George Milford, a long term staff member of Thompsons Foundry Castlemaine, remembers discussing Alexander Sinclair with this son, Alex Sinclair Jnr. "When Alex Jnr was a boy, his father, a senior design engineer, was sent to Malaya to oversee the erection on site of a suction cutter dredge for Thompsons. This was an adaptation of the idea of a bucket-dredge, where gold is won from alluvial gravels. In the 1915-1920 era, the Thompsons Engineering Department designed a suction-cutter dredge, by which hydraulic suction with a revolving cutter at the end of a long proboscis would collect the alluvial soil and deliver it into the dredge for recovery of the precious metals. Export marketing was then ‘all the go’, and the tin dredges were ordered from Thompsons, using the new cutter design. The dredges were, of course, shipped to Malaya in pieces, ready to be assembled on site. A number of Thompsons employees were selected to travel to Malaya to assemble the dredges. There were fourteen men in the gang. These men sailed on 1st July 1925, their number including Delmenico, McKay and Charles Albert Hauser, an engine driver. C A Hauser died of malaria in Malaya shortly after arrival. Components for a further three of these dredges were in transit or on site when the first suction-cutter dredge was assembled and tested. The designers had failed to take into account the fact that, in the jungle floor in Malaya, many trees grow up, and fall down, in tropical conditions, and become submerged still waterlogged in the floor of the jungle, and in the tin-bearing gravels. The suction-cutter dredge was found to be inefficient in these circumstances, the price of tin had fallen and the Malayan client reneged on the contract. Faced with an outlay of over £4,000 on which no money would be received, the company went bankrupt on 25th August 1925. Alex Sinclair Snr was at that stage in Malaya, and received the news of the bankruptcy by telegram. Upon telegraphing his employers for funds to return home, he received the reply that there were no such funds available. Alex Sinclair Jnr told the story of how his father worked as a labourer in Malaya for two years, while his mother took in washing and ironing during the same period, until together they had assembled enough money to pay for his father’s return Anyone who talks about “the good old days” is talking nonsense!"Large blue printed paper plan outlining the conditions of contract for the making of a steel boiler. The Blueprint includes design drawings and written contract specifying materials, time frame and costs. Signed on front 'Alec Sinclair Consulting Engineer, 31 Queen Street, Melbourne'. Stamped on verso 'Printed by Paterson & Co, Colonial Mutual Chambers, Collins St, Melbourne'. blueprint, designs and plans, yarrawee suction dredge, conditions of contract, thompsons foundry castlemaine, george milford

Author Te Manuwir was also known as Albert Edward Davidson. This book is also associated with Edwin J. Cannon whose inscriptions and drawings appear on some pages.Hard cloth covered book of 194 pages. The book tells stories from the 19th century by a man, who, as young migrant in the 1840s, was educated with Maori schoolfellows. Of particular interest in this book are the inscriptions and drawings by former Ballarat School of Mines Student Edwin (Ted) Cannon who was killed during World War One. .2) A New Year card inside the books is from Eileen Doolan of Invermay, Launceston, Tasmania, Christmas 1936.Inside front: 'January 2nd 1908. To Edwin Joseph Cannon 610 Acot St Ballarat Victoria Australia from his dear father.' 'E.J. Cannon Ascot St Ballarat south' E. Cannon (with sketch) 'S.E. Doolan' Stamped 'F. Cannon' Inside back cover: '2nd January 1908 Presented to:- Master Edwin Joseph Cannon by his father.new zealand, maori, te manuwir, albert edward davidson, ted cannon, e.j. cannon, edwin j. cannon

Cream coloured paper formSigned: Frank Tate, President M Bottoms, Registrar Registered Number: 6584. Employed prior to Act Division: Special Subjectregistration board, certificate of registration, manual training, frank tate, registered number, albert a w steane, public library ballarat east

Copies of ground floor and first floor plans of Ballarat Gaol ballarat gaol, ballarat school of mines, watchtower, gaol gates, governor's residence, warden's residence

Seven copies of of ground floor and first floor plans of Ballarat Gaol, including aerial vierballarat gaol, ballarat school of mines, watchtower, gaol gates, governor's residence, warden's residence

Letter to Michael from his brother Trn who has written the letter from Persia. Letter dated 21-6-07. He enclosed a draft for £150. He mentions India in August and London some time in September .business, stockbroker, kelly & allsop, kelly and allsop collection - letter to michael

Black and white photograph of male group outside building ( with two horses ) 1 horse harnessed to passenger vehicle. Building at least 2 storey with iron lace on verandah and upstairs balustrade.W.H. Robinson ( ref. J. Lerk, 5.11.1999)buildings, bank, oriental bank

Sepia image (Photocopy) on white board of mining battery. Showing table. Two men on walkway above 2 men lower. Inscription: On back, handwritten in pencil 'South Moon Mine/Battery House'. South moon mine in it's dividend paying period.W.H.Robinsonorganization, business, south moon mine

Collection of business letters (loosely bound with string at top) re Bush's' Stores. General 'my dear Alb' from 'Fritz'. See also 1202.60.person, individual, bush collection - personal

Miner's Phthisis. Report of an Investigation on the Prevalence, Nature, Causes and Prevention of Miner's Phthisis. Inscription on front cover: A. Richardson 29 Harrison St Bendigo, Annal, 1906. Page 342.Walter Summons, M.D., B.S..goldfields, miner's diseases and statistics., miner's diseases, death of miner's statistics.

