fictionA classic detective story. Harold Avery was born in 1869. His life reads like one of his own adventure stories. He was shipwrecked off the coast of Malaysia at the age of ten on his way to Australia with his parents who were drowned. Avery was brought up by the natives who, after three years put him on a Dutch boat bound back to England. He was brought up by an aunt who sent him to Eton and then settled with him in Edinburgh. Avery took a job in the city’s Water Department and in 1894 wrote his first book The Orderly Officer. In the next 45 years he wrote over fifty more books, mainly school stories and adventure stories. In 1941 he left Scotland to travel round the world and the last that was heard from him was a postcard sent to his aunt from Rio de Janeiro in 1943. It is chosen from his large output as being a typical school story but, it can be argued, it is the precursor of work by Enid Blyton and J K Rowling, dealing with school life, five children who go on an adventure and a mystical wizard who ends the story not with a wave of a wand but with kindness and consideration.#detectivestory, fiction, adventurebook, boysownadventure

Originally written in 1885 by Alice Bunker Stockham, an obstetrician and gynaecologist who practiced in the late nineteenth century. “Tokology” refers to the study of childbirth, midwifery, and obstetrics. Stockham wrote Tokology for women to give them knowledge about issues related to childbirth and maintaining their own health. Empowering women by informing them about their own bodies, the book gives women details that they may not have talked to their doctors about considering the lack of female doctors at the time of publication. Wide distribution allowed for women of a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds to have access to information that was often only accessible to those who had access to physicians and the knowledge they possessed. Tokology made progress in helping demonstrate the confidence that comes from being aware of how to maintain one’s own health instead of being subject to the fear that comes from the lack of knowledge. Tokology is more than just a book for every woman; it is an example of the power of education and distributing knowledge to a population to promote the health of a community. In some cultures, though, this book was also seen as taboo – hence the reason the illustrated plates were “hidden” within the inner back cover as is seen with this book.The book is significant is representing the thoughts and concepts surrounding female reproductive and child health in the late 19th century. Leather bound hardcover. Dark brown cover with black embossed print and borders. 386 pages. Pages show wear and ttear through use. Some pages are torn but the majority are good. Foxing on pages. Base of spine is torn away. Illustration plates in excellent condition. Publisher: Pater & Co. Melbourne 1898Inside front cover - T1 (scribbled out) T8 in blue ballpoint ink gynecology, obstetrics, mentalhealth, childbirth, reproductivehealth, womenshealth

Office Stationery : Officer Ward Book 1908 The book contains approximately 200 pages. Only the front page and the first page contain writing. The rest of the pages contain faint lines in blue and red typical of early 20th century stationery. No information is written on these pages. While the exterior cover shows signs of tears, stains, dirt, fading, fraying and general wear and tear - it appears the book has had very little use. Handwritten - black ink Officers Ward Book 981 PRobin 81 = CL +Psalm Clancy Enplen Shropshire ward book, stationery

This religious tract gives context in what was contained in Victorian mental asylum libraries at the turn of the 20th century. Reprint. Hardback. Blue cloth-covered boards. Gilt lettering on spine. Spine ends worn. Book title is worn away on spine. White flowers and green leaves stencilled on front paste down. 190 pages. Foxing and some finger-marks to page edges. D3 written in ink on the cover page. Some tears and fraying from use. religious text, religion

The key and tag are a good example of the keys used by goldfield gaols in the 19th century.Metal Gaol Key with Wooden Tag. Tied with a leather tie that has two knots. "F2" is engraved on the wooden tag. gaol, keys, incarceration, prison

The key was used in gaols in the Victorian goldfields in the 19th century.The key is a good example of keys used in gaols in the Victorian goldfields in the 19th century.Metal Goal key with engravings. Scratches and rust from wear and tear"F134" "J. Hubball" "Melbourne" goal, incarceration, prison

Key with rust and dents from wear and tear. Some engravings. "J Hubball" "Melbourne" "A" and "J" prison, gaol, incarceration

A key used commonly in Victorian Government Institutions. Metal T Bar Key with some scratches, rust, and small dents from wear and tearA.W engraved on one sidekeys, gaol

A metal key with bow and three prong teeth. This key is the "child" of object #JW1240The number 11 is engraved in the bow. Three strokes are engraved in the barrel.keys, gaol

The padlock give a conceptual understanding of functional objects used in early Victorian goldfield gaols. Padlock with cracked blue enamel paint. Attached functional key Object #1241 Five screws on front - nine screws on back#11 in red paint. gaol, incarceration, goldfields, prisoner

