Till CollectionTHE TILL COLLECTION SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT|The significance of the Alwyn Till Collection is that Alwyn was born in Mitcham in 1921. He attended Mitcham Primary School and Box Hill Boys High School. He served his Community mainly through his activities within the Christ Church Anglican Church Mitcham. He joined the Royal Australian Airforce in World War II in September 1939. He trained as a Pilot in Australia and Canada, was posted to England and saw action in Europe. He was shot down over France and rescued by and then joined the French Resistance and while fighting with them was fatally shot. A Baron fighting with him wrote to his mother to inform her of his death.|Alwyn's parents were Evaleen Victoria Till (nee Maggs) and Sydney Norman Till who first lived in Creek Road Mitcham, before moving to 573 Whitehorse Road Mitcham. His father served in World War I where his eyesight was damaged and he was taught by the then Blind Institute in suitcase making of which we have two examples in this collection. He died in 1931. Alwyn took over responsibility for his mother and sister Alison. We can understand how devastated his mother and sister would have been at the news of Alwyn's feeling that he must serve his country in World War 11.|His letters home were so precious to them that they carefully kept all his correspondence, notices of death and condolences from friends. After Alison's death in 2007 her relation Joan Walker transcribed each of Alwyn's letters home into two bound volumes. The executors, Joan Walker and Anne Drew deposited the original letters with the Whitehorse Historical Society. Due to their significance as historical documents of one serviceman's complete correspondence with his family the Whitehorse Historical Society Committee after consultation with the donors deposited the original letters with the State Library of Victoria. The Whitehorse Historical Society retains the copies.|Alison and her mother kept many family memorabilia and personal items which make up this significant collection as they show how people lived, worked and served in the local community and municipality.|This collection represents the love and devotion of the women to their families during the course of two world wars. The father was disabled as a result of World War 1 and died an early death and a son who thereafter took on the responsibility as head of the family at an early age. This young handsome charismatic son served his community in peace time and gave his life in World War 11. This mother and sister were devoted to his memory.Graduated imitation gold coloured pearls with silver metal claps.costume accessories, jewellery

Till collectionTHE TILL COLLECTION SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT|The significance of the Alwyn Till Collection is that Alwyn was born in Mitcham in 1921. He attended Mitcham Primary School and Box Hill Boys High School. He served his Community mainly through his activities within the Christ Church Anglican Church Mitcham. He joined the Royal Australian Airforce in World War II in September 1939. He trained as a Pilot in Australia and Canada, was posted to England and saw action in Europe. He was shot down over France and rescued by and then joined the French Resistance and while fighting with them was fatally shot. A Baron fighting with him wrote to his mother to inform her of his death.|Alwyn's parents were Evaleen Victoria Till (nee Maggs) and Sydney Norman Till who first lived in Creek Road Mitcham, before moving to 573 Whitehorse Road Mitcham. His father served in World War I where his eyesight was damaged and he was taught by the then Blind Institute in suitcase making of which we have two examples in this collection. He died in 1931. Alwyn took over responsibility for his mother and sister Alison. We can understand how devastated his mother and sister would have been at the news of Alwyn's feeling that he must serve his country in World War 11.|His letters home were so precious to them that they carefully kept all his correspondence, notices of death and condolences from friends. After Alison's death in 2007 her relation Joan Walker transcribed each of Alwyn's letters home into two bound volumes. The executors, Joan Walker and Anne Drew deposited the original letters with the Whitehorse Historical Society. Due to their significance as historical documents of one serviceman's complete correspondence with his family the Whitehorse Historical Society Committee after consultation with the donors deposited the original letters with the State Library of Victoria. The Whitehorse Historical Society retains the copies.|Alison and her mother kept many family memorabilia and personal items which make up this significant collection as they show how people lived, worked and served in the local community and municipality.|This collection represents the love and devotion of the women to their families during the course of two world wars. The father was disabled as a result of World War 1 and died an early death and a son who thereafter took on the responsibility as head of the family at an early age. This young handsome charismatic son served his community in peace time and gave his life in World War 11. This mother and sister were devoted to his memory.Blue covered Holy Communion book 'Holy Communion' in gold. Imprint of crown and cross and BISHOP HOW on front. Inscription - Alison B S Till, In remembrance Aug. 17th 1937 from Wm.I Flemming Vicar 'He is faithful , Be thou faithful'books, religion

