Showing 1555 items
matching farmers
-
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Photographs – Set of 3 black and white photographs of a building being transported by steam train
Prior to the sealing of the Kiewa Valley Highway in 1950, all heavy road stock including building materials, farm equipment and other heavy machinery had to be transported via railway lines to either Albury, Wodonga or Bright and then transported overland for the remainder of the distance by wagon on rough, poorly made roads. Trains also services the mining industries of the Ovens Valley and the transportation of tourists to Mount Buffalo and the very popular Mount Buffalo Chalet.Steam trains were a major form of transport for rural community members prior to the introduction of road transport. Local producers including farmers relied on rail transport to send and receive essential building equipment, farming produce, materials, stock and mail to maintain their lifestyles and social connections with the outside world. 3 black and white photographs of a building being transported by steam train. Photos show the train in three progressively closer photos. Photo shows a man standing in the doorway at the controls of the train, 3 figures, possibly children leaning out of the window of the carriage and another man, standing on the tracks with hands on hips. Photo could have been taken in Tallangatta, Cudgewa or Ebden near Lake Hume where trains were a major form of transport prior to the 1950’s. No markingstransportables; steam train; railway;, old tallangatta, esther temple -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Magazines - Health, 1951, 1952, 1973, 1974, 1962
These magazines published articles on health for the family giving up to date information with diagrams on common health problems. Magazines with written Information was subscribed to by families at the time as transport and technology was not readily available in remote areas. The Upper Kiewa Valley situated in a remote part of Victoria didn't have easy access to health information. These magazines were available to farmers in the Kiewa Valley and to the workers and their families during the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme from the 1940s. With the introduction of improved transport and technology magazines eventually became less popular as a source of information. They are of interest in that they indicate the medical knowledge of the time and can thus be compared to current day knowledge.11 magazines with colorful covers and the occassional colored picture inside. Each has 32 pages. Periodicals - March, may, July, Sept, Nov. 1951 & jan. 1952. Also - Jan-Feb., Sept-Oct. 1973 and Mar, July-aug. 1974 Also Australian Women's Weekly supplement magazine 'Family Medical Guide' March 1962 with 47 pages. Inserted is a 16 page supplement (also Women's Weekly) dated Aug. 1976 titled 'Poison & First Aidhealth, magazines, medical guide, kiewa hydro electric scheme, kiewa valley -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Chart: Bogong High Plains Cattle Allocation
Includes the names of farmers in the Kiewa ValleySoil Conservation Authority, Bogong High Plains, Cattle Allocation Marking/Brand Identifications Season 1958/59. Drawn 7-1-59, DWG No 679 file Sc/D/4M Chart gives details of Names, Run No., Earmarks, Brand & Location & Breed of cattle.Penciled in details under 'Name' 1978/Roper/W.Ryder/F.Ryder/W.Hicks/Maddison.chart, cattle, markings, brandings, bogong high plains, roper, ryder, hicks, maddison -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Boot Last
Higginson family are farmers in the Kiewa Valley.Wooden base block with metal shoe last attached by fastening into a hole made in the wood.shoes, boots, bootmaker, cobbler, leather work, farm equipment, higginson family -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Lantern
Used by the Higginson Family farmers of the Kiewa ValleyMetal with glass globe. Kerosene reservoir with screw lid. Crank globe lifter, wick knob.On the base: No. 420 Frowo, Made in Germany with a medallion of dog and a badge. Wick winder knob has a pattern. Kerosene screw lid has a pattern. Glass globe: Dietz, Fitzall, New York, USA.lantern, household item, light, eric higginson, kiewa valley farmers -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Crockery - Bogong Hotel
Bogong Hotel at Tawonga. See KVHS 0965, KVHS 0991 - KVHS 0993 inclusive.Bogong Hotel an important social icon for Kiewa Valley farmers, visitors, and KHES workers. The Bogong Hotel was 125 years old when it was burnt down in December 2011.1. 2 small china cups- white with black and green lines around the top and 'Bogong Hotel' logo 2. 2. glass cups with a handle. Glass is smooth on outside and has vertical 'waves' on inside 3. 1 small glass jug with handle and pouring lip. It has 5 rings of embossed glass around it 4. 1 burnt fire valve handle - T shaped for attaching to a surface 5. burnt bottle topbogong hotel, tawonga, crockery, fire at bogong hotel -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Bogong Hotel Pool Table Leg
