The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Several copies of the little rule book of the AHRS have been preserved with the Society's papers. historical societies, ballarat

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.John Hood was originally from London, and arrived in Melbourne from Tasmania in 1842. He first dug for gold in Little Bendigo / Nerrina, in 1852. He died in 1909, a very old man, at the Ballarat Benevolent Asylum.

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Thomas Bath came to Australia in 1849, establishing a butchering establishment at Geelong. He mined during the rushes at various sites, eventually coming to Ballarat where he established a hotel now known as Craig's Royal Hotel. He held the first publican's license on Ballarat (1854) and his hotel was known as The Ballarat, later changed to Bath's Hotel; after the sale to Mr Craig in 1857 Thomas Bath established his farm Ceres, at Learmonth. Thomas Bath was instrumental in the formation of Ballarat and was a champion of all public institutions. He died in 1901. These reminiscences appear to have been recorded by the AHRS rather than Mr Bath writing them himself.goldrush, sailing ships, coach fares

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Mrs Charlotte Drew was a long term resident of Canadian, an area of Ballarat East. She first arrived in Australia in Adelaide. She and her husband George, who was a carpenter, arrived in Ballarat in 1851, and in these reminiscences she recalls a very lively life.

Photo taken from the Town Hall Tower showing lower Sturt Street looking east. The Camp Hill Gardens can be seen.town hall, ballarat, sturt street, ballarat east

A night scene looking west along Sturt Street during the Centenary Celebrations in 1938. The Town Hall Tower can be seen in the background.sturt street, centenary, town hall, ballarat

Chauffeurs line up next to Morris Austin cars outside of Maclurain Motors Central Garage. Other businesses seen in the photo are Mathers Tailors and the Buchanan's Town Hall Hotel.armstrong street north, ballarat, commerical, automotive, morris austin, maclurain motors, central garage, mathers tailors, buchanan's town hall hotel

Paterson Laing & Bruce Cab Rank in the median strip of Sturt Street which is still yet to be formed with few trees. Notice the flag at half mast.sturt street, post office, town hall, cab rank, paterson laing

Ballarat Town Hall circa 1870-1880 from the Premier Album of Ballarat Views.town hall, ballarat, building, public, premier album of ballarat view

This view is from the Post Office tower looking south. Things of interest include the Town Hall, the Burke & Wills Monument, Cobbs Corner and the Mechanics' Institute.panorama, commerical, public, building, gadens, sturt street, streetscape

This sketch comes from Views of Ballarat by Niven & Co.building, public, town hall, ballarat, sturt street, views of ballarat

This procession was conducted in Sturt Street. The picture insert is of the statue 'Flight from Pompeii'. Some of the buildings seen in the photo are Mechanics Institute, Town Hall and the Unicorn Hotel.celebrations, 8 hours day, streetscape, buildings, commerical, public, town hall, mechanics' institute, unicorn hotel, statue, flight from pompeii, sturt street, ballarat

The Academy of Music became what is now Her Majesty's Theatre. This view is from the Town Hall Tower looking south east.building, public, hotel, academy of music, her majesty's theatre, craig's hotel, streetview

View from the Ballarat Town Hall Tower looking west. Buildings that can be seen are William Dawson Ironmonger and Walter Cornell Chemist. The slate roof of St Andrew's Kirk can also be seen.ballarat town hall tower, gardens, william dawson, walter cornell, commercial, st andrew's kirk, ballarat, ironmonger, chemist, church, sturt street

Taken from in front of the Post Office. The Horse Drawn Tram & Cab Rank and Burke & Wills Monument can be seen. streetscape, public, commercial, sturt street, ballarat, town hall, horse drawn tram, horse drawn cab, burke & wills monument

View of Sturt Street looking west from the Ballarat Homecoming publication. Buildings of interest include the Ballarat Town Hall, City Mutual Building and Marks & Co. You can also see both horse drawn cabs and the electric tram.sturt street, ballarat, ballarat town hall, city mutual, marks & co, electric tram, horse drawn cabs, streetscape, public, commercial, ballarat homecoming

The garage was located in Bath Lane and was once the Cobb & Co. Letting Stables. Adam Lindsay Gordon lived in a cottage behind the stables. The Town Hall Hotel can be seen in the background. This was in the Ballarat Homecoming publication.j.mcdonald, motor garage, bath lane, cobb & co, adam lindsay gordon, town hall hotel, building, vehicle, commercial, ballarat, ballarat homecoming

The Criterion Hotel was situated on the corner of Sturt and Doveton Street North. This photo was taken facing NNW from the Town Hall Tower.criterion hotel, commercial, hotel, ballarat, town hall tower, sturt street, doveton street north

You can see the Town Hall and both sides of Sturt Street looking east. Some of the business include Crockers and Tunbridges.ballarat town hall, sturt street, streetscape, electric tram, garden, crockers, tunbridges, vehicle, building, public building, commerical

electric tram, ballarat town hall, sturt street, vehicle, building, public

shoppee square, ballarat town hall, streetscape, sturt street, garden, statue, commerical, building, vehicle

The dome on the National Mutual Building can be seen. ballarat town hall, sturt street, national mutual, building, public, streetscape, vehicle, electric tram

The photo shows horse drawn trams and cabs, the Ballarat Town Hall, Theatre Royal and Iles Luncheon Rooms. There are also shades over the garden seats. sturt street, doveton street south, ballarat town hall, theatre royal, iles luncheon rooms, streetscape, commerical, public

Photo was taken from the Town Hall tower. Both St Andews Kirk and St Patrick Cathedral can be seen.sturt street, town hall, streetscape, commerical, church, st andrews kirk, st patricks cathedral, vehicle, garden

The photo was taken from the Town Hall tower. The dome of the National Mutual building is clearly visible.sturt street, town hall, streetscape, national mutual building, commerical, public, vehicle, garden

This picture was taken from the Town Hall tower. A Cab Rank stands out the front.sturt street, ballarat town hall, public, cab rank, vehicle, streetscape, commerical

Located in the Ballarat Town Hall.ballarat city municipal chambers, ballarat town hall, building interior, local government

Shows cab stand outside Town Hall. Prior to establishment of gardens.ballarat town hall, sturt street, cab rank, vehicles, streetscape

Public reception by Mayor outside the Town Hall.royalty, ballarat town hall, persons, building, costume, hrh duke of york, hrh duchess of york

Upstairs Back Hall.ballarat town hall, building, public