The Scarlet Tanager is an American songbird of medium size with bright coloured plumage. They are commonly located in eastern North America and in northwestern South America. They can often be found within woodlands that have oaks. On occasion, the Tanager can be seen in suburban areas including parks and gardens. These birds are sociable and often join with other foraging flocks. They are carnivores (insectivores) and feed on insects including wasps, ants, moths, beetles, butterflies and grasshoppers. The numbers of these birds in America are declining due to exposure and starvation during the colder months. These birds can also die from collisions with man made objects which includes the TV and radio towers, buildings and cars. They also have high rates of predation and brood parasitism. However, at current the IUCN classifies this species as Least Concern and note that their numbers are stable. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.The Scarlet Tanager specimen stands perched on a wooden platform looking forwards in a raised position. It has bright red/orange feathers on the main body and head with dark black feathers on the tail and wings. Overall, whilst retaining a bright appearance the bird has faded in contrast to it's original colouring. The bill is short and pale and the specimen has been provided with glass eyes made in a dark colour. The specimen has two paper identification tags attached to the right leg.Swing tag: 143a / unnamed / catalogue page 59 Metal tag: A4439 /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, australian birds, american, american birds, scarlet tanager, tanager, medium bird, small bird

The Common Starling is an introduced species to Australia (as well as widely throughout the world), and is considered a pest due to its attacks on fruits and seedlings, as well as competing with the native bird population. It was introduced to Victoria in 1861, and has since become abundant, whose sheer numbers cause many problems. These birds are a social species, which can mass in very large flocks (murmations), and show spectacular synchronised aerobatic displays. This species has a distinctive plumage, with glossy black bodies, white spots on their backs and wings, and a purple and green tinge to their underparts and wings. This species, when moving across the ground, has a distinctive 'walk' or 'run' rather than the traditional hopping of many other bird species. This bird is a noisy species, often becoming a nuisance to people. Starlings prefer to nest in holes in trees or buildings, yet there are at least two recorded cases of this species nesting on the backs of living sheep. This specimen is a good and intact example of this species. As the white spots are large and visible, as well as the purple and green shine, this specimen likely died close to Autumn and the breeding season, when these birds get their new bright plumage. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century. This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This adult Common Starling has glossy-black plumage with a metallic sheen, and white speckles throughout. The plumage has a purple and green shine. The irises are white. Its beak is black and pointed. This specimen appears to be male, with less white spots on its underparts. This specimen stands upon a wooden platform and has an identification tag tied around its leg, and a metal tag tied around its foot.Swing-tag: 139a. / Starling / Catalogue Page, 59 / Metal-tag: 1250 (?)taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, sheep, common starling, starling, murmations, pest, australian bird

Barn Owls are the most widely distributed owl species in the world and one of the most widespread of all bird species, including in Australia. Barn Owls are sedentary and prefer open habitats such as grasslands, farmlands, and open woodlands, where they forage and hunt small mammals, particularly rodents, at night. Barn Owls nest in deep hollows in old trees, especially eucalypts, but also in caves, rock cavities, and sometimes cavities in buildings. Barn Owl's have a highly distinctive white heart-shaped face and pale underbelly feathers. They can be seen circling low above grassland areas at dusk or at night, and their drawn-out shrieking, hissing, and 'eerie' rasping sounds have led some rural populations to consider they have magical powers. Barn Owls vary in size but average 330-390mm in length, with wing spans between 800-950mm. Females are larger than males and most are a mix of white, pale brown and shades of grey speckled with fine black tear-shaped spots. They have a distinctive flat heart-shaped facial mask with oversized oblique black eye-slits and black irises. A ridge of feathers sits above the beak resembling a long nose. The feet vary in colour from pink to grey, and beaks can be pale to dark buff, corresponding to general plumage hue. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This Barn Owl is medium sized with long wings and a short squarish tail. Its underbelly is pale and speckled with dark spots. The wings and tail feathers are light brown, grey and white with small, dark, tear-shaped speckles on the upper parts. It has a distinctive white heart-shaped facial disc with large black eyes and curved beak. This specimen stands on a wooden perch pedestal and it has metal and paper identification tags attached to its legs. Swing tag: 36. / Barn [torn] / Catalogue [torn] / Metal tag: 4058 /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, owls, birds of prey, tyto alba, heart-shaped faced owl, nocturnal birds, predator birds, 'harbingers of misfortune', demon owl, ghost owl, death owl, magical animals, lich owl, birds as omens, barn owl, carnivore, hissing owl

This photograph depicts two members of the Beechworth Band at a 'Liedertafel' concert in the main hall at the Burke Museum in 1999. The concert related to an exhibition titled, 'From the Liedertafel to the Skating Rink: Entertainment in Beechworth 1852 - early 1900s', which celebrated the rich and diverse entertainments that were a part of Beechworth life in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. 'Liedertafel' is a German tradition that accompanied European settlers to Australia. It refers to a friendly society of men united by an enthusiasm for singing. The Beechworth Liedertafel was established 14 March 1894 at the London Tavern, Camp Street, Beechworth, by president, Mr. A.A. Billson, and a visiting conductor, Mr. H. Fielder. The Beechworth Brass Band was formed by Mr. H. Vandenberg in 1887. Marching bands, choirs, processions, circus acts, theatrical performances, races, fancy dress and roller skating carnivals, were among the vibrant and diverse entertainments offered in Beechworth during the gold rush period. Race meetings were revived with a gala atmosphere at Baarmutha on New Year's Day and Easter Monday in the early 1880s. 'Spiller's Skating Rink', which premiered at St. Georges Hall in August 1869, was accompanied by the 'Beechworth Fire and Drum band'. In 1888, Beechworth had two skating rinks in operation, the Columbia Elite at Oddfellow's Hall, and the Beechworth Skating Rink, corner Camp and Last Streets, Beechworth. Vandenberg's Beechworth Brass Band was reported to have provided musical entertainment for patrons at both venues.This photograph of the Beechworth Band playing at the Burke Museum is historically significant for the information it conveys about an exhibition at the Burke Museum between September and November 1999. The use of the contemporary Beechworth Band in a 'Liedertafel' performance provides insight into curatorial approaches at the turn of the twenty-first century and improves our understanding of how exhibitions use objects in the Burke Museum's Collection to tell stories about the past in the present. The story of Liedertafel's and Beechworth Brass Band is historically and socially significant for understanding the role played by German immigrants in building Victorian communities. In settler communities, cultural associations centred on artistic, recreational and sporting activities not only provided a popular means of entertainment, but fostered social cohesion among settlers from diverse ethnic backgrounds.Rectangular colour photograph printed on matte photographic paper. Obverse (On keyboard): Technics / Reverse: 7028 / Label: Liedertafel / exh. / Beechworth / Band / 1999/2000 /liedertafel, beechworth band, burke museum, from the liedertafel to the skating rink, entertainment in beechworth 1852 - early 1900s, gold rush, immigration, beechworth's german heritage, london tavern beechworth, beechworth's first brick tavern, spiller's skating rink, vandenberg's beechworth brass band, protestantism, teetotallism, skating carnivals, beechworth german association, yma's, beechworth skating rink, progress societies, billson's brewery, german-australians, roller skating history

