This bike belonged to Wally Paten who worked in the Orbost Butter Factory in the 1940's. Wally's father, Thomas Paten came to Orbost in 1893 and began growing fancy seeds in 1907 for H. James. He built the first levee bank in Orbost (ref. Mary Gilbert). The Comet bike was distributed by the Myer Emporium. "Comet:" was their house brand. They also sold the "Peter Pan". It was named "The Comet" probably because it was a fast bike. At the time it was an expensive bike . Ted Waterford made headlines riding Melbourne to Adelaide one way then return on a Comet in 1932.Bicycles have been a part of Australian life for more than 140 years. The bicycle soon began competing with the horse as a convenient and economical way for people to get around. This bicycle is an example of an early style which was used by an Orbost local.A man's road bicycle. It has 26inch wheels, back pedal brakes and has a wire basket attached to the curved handle bars. There is a leather seat in poor condition. The back wheel has a mudguard painted white. The bike is ungeared. This is probably the original frame with newer wheels. The pedals are metal.Tyres - made in Korea down tube -COMETcomet-bicycle bicycle paten-wally transport

Horses played a vital role in the agricultural history of Orbost. This item is connected to that role.A brown leather working horse saddle, a dray saddle. Probably used from 1890's -1950's. It has 4 silver metal studs. The pads underneath have been re-covered with blanket material.saddle leather equestrian rural

Horses played a vital role in the agricultural and transport history of Orbost. This item is connected to that role.A heavy brown leather saddle used for a working horse to pull a dray. Probably used 1890's -1950's. It has 4 silver metal studs in the corners.saddle equestrian transport dray

A pack saddle is designed to be secured on the back of a horse so it can carry heavy loads. It would rest on a saddle blanket or pad to spead the the weight of the saddle. The underside of the saddle is curved to fit the shape of the animal's back. It would be symmetrically divided by a gap at the top to ensure it does not rest on the animals' backbone and to provide ventilation. This saddle was possible owned by the Forestry Department for use by fire spotters.Horses played a vital role in the agricultural and transport history of Orbost. This item is connected to that role.A large brown leather pack saddle. The underside is curved to conform to the shape of the horse's back. It is divided into two parts for weight distribution. The upper side is like a rack for the load to rest on and for it to be tied down.saddle pack-saddle equestrian

Alaster Cameron (1891-1967) was the son of Hugh Cameron an early Marlo settler and was reputed to be the largest private dairy producer in Australia at one stage. (ref. Mary Gilbert)This diary is a link to the present Marlo Progress Association. A small black leatherette covered Tudor Pocket Diary. It contains calendars and useful hints. On the title page inside is a typed full page description of the aims and objectives of The Marlo Progress Association from Alaster Cameron, the president of the group. The book has not been used as a diary.Diary Marlo Progress association MEMBERSHIP 3/-marlo-progress-association cameron-hugh

Phonograph cylinders are the earliest commercial medium for recording and reproducing sound. Commonly known simply as "records" , these hollow cylindrical objects have an audio recording engraved on the outside surface, which can be reproduced when they are played on a mechanical cylinder phonograph. The "Gold-Moulded" process was developed in 1902 and involved creating a metal mould from a wax master; a brown wax blank would be placed inside and heated . as the blank expanded, the grooves would be pressed into the blank which would then be cooled. The "gold" is derived from the traces of that metal used as a conductive agent in the initial mould. "Whistler and his Dog" was performed by the Edison Military Band.Edison Records was one of the earliest record labels which pioneered sound recording and reproduction and was important in the early recording industry. Gold Moulded records used a process that Edison had developed, that allowed a mould to be made from a master cylinder which then permitted the production of several hundred cylinders to be made from the mould. Previously cylinders were recorded live or by hooking two machine together to copy from one cylinder to another, and they used softer brown wax which wore out in as few as twenty playings. Gold Moulded Records were discontinued in 1912.A cardboard cylindrical record container. It is an Edison Gold Moulded Record container. The label has red and gold print and a photo Thomas A. Edison.Hand-written on lid - Whistler & His Dogedison-gold-moulded-cylinders sound-recording records

