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Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Book, Michael Cannon, Historical Records of Victoria volume 3 edited by Michael Cannon, 1984
... Public Record Office Victoria... of Victoria volume 3 edited by Michael Cannon Book Public Record ...Official documents on important aspects of the founding of Melbourne 1836 to 1839.670 pages : illustrations, 27 cm.ISBN 0724183043 or 0724182594melbourne founding of -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Entrance to Shire of Eltham Memorial Park, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.1923
View to south-east from Shire of Eltham Soldiers' Memorial Park showing the carriageway from the road to top of Memorial Park. Accompanying notes state that the entry gate was put in place in May 1921. Eltham and Whittlesea Shire Advertiser and Diamond Creek Valley Advocate Fri 21 May 1920 p 2 reported: Kangaroo Ground Memorial Park "It was decided to arrange for a working bee on Saturday, 29th inst., for the purpose of forming and gravelling the track leading to the Park, and of carrying out other necessary works." A history summary of the Shire of Eltham Soldiers’ Memorial Park • The summit at Garden Hill was a popular tourist lookout and picnic spot from the 1880s. Virtually the entire Shire of Eltham and beyond could be viewed from this location. • A local farmer, Mr Walter A. D. Wippell is credited as being the first to propose the idea of a war memorial park and offered £50 towards the purchase of the land. • The earliest public reference to this project is to be found in the local Advertiser newspaper edition of August 9th, 1918. A report of the August Council meeting records the Eltham Shire President, Cr. Robert White, saying: "some time back it was proposed that the Council obtain and place on an Honour Board in the Council Chamber [at Kangaroo Ground] containing names of the lads who had enlisted. Just recently however, it had been suggested that a more fitting memorial would be the obtaining of a piece of land on the summit of Garden Hill, Kangaroo Ground, and the formation of a memorial park in which a monument could be erected to represent the whole of Shire. If a couple of acres could be obtained a gentleman had promised to donate 50 pounds, and another one would fence it, and other contributions, he was sure, could be obtained." • Councillors were favourable of the proposal and the President, Shire Secretary and Shire Engineer were deputised to wait on Messrs Mess Bros. (the owners of the Garden Hill farm) and ascertain if they would gratuitously give the land. The Mess Bros. land adjoined the farm/stud of Mrs Fanny White (Cr Robert White’s mother), daughter of Andrew Harkness who established their property on Garden Hill around 1846. • Access to the land came in February 1919 when several Councillors and the Shire Engineer surveyed the actual two acres of '5 chains along the road and 4 chains deep'. The Engineer volunteered his services free to do this task. The Mess brothers however demanded £100 per acre but eventually agreed to take £50 per acre. • Entry from the Kangaroo Ground-Yarra Glen road was seen to be a problem and Mrs. White, who owned the land beside the park, was asked to donated a triangle of her property to allow this access. • By September 1919 returned soldiers were employed by the Shire and volunteers were called to clear the hilltop by ploughing up the rocks and clearing the area, the fencing was put into place and in May 1921 the Council erected three gates, within an archway, at the entrance to the drive and pathway to the summit. • Public subscriptions were sought through the Advertiser newspaper to beautify the site. The views of the Curator of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens were sought as to the ‘class of ornamental trees most suitable for planting in the Park area”. • The Memorial Park or Shire of Eltham Soldiers’ Memorial Park was officially opened by Mr. W.H. Everard, M.L.A., 3 September 1921. • In 1922 plans were made to place a War Memorial in the Park. Funds were donated by the Council of £250 and a challenge to the community, to match this money with contributions was met. • On Anzac Day 1923, 1,000 people gathered on the summit in the park for a memorial service. A much smaller group of about 50 people gathered around a newly constructed cairn and flagstaff in the afternoon of Anzac Day 1924 amidst rain and a squally southerly wind, the morning service being cancelled. • A meeting for those interested in establishing a War Memorial monument within the park was held in January 1924 and the Eltham Shire War Memorial League was formed and a design competition decided upon. • The Shire of Eltham War Memorial tower was built in 1926 at a cost of £1,023 and 5 shillings with locally quarried stone donated by Dr Ethel and Professor William Osborne. It was formally known as the ‘Shire of Eltham War Memorial’ and was unveiled on 11 November 1926. The large bronze inscription above the entrance to the tower states: SHIRE OF ELTHAM WAR MEMORIAL THESE MEN DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY 1914 IN REMEMBRANCE THIS TOWER WAS BUILT 1918 • The Caretaker’s hut was built in 1927 with left over from the tower construction. • A returned soldier was appointed to act as caretaker for the memorials. Tiny Carrol, a huge man, was the first caretaker and lived in the stone hut. There was a push to have alterations made at one stage to provide additional rooms for a married caretaker but was rejected. • A new Caretaker Cottage was built in 1951 at a cost £2,500. The cottage had been subjected to raids by thieves three times during construction until a guard from the Returned Servicemen’s League was posted until its opening. • The War Memorial tower was re-dedicated by Sir Dallas Brooks on 8 November 1951, unveiling new bronze plaques containing the names of those who fell during the Second World War. Sir Dallas also officiated the opening of the new Caretaker’s Cottage. • A toilet block was built in 1965. • A further dedication of the Shire of Eltham War Memorial tower took place 11 November 2001 to recognise the men who fell in subsequent campaigns up to and including Vietnam. • Four land titles are involved: o The purchase of the two acres from owners Ruth Gosling, Alexander Mess, James Johnson Mess and Joseph Mess is recorded in two actions, the first being the payment of £100 for the two acres, the second showing that the Shire of Eltham did not get a transfer of title until 14th January 1952. o The access land donated by Mrs. Fanny White is dated 26 February 1924. A further need to widen the entry came after the deepening of the road cutting and another land donation was given by Sir Herbert Gepp, title dated 15th May 1952. This would have been about the time he sold off the former White ‘Garden Hill’ property. o The land reserve to increase the area and possibly allow a circuit road to be put in place on the western side of the park was purchased by the Shire of Eltham, title dated 16th February 1973. Rare photograph of the entrance to the Shire's Memorial Park during early stages of development prior to the erection of the Shire of Eltham War MemorialSepia photograph printed with white border with slight crack lower left hand corner and three significant vertical cracks fanning from lower centre edge to upper edge Digitally enhanced version to minimise impact of crackseltham-yarra glen road, entrance gate, garden hill, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial, kangaroo ground war memorial park -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Book, Tony Dingle et al, Yan Yean : a history of Melbourne's early water supply / Tony Dingle and Helen Doyle, Monash University, 2003
... Public Record Office Victoria... University. Book Book Tony Dingle Helen Doyle Public Record Office ...Book commissioned by Melbourne Water to mark the 150th anniversary of the commencement of the Yan Yean Reservoir.Paperback; vii, 127 p. : ill. (some col.), maps (some col.), ports. ; 23 cm.[written on flyleaf] To Eltham District Historical Society, best wishes Helen Doyleyan yean reservoir -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Document, News Sheet Almanac for 1870, 1870
