found in northern climates. They are omnivorous and can extend their tongue when feeding on insects, insect larvae, and seeds, among other things. They generally only stay with the same mating partner for one season and are extremely territorial. The Great Spotted Woodpecker generally has red eyes and a deep red lower belly. The males have a red nape, whereas the females do not. They have a white upper chest and white and black head, back, tail feathers, and wings. Juveniles are less vibrant in colour and their undertails and lower bellies are a dirty pink or brown. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This Great Spotted Woodpecker specimen is a juvenile female. The undertail is a faint pink while the head and neck is black and white. The tail feathers and wings are a faded grey-brown and the underbelly is white. This specimen is standing on a wooden mount with a swing tag attached to its leg.Swing tag: 2e(?). / Great-Spotted Woodpecker / Catalogue page, 66 / Metal tag: 4304 / torn swing tag: (?)s ma(?)- / q. / Nord- Deu(?)- / taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, great spotted woodpecker, woodpecker

1. Colour postcard depicting Bendigo Town hall interior. On back 'Bendigo Town Hall, designed by William Vahland and erected around the original hall in 1885 to reflect the opulence of Bendigo's golden age. The interior decorative scheme was designed by Otto Waschatz who also decorated the Royal Palace in Copenhagen' 2. Small metal badge with image of interior of Town Hall, identical to that on postcard. Enclosed in original cellophane wrapping.bendigo, buildings, bendigo town hall interior

The medal was issued by Cole's Book Arcade, with the proverb “Federation of the World, Be Good and Do Good”, circa 1885. This nickel-plated medal is one of a series of medals offering maxims and proverbs issued by E.W. Cole (Edward William Cole), owner of his Book Arcade. He called the medals 'little missionaries for the spread of educative knowledge' According to Sydney Endicott, an employee of Cole, customers were charged three pence for these medals (which he prefers to call tokens) which, when the Arcade was particularly busy, gave them admission to the second-hand books' gallery where the orchestra played. Each medal could be exchanged for thee pence worth of goods, but most were kept. The pierced ones were sometimes worn as pendants or on pocket watch chains. The medals served as perpetual advertisements of the Arcade (Victorian Historical Magazine, February 1962). George Dean suggests that the medals were also given in change at Christmas time, and could be used to operate amusement machines (presumably including the symphonion (clockwork instrument) and hens, although these only required one penny to operate). Cole had his first medal stuck in 1879 and his last one in 1903. The medals were variously gilded, silvered or bronzed, replicating the coinage and then circulating, or plated with nickel or white metal. The metal blanks were usually made of copper or brass, but some might have been bronze; aluminium was also sometimes used. In all, perhaps 300,000 medals were struck, in 97 different types or designs. Only 50 types are known to have circulated according to George Dean's 1988 book "A Handbook on E.W. Cole: His Book Arcade, Tokens and Medals'.The medal is significant for its association with Cole's Book Arcade in Melbourne, established in the 1870s. The unique shop not only had new books, but secondhand books, and many curious and interesting objects and musical treats. Cole's Book Arcade, at the time, was known as one of the wonders of 'marvellous Melbourne. it closed in 1929.Nickle plated bronze medal or token, round, featuring a tree fern and a thought provoking maxim. The medal was issued by E W Cole, Book Arcade, in Melbourne. Obverse: "BE GOOD AND" "DO GOOD" "HINDOO MAXIM" "PURE THOUGHTS" "PURE WORDS" "PURE DEEDS" "PARSES MAXIM" Reverse: "PURE / THOUGHTS / PURE WORDS / PURE DEEDS / PARSEE MAXIM" and below rainbow in tiny letters; "FEDERATION OF THE / WORLD MEDALS / ISSUED / BY E.W. COLE / BOOK ARCADE MELBOURNE"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, medal, maxims, coles arcade melbourne, federation of the world, advertising token, edward william cole, book arcade, e w cole, cole's book arcade

James Leslie Forge was the son of Christopher Forge (1860-1912) who had open a drapery in Nicolson Street, Footscray in 1898. He donated 100 pounds for the reredos.reredos, heritage listed, james leslie forge, gifts-1917

Grave of Thomas A Elliott (died 1880) and Elizabeth Elliott (died 1868) in Plot# C3 and C4 Greensborough Cemetery. The Elliott family arrived in Greensborough in the early 1860's.Greensborough Cemetery was created when land was given for the cemetery by Mr William Poulter, a local settler, about 1864. The cemetery holds the graves of many of the early settlers in the district. The cemetery holds approximately 250 grave sites with 350 people buried there. Digital copy of colour photograph of grave/headstone.thomas a elliott, elizabeth elliott, greensborough cemetery

Saw used by donor's grandfather, William Cuzens, a carpenter from about 1860 to 1890. Saw later used by donor's father, Aubrey Cuzens until about 1945Carpenter's fretsaw. Wooden with twine and metal blade with bulbous handles at each end. Blue cover over blade.