This item was owned by Ethel M. Lynn of Fairleigh, Orbost. The Lynn family is well-known in the Orbost area. Ethel Lynn, a general nurse, is believed to have been working at Bairnsdale in 1924.The album is historically-significant because it documents personal voices from before World War I in the form of poems, witticisms, well wishes and drawings.A black, dimpled leatherette covered autograph book. It contains autographs and sketches attributed to Orbost and Bairnsdale locals,On cover - Autographsautograph-book lynn-ethel

Reeves Greyhound Pastels were used extensively in Australian schools in the 1960's and 1970's.This box of pastels is an example of an item commonly used in Victorian schools in the 1960's and 1970's.A cardboard box containing Reeves Greyhound Pastels. It contains 12 unwrapped partly used pastels. The box is white with a picture of a black spotted greyhound on an orange rectangular background.Top- Reeves Ostwald Series Greyhound Pastels Made in Australia Set Non Injurious St L12creeves-pastels-greyhound art drawing

The first meeting to form an Agricultural society in Orbost was convened by the then Orbost Progress Association and held in the Mechanics Hall on Saturday, 10th October 1891. Its first show was held on 3rd March 1904...on a site alongside the Bonang Road where the present Golf Club stands. It is currently held at the Recreation Reserve at Newmerella. (Ref: In Times Gone By-Deborah Hall)Agricultural shows are an important part of cultural life in small country towns and the Orbost Show is an integral part of Orbost 's agricultural history.1944.1 is an Orbost Agricultural Society Member's Ticket No. 484. 1944.2 is an Orbost Agricultural Society Lady's Ticket no.484. Both are white cardboard edged in gold. The tickets are joined. There is a blue cord attached through a hole. The print is blue.Orbost Agricultural Society John Lynn President Member's Ticket E.H.D. White Secretary 1959 £1orbost-agricultural-society

Owen 'Doc' Matthews is remembered for his spectacular Grand Prix dressage exhibitions with his horse Aintree Boy, performed to music under spotlights at Melbourne Royal Show from 1965-1975. He also performed at smaller country shows. Doc Matthews was born in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy in 1923, during the Great Depression. He and his brother Paddy were placed in a foster home and then in a Geelong orphanage before being put to work at a dairy farm. Doc was given an elderly piebald mare to ride, which ignited his passion for horses. When he was 16, he enlisted in World War 2 but captured by the Japanese and ended up working on the Burma Railway, spending years as a prisoner of war in the notorious Changi Prison. Doc joined Victoria Police in 1952 and by 1962 was chief horse master and riding instructor in the mounted branch. He drilled teams to perform musical rides and horses and riders were always turned out to perfection. Doc and Aintree Boy became a partnership after the horse had been used in the mounted branch for four years. Doc decided to try his hand at dressage and as there were few instructors, trained Aintree Boy with nothing to go by but a couple of books and film of a single dressage competition. Owen 'Doc' Matthews was truly a pioneer of Grand Prix dressage in Australia. ( ref. TOPHORSE )Agricultural shows are an important part of cultural life in small country towns and the Orbost Show is an integral part of Orbost 's agricultural history.A square shaped ticket for Orbost Show - Monday, March 10th 1975. It is on white card with blue print.Orbost Wonder Horse "Aintree Boy". Monday, March 10th 1975aintree-boy dressage equestrian matthews-owen

A paper bank cheque from the Commercial Bank of Australia. It is made out to Shell Co. of Australia for the sum of £1-14-9. It has a purple ½d sta½mp duty in the top left hand corner and an embossed 1½d on the right hand side. The cheque is unsigned.13 April 1933cheque commercial-bank