This photograph taken c1999/2000, depicts the Burke Museum’s granite façade and vestibule entrance. The museum's large red door is closed and there is a white sign is attached to the door. The museum site dates to the 1857 founding of the Beechworth Public Library and Athenaeum by a newly formed Young Men's Association (YMA). In 1863 the museum was dedicated as a memorial to former Beechworth police superintendent (1854-1858) and explorer Robert O’Hara Burke, following Burke’s death from malnutrition on the Burke and Wills expedition in 1861. Funded by the Victorian Government and the Royal Society of Victoria, the officially titled 'Victorian Exploring Expedition' was tasked with being the first European party to traverse Australia from south to north. The Burke Museum holds objects from the famous expedition and explores the multi-layered history of Beechworth and surrounds from the gold rush era to the present.This photograph is historically significant for its depiction of the Burke Museum c1999/2000. The Burke Museum is Australia’s oldest regional museum and part of Beechworth's Historic and Cultural Precinct, one of Australia’s best preserved historic-town sites and a popular tourist destination. Once the government centre for a vast gold fields region, this collection of nationally significant buildings tells the story of how Australia grew and prospered. The frequent use of honey-coloured local granite as a building material, which can be seen in the museum's fabric, gives Beechworth’s historic buildings a distinct and cohesive local character. This photograph captures this distinctive character and may be compared and studied alongside other images of historic buildings in the Burke Museum Photographic Collection.Rectangular colour photograph printed on photographic paper.Reverse: 7031 / Label: Burke Museum / 1999/2000 /burke museum, indigo shire, beechworth athanaeum, beechworth library, beechworth historic building, historic precinct, burke museum exhibition, from the liedertafel to the skating rink, honey-coloured local granite, robert o'hara burke, victorian gold fields, historic towns in victoria, colonial australia, liedertafel, colonial entertainments, beechworth brass band, historic victorian architecture, australia's oldest regional museum, burke and wills expedition, first europeans to cross australia, yound mens associations, beechworth tourism, things to see in beechworth, beechworth historic trail, young men's associations

This undated photograph depicts two people standing in the vestibule entrance at the Burke Museum, Beechworth. The museum site dates to the 1857 founding of the Beechworth Public Library and Athenaeum by a newly formed Young Men's Association (YMA). In 1863 the museum was dedicated as a memorial to former Beechworth police superintendent (1854-1858) and explorer Robert O’Hara Burke, following Burke’s death from malnutrition on the Burke and Wills expedition in 1861. Funded by the Victorian Government and the Royal Society of Victoria, the officially titled 'Victorian Exploring Expedition' was tasked with being the first European party to traverse Australia from south to north. The Burke Museum holds objects from the famous expedition and explores the multi-layered history of Beechworth and surrounds from the gold rush era to the present.This photograph is historically significant for its depiction of the Burke Museum and Loch Street streetscape. The Burke Museum is Australia’s oldest regional museum and part of Beechworth's Historic and Cultural Precinct, one of Australia’s best preserved historic-town sites and a popular tourist destination. Once the government centre for a vast gold fields region, this collection of nationally significant buildings tells the story of how Australia grew and prospered. The frequent use of honey-coloured local granite as a building material, which can be seen in the museum's fabric, gives Beechworth’s historic buildings a distinct and cohesive local character. This photograph may be compared and studied alongside other images of historic buildings in the Burke Museum Photographic Collection.Rectangular colour photograph printed on photographic paper.Reverse: 3440burke museum, beechworth athenaeum, beechworth library, beechworth historic precinct, robert o'hara burke, australia's oldest regional museum, indigo shire, beechworth athanaeum, beechworth historic building, historic precinct, honey-coloured local granite, victorian gold fields, historic towns in victoria, victoria's high country, colonial australia, beechworth tourism, things to see in beechworth, beechworth historic trail, historic victorian architecture, burke and wills expedition, first europeans to cross australia, young men's associations

This photograph is recorded as having been taken in the North East Victoria Regional Tourist Authority, Wangaratta and depicts an exhibition display of items and interpretative labels associated with the Kelly Gang. The display was reportedly laid out as part of a Vic Tour Stamp, with items from the Burke Museum Collection.This photograph is of social significance due to its connection with the Burke Museum as well as the Kelly Gang. The Kelly Gang story is integral to the formation of the Australian identity and highlights the Irish oppression during the 1880s. Ned Kelly is an Australian icon, mythologised in Australian literature, art, folklore and history, and the Kelly Gang permeates Australia's national consciousness. The significance of the Burke Museum is also highlighted here, as the photograph shows the importance of the Kelly story to the Beechworth area and local identity, as well as its significance within the museum collection. The photograph is of strong research potential due to its depiction of the Kelly Gang history in Australia and its presentation of a historical museum exhibition which toured from Beechworth to other Victorian locations. With a depiction of the exhibition and associated label, the photograph provides insight into how the language and historical interpretation of Kelly Gang has developed, and how cultural and social opinions which are often shaped by exhibition displays, have shifted. Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper.Obverse: Gold Cradle / History / Claim 1835 / The north east is rich in history. It was the home of Ned Kelly, the 'Man from Snowy River' and (???) dog Mogan. Century old buildings are common and (???)nders of the gold rush days are everywhere / V. R. / £8000 Reward / Robbery and Murder / (indeterminate) Reverse: The historical display laid out in VICTOUR / 1997 3135 / North East Victoria/ Regional Tourist Authority/ P.O. Box 250/ Wangaratta. 3577 /BMMA03324burke museum, ned kelly, kelly gang, museum collection, exhibition, display, gallery, museum, exhibit