Memories of permanent residents and holiday makers and some extracts from newspapers, dating from 1860's. Includes extract from James Meek's diary. 1865-2000Collections of memories of the town which would otherwise be lost.Looseleaf plastic pocket folder containing transcriptions of verbal memories of Peterborough, collected by Rosemary (Posie) Durhamgraeme murfett, todd sloane, james meek, a warren (wokka) moore, prue holden, staughton, annette breton, owen moore, jane dyson, james irvine iii, margaret hamilton, frank corlett, captain a.s. brown, peterborough house, andrew chirnside, moyle breton, tess jarvis, ross paton, virginia (bardie) mercer, ruth grimwade, rod (wumpty) chirnside, sir stanley argyle, joan densley, margery levine, mafe tabart, rosemary (posie) durham, belgian babies fund, bill cumming, ronald cumming, daniel curdie, jane hallows, jane coy, presbyterian church peterborough, john bartlam, sue graansma, sue joyce, palmyra peterborough, the holidays at peterborough, l'inconnue, 16 january 1917, warrnambool standard, warrnambool examiner

The Kew Historical Society has an extensive collection of maps and plans; most relating to the former City of Kew (1860-1994). Within this collection, this hand-drawn map is unique.The most important and earliest original map of Kew in the collection, showing places of interest in early Kew.Hand-coloured map on heavy paper, depicting from Kew in 1875 from memory by Jesse Dannock. The map includes the names of local institutions and old residents. These, and many of the street names are very faded and have been overwritten with biro at a later date.maps - kew (vic), mrs dannock's map, cartography

SECOND SHOP FROM TEMPLETON ST. IN LOWER FRASER ST. WAS WHERE THE FIRST COUNCIL MEETINGS WERE HELD BETWEEN 1860-1862. PROPERTY BELONGED TO MR. DOW.SEPIA PHOTOGRAPH OF CLUNES LOWER FRASER STREET, TAKEN FROM SAND HILLS, SITE OF NORTH SHAFT SOUTH CLUNES MINE. NOTE BEEF SIDES ON WILLIAMSONS THE BUTCHERS VERANDAH. CLUNES SCHOOL WITH SPIRE IN BACKGROUND.BAWDEN - PHOTOGRAPHER CLUNESphotographs, clunes township

Councilor George Rennie was elected as a member of council in 1875 until 1890.He served two terms as President,1885-86 and 1886-87.He was a resident of Learmonth.This Original photo is a part of a collection of photos of all councilors for the year 1883-84. The photo of Councilor George Rennie is in sepia,and oval in shape.It is set in a "light tan" mount and has gold edging around the "cutout",A fine black line is drawn around the photo which links it to the next. It is at the top left of circle of photos of all councilors for 1883-84.PRESENTED by the President J.DALGLEISH ESQ.to the BALLARAT SHIRE COUNCIL.1883-84. learmonth, ballaarat shire council, george rennie 1883 84

