The correspondent of the Argus on 10 May 1901 wrote: "The Parliament of the Commonwealth was opened yesterday by the Duke, of Cornwall and York, under a Commission signed by Queen Victoria and subsequently endorsed by King Edward VII. The ceremony was marked by the splendour and solemn impressiveness which befitted its historic importance. An immense assemblage of spectators, drawn mainly, of course, from this state, but in part also from each of the other federated states, and including representatives of other portions of the British Empire and of foreign powers, thronged the spacious, stately, and joyously decorated edifice. The picture was magnificent. It must have printed itself indelibly on the sensitive minds of the thousands of Australians who were privileged to behold it. We may assume that artists will reproduce it in worthy and imperishable forms, and that from generation to generation it will be familiar in the households of the Commonwealth. Our children's children, we may gladly say to-day, will not be ashamed of the function which inaugurated the self-governing rights of the southern British Nation. Nothing was omitted which could add to the grandeur and significance of the occasion. In a broad sense the proceedings were perfectly intelligible to the vast and sympathetic gathering, though the natural limits of a single human voice had to be accepted. The King's son, with his consort and the Governor-General and Lady Hopetoun by his side, and supported by the Governors of the states and other eminent personages, fulfilled his doubly-attested Commission with a simple dignity and a modest manliness altogether admirable. The ceremony was a brilliant spectacle, and, in its sentiment and suggestiveness, an inspiration to a loyal and patriotic people."The document design has artistic and aesthetic merit. While it is not rare, it is representative of the kinds of formal designs used for the Australian Commonwealth celebrations at the time of Federation, and is in excellent condition. Such items as this invitation have local, state and national historic significance as mementoes of a key moment in Australia's history. Locally, the invitation is part of a group of Federation-related items issued to James Maitland Campbell (and his wife). Campbell was three times mayor of Kew in the second half of the 19th Century and the owner of Ramornie in Pakington Street, one of the significant extant mansions in Kew.An invitation, mounted on card for Mr & Mrs James Maitland Campbell to an evening reception at the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, on 9 May 1901, to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall as part of the celebrations of the opening of the first Federal Parliament. A figure of Britannia, in red dress and mailed vest holding a shield like the Union Jack, is on the left of the invitation; she reaches out her hand towards a younger female figure, representing Australia, who is dressed in blue and holds a shield which is white with a blue cross decorated with stars. The writing is on a scroll in the centre of the certificate, and there is a border of vines and vine leaves. The royal crest is at the base of the certificate. James Maitland Campbell of ‘Ramornie’ in Pakington Street was mayor of Kew on three occasionsFront, printed. gold ink: "His Majesty's Ministers of State for the Commonwealth of Australia request the honour of the presence of / Mr & Mrs J. M. Campbell (handwritten) / In the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, on Thursday, 9th May, 1901, to witness / the Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth. / Edmund Barton / Prime Minister." Front, bottom left, printed: "The Young Queen / Her hand was still on her sword hilt - the spur was still on her heel ... (and further text) KIPLING'S COMMONWEALTH ODE."australia -- federation -- 1901, invitations, parliament -- opening -- 1901, james maitland campbell

Report - comb bound 63 pages + appendices 30 pages - titled "Upgrading the tracks of Melbourne's Street Tramways", written by Bob Vanselow, MMTB Project Engineer and presented to the Third International Rail Sleeper Conference Brisbane September 1979. The paper looks at the then current system, historical track methods, current track laying methods and parameters, special work, crossings, joints, concrete mixes, design, open ballast track. The appendices has various diagrams and photographs showing track construction details. Hard copy added 29/3/2020 - received and printed in an e-mail dated 28/4/2011, from Bob Vanselow - See Reg Item 4431 for details.trams, tramways, track, mmtb, track laying, construction, sleepers, rails, points

Black and white negative, by Wal Jack, of SW6 915 decorated for the Golden Jubilee of Australia, on a route 20, Coburg service in Elizabeth St, just before crossing Collins St. Has in the background Muraltune and Andrews stores and adverts for Nestle's and Dulux. Mal Rowe advised 23/8/2020 by e-mail: From the draft text of "The W book": "The first SW6 tram to be decorated was No. 915, which was painted and fitted with panels and aprons promoting fifty years of the Federation of Australia, 1901 to 1951. No. 915 ran on all lines from November, 1950 until May, 1951. In November 1951 No. 915 was fitted with roof illuminations for a six week Christmas promotion. "trams, tramways, decorated trams, elizabeth st, sw6 class, route 20, tram 915