Bogong Hotel at Tawonga. See KVHS 0965, KVHS 0991, KVHS 0992, KVHS 0993, KVHS 1201Bogong Hotel was an important icon for Kiewa Valley farmers, visitors and Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme workers. It burnt down in December 2011. It was 125 years old.Charcoaled pool table leg with shape and size retained.bogong hotel, tawonga, pool table, hotel fire -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Collection of Papers and Articles - Cattle on the Bogong High Plains
Cattle grazing on the Bogong High Plains was a tradition for the farmers of the Kiewa Valley. Controversy re the environmental impact has recurred over the decades leading to action by the Australian Government.Articles and Papers collection re controversy re cattle grazing on the Bogong High Plains. Late 1970s to the late 1980s.cattlemen, bogong high plains, grazing, kiewa valley beef farmers -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Book - Farming - Pastoral & Agricultural, Dalgety's Review 1906-1907
Dalgety's is a stock and station agent who produced a 'monthly record / of Australian Pastoral / and Agricultural Affairs / with Commercial news / and General information.' 1906 was the 14th year of publication.The Kiewa Valley consisted only of farming until the late 1940s when the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme commenced in the Upper Kiewa Valley creating the townships of Bogong and Mt Beauty and the corresponding infrastructure. This book would have been subscribed to (9pence) by local farmers all the way along the valley.Paper cover with black print and sketch of a sheep's head with horns in the centre. It has 140 pages which include black & white print of articles, advertisements, charts and photos.dalgety's review 1906, kiewa valley farmers, stock and station agent -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Parish Maps - Kiewa Valley
The Parish Maps show how the Counties were divided into allotments for buyers. On one the original owners are named and the sizes of their properties given. The reference numbers enable individuals research the history of the property. The other is on a smaller scale giving only the allotment numbers. The map with the names gives information on the early settlers of the Kiewa Valley. They show how the Kiewa Valley was divided up into allotments for town dwellers and farmers and enables further research.Two copies of Parish Maps of the towns in the Kiewa Valley. One gives the original owners and the other the reference numbers of the allotments.kiewa valley. parish maps. land owners -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Milking Cups - Dairy
This milking equipment was used in the early days of milking using machines. The dairy industry is and has been one of the major industries of the Kiewa Valley. This equipment was used on local farmers, P & R. Creamer's dairy farm.Set of early mechanical milking cups. 4 cups - 2 each side of 2 hollow metal (steel) rods which are attached to hollow rubber tubes that lead towards the main milking machine. The metal cups have black ends at the opening where they are attached to the cow. The outlet from the cups is via 2 metal tubes that lead into the rods that in turn lead to the tubes.At opening at end of cups: "Utility" possibly more but too difficult to read. milking machinery; dairy; kiewa valley; creamer family; -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Bottle - Milk, After 1966
Milk bottles were bought at the local store. Metric measures were introduced in Australia in 1966. Bottles were recycled and remained the property of the manufacturer.Dairy farmers live in the Kiewa Valley and send their milk to the local dairy to be pasteurised and bottled. Historical: Bottles changed shape, size, embossing and seal. Aesthetic- Display showing bottles of different shape, size, embossing.Clear glass milk bottle with straight dies three quarters of the way up tapering gently to the opening. The tapered sides are heavily embossed in capital letters with 5 lines of writing.Near opening: around top: 4 lots of 'm' each in a circle on 4 sides Next line 'Wash and Return' twice i.e.. each side Next line 'Milk 600 ml' twice i.e.. each side Next line 'Use not permitted without written permission owner milk Bottles Recovery Ltd Next line: 'M10058 18'milk bottle; kiewa valley; dairy industry -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Bottles - Milk x2, 1940's
Milk was produced at the local dairy and then delivered to the stores and / or each household. The shape of the bottles changed as did the stopper used to seal it. The cardboard one predating the aluminium seals. Milk bottles were recycled by the dairy for re use. Liquids were measured in pints pre 1966.Historical: Change of bottles - shape, stopper, embossing Aesthetic: Display showing embossing and shapeClear glass milk bottle with straight sides half way up tapering to the top where there is a thick lip on the outside. Opening is wide. There is an inner rim inside the opening. A cardboard disc fitted on to the inner rim to seal the contents. Heavily embossed.On side near base: 'One Imperial pint' On base: Common Seal: 'A' with 'G' and 'M' inside the 'A'. 'F 1297' is across the middle and 'M' is underneath. In front of the 'M' one bottle has '2' and the other '6'.milk, diary, glass bottle, household, farmer -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Bottle - Milk, After 1966
