Showing 14217 items
matching 7
-
Kadimah Jewish Cultural Centre and National Library
Programme, Kadimah 50 year celebration concert; 1962
Kadimah 50 year celebration concertdovid herman theatre -
Kadimah Jewish Cultural Centre and National Library
Programme, Jubilee Concert of the Jewish Theatre; 1953
Drama in 3 acts, Summation of Jacob Waislitz's accomplishments in the 12 years in Australiadovid herman theatre, i. kahan the poet who becomed blind, jacob wislitz, leah zuker, mendel shmerling, israel rothman, sh. tigel, jacques dessauer, a. vygushin, meyer ceprow, irael skurnik, i. weiss, y. blushstein, yasha sher, s. burstin, jacob waislitz, moshe potashanksi -
Melbourne Legacy
Slide, Legacy House in Market Street, 1957
A slide image of the old Legacy House in Market Street from 1957. It shows children and people gathered to go on an outing to the sea known for many years as Operation Float. Legacy rented the Market St premises for many years. A small 'Legacy House' sign can just be seen between the bus and the sign post. It was part of the Western Market complex that was demolished and redeveloped in the early 1960s. Legacy held meeting and the girls classes on the second floor of the building but it was barely fit for purpose. In the 1940s a generous donation by an anonymous donor meant Legacy could purchase a building at 342 Swanston St, but due to several factors were never able to inhabit it. Finally it was sold in 1954 and Junior Legacy Melbourne purchased 289-299 Swanston Street Melbourne (previously called Red Cross House) in 1956 from the Commonwealth Government. As part of the conditions of the donation it was named in memory of David H Dureau. Renovations were needed to the 289-299 Swanston St building so this slide shows that Legacy were still in the Market St building in 1957 while they occurred. A record of the Market Street building that Legacy occupied for many years until 1956-7.Colour slide of Legacy House in Market Street from 1957.Slides has 'Que for Operation Float looking up Market St'. It is numbered '14' by the manufacturer.properties, market st, streetscape -
Melbourne Legacy
Slide, Legacy House in Market Street, 1957
A slide image of the old Legacy House in Market Street from 1957. It shows children and people gathered to go on an outing to the sea known for many years as Operation Float. It is taken from Collins Street looking down Market Street towards Flinders St. The entry to Legacy House is in the shadows to the left of the cream Matthew Lang building. Legacy rented the Market St premises for many years. It was part of the Western Market complex that was demolished and redeveloped in the early 1960s. Legacy held meetings and the girls classes on the second floor of the building but it was barely fit for purpose. In the 1940s a generous donation by an anonymous donor meant Legacy could purchase a building at 342 Swanston St, but due to several factors were never able to inhabit it. Finally it was sold in 1954 and Junior Legacy Melbourne purchased 289-299 Swanston Street Melbourne (previously called Red Cross House) in 1956 from the Commonwealth Government. As part of the conditions of the donation it was named in memory of David H Dureau. Renovations were needed to the 289-299 Swanston St building so this slide shows that Legacy were still in the Market St building in 1957 while they occurred. A record of the Market Street building that Legacy occupied for many years until 1956-7.Colour slide of Legacy House in Market Street from 1957.Slides has 'Operation Float 1957'. It is numbered '12' by the manufacturer.properties, market st, streetscape -
Melbourne Legacy
Slide, Legacy House in Market Street, 1950s
Two slide images of the staircase in the old Legacy House in Market Street, probably from the 1950s. It shows children and people gathered together, some are holding balloons and some have party hats on. Legacy rented the Market St premises for many years. It was part of the Western Market complex that was demolished and redeveloped in the early 1960s. Legacy held meetings, activities and the girls classes on the second floor of the building, accessed by this staircase, but it was barely fit for purpose. In the 1940s a generous donation by an anonymous donor meant Legacy could purchase a building at 342 Swanston St, but due to several factors were never able to inhabit it. Finally it was sold in 1954 and Junior Legacy Melbourne purchased 289-299 Swanston Street Melbourne (previously called Red Cross House) in 1956 from the Commonwealth Government.A record of the Market Street building that Legacy occupied for many years until 1956-7.Colour slide x 2 of the staircase at Legacy House in Market Street.properties, market st -
Melbourne Legacy
Slide, Legacy House in Market Street, 1950s
A slide image of three ladies in a waiting room, believed to be in the old Legacy House in Market Street, probably from the 1950s. The portrait of Stan Savige was painted by E. Buckmaster for the Archibald prize in 1946. Legacy rented the Market St premises for many years. It was part of the Western Market complex that was demolished and redeveloped in the early 1960s. Legacy held meetings, activities and the girls classes on the second floor of the building, accessed by this staircase, but it was barely fit for purpose. In the 1940s a generous donation by an anonymous donor meant Legacy could purchase a building at 342 Swanston St, but due to several factors were never able to inhabit it. Finally it was sold in 1954 and Junior Legacy Melbourne purchased 289-299 Swanston Street Melbourne (previously called Red Cross House) in 1956 from the Commonwealth Government and moved in after refurbishing it.A record of the Market Street building that Legacy occupied for many years until 1956-7.Colour slide of three ladies in the waiting room at Legacy House in Market Street in a yellow cardboard mount with piece of glass.Handwritten 'Waiting room Legacy House. Painting of founder in background' in blue pen on the slide mount.properties, market st, portrait -
The 5th/6th Battalion Royal Victoria Regiment Historical Collection
Plaque - 5/7 RAR plaque
Metal RAR badge in the centre of the Wood plaque. The yellow and red cloth is behind the metal badge, the 5th/7th Battalion is in the bottom centre part of the plaque -
Phillip Island Conservation Society Inc.