This document is a receipt detailing the transfer of five documents from the Bank of Australasia Warrnambool to the security of the Solicitor E L Ardile (and W M Ardlie) of Kepler Street Warrnambool. The documents include a Title and are concerned with the bank's customer, W J Bell, deceased. They refer to Jas Bell and Mark Nicholson. The dates mentioned are from 1883 to 1885 and the receipt is dated 10 August 1890. The Bank of Australasia was incorporated by the Royal Charter of England in March 1834. The bank began in Australia on 14th December 1835, opening in Sydney. The Acting Superintendent of the bank at that time was David Charters McArthur. He was Superintendent from 1867-to 1876. The Melbourne branch opened on 28th August 1838 in a two-roomed brick cottage on the north side of Little Collins Street, where two huge mastiff dogs were used at night to guard the bank. The government also provided an armed military sentinel. Due to the bank's rapid growth, a new building for the Melbourne branch was opened in 1840 at 75 Collins Street West. By 1879 the bank had been upgraded to a magnificent two-storey building on the corners of Collins and Queens Streets, with the entry on Collins Street. In 1951 the Bank of Australasia amalgamated with the Union Bank to form Australia and New Zealand Bank, now known as the ANZ. Then in 1970, the ANZ merged with both the ES&A and the London Bank of Australia to form the ANZ Banking Group Limited. The ANZ Banking Group Ltd kindly donated a variety of historic items from the Bank of Australasia. BANK of AUSTRALASIA, WARRNAMBOOL – In 1854 Warrnambool had two banks, the Union Bank and the Bank of Australasia. Later, completely different bank businesses opened; in 1867 the National Bank of Australasia, then in 1875 the Colonial Bank of Australasia. The original Warrnambool branch of the Bank of Australasia was established in July 1854, and operated from a leased cottage on Merri Street, close to Liebig Street. The bank later bought a stone building previously erected by drapers Cramond & Dickson on the corner of Timor and Gibson Streets. Samuel Hannaford was a teller and then Manager at the Warrnambool branch from 1855 to 1856 and the Warrnambool Council chose that bank for its dealings during 1856-57. In 1859 Roberts & Co. was awarded the contract to build the new Bank of Australasia branch for the sum of £3,000. The land was on a sand hill on the northeast corner of Timor and Kepler Streets and had been bought in 1855 from investor James Cust. The new building opened on May 21, 1860. The bank continued to operate there until 1951 when it merged with the Union Bank to form the ANZ Bank, which continued operating from its Liebig Street building. Warrnambool City Council purchased the former Bank of Australasia building in 1971 and renovated it, then on 3rd December 1973 it was officially opened as the Art Gallery by Cr. Harold Stephenson and Gallery Director John Welsh. The Gallery transferred to the purpose-built building in Liebig Street in 1986 and the old bank building is now the Gallery club. Staff at the Bank of Australasia in Warrnambool included the following men but others were also involved: Samuel Hannaford, Teller then Manager from 1855-1856; W H Palmer, Manager from January 1857 until November 1869 when the Teller Basil Spence was promoted to Manager; H B Chomley, Manager from April 1873 and still there in 1886; A Butt, Manager in 1895-1904; J R McCleary Accountant and Acting Manager for 12 months, until 1900; A Kirk, Manager 1904; J Moore, staff until his transfer to Bendigo in December 1908; J S Bath was Manager until 1915; C C Cox, Manager until April 1923; Richard C Stanley, Manager 1923 to April 1928. The Receipt from E L Ardlie documents names of local families and are of historical significance. The movement of the documents from the Bank of Australasia, to the security of the Solicitor, shows that the bank was relied on for more than just financial services. The document is significant for its association with the Bank of Australasia in Warrnambool, the first bank in Warrnambool, established in 1854. The bank continued to operate until its merger in 1951 when it became the ANZ Bank, which is still in operation today. The Bank was an integral part of the establishment and growth of commerce in Colonial Warrnambool and throughout Australia.Receipt, printed on pale yellow paper, an official form titled Solicitor's Accountable Receipt, with handwritten details. DATE 10th August 1898 FROM E L Ardlie, Solicitor, TO Bank of Australasia Warrnambool FOR CUSTOMER W J Bell decd. DOCUMENTS five (5) on loan, held for security.DATE: "10 August 1898" SOLICITOR: "E L Ardlie" CUSTOMER: "W J Bell, decd." TEXT: "... RECEIVED on loan from the BANK OF AUSTRALASIA ...documents held in security ... " DOCUMENTS: "Certificate of title to W J Bell" " Grant ... Mark Nicholson" "Conveyance .. Mark Nicholson to ... W J and J Bell dated 16th January 1883" " W J and J Bell to Mark Nicholson 17 January 1883 ..." "Conveyance Jas Bell to W J Bell dated 16 March 1885"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, commerce, banking, bank of australasia, david charters mcarthur, e l ardlie, solicitor, convenancer, w j bell, jas bell, mark nicholson, document security