This is the twenty-first key presented to Ronald Arthur Edwards in August 1935. The celebration, held at his parents home in Husband Road, Forest Hill, was attended by many well known local people who signed his birthday key. Ronald Edwards was the youngest child of Arthur and Martha Edwards. In 1929 aged 15 he contracted poliomyelitis and became an invalid. He died in 1955 at Forest Hill.This item is significant in the history of Forest Hill as all the attendees and Ronald Arthur Edwards are from the pioneering families of the area of the Shire of Nunawading.Large wooden plywood key made to celebrate the 21st birthday of Ronald Arthur Edwards in August 1935. Written on handle end in pen Ron Edwards 21st - 19.Key end signed Anna Course, Herbert Course, R.J. Bird, D.J. Bogle.Reverse side R. Course, A.H. Course, Aunt Corrie, F. Bogle, Aunt Harriet, Marjory Course, S. Edwards, Edwards, H. Edwards, E. Edwards, Doug Edwards, Charlie Course, Jean Course, Tom Bailey, H.S. Tainton, N. Tainton, ?Luen Edwards, C.W. Bird, ?S.U. Course, J. Porter, Bob Course, J.E. Bird, M.P.? Course, ?Edwards, L. Tainton, J. Bird, Shirley Edwards, H. Edwards, Ed, A.E. Edwards, Albert H..., V. Edwards, F. Smith, W. Smith, L.James, E. Galley ?, A.E. Edwards, Mother and Father. Gold traces on one side; 21 carved out in key end.See Descriptionhandcrafts, woodwork

Letter from Survey Office dated 1 August 1857 referring to auriferous indications on each side of Deep Creek revealed in the course of a survey of roads to the Warrandyte Gold Fields.warrandyte, goldmining, deep creek, nunawading

The Northern District School of Nursing opened in 1950 in to address the issues around nurse recruitment, training and education that had previously been hospital based. The residential school was to provide theoretical and in-house education and practical training over three years. The students would also receive practical hands-on training in the wards of associated hospitals. The Northern District School of Nursing operated from Lister House, Rowan Street, Bendigo. It was the first independent school of nursing in Victoria and continued until it closed in 1989.NDSN Trained Nurse Certification booklet. Black coloured folder with gold print on the front: "Northern District School of Nursing Victoria Australia". Inside the first page has the logo of the NDSN and the second page has: "This is to Certify that (Nurses name) has attended the prescribed course of theoretical and practical instruction at the Northern District School of Nursing, has had approved nursing experience in the wards and departments of: The Bendigo and Northern District Base Hospital and has passed the examination qualifying her to act as a Trained Nurse. Signed by the Director of Nursing, (J. Edgar) Medical Supt., Chairman, School committee (K. Houylahan)and the Dean (K. Andrews), and the date.ndsn, nursing, lister house bendigo, certificate of nursing

Luncheon Menu for Rutherglen Gold Dumps Ltd Date unknown, Gold print on Beige card6 Course meal with 3 Rutherglen wines

Ebenezer Presbyterian Church is located in Armstrong Street South, Ballarat. The earliest church on the site was wooden church was and built in 1857 for the miners Gold Rush. In 1862 the wooden building was replaced by the bluestone church still in use today. The bluestone church was designed by architect Henry Richards Caselli in Lombardic Romanesque style. It features tall windows with paired round headed lights, buttresses and huge brackets. The porch and gallery were added in the 1880s to cater for an increase in the size of the congregation and are the only additions to the church. The 1880s porch features bracketted gables, finial, piers, string course and triple windows. The Ebenezer Church is important architecturally for its interior as well as its exterior, as it has a Classical Revival design that is both distinctive and unusual in Australia. The Ebenezer Presbyterian Church Hall built to the right of the church was constructed in 1892 and is made of locally produced red brick, which was more fashionable at the time. It too has been built in Lombardic Romanesque style in sympathy with the church building and features tall arched windows. The double-storey presbytery, built on the left of the church dates around the 1880s and is also constructed of red brick. Built in Victorian Classical Freestyle, it has elegant quoining on its corners, large windows upstairs, and prominent bay windows on the ground floor. The Armstrong Street facade is sheltered from the sun by a verandah and balcony featuring fine cast iron columns and lacework. The whole complex is surrounded by its 1880s cast iron paling fence. Henry Richards Caselli is perhaps best known in Ballarat for the large number of churches in Victoria that he designed, with two Lombardic Romanesque examples in Ballarat, the Ebenezer Presbyterian church, Armstrong Street South between 1862 and 1863 and the Lutheran Church in Doveton Street in 1876. This photograph was taken during the Covid19 pandemic and the associated shutdowns.Colour photographs of Ebenezer St John's Presbyterian Church.ebenezer st john's presbyterian church, ebenezer, church, ballarat, henry richards caselli