Work on paper - Photocopy of newspaper cutting, "PHILLIP ISLAND/A place to fall in love"
This article was written by an English visitor named Elsa Christian who was touring Australia and New Zealand with her husband Frank in their own small van. The article was published in the Australian Women’s Weekly, magazine, March 1966. Elsa writes she wanted to visit four Australian locations before she died: Ayers Rock (actually Uluru), the Snowy River project, dolphins at Coolangatta and the Penguin Parade at Phillip Island. These destinations were all very popular in the 1960s for both Australian residents and overseas visitors. Because the roads were becoming better too many locations, self guided tours in small vans for cars towing bond would caravans were becoming more popular means of seeing AustraliaThe article is significant in many ways. 1. Indicates the places English visitors commonly wish to see in Australia. 2. Describes the growing trend to self- drive van/camping holidays. 3. Gives the route taken from Melbourne to Phillip Island during the 1960s. 4. Describes the appearance of the roadsides and locations visited. 5. It is written in a descriptive and lyrical style designed to appeal to Women’s Weekly magazine readers, who were probably wondering how they could visit Phillip Island with their husbands or families themselves, and what there was to see there. 6. Gives the visitors’ view of how the Penguin Parade operated at the time. 7. Includes a description of potter and artist Eric Juckert’s renowned garden at Grossard Point, Ventnor. 8. Indicates how introduced plants such as Hawthorn pushes and Kate weed were common in the area. 9. Describes Phillip Island as “a place to fall in love” because of its natural beauty, fauna and coastal seascapes. 10. As a visitor Elsa describes the housing estates as a blot on the landscape, but also sees the value as a way of their owners escaping from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne. 11. Gives the visitors’ interpretation of the behaviour of wildlife the RC in the wild, as well as Elsa’s knowledge about some of the species she encounters.Photocopy of full page article with 5 columns of text, a map and 2 photographs. Black ink on white paper. Photographs blackened in photocopying processphillip island, cape woolamai, penguin parade, seal rocks, nobbies, township of rhyll phillip island, princes highway, dandenong, pakenham, kooweerup, carinya creek, officer, san remo, gippsland highway, holiday homes, fort dumaresq, kitty miller's beach, wreck of the speke, hereford cattle, fleetwood manor, koalas, ventnor, eric juckert, little penguin behaviour -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
Mulberry Tree Branch, 1874
An unsuccessful attempt was made to set up a silkworm industry at Mt Alexander, to be an occupation for ladies of the district as well as to introduce the silk industry to Victoria. An attempt by women to enter the business world was beaten by difficulties: (1). Road access to the property (2). Heavy frost damage to mulberry plants. (3). Disease of silkworms. (4). Lack of quantity of leaves. (5) drought and rabbits. Experiments proved silk harvested and woven was superior to overseas products, but the venture was defeated by the climate and the surviving trees were relocated to Corowa NSWA relic of the far-sighted venture by the Victorian Ladies Sericulture Co, promoted by the charismatic Mrs Bladen Neill , who was anxious to generate employment opportunities for women..A dead branch from a mulberry tree grown at Sericulture Farm, Mt Alexander, in the early 1870s. This long limb's bark has cracked with age, forming a pattern of brown cracks. Remnants of smaller branch axilla are clearly visible. An inscription on paper is pasted around the branchTyped: "Part of a limb of a mulberry tree from the Sericulture Farm on Mt Alexander which was started by Mrs Bladen-Neill in early 1870s, finally closing in 1878. Mrs Bladen-Neill died in September 1884 at the residence of Dr Barker, Melbourne" "Courtesy of Keith Henderson, Harcourt" -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
Certificate, 1915
Issued to Brother Clyde Warren on his enrollment as a member of the I O R Young Australia Tent No 142 (Harcourt), on the 4th May 1915, signed by Isaac James, Superintendant & Bro R Grant, Secretary of the Junior Rechabite Lodge. A necessary pre requisite to membership was 'signing the pledge' to abstain from liquor.A reminder of the Temperance movement and its important role in developing a moral framework for the youth of the district. Harcourt was a ‘dry’ district for upwards of eighty years due to the influence of the Temperance movement. Pre-printed certificate with gold-leaf heading over a colourful crest, , scenes of safety in the ark, a rowboat leaving a shipwreck & St George slaying the dragon, two heralds (male & female) bearing temperance banners and, at the foot, a tripartite crest bearing the southern cross and resting in wattle. Handwritten names, date and signatures. -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