This Almanac records the many various organisations, such as churches schools councils and law related information.It lists public holidays, members of Parliament as well as births and deaths natural events such as rainfall, sunrise/sunsets and moon charts. it records mail charges and coach timetables.A middle section presents a calendar for 1870 with a record of events which were deemed important since the time of settlement It lists such things as the first telegram from Melbourne to Sydney1858, Governor Bligh deposed 1808, Burke and Wills funeral 1863. At the bottom of the page is a Warrnambool Business Directory which includes J S Rowley Corio brewery, Royal Hotel , J H Rule Painter, plumber and glazier, J Brady , tinsmith and A Lanagan , Golden Boot The Warrnambool Examiner was founded by John Wilkinson and Richard Osburne in 1851. After a gap of a couple of years Richard Osburne resumed publication in October 1853 and continued until 1867. William Fairfax and Henry Laurie then leased the paper (1867 to 1872) before Richard Osburne again became the proprietor from October 1872 to April 1878 and from December 1879 to December 1880 when publication ceased. Fairfax and Laurie were the proprietors of the paper when this Almanac was published. William Fairfax was a member of the Fairfax family which was, and still is, associated with the publication of many Australian newspapers. Henry Laurie later became well-known as a Melbourne University Philosophy Professor.This single sheet of newspaper is an interesting and valuable record of Warrnambool and its people in 1870. There are names of many local people recorded and it also gives an insight into the variety of businesses and orhganisations which were established by 1870. It is also interesting to note that there are at least ten different styles of print on the page.Large single broadsheet of newspaper with large black heading and eight columns of print. The back of the page is blank.Fairfax and Laurie's Almanac for 1870 presented with the Warrnambool Examiner. Published as a supplement to the Warrnambool Examiner of 7th January 1870 Vol.XX No 1597.warrnambool, warrnambool almanac 1870,, examiner almanac warrnambool, fairfax and laurie, examiner warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Document, Service of Thanksgiving, 1918
This is a programme of the Warrnambool City Council Civic & Thanksgiving Official Service on November 1918. The service was held in the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens, conducted by the Ministers of the Churches in Warrnambool and led by the combined choirs of the churches. It was a public occasion held to offer thanksgiving for the end of World War One in November 1918. One of the hymns sung had the opening lines: ‘O God of Love, O King of Peace/Make wars throughout the world to cease’. The service was attended by the Mayor of Warrnambool and the City Councillors and Council employees. World War One was a signal event in the history of Warrnanmbool (as it was for all places in Australia) with so many young men volunteering for active service and so many dying overseas.This programme is of great interest as it records an important occasion in Warrnambool – the end of World War One and the official service of thanksgiving that commemorated this happening. This is a programme for the Warrnambool City Council Civic & Thanksgiving Official Service in November 1918. It is a sheet of buff-coloured paper folded in two to make four pages. There is blue printed material on three of the pages. The front page has the City of Warrnambool crest printed in blue with blue edging on the page and some ornamental patterns. The inside pages has a blue sketch of the flags of Australia and Britain. The programme is faded and creased and a little blotched.warrnambool city council, history of warrnambool, world war one -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Brass Plate, Warrnambool Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of commerce was commenced in Warrnambool in March 1888 to consider firstly what could be done to assist the dairy industry which at the time was facing record low prices for its butter. Co-operatives had been started in Gippsland around that time and it was decided to start co-operative dairy factories at Woodford, Panmure and Framlingham, shortly followed by the Warrnambool Butter and cheese factory at Allansford. The Chamber over the next thirty years covered many business issues such as trading hours, transport, and public holidays but also put forward ideas which related to water and sewerage matters.ideas were even put forward in 1907 regarding utilising the Hopkins Falls to generate power As an organisation it has waxed and waned in Warrnambool with various names but all working towards improving trade and business opportunities in the town. A link to one of Warrnambool's organisations which over the decades has worked to improve the prosperity of the townRectangular brass plate with text stamped and infilled with black.Six screw holes. Fine bevelled edge.Warrnambool Chamber of Commerce. Regd Office.warrnambool, warrnambool chamber of commerce, commerce in warrnambool -
Warrnambool RSL Sub Branch
Skirt, 1940s
... facilitate significant research ability, though records ...This skirt belonged to Joan Elizabeth Peck who served with the Royal Australian Air Force in the Second World War. Joan was born on 27 July 1919 in Acton England and enlisted in Echuca on the 6 January 1943. At the time of her discharge from the RAAF in 1945, Joan was serving as an Aircraftwoman with the 2 Air Observers School in Mount Gambier. Throughout the war, the Mt Gambier base operated under the Empire Air Training Scheme.This skirt was donated by the owner, Joan Peck, and has significant provenance. The inscriptions throughout facilitate significant research ability, though records are not publicly accessible and digitised at this time. Joan Peck’s uniform is also significant as an item of social history, revealing the role of local women in the home front war effort. Light khaki coloured skirt in cotton fabric. A-line skirt constructed of four panels with two darts on the back and two pockets on the front (as per photograph in Supplementary File). Side fastening on the left side with a series of four steel hook and eye fasteners. Two fasteners on the back waistband which are tightened by pulling through two steel rings. Peach-cream coloured bias binding on interior of hem. Label attached to the interior waistband of the skirt back, to the left and right of which is a handwritten inscription.Waistband label reads: “V298/MADE IN/AUSTRALIA/1942/SIZE PECK” Inscription handwritten on waistband interior: “105135.” To the right of the interior label: “J. E. PECK”skirt, uniform, second world war, royal australian air force, world war ii, women -
Victoria Police Museum
Record of Conduct and Service (Charles Lester Gordon Trewin)
When the First World War broke out, Australian men from all backgrounds and professions were called to serve their country. Members of the Victorian Police force were some of the first to answer the call with twenty men joining the first convoy of soldiers who left Australian shores in October 1914. Over the course of four long years, one hundred and thirty-eight Victorian Police enlisted from stations across the state. Of these, twenty-seven lost their lives. Whilst the fate of each man was different, a deep commitment to protecting and serving the public was common to all. Victoria Police service: Joined 10/04/1911; Discharged 3/09/1914 WW1 service: Enlisted: 5 September 1914; Highest rank: Captain; Regiment: 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment; Fate: Returned to Australia 15th January 1919.Official documentworld war 1, 1914-1918; victoria police; trewin, charles lester gordon 5640 -
Victoria Police Museum
Record of Conduct and Service (Charles Belcher)
When the First World War broke out, Australian men from all backgrounds and professions were called to serve their country. Members of the Victorian Police force were some of the first to answer the call with twenty men joining the first convoy of soldiers who left Australian shores in October 1914. Over the course of four long years, one hundred and thirty-eight Victorian Police enlisted from stations across the state. Of these, twenty-seven lost their lives. Whilst the fate of each man was different, a deep commitment to protecting and serving the public was common to all. Victoria Police service: Joined: 28/10/1914; Resigned: 3/07/1915 WW1 service: Enlisted: 5 July 1915; Highest rank: Gunner; Regiment: V5A Australian Heavy Trench Mortar Battery; Fate: Died of illness, France, 18 January 1917; Medals: British War and Victory medalsOfficial documentworld war 1, 1914-1918; victoria police; belcher, charles 6041 -
