This photograph shows men working on cutting marble at South Buchan for Australia House in London. In the early 1900s black marble was being mined in the Bruthen district. Some was used for the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and Australia House in London. 900 tonnes were shipped to London to be included in the construction of Australia House. DESCRIPTIONA paper covered booklet which is a pictorial souvenir Of Australia House in London. Pictures show Buchan marble features of the building.SIZE H-266mm W-192mm OBJECT REGISTRATION654KEYWORDSbuchan-marble australia-houseHISTORICAL INFORMATIONAustralia House is the oldest Australian diplomatic mission and it is the longest continuously occupied foreign mission in London. King George V laid the building’s first foundation stone in 1913 but it was not until August 1918 that he officially opened the completed building. The stringencies of World War I – principally shipping difficulties and labour shortages – had delayed construction considerably. Federation of the six Australian states formally took place on 1 January 1901 but it was not until 1906 that the Federal Government sent an Official Secretary to London to represent Australia. In the intervening years Australia was represented by State Agents-General, the first of whom was the Agent-General of Victoria. The building is significant for its unique design, Beaux Arts style and the materials used in its construction.Marble quarrying has been a significant part of the history of Buchan in East Gippsland. Its inclusion in Australia House in London and the shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne is noteworthy.A small black / white photograph of men in the background of a marble quarry. There is also a copy.on back - " Cutting Australian Home Marble at Sth Buchan"buchan-marble geology australia-house

In the early 1900s black marble was being mined in the Bruthen district. Some was used for the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and Australia House in London. 900 tonnes were shipped to London to be included in the construction of Australia House.Marble quarrying has been a significant part of the history of Buchan in East Gippsland. Its inclusion in the Shrine of Remembrance War Memorial and Australia House in London is noteworthy.A large black / white photograph of men working in a marble quarry.buchan-marble geology shrine-of-remembrance australia-house-london

Mary Lynch was the daughter of Matthew and Mary (nee Loorham) Lynch. She became Mrs Ivell. she was a noted horse-woman having ridden the Nixon Bros hack, "Gold Dust" at the Melbourne Show coming first in the 10 stone hack and first in the Eagley Hunting Contest. (info. Mary Gilbert) Horse racing was a popular past-time in early Orbost. The Nixon family was involved through Keith Nixon. Some of the earliest horse races were held on a course in a paddock belonging to Mr James Cowell at Jarrahmond. For a long time horse races were part of the Marlo Picnic Races.This item is connected to an activity once popular in the Orbost district. The Nixon family were prominent early settlers in the Orbost district.A black / white photograph of a lady dressed in a a tailored hip coat, bowler hat, knee breeches and boots. She is holding the reins of a saddled horse. There is a copy.on front at top - " 1st 10st hack - 19 entries 1st "EAGLEY" Hunting Contest - 22 entries. Still the only horse to win the double." on front at bottom - " MELBOURNE SHOW 1918 "GOLD DUST" owned by Nixon Bros ridden by Miss MARY LYNCH"lynch-mary nixon-bros-horses equestrian melbourne-show gold-dust

The two boys in this photograph are Stanley (7) and Maurice (5) Kelly. The two boys were lost in the bush near Orbost for three days. The had been sent by their mother, Mrs Parker, to borrow tea and sugar from a neighbour but became lost on the way home. They were found, scratched and with clothes torn, by a woodcutter, Mr W. Morell. There was a newspaper article on the front page of the Adelaide Mail , Saturday 22 July 1933,This photograph is linked with an event in Orbost's history.A small black / white photograph / postacrd of two small boys standing side by side in a paddock.on back - "The Kelly Kids, lost near L. Curlip"kelly-maurice kelly-stanley

This photograph shows Buchan marble being transported by horse and wagon to Nowa Nowa Railway Station. Lnidsay Cameron is the driver on the right. In the background is the Commercial Store of T. L. Sherrington, General Merchant, Bruthen. In the early 1900s black marble was being mined in the Bruthen district. Some was used for the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and Australia House in London. 900 tonnes were shipped to London to be included in the construction of Australia House. Marble quarrying has been a significant part of the history of Buchan in East Gippsland. Its inclusion in the Shrine of Remembrance War Memorial and Australia House in London is noteworthy.A black / white photograph on a grey buff card. it is of four horse drawn wagons in front of a general store - "T L Sherrington General Merchant". There are five men standing on the trays and a man in a suit and hat holding a Gladstone bag is standing front left. a dog is lying on the ground between the wagons. The wagons are carrying large slabs of marble.on back - " Marble passing through Bruthen on way to railway"buchan-marble geology cameron-lindsay transport-rail transport-horse-drawn

