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Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Chain link measure, Gunter's Chain, 19th Century
A Gunter’s Chain, an old land surveying instrument, is named after its inventor, Edmund Gunter (1581-1626), an English mathematician and astronomer. It was first produced in 1620. The tool has 100 links and is 66 feet or one chain long. The links are marked off in groups of ten by metal tags or rings. A quarter chain (25 links) is called a rod or pole and ten chains make a furlong and 80 chains a mile. The traditional cricket pitch is 22 yards or one chain long. This chain is said to have been used by Gilbert Nicol when the Warrnambool to Hamilton Road was constructed in the 19th century. Gilbert Nicol was an early settler in Warrnambool who, with John Craig, established the first hotel (and the first building) in Warrnambool in 1847. Nicol later owned the property ‘Rosehill’ in the Warrnambool area. As the chain was given to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society by the Town Clerk, Keith Arnel, it is likely that the chain was one of the items in the old Warrnambool MuseumThis Gunter’s Chain is of importance because it is an early land measuring device that was used for over 250 years and has great historical and mathematical significance. If it is correct that it was used by Gilbert Nicol when the Warrnambool to Hamilton Road was built then it has considerable local significance and dates back to the 19th century. This is a metal tool which consists of 100 metal pieces or links joined together by loops at each end with two metal loops in between each link. The links joined together form a chain. The two ends of the chain have small metal handles attached. At intervals along the chain there are additional rings or metal pieces attached. The metal is very rusted.gunter’s chain, land measurement tools, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Bell, James Barwell, Animal, C 19th century
Bells of this type were normally used to hang around the necks of cows, horses or bullocks to prevent them from being lost and were used from around the 1860's onwards. The initial J B identify the bell as being made by James Barwell who made bells for the Australian market from around the 1860's. His bell and brass foundry manufactured all sorts of bells from school bells to full church peals as well as plumbing fittings. The four marks on the edge of the bell are typical of those used by drovers or owners to identify their animal. While this bell has no known local provenance, it is a link to the early cattle and agricultural life in Australia and most likely the Western District. Its significance lies in the fact that it is typical of bells used for a purpose at that time and as such can be used for discussion in a social and interpretive context.This is a brass bell of the type used to hang around the necks of animals such as cows, horses and bullocks. The mechanism for the attachment to a collar or harness has been sheared off and the clapper is detached from the inside hook. The bell has an inscription incised around the top and there are four small cuts or incisions made into the bell at the wider end. The bell is a little tarnished.‘Success to 4 in horse teams J.B.’history of warrnambool, animal husbandry, animal bell, james barwell bells -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Title Search Document, 1930s to 1960s
These documents concern the property in South Warrnambool, Jetty Allotment 7, Section 4. They include a search made of the title of this property in 1937 and information on later purchasers of the property. The first owner of this property was James Cust who purchased it in April 1853. James Cust (1815-1860) came from Ireland to Australia in 1841. From 1847 on he farmed first at Woodford and then moved into Warrnambool and began land speculating.. In 1856 his property was valued at £20,000 but by 1858 he was declared insolvent following the insolvency of his financial backer, William Bateman and his properties were sold. He died in 1860 following an accident at a Ballarat gold mine. Other notable Warrnambool identities who owned this property on Pertobe Road included Thomas King, Christopher Beattie, Thomas Goodall, William McMahon and Alan Lane.These documents are of interest as they detail the history of a property in Warrnambool up to the 1960s. They are also an example of the type of property once owned by James Cust, an important early land speculator in Warrnambool. These are nine loose sheets of paper concerning a legal search made of a block of land in Warrnambool and later documents on the same property The papers contain handwriting in blue and black ink and pencil and one red stamp. One of the pages is an invoice for the charge made for the search.‘Searched 25/5/37 W.D. Richardson Titles Searcher 418 Little Collins Street Melbourne C1’james cust,, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Bottle, The Bendigo Pottery Co. Pty. Ltd, J. S. Rowley, Late 19th century