Frost Smoke Pot
Frost pots were used by orchardists to protect ripening fruit from the effects of frost. The drum base was filled with sump oil and set out in the orchard and set alight on frosty nights. These frost pots were used by Norris' orchards. It was not unusual for the Police to have to close the Midland Highway due to the dense clouds of billowing smoke emanating from this orchard when frost was expected.A local solution to a basic problem of the Harcourt Horticultural industry.Frost Pot rounded base with sliding opening on lid and galvanised iron chimney with perforations. -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
Tool - Fruit Picking Bag
Utilised for fruit picking by Douglas Johansen , orchardist, Harcourt. An integral piece of orchard worker’s equipment. Two canvas bags with reinforced opening and leather shoulder straps used to pick apples into during the picking season. Bottom was unclipped to place apples into bins or casesFotheringham Pty Ltd, Launceston, Tasmania -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
Flight Log Book, 1942
A SCION OF A PIONEERING HARCOURT FAMILY. KENNETH WARREN ENLISTED 3/1/1942. THE FLIGHT LOG REVEALS HIS SUBSEQUENT CAREER, WHICH COMMENCED WITH PILOT TRAINING AT BENALLA, VICTORIA 23/8/1942, TRANSFERED TO MALLALA SA OCT 1942 TO FEBRUARY 1943, THENCE TO CROUGHTON UK FROM 30 JUNE 1943 TO SEPTEMBER 1943 FOR FURTHER TRAINING, AT HUSBANDS BOSWORTH SEPTEMBER 1943 TO OCTOBER 1943, COMMENCED OPERATIONAL FLIGHTS OUT OF MARKET HARBOROUGH 18 OCTOBER 1943 THEN VARIOUS SQUADRONS IN BOMBING RUNS OVER EUROPE UNTIL 7TH MAY 1944 WHEN HIS LANCASTER BOMBER FAILED TO RETURN.. K R Warren was aged twenty when given command of a Lancaster bomber in the RAF. He was one of six Harcourt men who enlisted, trained and took to the air in defence of Britain during WW2BLUE CLOTH COVERED BOOK - BLACK PRINTINGROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
Memorial Portrait Photograph, Lieut Col R Gartside VD, 1914
Lieut Col R Gartside VD was killed in action at the Dardanelles,on Saturday 8th May 1915. This portrait was presented to the Harcourt State School byShire President, Mr E Pritchard After a lengthy career in the militia, Colonel Gartside served with distinction in the South African War, becoming known as the ‘Hero of Elands River’. He saw active service in WW2 and was killed leading a charge at Cape Hellas during the Gallipoli campaign. Sepia photograph, a portrait of a soldier in World War I uniform, wearing cap and medals -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
Cannie Ridge Pottery, mid 1970s
CANNIE RIDGE POTTERY OPENED SEPT 1976 BY ALLAN & MARY LETTS, AND SON GARY AND JENNY, APPROX 16 EMPLOYEES PRODUCED MEMORABILIA FOR THE POPE'S VISIT IN 1988 AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS INCLUDING WINE BARRELS, GOBLETS, CASSEROLES, TEAPOTS, JUGS, PLATES AND EVEN DINNER SETS EACH bearing the distinctive Eucalyptus patterns.Products of a now-closed ceramic pottery located in Harcourt.BLUE GLAZED 5 SIZED CANNISTERS GUM LEAF MOTIF WITH BLUE LIDSCANNIE RIDGE STAMP ON BOTTOM -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
Field maps in case, 1914
Maps used in World War I by Col W E JamesPart of a large collection of items belonging to Col, W E James, of Harcourt, who after a career in the Militia, commanded Australian troops in WW1, both at Gallipoli and on the western Front. The entire collection includes books on military law and maps. Essential part of the commanding officer’s kit. Collection of 12 fold up war maps from Europe used during World War I; on linen backing. Brown leather case, transparent front cover, brass fastenings and loop for attaching to the belt -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
photograph, Cutting timber