The padlock and key give context to the types of padlocks used to contain prisoners in Victorian Goldfield prisons. The padlock and key are significant because they show a different type of padlock design used at the Old GaolA brass padlock with closed metal hinge. There is slide to hide the keyhole in the front. There is one bolt on the back. The key fits this padlock. It has "J.HUBBALL" and "MELBOURNE" engraved one side. 'J.HUBBALL" and "MELBOURNE"padlock, gaol, prison, prisoner

This door lock is a good example of the locks used within Goldfield gaols in the 1800's.The lock is significant in that it is a good example of equipment used to restrain 1800's prisoners.Door lock with separate access knob and functional key The plate contains both metal and brass. The Rose has cracked blue enamel paint and has five small bolts and six bolt holes. The access knob is functional The side contains a functioning bolt latch and two bolt holes.locks, gaol, prison, prisoner

The key as well as its associated key lock are good examples of how prisoners were restrained in Goldfield gaols.The key is significant in that it still functions with its lock considering its age. This functional key belongs to Object #1237 There are a number of engravings on the bow. Scratches and dents are evident from use. "J. HUBBALL" - "MELBOURNE" - "A" - "J" gaol, prison, prisoner

These handcuffs give context to the types of restraints used on prisoners.The handcuffs are significance in their completeness and condition considering their age. A set of handcuffs with key attached with nylon string. Both the handcuffs and key are in fair condition with signs of rust, corrosion, dents and scratches.gaol, prison, prisoner, handcuffs

These handcuffs give context to the types of restraints used on Goldfield Gaol prisoners.These handcuffs are significant in their condition for their age and their interpretive ability.This small set of handcuffs are made of steel. No key. Signs of wear and tear from frequent use.Production marks are on the bolts of both handcuffs. Various letters are engraved but worn away. "BES" on right handcuffgaol, prinson, prisoner, handcuffs

This letter was sent by a customer D. Menzies at Skipton to the Mortlake Mill, detailing an unusual payment method for the processing of his wheat into flour. David Menzies was a Scots farmer who lived in Skipton c. 1860's on a bend in the Mount Emu Creek. He helped establish the local school and a lane in the township bears his name. The letter illustrates the nature of commerce and the difficulties of communication and life generally in the country at the time. The bluestone Mortlake Mill built in 1856, has been a prominent landmark in Mortlake for over 150 years. It played a significant role in the commercial life of the town and was initially a wind-mill to process district grain for sale. The goldrush at Ararat 100 km. away led to a temporarily increased population and demand for foodstuffs. In 1857 the Mill was sold to Aikman, Hamilton and Geddes who converted it to steampower and later built the prominent chimney, which is on the Heritage Register as part of the National Estate. D. Menzies at Skipton lived at least 85 km away - his wheat which urgently needed milling, faced a slow and arduous journey by bullock dray. After the demise of the Ararat goldfields and the decline in population (as well as the district soils proving unsuitable for sustained wheat cultivation), the operation of the Mill declined too and the proprietors increased their involvement in other activities - supply of building materials, timber felling and sawmills. Despite the apparent difficulties of conducting business in the 1850's, it is notable that commerce thrived at that time in country districts, as an examination of Mill accounts and records show.Handwritten letter dated 1864 (water-stained)Skipton March 7 1864 [to] Messrs. Hamilton & Co. Mortlake. Dear Gentlemen, I was in hope of hearing from you before now that you had commenced working the Mill, & that I could have sent you the enclosed money [for a] load of wheat for Gristing. Please receive the enclosed 2 halves of 2 [two] 5 [pound sign] notes forwarded to your account. the other halves will be sent on receipt of your stating you having received those notes sent. As I am out of flour be so good as say how soon I may send a load of wheat. In haste I am Gentlemen Yours truly D. Menziesmortlake mill grain wheat hamilton geddes aikman laang dixie menzies skipton

Early photograph of the Warrak Cricket Club. This photo was donated by a regular donor to the Langi Morgala Museum.Unfortunately its date of manufacture is not yet known. It is of local significance to Warrak because of its rarity and presumed early date. This significance is ameliorated because the date of manufacture is so far only assumed. Black and white photograph, with information written on a cardboard label attached to the bottom of the photo. Photo shows 15 men in two rows. The men in the back row are standing while the front row is kneeling. The men standing at either end of the back row are holding cricket bats.Inscription: on a cardboard label attached to front of the photo: "Warrak Cricket Club / Four photos donated by Mr J.Foster 1979"warrak, warrak-cricket, warrak-cricket-club, 19c, early-20c