This bottle was made in Epsom, Bendigo at the Bendigo Pottery Works. The bottle contained ginger beer manufactured at the cordials factory of J.S. Rowley at the corner of Timor and Banyan Streets, Warrnambool. John Searle Rowley (1837-1893) opened a branch of the Geelong Corio Brewery in Timor Street and in 1868 established a cordial manufacturing plant on the site. The brewery section closed and the cordial manufacturing section, called the Warrnambool Steam Aerated Waters works, was expanded, By the 1880s there were 13 employees and 20 varieties of soft drinks were being produced. After Rowley died in 1893 the business continued under the same name with Ralph Reeves managing the plant from 1900 until he moved to Koroit Street and operated a cordial factory under his own name. This bottle is of interest as an example of the soft drinks manufactured by J.S.Rowley of Banyan Street Warrnambool. This business was an important one in Warrnambool in the second half of the 19th century and early in the 20th century. This is a ceramic bottle in brown and buff colouring. The top has two chips. There is no stopper. ‘J.S. Rowley Hamilton and Warrnambool Ginger Beer’ ‘The Bendigo Pottery Epsom Bendigo’ j.s. rowley cordial manufacturer, cordial manufacturers in warrnambool, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Textile, Fletcher Jones Man’s Shop, Waistcoat Fletcher Jones, 1946
This waistcoat was made for Mr Alan Vinnell by the Fletcher Jones Man’s Shop in 1946 and was worn by Mr Vinnell at his wedding in Lang Lang on 27/4/1946 to Miss Madge Ridgway. Alan was the son of Albert Vinnell and Ada Rose Wood. He attended school in Macarthur about 40 kilometres northwest of Warrnambool. The Fletcher Jones Man’s Shop was located at the corner of Liebig and Koroit Streets in Warrnambool. David Fletcher Jones (1895-1977) served in World War One and in the 1920s set up as a travelling hawker selling drapery in Western Victoria. In 1924 he leased three shops in Liebig Street and in 1928 he moved to the Koroit/Liebig Streets intersection with his Man’s Shop. He manufactured men’s clothing on site. In 1931 a new set of two-storeyed buildings was erected on the site and Fletcher Jones moved into the building. In 1946 a Fletcher Jones shop was opened in Melbourne and in 1948 a factory was established in Raglan Parade, Warrnambool with a new company, Fletcher Jones and Staff established in 1951. This company became known Australia-wide, firstly for the production of men’s trousers, and later men’s and women’s clothing. By 2011 the Warrnambool factory was sold and the company dissolved. This waistcoat is of historical interest as an example of the high quality work produced at the Fletcher Jones Man’s Shop in Warrnambool in the mid 1940s. The Fletcher Jones business became one of the most important ones in Warrnambool in the 20th century and the early 21st century.This is a sleeveless woollen waistcoat made of blue striped material with a black cotton backing. The back has two black cotton flaps with a metal buckle to allow for the tightening of the coat across the back. The inside is lined with a cream, yellow and grey striped cotton material. The waistcoat has one inside pocket with a button enclosure and four outside pockets. The waistcoat has six black buttons on the outside and a maker’s label stitched on the inside. ‘Fletcher Jones The Man’s Shop Warrnambool Mr A. Vinnell Date 15/2/46’fletcher jones man’s shop warrnambool, history of warrnambool, albert vinnell, vinnell -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Textile, Fletcher Jones, Mid 20th century
This piece of cloth came from the Fletcher Jones factory in Warrnambool. David Fletcher Jones (1895-1977) served in the First World War and in the 1920s set up as a travelling hawker selling drapery in the Western District of Victoria. In 1924 he leased three shops in Liebig Street, Warrnambool and in 1928 he moved to the Koroit/Liebig Streets intersection with his Man’s Shop. He manufactured men’s clothing on site. In 1931 he moved the business into a new two-storeyed building on the site. He opened a Fletcher Jones shop in Melbourne in 1946 and in 1948 a factory was established in Warrnambool. In 1951 the business of Fletcher Jones and Staff was established. The company expanded and became known Australia- wide, firstly for the production of men’s trousers and later both men’s and women’s clothing. By 2011 the Warrnambool factory was sold and the company was dissolved. This piece of material is of interest as an example of the cloth used in the Fletcher Jones factory in Warrnambool. The Fletcher Jones clothing company, known Australia-wide, was one of the important industries based in Warrnambool in the 20th and early 21st centuryThis is a bolt of check corded material in grey and blue tonings. It is stained in various places.fletcher jones clothing stores, warrnambool, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Hodder and Staughton, Corporal Campion, 1912
This book belonged to Robert Giles. He obtained it in 1914 and the bookseller was Mrs Tilly Rowan who was a well-known businesswoman in Warrnambool with a book shop and newsagency in the Oddfellows Hall in Koroit Street. Robert Giles (1895-1967) was born in Wangoom and went to the Wangoom State School and the Warrnambool Agricultural High School. He served in World War One and worked at the State Savings Bank in Warrnambool from 1911 to 1921 (excluding war service). He later worked in banks in Koroit, other Victorian country districts and Melbourne and retired to Mailors Flat. He was married to Vera King and they had one child, Joyce Aurelin. A Warrnambool branch of the Savings Bank was opened in Warrnambool in 1859 and it moved into a new building in Timor Street in 1885. (This building in now part of the Archie Graham Senior Citizens’ Centre). The State Savings Bank became the State Bank of Victoria in 1980 and in 1990 was subsumed into the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. This book is retained because it belonged to Robert Giles who lived in the Warrnambool area for part of his life and who worked at the State Savings Bank in Warrnambool early in the 20th century. This is a hard cover book of 408 pages. The cover is red with a gold-coloured image of a horse and a mounted policeman on the front cover and gold printing on the spine. The book has 25 chapters of text. Two labels of the book’s seller are affixed to the front cover and a title page. The cover is much scuffed.‘July 9th 1914 Robert P. Giles State Savings Bank Warrnambool’giles family, warrnambool, state savings bank warrnambool, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Melbourne University Press, The people's force, 1986