Set of four hanimount light brown 35mm slides - December 1963 taken by Les Fordham. .1 - PCC Class 980 (Exhibition Route 95) eastbound in Bourke St between Elizabeth and Swanston St's - has Coles Stores, London Stores, Myer and Buckley's stores in the background along with Christmas decorations. .2 - view looking west from near Swanston St .3 - W2 415 southbound in Swanston St with a traffic policeman on duty. A W7 (route 88) is waiting to cross. Has the Royal Mail House, The Leviathan building in the background. .4 - 1002 (Route 88) waiting to cross Swanston St. In the background is Douglas Trading, Southern Cross Hotel,trams, tramways, bourke st, route 95, christmas, police, route 88, tram 980, tram 1002, w7 class, pcc class, w2 class, exhibition, swanston st, tram 415, mmtb

Set of 10 digital images of Ballarat trams prior to closure, scanned from original slides by Stuart Lodington, 1971 prior to closure of the system. .1 - No. 32 entering the depot from Wendouree Parade, with the Lake in the background. Shows the depot fire alarm on an adjacent pole. .2 - No. 26 at Sebastopol, before turning the pole. Has a bus stop sign on a pole already. .3 - No. 27 and 26? crossing at the Bell St loop in Skipton St. No. 27 has a Twin Lakes sign. .4 - No. 32 outbound to the Gardens in Hamilton Ave about to enter Wendouree Parade with Loreto convent and Olympic monument the background. .5 - No. 26, Albert St Sebastopol, approaching the Sebastopol terminus, with Sebastopol Food Stores building on the left of the photo. .6 - No. 12 leaving the Parker St. Loop, Sturt St West after crossing a tram. No. 12 has destination of Victoria St. .7 - No. 12 inward bound in Lydiard St North with Fine Art Gallery in the background, 3BA. No. 12 has destination of Sebastopol and has a Twin Lakes sign. .8 - No. 12 inward bound, Sturt St West, No. 12 has destination of Victoria St and has a Twin Lakes sign. .9 - No. 26 at Sebastopol terminus, outside the Royal Mail Hotel, has a bus stop sign on a pole. Tram pole yet to be turned, but destination adjusted to Lydiard St. North. .10 - No. 12 at Sebastopol terminus, outside the Royal Mail Hotel. No. 12 has destination of Lydiard St Nth and has a Twin Lakes sign.trams, tramways, ballarat, sturt st west, sebastopol, skipton st, wendouree parade, hamilton ave, depot, depot junction, parker st loop, bell st, lydiard st nth, tram 32, tram 26, tram 27, tram 12

This unusual wall decoration was created by Anna Wilson (nee Henry), daughter of pioneer John Stephenson Henry, who arrived in Australia from Ireland with his children in 1851. Family documents confirm that Anna most probably made the diorama for her sister-in-law, who married a member of the Giles family. The diorama was later given to Vera Giles who was a family friend and possibly related to Anna’s sister-in-law by marriage. The diorama is now part of the Giles Collection. Anna married William Wilson in 1860, who had arrived in Australia from County Tarrane in about 1850, aged 19. In 1869 they moved to their new property called ‘Glenlyall’ in Cooramook, north of Grassmere, Victoria, where he lived for 49 years until his death in 1918. He left behind a family of four sons and a daughter. The Giles Family There are many 19th century items of furniture, linen and crockery donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village by Vera and Aurelin Giles. The items are associated with the Giles Family and are known as the “Giles Collection”. These items mostly came from the simple home of Vera’s parents-in-law, Henry Giles and his wife Mary Jane (nee Freckleton), whose photos are in the parlour. They married in 1880. Henry Giles was born at Tower Hill in 1858. He was a labourer on the construction of the Breakwater before leaving in 1895 to build bridges in N.S.W. for about seven years. Mary Jane was born in 1860 at Cooramook. She attended Mailor’s Flat State School where she was also a student teacher before, as family legend has it, she became a governess at “Injemiara” where her grandfather, Francis Freckleton, once owned land. Henry and Mary’s family of six, some of whom were born at Mailor’s Flat and later children at Wangoom, lived with their parents at Wangoom and Purnim west, where Henry died in 1933 and Mary Jane in 1940. The family of the creator Anna Wilson nee Henry and her husband William Wilson are of significance to the early history of Victoria and the South West of Victoria in particular, being pioneer families who farmed the land, built the towns and cities and contributed to their communities. The Giles family collection has social significance at a local level, because it illustrates the level of material support the Warrnambool community gave to Flagstaff Hill when the Museum was established. Wall decoration, diorama with decorative gild frame and glass front. The 3-dimensional seascape includes sailing boats, land and sea, all made from materials such as shells, coral and seaweed. The work was made by Anna Wilson. It is part of the Giles Collection.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, giles collection, henry giles, tower hill, cooramook, warrnambool breakwater, mailor’s flat, wangoom, 19th century household goods, 19th century decor, 19th century handcraft, handcraft, wall hanging, diorama of a seascape