Ken Peeler (at head of horse), Ken's father, Ern Peeler and brother Don Peeler (sitting on load) with dray-load of 'five-foot wood'. Peeler's Road, Barkers Creek. Photographed by Alice 'Girlie' Adams, approx. 1942. Families living at Barkers Creek and Woodbrook obtained contracts to supply 'five foot wood' to Thompson's Foundry and Castlemaine Woollen Co. Rows of wood, neatly stacked, 10’ high X 5’ wide covered many acres at each factory, ready for use in firing the boilers. Much bushland was thus cleared for orchard or pasture. The horse depicted is fully harnessed with bridle, eye-winkers and reins, dray collar, hames, shaft saddle with girth & pole straps and breeching straps. Neatly stowed under the dray shafts can be seen the props, used to keep the dray horizontal when the horse was to be taken out of the shafts. The dray was almost entirely constructed of wood, with steel tyres on the wheelsA reminder of the significance of local sources of fuel to some of Victoria’s biggest manufacturing concerns as well as depicting a major source of employment involving minimal capital. A B&W photograph depicting 2 men and a boy with a horse-drawn dray filled with wood. Photograph taken by Alice 'Girlie' Adams in 1942. Ken Peeler, Ern Peeler and Don Peeler appear in the picture along with a horse with no known name. -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
Fruit Box Stencils, 1905-1910
Tin stencils were used to brand fruit cases to indicate the source and the destination of Harcourt Fruit for sale to local, interstate and overseas markets. These stencils are typical and also indicate grade/size of fruit. These stencils were used by J. B. Smith of Harcourt and N.C. Gaasch of Harcourt. Both of these growers customarily exported their fruit to England and Germany.An aid to marketing and branding Harcourt fruit, which had been sent in wooden cases for sale. Stencils, tin with delivery and sender details. Collection also includes ink block for branding the stencil information on to boxes. -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
book, Dr. William Barker and the beginnings of permanent settlement in the Harcourt Valley 1845, 1995
Researched and Published for the 150th anniversary of permanent settlement celebrated in 1995Published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the first permanent white settlement in the Harcourt valley.which was the occasion for community celebrations and of publication of a short history of squatting era pioneer Dr William Barker FRCS. Booklet of 8 pages in a hard cover“Dr Willam Barker and the beginnings of permanent settlement in the Harcourt Valley 1845” -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
Book, Granite Houses of Harcourt & Faraday, 2014
When the Harcourt Valley was the subject of route selection /environmental effects survey in connection with the upgrade of the Calder Highway into Freeway the Harcourt Valley Heritage Committee enumerated and researched the unique collection of granite homes to be found in the valley. The publication gives a short account of the builders and illustrates the various techniques of building in stone. Advocacy by the Harcourt Valley Heritage Committee ensured the retention, in the face of demolition threat, of a unique collection of homes, many owner-built and of vernacular architecture. A4 size book of 42 pages with full colour ilustrationsGranite Houses of Harcourt & Faraday -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
photograph, Fruit Packers, 1946
Apple packers were employed on piece work to pack fruit from the sizing graders into wooden boxes, following prescriptive packing charts that ensured a box of even sized fruit. Depicts women’s occupations in horticultural district. Photo depicting 12 women standing outside the Harcourt Fruit Growers Association packing shed on the loading dock. The registered office sign is on the wall behind Mrs I. Gibbons. There is other sign writing on the wall weather boards of the building. The weather boards to the left of the window appear to be second hand as the writing is partly covered up. It also appears to be warmer weather as all the women are in light clothing. -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
photograph, Centenary Committee of the Harcourt School, 1959
The photograph was taken at the ANA Hall & depicts the Headmaster, past students & parents who organised a very successful 'Back to School" weekend for the centenary.This photograph is a valuable record of the principal citizens of Harcourt, post WW2, given leadership by H Larter, the school headmaster, and C H James, a returned soldier/orchard supervisor turned /historian. After the Centenary CH James assembled a massive collection of Harcourt history, now in the custody of Harcourt Heritage Centre B & W photograph showing a posed group photograph of 35 adults of the school's Centenary Committee -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
A set of seven decorative white silk IOR sashes with red embossing