Victoria Police Museum
Record of Conduct and Service (Edward William Sharpe)
When the First World War broke out, Australian men from all backgrounds and professions were called to serve their country. Members of the Victorian Police force were some of the first to answer the call with twenty men joining the first convoy of soldiers who left Australian shores in October 1914. Over the course of four long years, one hundred and thirty-eight Victorian Police enlisted from stations across the state. Of these, twenty-seven lost their lives. Whilst the fate of each man was different, a deep commitment to protecting and serving the public was common to all. Victoria Police service: Joined 3/05/1898; Leave without pay July 1915; Rejoined ca April 1918; Died 28/04/1919 from pneumonic influenza WW1 service: Enlisted 7 July 1915; Highest rank: Sergeant; Regiment: 29th Battalion, A Company; Fate: Returned to Australia 15 April 1918; Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory MedalOfficial documentworld war 1, 1914-1918; victoria police; sharpe, edward william 4706 -
Victoria Police Museum
Record of Conduct and Service (Charles Alfred Taylor)
When the First World War broke out, Australian men from all backgrounds and professions were called to serve their country. Members of the Victorian Police force were some of the first to answer the call with twenty men joining the first convoy of soldiers who left Australian shores in October 1914. Over the course of four long years, one hundred and thirty-eight Victorian Police enlisted from stations across the state. Of these, twenty-seven lost their lives. Whilst the fate of each man was different, a deep commitment to protecting and serving the public was common to all. Victoria Police service: Joined: 28/10/1908; Granted leave without pay: 5/05/1917; Re-joined: 1/10/1919; Retired: 8/02/1946; Highest rank: Inspector WW1 service: Enlisted: 10 May 1917; Highest rank: Corporal; Regiment: 38th Battalion; Fate: Returned to Australia 4 July 1919; Medals: 1914-1915 Star, British War and Victory medalsOfficial documentworld war 1, 1914-1918; victoria police; taylor, charles alfred 5429 -
Victoria Police Museum
Record of Conduct and Service (Leslie Moore Vincent)
When the First World War broke out, Australian men from all backgrounds and professions were called to serve their country. Members of the Victorian Police force were some of the first to answer the call with twenty men joining the first convoy of soldiers who left Australian shores in October 1914. Over the course of four long years, one hundred and thirty-eight Victorian Police enlisted from stations across the state. Of these, twenty-seven lost their lives. Whilst the fate of each man was different, a deep commitment to protecting and serving the public was common to all. Victoria Police service: Joined 2/03/1903; Granted leave without pay 1/09/1916; Resumed duties 6/08/1919; Retired 23/01/1941; Highest rank: Sergeant WW1 service: Enlisted 5 May 1916; Highest rank: Lance Sergeant; Regiment: 3rd Australian Divisional Ammunition Column; Fate: Returned to Australia 8 May 1919; Medals: 1914-1915 Star, British War and Victory MedalsOfficial documentworld war 1, 1914-1918; victoria police; vincent, leslie moore 5080 -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Work on paper - Letter, Henry Watts, Letter written 1859
Henry Watts (1828_1889) Died at Melbourne, 16th December, 1889. He was a good microscopist. His botanical studies were chiefly devoted to algae, both fresh-water and marine, and while living for many years at Warrnambool he was a contributor of algae to Harvey, who figured Wrangelia wattsii, Harv., and Crouania wattsii, Harv., in his “Phycologia Australica " He was the author of "On the Fresh-water Algae of Victoria " (Trans. Roy. Soc. Vict., 1861-4, 67) ; .also a paper "On Fossil Polyzoa" (ib.. 82); "A Trip to Mt. Macedon in Search of Fresh-water Algae" (Wing's S. S. Record, iii., 252); "On a Species of fresh-water Algae from Victoria" (Vict. Nat., i., 21); "Some Recent Additions to our Knowledge of Microscopic Natural History" (ib., iii., I33) (includes lists of fresh-water algae and Desmidieae ), First librarian (1881-2), also a vice-president of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. He is further commemorated by Acacia wattsiana. F. v. M. www.anbg.gov.au/biography/watts-henry.html . Henry Watts worked as a bootmaker in Timor and Liebig streets Warrnambool in the 1860’s but it was as an amateur scientist that Watts gained public notice.For an exhibiton in Melbourne in 1861 Henry Watts prepared a collection of over 100 different species of seaweed from the Warrnambool district. It is recorded in the Examiner in 1863 that he had been elected as an honorary member of the Bristol Microscopical Society of England He was a member of the Warrnambool Horticultural society and in 1865 he opted to become a flower distiller.At the 1866 MelbourneExhibition, Henry Watts exhibited 44 bottles of his perfumes. He had a keen interest in microscopes and microscopic organisms.He spent many hours combing the caves and examining the guano of local bats. This letter is written to Professor Quekett advising him that he has sent a collection of packets of samples of diatomaceae asking him to examine and name the same.. Professor Quekett was a famous microscopist of the Victorian era with the Quekett microscopist club one of the oldest in the world dedicated to the use of the microscope and its discoveries. Henry Watts was one of Warrnambool’s first botanists and marine scientists. He also established a flower distilling and perfume manufacturing business in Warrnambool. In 1861 he sent a collection of over 100 species of seaweed to the Melbourne Exhibition.Framed, handwritten letter, ink on blue paper. Transcript of letter is typed black on white paper. Five small numbered pieces of paper containing specimens of diatomaceae collected from marine and fresh water areas around Warrnambool.Names Henry Watts, Professor Quekett. Handwritten along the bottom of the frame, “The above was bought at a London Auction for $12-10-00 by Miss Eddey a Melbourne Book shop Proprietress and recently presented to the W.F.N. Club.: warrnambool, henry watts, watts henry, botanist,microscope, microscopic, quekett, john thomas quekett -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Warrnambool A Long way to Tipperary The incredible life of John Hyland, 2014
... . It records his public and personal life as well as some of his ...Biography of early Warrnambool settler, John Hyland.Paperback Background is dark green with sepia photo in bronze coloured frame. Precis on back cover is printed in white lettering. 132 pages.non-fictionBiography of early Warrnambool settler, John Hyland.warrnambool, john hyland, james nicholas, warrnambool mayors -
Orbost & District Historical Society
letters, 1910