Catalogue card reads, "North Ringwood Cricket Team 1937-8". Typed on back of photograph, "Nth Ringwood R.D.C.A. Premiers 1937-38. B. Rimmer, Back - M. McAlpin, F. Flentje, W. Whitehouse, Mid. K. Allen, A. Whitehouse, H. McAlpin, H. MacKinlay, P. Vergers, Front - R. Maroney, A. McDonald. Also Premiers 1938 - 1939. See "Mail" 9/9/65."

Written on back of photograph, "Mail - 9/1/1958. Ringwood High School. Scene from the ballet. Reading Left to Right: Back Row Standing: 1. D. Close, 2. J. Baker, 3. ??, 4. ??, 5. ??. Middle Row: 1. S. Pickford, 2. ??, 3. B. Beatie, 4. ? Williams, 5. Sheryl Gogly, 6. ??. Front: 1. Julie Doitry, 2. Pam Deuter".

Newspaper article reads as follows: "Ringwood's turf wicket - Ringwood's rival to the M.C.G.- The turf wicket being put down at Jubilee Park is coming along nicely now, Merri Creek soil is being put on, and will shortly be followed by the sowing of the grass. Batsmen will not the long drive to the boundary - the oval will actually be bigger than M.C.G." Article "Mail 8/3/56". Stamped on back of photograph, "John Gallagher, Photography".

Black and white photograph of nurses and a man and women in ordinary dress standing in garden in front of brick building. (4 copies)Written below photograph, "Ringwood Private Hospital, Adelaide Street (later 'The Pines')". Also, "The Kendalls who ran the hospital". Written on back of one of the photographs, "Ringwood Private Hospital, Adelaide St. c1920. Later 'The Pines' next to 'Mail' office". "R to L - Sister B. Kendall, Mrs. J. Roberts (Sister of nurses), Vera Kendall, Mr. James Kendall, Sister Annette Kendall, Sister Edith Kendall".

White document with blue printing. Has a border with circles and squares 1.5 cm from the edge of the paper. Lists some of the principal houses of accommodation issued by the Bendigo Progress Association. A. Morrison, Arcade Chambers, Bendigo. Listed are the: Hotel Shamrock, City Family Hotel, Masonic Shades Hotel, City Club Hotel, Hopetoun Hotel, Harp and Shamrock Hotel, Duke of York Hotel, Heywood's Coffee Palace, Trengrove's Dining Rooms, Court House Hotel, Olympic Hotel, Metropolitan Hotel, European Hotel, Reed's Dining Rooms, Terminus Hotel, Beehive Exchange, Belfast Arms, Brady's Arcade Hotel, Mulcare's Royal Mail Hotel, Tregear's Olive Branch Hotel, Bryant's Union Hotel, Hutchens' Telegraph Hotel.document, bendigo, houses of accommodation bendigo, hotel shamrock, city family hotel, masonic shades hotel, city club hotel, hopetoun hotel, harp and shamrock hotel, duke of york hotel, heywood's coffee palace, trengrove's dining rooms, court house hotel, olympic hotel, metropolitan hotel, european hotel, reed's dining rooms, terminus hotel, beehive exchange, belfast arms, brady's arcade hotel, mulcare's royal mail hotel, tregear's olive branch hotel, bryant's union hotel, hutchens' telegraph hotel