The gold mine in Halley Street is understood to have operated successfully until 1880. Being close to the southern end of Blackburn Lake and to the course of Gardiner's Creek, the mine suffered from continuous water seepage and was eventually abandoned. The mine was filled in soon after 1904Black and white photograph of the front of a miner's cottage in Halley Street Blackburn. Raspberry canes on sticks. Joseph Cramp on left in the black waistcoathalley street, blackburn, gold mining, cramp, joseph

Painting of Yarran Dheren by Barbara Rogalski, a member of Whitehorse Historical Society. Painting is one of a set of 4.Oil Painting of bush setting with water course and yellow wattle in flower and pink blossom tree in centre. Mounted in beige cotton fabric with inner beige plastic frame. Outer frame of brown wood with gold trim. Painted at Yarran Dheren, Mitcham.Signed by Barbara Rogalskipainting, yarran dheren reserve

Following the founding meeting of the Mayo Tenants Defence Association in Castlebar, County Mayo on 26 October 1878 the demand for The Land of Ireland for the people of Ireland was reported in the Connaught Telegraph 2 November 1878. The first of many "monster meetings" of tenant farmers was held in Irishtown near Claremorris on 20 April 1879, with an estimated turnout of 15,000 to 20,000 people. This meeting was addressed by James Daly (who presided), John O'Connor Power, John Ferguson, Thomas Brennan, and J. J. Louden. The Connaught Telegraph's report of the meeting in its edition of 26 April 1879 began: Since the days of O'Connell a larger public demonstration has not been witnessed than that of Sunday last. About 1 o'clock the monster procession started from Claremorris, headed by several thousand men on foot – the men of each district wearing a laural leaf or green ribbon in hat or coat to distinguish the several contingents. At 11 o'clock a monster contingent of tenant-farmers on horseback drew up in front of Hughes's hotel, showing discipline and order that a cavalry regiment might feel proud of. They were led on in sections, each having a marshal who kept his troops well in hand. Messrs. P.W. Nally, J.W. Nally, H. French, and M. Griffin, wearing green and gold sashes, led on their different sections, who rode two deep, occupying, at least, over an Irish mile of the road. Next followed a train of carriages, brakes, cares, etc. led on by Mr. Martin Hughes, the spirited hotel proprietor, driving a pair of rare black ponies to a phæton, taking Messrs. J.J. Louden and J. Daly. Next came Messrs. O'Connor, J. Ferguson, and Thomas Brennan in a covered carriage, followed by at least 500 vehicles from the neighbouring towns. On passing through Ballindine the sight was truly imposing, the endless train directing its course to Irishtown – a neat little hamlet on the boundaries of Mayo, Roscommon, and Galway. Evolving out of this a number of local land league organisations were set up to work against the excessive rents being demanded by landlords all over Ireland, but especially in Mayo and surrounding counties. From 1874 agricultural prices in Europe had dropped, followed by some bad harvests due to wet weather during the Long Depression. The effect by 1878 was that many Irish farmers were unable to pay the rents that they had agreed, particularly in the poorer and wetter parts of Connacht. The localised 1879 Famine added to the misery. Unlike other parts of Europe the Irish land tenure system was inflexible in times of hardship. (Wikipedia) The Irish National Land League was founded at the Imperial Hotel in Castlebar, the County town of Mayo, on 21 October 1879. At that meeting Charles Stewart Parnell was elected president of the league. Andrew Kettle, Michael Davitt, and Thomas Brennan were appointed as honorary secretaries. This united practically all the different strands of land agitation and tenant rights movements under a single organisation. Michael Davitt Founder of the Land League The two aims of the Land League, as stated in the resolutions adopted in the meeting, were: ...first, to bring out a reduction of rack-rents; second, to facilitate the obtaining of the ownership of the soil by the occupiers. That the object of the League can be best attained by promoting organisation among the tenant-farmers; by defending those who may be threatened with eviction for refusing to pay unjust rents; by facilitating the working of the Bright clauses of the Irish Land Act during the winter; and by obtaining such reforms in the laws relating to land as will enable every tenant to become owner of his holding by paying a fair rent for a limited number of years. (Wikipedia)Image of a man with a moustache. He is T. Brennan.ballarat irish, brennan, thomas brennan, irish land act, rent