Feldspathic arenites are sandstones that contain less than 90% quartz, and more feldspar than unstable lithic fragments, and minor accessory minerals.Feldspathic sandstones are commonly immature or sub-mature.These sandstones occur in association with cratonic or stable shelf settings. Feldspathic sandstones are derived from granitic-type, primary crystalline, rocks. If the sandstone is dominantly plagioclase, then it is igneous in origin Sandstone features prominently in public buildings throughout Victoria. Most of the sandstone used as dimension stone in the State came from three sources: the Heatherlie quarry in the Grampians (Silurian), the Bacchus Marsh area (Permian), and the Barrabool Hills near Geelong (Cretaceous).Sandstone features prominently in public buildings throughout Victoria, making this specimen special as it shows the materials used by Victorian building companies. Sandstone can also be crushed, crushed stone is used in the construction of roadways and road structures such as bridges, and in buildings, both commercial and residential. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study. A feldspar-rich sandstone, a sandstone intermediate in composition between an arkosic sandstone and a quartz sandstone, containing 10% to 25% feldspar and less than 20% matrix material of clay, sericite, and chlorite. Feldspathic arenite containing less than 90 percent of the composition of quartz. Feldspar is the main composition. Feldspathic arenite may contain fragments of unstable rock, and a little amount of other minerals such as mica and heavy minerals. Some feldspathic arenite have pink or red color because of the presence of potassium feldspar or iron oxide. There are also colored light gray to white. These sandstones are usually medium to coarse grained and can contain a high percentage of granules with angular until subangular roundness. The content of the matrix can appear as the rest up to more than 15 percent, and sorting of grains can present as moderate to poorly sorted. Feldspathic sandstones are generally immature in textural maturity. Feldspathic arenite can not be judged from the structure of the sediment. Bedding can emerge from the laminate parallel to the crossbed. Fossils may appear in the layer deposited on the sea. Feldspathic arenites usually appear on the craton or the continental shelf, which can be associated with conglomerate, quartz lithic arenite, carbonate rock, or evaporites. This sandstone may also appear on the succession of sedimentary basins deposited on an unstable or deep sea, and moving arc setting. According to Pettijohn (1963) Arkose make up about 15 percent of all sandstones. Some Arkose formed in situ when the granite and related rocks disintegrate and generate granular sediments. Most of the material feldspathic sandstones derived from primary crystalline granitic rocks, such as granite or metasomatic rocks containing abundant potassium feldspar. Mineral contained in sandstones is mostly a form of plagioclase feldspar derived from quartz diorite or volcanic rock. Feldspar contained on this sandstone comes from arid to cool climates when the chemical weathering process is reduced.sandstone, natural stone, feldspathic sandstone, burke museum, geology, geological, geological specimen

Gabo Island sits off the coast of East Gippsland in Victoria, with cliffs of granite in a relatively unique red/pink colour. Early attempts to build a lighthouse on the island were abandoned due to poor foundations, but when a ship ran aground on the nearby Tullaberga Island in 1853 and led to the death of 37 people, efforts were reignited. Construction of a new lighthouse was completed by 1858, using Gabo Island granite. The lighthouse is Australia's second tallest in Australia and continues to play an important role in guiding boats around the coast as they journey between Melbourne and Sydney. The distinct pink colour from the granite means the lighthouse continues to be a defining feature of the island. Gabo Island granite was also used to construct the Treasury Building at 117 Macquarie Street in Sydney, now the Intercontinental Hotel.Granite in the pink colour of this specimen is relatively rare. The connection to the lighthouse on Gabo Island also gives the specimen historic significance and social significance regarding the maritime history of Victoria. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.A solid palm-sized mineral, coloured by flecks of pink, red, and grey. Granite is formed by the slow crystallisation of magma below the earth's surface. It is typically composed of a mix of quartz, feldspar, and other minerals, though syenitic granite like this sample has a smaller amount of quartz than typical granite. This different mineral composition leads to the more distinct pink and red colouring.First sticker: [torn]logical survey / R........ S........ / Loc Gabo Island / 1/4 Sheet / Second Sticker: 15 Third Sticker: Syenitic Graniteburke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, beechworth museum, geological, geological specimen, mineralogy, gabo island, gabo island lighthouse, lighthouse, granite, coast, coastal, granite specimen, victoria, coastal cliffs

This specimen is from Barefoot Hills, Victoria. Sandstones are economically important as major reservoirs for both petroleum and water, as building materials, and as valuable sources of metallic ores. Most significantly, they are the single most useful sedimentary rock type for deciphering Earth history. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.A sedimentary rock composed mostly of quartz sand. Sandstone is the second most common sedimentary rock after shale. Sandstones consist of sand-sized grains principally quartz, feldspar and rock fragments. The two major classes of sandstone are arenite and wacke. the colour of sandstone varies from grey, yellow, red and white reflecting the variation in mineral content and cement and is gritty to touch (like sandpaper).Geological survey / R.... S 61 / Loc Bareboot Hills / Sheet / 24SE / 94 /burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, beechworth museum, geological, geological specimen, mineralogy, sandstone, yellow sandstone, victoria, barefoot hills

This specimen was found in Harcourt, Victoria. Harcourt is a small historic gold rush town located in a valley at the foot of Mount Alexander (741 m) in the Central Highlands of Victoria. In recent times the goldrush origins of the town have been replaced by a district known for apples, cider and wine. The Traditional owners of Harcourt are The Dja Dja Wurrung people. Granodiorite is a coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock similar to granite, but containing more plagioclase feldspar than orthoclase feldspar. Granodiorite has greater than 20% quartz by volume, and between 65% and 90% of the feldspar is plagioclase. This piece is of significance due to its provenance in Harcourt, Vic. Granodiorite is commonly produced in volcanic arcs, and in mountain buildings where it emplaces as large batholiths in mountain roots. Granodiorite is the plutonic equivalent of dacite. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.Granodiorite is a coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock similar to granite, but containing more plagioclase feldspar than orthoclase feldspar. According to the QAPF diagram, granodiorite has a greater than 20% quartz by volume, and between 65% and 90% of the feldspar is plagioclase.GRANDIORITE. / Locality: / Harcourt, Victoria / Other label: Geological survey / R S / Loc Harcourt quarries [?] Alexander / 1/4 Sheet. | 4 | Granite /granodiorite, granite, burke museum, harcourt, coarse-grained, igneous, plagioclase feldspar, orthoclase feldspar, quartz, mount alexander, the dja dja wurrung people, the traditional owners, central highlands of victoria, gold rush