Milk bottles were bought at the local store. Metric measures were introduced in Australia in 1966. Bottles were recycled and remained the property of the manufacturer.Dairy farmers live in the Kiewa Valley and send their milk to the local dairy to be pasteurised and bottled. Historical: Bottles changed - shape, size, embossing and seal Aesthetic: Display showing bottles of different shape, size, embossingClear glass milk bottle with straight sides three quarters of the way up tapering gently to the opening. The taper sides are heavily embossed with print in capital letters. The circumference of the base is embossed with short straight lines in the direction of the edge to middle.On each side: "Pasteurised / Wash and Return / 600 ml Milk The fourth line continues underneath around the circumference: Use not permitted without written - permission owner milk bottles recovered.clear glass bottle, milk, dairy, milk bottles recovered, kiewa valley farmers -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Clothes - Baby's Nighties x3
Three early to mid 20th century baby's nighties, purported to have been worn by Nesta Drew nee Cooper. The Cooper family lived in Tawonga for three generations.The nighties were hand-made in the 1920s when clothing was usually hand made especially in the Kiewa Valley where access to shops was limited. The Cooper family were farmers in Tawonga.Three Vyella (brushed cotton) baby's nighties. White vyella fabric with silk thread embroidery. Very well home-sewn items, with cotton lace trimming.1920s.Home-made so no marking or brandingbaby nighties, nesta drew, cooper family of tawonga -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Book - Visitors to Tawonga, Tawonga Memorial Hall 50th Anniversary 2011
A celebration of the Tawonga hall's 50th anniversary was held at the hall on 15th January 2011. This is a record of those who attended and a reprt from the newspaper of the up-coming event.The district of Tawonga consists mostly of farmers and their families who socialised at the local hall on many occasions. The 50th anniversary of the building of the hall was therefore significant and a great reason for a reunion.Dark green leather bound visitor's book containing names of attendees of the Tawonga Hall 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2011. Enclosed is the newspaper report on the reunion to be held on the following day- Border Mail Friday January 14th 2011'Visitors' embossed on covertawonga hall, 50th anniversary -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Papers - Certificates - Edward Maddison
The Australian Health Society was formed in Melbourne in 1875 at the instigation of Unitarian Minister MarthaTurner. It promoted hygiene and comprised of doctors, prominent citizens and politicians. It targeted poorer districts and women. Schools were pressured to place health education on the curriculum. Society stalwarts made an annual examination in state schools. Mongan's Bridge No. 3403 opened in 1902. It was located beside the Kiewa river and operated part-time with nearby schools on occasions as well as full time. As numbers fluctuated it was also closed on occasions and then re-opened.Edward Maddison's family were farmers in the Kiewa Valley and the children attended the local school.Two certificates belonging to Edward Maddison 1. 1916 Pupil of State School No 3403 (Mongan's Bridge) - passed the Examination in Health and Temperance held by the Australian Health Society of Melbourne 2. 1916 Completed satisfactorily the Course of Study prescribed for Elementary Schools.- Mongan's Bridge Elementary School No. 3403edward maddison, australian health society, mongan's bridge school -
Orbost & District Historical Society
black and white photograph, early 20th century
Mr John Watt set up farming in 1879. He was a native of Port Fairy. He was educated in Scotland and came back to Victoria and selected 320 acres on the Snowy River.The property extended from Majors Creek Road to around about Gilbert's Gulch.The Watt family settled in Orbost as farmers being one of the first farming families in the district.A black / white photograph showing wooden farm sheds and wagons. a small wooden house is on the right hand side and there are tall trees in the fioreground.on back - Mrs Watts farmwatt- farm agriculture-buildings -
Orbost & District Historical Society
black and white photograph, 1910