The Independant order of Rechabites "Hope of Australia Tent No. 109" was formed in Harcourt in July 1869 and celebrated its centenary in 1969. With a strong -minded core of Methodists and members of the Church of Christ the group provided moral leadership and social framework to a wide area for a long time. At first they met in a small hall but, the lodge having inflamed partisan passions, the hall was deliberately burnt down in 1877. Undeterred the Lodge rebuilt the hall in the same year and thus provided the only district public hall. The Hall was sold by the lodge in 1937.; The Independent order of Rechabites, a temperance and social organsiation, was particularly strong in the Harcourt, Barkers Creek district, due to the high proportion of Methodists in the population, a demographic phenomenon resulting from the courage, prevalence and influence of Wesleyan lay preachers on the Mount Alexander Goldfields. Ribbon/collar sashes,white, with red longitudinal stripe (Chief Ruler & Deputy Ruler only) and red border, red machine embroidery, angle stitched at lower front to form a fitted collar."CHIEF RULER"," DEPUTY RULER", "TREASURER", "GUARDIAN", "LEVITE" plus IOR triangle - "Truth, Fortitude, Justice" plus three heraldic shields with background foliage, Plus "Independant Order of Rechabites" plus a further decorative sheild surmounting a swage-like motto " Peace & Plenty the reward of Temperance" and "Rechabites Salford Unity" all in red on white background -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
Autograph Album, 1912
The owner was Rita Fletcher; many locals and relatives inscribed their autographs , drew or painted pictures and , using their best calligraphy, wrote up humorous verses. In addition the book includes news clippings on the sensation of the day, the story “Will you be my woolly aphid?” which tells of a Harcourt youth who put a marriage proposal in a barrel of apples consigned to England. On receipt in England the note was published in the press The unfortunate youth received many hundreds of acceptances and became the butt of humorous verse in the English and Castlemaine newspapers.This volume is a treasury of autographs , humorous verse then fashionable and the repository of a funny yarn from pre-WW1.It appears to have been handed around the entire district and includes verses, signatures and sketches from nearly all of the inhabitants of Harcourt, Elphinstone and Canary island districtsA red leather bound autograph book with gold letter and design on the cover. Gold leaf edges, coloured pages with gold decoration. Autographs, sketches, watercolour paintings, press clippings Autograph Album -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
Ann Milford in Buggy, 1896
This photo dates from circa 1896. It depicts Mrs Sarah Ann Milford, then aged 65, in a buggy somewhere in Castlemaine. Mrs Milford is holding the reins in gloved hands, having driven five miles into town from her home on the Faraday Road, Harcourt. The journey would have taken about one hour. Mrs. Milford together with her farmer/orchardist husband, worked an extensive orchard/farm, Here she is depicted having delivered apples, butter and vegetables from her family orchard to Castlemaine market. Mrs Milford is wearing a strictly tailored 'must fit snug everywhere' jacket with shoulder cape, very full sleeves, closely buttoned bodice, high neckline and rather severe collar. The skirt was separate , of lined brown twill cotton, pocket at side back. A buggy rug is strapped across her knees. The buggy rug was lined with yellow and black figured damask. Despite the masculine-oriented property laws and society norms many Victorian women were active partners in their family business. The photo is a good record of the fashions, transport and capabilities of this pioneer.Sepia photograph of a woman dressed in Victorian fashion, seated in a covered four wheel buggy.The horse is equipped with light buggy harness and wearing a buggy bridle. -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
Spraying the Pear Trees, 1925
This is Reub Eagle's North Harcourt orchard. The two workers are Walter Ellis and Dolph Eagle. The spraying equipment is a spray pump mounted on a wooden vat /horse-drawn vehicle and was an improvement on carrying a back pack spray as hoses from the equipment permitted greater ease and mobility. The pear trees are planted in rows spaced twenty feet apart and heavily pruned so that the fruit buds were to grow on the main branches.Photograph is a historical record of orchard/horticultural techniques of the 1920s to the nineteen fifties in Harcourt.B & W photograph shows a view of two men using hand sprays in a pear orchard. The equipment is a spray pump which is being drawn by a horse -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