This image shows Bethanga Bridge, which was constructed between 1927 and 1930 in Albury, NSW. The bridge was a necessity due to the building of the Hume Dam (Wier), 1919-1936. Bethanga Bridge is a long, nine-span, riveted-steel, variable depth, Pratt Truss road bridge of nine principal spans of 82 metres and a total length of 752 metres over the flooded valley of the Murray River, now part of Hume Reservoir. Because of its unique location, over the waters of a dam with the border running down the centre of the body of water, the Bethanga bridge is the only built structure shared by both New South Wales and Victoria. It was built 1.6 kilometres upstream of the dam and in 1961 was raised 300mm, with a concrete deck replacing the original wooden deck. The State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria and the New South Wales Department of Public Works were responsible for the construction works for the Hume Weir under the River Murray Waters Agreement. It is apparent that a similar joint arrangement was made for the construction of the Bethanga Bridge as part of the Hume Weir works.This photograph of the Bethanga Bridge is of historical significance as it showcases the architectural skills of Percy Allen and Vincent Packer. Additionally, it reveals the environmental landscape of the 1920s-1930s, is linked to the Hume Dam and both New South Wales and Victorian heritage. Unmounted black and white rectangular photograph. Reverse: 1997.3196 84-20-3bethanga, bethanga bridge, hume dam, pratt truss, murray river, hume weir, transportation

This image shows the Punt (a kind of small boat) that took residents of Bethanga across the Murray River before the Bethanga Bridge was built. Bethanga Bridge was built between 1927 and 1930, and was made a necessity by the building of the Hume Dam. The Hume Dam, formerly known as the Hume Weir, was in construction between 1919 and 1936, which swelled the Murray River into the floodplain to the East of the dam permanently, creating Lake Hume, and isolating the residents of Bethanga and nearby towns, for whom the trip all the way around the new lake to another river crossing was a massive undertaking. The person who wrote on the back of this card instead chose to cross the river on a boat until the Bethanga Bridge became available. Interestingly, partially submerged trees can be seen in the lake in the background of this photograph, illustrating that the dam had already begun to fill the floodplain even before the bridge was built. This photograph shows the methods the residents of Bethanga used while the Bethanga Bridge was being built. This record is associated with the Heritage Listed sites of the Hume Dam and the Bethanga Bridge, and shows the environment during the process of construction and the creation of Lake HumeSepia rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paperReverse: 1997.3189 / 84 -19 -1 / This is the snap of the Punt. / Our only means of getting out / of Bethanga for the present / Until the bridge is completed / it is 2 miles above the junction / of the Mitta + Murray. It is / 1/2 a mile wide + runs across / the Murray into NSW / Kodak Print / bethanga, bethanga bridge, hume, hume dam, artificial lake, lake hume, hume weir, flood, floodplain, boat, punt, weir, pier, dock, transport, transportation

This photograph was taken in the 1960s at Lake Sambell Caravan Park and visible in the photograph are individual caravan sites with electricity outlets, a large single-story building with a caravan park banner, dirt roads, a freestanding message board, and a parked car. Lake Sambell Caravan Park opened in 1959 owing to the work of R.E. Carter, Beechworth Shire engineer from 1954-63. Carter advocated for improvements to the lake and surrounding area in order to encourage tourism in Beechworth. The opening of the caravan park was part of many improvements to Lake Sambell made in this period by Carter including: the swimming pool in 1961, water skiing and boating facilities, and increased lake surface in 1964. These improvements were financed mainly by grants from the Tourist Development Authority. The popularity of caravanning in Australia exploded during this post-war period of the late 1950s and 1960s. This popularity was driven by multiple factors, including: the stopping of fuel rations, the accessibility of car ownership through the manufacturing of affordable cars, technological developments in caravan design, and the increase in prosperity and leisure time for many Australians. Facilities such as electrical outlets to power caravans are present in this photograph of Lake Sambell Caravan Park. Lake Sambell is an artificial lake that was developed on the previous site of the Rocky Mountain Mining Company workings and was officially opened by Minister for Lands, Mr Baily, on October 5, 1928. The disused and unattractive remains of the mine were converted into a recreational area intended for swimming, boating, and fishing. The lake is named after Mr L.H. Sambell, shire engineer and secretary of the Forward Beechworth Committee, who advocated for the enhancement of Beechworth into a tourist destination and was central to the planning and establishment of the lake. This photograph is of historical and social significance in providing insight into caravanning during the 1960s in Australia. Caravanning was extremely popular during the 1960s in Australia due to multiple social and economic factors including the stopping of fuel rations, the accessibility of car ownership through the manufacturing of affordable cars, technological developments in caravan design, and the increase in prosperity and leisure time for many Australians.Black and white rectangle photograph printed on photographic paper and unmounted.Reverse: 3536/ [logo back printing: KODAK/ VELOX/ PAPER] / C798 lake sambell caravan park, lake sambell, caravanning 1960s, caravan park, rocky mountain mining company, kodak velox paper, r.e. carter, l.h. sambell, caravan electricity outlets, tourist development authority, post-war prosperity, forward beechworth committee, lake sambell boating, lake sambell swimming pool, lake sambell fishing, artificial lake, travel 1960s, recreation 1960s