Newspaper clipping from The Courier, Ballarat, 1/11/1957 titled "From trammie to Mailman at 65". Article about the retirement of Mr. V. McGann retiring from the Ballarat Tramways after 30 years of service, 10 in Geelong and 20 in Ballarat. Plans to holiday for three months and then take over a mail run near Geelong. Farewell function at SEC offices in Sturt St, speakers Branch Manager, H. W. Linaker, Superintendent, L. J. Denmead and union representative, Mr. M. Pinkard. Has photo of Mr. V. McGann shaking hands through a tram door with conductor L Godsall. Has advertisements for Woodmason Trading Co (Paint sale) and Commonwealth bank on the same sheet.In blue ink in top left hand corner "1/11/57"retirements, geelong, ballarat

.1 - Agfa colour slide, blue and white plastic mount, photo by Keith Caldwell 1/11/1978 - of Z3 turning from Flinders St into Spencer St, route 75. Has the Flinders St over pass, over King St and the railway viaduct in the background. In the background is the Great Southern Hotel. .2 - Kodachrome cardboard mount, same date of Z12 southbound in Spencer St passing Bourke St with the Mail Exchange in the back and Z 97 standing in the Bourke St terminus with another Z arriving. Taken from the 2nd floor of Spencer St station building. .3 - as above with Z23 northbound in Spencer St. The cable tram track in Bourke St, can perhaps just been seen.In red ink "1-11.78" and in pencil "MLB 10/78 BX".trams, tramways, spencer st, flinders st, z class, bourke st, tram 3, tram 12, tram 97, tram 23

Copy of typed letter dated November 2, 1961 from R K Munro to R M Ansett, re Basil Watson's aircraft flight 'the first man to build and fly an aeroplane long distances in Australia way back in 1916-17' The letter details Basil's flight from Melbourne (Point Cook) to Bendigo on 29th November, and carried the first letter to be carried by aeroplane in Australia. 1916 and discusses the carriage of mail by aeroplane. R. Keith Munro also writes of a list of significant aeronautical history dates that he encloses ( not with item ) and requesting details about commencement dates of Ansett Airways and ANA. 'Copy' written at top. Signed 'R K Munro, address 63 Pyke Street,Bendigo.basil watson, airmail, r.keith munro, bendigo

This photograph is recorded as depicting the presentation by Mr Alan Dunlop to Cr Val Mason, Shire President, of a 2.86-gram solid gold nugget found in the area more than 100 years ago, at the Burke Museum. The gold is reported as attached to a small amount of milk quartz mounted onto a tie pin. The photo and an article about the donation appeared in the Border Morning Mail on Friday 14th May, 1979. Alan Dunlop, pictured, was Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop's older brother. The tie pin artefact being donated in this photo is entered into the Victorian Collections database as follows: 'This nugget was found on the Beechworth Goldfield in the late 1800s by Mr Fred McIntosh (Alan & Edward Dunlop's Uncle by marriage, husband of Elizabeth (Bessie) Dunlop), who had made it into a tie pin and presented it to the Dunlop family'. Furthermore, Val Mason was the first female president of the former Beechworth Shire for two terms and a councillor for nine years. This photograph is of historic significance as it depicts known individuals who have connections to key Australian figures. Alan Dunlop is the brother of famous war doctor Edward 'Weary' Dunlop, and both men are Beechworth locals. The object Alan holds is a tie pin made from gold found by the Dunlops' uncle. It's also significant as it documents visually the origin of the tie pin artefact in the Burke Museum collection, via donation by Alan Dunlop. In addition, it depicts Val Mason, the first female president of the former Beechworth Shire for two terms and a councillor for nine years. It is of social significance as it depicts two well-known and respected Beechworth locals handling a key artefact of significance to the Beechworth Goldfields, and therefore Beechworth local history. It also shows the Burke Museum in 1979, providing research potential for those interested in the history of the development of the museum's collection.Black and white, rectangular photograph printed on paper.Obverse: (lllegible) Reverse: A02653weary dunlop, gold, beechworth, val mason, tie pin, jewellery, goldfield, beechworth goldfield, fred mcintosh, bessie dunlop, elizabeth dunlop, dunlop, border morning mail, victorian collections, donation, burke museum