This book, written by Inspector Robert Haldane, details the history of the Police Force in Victoria up to the late 20th century. The history of the Police Force is mirrored in the history of the police presence in Warrnambool since the early days of settlement. One important ex-Warrnambool policemen featured in the book is Thomas O’Callaghan, an Inspector of Police in Warrnambool in the 1880s and the Chief Commissioner of Police from 1902 to 1913.This item is of interest firstly as a book giving comprehensive details on the history of the Victorian Police Force and secondly as book containing information on police members who were connected with the history of Warrnambool. .1 This is a hard cover book of 372 pages with a blue cover and silver printing on the spine. The dust cover has a white and blue background with a photograph of a 19th century policeman, six colour photographs and one black and white photograph. The printing on the dust cover is in white, blue and black. The book contains six chapters and many sketches, illustrations, photographs and graphs. .2 This is a 1986 newspaper cutting from the Warrnambool Standard featuring an article on the book, The People’s Force. Printed Inscription: ‘To those Police who created history without knowing it.’victorian police force, warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Postcard, Basil Watson Scrapbook, 1917
The Hollywood film stars pasted on to one side of this paper are of no historical interest to our Society. The four paper items attached to the other side relate to the pioneer aviator, Basil Watson. He flew the first aeroplane to come to Warrnambool in January 1917. Watson flew from Point Cook to Warrnambool in one hour 55 minutes, an Australian cross-country flying record at the time. He had built his own aeroplane which was 18 feet long with a wing span of 26 feet and it had a 7 cylinder 50 H.P. rotary Gnome engine. In Warrnambool he amazed the crowds with his dare-devil aerial acrobatics, looping the loop 14 times over the Warrnambool Racecourse. Watson also brought several letters with him, making him the bearer of the first aerial mail to Warrnambool. Sadly Basil Watson died when his plane crashed at Point Cook in March 1917, just two months after his record-breaking flight to Warrnambool. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society has in its collection the small galvanized bucket seat which came from Watson’s plane and the original first air letter written by the Mayor of Melbourne to the Mayor of Warrnambool. These four items are of considerable historical interest as they are souvenirs issued at the time of Basil Watson’s aviation exploits in the early 1900s and Watson is of great importance in the aviation history of Warrnambool.This is a piece of paper (possibly from a scrapbook) with one torn edge. Pasted on to the paper on one side are newspaper photographs of early Hollywood female film stars. On the other side are four items relating to the pioneer aviator, Basil Watson – an airmail post card, a newspaper black and white photograph, a souvenir black and white photograph and a card with an illustration of an early aeroplane (pictured upside down). ‘The Aerial Postman Basil Watson’ ‘Official Souvenir Australian Aerial Mail’ basil watson, pioneer aviator, aviation in warrnambool’s history, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, White’s Law Bindery, All for Nought an Evans family saga, 2018
This is a family history of the Evans family, some of whose members lived in Warrnambool. The book gives details of the wife and work of a pioneer settler in Warrnambool, John Russell Evans and his wife Sarah. J.R.Evans was a road contractor and builder and was connected with several early road and building projects in the mid 19th century in Warrnambool. This book is an important addition to our Research Library as it provides comprehensive information on a pioneer Warrnambool settler, John Russell Evans and his descendants. This is a hard cover book of 188 pages. The cover is grey with gold printing on the front and the spine. It has colour and black and white photographs, sketches, maps and illustrations. ‘To the Warrnambool Historical Society in appreciation of your help with our research Ros Evans’j.r.evans & family, warrnambool, warrnambool history -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Publication, Photo album Robinson's Motors, C 1910