Tonghi Creek is 66km north - west of Orbost. Prior to the sealing of the Princes Highway west of Orbost, the road surface was anything but good, even by C1917 when cars started to use the road. From Orbost the old road via Marlo to Sydenham was abandoned for the new location which traversed more rugged country via Cabbage Tree, Bell Bird and Club Terrace to Cann River, and the reason for this diversion was on account of settlements being established at Murrungowar and Club Terrace, at which latter place there was a temporary rush to obtain gold. This road was constructed by the Public Works department and a maximum grade of 1 in 19 was adopted, and as speed was not to be catered for the grade followed in and out round the spurs and gullies, resulting in a maze of turns and twists which required a good deal of skill on the part of the horse driver to negotiate." - Bairnsdale Advertiser, Friday, May 2, 1947. (More information from Newsletter February 2010)This item is a pictorial record of roads in the early 20th century in East Gippsland.A large black / white photograph of a bridge over a small creek, surrounded by bush. The photograph is mounted on a thick cream coloured card.on back - "Bridge at Tonghi Creek 1918"tonghi-creek-bridge country-roads-east-gippsland

This photograph is of the construction of the first road bridge over the Genoa River - 1915. Before today's timber truss and concrete bridge was constructed between 1926-1928 by contractor J.T. Noble Anderson, two earlier bridges crossed the Genoa River at this location. They provided crucial links in the Princes Highway route from Melbourne to Sydney. The letter on the back of the postcard was written by Gordon ? to Alex ? on 2nd October 1917. "this represents the opening of Genoa Bridge. Mrs Alexander cutting the ribbon and Mr Martin holding it at the other side. Did most of the speaking. The gent holding the roll of paper is who came to open the bridge. I can't think of his name. Hubert is standing up at the right / Gordon " This is a pictorial record associated with the history of Genoa in East Gippsland.1100 -A large black / white photograph on a cream coloured buff card. It is of an unfinished bridge with men working there. A small rowboat can be seen on the far side of the river. 1100.1 - A photograph / postcard of the opening of "Genoa Bridge 1917". There is a ribbon stretched across the timber decking road in front of a group of people. 1100.2 - A black / white photograph of a road bridge across a river.on back - "Princes Highway - the 1st bridge over the Genoa River - 1915" on back of 1100.1 is a hand-written letter.genoa-bridge princes-highway-east-gippsland

By 1905 there was an Orbost Bicycle Club. E. Donchi was a member and was a successful competitor around 1927. It is likely that the Orbost Cycling Club disbanded during WWI, and evidence from the Snowy River Mail is that it reformed again in 1945. There is no doubt that bikes were a dominant form of personal transport until the 1960s when cars ownership became more common, although children still rode to school. As far as theOrbost Cycling Club was concerned, the golden years were from 1945 to 1950. (information Newsletter August 2018 - Geoff & Lee Stevenson)This item is associated with a popular recreational activity in early Orbost. The period between the First World War and the 1950s was the heyday of cycling. After 1900 the efficient mass production of standardized safe bicycles, as well as the wider availability of second-hand bicycles, caused rapidly dropping prices and it was therefore easier for people to purchase a bicycle not only for utilitarian use but for racing. A small black / white photograph of a young man on a racing bike. It is on an unsealed road in a forest. on back - "E. Donchi, Cyclist, Orbost"donchi cycling-orbost recreation

This is the Dalgety bridge across the Snowy River. It is a steel construction.The first bridge over the river was constructed in 1888. There was a punt across the river before the bridge was built . Dalgety is a small service centre, located on the Snowy River approximately 235 km from Orbost. It was an early consideration for the site of Australia,s capital city. The Dalgety Bridge over the Snowy River has been an important item of infrastructure in the history of New South Wales for over 110 years. It was designed by noted bridge engineer J. A. McDonald,and was a technically sophisticated bridge structure for its time. This is a pictorial record of a significant structure on the Snowy River.A small black / white photograph of a large bridge over a river.bridge-dalgety-snowy-river