" As well as preserving companies, various grocery chains, buying groups and wholesale co-operatives sold jam under their own brand names. One such company was Melray. Melray, founded in East Prahran, Melbourne, in 1932, was the forerunner of the Foodland chain (1958). It had branches across the country. Their jam labels included special reward tokens for redemption in-store. It is most likely that Melray jam was produced by Henry Jones’ Australasian Jam Company, or at least labelled at the iconic Jam Factory in South Yarra, Melbourne – a site of jam production in Australia for almost 100 years. Many Melray labels were discovered there, when the site was converted to a shopping centre in the 1970s, a period of industry-wide decline." (Information from australiapostcollectables web-site) The Melray Association of Independent Grocers consisted of the leading storekeepers throughout the State of Victoria, with a central headquarters and bulk store in Melbourne.These tokens were issued by Melray Stores as a reward for custom. This item is associated with the period when Australia produced and exported much more of its agricultural produce - including tinned jam.A paper token - Melray Custom Reward Token. This is a reward token issued by Melray for regular custom - 3 units.melray grocery-store custom commerce

The Orbost Methodist Church began services in April 1910, the Rev. E. Hooper as the first minister. Reverend R.W. Little was minister in 1930-31.Ministers at that time batched either in a little room at the back of the church or in Locksley House (near the state school). Sunday School at that time involved a lot of commitment on the part of the teachers towards the children and this was reflected in the efforts they went to to make Sunday School an interesting and enjoyable event. The Sunday School Anniversaries were always a big community event and children usually dressed up for the occasion. The children spent weeks practising hymns and choruses for the occasion and on the Saturday before picked armfuls of flowers from Mrs Hocking's garden ( may blossoms) to decorate the church hall. (ref. Pioneers and Pilgrims Revd Peter Gador-White).For many years the Methodist people of Orbost enjoyed the fellowship of the church and the children, in particular, were socially and spiritually involved. This item is reminiscent of that time.A rectangular cardboard invitation to a service and prize-giving at the Orbost Methodist Sunday School. The print is black on a pale blue background with a black frame and floral decorations in each cornerSpecial Invitation R.W. Little, Ministerorbost-methodist-church sunday-school

The Returned Sailors and soldiers Imperial League of Australia was formed in 1916. Annual RSSAILA Balls (originally known as the Diggers Balls) were held to raise funds for those who returned fromconflicts especially those who were not eligible for war pensions.Socially , the ‘Diggers’ Annual Ball’ accomplished a great deal in bringing Returned Servicemen together. At this time, these functions were organised by self-appointed committees and proceeds were distributed among special causes – mainly to the RSSAILA members who were experiencing hardship.A rectangular card invitation to the Diggers' Military Ball, Monday 1st May 1939. Print is in black. The card is edged in gold. It is a Double Ticket - 7/6 RSSILAmilitary-balls r.s.s.i.l.a.

These items are probably American ). A lot of carved bakelite jewellery/buttons/buckles were manufactured in the U.S.A. The orange (red?) one is especially reminiscent of American bakelite, due to its polished look. The other one is probably butterscotch bakelite. Originally it would have been white or cream, but the plastic oxidises over time and changes colour to a butterscotch colour. The rectangular one is probably a belt slide. Some types of belts don't have any holes in them. The belt is just slid through the clasp. There is no notch in the centre bar indicating that there was never a hasp. ( Info. from Button Bower)These two items are good examples of dress accessories typical of the first half of the 20th century era.Two buckles probably made of bakelite. 1950.1 is orange/ red, circular with a metal prong. 1950.2 is a slide, rectangular shape, light salmon pink (butterscotch) with no prong.buckles dress-accessories women's-clothing bakelite

This tin and its contents is a typical example of the common items used in a family home in Orbost in the first half of the 20th century. Tobacco tins would have been handy storage containers.1951.1 is a Havelock tobacco tin - Havelock Flake Cut - High Grade Tobacco. Inside the tin are various items. 1951.2 and .3 is a pair of white plastic earrings (1950's?). There is another earring, a hair clip, a white button, a metal brooch in the form of a bunch of three flowers with the catch missing, a fish hook, a brown stud button with a shank and a rising sun badge - Australian Commonwealth Military Force.havelock-tobacco earrings rising-sun-badge

Brass padlock is circular, with a very solid semi-circular hasp, which would swing sideways to open. The key-hole is low on the front of the lock. VAUNpadlock-brass

In the first half of the 20th century knitting needles were much easier and cheaper to come by than sewing machines. This is possibly why hand knitting was so popular. This pair of knitting needles are part of a time when women often made the family clothing. A pair of No. 7 pink plastic knitting needles.knitting-needles handcraft knitting leisure

