Danish brothers, Moritz, Julius and Jacob Cohn arrived in Bendigo in 1853 and by 1856 started making cider and soft drinks, building a brewery 1880 to further extend their commercial enterprises and stock their hotels with their own brand of beer. Having sent Moritz's son, (also Julius) to Germany to learn to brew, the Cohn Brothers began to produce Excelsior Lager in 1882, which was traditionally served cold, the first time this had been done in Australia. Overtime the Cohn brothers expanded their operations adding cordials and in 1916 produced a non-alcoholic beer to satisfy the temperance activists. Originally named Tonic Ale but re-named 6 o’clock Lager after the temperance advocates succeeded in having pubs close at six o’clock. This drinks tray is just one example of branded bar items which would have been supplied to hotels who served Cohns beverage to further promote the company. Cohn Brothers built an empire of breweries, cordial factories, hotels and liquor stores and ice works. In 1925 they sold the hotels and breweries to Carlton & United but continued to make their other products until the 1970s when the company became part of the Coca Cola Amatil Group. Jacob Isaac Cohn was born in 1830 (died 1911) in Horsens Denmark and entered the Sandhurst Borough Council in 1863 where he served as a member for three years, returning again in 1887 to serve as Mayor of the City of Bendigo from 1888-1889. Jacob Cohn was a great supporter of the Mechanics Institute, the Hospital and the Benevolent Asylum. It is believed that through his connection with the Mechanics Institute he exhibited some loaned engravings from the Dresden Art Gallery which were then donated to the City of Bendigo, forming the nuclei of the Art Gallery's collection. Jacob Cohn held the position of President of the Art Gallery for 18 years.Clear glass bottle with iconic red and white Cohns label printed on front and back. Bottle has been rebranded and had an extra label stuck to one side for Z Cal Low Calorie Orange beverage. Screw cap is also related to Z Cal Orange drink.'Quick to Quench' / Cohns / Since 1857 Cohns / Z-Cal / Low Calorie / Orange mayor jacob cohn, bendigo art gallery, bendigo masonic lodge, making a nation, city of bendigo commerce, cohns, cohn brothers

Victoria became a separate colony of the United Kingdom on 1 July 1851; however it took until 1864 for a workable system of weights and measures administration to be introduced. Standard of weights and measures were obtained and issued to local authorities to administer in their local areas. These standards were numbered, as were the Crown stamps used by inspectors to indicate that trade weights and measures had been checked and found to be legal to use in the day-to-day businesses of local traders. By the 1870's each local council had a set of standards that were used to test the scales, weights and measures of local merchants and businesses.Standard 28lb brass measure. Ball shaped weight with single handle on top. Front; Standard / lb / 28 AV / Potter / London / 25.8.1864 / 24.3.90 / 9.6.95 / 17.10.00 / 5.10.05 / 20.3.11 / 25.8.16 / 27.9.21 / 10.11.26 / 17.11.31 / 16.11.35 / 4.12.41 / 24.11.52city of greater bendigo commerce

Mayor Harkness is best known for abolishing liquor from the Town Hall and replacing the Mayor's Ball with a Monster Sunday School Picnic for children which took place in Ravenswood in 1883 and was attended by 15,000 people. Abraham Harkness arrived in Victoria in 1857 aged 28. He was initially successful in his search for gold and after a return trip to England in 1862 returned to Bendigo where he opened a general store and then a foundry manufacturing mining machinery. He stood for council from in 1880 and was elected a further eight times over the next twenty years. Cr Harkness served as Mayor in 1882, 1897 and 1898. His son Andrew became Mayor in 1908-09. Abraham Harkness married Jane Elizabeth Noble in Bendigo in1864 and together they had six sons and five daughters. Abraham died in 1912 and Jane in 1927. This elegant silver service was gifted to Mrs Harkness by her husband the Mayor in remembrance of the event and then gifted back to the City.Four piece Victorian tea and coffee silver service consisting of tall coffee pot, tea pot, two handled covered sugar basin and covered cream jug. Oval, chamfered shaped base tapering at top. Bodies are decorated with foliate decoration and central finial entwined with cartouche which holds either the Bendigo Coat of Arms, or the entwined initials J E H except the large coffee pot which has engraved dedication to Mayoress Harkness instead of the Coat of Arms. Insulated handles on pots. 0432.1 Coffee pot 0432.2 Teapot 0432.3 Sugar Pot 0432.4 Cream Jug Stamped back top left of each part and inside lids - Makers Mark: Martin, Hall & Co (Richard Martin & Ebenezer Hall). Hallmarks; (Lion) sterling silver, (Panther head) London Assay Office, (Women's head in left profile) duty paid, (A)1876 on coffee pot, (G) 1882 on other three pieces.mayor harkness, mayoress harness