These letters were received by Henry James of Orbost. Henry James (1860-1932) was a well-known identity in the Orbost district. He was a stock agent and auctioneer who helped to establish the seed bean industry in Orbost. He was the second secretary of the Snowy River Shipping Co. as well as a shire councillor and prominent member of MUIOOF. They concern a fund established to raise money to bring the three sons of Jennings Carmichael to Australia. A committee established by Henry Gyles Turner, a a notable Australian banker and historian, was formed to raise funds to bring the boys to Australia. Grace Elizabeth Jennings Carmichael (1867-1904), poet and nurse, was born on 24 February 1867 at Ballarat, Victoria, daughter of Archibald Carmichael, a miner from Perthshire, Scotland, and his wife Margaret Jennings, née Clark, from Cornwall, England. . She was educated at Melbourne and while still a child went to live on a station at Orbost, and grew up close to the bush she came to love so much. In 1888 she went to Melbourne to be trained as a nurse at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, and in 1891 published a small volume of prose sketches, Hospital Children. Having qualified she obtained a position on a station near Geelong, and subsequently married Francis Mullis. She contributed verse to the Australasian, and in 1895 Poems by Jennings Carmichael was published. She lived for a time in South Australia and then went to London, where she died in poor circumstances in 1904. Her husband, Henry Mullis, was last recorded in the workhouse in Woolrich, but then disappeared leaving the three children- Geoffrey 7 yrs, (Thomas) Clive 5 yrs & 4 year old (Archibald) Keith and one year old (Rupert) Wyatt, destitute & were sent to the Northampton workhouse, (Thomas ) Clive dying in 1906. In 1910, a group of Carmichael's admirers, discovered the whereabouts of her children, where a public fund was established to bring the children to Australia, the Victorian Government giving them free passage, arriving in Victoria in October of 1910. The children were placed in private homes and took on their mother's single name of Carmichael. In 1910 a small selection of her poems was published, in 1937 a plaque to her memory was unveiled at Orbost in the Mechanics Institute ( reg. 554), and a year later a replica was placed in the public library at Ballarat. Two of Jennings Carmichael's sons were present at the ceremony.Jennings Carmichael, a leading Australian poet spent much of her childhood in Orbost.Several letter written to H. James concerning the Jennings Carmichael Children's Fund. Stapled to one letter is a typed article about the Jennings Carmichael Children's Fund written by Frank a. Russell. The other letter is a three page stapled handwritten letter from St Oswald's, Ormond College, seeking information about Jennings Carmichael.james-henry jennings-carmichael correspondence -
Orbost & District Historical Society
book, Effingham, Wilson, A Geographical Dictionary of the Australian Colonies, 1848
A geographical dictionary or gazetteer of the Australian colonies : their physical and political geography : together with a brief notice of all the capitals, principal towns, and villages. William Wells travelled to Australia as a sponsored immigrant in 1838. Her became a freelance surveyor with an office in Bligh Street, Sydney. He wrote this book in order to better inform the British public on the colonies of Australia. The information contained in the book is both topographical and statistical and was a very useful refernece book at the time.This book is a rare detailed contemporary record of the Australian colonies in the mid 19th century.A hard back 453 pp book with a dark brown patterned cover which has a white label with the title, "Dictionary of Geography" over a map of Australia. It is illustrated with numerous maps and drawings.history-australia wells-william-henry geographical-dictionary-of-the-australian-colonies -
Orbost & District Historical Society
book, Smith, Elder & Co, The Early Years of H.R.H. the Prince Consort, 1869
This book was originally written for private circulation among the Royal Family. It was written by Lieutenant-General Charles Grey (1804-1870) and was first published in 1867. It was commissioned by Queen Victoria. Grey had been secretary to both Albert and herself. Contents were sourced from letters and memoranda.This book was a significant contemporary record of the royal family. Originally Queen Victoria had attempted to record "an exact account" of hers and Albert's happy marriage but was unable to complete the project on her own. She commissioned Grey to compile it under her supervision, firstly for the royal family and then for public release. It was an outstanding sucess with many editions being necessary.A 469 page book which has green cloth board covers with gilt lettering on the spine and decorative gilt motifs on the front and rear boards. Compiled by Lieutenant - General Charles Grey, it details Prince Albert's life from his birth through to his wedding to Queen Victoria and the first year of their married life. on 4th page in - handwritten - "T. Faluey, Sydney, 1934"prince-albert queen-victoria royalty -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Memorabilia - Envelope, Packet: Ringwood Methodist Church - Anniversary Pamphlets, Cuttings, Pictures, Hand written notes
Churches - Ringwood Methodist Church3785.1 A hand written notes of the early history of the church. Several to the Town Clerk from the Ringwood Church trust and thr Public health department. 2. Minutes of meeting of the Ringwood Parsonage Trust 1909 and 1910 3. The Record of the Box Hill and Ringwood Methodist Circuits. Hand writen list of members of Ringwood Circuit. 4. Flyer for Back to Ringwood Methodist Church Jubilee, March 9th to 17th. 1929. Letter to Richard Carter from Aub (sic) who was eight years old at the time and can remember the Jubilee 4 Booklets about the Church Also a name tag for Miss V. Watson Assist. Secretary. Several cuttings, one full page spread from the newspaper about the Jubilee. 5. Ringwood Methodist Sunday School Tea and Meeting. Cutting from the Ringwood & Croydon Mail. The Wigley family were greatly represented. 6. Diamond Jubilee 17-28th. March ,1939 Program of Events 7. Six pages of hand written letters from the Methodist Circuit, letter to the Ringwood Councillors inviting them to the Centennary Celebrations of the Church,letter to the Town Clerk from Methodist Sunday School Surrey Hills regarding a picnic in Ringwood. 8. Ringwood United Churchmen's Association syllabus 1937 9. Pamphlet about Sunday Sport and the Christian Duty to Vote. 10.Ringwood Methodist Church news July 1963 11. Two Ringwood Methodist Church pamphlets for the 75th. Anniversary March 17th.-28th. 1954. 12.Copy of lease from the Methodist Church Trust for 30 years to use land in Ringwood 13. Carols by Candlelight (no year) and the Ringwood Methodist Church News March 1958, With memories of Christmas. 14.Pamphlet of the Laying of the Foundation Stone Saturday 18th. May 1963 and two pamphlets of the Opening and Dedication of the Ringwood Methodist church 9th. november 1963. 15.'The Messenger' Journal of the Ringwood Methodist Church December 1963. 16'. Forward in Faith' Review Stewardship Canvass August 1961. 11 pages outlining the plans for the proposed new Church. 17. Foolscap sheet typed with the Evening Service Sunday 6th. December 1970 with the Combined Circuit Choirs .Excerpts from 'The Messiah' 18. 'Recollections of Ringwood Methodism' issued at the celebration of the 98th. Anniversary of the Church 29th. may 1977. Compiled by Alf. Clark 19.Syllabus for the Uniting Church Fellowship Ringwood 1984 20.' Methodist Pioneers in the Croydon Area'. Work in Progress by Rev. Barry Brown 21.two page history of the ' Pipe Organ in the Ringwood Uniting Church' which was built by the Melbourne firm of Geo. Fincham & Sons. Plus a pge with' A Few Facts about the Organ' 22. Two Church Christmas cards (no year). one in envelope -
Orbost & District Historical Society
memorial plaque, early 20th Century
Grace Elizabeth Jennings Carmichael (1867-1904), poet and nurse, was born on 24 February 1867 at Ballarat, Victoria, daughter of Archibald Carmichael, a miner from Perthshire, Scotland, and his wife Margaret Jennings, née Clark, from Cornwall, England. . She was educated at Melbourne and while still a child went to live on a station at Orbost, and grew up close to the bush she came to love so much. In 1888 she went to Melbourne to be trained as a nurse at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, and in 1891 published a small volume of prose sketches, Hospital Children. Having qualified she obtained a position on a station near Geelong, and subsequently married Francis Mullis. She contributed verse to the Australasian, and in 1895 Poems by Jennings Carmichael was published. She lived for a time in South Australia and then went to London, where she died in poor circumstances in 1904. Her husband, Henry Mullis, was last recorded in the workhouse in Woolrich, but then disappeared leaving the three children- Geoffrey 7 yrs, (Thomas) Clive 5 yrs & 4 year old (Archibald) Keith and one year old (Rupert) Wyatt, destitute & were sent to the Northampton workhouse, (Thomas ) Clive dying in 1906. In 1910, a group of Carmichael's admirers, discovered the whereabouts of her children, where a public fund was established to bring the children to Australia, the Victorian Government giving them free passage, arriving in Victoria in October of 1910. The children were placed in private homes and took on their mother's single name of Carmichael. In the late 1930s, plaques were unveiled in Orbost & Ballarat in honor of Grace Jennings Carmichael. The one in Orbost was part of the "Back To' celebrations. It hung in Mechanics' Institute in Orbost.This is significant to the Orbost region in that it is associated with a woman who is certainly our foremost female poet. A bronze cast memorial plaque set onto a wooden backing board. The plaque has an image of a woman, a candle and a book, and also some text (see below).Grace Jennings Carmichael, Australian poetess, 1868-1904, spent her childhood in this district, erected by Mrs G A Hunter & a few admirers.memorial-plaque grace-jennings-carmichael orbost-poet -