Cricket Bat, Pre 1915
Presented by W Hampson, Used & loved by Rowland Hill and skillfully weilded by him in many matches played for Harcourt cricket club. Harcourt was admitted to the Bendigo District Cricket association in 1924. Formed from a small community it was said “ everyone played cricket in Harcourt” Most of the players lived on fruit orchards, owned the status symbol of the time – a motor car- and were widely regarded as people of substance. Clearly they possessed the necessary pre-requisites for acceptance into the wider cricket community. Dates from the era when ‘gentlemen’ played cricket. Also notable for its connection with Colonel Robert Gartside, who was Killed in Action at Gallipoli on 8/05/1915Timber cricket bat with partially bound handle, split corner, many indentations and gilt letteringHarcourt CC Capt R Gartside Mr W Hampson, Best Bowling Average -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
B & W photograph of fourteen men dressed in bowls club uniforms, Harcourt Bowling Club BDBA Pennant Winner Division 3 Season 1966-67, 1967
The inaugural meeting to form Harcourt Bowling Club was held in May 1955. Cr Ben Bingham donated half an acre of land in Bagshaw st Harcourt and the club acquired a small building from Blight's Quarry to serve as a clubhouse. The first day's play took place on 24th October 1959. New clubrooms were built in 1961 with the official opening of the Club held on Saturday 11th November 1961. The club became affilaited with Bendigo District Bowling Assocaition and, in 1966/67 won the Associated division 3 pennant. ; Depicts a group of men, the core ‘movers and shakers’ of the Harcourt community, in the course of their favourite recreation, Association champions in just the seventh year after formation.. Black and white photograph of fourteen men dressed in collar and tie, white trousers and dark blazers, each bearing the club name, HARCOURT BOWLING CLUB B.D.B.A. PENNANT WINNER - DIVISION 3- SEASON 1966-67 and the names of each player. -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
manuel telephone exchange
A manual telephone exchange, manufactured by British Ericson, History Originally in use at Cohuna. When Cohuna was converted to automatic dialing this exchange was relocated to Harcourt, to become the third and last in a bank of three exchanges. At this time Harcourt exchange was expanded to 260 lines. It was connected to the district central exchange at Castlemaine. Operated by mains power with battery back-up. Harcourt exchange was operated by Betty McLean, Miss Mitchell, Josie Hogarth, Mr. & Mrs. Heighway, Bill & Valerie Milford, Irene Bolitho and others. Decommissioned approx. 1970. Incoming calls prompted the fall of a shutter. The operator made the connection by plugging the line into the number requested. While responding to calls the operator needed her hands free to jot down the billing particulars or to write out each telegram. Nearby stood pigeonholes with various items of stationary. Many telegrams were received each day, particularly advising fruit growers on interstate markets. Most telegrams were phoned through by the operator. This exchange was restored in 2004 - 2005 by Trevor Grant.. Many people relate to this exchange. It is a survivor of the pre-electronic era when ‘telephonist’ was a common occupation. A vital element in the communications between households and between district orchardists and their suppliers and clients.A manual telephone exchange, manufactured by British Ericson complete with operator hands-free headset/earphones and speaker mouthpiece. Wooden case with one hundred shutters and sockets. Accommodates twelve lines with extension leads with associated switches. Operated by mains power with battery back-up. Decommissioned approx. 1970. Incoming calls prompted the fall of a shutter. The operator made the connection by plugging the line into the number requested. This exchange was restored in 2004 - 2005 by Trevor Grant. -
Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourist Centre
black & white photograph, Granite Quarry, early 1900s
J Blight's quarry is located on Mt Alexander. It was opened up by Blight, a Cornish born quarryman turned gold-miner, in 1862. The quarries supplied Harcourt granite to monumental yards and building sites all over Australia. The photo depicts the average workforce of the Harcourt granite quarry as well as the methods of transportation of the heavy blocks of stone. B & W photograph showing 19 workers on the floor of the quarry using cranes to lift large blocks of granite onto lorries drawn by teams of horses. Several women and a child are watching