This photograph was taken in the 1960s at Lake Sambell Caravan Park, visible in the photograph are individual caravan sites with electricity outlets, a large single-story building, a parked car, and two caravans partially obstructed by trees. Lake Sambell Caravan Park opened in 1959 owing to the work of R.E. Carter, Beechworth Shire engineer from 1954-63. Carter advocated for improvements to the lake and surrounding area in order to encourage tourism in Beechworth. The opening of the caravan park was part of many improvements to Lake Sambell made in this period by Carter including: the swimming pool in 1961, water skiing and boating facilities, and increased lake surface in 1964. These improvements were financed mainly by grants from the Tourist Development Authority. The popularity of caravanning in Australia exploded during this post-war period of the late 1950s and 1960s. This popularity was driven by multiple factors, including: the stopping of fuel rations, the accessibility of car ownership through the manufacturing of affordable cars, technological developments in caravan design, and the increase in prosperity and leisure time for many Australians. Facilities such as electrical outlets to power caravans are present in this photograph of Lake Sambell Caravan Park. Lake Sambell is an artificial lake that was developed on the previous site of the Rocky Mountain Mining Company workings and was officially opened by Minister for Lands, Mr Baily, on October 5, 1928. The disused and unattractive remains of the mine were converted into a recreational area intended for swimming, boating, and fishing. The lake is named after Mr L.H. Sambell, shire engineer and secretary of the Forward Beechworth Committee, who advocated for the enhancement of Beechworth into a tourist destination and was central to the planning and establishment of the lake. This photograph is of historic and social significance in documenting the enhancement of the Lake Sambell area overseen by R.E. Carter and providing insight into caravanning during the 1960s in Australia. Caravanning was extremely popular in Australia during the late 1950s and 60s due to multiple social and economic factors including the stopping of fuel rations, the accessibility of car ownership through the manufacturing of affordable cars, technological developments in caravan design, and the increase in prosperity and leisure time for many Australians. Black and white rectangle photograph printed on photographic paper and unmounted.Reverse: 3538/ [logo back printing KODAK/ VELOX/ PAPER] / C798lake sambell caravan park, lake sambell, lake sambell 1960s, lake sambell fishing, lake sambell boating, lake sambell swimming pool, r.e. carter, l.h. sambell, tourist development authority, caravanning 1960s, caravan electricity outlets, caravan park, forward beechworth committee, rocky mountain mining company, lake caravan park, caravan mid 20th century, beechworth tourism, travel in the 1960s, holiday 1960s

The photograph depicts two young men standing atop a prominent outcrop at Lake Sambell, with buildings visible on the further shore. The present day park and reserve occupies the site of the former Rocky Mountain Mining Company, an open-cut sluice mine that began operations in the mid-Nineteenth Century and operated until the early 1900s, through the peak of Victoria’s Gold Rush. It was converted into a park and leisure area in the 1920s. Lake Sambell was formally opened to the public on Friday 5th October 1928 and was opened by the Victorian Government’s Minister of Lands, Mr Bailey, as part of initiatives to boost the economies and development of country towns. The lake was named after Mr L.H. Sambell, a shire engineer and secretary of the Forward Beechworth Committee who was involved in promoting the transformation of the mining site and promoting plantation forestry and tourism as alternative industries. £300 to begin the process was provided by Mr J. McConvill, a former resident of Beechworth, who is remembered in a street name adjacent to the lake. An article in the Ovens and Murray Advertiser on Saturday, 5th May, 1917, gives some insight into issues in the Rocky Mountain Mining Company’s final years. The writer details the 1917 annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Mining Company, stating that locals present appeared ‘well pleased this important local industry is in such a prosperous condition and that future prospects are so encouraging’. The author describes plans to give workers a bonus as evidence of profit-sharing that would ‘bridge the gulf between capital and labour’. The article concludes, however, with the statement that ‘there is a little arithmetical puzzle in the report in connection with the dredging operations I have been unable to solve.' The photograph is significant as it contributes to knowledge about how Beechworth reinvented itself after the Gold rush period, and more broadly how country towns repurpose and redevelop infrastructure and facilities to meet the present needs of their population. Sepia rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper. Obverse: nil. Reverse: 3471 / Velox (paper mark)beechworth, beechworth lake, lake sambell, l.h. sambell, mcconvill, rocky mountain mining company, rocky mountain mining co, minister of lands, forward beechworth committee, wallace park-lake sambell development scheme, wallace park lake sambell development scheme, lake, sambell, j. mcconvill, recreation, reserve, park, transformation, repurposed, redeveloped

The photograph is of the Powder Magazine and gorge in Beechworth. The Magazine was built for six hundred and ninety-seven pounds in 1859 by "T Dawson and company." However, the walls were constructed later in 1860 by "Atchison and Lumsden," a different building firm. The Beechworth Magazine was one of many made by the government for the storage of gunpowder. However, the building eventually stopped being used as the mining decreased in the area, finally becoming unsused with the invention of nitro-glycerine compounds. The magazine was created to hold large quantities of gunpowder and much of its design was to hinder the prospective of damage. These safety features included double arched foundations and an arched inner roof, which would move a possible explosion upwards. Also, a process of lighting conductors, ventilation and heavy granite walls were incorporated in the designThe photograph shows historic significance due to its association with the mining era in Beechworth in the late 1800s. The photo shows the Powder Magazine after construction, most likely when it was storing gunpowder during a signifiant time period for the region.Black and white photograph printed on paper.beechworth, powder magazine, gunpowder, mining, beechworth powder magazine, explosives, atchison and lumsden, t dawson and company, gorge, granite, granite building, 1860

Beechworth Town Hall was designed by architects J.J. Coe and Thomas Dalziel and is dated to 1859. The building was made of granite and constructed to local builders Donald and William Fiddes. The original front to the building was replaced by a two story facade in 1889 designed by George Jobbins and built by Thomas Sandham according to a plaque on the front. The Town Hall is remarkable for its vaulted ceilings and columns. Originally the building was used as the Shire Offices but also doubled as a fire station and a courthouse, with still surviving cells underneath. Among the inmates was notorious bushranger Harry Power who was originally transported to Van Dieman’s Land for stealing a pair of shoes. He gained his freedom six years later but spent time in and out of gaol for the rest of his life for a variety of offences including a number of armed robberies. The Town Hall is now home to the Visitor Information Centre which helps visitors with amongst other things, accommodation, tours, event enquiries, and is the commencement point for Precinct walking tours. The Beechworth Town Hall is one of five distinctive granite buildings on Ford Street that comprise the Justice Precinct. It is of considerable historical significance as activity on the site dates from Australia’s gold rush period and was the administrative centre for north-eastern Victoria. The building has seen continual use from 1858 as an important public building and displays many aspects of the history of law enforcement in Victoria. The building is also of substantial architectural significance for its construction from local honey coloured granite, which also showcases early stone masonry techniques and craftsmanship. The Precinct is listed on the Victorian Heritage register and is protected by Heritage Victoria under the Victorian Heritage Act 2017. The buildings are also registered by the National Estate, the National Trust and protected by Indigo Shire Council’s Planning Scheme. Black and White rectangular postcard printed on cardReverse: 1906-1910?beechworth, beechworth town hall, town hall, jj coe, thomas dalziel, granite, beechworth historic building, courthouse, cells, geoge jobbins, thomas sandham, 1859, 1889, walking tours, beechworth historic precinct, historic precinct, harry power, bushranger, australian bushrangers, van dieman's land, transportation, armed robberies