Medallion issued to Peninsula Ambulance staff to commemorate the amalgamation of that service with Ambulance Service Melbourne. Given to Laurence Spelling. Laurie Spelling joined the ambulance service in the early 1970s and completed various training courses at the Ambulance Officer's Training Centre. He was employed by the Peninsula Ambulance Service and later qualified as a paramedic and was MICA coordinator. In the period 1999-2003 he was area manager for Rural Ambulance Victoria.Gold coloured circular medallion in cream coloured plastic case. Peninsula Ambulance Service 1953 - 1987peninsula ambulance service, amalgamation, laurie spelling

List of members of Ambulance Officers on Course 55CA Wooden Plaque with gold embossed plate featuring student names.There's a fine line and it's there to be crossed

Contains names of members of Ambulance Officers on Course 42CA Wooden Plaque with gold coloured individual shields featuring student names and an Ambulance Service Victoria logo.Simply the best

Diggers & Mining. Getting the Gold. Slide: Sinking a shaft to a depth of 100 or 200 feet was a long, laborious and expensive job. But the big difficulty was that the course of the lead could not be ascertained, or even accurately guessed at, until a shaft had been sunk. When deep sinking began, many diggers did weeks of useless work, sinking a shaft down to where they thought the course of the lead lay, only to find that it was not there at all. Markings: 50 994.LIF:4. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

Diggers & Mining. Getting the Gold. Slide: Deep sinking was dangerous work; the shaft was, of course, timbered, nevertheless shafts sometimes caved in, and in this way diggers were often injured, and sometimes killed. Markings: 47 994.LIF:4. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

Diggers & Mining. Stores at the diggings. ''Rates of carriage to Mount Alexander had generally ranged between £10 and 20 per ton. As winter drew on, these rates, began alarmingly to advance. The Bendigo goldfields . . . Were at this time the great focus of attention. To this locality, where it was said 40,000 persons were at one time assembled during the month of June, the rates of carriage rose successively to £80, £100, and £120 per ton, and contracts were said to have been freely made at still higher rates, even at £150 per ton. £3 to £4 per week with rations were promptly given to good bullock drivers who were disposed to undertake the protracted and adventurous charge of a provision dray. At the diggings, the course of prices had been for some time on the upward move, in anticipation of the winter's scarcity. A tent full of stores was second only to a tent full of gold itself. Flour which could be purchased in Melbourne at £24 per ton was sold at Bendigo for £20 per bag of 200lbs., or at the rate of £200 for the ton of 2,000lbs., weight'' Markings: 40 994.LIF. 5. Used as a teaching aid.hanimount

Canoeing on the River Yarra at Melbourne was an important and widespread recreational pursuit for Melbournians, especially in the first half of the twentieth century. The Victorian Canoe Club was formed in 1912 at a meeting in Melbourne and its first committee elected in the same year. Records indicate that the Club continued into at least the 1950s .The photos in this album are historically and socially significant as a record of recreational activities in the first half of the twentieth century. A number of photographs in the album provide views of sections of the Yarra, as well as areas in regional Victoria, that may otherwise be unavailable.One of 12 sepia [faded] photographs of members of the Victorian Canoe Club. This photo shows the mouth of the artificially made Pound Bend Tunnel, which was created to divert the course of the Yarra to enable gold prospecting in the river bed. "Pound Bend Tunnel"victorian canoe club, travel -- 1930s, canoeing, warrandyte, pound bend tunnel