Black-and-white photo of Mary Norman-Bail, other staff members, and pupils of her Pathfinder School. Date is not known, but ca1950s.This is one of a collection of several hundred photos, books, documents and teaching aids donated to Langi Morgala Museum by Jessica Norman-Bail (or by her estate). Almost all the collection relates to Jessica's mother, the photographer, artist and educator Mary Norman-Bail, and to Mary Norman-Bail's Pathfinder School, which was located in Ararat for several years in the first half of the twentieth century. In total, the Norman-Bail collection provides an illuminating picture of the unique Pathfinder school, though much of the collection is yet to be analysed. The Langi Morgala Norman-Bail collection is of local signficance; but further research into the collection, and into Norman-Bail's work and ideas, may enhance the significance further. Unmounted black-and-white photo, No inscriptions, but original and new accession number of photo are written on the back. Inscription the back of the photo [cat.nbrs]: "1641 / EC 1641.1"education, school, teacher, art, class, photographer, norman, collage, norman-bail, bail, educator, pupil, pathfinder-school, curriculum, grade, progressive-education, artist, painter, artwork

This photograph shows a point in time (late 19C) at the Willaura weighbridge which no longer exists. The weighbridge was part of a transportation system that included horses, wagons, silos, and trains and when this photograph was taken, the weighbridge was crowded with people and wagons. Black and white photograph of a streetscape with wide dirt roads, some early European buildings and three supply wagons. Two are horse drawn and the third is pulled by bullock, with six men driving the wagons and standing in the roadway. Front: "Willaura Weighbridge"willaura, weighbridge, postcard, horses, wagons, wool, transport

The lamp helps contextualise the nursing history of our region. This item was owned by Sister Hebe Graham, who was born in 1890 and trained at Stawell Hospital before WW1. She became a specialist nurse and received a commendation from Lord Duggan, Governor of Victoria.Flat, rectangular lamp with light fixed at top centre and activated by small spring-loaded button on top of lamp. Case is primarily stainless steel and partially covered in a leather case."T E C BRITISH MADE" stamped on top of lamp.sister hebe graham, nurses lamp, stawell hospital, ww1, 1890, lord duggan

Large wooden pram, woven wicker body and hood, on metal frame with four metal spoked wheels. Pram features two long metal arms and a singular carved wooden handle attached to both arms.

Polished shell pendant with metal clasps, decorative edging and chain. Suspended on chain by gold-plated metal links.

Full sized sulphur-crested cockatoo specimen, perched on wooden tree branch and surrounded by leaves and grasses. Mounted on a circular polished wooden base with blue rope supporting tall cylindrical glass dome.

Small, metal hatpin cushion in the shape of a lady's shoe - holding numerous assorted hatpins embedded in a red corduroy cushion. each hatpin has a different 'head' made from varying materials.

Black and white photograph showing a group of children in front of an old building. An adult male is standing to the right of the group. Girls in the photo are wearing light coloured pinafores over dark, long dresses. Males are wearing suits and ties. The building is weatherboard and has two windows.Handwritten in blue ink on the rear of the photo is "This old building was in Ingor St (near High St) where the ESSO station now is.

Black and white photograph of three men standing in a bushland setting. They are dressed in suits and are wearing hats.Written on the rear of photo: "Bob Forster, G. Gossip, Jessie Bail.

Black and white photograph showing six men, a horse and dog outside F. Acars' blacksmith shop. The men are all wearing hats. Photo is mounted on cardboard.

Black and white photograph of deep snow covering the ground. There is a large tree and a few houses behind a wooden fence in the background.

Part of the Mooney Collection held at Langi Morgala Museum. Wooden bowl carved by Australian Indigenous people. Long carved out boat hull shaped bow. It has carvings of water or an eel on the outside. Used to carry food or wood.Carvings of water or an eel on the outside of the bowl.

A Barkly Street business built in 1857Black and white photograph of W.G. Turner Cash and Grocer Store. Four men and a woman stand in front of the store with a horse hitched to a cart. The photo is printed on cardboard.Written on back: Formerly Fred Thompson's Grocers Shop. And: Bill Bowker, Bill Grant, Joyce Treven, Bill Turner