Mr Harry Mason was born in Stanley, Victoria, on the 23rd of July 1925, attending the primary school in Stanley and high school in Beechworth on the mail truck. His family initially moved to the area during the initial Gold Rush period. He moved to Beechworth in 1960. For seven years after school, he worked in the local orchard full time before becoming the local gravedigger, responsible for digging the graves of Beechworth residents and Asylum for 23 years. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Mr Harry Mason's account of his life in Beechworth and the local area during the 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. He details important historical events and hardships in the region's history that had a lasting local, regional and national impact, including Australia during war time, economic struggles, and women's societal roles in a rural area. Mr Mason also discusses agricultural and gravedigging practices of the time as well as what it was like growing up in rural Australia. This first-hand account is imperative to our understanding of life during the last century. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mr Harry Madon /listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, harry mason, stanley, orchard, jennifer williams, asylum

This is a photograph of Jack Warren, Jessie and Sylvia McNaughton. The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images.This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker.A black / white photograph of three young chilodren sitting in a pumpkin in water. There is a Union Jack at each end.pumpkins-orbost warren-helena-photographer mcnaughton-jessie mcnaughton-sylvia

The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images. This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker, A black / white photograph of a young boy in a carved out pumpkin in water. It has two flags.warren-helena-photographer pumpkins-orbost

Tait collection: item 56 of 62. This is a document giving details of the Will and Probate of Hannah Wines of Warrnambool. She died in 1909 at the age of 77 years. She was the widow of Charles Wines who died in 1900 and they had migrated to Australia from England in the early 1850s. They settled first in the Woodford area and in the 1880s moved to Mailors Flat. Hannah and Charles Wines had a large family with eleven surviving children at the time of Charles’ death in 1900. Hannah Wines left no real estate but had personal estate to the value of £8. This she left to her daughter Sarah Lees. This document was in the possession of Ernest Chambers, the lawyer involved in drawing up the document. He had legal offices in Port Fairy, Koroit and Warrnambool at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The document then passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street, Warrnambool where it was located in 2014. This document is of some interest as it gives details of the Will and Probate of Hannah Wines who was a well-known resident in the Warrnambool area during the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This is a cream-coloured piece of paper folded in two to make four pages. Two of the pages have ruled black lines around the edges and three of the pages have handwritten material in brown ink. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with a green ribbon and there is one red stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. There is also a blue stamp of the Warrnambool Savings Bank. The document is a little stained and the writing is somewhat faded but legible. This is a 1910 document giving details of the Will and Probate of Hannah Wines of WarrnamboolIn the Supreme Court of Victoria in the Probate Jurisdiction In the Will of Hannah Wines late of Warrnambool in the State of Victoria Widow deceased.warrnambool, hannah wines, charles wines, hannah wines will, tait collection, ernest chambers

This book belonged to Robert Giles. He obtained it in 1914 and the bookseller was Mrs Tilly Rowan who was a well-known businesswoman in Warrnambool with a book shop and newsagency in the Oddfellows Hall in Koroit Street. Robert Giles (1895-1967) was born in Wangoom and went to the Wangoom State School and the Warrnambool Agricultural High School. He served in World War One and worked at the State Savings Bank in Warrnambool from 1911 to 1921 (excluding war service). He later worked in banks in Koroit, other Victorian country districts and Melbourne and retired to Mailors Flat. He was married to Vera King and they had one child, Joyce Aurelin. A Warrnambool branch of the Savings Bank was opened in Warrnambool in 1859 and it moved into a new building in Timor Street in 1885. (This building in now part of the Archie Graham Senior Citizens’ Centre). The State Savings Bank became the State Bank of Victoria in 1980 and in 1990 was subsumed into the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. This book is retained because it belonged to Robert Giles who lived in the Warrnambool area for part of his life and who worked at the State Savings Bank in Warrnambool early in the 20th century. This is a hard cover book of 408 pages. The cover is red with a gold-coloured image of a horse and a mounted policeman on the front cover and gold printing on the spine. The book has 25 chapters of text. Two labels of the book’s seller are affixed to the front cover and a title page. The cover is much scuffed.‘July 9th 1914 Robert P. Giles State Savings Bank Warrnambool’giles family, warrnambool, state savings bank warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This photograph was published in the Snowy River Mail on November 27 1974. "Shoppers in Nicholson Street, Orbost, have been treated to band music each Saturday morning when members of Orbost Municipal Band have rendered items in the shopping centre. Members, both senior and junior, are pictured here as they prepare instruments for a recital on a sunny Saturday." The photograph was taken by Peter Fagg in Nicholson Street on the corner of Wolseley Street on Saturday morning 1.12.1973. The first Orbost Brass Band was formed in 1889. Around 1908 the town band split and the Orbost Workers' Band was formed. Eventually the two bands merged in 1913 to reform as the Orbost Municipal Band under conductorship of Charles Spink. The band continued for many years but was later disbanded and again reformed. This was to happen a number of times, the last time being in 1961 and continuing through to the late 1970's. Further info and Ref: In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall This is a pictorial record of the Orbost Municipal Band. The various Orbost bands over the years played a major role in community activities providing entertainment and musical experiences for the many members.A black / white photograph of a group,of uniformed band members sitting in a circle at the edge of a main street. Each is holding a musical instrument with music stands in front of them.music-orbost orbost municipal band recreation entertainment