Back Lake track is near Metung, East Gippsland.This is a pictorial record of the Gippsland Lakes in the early 20th century.A black / white postcard photograph of a beach scene. Small groups of people are standing on a vegetated sand dune overlooking the water. on front - " Gippsland Lakes via Bairnsdale - the Back Lakes, S. Vogt"gippsland-lakes back-lake-bairnsdale

This bridge was built in the 1920s as a road and rail bridge, and was partly washed away by flood waters in 1934. After the end of the first World War the Victorian Railways considered an extension of the railhead across the river at Orbost, and in 1922 a new timber and steel girder structure, a joint Country Roads Board — Victorian Railways venture, was built and completed at a cost of £41,000 (the steel girders came from the Flinders Street viaduct reconstruction). Subsequently it was decided not to take the railway across the river, and the bridge has only been used by road traffic. This is a pictorial record of an early bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost.A large black / white photograph of the Orbost Snowy River bridge. There is a large copy as well as a postcard copy in sepia.on front - Snowy River Bridge Orbost H.D. Bulmer - photo - Lake Tyers.snowy-river-bridge-orbost

Orbost has been subject to major floods throughout its history, such as those which left the town isolated in 1934, 1952, 1971 and 1978. It is recorded that the Snowy River broke its banks and flooded the flats 104 times between 1884 and 1978. Extensive flooding in Eastern Victoria during June 1978, caused widespread damage to roads, road closures and hazards to traffic, particularly over the Queen's Birthday holiday weekend.This is a pictorial record of a significant event in Orbost's history.A very faded black / white photograph of flood water under the railway viaduct at watt's Gulch.orbost-flood-1934 railway-viaduct-orbost

The photograph shows Mrs James Cameron cutting the ribbon at the opening of the Orbost Pile Bridge in 1922. The first bridge was officially opened in August, 1893 (ref. S.R.M. 12.8.1893) by Mrs W. Watt, the mother of Councillor Watt, who presided over the opening of the 1922 bridge. This bridge was extensively damaged when a herd of cattle allegedly stampeded over it causing the cable to snap. Even after repairs it became obvious that a new bridge was needed. This second bridge, was built by the Victorian Railways and the Country Roads Board. Constructed at a cost of 35,000 pounds and used second-hand girders from the Flinders Street- Spencer Street viaduct. On July 4 1922 it was officially opened by Mrs James Cameron. Unfortunately, her husband, who had long championed the building of the bridge so that it would be ready for the railway to continue to the border, was too ill to attend the ceremony. In fact, James Cameron died on July 13 after a long and severe illness (ref. S.R.M. 20.7.1922). There is a section of this ribbon in the collection - Registration No. 366.This item is a pictorial record of a significant event in Orbost's history.A black / white photograph of a lady standing up in a motor vehicle cutting a ceremonial ribbonsnowy-river-bridge-orbost cameron-mrs ceremonies

Damage estimated at £500,000 was caused by the 1934 floods in the Orbost district. This 1934 flood was devastating, destroying a section of the 1922 Orbost bridge, wrecking fences, bridges and roads, dumping silt and debris on the rich river flats and drowning cattle. This photograph shows Lochiel Lagoon ( the billabong) in the foreground. Ten minutes after this photograph was taken, the centre span of the Orbost Bridge was washed away.This item is a pictorial record of the 1934 floods, a significant part of Orbost's history.A black / white photograph of swirling floodwaters with township in the background.orbost-floods-1934 natural-disasters-floods

Damage estimated at £500,000 was caused by the 1934 floods in the Orbost district. This 1934 flood was devastating, destroying a section of the 1922 Orbost bridge, wrecking fences, bridges and roads, dumping silt and debris on the rich river flats and drowning cattle. The centre span of the Orbost Bridge was washed away. This item is a pictorial record of the 1934 floods, a significant part of Orbost's history.A black / white photograph showing the flood damage to the Snowy River Bridge. There is a gap in the bridge where the centre span has been washed away. In the background is a punt.orbost-floods-1934 natural-disasters-floods snowy-river-bridge