Australian Commando Association - Victoria
Metal Uniform Embellishments of the Australian Army Post 1953 Volume 1 - Insignia for Corps and Schools, 2017
This 236 page, full-colour hard copy reference work, catalogues the metal insignia embellishments used by all Corps and Schools of the Australian Army (including philanthropic organisations), from 1953 through to the present. The book provides images of the front and the back of a given (metal) insignia set for each Corps etc. Each image set depicts the relevant hat badge, collar badges and epaulette title and/or cloth shoulder title applicable. The book's images record three distinctly different 'generations' of insignia manufacturing methods/types, including the: gilt brass and white metal items used in the 1953 to 1964 period; and anodised aluminium 'StayBright' insignia introduced as from 1964[ and 'BriteShine' insignia introduced with effect from 1997 (running through to the present). The full colour photographic images in the book are complimented by written descriptions which cite each item's distinguishing characteristics... including measures of: typical weight, height, width and thickness (at a given point). A discussion of copies and faked items is also provided, including microscope resolution images of 'tell tale' signs to look for. The entries in the book are organised alphabetically and match those used in the Authors' 614 page eBook version of this work (the eBook is a separate edition which provides scalable images of all relevant insignia and many manufacturing variants).The hard copy and electronic editions of this work are able to be used either separately or concurrently, as and when users require. Regards Mark Corcoran & Arthur Butler The Authors charlibravobooks.com Re: Copyright As the original authors we hold the sole copyright authority to sell this work. This item does not infringe on any copyright, trademark and/or intellectual property rights and we hold specific written publication approval from the Australian Defence Force. Soft cover, spiral bound 235 pagesaustralian army, post ww2 insignia -
Orbost & District Historical Society
May 1900
This is a photograph of the original Orbost / Snowy River Bridge , a suspension bridge which opened in 1893. It has been taken when the Snowy River was in flood. It is similar to other photographs held in The State Library, Victoria. The Snowy River Mail and Tambo and Croajingolong Gazette Sat 12 Aug 1893 records the opening of this bridge as "the most important public event that has yet been commemorated in Eastern ......The Messrs McLeod, with whom the first settlement of this district is generally associated, took up their residence on the eastern bank of the Snowy River about the year 1841 or 42. The late Mr W. Roadknight and Mr T. T. Stirling took possession of the territory on the western side of the Snowy about 35 years ago. During the occupation of the country by cattle owners, very little progress was made in the way of roads and bridges, and except to the hardy and lexperienced bushman, it might have been generally regarded as inaccessible. About the year 1877, however, the late Mr James Robertson eldest son of Mr James Robertson, of Lochend farm, selected land now occupied by his father, about four miles from Orbost on the west bank of the river, Mr John Cameron visited the. district shortly after a .tour of inspection and returned later with his brothers, James and Alick Gameron, but found that during their absence Mr Ernest Watt had found his way on the scene and pegged out a selection, thus anticipating the advent of the Camerons by about 12 hours. We understand that a Mr Kidd, who selected the property now occupied by Mr W. J. Ross, at Pumpkin Point, was one of the earliest batch of settlors.........."This is a pictorial record of an early bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost.A black / white photograph of a suspension bridge with flood waters below the bridge.orbost-bridge suspension-bridge snowy-river -
Orbost & District Historical Society
black and photograph / postcard, 1.4.1908
This postcard was sent to Annie Gilbert (Mrs John Gilbert) of Tullagoota, Orbost. It was written by "Grace", probably her sister, Grace Cameron Annie Gilbert was the daughter of John Cameron who selected the first land on the Snowy River flats. This is a photograph of the original Orbost / Snowy River Bridge , a suspension bridge which opened in 1893. It has been taken when the Snowy River was in flood. It is similar to other photographs held in The State Library, Victoria. The Snowy River Mail and Tambo and Croajingolong Gazette Sat 12 Aug 1893 records the opening of this bridge as "the most important public event that has yet been commemorated in Eastern ......The Messrs McLeod, with whom the first settlement of this district is generally associated, took up their residence on the eastern bank of the Snowy River about the year 1841 or 42. The late Mr W. Roadknight and Mr T. T. Stirling took possession of the territory on the western side of the Snowy about 35 years ago. During the occupation of the country by cattle owners, very little progress was made in the way of roads and bridges, and except to the hardy and lexperienced bushman, it might have been generally regarded as inaccessible. About the year 1877, however, the late Mr James Robertson eldest son of Mr James Robertson, of Lochend farm, selected land now occupied by his father, about four miles from Orbost on the west bank of the river, Mr John Cameron visited the. district shortly after a .tour of inspection and returned later with his brothers, James and Alick Gameron, but found that during their absence Mr Ernest Watt had found his way on the scene and pegged out a selection, thus anticipating the advent of the Camerons by about 12 hours. We understand that a Mr Kidd, who selected the property now occupied by Mr W. J. Ross, at Pumpkin Point, was one of the earliest batch of settlers.........."This item is associated with Annie Gilbert (nee Cameron) reported to have been the first white girl to be born in Orbost. It is a pictorial record of the suspension bridge over the Snowy River which has since been replaced twice.A faded black / white postcard of a bridge across a river. There are cattle in the river and the banks are tree-covered.on back - a hand-written letter addressed to Mrs J. Gilbert Tullagoota Orbost.cameron-annie suspension-bridge-orbost snowy-river-orbost -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Booklet, Record of Sales of Properties in Victoria 1973-1979 (missing 1977)
Multiple listing Bureau of Victoria compiled the booklets. Carter Real Estate Agents were members of the multiple listing bureau and were issued with the booklets11 spiral bound booklets with covers of various colours of buff and green. Containing addresses, number of rooms, age, selling agents and the price of houses in Melbourne. Country areas included - Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo Mornington and South Western."RECORD OF SALES OF PROPERTIES ... This Booklet is compiled by the Multiple Listing Bureau of Victoria for issue to Bureau members only. It must not be made available to non-member agents or the public." -
Orbost & District Historical Society
jar, 1993