... a variety of early motor vehicles, workers and machinery. Individual ...Alexander Robinson was born on the 19th March 1862 and lived on the family farm, Woody Park at Aitkins Gully Warrnambool. At 18 he moved into Warrnambool and began his coach building and automotive career with Fred Morse who was one of Warrnambool's earliest coachbuilders. The business which was situated in Fairy Street was later taken over by Callaghan Motors who operated from the same site until 2017. He married Miss Lydia Humm and they had five children. He was active in community affairs and was Mayor of Warrnambool from 1907-1909. He died in September 1932. This album has photographs dating from 1907 up to 1913 and show a variety of early motor vehicles, workers and machinery. Individual photos have names of owners some of which include John j Winter, June 1912,Dr J H Henderson August 1911, D Ronaldson Ballarat 1912, Edward Owen 1913 martin Brennan 1914. The sections inside the workshop show the engineering department, Body Making, painting and smith's shop. There are also a number of Vulcan cars for which they were agents. This album is a valuable source of early motor industry history in Warrnambool. There are many local scenes as backdrops to the vehicles . Unfortunately there are no names of people in the photos.Rectangular dark green cloth covered album which has black tape down the spine. It contains a number of photographs relating to Robinson's Motors as well as newspaper cutting. There are a number of pages which are blank.Inside front cover: handwritten " Robinson's Motor Propty Limited Warrnambool.robinson motors, warrnambool, alexander robinson, robinson coachbuilders warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Rolling pin, Glass rolling pin, Early to Mid 20th century
Rolling pins have been found to have existed in several early civilizations and glass pins were especially popular in the first half of the 20th century. They were mostly filled with very cold water or ice when pastry dough was being rolled but sometimes they were filled with hot water, depending on the food preparation being rolled. They could still be found in some kitchens today. This item is retained as a reminder of a household item that was used in the past but may still be of use today.This is a clear glass cylindrical object with two glass handles at each end. One end is enclosed and the other is open and this end would have originally had a stopper of some kind, probably a cork. The letter ‘M’ is embedded into the enclosed end. ‘M’household items, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Artefact, Magnetic Electric Machine, 1920s
... as an example of the items used by people in the late 19th and early ...In the early 20th century there were many small machines and instruments developed to use as home cures. These included massage and vibratory instruments and those taking advantage of the growing use of electric currents in the treatment of nervous and mental health issues. This machine was used to produce a electric current to use on the human body to alleviate ailments that included nervous conditions, neuralgia, lumbago, back ache, muscle soreness and even toothache. Developments in allied health treatment saw the waning of the popularity of these kinds of medical aids by the mid 20th century.This machine is of great interest as an example of the items used by people in the late 19th and early 20th century as home cures for all sorts of ailments that afflicted people at the time.This is rectangular wooden box with a lid connected with metal hinges. The inside of the lid has a paper insert with printed material on it. The box has a metal mechanism inside and this includes a metal magnet, a pulley with a rubber belt and two round metal drums covered in dark blue felt. On the outside of the box is a metal handle that is connected to the mechanism inside. There is a metal closing catch on the outside of the box. There are also two wires on the outside of the box with one of these connected to the inside mechanism. The wires have hollow brass cylinders attached to the ends. The box is heavily stained and scuffed.‘Magneto Electric Machine for Nervous & Other Diseases’allied health in early 20th century, warrnambool, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Artefact, Inkwell, 1920
This ink well could have been for household use but was more likely to have been used in an office or business. No information has been found on the name on the base – A.R. McLachlan. Ink wells began to be less used when fountain pens came into general use in the 1940s and went out of use completely when ballpoint pens became the popular writing instrument in the 1950s. This ink well is of interest as an example of the ink wells used early in the 20th century. It was probably used in an office or business building. This is a metal container with a circular base and an upright circular tube in which is inset a china ink well. The ink well is covered with a hinged metal lid and there are four round holes around the lid area. Both the lid and the base are etched with circular ridges. ‘A.R.McLachlan 1920’ office equipment, warrnambool, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Artefact, Alka, Dish, Mid 20th century