Leather bound ledger with hand written details on donations to the Ballarat School of Mines Museum or the Ballarat School of Mines Library. The Ledger was made by J. McHutchison, Bookbinder, paper ruler and Account Book Manufacturer. 267. 07 July 1880 - John Lynch Junior - Smythesdale - Cast of "Golden Age" nugget found at Browns by Co-operative Party - 12 men. Weight 75 oz 12 dwts 12 grs 294. 24 June 1880 - W.H. Shaw - Ballarat - 94 numbers of 'The Engineer'. 295. 28 June 1880 - Rivett Henry Bland - Clunes - Specimen of water pipe from the Port Phillip Consols Mine encrusted with Carbonates of lime and magnesia and sulphate of lime with earthy matter. 418. 17 June 1881 - F. Ratte - Sydney - Catalogue of Rocks, minerals, etc of New Caledonia. 462. 28 September 1881 - Dr Bunce - Ballarat - Concretionary Basalt with Car. Lime and Magnesia. 465. 06 September 1881 - J.J. Sleep (Chairman of the Board) per favor of E.W. Spain, Esq, Manr - Ballarat - Diamond drill core from "Carisbrook Freehold Estate" - cut at a depth of 150 feet. Dedrites from Munster Gully ... 517. 20 January 1882 - William Lester - Ballarat - The Agricultural Teacher 549. 24 March 1882 - C.E. Grainger Manager Ballarat Woollen Mills - Ballarat - Samples of dyed and raw wool and dye material. 600. 04 July 1882 - Henry Sutton - Ballarat - 13th Annual Report of the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain. 1222. 31 October 1884 - Trooper Dowling - Miner's Rest - Owl 1223. 04 November 1884 - W. McKeenan - 3, Adair St, Ballarat - Flying Squirrel. 1259. 16 January 1885 - A.A. Buley - Ballarat - Prospective of Grenville College 1885 1428. 06 October 1885 - Ballarat - Collection of mineral specimens from Silverton (Collected by Mr James Murray). 1442. 20 October 1885 - Ballarat - Specimen of fossil fruits collected by Haddon by Charles Brown. 1682. 28 February 1887 - James Lamb - Ballarat - Copy of the Ballarat Times Newspaper of 3rd December 1854, framed and protected on both sides with glass. 1730. 23 May 1887 - Bella Guerin - Ballarat - Copy of the Victorian Review No 74 December 1885 4786. 27 March 1894 - James Oddie - Ballarat - 3 mineral specimens 4835. 01 August 1896 - P.V> Barnard - Ballarat - {ortion of Mining truck wheel altered to oxide of iron found in the old workings of the Golden Gate Mine at a depth of 200 feet. (4235 is last entry)ballarat school of mines, ballarat school of mines museum, donations, henry sutton, bella guerin

The bible belonged to Francis Newton, who was born in Cornwall, England in 1831. Newton came to Wandiligong with his Irish wife, Mary (Molly) about 1860 by way of Sydney and BeechworthBrown embossed leather like cover. Gilt edged fine paper pagesCover spine : Hole Bible Common Prayer - in gold. Front Cover : Henry John Colles 1852 - in gold Fly page : Francis William Newton The gift of Mrs. C N Spaulding Growlers Crk Dec 1 1864 - in pencil

Oriental motifs c 1860, were the greatest influence on cheaper wares of Minton Ware from 1870's. Mary McGowan brought the item out from England in 1934Large earthenware oval dish decorated with blue and black motifs. Centre of dish has recessed design in shape of Xmas tree to receive turkey juices.Porcelain Marks Goddens|Mintons BBdomestic items, crockery

William Macansh (1860-1921) was a representative of Brighton Council between 1892-1894, elected Mayor in 1893-94. He was appointed Municipal Health Officer between 1895-1912. portrait, councillor, mayor, brighton, south ward, municipality, town of brighton, william macansh, doctor, health officer

The move to build the Mechanics Institute was started in 1883 and the foundation stone was laid by Lady Janet Clarke in 1885. The Shire of Bulla took it over in 1922 to be remodelled as the Soldier's Memorial Hall.A black and white photograph of the Sunbury Mechanics Institute in Stawell Street, Sunbury. The building complete with portico sits behind a picket fence with pine trees at the front and side.memorial hall, clarke, janet (lady), william (sir), mechanics institute, shire of bulla, stawell street, sunbury, soldier's memorial hall, foundation stones, george evans collection

Warrnambool Rowing Club had a boxing day regatta from 1885. The land beside the club was owned by the Rolfes who be-quested it to be an aged care home- presently called Lyndoch.Large silver colored cup (trophy) and a wooden base.Warrnambool Boxing Day Regatta Lyndoch Cup Maiden Eightsrowing, city of warrnambool rowing club, warrnambool rowing club, lyndoch, hopkins river