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: naming the computer which will store the book catalogue for the library 'Tilly', RVIB declared a public library and Minister for the Arts has determined for services to rationalise with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman meeting their counterparts with meetings ongoing, first time borrowers asked to nominate their choice of winning title for Braille Book of the Year, with the literary panel of Stephen Murray-Smith, Joyce Nicholson and Barrett Reid making a short list from which borrowers voted, first time presentation held in the afternoon (with increased attendence) and inaugural Narrator's Award (The Bathurst in honour of former President Hector Bathurst) to Eirene Pappas, Hector Bathurst to receive OAM, Jan Smark Nilsson appointed to National Advisory Committee on Library Services to People with Disabilities and Australia Post approval to change cassette mailing pouches.1 volume of text and illustrationsbraille and talking book library, annual report

The Feelix library was developed to help children who were blind or have low vision experience the connection with books via tactile objects. Each print book was hand selected, a clear Braille overlay placed on the pages, and items relating to the story were made or purchased and added to the kit. The kit (book and objects) was held inside a cardboard suitcase and sent through the mail in a bright orange, zippered plastic padded pouch with a carry strap. Launched at the Melbourne Zoo on 11 February 2003, ambassador Sigrid Thornton read 'The Story about Ping' by Margery Flack and Kurt Wiese to a group of five children, who played with the other objects in the suitcase as well as those for 'The Tiger who Came to Tea' by Judith Kerr. These included a soft toy duck in bright plaid fabric, a shiny metal tea pot, a cassette recording of the story, tactile books for both stories, and metal cups.37 digital photographs of Sigrid Thornton and five children at launch of Feelix libraryroyal victorian institute for the blind, feelix, sigrid thornton

The Feelix library was developed to help children who were blind or have low vision experience the connection with books via tactile objects. Each print book was hand selected, a clear Braille overlay placed on the pages, and items relating to the story were made or purchased and added to the kit. The kit (book and objects) was held inside a cardboard suitcase and sent through the mail in a bright orange, zippered plastic padded pouch with a carry strap. Launched at the Melbourne Zoo on 11 February 2003, ambassador Sigrid Thornton read 'The Story about Ping' by Margery Flack and Kurt Wiese to a group of five children, who played with the other objects in the suitcase as well as those for 'The Tiger who Came to Tea' by Judith Kerr. These included a soft toy duck in bright plaid fabric, a shiny metal tea pot, a cassette recording of the story, tactile books for both stories, and metal cups.36 digital photographs of Sigrid Thornton and five children at launch of Feelix libraryroyal victorian institute for the blind, feelix, sigrid thornton

When the Commonwealth Post and Telegraph Act was passed in June 1902, and a national Postmaster General's Department (the PMG) was established the responsibility for the nation's mail and telephone services fell on Post Offices. The Bendigo Post Office, built in 1887 and situated on Pall Mall was the central distribution centre for receiving and delivering telegrams and continued to deliver communication and postal services until 1997. Now a Visitor Centre, dedicated volunteers at the Post Office continued to demonstrate and educate the public about the daily workings of the Post Office up until 2019 when Covid 19 disrupted every day life and Ted Rankins, the last Post Master and a long term telegraph volunteer at the Post Office, died. Manuals were issued to postmen to guide them in the delivery of letters and parcels and were small enough to be carried with them. This manual was used by the Bendigo Post Office postmen and is part of the postal collection donated by the Rankins family in memory of Ted Rankins,. Small, creamed coloured cloth covered manual. Contains forty four printed pages and two blank end pages covering all aspects of how to correctly deliver the post. Topics include 'Behaviour', 'Deceased Persons' and 'Bicycles' amongst many others. Book is bound and contains many extra additional paragraphs stuck in on appropriate pages noting changes and amendments. Additional amendments in handwritten red pen also occur on pages 28, 29 and 36.Front cover; Postmen's Manual / Australian Post Office Various annotations and updates throughout. ted rankins collection, bendigo post office, bendigo tourism, city of greater bendigo tourism, post office collection