After the flood damage of 1934, the bridge was repaired with a new section in the middle. This bridge remained largely unchanged until its final demolition in 1975 after construction of the new concrete bridge and Orbost by-pass which exists today. This photograph is one of a collection of photographs produced by Murray Views, Gympie. It features eight scenic b/w photographic prints of Orbost and surrounding tourist areas.Photographs like these allowed tourists to send many images of their holiday destination or hometown in the one small package. Fred Murray opened Murray Studios in Gympie in 1906. The postcard and souvenir production side of the business initially covered Gympie and surrounding regions, but Murray expanded the business to include North Queensland, New South Wales and even Adelaide. It was opened under a separate name, Murray Views, in 1929. In 1945 the business was taken over by Murray’s nephews who began postcard folder production. This is a pictorial record of an early bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost.A black / white photograph / postcard of the Snowy River Bridge at Orbost.on front bottom printed - Murray Views No.4 Traffic Bridge , Snowy River, Orbost, Vic.orbost-snowy-river-bridge

This photograph shows the floodwaters during the 1971 flood at Orbost. The two mahogany trees in the photograph stopped the Snowy River from changing its course. The 1971 flood was the the worst flood on record. At Jarrahmond it was at least 11 metres and up to one and a half kilometres wide on the flats causing enormous damage to the flood plain. Records say that "The brown floodwater stain in Bass Strait could be seen from passing airliners." Considerable damage was done to railway infrastructure, roads and farms. More information from the APRIL, 2008 newsletter by John Phillips. (see orbosthistory.com.au)This is a pictorial record of a significant event in the history of floods in Orbost.A black / white photograph of raging floodwaters at the bottom of the Orbost township.orbost-flood-1971

This bridge over the Snowy River was opened on July 4 1922. It was constructed in 1922 alongside the previous suspension bridge. Its building was a combined effort of the Victorian Railways and the Country Roads Board at a cost of 35,000 pounds. It was replaced in 1976 by the present bridge after several major floods. This photograph shows people walking over the bridge for the last time.This is a pictorial record of the former Snowy River Bridge at Orbost.A black / white photograph showing a group of people walking across a bridge. There are several cars, a man on a horse and people standing on the side of the roadway.on back - "1976 - old bridge"snowy-river-bridge-1976

This photograph shows the second major bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost. The current Snowy River bridge is the fourth to provide a crossing to the township of Orbost. The first, in 1891, lasted just two years before it succumbed to flood waters. The bridge in this photograph was built in the 1920s as a road and rail bridge, and was again partly washed away by flood waters in 1934. After the end of the first World War the Victorian Railways considered an extension of the railhead across the river at Orbost, and in 1922 a new timber and steel girder structure, a joint Country Roads Board — Victorian Railways venture, was built and completed at a cost of £41,000 (the steel girders came from the Flinders Street viaduct reconstruction). Subsequently it was decided not to take the railway across the river, and the bridge was only used by road traffic. It was severely battered by floods during its life. and after the devastating 1971 floods was eventually replaced by the current bridge in 1975. (info from Newletter 54N by John Phillips)This is a pictorial record of the flood damage in 1971 when part of the Snowy River Bridge was washed away.A black / white photograph of a bridge which has been damaged by floodwaters. It shows one end has been washed away.orbost-snowy-river-bridge-1971 floods-orbost-1971

A black / white photograph / postcard of the inside of a limestone cave. It shows stalagtites and stalagmites.on front - "Font of the Gods, Royal Cave, Buchan.'"buchan-caves royal-cave-buchan limestone-formations

A black / white photograph of a bush scene with a creek and what might be a bridge in background.creek river bush-scene

Ruston & Hornsby, later known as Ruston, was an industrial equipment manufacturer in Lincoln, England, the company's history going back to 1840. The company is best known as a manufacturer of narrow and standard gauge diesel locomotives and steam shovels. This machine is probably a drag line excavator.This photograph records early an early type of excavator used to construct drainage channels in rural Victoria.A black / white photograph / postcard of a man digging in a very large trench, probably a drainage channel, with an earth mover in the background. The machine has the name "RUSTON" on it.drainage-channel earth-moving-machinery