Nicholas Caire was born on Guernsey in the Channel Islands in 1837. He arrived in Adelaide with his parents in about 1860. In 1867, following photographic journeys in Gippsland, he opened a studio in Adelaide. From 1870 to 1876 he lived and worked in Talbot in Central Victoria. In 1876 he purchased T. F. Chuck's studios in the Royal Arcade Melbourne. In 1885, following the introduction of dry plate photography, he began a series of landscape series, which were commercially successful. As a photographer, he travelled extensively through Victoria, photographing places few of his contemporaries had previously seen. He died in 1918. Reference: Jack Cato, 'Caire, Nicholas John (1837–1918)', Australian Dictionary of Biography.An original, rare photograph from the series 'Views of Victoria: General Series' by the photographer, Nicholas Caire (1837-1918). The series of 60 photographs that comprise the series was issued c. 1876 and reinforced a neo-Romantic view of the Australian landscape to which a growing nationalist movement would respond. Nicholas Caire was active as a photographer in Australia from 1858 until his death in 1918. His vision of the Australian bush and pioneer life had a counterpart in the works of Henry Lawson and other nationalist poets, authors and painters.Views of Victoria (General Series) No.23 / ‘Waterfall scene on the Coliban River, near Elphinstone’ / Albumen silver photograph mounted on boardOn reverse: ‘The scene this illustration presents is but one of the many that exist along the course of this shallow River, which, like its parent the Campaspe, abounds with rocky and romantic scenery. The fall of the River at this place is over one hundred feet, but is broken by a long course of rocks to the lower bed; the actual fall as seen is about forty feet. The Coliban, though only a branch of the Campaspe, derives its name from the fact that its course runs through the Coliban Park. Gold is found in considerable quantities along the banks and in the stream, but at the present time these diggings are worked only by Chinamen.’nicholas caire (1837-1918), australia - landscape photography

Nicholas Caire was born on Guernsey in the Channel Islands in 1837. He arrived in Adelaide with his parents in about 1860. In 1867, following photographic journeys in Gippsland, he opened a studio in Adelaide. From 1870 to 1876 he lived and worked in Talbot in Central Victoria. In 1876 he purchased T. F. Chuck's studios in the Royal Arcade Melbourne. In 1885, following the introduction of dry plate photography, he began a series of landscape series, which were commercially successful. As a photographer, he travelled extensively through Victoria, photographing places few of his contemporaries had previously seen. He died in 1918. Reference: Jack Cato, 'Caire, Nicholas John (1837–1918)', Australian Dictionary of Biography.An original, rare photograph from the series 'Views of Victoria: General Series' by the photographer, Nicholas Caire (1837-1918). The series of 60 photographs that comprise the series was issued c. 1876 and reinforced a neo-Romantic view of the Australian landscape to which a growing nationalist movement would respond. Nicholas Caire was active as a photographer in Australia from 1858 until his death in 1918. His vision of the Australian bush and pioneer life had a counterpart in the works of Henry Lawson and other nationalist poets, authors and painters.Views of Victoria (General Series) No.31 / ‘View of Sailor’s Creek Bridge’ / Albumen silver photograph mounted on boardOn Reverse" ‘Sailor’s Creek as situated in the Jim Crow Ranges, which Range forms a portion of the Great Dividing Range of Mountains in Victoria. These hills contain many romantic spots. The one which forms the subject of the present illustration is a view of the Bridge which spans the Creek. Gold has been found throughout the course of the bed of this Creek in payable quantities. The diggers, as may be seen in the photograph, have constructed sluices in the side of the embankment for the purpose of washing the fine gold contained in the wash-dirt.’nicholas caire (1837-1918), sailor's creek (vic), gold mining (vic)

Since their Australian introduction in the early 20th century, public telephones have undergone several design iterations; diversifying methods of payment from coin to card, incorporating solar charging, mobile charging and Wi-fi access and of course, mitigation against vandalism. This model, a coin-operated Gold Phone, replaced the easily pilfered Red Phone and was succeeded by the Blue Phone in the 1990s. Although the prevalence of public telephones has decreased alongside the increase in mobile phone usage, public telephones remain under Telstra’s universal service obligation as vital communications infrastructure for low-income citizens and those needing to communicate in disasters. According to the Conversation, 13 million calls are made annually from public payphones, 200,000 of which are to triple zero.Orange plastic cased public payphone with button dials on face.public telephone, payphone, public services, telecom

A small faded green hardback novel, The Sketches of Boz by Charles Dickens. The front cover has no title but the spine has faded gold lettering of the title, author and publisher as well as decorative symbol. 558p.At the front is a page with an inscription in black ink handwriting and a date.fiction Charles Dickens' first published book, Sketches by Boz is a funny and touching observation, fancy and fiction showing the London he knew in all its complexity - its streets, theatres, inns, pawnshops law courts, prisons and of course the river Thames.books, fiction books, historical fiction