Alan Richardson was born in 1853 and died in 1936. He was a sawmiller at Tabbara who built and held the ticket for the Paddle Steamer Curlip. PS Curlip was registered in 1893 and the Passenger Certificate issued on 30th January 1903 to Captain Alan Richardson by the Marine Board of Victoria entitled her to carry 25 passengers and only 10 passengers when engaged in towage service. Two children under 12 years of age to be reckoned as one passenger. He had the first horseless motor buggy in Orbost. Alan Richardson was married to Emily Dawson and had two children - Alan Jnr and Ruth.Before the First World War, few people in Australia owned or knew how to drive cars before they bought them. This International auto buggy was promoted as a useful vehicle for station owners, farmers, doctors, and town and country salesmen. It was said to be the cheapest automobile in Australia (at one third the cost of a conventional car), required much less maintenance, had durable solid rubber tyres rather than troublesome pneumatic ones, and didn’t need a chauffeur. This is a pictorial record of a "horseless buggy" which would have been a novelty in the early 20th century in Orbost. The item is associated with the Richardson family, early Orbost settlers.A small black / white photograph of a motor vehicle with a man seated at the steering wheel. The vehicle has large buggy wheels with mud guards. It is open with no windows.transport motor-vehicle horseless-buggy richardson-alan -
Cheese World Museum
Milking Machine, Bartram & Son, LKG Steam Operated Machine, 1906 (estimated)
This machine was the first double action (suction and pulsator) milking machine. This method is still in use today. Invented by Alexander Gillies,of Terang. The LKG milking machine is of State significance because it represents a high degree of technical achievement. It demonstrates the innovation developed by a Western District farmer, Alexander Gillies, that enabled dairy farms throughout Victoria to move successfully from hand milking to machine milking, thus contributing to the mechanisation of one of Victoria's major rural industries. Source: Cheese World Museum Significance Assessment, Lesley Alves, December 2009Cone shaped metal pail with a carry handle attached near the top and a tipping handle near the base. Removable top has pulsator mechanism which sealed the pail. Brass cover plateBrass cover plate inscribed Trade Mark LKG. Metal disc inscribed K136.dairy industry, machinery, milking machines, alexander gillies, terang -
Cheese World Museum
Exercise Book, A Carroll Exercise Book
This exercise book was donated by Donna Daly, who found it among her parents belongings. Her parents were Josie and Tich Kelly and she was unsure of the connection with A Carroll.This document is significant as it indicates records kept on-farm by some farmers. It records prices received for milk, calves, pigs and the amount of the government subsidy during this period which covers the time of World War II. It provides an interesting comparison with the Taylor milk passbook from 1895 and associated milk slips which are also held by Warrnambool Cheese & Butter Factory.Fawn coloured exercise book with pictures of old sewing machines on the front cover and Arithmetic tables on the back in blue printing. The contents include farm records from 1935 to 1945 documenting income from dairy, calves and pigs.A Carroll (front cover) A Carroll, Mepunga West (back cover) -
Cheese World Museum
DVD, Heywood Cheese; an oral history on film
For many years the Heywood Cheese Factory was an important part of life for Heywood and district farming and a vital place of employment for up to 40 men and 10 women. The factory opened in 1939 as a subsidiary of the Portland Butter Factory before becoming a world renowned cheese making enterprise. It was felt important to document its history from the surviving factory workers, including dairy suppliers and milk truck drivers. We hear their stories of the long hours and hard work without penalty rates, travelling unsealed roads and mixed with their humour of the bygone days is an important acknowledgement of that era. [blurb on back cover]This oral history provides significant material relating to the dairy industry in south west Victoria during the mid 20th century. The interviews give first-hand recollections of the interviewees involvement in the industry from a point of view of factory workers, milk pick-up drivers and farmers.Full colour DVD cover has photograph of Heywood Cheese factory and photographs of girls with calves, milk cans on a truck and workers in the cheese room, superimposed on a photograph of dairy cows grazing in a paddock. The DVD has the photograph of the cows grazing in the paddock.Heywood Cheese/An oral history on film (front) For many years Heywood Cheese Factory was ... [see historical information] Edited by Garry Kerr for the Heywood Pioneer Wagon Shed/ Museum History Group who wish to gratefully acknowledge the/ support of the Victorian Government and Public Records Office/ Victoria for making this project possible. Duration: 70 minutesallansford, heywood, cheese factories, cheese manufacturing, dairying, cheese -
Cheese World Museum
Book, Successfull Dairying in Australia