This souvenir dish has been made by the German firm of Alka. The name comes from the surnames of the two proprietors, Alboth and Kaiser. This type of dish was made between 1938 and 1958. Tourism has been an important industry in the Warrnambool area for over 100 years and souvenir dishes of this kind were a popular buy by the visiting tourists. The dish features a scene from the Hopkins River, a fishing and recreational area in Warrnambool since the early days of European settlement. Souvenir dishes such as this one can be sometimes found in local second hand and opportunity shops. This dish is of interest as an example of the high-quality souvenirs bought by local tourists in the Warrnambool area in the mid 20th century.This is a china dish made in a rounded-edged triangular shape. The rim is gilt-edged. In the centre of the dish is a coloured sketch/photograph of the Hopkins River in Warrnambool (Clifton Banks region). ‘Warrnambool Hopkins River’ ‘Alka Bavaria Germany’ tourism in warrnambool, hopkins river, warrnambool, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Artefact, Comb, Early 20th century
This comb appears to be made of some sort of bone so would date from early in the 20th century. It has fairly coarse teeth and was probably used by a woman with long thick hair. The provenance of this item is unknown but it is of interest as an example of a woman’s hair comb from times past.This is a yellow bone hair comb with 37 tapering teeth.women’s accessories, warrnambool, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Lead shot mould, Early 20th century
... is of interest as an example of an early tool. history of warrnambool ...This lead shot mould would have been used by those people wanting ammunition for shotguns. The moulds were probably originally used in a blacksmith’s forge. Although it has no known local provenance, this lead shot mould is of interest as an example of an early tool. This is a metal tool with handles in the shape of calipers with a rounded ball of metal at one end. The ball is split in the middle to allow molten material to be inserted for casting into lead shot. The object is heavily rusted.‘16’history of warrnambool, vintage tools -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Harness, C late 19th century
Horse harness is composed of a number of items some leather and other pieces are metal such as these particular ones. The loose attachments allow for the movement of the horse without its muscles being impinged or hampered. There are a number of different types of harness which relate to the type of work or recreation being engaged at the time and for different breeds of horse. Many of the leather straps were also adaptable allowing for different sized horses to use the same set of harness. These items are quite heavy are were possibly used by work horses of an earlier era. They were possibly made locally at one of the many blacksmiths in the town.Parts of a common item from earlier times and as such has historic significance. It opens the discussion of the use of horses in everyday life and work.Three similar oval shaped items with a wider flatter section at one end and a thicker heavier section on the other end. They are made of iron and heavily rusted.history of warrnambool, horse harness -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Collett, Bain and Gaspar, Printers, for the publishers, the Osburne Group, Warrnambool, Victoria, Warrnambool past & present, 1984
This is a de-luxe edition of a 1984 facsimile publication of Edward Vidler’s 1907 book, ‘Sixty Years of Progress’. The facsimile book was published by the Osburne Group, a group of three Warrnambool men who reproduced several books that were out of print but were important in Warrnambool’s history. The facsimile book features the photographs and text of the original 1907 book alongside photographs and text concerning Warrnambool in the 1980s. J.B. Dwyer, who was given this de-luxe edition, was a prominent 20th century lawyer in Warrnambool. The original Edward Vidler book was produced to mark the sixty year anniversary of the founding of Warrnambool. It is a very rare book today but it is very important because it featured many photographs hitherto-unpublished and an accompanying text that is deemed today to be very accurate in historical terms. Edward Vidler, a publisher, writer, journalist and editor, was in Warrnambool in the early 1900s and, through his membership of the Warrnambool Progress League and the Chamber of Commerce, was responsible for initiating many improvements in the town and he was also responsible for organizing the making of the Pioneer Honour Board with its portraits of 204 pioneer men in the Warrnambool district.This book is of interest as a de-luxe edition of the 1984 facsimile publication of the Edward Vidler book, ‘Sixty Years of Progress’, a 1907 book on Warrnambool’s history. The reprinting of Vidler’s book enabled many researchers and others interested in Warrnambool’s history to access the Vidler information more easily as it is now rare to find a copy of the original Vidler book. This is a hard cover book of 120 pages with 90 pages of text and a biographical register, a bibliography and an index. The cover is dark blue with gold printing on the front and the spine. osburne group, warrnambool, j.b. dwyer, warrnambool, edward vidler, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Whip, Bullock Whip, Early 20th century