A young chemist named Dr. Cyril P Callister, hired by the Fred Walker Company, developed a new spread from brewer’s yeast. It was claimed as the richest known sources of natural Vitamin B. Labelled as ‘Pure Vegetable Extract’, it was sold in a two ounce amber glass jar and capped with what was known as a Phoenix seal, to keep the contents fresh. A competition inviting the Australian public to create a name for the new spread offered a prize of 50 pounds. finalists. Hundreds of people entered and Fred Walker’s daughter selected the winning name: VEGEMITE. The name of the winning entrant was never placed on record. VEGEMITE spread was then sold from grocers’ shelves. In April 1984, a 115-gram jar of vegemite became the first product in Australia to be electronically scanned at a checkout A commemorative jar was produced to celebrate the occasion of 70 years - 1922-1997.Vegemite is possibly Australia's most iconic food brand. Since the 1930s it has been a major part of this country's cuisine. Yet unlike other Australian icons the attraction of Vegemite has remained local. A tapered brown glass jar with a gold metal lid. The label o the front is red with yellow, white and black print. there is a similar smaller label on the lid. with black writing.On base: a spiral with 10 in centre circle 13573 underneath the spiral above is letter A with raised dots insidevegemite jar -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, Pump, Brian, Presentation of "Freedom of the City" to 3rd Division Australian Engineers by Mayor, Ben Hubbard, March 27, 1965
Black and White Photograph. See also ABC silent movie of the event in VC record 11129. Ringwood Mail Newspaper article about the ceremony and parade is in VC 11129 Lt. Col. E.R. Baldwin Being challenged. Written on back of one copy of photograph, 'Photo ... Southern Command, Army Public Relations.' Catalogue card reads, 'Freedom of the City. Taken when Ben Hubbard was mayor.' Typed on back of another copy: Police Inspector A. Angus challenging the R.A.E. on their right to enter Rignwood. O.C. replies. this took place outside the entrane to the Railways Station. Date Stamp 27 Mar 1965. -
Orbost & District Historical Society
newspaper clippings, August, September 1987
The Bairnsdale-Orbost railway was opened in 1916 to serve the agricultural and timber industry. Because of the decline in traffic and heavy operating costs, the line was finally closed in August, 1987. The closure of this railway was a controversial issue at the time with many public protests in the district. These articles are contemporary record of a significant event in Orbost history.Three articles relating to the closure of the Bairnsdale - Orbost Railway in 1987. They are from the Snowy River Mail and The News. They contain photographs, news articles and the history of the line and its closure. orbost-bairnsdale-railway east-gippsland-railway snowy-river-mail -
Cheese World Museum
Book, Amazon Design & Printing, Allansford 1855-2006, 2006
An update of the earlier book 'Allan's Ford: Allansford' by original author Graeme McLeod. The original book was produced to mark the 125th Anniversary of Allansford and its school and the update for the 150th Anniversary of Allansford Primary School. The book records the history of Allansford from its settlement by the Allan brothers in 1839 with an overview of the development of the town, the school and the surrounding small schools which became a part of Allansford & District Primary School, businesses, sport and recreation, public buildings, some pioneer families and John Murray MP and Premier of Victoria.This is the only record of the town of Allansford and provides an overview of the history of Allansford and its development.Blue covered paperback book with blue text for title 'Allansford 1855-2006'. An image of the shop and houses is superimposed on a washout of the same image.allansford, mcleod, graeme, mcleod, barbara, pioneer families, commercial businesses, industries, education, public buildings, sport & recreation, allan family, tooram, allandale -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Tool - Auger, Mathieson, First half of the 20th Century
In 1792 John Manners had set up a workshop making woodworking planes at 14 Saracens Lane Glasgow. He also had employed an apprentice Alexander Mathieson (1773-1851). But in the following year at Saracen's Lane, the 1841 census describes Alexander Mathieson as a master plane-maker now at 38 Saracen Lane with his son Thomas Adam working with him as a journeyman plane-maker. Presumably, Alexander must have taken over the premises and business of John Manners. Now that the business had Thomas Adam Mathieson working with his father it gradually grew and became more diversified, and it is recorded at the time by the Post-Office Glasgow Annual Directory that by 1847-1848 Alexander Mathieson was a “plane, brace, bit, auger & edge tool maker” In 1849 the firm of James & William Stewart at 65 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh was taken over and Thomas was put in charge of the business, trading under the name Thomas A. Mathieson & Co. as plane and edge-tool makers. Thomas's company went on to acquire the Edinburgh edge-tool makers “Charles & Hugh McPherson” and took over their premises in Gilmore Street. In the Edinburgh directory of 1856/7, the business is recorded as being Alexander Mathieson & Son, plane and edge-tool makers at 48 Nicolson Street and Paul's Work, Gilmore Street Edinburgh. The 1851 census Alexander is recorded as working as a tool and plane-maker employing eight men. Later that year Alexander died and his son Thomas took over the business. Under the heading of an edge-tool maker in the 1852/3 Post-Office Glasgow Annual Directory the firm is now listed as Alexander Mathieson & Son, with further entries as "turning-lathe and vice manufacturers". By the early 1850s, the business had moved to 24 Saracen Lane. The directory for 1857/8 records that the firm had moved again only a few years later to East Campbell Street, off the Gallowgate area, and that through further diversification was also manufacturing coopers' and tinmen's tools. The ten-yearly censuses report the firm's growth in 1861 stating that Thomas was a tool manufacturer employing 95 men and 30 boys; in 1871 he had 200 men working for him and in 1881 300 men. By 1899 the firm had been incorporated as Alexander Mathieson & Sons Ltd, even though only Alexander's son Thomas appears ever to have joined the firm so the company was still in his fathers' name. In September 1868 Thomas Mathieson put a notice in the newspapers of the Sheffield & Rotherham Independent and the Sheffield Daily Telegraph stating that his firm had used the trade-mark of a crescent and star "for some time" and that "using or imitating the Mark would be proceeded against for infringement". The firm had acquired its interest in the crescent-and-star mark from the heirs of Charles Pickslay, the Sheffield cutler who had registered it with the Cutlers' Company in 1833 and had died in 1852. The year 1868 seems also to be the one in which the name Saracen Tool Works was first adopted; not only does it figure at the foot of the notice in the Sheffield press, it also makes its first appearance in the firm's entry in the Post-Office Glasgow Annual Directory in the 1868/9 edition. As Thomas Mathieson's business grew, so too did his involvement in local public life and philanthropy. One of the representatives of the third ward on the town council of Glasgow, he became a river bailie in 1868, a magistrate in 1870 and a preceptor of Hutcheson's Hospital in 1878. He had a passion for books and was an "ardent Ruskinian". He served on the committee handling the bequest for the setting up of the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. When he died at Coulter Maynes near Biggar in 1899, he left an estate worth £142,764. Company's later years: Both Thomas's sons, James Harper and Thomas Ogilvie were involved in the continuing life of the firm. James followed in his father's footsteps in becoming a local public figure. He was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the County of the City of Glasgow and was made a deacon of the Incorporation of the Hammermen of Glasgow in 1919. His brother Thomas Ogilvie was recorded as tool manufacturer and employer in the 1911 census. Thomas Ogilvie's son Thomas Alastair Sutherland Ogilvie Mathieson was born in 1908 took a rather different approach to engineering, however, by becoming a racing driver. In 1947 he wed the French film actress Mila Parély. The firm had won many awards at world fairs for their goods. At the Great Exhibition, London, 1851. Prize medal for joiners' tools in the class of Cutlery & Edge Tools, Great London Exposition, 1862. Prize medal honoris causa. International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1880. Gold medal International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art, Edinburgh, 1886. Prize medal The firm of Alexander Mathieson & Sons was one of the leading makers of hand tools in Scotland. Its success went hand in hand with the growth of the shipbuilding industries on the Firth of Clyde in the nineteenth century and the emergence of Glasgow as the "second city of the Empire". It also reflected the firm's skill in responding to an unprecedented demand for quality tools by shipyards, cooperages and other industries, both locally and far and wide.Scotch Eye Auger, Double Twist with Lead Screw 2 inch bit with round shaft leading to handle socketStamped A Mathiesonflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, auger, ring auger, ship building -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Tool - Caulking Tool, A Mathieson and Son, Early 20th century