This book is part of the collection donated by Leon Garner. It provides information relating to the dairy industry covering topics such as planning, breeding, choosing dairy cattle, feed crops, care of milk and cream and herd health. It covers all areas of Australia. This book is an early manual for Australian dairy farmers.Grey hard cover book with full colour picture of a jersey cow and title printed in black on the front cover. The inside back cover contains a paper lift-up model of a cow showing its skeleton and internal organs.639 (stamped on front page)noel garner, dairy industry, allansford, dairy cattle, cattle breeding, herd health -
Orbost & District Historical Society
dress, c. 1884
This beautiful costume was the 'going-away' dress worn by Mrs John Russell at her wedding in c.1884. It has been passed down through the Russell family and was donated by her grand-daughter Mrs David Nixon. John Russell was an early Orbost blacksmith in Orbost, and director of the Orbost Butter Factory for 50 years. He came to Orbost in c. 1890 at the invitation of another early settler, James Nixon, became a blacksmith, and later a farmer and landholder. Many of his descendants still live in the Orbost area. This full length female costume is made of moroon satin with gold velvet inserts. It has a small train at the back, scalloped folds with lace edging down the front of the skirt, and two rows of 14 buttons each down the bodice.going-away-dress 1890s-dress -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph, 1999
This photograph features three display board sections showing information and photographs from 'The Harvest' exhibition inside the Burke Museum at Beechworth in 1999. The boards are titled 'To the Market' and 'Orchards'; the accompanying text cannot be read. The two accompanying photographs depict a man and woman picking fruit.This photograph is of social significance to Burke Museum and the Beechworth community, documenting an exhibition, The Harvest, held in 1999 to communicate the importance of agricultural development, specifically of orchards, in the area. The expansion of vineyards and horticulture in the Beechworth district followed gold rush prosperity in the mid-1850s, with nearly ninety acres of gardens and small farms under vineyards by 1865. There were 400 Chinese market gardeners and hawkers in the area in 1868. The growth of agriculture in the Ovens district in the mid -1860s led to advocacy by local farmers for the extension of railway infrastructure from Melbourne to improve access to distant markets.Colour rectangular photograph printed on matte AGFA photographic paper.Obverse: TO THE MARKET / ORCHARDS/ Reverse: 2856beechworth, burke museum, promoting settlement, living in country towns, making regional centres, preserving traditions and commemorating, farming and agriculture, orchards, exhibitions, burke museum exhibitions, fruitpicking, building local economies, transforming land, victorian agricultural history, marketing and promoting agricultural products, growing fruit and vegetables, the harvest exhibition, harvests, vineyards, victorian gold rush towns -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Note Book, Engineering Drawings, 1919-21
This note book contains handwritten material by Ron Uebergang – notes on engineering drawings prepared for a class at Warrnambool Technical School 1919-1921. Ronald Uebergang (1903-1971) was the son of Ernest and Mary Uebergang. He attended Allansford State School and Warrnambool Technical School and spent his working life dairying and raising cattle on the family property, Hopkins Hill, at Allansford, about nine kilometres east of Warrnambool. He was mechanically minded, fond of music and dancing and a keen photographer. These notes are of interest as they were compiled by Ron Uebergang when he was a student at Warrnambool Technical School 1919-21. The Uebergang families were pioneering settlers in the Allansford area and have been prominent farmers in the area from the 1850s on. The notes also are a good example of the work done by students at Warrnambool Technical School in the 1920s. This is a hand-made book of 22 pages with notes on engineering drawings by Ron Uebergang handwritten in black ink. There is tissue paper inserted between some of the pages. There are several drawings and equations in with the handwritten material. There is some silver fish damage on the front cover. Front Cover: ‘R. Uebergang’ ‘Note Book for Engineering Drawing Grade 3’ ronald uebergang, warrnambool technical school, history of allansford, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, In The Wilds of Africa, 1901
This is a boy’s adventure book owned by Francis Skuse of Strathallan, Allansford in 1906. Francis Skuse, the son of John and Catherine Skuse, was a grazier at the property Strathallan, six kilometres from Allansford. His property included the Strathallan mine which had limestone/carbonates deposits. He died in 1962. This book is of interest because it was owned by Francis Skuse, a farmer and long-time resident of Strathallan, near Allansford.This is a hard cover book of 558 pages. It has a blue cover with the names of the title and author in blue print on a gold background. The front cover and the spine are patterned with scrolls and imprints of sailing ships. The book contains several black and white sketches. The inscription on the first page, with the page partly detached, is handwritten in blue ink. ‘Francis Skuse, Strathallan, Allansford, June 3rd 1906’. francis skuse, strathallan -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Plates, Rolfe Saucers x 6, 1864