Miss Olive Codling was a Foundation Member and a Life Member of the Wodonga Historical Society. Many of her photos are held in the Society Collection. The Wodonga Post Office was constructed on the corner of Sydney Road (High Street) and South Street in 1874. It was Wodonga’s second Post Office. The original post office opened on June 1, 1856 near Wodonga Creek. This building was originally built of red brick, although it was later painted over in white. It had an attached residence in South Street and was connected to it by a door. The residence was later demolished to move the mail boxes which had faced High Street, to South Street. The brick Telephone Exchange was constructed in 1946 behind the Post Office but separated from it. It operated as a manual exchange until the late 1960’s or early 1970’s. In 1985 a new post office was opened further south in High Street. This building, greatly renovated, is now part of the Wodonga Community College.This photo collection is significant as it documents how the businesses and buildings in Wodonga have evolved and contributed to community throughout the 20th century. A black and white image of the 2nd Wodonga Post Office. There are 6 windows across the front of the building and the name Wodonga Post Office below a round clock. To the left of the building is the royal insignia of the crown above the letters E.R. A sign for the Commonwealth Saving Bank of Australia is also attached to the wall.high st wodonga, wodonga post office, businesses wodonga

Written on back of photograph, "ROW Next to Mail Office 1960's) and "Old right of way now Civic Place". Catalogue card reads, "Old right of way which ran from Adelaide St. near hospital. When sold it became part of thoroughfare leading to Warrandyte Road. L.H. side present (1987) a garage, R.H. side is Safeways. Right though past Dickins (now National Bank) to Ringwood St.

Hunniford's Eltham Post Office, Main Road near Bridge Street, Eltham, c.1895. Possibly Miss Anne (Annie) Hunniford, Post Mistress, on left. Annie was post mistress from the mid 1860s until her death in 1928. Photo taken by Clark Bros, 25 Thomas St, Windsor. Clark Bros operated from this address from c.1894 to 1914. Australia Post: Gold brought life to the township - Diamond Valley News, Tuesday July 2, 1985, p17 On February 1, 1854, the first Eltham Post Office was established, commencing an association between the township and the Postmaster-General's Department that has continued for 131 years. At that time, the number of permanent residents would have been fairly small, probably less than 200. The discovery of gold in June 1851, at Anderson’s Creek, some five miles away, and later at Caledonia Diggings, Queenstown (now known as St Andrews), about 14 miles to the north-east, brought large numbers of prospectors passing through the township, hopefully culling the creeks and gullies for the precious metal. This additional "floating population" brought a greater demand for supplies and for communication with the outside world, and so it helped in the development of Eltham. Today, Eltham is a thriving township. It boasts an excellent shopping centre, municipal offices, court house. post office and many other amenities. Eltham continued to develop at a leisurely pace. During 1860, a total of just over 8000 postal articles were handled at the Eltham Post Office. By 1862, the mail route was "to and from Melbourne by way of Eltham and Kangaroo Ground, three times a week, by coach". There was also a branch mail that operated between Eltham and Greensborough, three times weekly. This was also conveyed by coach. Some time between 1864 and 1868 the management of the post office passed from Thomas Hunniford to his daughter, Miss Anne Hunniford, who managed the Eltham Post Office until her death in 1928. A big improvement in communication was provided for Eltham residents when a telegraph office was established at the post office in 1877. During 1923 a manual telephone exchange was provided at Eltham, the first two subscribers being J.J. O’Connor and Eltham Police Station. In 1949 the manual exchange was replaced by an automatic exchange and there were some 150 subscribers. Following the death of postmistress Miss Anne Hunniford in 1928, B.M. Burgoyne was placed temporarily in charge of the office. In 1929, J. N. Burgoyne was appointed postmaster, and he in turn was succeeded by H. C. Burgoyne in 1951. The post office was moved to a new site in 1954, but continued under the charge of Mr Burgoyne. In January 1958 there was a further change of site when the post office was raised to official status and transferred to new premises in Main Rd. William Donoghue was acting postmaster when the new office was opened. In March 1958 Mr W.E. Tovey was appointed postmaster, followed by Douglas McG. Gilmour in 1959. William Donoghue was fully appointed in 1966 and Barry Reichelt followed in 1973, prior to the present postmaster, Peter Jolly in November 1982. Peter is a young man with 18 years' experience. He commenced his training as a postal clerk at the training school in Melbourne in 1968 and was promoted to postal clerk at the Brunswick Post Office in 1969. He was finally transferred as postmaster to Fawkner Post Office in 1980. He has been at Eltham Post Office for the past 2½ years. He is married with one child and lives in Montmorency. The Eltham Post Office employs a staff of 21, of whom seven are indoor staff, 12 are postmen and two are drivers. The postmen in Eltham have an uphill battle delivering mail because of the hilly terrain. Nine of the postmen deliver mail on motorbikes, and the two delivery vans are both four wheel drives. Eltham Post Office services basically a residential area, with deliveries to 5600 homes. This is growing at the rate of 600 homes every 18 months, i.e. about 32 homes per month. At the present rate we will need a new postman every 18 months.Sepia photograph mounted on cardpost office, eltham, main road, anne jane hunniford (1855-1928), clark bros. photo