Bullock teams and bullockies were common sights in Australia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Bullock teams were used for the transport of heavy goods such as wool, wheat, timber, sugar cane, farm equipment, building supplies etc. and their presence and that of their colourful bullock drivers in the countryside have become part of Australia bush folklore. Bullocks were often favoured over horses as they could pull heavy loads over rough surfaces and were less expensive to maintain. As the bullock teams frequently varied in size (up to 40 bullocks have been recorded in the one team) the whip was always a very long one. This item is of considerable significance as a memento of the days (19th century and early 20th century) when bullock teams were the common form of transport for heavy goods. As in other parts of Australia, bullock teams were a feature of the area around Warrnambool and created much interest when they arrived in the smaller towns. This is a wooden stick, slightly tapered to the top, with a leather binding at the top with a small knob. Attached to the top of the stick is a whip made of plaited leather. The leather is brown and stained and slightly worn. At the end of the whip is a strip of plain leather with a knot at the end. bullocks and bullockies in the western district, warrnambool, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Needle case, Morris & Yeomans Ltd, 1920s
This is a needle case produced in a novelty form. Sewing kits and needle cases were essential items for women to have in their houses, to take with them when travelling and to carry in their handbags for emergency repairs. Today needle cases are still used but less frequently as in past times, depending on the craft skills of the person and the hobbies pursued.This item has no known local significance but it is an interesting example of an early 20th century needle case and is retained for display purposes.This is a needle case in a wooden container made in a rectangular shape with a pointed top. The shape is in the form of a church with an affixed metal or paint shape of a church on the front of the container. The front of the container has been polished. The two sides of the container are affixed with two metal hinges and there is a metal clasp on one side. Part of the metal clasp is missing. Inside the container is padded with white/grey cotton material. On one side are two paper grey and black folders which once contained needles and on the other side there is a middle band to hold other needles or pins. This side has one rusty pin.‘Sharps 5/9 6, 7, Wartd. By Morris & Yeomans’household accessories, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Bell, Cow, Late 19th century
This item was originally made to put around a farm or herd animal to enable it to be identified and found if it strayed. Horses, cows, goats and oxen were the animals most commonly given neck bells in Australia as a way of identifying and finding cattle particularly in areas where prpoerties were unfenced or when droving large herds of mixed cattle. Drovers often marked these bells as a way of identifying which cattle belonged to them. Some of these bells from the 1860's onwards were imported to Australia and some were manufactured locally. The cow bell in various sizes is often still produced to sell to tourists, particularly those in Europe. Many of these souvenir bells contain some form of art work. Although this item has no known local provenance it is retained as an early example of the bells placed around animals’ necks to stop them from straying. This is a piece of metal welded to form a cover or a bell container with a bottom opening to hold a metal clapper which is held in place by a metal ring. The top has a metal handle. The bell is very rusted and stained.animal husbandry, warrnambool, history of warrnambool, cow bell -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Letter copying press, Late 19th century
A letter copying press was first developed by James Watt in 1780. Copying clerks were employed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to copy letters and documents. In this press a sheet of oiled paper was inserted next to a dampened piece of tissue in the copying book. An unblotted letter written in special copying ink was then inserted with its face up against the back of the tissue. The book was then put into the press and screwed down tightly for a few minutes, depending on how many copies were being made. Many of these old letter books with important historical information still clearly legible survive today. This letter copying press is of great interest as it shows how letters and documents were duplicated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is of relevance to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society as its historical collection includes many letter books with copies of letters and documents relating to our local history.This is a metal letter copying press. It has a rectangular base with an over-arching curved metal piece and a handle which was able to be turned around to screw down a book. The press has been painted black at some stage but is now partly corroded. vintage letter books, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Medal, Villers & Heytesbury, 1879