Caulking is the traditional technique used on wooden vessels built with butted or clinker-built planks to fill the gaps between these planks while still allowing the wood to flex and move. This involved driving the irons, hammered in with the mallet, deep into the seams to open them up. After this, spun yarn, oakum (hemp) or cotton was driven deep into the gaps. The hemp or cotton was soaked in creosote or pine tar to make the joins watertight. Caulking also played a structural role in tightening up the hull or deck by reducing the longitudinal movement of the neighbouring planks. The subject item was made by Alexander Mathieson & Sons but the company was established in 1792 when John Manners had set up a workshop making woodworking planes at 14 Saracens Lane Glasgow. He also employed an apprentice Alexander Mathieson (1773-1851). But in the following year at Saracen's Lane, the 1841 census describes Alexander Mathieson as a master plane-maker now at 38 Saracen Lane with his son Thomas Adam working with him as a journeyman plane-maker. Presumably, Alexander must have taken over the premises and business of John Manners. Now that the business had Thomas Adam Mathieson working with his father it gradually grew and became more diversified, and it is recorded at the time by the Post-Office Glasgow Annual Directory that by 1847-1848 Alexander Mathieson was a “plane, brace, bit, auger & edge tool maker”. In 1849 the firm of James & William Stewart at 65 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh was taken over by Mathieson and Thomas was put in charge of the business, trading under the name Thomas A. Mathieson & Co. as plane and edge-tool makers. Thomas's company went on to acquire the Edinburgh edge-tool makers “Charles & Hugh McPherson” and took over their premises in Gilmore Street. In the Edinburgh directory of 1856/7, the business is recorded as being Alexander Mathieson & Son, plane and edge-tool makers at 48 Nicolson Street and Paul's Work, Gilmore Street Edinburgh. In the 1851 census, Alexander is recorded as working as a tool and plane-maker employing eight men. Later that year Alexander died and his son Thomas took over the business. Under the heading of an edge-tool maker in the 1852/3 Post-Office Glasgow Annual Directory the firm is now listed as Alexander Mathieson & Son, with further entries as "turning-lathe and vice manufacturers". By the early 1850s, the business had moved to 24 Saracen Lane. The directory for 1857/8 records that the firm had moved again only a few years later to East Campbell Street, off the Gallowgate area, and that through further diversification was also manufacturing coopers' and tinmen's tools. The ten-yearly censuses report the firm's growth in 1861 stating that Thomas was a tool manufacturer employing 95 men and 30 boys; in 1871 he had 200 men working for him and in 1881 300 men. By 1899 the firm had been incorporated as Alexander Mathieson & Sons Ltd, even though only Alexander's son Thomas appears ever to have joined the firm so the company was still in his father's name. In September 1868 Thomas Mathieson put a notice in the newspapers of the Sheffield & Rotherham Independent and the Sheffield Daily Telegraph stating that his firm had used the trade-mark of a crescent and star "for some time" and that "using or imitating the Mark would be proceeded against for infringement". The firm had acquired its interest in the crescent-and-star mark from the heirs of Charles Pickslay, the Sheffield cutler who had registered it with the Cutlers' Company in 1833 and had died in 1852. The year 1868 seems also to be the one in which the name Saracen Tool Works was first adopted; not only does it figure at the foot of the notice in the Sheffield press, but it also makes its first appearance in the firm's entry in the Post-Office Glasgow Annual Directory in the 1868/9 edition. As Thomas Mathieson's business grew, so too did his involvement in local public life and philanthropy. One of the representatives of the third ward on the town council of Glasgow, he became a river bailie in 1868, a magistrate in 1870 and a preceptor of Hutcheson's Hospital in 1878. He had a passion for books and was an "ardent Ruskinian". He served on the committee handling the bequest for the setting up of the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. When he died at Coulter Maynes near Biggar in 1899, he left an estate worth £142,764. In the Company's later years both Thomas's sons, James Harper and Thomas Ogilvie were involved in the continuing life of the firm. James followed in his father's footsteps in becoming a local public figure. He was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the County of the City of Glasgow and was made a deacon of the Incorporation of the Hammermen of Glasgow in 1919. His brother Thomas Ogilvie was recorded as a tool manufacturer and employer in the 1911 census. Thomas Ogilvie's son Thomas Alastair Sutherland Ogilvie Mathieson was born in 1908 and took a rather different approach to engineer, however, by becoming a racing driver. In 1947 he wed the French film actress Mila Parély. The firm had won many awards at world fairs for their goods. At the Great Exhibition, London, 1851. Prize medal for joiners' tools in the class of Cutlery & Edge Tools, Great London Exposition, 1862. Prize medal honoris causa. International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1880. Gold medal International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art, Edinburgh, 1886. Prize medalThe firm Alexander Mathieson & Sons were one of the leading makers of hand tools in Scotland. Its success went hand in hand with the growth of the shipbuilding industries on the Firth of Clyde in the nineteenth century and the emergence of Glasgow as the "second city of the Empire". It also reflected the firm's skill in responding to an unprecedented demand for quality tools by shipyards, cooperages and other industries, both locally and far and wide. The subject item is of further significance as it gives a snapshot of the technological development of sailing ships and their operation before steam-powered vessels took over around the world. Tools such as the subject item demonstrate the traditional craftsmanship and skill of the shipwright and the aesthetic quality of the timber ships designs of the time. Caulking tool Off-set. Stamped on blade "Mathieson & Son Glasgow" also stamped in handle, James S Steele tool box.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, james s steele, caulking iron, caulking tool, offset caulking tool, alexander mathieson & sons, shipwrights tools, ship building, clinker hull caulking, sailing ships -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Decorative object - Peacock, Minton Majolica life-size model, Paul Comolera, artist, Designed: c. 1873; Made: c. 1875
