In 1899, British soldiers and sailors were in South Africa fighting the second Boer War which lasted from 1899 to 1902. Queen Victoria was concerned about the morale of her army and navy and wanted to do something to lift their spirits. She would send chocolate to all of her army and navy serving in South Africa (including Australian contingents) as a Christmas/New Year gift in 1899/1900. The chocolate manufacturer, Cadbury, which since around 1854 had a Royal Warrant to supply Queen Victoria with cocoa and chocolate, was contacted and requested to produce the royal bars of chocolate, each with its own individual tin. This put Richard and George Cadbury in a dilemma because, as Quakers, they were pacifists and did not agree with the war. However they did not want to refuse a request from the Queen. To prevent their confectionery rivals from accusing them of going against their principles, their solution was to invite fellow Quakers, Joseph Fry and Joseph Rowntree to form a temporary three-way partnership to complete the order. Forty thousand tins, designed and made by Fry, were produced in two different sizes. The larger of the tins (15 x 9 cm) has a gold coloured rim around the edge of the lid and contained two layers of chocolate. The slightly smaller or rather thinner tin (16 x 8 cm) has a blue rim around the edge of the lid and contained one layer of chocolate. The design of the lid of both sizes is the same. It was decided by all three companies, that the tins would carry no brand name. However Queen Victoria was not amused by this decision; she wanted her army and navy to know that she was sending them quality British chocolate. As a compromise, the Cadbury name appeared on interior packaging of the chocolate. The tins remained unbranded. The empty tins had a more sombre use for for men killed in action. The tins, containing their few personal belongings, were sent home to the next of kin. The tins were not large and may have contained items such as medals, talismans, coins, jewellery, photos, letters and dog tags.Sheet metal tin with hinged lid. In the middle of the red lid of the tin is a gold-coloured embossed picture of Queen Victoria's head. To the left is Queen Victoria's insignia, and to the right are the words "South Africa 1900" and is inscribed "I wish you a happy New Year" and signed Victoria running along the bottom.gift to defence personnel from queen victoria. gift sent at christmas / new year in 1899/1900, gift sent at christmas / new year 1899/1900

Singer Dame Nellie visited Melba Cave Hill, her father David Mitchell's property, on 8 November 1902. She was received with great enthusiasm after her triumphant career in the opera houses of Europe. The book has photos of the official reception of Melba in Lilydale and the informal picnic at Cave Hill that followed.Stapled book with stiff cream coloured cover, oval photo of procession through the streets of Lilydale, November 8,1902 Sue Thompson Roundabout Publishing Pty Ltd'Paula Herlihy 2010' in pencil at top of title page.melba, cave hill, david mitchell, lilydale

PHOTOGRAPH OF LOWER END FRASER STREET CLUNES LOOKING EAST, HORSE AND DRAY IN STREET. PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS BUTCHER SHOP, SEVEN STARS HOTEL, DOWNES RESIDENCE WAS SHAMROCK HOTEL SYMONS IRONMONGERS STORE TIMBER YARD. [LUCKRAFT HOTEL, COMMERCIAL HOTEL] TAKEN ABOUT 1899 .1 BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO PRINT .2 ENLARGED PHOTO PRINT .3 SEPIA PHOTOGRAPH MOUNTED ON MATT BOARD WITH LOCATION WRITTEN AROUND PHOTOlocal history, photography, photographs, shops, symons ironmongers store, seven stars hotel, shamrock hotel, luckraft hotel, commercial hotel ., township - hotels

Buff coloured envelope, unopened, addressed to Willis Ah Hoy, Hawker, White Hills, from Connelly, Tatchell & Dunlop, Barristers & Solicitors. Date stamped 25.9.02. Return to sender, see back, stamped on front over name. Red one penny stamp on the envelope A statemnt showing Balance owing on account re Ïnstructions to defend you on a charge of being illegally found on premises at night ' April 1902business, legal, connelly & tatchell, dunlop

PHOTOGRAPH IN CLUNES THIS IS FRIEDRICH (FRITZ) WEICKHARDT BORN 20/10/1877 - DIED 3/11/1966 IN BALLARAT. A NOTED TENOR, RETAILER AND BENEFACTOR IN CLUNES AND DISTRICT. HE WAS ONE OF THE EXTENDED WEICKHARDT FAMILY, DECENDED FROM THREE BROTHERS AND ONE MARRIED SISTER WHO EMIGRATED FROM BUTZBACH, GERMANY TO CLUNES AROUND 1857. IF HE WAS AGED 25 YEARS IN THIS PHOTO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN ABOUT 1902.local history, photography, photographs, weickhardt

Table of contents: Editorial, News and Notes, Glimpses of Rhodesian police camp life, New Caledonia, Summaries and notes from the mining and engineering journals, Boot and saddle, Examination results 1899, Personal notes, Correspondence, Editorial notes.Pale green booklet of 14 pagesballarat, ballarat school of mines, students' magazine, c. a. m. deane, mr john dunstan, professor horwood, professor alex. purdie, alexander purdie