Abraham Harkness was Mayor of the City of Bendigo when St Andrew's Presbyterian Church school hall was erected. The foundation stone was laid on Wednesday the 15th March 1899 to much ceremony including hymns and speeches. Abraham Harkness had arrived in Victoria in 1857 aged 28. He was initially successful in his search for gold and after a return trip to England in 1862 returned to Bendigo were he opened a general store and then a foundry whereby his company manufactured mining machinery. He stood for council from in 1880 and was elected a further eight times over the next twenty years. Cr Harkness served as Mayor in 1882, 1897 and 1898. His son Andrew became Mayor in 1908-09. Abraham Harkness married Jane Noble in Bendigo in1864 and together they had six sons and five daughters. Abraham died in 1912 and Jane in 1927.Sterling Silver ceremonial trowel with silver collar and bone handle. Front surface is ornately engraved with fern leaf pattern scrolled around central middle section which holds the engraved dedication. Back section is plain. Engraved: PRESENTED / TO / A. HARKNESS. ESQ. J.P. / MAYOR OF BENDIGO / ON THE OCCASION OF HIS LAYING / THE / FOUNDATIONAL STONE / of / St Andrew's School Hall / 15th March, 1899. Hallmark: P.A & S E P (Peter Atkin ?) + (windmill or pump) mayor harkness, mayoress harkness, city of greater bendigo education

Peter Morley was elected to Council in 1987 and served as Mayor from 1989 - 1990. He was a supporter of restoration of the Town Hall and its use for council meetings as well as the Capital Theatre Project. In the years prior to adequate compensation for Mayors who have a hectic schedule Peter Morley who was in his early 30's when serving as Mayor noted that his own finances where impacted due to taking time off from work (as a plumber) and making financial contributions to attend events. Engraved pewter tankard with handle.Engraved on side; Presented to / The Mayor / Peter Morley / On the Occasion Of / The Official Opening Of / Tubemakers Metalcentre / 6th April 1990 On base; Selmark Pewtermayor morley, city of greater bendigo commerce

The bicentenary was celebrated on the 26th of January 1988 by many Australians to mark the arrival of the 11 ships of the first fleet in Botany Bay and Sydney Cove on Bidjigal and Gadigal Country. The Australian Bicentennial Authority (ABA) was set up to plan, fund and coordinate projects that emphasized the nation's cultural heritage. State Councils were also created to ensure cooperation between the federal and state governments. Engraved pewter tankard with handle.Engraved on front; Image of tall ship with text The Australian Bicentenary / 1788 - 1988 Engraved on back; Presented to the / City of Bendigo / For it's Valued / assistance to / The Bendigo Bicentennial / Community Committee / 1988 - 89 Base; Kirra Pewter Australiacity of greater bendigo events

Based in the Wales county of Montgomery Shire, Edward and Maureen Ann Story Jones produced crafted silver plated on pewter giftware under the range name The Silver Scenes in 1984. Well made, high quality and durable they produced items from 1984 - 2005. These items were probably gifts from visiting council representatives. Desk set of magnifying glass (0447.1) and paper knife (0447.2) with ornate handle, both sides featuring grapes and vines motifs.Both pieces are signed by hand 'MASJ © 93' (?) at top of handle. Paper Knife has 'Silver Scenes' engraved on blade.city of greater bendigo corporate gift

Harry Montague Marks was born at Pall Mall Bendigo on the 1st October 1855. At age 18 he worked for Goldsborough & Co in Melbourne learning land, wool and banking business. He returned to Bendigo aged 22 to open an auctioneers business which operated on the corner of Williamson and Hargraves Streets. Councillor Marks was elected to the seat of Darling in May 1893 and remained serving until 1902. He served as Mayor once only from 1896-97. It was noted in the Bendigo Advertiser on July 3rd 1897 that Mayor Marks appeared in new robes .. made to council order by Messrs Henderson and Goodisson who dealt in highly fashionable goods in the Beehive. (fn https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/9088966). It is not know if these robes are still in existence. Harry Marks married Mary Leech in 1881and together they had four sons and one daughter. Harry Marks died in February 1916 aged 60. After his death Mary Marks became the senior partner in the firm HM Marks and Sons auctioneers. Mary died in 1919.Oval black and white silver gelatin print mounted on card. Studio portrait of Mayor Marks. Photograph mounted on card. Front facing seated portrait wearing mayoral robes and chain, clutching a rolled document. Original rectangular shaped photograph has been trimmed to fit into oval frame.Bartlett Bros. lower left on photograph.councillor h m marks, mayor marks, mayoress marks