These saucers are part of a crockery set that belonged to George Rolfe and his family. George Rolfe (1836-1919) was a tea merchant in Melbourne who bought land at the mouth of the Hopkins River in Warrnambool in the 1880s. He had adjoining land and the properties of ‘Shipley’ and ‘Fairy Hill’ and developed ‘Lyndoch’, adding stables, jetty, boat house, windmill and reservoir, chaff and bone sheds and an extensive garden. In 1891 he married Annie Lake and it was his stepdaughter, Florence Lake who built the ‘Lyndoch’ house still standing today. ‘Lyndoch’ today is now the site of an Aged Care Facility. This item is part of the Rolfe Dinnerset as described on Victorian Collections at VC001420 and VC001422.These saucers, part of a crockery set, are kept because they belonged to George Rolfe, a prominent property owner and farmer in Warrnambool in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The items, dating from 1864, have social significance showing the type of crockery used by a more affluent family in the 19th century. These are six circular china saucers with a gold rim and ornamentation in a scallop design in gold and teal around the rim and the outer edges. The base of the saucers has a gold rim. One of the saucers has a chip on the edge and four show significant wearing of the inner gold circle. Some of the outside gold edging also shows wear. The maker’s marks and name are indented on the bottom of the saucers ‘Minton’ lyndoch, warrnambool, rolfe and co., george rolfe, history of warrnambool, florence lake -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
China, Cups x 4, 1864
These dishes were part of a crockery set used in the George Rolfe household at Lyndoch, Warrnambool. George Rolfe (1836-1919) was a Melbourne tea merchant who acquired land at the mouth of the Hopkins River in Warrnambool from the 1880s on as a holiday home. He developed the property over the years, adding a windmill and reservoir, bone and chaff sheds, a stable, jetty and boathouse and an extensive garden. In 1891 he married Mrs Annie Lake and it was his stepdaughter, Florence Lake who built the house, Lyndoch in the 1920s. This building today forms part of an Aged Care Facility. This item is part of the larger Rolfe dinner set as described on Victorian Collections at VC001421 and VC001422These cups are part of a crockery set, and are kept because they belonged to George Rolfe, a prominent property owner and farmer in Warrnambool in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The items, dating from 1864, have social significance showing the type of crockery used by a more affluent family in the 19th century.Four small white cups decorated with aqua band around the top of each cup . A scalloped pattern of dots are suspended from the solid band which is decorated with a row of gold dots. There is a gold rim at the base of the cup.Mintonrolfe, lyndoch, warrnambool, minton cups, mrs annie lake -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, The Royal Readers, Late 19th century
This book is one of the series of Royal Readers (Scotland) introduced into schools in Victoria in 1877 to replace the Irish Readers. They were in use until the 1920s and at first contained mostly British material (as does this copy which has no Australian content and features many articles on animals). By the late 19th century the Royal Readers used in Victoria contained some Australian material and it is presumed that this copy is an early edition. The Bonnett families were associated with farming in the Mepunga area and Jessie Edith Bonnett, the daughter of Frederick Bonnett and Charity Bonnett (nee Phillips) was born in Allansford in 1897. Jessie Bonnett spent her life on the family farm at Mepunga and was the last of the Bonnett families in that area. Mepunga East State School was established in 1886 with Ruth Broadway as the first Head Teacher. It has now closed. This book, though tattered, is of interest as an example of the Royal Readers used by pupils in Victorian schools in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is also important as a book belonging to Jessie Bonnett, a member of the Bonnett family of farmers in the Mepunga area. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society holds in its collection some other items that belonged to Jessie Bonnett, including an important World War One scrapbookThis is a hard cover book of 186 pages. The cover was originally a dark blue-green colour but it is much faded and is now almost detached from the binding. The spine and several pages at the beginning and the end are missing. The text contains many black and white illustrations and some have been coloured in. Some of the pages are torn and stained. There is much scribble on the front and back covers. The inscriptions are handwritten in black ink.‘Jessie Edith Bonnett, Mepunga East State School No. 2762’ jessie bonnett, mepunga east state school