Six assorted postcards with various themes : (a) Painting of a young lady with a blue dress and hat , (b) Young lady carrying a flat basket of Roses , (c) Loch Leven , (d) Truro Cathedral , (e) Miss Nellie Stewart , (f) Painting of a lady in a very ornate costume and a small child catching Butterflies.postcard, various themes, loch leven, truro cathedral, nellie stewart

Eight postcards, all but one are depicting Theatre Actresses of the early 1900's. All are addressed to Mrs. Hands, 164 Lygon Street Carlton and Mrs. A. Stephens of the same address. (a) Maud Jeffreys , (b) Unknown Actress , (c) Hand Tinted Photo, unknown , (d) unknown , (e) unknown lady , (f) ' Her sunny locks hang on her temples like a golden fleece , (g) The Back Beach Hotel Sorrento , (h) unknown lady.postcard, actresses, theatre actresses

2 handwritten letters from Cecily Macoboy 'Clonmel' Boundary St Bendigo (now Valentine St) to her friend Doris. Also included is a piece of paper addressed to Doris from Kathleen. Part of this is written in French, and on the larger side what appears to be a song and the notes required to play this music.Cecily Macoboyperson, family, malone collection, malone collection, macoboy letters, cecily macoboy

Book of hymns compiled and sung by Charles.M.Alexander published by T.Shaw.Fitchett Melbourne. Red soft cover with black print contains words and music some written by Bendigo pianist Robert.Harkness.Charles.M.Alexanderbooks, music, religion

Book. Red hardcover book with gold and black embossed picture of people and foliage. Gold lettering on front cover reads 'Scraps' Back cover has an embossed edged border. Scrapbook contains a few handwritten poems signed by Percy James Anderson and contains varying Seasons Greetings coloured cards, religious quotes, and a wide variety of cutouts that have been glued in.book, ephemera, scrapbook

Group of seven postcards addressed to Mrs. A. Stephens, depicting actresses. (a) Miss Tittell Brune in ' Parsifal ' , (b) Miss Maude Jeffries, (c) Miss Adrienne Augarde, (d) Phyllis Dare, (e) Miss Edna May, (f) Miss Doris stocker, (g) Mrs. Langtry.postcard, photograph, actresses, mrs. langtry, doris stocker, edna may, phyllis dare, adrienne augarde, maude jeffries, tittell brune, actresses, theatre

Document: Lined exercise book in poor condition. Entries handwritten in ink and pencil, listed by date and name. Measurements for Masonic Clothing?Geo Meakin, tailor, High St, Bendigoorganization, retail, tailor, geo. meakin, tailor, clothing measurements, masonic lodge

Group of seven postcards depicting actresses, addressed to Mrs. A. Stephens : (a) Miss Tittell Brune, (b) Phyllis Dare, (c) Miss Gabrielle Ray, (d) Miss Carrie Moore, (e) Delia Mason, (f) Miss Ethel Oliver, (g) Delia Mason.postcard, photograph, actresses, delia mason, ethel oliver, carrie moore, gabrielle ray, phyllis dare, tittell brune, actresses, theatre

Group of seven postcards addressed to Mrs. A Stephens (one addressed to Miss G. Thompson), depicting actresses. (a) Miss Nance O'Neill, (b) Miss Pauline Chase, (c) Miss Maude Hobson, (d) Miss Madge Crichton, (e) Miss Mabel Nelson, (f) Miss Hilda Coral, (g) 'The Sign of the Cross', Miss Maude Jeffries & Mr. Wilson Barrett.Talma & Co. Sydney & Melbourne, Copyrightpostcard, actresses, nance o'neill, pauline chase, maude hobson, madge crichton, mabel nelson, hilda coral, maude jeffries, wilson barrett

Group of six postcards depicting different actresses from theatre productions in Australia. They are addressed to either Mrs. A Stephens or Miss C. Palmer. (a) Miss Billie Bourke. (b) Miss Nance O'Neill. (c) Two girls posing in costume, names unknown. (d) Miss Zena Dare. (e) Miss Delia Mason. (f) Miss Edna May.Telma and Co. Melb. And Sydney Copyrightpostcard, actresses, a. stephens, c. palmer, nance o'neill, billie bourke, edna may, delia mason, zena dare