This was the official stamp of the Orbost Information Centre before the telephone number was changed in 1993.A rectangular rubber stamp used by Orbost and District Tourism Association at the Orbost Slab Hut and Tourist Information Centre. Nicholson Street Orbost P.O.Box 130 Orbost 3888 Tel (051) 54 2424rubber-stamp orbost-information-centre

A shoehorn or shoe horn is a tool that lets the user put on a shoe more easily. It does so by keeping the shoe open and by providing a smooth surface for the foot and the heel to move, without crushing the shoe's counter (the vertical portion of the shoe that wraps around the back of the foot), in this way acting as a first class lever. (ref Wikipedia). This shoehorn was an advertising item for Jenkin Shoe Stores of Sydney, New South Wales.Shoehorns were commonly used in the 1930's- 1950's. A silver coloured metal spoon shaped shoe horn with a hole in the handle. It advertises Jenkin Shoe Stores, Sydney. Two leaves on either side of some small flowers are engraved on it.JENKIN SHOE STORES SYDNEYjenkin-shoe-store shoehorn advertising commerce

A wooden clothes or hat brush with an ornate metal (copper?) inlaid plate on the back of the brush section. The brush is curved. brush-clothes accessories

The C.W.A. rooms were in Munro Street, Orbost and were used for many activities, including Sunday School classes and dance lessons. This event was opened by Mrs J.N. Spittle, the state president of the C.W.A. The program lists an address by Sir Albert Lind M.L.A. In Australia, the Country Women’s Association was first formed in New South Wales and Queensland in 1922. Subsequently each State and the Northern Territory formed an Association, a process which took a period of 14 years. Mrs Spittle was the national president from 1951-1953. This item is of social significance as a representation of the role that the C.W.A. has played in the local and extended community. A souvenir program for the opening of a C.W.A. rest room in 1953. It is rectangular in shape with green print on white card with a black frame. Handwritten in pen on the back -"Thought you might like to have this love Annie"c.w.a. country-women's-association-victoria-orbost associations-women

This was an invitation to the Premiership and Grand Final Dinner. The invitation belonged to Mrs R. Smith, 20 Raymond Street, Orbost, 3888. Roma Smith (nee Cameron) was the daughter of Harry Purchase Cameron and Lilian Gladys (nee Harding. Roma married Ronald Richard SMITH in 1944 Harry's father, James Cameron, came to Bellagoogan on Majors Creek in 1882. Bellagoogan was on Majors Creek near Orbost and was the site of the first race course. Like many others at the time, the Camerons bred race horses.Harry died in 1964 aged 75.Orbost Football Club through its many changes has always been an important social fabric of the Orbost community. Sport is often regarded as an important part of life in rural Australia, contributing to community identity, sense of place, social interaction and good health.A cardboard invitation in the shape of a football. It has a menu inside and a program for the evening. on the back is a list of the team players for both teams.invitation orbost-football-club recreation sport

This postal note was purchased at Hobart West Post Office but was not cashed in. Postal notes (or postal orders) were introduced as a means of transmitting smaller amounts of currency within a country. They were sanctioned by the Universal Postal Union and upon joining this body, each colony was required to issue them. Money orders were later introduced for larger sums. The post office became responsible for postal notes in 1890. Postal notes were a way of sending money through the post. They were replaced by money orders. Duplicate money orders were issued as replacements.This item is an example of a form of currency which has been superseded by postal and money orders. Postal orders are not legal tender, but a type of promissory note, similar to a cheque.A postal note -black print on green background. The amount is 2/- and it is dated Feb 9 1942 , Number 337582currency postal-note

The one pound note was the most prevalent banknote in circulation with the pound series, with the last series of 1953-66 having 1,066 million banknotes printed. The serial number HK 02 suggests it was printed in 1966.this item is an example of pre-decimal currency used in Australia.A green rectangular paper Australian £1 note. On the obverse is the Australian Coat of Arms and a picture of Queen Elizabeth II facing left. On the reverse are Charles Sturt and Hamilton Hume. The signatories are: H. C. Coombs, Governor, Reserve Bank of Australia and Roland Wilson, Secretary to the Treasury. The watermark is Captain Cook in left oval. Behind each signature is ’ONE POUND’. The serial number is HK 456416 02 currency-australia one-pound-note