The old Bank of New South Wales building is located on the corner of Camp and Ford streets in Beechworth, Victoria. It was constructed between 1856 and 1857 from local honey coloured granite. It was designed by architects Robertson & Hale and is a two-storey rendered brick building and the original coat of arms is still visible. The coat of arms is distinctive and consists of a kangaroo, emu, lion, and rising sun. The rear of the building was surrounded by high granite walls for security as it was the original home for the local gold office. Beechworth Honey currently offers tourist accommodation in the Hive Apartment located in the former Bank of New South Wales Managers residence.The Bank of New South Wales building in Beechworth is significant for its location in one of Australia's most prominent goldfield towns. Of particular interest is the use of distinctive local Beechworth honey coloured granite in its construction. The building’s architecture is a simple, conservative classical style known as Renaissance Revival. It is one of the few known surviving works of the architects Robertson and Hale. The decorative composition above the main entrance and the counter in the banking chamber are of special interest.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on cardAHold bank of new south wales, bank of new south wales building, beechworth bank of new south wales, bank of nsw, beechworth 1850s, robertson and hale, architects robertson and hale, rendered brick, coat of arms, granite walls, local honey coloured granite, gold office, 1856, 1857, beechworth, beechworth honey, hive apartment, manager's residence, renaissance revival

Taken some time after 1864, these photographs depict the Star Hotel both directly (8674.1) and from the Hotel north west down Ford Street (8674.2). The images depict the building with its modern exterior, having settled for this brick form after several other building designs. The Star Hotel was the first hotel opened in Beechworth, and would go through a series of dramatic changes under its first three owners. The original timber structure was built by W.H. Neuber, though at the time it was only known as ‘The Beechworth Hotel’. The site was later purchased in 1855 by mining entrepreneur, and prolific business owner, John Alston “Six Stars” Wallace. He would go on to extend the established hotel, rebuilding much of it with weatherboard and a shingled roof, adding a two storey structure with a verandah and a theatre capable of supporting 400-500 people, which was often used for international performances. Renamed as the Star Hotel, it was the second in a chain franchise, eventually leading to the “Six Stars” moniker Wallace went by, with hotels at Rutherglen, Chiltern, Yackandandah, Bright, Snake Valley, and of course, Beechworth. Under his ownership, it developed into a popular location for merchants, wayfarers, and locals alike, with the help of his brother Peter as manager. Situated on a road once synonymous with Melbourne to Sydney roadtrips, and the allure of the gold mines, the popularity of the Star drew all manner of clientele from across the country. As such a central hub, the ‘Star Assembly Rooms’ were used as a meeting place for debates, discussions, festivities, and problem solving among the various working sects of the area. These meetings included shareholder discussions for prospecting companies, railway planning, council meetings, and discussions surrounding the interactions between European and Chinese miners, both good and bad. By late 1856, John had the Beechworth at auction through J.H. Grey & Co. It was most likely due to the high profile murder of the manager, Robert Murdoch, during an altercation in relation to a dine and dash event by a Swedish miner, Charles Jansen, who had been ‘excited by drink’ on November 17th. He had refused to pay for his meal and waiter James Mitchell failed to persuade him otherwise. Mitchell, or possibly Murdoch himself, forced him out as tempers and threats escalated. As the photos tell, there are a number of doors which may be entered through, and Jansen used an alternate entrance to access the building. Murdoch was investigating the noise when he encountered the furious man. He was subsequently stabbed with no warning by a small clasp knife, as he tried to stop the intrusion. His exclamations, "I’m stabbed, I’m stabbed!” alerting other occupants, and Jansen was restrained and arrested. Murdoch died the next day from his injuries, with the inquest carried out on the theatre stage. Some 3000 members of the town attended the funeral, and the Star hung black cloth in memory of Robert and his death. Afterwards, an auction caw the property pass to Messrs Robertson and Quirk, though would return shortly thereafter to Six Stars’ portfolio. Six Stars would later sell off his properties from 1862, with the Beechworth Star purchased by 1864 by John Sitch Clark. This allowed Clark to redevelop a significant portion of the Hotel, stripping a central section and constructing the brick structure that survives today, reopening the Star in July that year. It was after this time that our photographs were taken. Clark would later sell the property to Frank Mitchell, shortly before his own death. The next owner, Frederick Allen, lived on the property before the deed was sold to him in the 1880s. He would later sell the property to William Carroll in 1890, with proprietorship eventually moving to Mr. W.H. Porter, and transferring to a Mr. Marendaz by 1913 and Mr. Holly in 1915. Licensing disputes would arise 1917 between Margaret Carroll and a Mrs. McDonald, before it became delicenced some years prior to 1935. It was around this year that the property was bought by Mr. W.J. Pemberton at the meagre price of £500, down from the £13,000 Six Stars originally auctioned it for. It served as a Youth Hostel for a period of time around 1972, and currently the building serves as a private accommodation on the second floor, with shops taking up the ground floor level.These photographs of the Beechworth Star Hotel as they depict a form of Beechworth's first hotel, and also the site of a high profile murder. Two black and white rectangular photographs printed on matte photographic paper.8674.1 (reverse) Beechworth/ 734/ Tanswell’s Hotel [crossed out]/? Old Star/ Hotel,/[small pencil scratching]/ Saunders/ BMM 8674.1 8674.2 (reverse) Beechworth/ 60%[circled]/ Old Star Hotel/Building etc.,/ 12 ½ cm/ 3"[circled, arrows extending horizontally to edges]/[arrows extending top to bottom mid-right of reverse]/ Saunders/ 734[circled]/ BMM 867.2,/ [thin scribbled bordering around top, right, and bottom edges]star hotel, beechworth hotel, john alston wallace, ja wallace, john sitch clark, frederick allen, robert murdoch, meeting place, tragedy, theatre, mining town

Date not confirmed, a farm in the Beechworth Warner property with a farmer overlooking calves, poultry and timber. This photograph depicts the farming and agriculture industry in Beechworth. The property, known as Daintree Stud or the Warner property, was formed a part of the town on Beechworth, Victoria. Beechworth became famous in the 19th century from a short- lived gold-rush. The town grew to the extent of building a hospital and mental hospital, court house, hotels, convent, and prison. During this time, the industrial growth of Beechworth was significant, seeing a rise in practices including tanning, cobbling, blacksmithing, and the selling of livestock. This photograph perhaps reveals a small degree of insight into the livestock business.Black and white rectangular photograph on matte photographic paper, unmountedReverse: 5896/ BMM 8093-1farm, agriculture, farming and agriculture, beechworth, beechworth farm, industry