... with the history of the early settlement of Warrnambool and one prominent ...This splendid medal was awarded by the Villiers and Heytesbury Agricultural Association in 1879. This association held its first show in Port Fairy in 1854 and in Warrnambool in 1855. It continues to this day under the name of the Warrnambool and District Agricultural Society. The medal was awarded to James Astley Bromfield, am early Warrnambool chemist who arrived in Victoria in 1852 and is significant in Warrnambool’s history. He produced the 1856 map of the Warrnambool district with the first landowners, a seminal resource for historians and was prominent in community affairs, especially in horse racing. He was also a Warrnambool and Shire Councillor. The medal was awarded for the best blood yearling of 1879 and this was Fright, one of the progeny of the famous stud horse Panic (second in the Melbourne Cup, 1865), His progeny won many hurdle races and flat races including the Melbourne Cup. The medal features also the names of two donors of prizes to James Bromfield, Henry Phillips and Francis Tozer, both pioneer men in Warrnambool’s horse racing history. Henry Phillips was the first President of the Warrnambool Amateur Turf Club and had the horse Panic standing at his 1000 acre stud, Bryan O’Lynn, at Purnim in the Western District. Francis Tozer was an owner, breeder and steward in racing circles and in the 1870s had the 2000 acre stud farm, Wangoom Park, at Wangoom, near Warrnambool.This is a most significant item as it was awarded to James Astley Bromfield, an early Warrnambool chemist and a person concerned with the history of the early settlement of Warrnambool and one prominent in community affairs in Warrnambool in the 19th century. The item also has connections with the famous stud horse, Panic and two other noted personalities of Warrnambool and district, Francis Tozer and Henry Phillips. The item also is of intrinsic monetary value as a 19th century medal from the Villiers and Heytesbury Agricultural Association. This is a round silver medal. It has etched printing on one side and raised images of farm animals and farm implements on the other side. It also has etched printing around the edge of the medal. There are some slight dents around the edge of the medal.‘Villiers & Heytesbury Agricultural Association 1st Prize Awarded to J. A. Bromfield for Blood Yearling 1879 ‘Fright by Panic’ Warrnambool Oct. 16 1879’ ‘Also Phillips and Tozer’s Special Prizes’ james astley bromfield, warrnambool, villiers and heytesbury agricultural association, henry phillips, warrnambool, francis tozer, warrnambool, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Cuttlery, George Rolfe, Mid to late 19th century
In 1854 in Melbourne George Rolfe Senior established an import business dealing in groceries, wines and spirits and tea. His son George, born in England, took over the business of Rolfe and Co in 1871. A keen sportsman, George Rolfe’s love of fishing led him to take frequent holidays in Warrnambool. He began buying blocks of land near the mouth of the Hopkins River in Warrnambool in the 1870s. By the 1880s Rolfe owned 50 acres in the Hopkins River area and named the property, Lyndoch. He built stables, chaff and bone sheds, a jetty, a boatshed, a water well, a windmill, a reservoir and extensive gardens. He also bought the nearby properties of Shipley and Fairy Hill, establishing a stud farm and breeding cattle. In 1891 he married Jane Ann Lake, the widow of his property manager, and when he died in 1919 his step-daughters, Florence and Annie Lake, inherited Lyndoch. The property was sold and became an aged care facility in 1952. The cutlery items were in use in the building erected by Florence Lake in 1920 and known today as Lyndoch but the ‘R’ monogram on the items suggest that they belonged to George Rolfe or even his father before him.These cutlery items are of considerable importance as mementoes of George Rolfe and his family. They were prominent in Warrnambool’s history in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the establishment and development of the property, Lyndoch, near the mouth of the Hopkins River. These are 17 pieces from a silver cutlery set that belonged to the Rolfe family (one tablespoon, six large forks, five smaller forks, four small spoons and one mustard spoon.) All the pieces of cutlery have a monogrammed ‘R’ at the end of the handles. Twelve of the items are tarnished and one small spoon is very worn. All the items have six hallmarks. ‘R’george rolfe, lyndoch, warrnambool, rolfe & co. melbourne, florence lake, lyndoch warrnambool., history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Booklet, Merimbula Easiprint, 1993
This book was written by Roland (Corker) Brown. His forebears were pioneers in the Wyelangta area of the Otway Ranges and he spent most of his life in that region. In this book he has recorded some of the history of the area and his personal recollections, starting from the 1930s when the last of the bullock and horse teams were transporting timber and the old mills were closing. This book is of interest as it gives the history of the Otway Ranges and one man’s story of life in this region in the early to mid 20th century. It will be useful for researchers. This is a soft-cover book of 211 pages. It has a white cover with a black and white photograph of a bush scene and black printing on the front cover. The book contains a poem by the author, two sections of printed material and many black and white photographs. -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Publication, David Pitt and Perce Hampshire, Early Otway residents, 1989
This booklet has been collated by a committee of Otway Ranges residents in 1989. It contains historical information on 32 pioneer families in the Otways region. The material has been provided by the members of the families. This book is of interest as it contains short histories of some pioneer families in the Otway Ranges and will therefore be of particular use to historians.This is a soft-cover booklet of 35 pages. It is bound with metal staples. The booklet has a yellow cover with black printing. The booklet contains details on the lives of some Otway Ranges pioneer families and has been typed and produced by a local committee.otway ranges, victoria, pioneers of the otway ranges -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Hubbard Brothers, Holy Bible, Late 19th century