Diggers & Mining. Life Of The Selectors. Diggers & Mining. A soldier looks on as three male witches stand around a cauldron placing cards in the pot with OCCUPATION LICENSES, LEASE HOLDS and AGRICULTURAL AREAS written on them, the cauldron is labelled LAND MESS. The title of the picture is 'The Land Witches'. Markings; Life Of The Selectors 1860-1890 Set 432 No. 16. The Land Witches ''Melbourne Punch,'' Feb 25, 1864. Used as a teaching aid.Visual Eduation Centreeducation, tertiary, goldfields

Black and white photograph ( copy ) - image shows landscape view of early Sandhurst ( Bendigo ) showing McGuire's Bath Rooms situated behind Bendigo Creek ( original course ) Written on front of building 'Bendigo Baths warm and cold ' Horse and dray in forefront, people standing on road. Photo taken from 'The Story of Charing Cross' page 39', written on bottom of page. Photo taken in early 1860's ?bendigo, streetscape, early pall mall, bendigo, sandhurst, mcguire's baths, pall mall, bendigo creek.

Hand painted Gold buyers shop sign. Circa 1860. Metal Construction. Previously on loan to National Museum of Australia. Now located at Specimen Cottage. The sign is constructed of metal (Tin). It consists of a strap attached at the top and bottom of a rectangular plate. The sashes and plate are painted brown with the words 'LICENSED GOLD BUYER' painted in gold lettering on the plate. The sashes are constructed in such a manner as to be attached around a post of tree trunk.

2 hand written sheets of paper, titled Anticline Garden Gully - Reef or Mine Carlisle. Has the name of companies, depth of shaft, years, calls, Divs, Tons, Ounces, Authority & Remarks. Dates from 1860 to 1918. Reference: Production Statistics Bendigo Mines N. L. Bendigo Goldfields, History & Production. General Index. Companies & Reefs. Pages 196 & 197. Mines Dept. Bendigo Office.mine, gold, carlisle, carlisle mine, gold production, mines dept. bendigo

Statistics re Gold Escorts (SA & Victoria re 1851-1856); author L J Blake, RHSV, no date. Statistics re South Australia (Mt Alexander to Adelaide 1852/53); Victoria (Ballarat to Melbourne, Geelong 1852; Victoria (Mt Alexander to Melbourne 1852? Escort Loadings Sample, Castlemaine 1853; Escort Loadings, all areas 1860; Total Escort Loadings, Victoria 1851 -1862.document, gold, gold escort statistics, gold escorts. south australia. victoria.

The context in which the hat was made and worn assists in establishing its potential historic significance. 'Bailliere's Victorian Gazetteer and Road Guide containing the most recent and accurate information as to every place in the Colony' (1870), describes the village of Vaughan as being located on the road from Daylesford to Castlemaine. In 1870 the Vaughan was deemed to be entirely a gold mining area, gold having been discovered in the district in 1853. Intriguingly the entry in the Gazetteer claims that the electoral division of Vaughan began at the junction of the Middleton Creek and the Loddon River, so perhaps the cap might have belonged to a member of a significant local family. In 1870, Vaughan had a population of about 1000 persons and included almost 300 dwellings. Articles from newspapers, published on Trove refer frequently to a Mr Middleton as a litigant in court cases before the Vaughan Court in the 1860s. By the 1870s, the Mt Alexander Mail, in an article on ‘Mining: The Pioneer Wheel’ describes the success of Mr Middleton and his Middleton’s Reef Gold Quartz Mining Company, which had built the largest water wheel in the Colony. The wheel was 20’ in diameter and 2’ wide. Quartz mining as practiced by companies such as Middleton’s had become necessary after the exhaustion of alluvial quartz mining deposits in the 1860s. So we can probably establish a link between the cap and a significant mining identity in the period in which the article was made. The historical significance of the cap is only one part of the story. Caps such as the Middleton example can also be items of aesthetic significance as they were typically, examples of women’s work, using published patterns in magazines such as the Ladies Home Magazine. While women might follow or adapt a published pattern, their choice of materials reflected what was available locally. The fine hand stitching on this example is evidence of high quality domestic needlework. The maker crafted the cap from five triangular pieces of cotton cloth, each piece lined with a faded yellow net. The net provides some stiffening for the cap and has a functional purpose in that it anchors the hand-stitched, looped design of yellow silk ribbon that decorates the surface of the cap. Gentleman’s smoking (lounging) cap believed to have been made in c.1860-69. The conical hat is made of a dark green cotton fabric embroidered with narrow ribbon of a paler green silk. The unlined rimless hat is made of four pieces of fabric. There is no evidence of the hat at one stage featuring a tassle. The original donation record noted that the cap had been made for, and was worn by, a Mr Middleton, of Vaughan in Central Victoria. Nilhats, smokers hats, men's clothing