A commemorative plaque from the old Wodonga Golf House, built in 1946. The club house and the golf course were extended in 1956 to the area of Belvoir Park. It was demolished in 1987 to make room for the new Hume Highway. This plaque was salvaged from the club house building before demolition. This item has a strong link to the local and sporting history of Wodonga.A wooden plaque with engraved metal plate depicting a male golfer attached. gold, sport, leisure, entertainment, wodonga, wodonga golf club

Information on the life of Legatee Frank Doolan from a dinner held to celebrate his 50 years of service on 27 May 1974 at the Oakleigh and Waverly Branch. Speakers included President Bill Braidie, Legatee Jim Gillespie and Legatee Frank Doolan. Frank recalls how he delivered the Toast to Legacy at the Perth Conference. In it he likened Legacy to a valuable cloak with foundations of gold and silver laid down by the founders, and additional threads added by successive legatees to become what the public see today. Legatee Doolan was a very active Legatee, starting within the first year of Legacy when he was nominated by Bill Laver and Charles Copp in 1924. While he never sought 'office but he was always there - in the background - able and willing to actively serve'. In World War 1 he enlisted in November 1917 and served with 1st Division Signal Company and in France. After Armistice he attended a course for young AIF surveyors at the British Ordnance Headquarters at South Hampton. Famously it was Frank that proposed that the spirit of Legacy is service to the widows and children. "Here it received its soul. The thoughts transmitted to the Board by this quiet man." He was part of the Legacy team who worked enthusiastically for the establishment of the Shrine. It was his technical skill as a surveyor that enabled the ray of light to shine on the Stone of Remembrance at 11 am on 11th November. Also to solve the complication of daylight saving by positioning two mirrors. For this he was awarded the British Empire Medal. He was involved in the purchase of Legacy House in 1955 and also in the Lone Pine project in 1964. He was also established an archive at Legacy House to try and capture the history of Legacy. The information was part of an album of past presidents from 1965 to 1989. The folder included biographical details and obituaries, eulogies and death notices of prominent Legatees. The items have been catalogued separately.Part of the collection of material held by Melbourne Legacy on Legatee Frank Doolan a prominent member of Legacy. The information was collected to record the lives of prominent legatees in a folder.Typed A4 document x 5 pages of the life of Legatee Frank Doolan. frank doolan, ray of light, shrine of remembrance, lone pine

Christmas card, printed - 8 pages featuring a MMTB logo (gold) on the front cover and a photo of the Wattle Park Golf course, from the MMTB. Has a serrated edge with a slight silver finish. Not dated. Two copies held.trams, tramways, mmtb, christmas, greetings cards, wattle park