A granular metamorphic rock, marble is derived from limestone or dolomite and composed of calcite or dolomite interlocking grains. Heat and pressure from overlying sediments form it from limestone buried deep in Earth's crust. Graphite, pyrite, quartz, mica, and iron oxides can affect rock texture and colour. This specimen was found in Carrara, Italy. Carrara marble is the most common marble found in Italy, and it gets its name from the region where it is located. The marble was also called Luna marble and was used as a decorative element in buildings and sculptures. It has been quarried since Roman times in the Lunigiana, the northernmost tip of Tuscany, just outside the city of Carrara in the province of Massa and Carrara.Marble is one of the most popular and expensive rocks used in sculpture, architecture, interior decorations, statues, table tops, and novelties. It is available in various colors and textures depending on the chemical composition. The strength of the rock and its ability to hold finer details have made it a favorite among designers. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.A solid hand sized Marble (metamorphic rock) predominantly white with specks light grey and ochre geological specimen, geology, geology collection, burke museum, beechworth, marble, carrara marble, italian marble, marble specimen, tuscany

Laterite refers to both a rock and a soil type that is rich in clay, as well as Iron and Aluminium. It is created during a process that is called laterization, where high heat and seasonal heavy rainfall cause there to be wet and dry periods, which over time hardens the soil into rock. Because of this, most laterite is formed between tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. The iron oxide in laterite is what gives it it’s orange-red colouring. The largest religious complex in the world, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, is partially constructed of laterite, particularly its foundations, as laterite is porous and allows rainwater to drain. This specimen of laterite was collected from the Democratic Republic of Congo while it was colonised by Belgium in the 19th century. Laterite forms in many parts of the world, particularly between the tropics. It is used both for ore and as a building material, and comparing specimens from different parts of the world allows us to document the different compositions that this mineral can have when formed at different locations. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.a palm-sized solid iron-aluminium oxide mineral specimen in shades of brown, orange and greyburke museum, beechworth, geological, geological specimen, laterite, laterite specimen, geology

Beechworth's Anglican Church, Christ Church St Peter and St Paul, has served the Beechworth community since 1858 in its present form, following its beginnings in a tent in 1855. The Victorian branch of the National Trust classified the building as regionally significant in 1959 and the organ as of significance to the nation in 1992. Building a place for Anglican worship was a priority in the early days of Beechworth's settlement as the town was a site of regional administration due to its association with the economic and social expansion of Victoria during the Gold Rush period. The Church garden features several significant trees monitored by the Beechworth Treescape Group, including a cork oak growing near the Ford Street entrance, an Atlantic cedar, a bunya or bunya-bunya pine and two kurrajongs. Some of these long-established trees may be visible in this lantern-slide image. Lantern slides, sometimes called 'magic lantern' slides, are glass plates on which an image has been secured for the purpose of projection. Glass slides were etched or hand-painted for this purpose from the Eighteenth Century but the process became more popular and accessible to the public with the development of photographic-emulsion slides used with a 'Magic Lantern' device in the mid-Nineteenth Century. Photographic lantern slides comprise a double-negative emulsion layer (forming a positive image) between thin glass plates that are bound together. A number of processes existed to form and bind the emulsion layer to the base plate, including the albumen, wet plate collodion, gelatine dry plate and woodburytype techniques. Lantern slides and magic lantern technologies are seen as foundational precursors to the development of modern photography and film-making techniques.This glass slide is significant because it provides insight into Beechworth's social amenities and religious infrastructure in the late Nineteenth Century. It is also an example of an early photographic and film-making technology in use in regional Victoria in the time period.Thin translucent sheet of glass with a square image printed on the front and framed in a black backing. It is held together by metals strips to secure the edges of the slide.Obverse: 1 /beechworth, lantern slide, slide, glass slide, plate, burke museum collection, photograph, monochrome, christ church, indigo shire, north-east victoria, churches, architecture, anglican, religion, atlantic cedar, organ, magic lantern, christ church st peter and st paul, beechworth treescape group, cork oak, bunya pine, bunya bunya, kurrajong, quercus suber, cedrus atlantica f. glauca, araucaria bidwillii, brachychiton populneus

This image shows the gorge adjacent to Beechworth in approximately 1900. Although the exact location of the photograph is yet to be determined, the present-day Beechworth Gorge Walk includes views of the Cascades at the point at which Spring Creek flows into the valley on the level below. Gold-sluicing techniques in use in the town during periods of active gold extraction may have altered the landscape since the photograph was taken, however. In the 1850s a mill was built at the top of the Spring Creek falls by Russian-born Louis Chevalier, brother of artist Nicholas Chevalier. The mill supplied the town with lumber that supported the town's initial construction boom. Lantern slides, sometimes called 'magic lantern' slides, are glass plates on which an image has been secured for the purpose of projection. Glass slides were etched or hand-painted for this purpose from the Eighteenth Century but the process became more popular and accessible to the public with the development of photographic-emulsion slides used with a 'Magic Lantern' device in the mid-Nineteenth Century. Photographic lantern slides comprise a double-negative emulsion layer (forming a positive image) between thin glass plates that are bound together. A number of processes existed to form and bind the emulsion layer to the base plate, including the albumen, wet plate collodion, gelatine dry plate and woodburytype techniques. Lantern slides and magic lantern technologies are seen as foundational precursors to the development of modern photography and film-making techniques.This glass slide is significant because it provides insight into Beechworth's built environment and natural landscape in the early Twentieth Century, around the time of Australia's Federation. It is also an example of an early photographic and film-making technology in use in regional Victoria in the time period.Thin translucent sheet of glass with a square image printed on the front and framed in a black backing. It is held together by metals strips to secure the edges of the slide.burke museum, beechworth, lantern slide, slide, glass slide, plate, burke museum collection, photograph, monochrome, indigo shire, north-east victoria, spring creek falls, beechworth gorge, louis chevalier, nicholas chevalier, lumber industry, timber industry, 1850s, construction, building, mill, mills, waterfall