The 10/- banknote was first issued on 1 May 1913 as a blue banknote payable in gold. It was equal to a half sovereign gold coin. This is an example of Australian pre-decimal currency.A brown rectangular paper Australian ten shilling note. On the obverse side is Matthew Flinders and on the reverseis Parliament House. The signatories are : H. C. Coombs, Governor, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Roland Wilson, Secretary to the Treasury. The watermark is Captain Cook in left oval and ’HALF’ behind each signature. The serial number is AE 617665 72currency australian-ten-shilling-note

This was owned and used by J.G. Ralston of Orbost. John Gavin Ralston was born 26 July 1914 at Eden, N.S.W. and came to Orbost in the early 1920's, with his parents and siblings. They lived at the corner of Tennyson and Salisbury Streets. Jack was educated at Orbost Higher Elementary School before being apprenticed to William Ross at the Snowy River Mail as a lino-type operator. He married Jean Cameron. After WW11 when he served overseas in the islands) He resumed his trade at the Snowy River Mail until 1949 when began J.G.& J.M. Ralston, Seed & Produce Merchants. Jack Ralston was very involved in the Orbost sporting community, the Presbyterian Church and the Orbost Municipal Band. He also served in the Orbost sub-branch of the R.S.L. He died on April 15 1967. (ref. Margaret Smith O.D.H.S. Newsletter) Collecting match box holders / grips was a popular hobby. They were made to fit over a box of matches for protection. Some were especially produced for significant occasions. This item is an example of a very common personal item rarely used today.A painted metal matchbox cover with a thin wooden matchbox inside. It is cream coloured with a picture of a cricketer being bowled out. In the top right hand corner is "OWZAT". The matches are Bryant & May's Crown Safety Matches. it is a rectangular cardboard box with a sliding cardboard drawer. The box has a paper label with text reading, "BRYANT & MAY'S CROWN SAFETY MATCHES" and an image of a crown. The top and bottom side has a purple striking paper, to light match. Bottom and sides of sliding drawer are a green color.J.G.Ralstonmatchbox-holder smoking-accessories ralston-j.g.

This a cheaper version of The Durham razors. The Durham Safety Razor Co. was founded in New York,N.Y.c1908 by Thomas C. Durham. The first Durham Duplex U.S. Patent was filed in October 1906 and then in January and March 1907. By 1920 Durham-Duplex claimed eight million users. after many mergers a successor company Durham Duplex in Sheffield England still operates selling blades and knives with retractable blades.The Durham Demonstrator was a popularly used safety razor and hair trimmer of the first half of the 20th century before the use of electric razors.A Durham Demonstrator. This is a hair thinning and trimming resembling a straight razor which folds back into the handle. The handle is black plastic/ composite. It still contains the blade which is double edged. it has a built-in open comb safety guard.On handle: "To Be Used With/ Durham-Duplex Blades" on one side and "Durham Demonstrator" on the other. The blade is marked "Pat'd U.S.A. May, 28 07"razor durham-demonstrator grooming hair-trimmer

Straight razors were once the principal method of manual shaving but have been largely overshadowed by the safety razor, which incorporates a disposable blade.Straight razors were once the main method of shaving, This razor with the BENGALL mark was known for its quality on an international scale. During WW11 Cadmans supplied the defence forces with 250,999 razorsCut Throat Razor by 'T R Cadman & Sons Sheffield England'. It has a metal blade, a cream coloured bakelite handle, with a pin hinge for folding to cover blade.Bengall R. Cadman & Sons Sheffield Englandrazor grooming cut-throat-razor

Straight razors were once the principal method of manual shaving, they have been largely overshadowed by the safety razor and electric razors.A straight razor with an ivory coloured bakelite handle. the blade folds back into the handle'RELIANCE - WALDOO ERN 1683 Made in Germanygrooming ern-carl razors-straight