This Bible originally belonged to members of the Orr family who came from Scotland and had a property at Addington near Learmonth in central Victoria (from the 1860s). Many families in the 19th and early 20th centuries had family bibles which were read individually by family members or read aloud to family members, especially on a Sunday. Many of these large-size bibles were used to record family information (births, deaths, marriages), though this one does not have any information recorded. This Bible is retained as a splendid example of a 19th century family Bible. It will be very useful for display. This is a hard-cover book with gilt edging on the pages. It has a leather cover with heavy gold embossing on the front and back covers. Inserted in the embossing are gold religious symbols and images. The Bible contains 45 chapters with the Old and New Testaments and other biblical and religion- related articles. There are many black and white illustrations and some colour illustrations. There is a slight evidence of silverfish damage. ‘Holy Bible’ orr family, family bibles, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Business Plate, Robinsons Motor Pty Ltd, Early 20th century
This plate was probably shortened to fit an office or factory door. Alexander Robinson (1862-1932) established a coachbuilding business in Fairy Street Warrnambool in 1880. In 1883 he joined with Fred Morse to set up the coachbuilding business of Robinson and Morse. This firm was noted for its production of fine Abbott buggies. Later Morse established his own business in Warrnambool and Robinson’s business continued at Fairy Street and converted to motor car building in the early 1900s. Alexander Robinson was Mayor of Warrnambool from 1907 to 1909. In the early 1930s Robinson’s Motors was replaced by Callaghan Motors. This business traded on the Fairy Street site until 2018 but now operates from Raglan Parade. The grandfather of one of the donors of this item, Tom Smith, worked at Robinsons Motor Pty Ltd in the early 20th century. This plate is of great interest as it came from the motor car business of Robinson’s Motor Pty Ltd. The Robinson businesses (coach building & motor car building) existed in Warrnambool for over 50 years. This is a brass business plate with three small holes at each corner. The lettering etched on the plate is gold and black but the black may have been put on to the lettering at a later stage as only some of the gold lettering is still visible. The plate has been cut off on one side and part of the lettering is missing.‘Reg. Office’ ‘Robinsons Motor Pro..’ robinson & morse, history of warrnambool, robinson’s motor pty ltd, alex robinson, warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Top Hat and Bowler Hat, Woodrow & Sons, Early 20th century (.1 Top Hat)
This top hat, with the initials J.H.H., belonged to John Hunter Henderson, a doctor who practised in Warrnambool from 1904 to 1939. For many years he was a member of the Warrnambool Hospital Board of Management. On his retirement in 1939 he went to live in Melbourne where he died aged 81. The John Hunter Henderson fund was established at the Warrnambool Hospital to develop the training facilities for medical and nursing staff. The bowler hat belonged to his driver (name unknown) and it is presumed that he drove a horse and buggy in the early years of the 20th century. These items are of considerable significance as they are associated with Dr Henderson, a long-serving doctor in Warrnambool and they show the status and comparative affluence of doctors in the first half of the 20th century. .1 This is a black top hat with the crown covered in beaver fur or felt of some kind. The upturned brim is slightly worn on one edge. The crown has a black corded band with a bow on one side. There is a stud with an air hole on the crown. Inside there is a brown leather lining with information on the maker on the inside base and a crown image. .2 This is a bowler hat made of black felt with lining on the edges of black cotton material. The brim is slightly turned up on the sides. The crown has a black corded band with a bow at one side. There is a circle of air holes on the side of the hat. Inside there is leather lining with some information on the maker on the inside base. .3 This is a hat box lid with a leather covering over cardboard. It is a spherical shape with some side damage where the leather is peeling. There is a leather strap handle with a metal buckle. There are remnants of travel labels pasted on to the lid. .4 This is a hat box made of leather with a metal lock on one side. It has remnants of paper travel labels on the sides. Inside the box is an insert made of maroon-coloured cardboard for storing the top hat. This insert has a leather strap to stabilize the hat. There is a name on the base of the box written on a piece of adhesive plaster. .1 J.H.H. Woodrow & Sons Hat Manufacturers to H.M. the King 13 Market St Manchester, 8 Castle St Liverpool, 45 Piccadilly London, 42 Cornhill, London, 11 Gordon St Glasgow, 40 Westmoreland St Dublin, Made in England Lincoln, Stuart & Coy Proprietary Limited Flinders St Melbourne .2 The Tropical Hat .3 Midland Railway .4 Dunedin, F.H.Moreton doctor john henderson, warrnambool, history of warrnambool, top hat