The largest gold mine in the area originated from a find in 1862. The mine was closed January 20, 1915 when a fire destroyed nearly all the above ground plant. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p75 Beneath Mine Hill, as locals call it, runs a network of tunnels once of central importance to the fledgling township of Diamond Creek. These are relics of gold mines, which transformed early Diamond Creek.1 The tiny settlement of about 20 families soared to more than 200 because of gold. For around 50 years, from 1862, gold mining was Diamond Creek’s major source of employment. On September 7, 1854 The Argus newspaper reported a find of a four pound (1.8kg) gold nugget in Nillumbik (an early name for Diamond Creek). Exactly where, is not known.2 The largest mine in the district, the Diamond Creek Gold Mine, apparently originated from a find in 1862. It is said Joe and Dave Wilson were visiting former tailor then cook, Charles Orme, at the southern end of Fraser Street. Sitting on a stump outside the front gate on land belonging to Dr A. E. Phipps the Wilsons found a vein of gold-bearing quartz, which led to the discovery of four quartz reefs varying in width to eight inches (20cm), running north and south. A reef found at the foot of the hill opposite Challenger Street became the Union Mine. This reef was traced south to Allendale Road where a small mine began operations.3 Other smaller mines later operated as well. Dr Phipps immediately began to mine and also built the Diamond Reef Hotel as a boarding house for miners. But Charles Orme, who owned the land alongside, leased his mine to Dr Phipps probably because of insufficient funds and business skills. By mid 1865 the mine had produced 2530 ounces of gold – a 100% profit on the original outlay. Of course there were problems. When the local dam dried up a Blake pump was installed to draw water from the creek. The Union Mine operated under the Diamond Creek Gold Mine management except when disputes sometimes resulted in separate management. However disagreements had to be resolved as the Union Mine depended on Diamond Creek Gold Mine pumps to remove underground water from common reefs. In 1912 the main shaft of about 380 yards (350m) employed 200 men recovering an average of 5000 ounces (141.7kg) of gold a year. But not everyone did well out of gold. Records of failed mining companies in the Victorian Public Record Office, reveal that owner Dr Phipps leased his Right to others. Companies came and went over the next 40 years, most sponsored by Melbourne businessmen who sold shares to gullible locals and then became insolvent. Although there were some good profits, financial returns were haphazard until 1905. Some local residents, who were share holders in short- term companies, became well-known names in modern Diamond Creek such as Scott, Haley, Butler, Alder, Ryan, Wadeson, Reeves, Alston, Paul and Edwards. Gold mining was brought to a disastrous end on January 20, 1915 at 3 pm, when fire destroyed nearly all the above-ground plant. Fortunately no lives were lost. But reopening the mine was almost impossible because of the increasing depth of water in the main shaft. The closed mine destroyed the livelihood of 200 families and the debris took many years to clear.4 In 1946 the Diamond Creek Gold Mine was reopened by the Golden Hind Mining Company, but money ran out before the 600 feet (182.8m) or so of water could be removed. Gold remains in the mine but enormous capital would be needed to buy the land, equipment and to remove the water. Today 12 known sealed shafts along the ridge of the hills on private property extend west for around one kilometre from the corner of Fraser and Haley Streets, crossing Norma and Fyffe to Dering Streets. As recently as 1987, heavy rains revealed a former Union Mine shaft in the Georgiadis family Fyffe Street back yard.5 Allendale Mine, south of Allendale Road, is still open and one of the Union Mine’s main drives (horizontal excavation) remains unsealed, on the Creek Reserve.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, diamond creek, diamond creek mine, fraser street, gold mining, james cook drive, mine hill

Ventifacts are sand-blasted rocks that are typically faceted and often display parallel grooves carved by wind-blown sand. They are useful indicators of wind direction and strength in environments such as deserts, mountains, and coastal areas because they are usually not hidden by later sediment, soil or vegetation cover. In Antarctica ventifaction is strongly related to the composition or type of rock. Ventifacts are important because they provide evidence for abraders such as sand, dust or snow and ice crystals, and offer a unique understanding of past wind processes that are effective in the reconstruction of past wind flow conditions and can provides clues to weather and climate changes in the past. Interestingly ventifacts have also been found on the surface of Mars. They were a threat to the NASA rover due to the sharp angles of the facets, created by the Martian wind over the course of millions of years. These Martian ventifacts act like weathervanes for past wind and weather patterns on the red planet in a similar manner to those found on earth.The Geological Survey of Victoria was instigated in response to the Victorian Gold Rush which began around 1851 in the Beechworth, Castlemaine, Daylesford, Bendigo and Ballarat areas. The survey was conducted by Alfred Richard Cecil Selwyn from his arrival in December 1852 until his resignation in 1869and during this time he trained many notable geologists, e.g. Aplin, Wilkinson, Daintree, who went on to other State survey senior positions. This specimen was among those donated to the Burke Museum in 1868.A hand-sized solid mineral specimen in shades of dark and light browns with light lines visible in all configurations and a groove on configuration 2.light lines visible in all configurations and a groove on configuration 2burke museum, beechworth, geological, geological specimen, ventifact, antarctic region, antarctic, alfred richard cecil selwyn, alfred selwyn, wind direction, wind strength, abraders, wind flow, climate change, reconstruction of wind flow conditions, weather change, mars

Wattle Gully, at Chewton was first worked in 1853 albeit initially only to a depth of 10 metres. An exploratory drilling in 1934, that deflected off course, discovered new rich gold seams and by 1937 large amounts of gold were being extracted. The mine closed in 1969 because high water levels and the low price of gold made it unprofitable at the time. It has operated intermittently since then.Horwood Collection - Wattle Gully. Wattle Gully Mine, Chewton. Much of the buildings and other structures still remain. Markings Wattle Gully Chewton. DEC65MKodakmine, gold, walltle gully, horwood collection - wattle gully. wattle gully mine, chewton. much of the buildings and other structures still remain