David Sydney Wanliss entered Ballarat College in 1872, passing his matriculation at the age of thirteen, before studying Law at Trinity College Cambridge. He served in World War One.Light brown calf bound book with gold lettering and embellishments on cover and spine. Crest of Trinity College Cambridge on front cover. Book plate inside front cover: Trinity College, Cambridge / FIRST CLASS IN THE EXAMINIATION OF FRESHMEN / EXAMINATION IN LAW / This prize was adjudged to / D S Wanliss / June 1885 / R W Venall / Head Examiner.

Perseus is the work of J. Cranari who was sctive in the 1880s. It was presented to the National Gallery of Victoria by James Chapman in 1885, before being de-accessioned and transferred to Ballarat in 1943. It was Perseus is the work of J. Cranari who was sctive in the 1880s. It was presented to the National Gallery of Victoria by James Chapman in 1885, before being de-accessioned and transferred to Ballarat in 1943. In 2008 it was removed from its Camp Street location and underwent conservation treatment, Pegasus was moved to the Robert Clark Centre at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.Various photographs of a marble sculpture of Perseus when at Camp Street. Perseus was the son of Zeus who was the most supreme Greek god of all.perseus, statue, marble

Perseus is the work of J. Cranari who was sctive in the 1880s. It was presented to the National Gallery of Victoria by James Chapman in 1885, before being de-accessioned and transferred to Ballarat in 1943. It was Perseus is the work of J. Cranari who was sctive in the 1880s. It was presented to the National Gallery of Victoria by James Chapman in 1885, before being de-accessioned and transferred to Ballarat in 1943. In 2008 it was removed from its Camp Street location and underwent conservation treatment, Pegasus was moved to the Robert Clark Centre at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.Marble statue of Pegasus at Camp Street, Ballarat, outside the former Ballarat State Offices.pegasus, statue, sculpture, camp street

Vesta cases, also known as match safes, are small boxes that are used to carry matches and keep them safe from the elements. In the early 1800's, it was common to carry matches, since some type of portable fire was needed to light lanterns and stoves. The matches of that day were crude compared to today's standards, and were known to light when making contact with each other, and sometimes even spontaneously. In order to alleviate this potentially hazardous situation, it made good sense to utilize a Vesta case or match safe. One of the more interesting features of the vesta case or match safes is that they almost always include some type of rough or ribbed surface, usually on the bottom of the case that is used for striking the matches. This vesta case is a portable pocket vesta. These cases take their name from the virgin Roman goddess of fire, home, hearth and family. Usually Vesta was depicted as the fire in her temple. Only Vestals (her priestesses) were allowed into her temple. Her association with fire made her name the natural choice for British companies that manufactured matches. The hallmarking of sterling silver is based on a combination of marks that makes possible the identification of origin and age. The town mark identifies the Assay Office where the item was verified. The town mark on this piece is an anchor, so it is from Birmingham, England. The lion passant certifies the silver quality, as at least 925. The maker's mark, identifying the silversmith presenting the piece to the assay office is D&LS for David and Lionel Spiers. The date letter identifies the year the piece was verified, this item was verified in 1885. Lionel Spiers was a significant figure in the Jewellery Quarter and in 1906 was chairman of the Jewellers and Silversmiths Association. The item also has NHILL 1928 engraved on the front, this is likely a recent addition to the piece. Nhill is a town in Victoria so it could be that the previous owner lived here or it was gifted in commemoration. The social history objects held in the Burke Museum's collection help to tell the stories of Beechworth's past by showing the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the town's history.Silver vesta case with ribbed strike plate at the end and an etched design. D&LS/ lion symbol/ anchor symbol/ l/ Sovereign head/ [hallmarks] CHH/ NHILL 1928/ [obverse inscription] A01198/burke museum, silver, vesta, fire, silversmiths