This majestic peacock embodies technical achievement, skill and ingenuity of artisans during the 19th century. It is now known as the 'Loch Ard Peacock' and was designed and modelled in 1873 by Paul Comolera (1818-1897), and fired in one piece at the Minton factory at Stoke-on-Trent in the United Kingdom in 1875. The peacock has been portrayed in symbolic motifs and has figured heavily in folktales and fables since antiquity, and many cultures around the world see it as a symbol of beauty, rebirth and power. Wealthy Victorians, loved majolica, and the large peacock would have been the ultimate home accessory, as a conservatory ornament – combining their desire for nature, the exotic and vibrant colours. The peacock model was listed in catalogues by Minton & Co. for a retail price of 35 guineas or sold as a pair for 90 guineas. Minton & Co. was founded in 1793 by Thomas Minton (1765–1836) and became famous pottery and porcelain manufacturers. Comolera was a French artist and sculptor, renowned for dramatic naturalistic forms, and life-size renditions of birds and animals that won him admiration in public and artistic circles. He was employed by Minton & Co. from 1873 to 1880, and the life-sized peacock became his best known work. Comolera, kept a live peacock loaned from the nearby Duke of Sutherland's Trentham Hall Estate in his studio, to create a life-size model of fine buff earthenware model, which was then hand painted in brilliantly coloured green and blue glazes to mimic the peafowl’s dazzling plumage. There are no surviving production records, but according to documents in the Minton Archive, nine peacocks were made by Comolera. However, today some historians now believe that twelve were fired at the Minton factory, research is still on-going. These peacocks were so admired that the Minton & Co. used them as exhibition showpieces at International Exhibitions in London, Paris, and the United States of America, assuring the company had a worldwide reputation. So, when Melbourne hosted an International Exposition in 1880, Minton & Co. sent out ceramics, tiles and in particular, this peacock was intended to be part of their exhibit in the British Court in the Exhibition Building, built in the Carlton Gardens. The early dispatch date (1878) indicates that the company may have intended to exhibit their wares including the peacock at the 1879 Sydney International Exhibition, but the company did not take up this option. The ship that Minton & Co. used to bring the peacock and their other wares to the Australian colonies was the ill-fated Loch Ard, which sunk after striking Mutton Bird Island near Port Campbell, Victoria in calm foggy weather in June 1878 on the final leg on the ships journey to Melbourne. The loss of 52 lives made it one of Victoria’s worst shipwrecks. Therefore, this peacock never made it to the grand exposition in Melbourne, as Minton & Co. had planned. Charles McGillivray dragged this peacock, still in its original packing case onto the beach in the gorge just two days after the Loch Ard went down. The peacock was rescued unscathed apart from a chip on its beak (only repaired in 1988). After a disagreement with Melbourne Customs Officer, Joseph Daish, McGillivray stopped his salvage operations, leaving the peacock on the beach. The second salvagers were James Miller and Thomas Keys. Miller was a member of the firm Howarth, Miller and Matthews, Geelong, who had brought the salvage rights to the Loch Ard wreck on 10 June. When Miller and Keys arrived at the wreck site, a storm had washed many of the salvaged goods including this peacock back into the sea. The two men found the peacock in its case ‘bobbing along in the water’, and pulled it back to the beach. To ensure the peacock wasn't washed out to sea again, Miller and Keys hauled the packing case containing the peacock up the gorge's cliff face to the top, ready to be transported. In an interview in 1928, Keys claimed that at the time of the rescue the head had broken from the body. This account was proven to be true in 1988, following the birds display in Brisbane. This peacock began its life in Australia, not in grandeur of an International Exhibition as intended, but in the hallway of a simple domestic house in Geelong. It appears Minton &Co. did not attempt to buy this peacock back. Florence Miller, daughter of James Miller (Loch Ard salvage rights holder), later remarked that the only item of real value rescued from the wreck had been the peacock and that this had been kept by her father in the family home for many years, and became a treasured family possession. As such, this 'Loch Ard peacock' was almost forgotten and mistaken with other Minton peacocks around the world. Florence tried to sell the peacock due to financial difficulties in the 1930s but was unsuccessful. While attempting to sell the peacock, it was displayed in the window of the Argus newspaper office on Collins Street, and at the National Museum on 1st June 1935, the date of the 57th anniversary of the Loch Ard wreck. As a result, the peacock again attracted public attention with books, newspaper and magazine articles being published telling the story of its survival from a shipwreck. After Miller's death, the peacock remained in an antique dealer's shop in Melbourne for many years until it was bought at auction by Frank Ridley-Lee, in the 1940s, who displayed the bird at his home in Ivanhoe/Heidelberg. The peacock remained in the hands of the Ridley-Lee, until it was offered for sale in 1975 as part of Mrs Ridley-Lee's estate. In 1975, an advertisement in Melbourne newspaper, the Age announced the sale by auction of the art collection of the Ridley-Lee estate that included this peacock. The peacock was not sold at this time, as the reserve price of $4500 was not met. This news was passed on to the board of the newly created Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. Urgent efforts were made to raise the necessary funds through fundraising by the Warrnambool City Council and public donations. The Fletcher Jones Company and the Victorian Government contributed half of the of the cost. On 9 September 1975, the peacock was purchased by Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, and it found a new home at the maritime museum. Since, it has only left Warrnambool twice. Firstly, in 1980 at the centenary celebrations of the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, and secondly, in 1988, the peacock was given pride of place at the entrance to the Victorian Pavilion at the Brisbane World Expo, acknowledging that this Minton majolica peacock is the most significant shipwreck object in Australia. The Minton majolica peacock is considered of historical social and aesthetic significance to Victoria and is one of only a few 'objects' registered on the Victorian Heritage Register (H 2132), as it is a most notable and rare object associated with the Minton factory of the 1870s and works by the celebrated sculptor Paul Comolera along with the wreck of the Loch Ard on the Victorian coastline. This Minton peacock is historically significant for its rarity; it was one of only 9-12 known to exist. The shipwreck of the Loch Ard is also of significance for Victoria and is registered on the Victorian Heritage Register Ref (S 417). Flagstaff Hill has a varied collection of artefacts from Loch Ard and its collection is significant for being one of the largest accumulation of artefacts from this notable Victorian shipwreck. The collections object is to also give us a snapshot into history so we can interpret the story of this tragic event. The collection is also archaeologically significant as it represents aspects of Victoria's shipping history that allows us to interpret Victoria's early social and historical themes. The collection is historically significant is that it is associated, unfortunately with the worst and best-known shipwreck in Victoria's history. The peacock, resplendent in polychrome glaze, stands perched on a rocky plinth decorated with vines, leaves, flowers, blackberries and wild mushrooms. The peacock’s breast is cobalt blue; the wings and legs are in naturalistic colours. The tail is a mass of feathers coloured in green, ochre blue and brown — a fantastic display of artistry and Minton expertise. Inscribed at the base :P Comolera, and a Minton & Co. design number: 2045.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, loch ard, loch ard gorge, peacock, paul comolera, victorian heritage register, minton peacock, minton & co., stoke upon trent, bird figures, mintons, ceramics, international expositions, majolica, naturalistic, staffordshire