Ruston & Hornsby, later known as Ruston, was an industrial equipment manufacturer in Lincoln, England, the company's history going back to 1840. The company is best known as a manufacturer of narrow and standard gauge diesel locomotives and steam shovels. This photograph records early an early type of excavator used to construct drainage channels in rural Victoria.A black / white photograph / postcard of a man digging in a very large trench, probably a drainage channel, with an earth mover in the background. The machine has the name "RUSTON" on it.drainage-channel earth-moving-machinery

Ruston & Hornsby, later known as Ruston, was an industrial equipment manufacturer in Lincoln, England, the company's history going back to 1840. The company is best known as a manufacturer of narrow and standard gauge diesel locomotives and steam shovels. This photograph records early an early type of excavator used to construct drainage channels in rural Victoria.A black / white photograph / postcard of a man digging in a very large trench, probably a drainage channel, with an earth mover in the background. The machine has the name "RUSTON" on it. In the foreground is a man, dressed in a long dark coat, watching.agricultural-machinery drainage-channels ruston

There is no information with this item.A black / white photograph of four men - three standing and one sitting in a half built wooden hut. It is overlooking a forested gully and a mine shaft.mining

The potato was grown at Fred Mundy's farm, Orbost.This photograph is a reflection of social life in the first half of the 20th century. It is a whimsical, fun photograph.A black / white photograph of a potato which has been dressed as a doll.on back - "Farquhar" on front - "Potato grown at Fred Mundy's"

Maize,has been grown on the Orbost flats for at least 70 years. When early settlers began to arrive on the Snowy River somewhere in the 1880s, the land was mostly swamps and heavily timbered jungle on the river frontages. The swamps were drained, bit by bit, by men with short handled shovels and working in mud and water. The frontages were cleared by axe and shovel and fire. Several kinds of crops were experimented with such as hops, hemp and maize, the latter grew particularly well and became the main crop of district. The problem then was to thresh and deliver the product to the market. A small single cob machine was brought here and one man turned the handle, while the boy or Mum fed the cobs singly into the machine. A good day’s work would thresh about 50 bushels or about 12 bags (4 bushels). The task then was to cart the maize to market. For a few years this was done by horses and dray carrying about 60 bushels to Mossiface, where it was loaded onto river boats to Lakes Entrance, and then by ocean boats to Melbourne. Later it was taken to Bairnsdale by foot and loaded onto the trains to Melbourne. (more information in Newsletter October 2006) This crib, measuring seven chains, sixteen feet, contained 10,000 bags of maize cobs which were grown by Linc Timmons on Peter Irvine's farm (Fairlea?) in Orbost, East Gippsland. The growing of maize in the Orbost district contributed significantly to the economy of the township for many years, The many maize cribs once seen on the surrounding farms have now disappeared and this photograph is a pictorial record of that significance.A black / white photograph of a large maize crib full of maize in a paddock. There is a large framed copy of the original.agriculture-orbost farming-maize-orbost maize-crib-orbost

There are records of members of the Helmers family attending Bendoc State School. George Helmers was a prospector who mined all the gold from the dry gullies that ran into Bendoc. George was born in 1866, in Bombala, New South Wales, Australia. He was married to Euphemia Lock, born on October 19 1870, in Bendoc Upper, Victoria, Australia.This photograph is associated with early settlers of Bendoc, East Gippsland.A large black / white photograph of a man standing in front of a wooden cottage. there is a horse beside him, a woman standing on a verandah in the background and on the left is a clothes line with what seem to be nappies pegged out. There is also a copy of the original. on back - "George Helmers, Errinundra"helmers-george-bendoc

This is a pictorial record of Buchan in the first half of the 20th century.A black / white photograph / postcard of a township in a valley. The photograph has been taken from a distance.on front - A Distant View of Buchanbuchan

Ian and Jean McDonald were the children of Mr and Mrs Norman McDonald of 42 Gladstone Street, Orbost. This photograph was taken in late January, 1919 on Jean's first day at school.. It was taken at the home of John Rowe, the former headmaster of Orbost Primary School. He was then living opposite the school. Norman Alexander McDonald was a book-keeper at Macarthur‟s and was very musical. He was proprietor of the Capitol Cafe, Nicholson Street, Orbost, selling the business to Mr Coad on 4th December 1947. This photograph record an important event in the life of an Orbost family in the early 20th century.A black / white photograph of two young children, a boy and a girl, sitting on the verandah of a house.mcdonald-ian mcdonald-jean education-orbost