This image shows six older Chinese men standing in a row with two younger non-Chinese men outside a small wooden business or official building in the Beechworth region, circa 1900. The two non-Chinese men are wearing clothes of the period that indicate relative prosperity (such as three piece suits, top hats, and a pocket handkerchief), whereas most of the Chinese men are wearing Western-style working clothes of the era. One Chinese man at the far right of the image is wearing similar garments to the non-Chinese men, including a bowler hat and longer, more tailored suit jacket. Chinese miners were a significant cultural group in Beechworth's gold rush period. Carole Woods' history of Beechworth, 'A Titan's Field', details that there were approximately 60 Chinese people in the area in 1855, more than 1000 in 1856 and 4700 (a quarter of the population) in 1857, despite the introduction in 1855 of official policies such as additional taxes formulated by the Victorian Government to limit access by Chinese immigrants. Most Chinese miners in the region came from southern China and had formerly worked as merchants, mechanics, farmers and shop-keepers. Chinese people were subjected to a 'protectorate' system, ostensibly to minimise the potential for conflict with other groups; this system required Chinese people to live in designated 'hygienic' camps with paid Chinese headmen who supervised the village and enforced the protectorate's rules. Chinese people were required to purchase an annual protection ticket to fund this system. The protectorate system was abolished in 1861, before this image was taken in approximately 1900, but it may still provide insight into social stratification or relationships between and within cultural groups in Beechworth resulting from such practices. Lantern slides, sometimes called 'magic lantern' slides, are glass plates on which an image has been secured for the purpose of projection. Glass slides were etched or hand-painted for this purpose from the Eighteenth Century but the process became more popular and accessible to the public with the development of photographic-emulsion slides used with a 'Magic Lantern' device in the mid-Nineteenth Century. Photographic lantern slides comprise a double-negative emulsion layer (forming a positive image) between thin glass plates that are bound together. A number of processes existed to form and bind the emulsion layer to the base plate, including the albumen, wet plate collodion, gelatine dry plate and Woodburytype techniques. Lantern slides and magic lantern technologies are seen as foundational precursors to the development of modern photography and film-making techniques.This glass slide is significant because it provides insight into Beechworth's cultural and social relationships in the early Twentieth Century, in particular the experiences of Chinese miners. It is also an example of an early photographic and film-making technology in use in regional Victoria in the time period.Thin translucent sheet of glass with a circular image printed on the front and framed in a black backing. It is held together by metals strips to secure the edges of the slide.burke museum, beechworth, lantern slide, slide, glass slide, plate, burke museum collection, photograph, monochrome, magic lantern, indigo shire, north-east victoria, nineteenth century, 1900s, twentieth century, emulsion slides, chinese, chinese miners, protectorate system, protection licence, immigration, racism, classism, social groups, cultural groups, taxes, hygiene camps

This image shows a semi-aerial view of commercial and official properties lining Ford Street, Beechworth, in approximately 1900. The tower of Christ Church of St Peter and St Paul can be seen in the middle section of the photograph, on the left-hand side of the street. The Church was constructed in 1858 with the tower added to the structure in 1864. Lantern slides, sometimes called 'magic lantern' slides, are glass plates on which an image has been secured for the purpose of projection. Glass slides were etched or hand-painted for this purpose from the Eighteenth Century but the process became more popular and accessible to the public with the development of photographic-emulsion slides used with a 'Magic Lantern' device in the mid-Nineteenth Century. Photographic lantern slides comprise a double-negative emulsion layer (forming a positive image) between thin glass plates that are bound together. A number of processes existed to form and bind the emulsion layer to the base plate, including the albumen, wet plate collodion, gelatine dry plate and woodburytype techniques. Lantern slides and magic lantern technologies are seen as foundational precursors to the development of modern photography and film-making techniques.This glass slide is significant because it provides insight into Beechworth's built environment and commercial and official infrastructure in the early Twentieth Century, around the time of Australia's Federation into one nation. It is also an example of an early photographic and film-making technology in use in regional Victoria in the time period.Thin translucent sheet of glass with a square image printed on the front and framed in a black backing. It is held together by metals strips to secure the edges of the slide.burke museum, beechworth, lantern slide, slide, glass slide, plate, burke museum collection, photograph, monochrome, ford street, christ church of st peter and st paul, church tower, landmarks, 1900, shopping facilities, public buildings, 1900s, built environment, streetscape

This glass slide captures a scene from a male hospital ward at Mayday Hills Mental Asylum. Also known as the Beechworth Lunatic Asylum, Mayday Hills was officially opened on the twenty-fourth of October 1867 and was commissioned following lobbying from Beechworth Municipal Council concerning a need for better living conditions for individuals confined to the town's gaol. These individuals, as well as many others who were brought from surrounding institutions, exhibited behaviours that were deemed to be unfit for mainstream society. At its peak, the asylum consisted of sixty-seven buildings and housed over twelve-hundred patients and five-hundred staff. At the time of Australian Federation in 1901 - just a year after this photograph was taken - the patient population numbered six-hundred and seventy-four. The asylum was officially closed in 1996. It is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register as being architecturally significant. The extensive complex of buildings are examples of Italianate-style, which is strongly associated with asylums of the 1860s - the period in which construction of this particular asylum began. Today the asylum offers tours to visitors, including daytime history tours and night-time ghost tours. Lantern slides, sometimes called 'magic lantern' slides, are glass plates on which an image has been secured for the purpose of projection. Glass slides were etched or hand-painted for this purpose from the Eighteenth Century but the process became more popular and accessible to the public with the development of photographic-emulsion slides used with a 'Magic Lantern' device in the mid-Nineteenth Century. Photographic lantern slides comprise a double-negative emulsion layer (forming a positive image) between thin glass plates that are bound together. A number of processes existed to form and bind the emulsion layer to the base plate, including the albumen, wet plate collodion, gelatine dry plate and woodburytype techniques. Lantern slides and magic lantern technologies are seen as foundational precursors to the development of modern photography and film-making techniques.This glass slide is socially and historically significant as it is representative of the lives of the nurses and patients at Beechworth Mayday Hills Asylum in the early twentieth century. It is also historically significant as it is representative of the changing style of treatments and attitudes towards mental illness. Thin translucent sheet of glass with a circular image printed on the front and framed in a black backing. It is held together by metal strips to secure the edges of the slide.Obverse: h /lantern slide, slide, glass slide, plate, burke museum collection, photograph, monochrome, mayday hills, mayday hills hospital, mayday hills asylum, beechworth lunatic asylum, beechworth mental asylum, psychiatric hostpital, beechworth, burke museum, beechworth municipal council, beechworth patients, psychiatric patients, victorian heritage register, 1900, 1900 mayday hills, italianate style, 19th century asylums, asylums victoria, male ward mayday hills