This Kandy Koola Tea tin dates to the early 20th century and was made and sold in Melbourne, Victoria. It once belonged to the Giles family. About Kandy Koola Kandy Koola ran an advertisement in the West Gippsland Gazette on 2 May 1911 promoting its tea as perfect for a picnic. The text reads “Picnicing. All as hungry as hunters – made a fire of small twigs – put on our billy of fresh spring water – and waited. Soon bubble, bubble, bubble and the billy boiled. In goes the pure Kandy-Koola Tea. Tea! Tea is not the word – it tasted like nectar! One cup, two cups, three cups – then had to make a fresh billy full. Lazed away the rest of the day sipping our Kandy Koola and chatting. How good indeed! “All grocers sell Kandy Koola Tea. It is pure leaf, selected and blended with the greatest care and skill. Ask your grocer for Kandy Koola. Sold in three grades, i.e. red, blue and green packets” About the Giles Family There are many 19th century items of furniture, linen and crockery donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village by Vera and Aurelin Giles. The items are associated with the Giles Family and are known as the “Giles Collection”. These items mostly came from the simple home of Vera’s parents-in-law, Henry Giles and his wife Mary Jane (nee Freckleton), whose photos are in the parlour. They married in 1880. Henry Giles was born at Tower Hill in 1858. He was a labourer on the construction of the Breakwater before leaving in 1895 to build bridges in N.S.W. for about seven years. Mary Jane was born in 1860 at Cooramook. She attended Mailor’s Flat State School where she was also a student teacher before, as family legend has it, she became a governess at “Injemiara” where her grandfather, Francis Freckleton, once owned land. Henry and Mary’s family of six, some of whom were born at Mailor’s Flat and later children at Wangoom, lived with their parents at Wangoom and Purnim west, where Henry died in 1933 and Mary Jane in 1940. The Giles family collection has social significance at a local level, because it illustrates the level of material support the Warrnambool community gave to Flagstaff Hill when the Museum was established. The tin and the tea that was in the container are significant for their association with the Australian and Victorian food industry, being blended and packed by John Connell and Co, Proprietary Limited Melbourne.Container; tin, for Kandy Koola Tea, part of the Giles Collection. Round tin, green background, gold band on top and bottom, printed on gold background. Ceylon flavoured tea. Also five gold flowers of various sizes with scalloped band, large golden inscription “Kandy Koola Tea” and “Ceylon Flavoured” and “Blended and packed by John Connell & Co Pty Ltd Melbourne” “Kandy Koola Tea” and “Ceylon Flavoured”and and “Blended and packed by John Connell & Co Pty Ltd Melbourne”. Printed on lower band “MADE AND PRINTED BY WILSON BROS. NORTH MELB.” “1LBS NETT”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, giles family, 19th century domestic items, tea, tea merchant, tea tin, food and beverages, giles collection, henry giles, tower hill, warrnambool breakwater, mailor’s flat, wangoom, 19th century household goods, metalcraft, tinware, kandy koola tea