When the Commonwealth Post and Telegraph Act was passed in June 1902, and a national Postmaster General's Department (the PMG) was established the responsibility for the nation's mail and telephone services fell on Post Offices. The Bendigo Post Office, built in 1887 and situated on Pall Mall was the central distribution centre for receiving and delivering telegrams and continued to deliver communication and postal services until 1997. Now a Visitor Centre, dedicated volunteers at the Post Office continued to demonstrate and educate the public about the daily workings of the Post Office up until 2019 when Covid 19 disrupted every day life and Ted Rankins, the last Post Master and a long term telegraph volunteer at the Post Office, died. Manuals were issued to postmen to guide them in the delivery of letters and parcels and were small enough to be carried with them. This manual was used by the Bendigo Post Office postmen and is part of the postal collection donated by the Rankins family in memory of Ted Rankins,. Small, creamed coloured cloth covered manual. Contains forty four printed pages and two blank end pages covering all aspects of how to correctly deliver the post. Topics include 'Behaviour', 'Deceased Persons' and 'Bicycles' amongst many others. Book is bound and contains many extra additional paragraphs stuck in on appropriate pages noting changes and amendments. Additional amendments in handwritten red pen also occur on pages 28, 29 and 36.Front cover; Postmen's Manual / Australian Post Office Various annotations and updates throughout. ted rankins collection, bendigo post office, bendigo tourism, city of greater bendigo tourism, post office collection

Miss Olive Codling was a Foundation Member and a Life Member of the Wodonga Historical Society. Many of her photos are held in the Society Collection. The Wodonga Post Office was constructed on the corner of Sydney Road (High Street) and South Street in 1874. It was Wodonga’s second Post Office. The original post office opened on June 1, 1856 near Wodonga Creek. This building was originally built of red brick, although it was later painted over in white. It had an attached residence in South Street and was connected to it by a door. The residence was later demolished to move the mail boxes which had faced High Street, to South Street. The brick Telephone Exchange was constructed in 1946 behind the Post Office but separated from it. It operated as a manual exchange until the late 1960’s or early 1970’s. In 1985 a new post office was opened further south in High Street. This building, greatly renovated, is now part of the Wodonga Community College.This photo collection is significant as it documents how the businesses and buildings in Wodonga have evolved and contributed to community throughout the 20th century. A black and white image of the 2nd Wodonga Post Office. There are 6 windows across the front of the building and the name Wodonga Post Office below a round clock. To the left of the building is the royal insignia of the crown above the letters E.R. A sign for the Commonwealth Saving Bank of Australia is also attached to the wall.high st wodonga, wodonga post office, businesses wodonga

Written on back of photograph, "ROW Next to Mail Office 1960's) and "Old right of way now Civic Place". Catalogue card reads, "Old right of way which ran from Adelaide St. near hospital. When sold it became part of thoroughfare leading to Warrandyte Road. L.H. side present (1987) a garage, R.H. side is Safeways. Right though past Dickins (now National Bank) to Ringwood St.

Hunniford's Eltham Post Office, Main Road near Bridge Street, Eltham, c.1895. Possibly Miss Anne (Annie) Hunniford, Post Mistress, on left. Annie was post mistress from the mid 1860s until her death in 1928. Photo taken by Clark Bros, 25 Thomas St, Windsor. Clark Bros operated from this address from c.1894 to 1914. Australia Post: Gold brought life to the township - Diamond Valley News, Tuesday July 2, 1985, p17 On February 1, 1854, the first Eltham Post Office was established, commencing an association between the township and the Postmaster-General's Department that has continued for 131 years. At that time, the number of permanent residents would have been fairly small, probably less than 200. The discovery of gold in June 1851, at Anderson’s Creek, some five miles away, and later at Caledonia Diggings, Queenstown (now known as St Andrews), about 14 miles to the north-east, brought large numbers of prospectors passing through the township, hopefully culling the creeks and gullies for the precious metal. This additional "floating population" brought a greater demand for supplies and for communication with the outside world, and so it helped in the development of Eltham. Today, Eltham is a thriving township. It boasts an excellent shopping centre, municipal offices, court house. post office and many other amenities. Eltham continued to develop at a leisurely pace. During 1860, a total of just over 8000 postal articles were handled at the Eltham Post Office. By 1862, the mail route was "to and from Melbourne by way of Eltham and Kangaroo Ground, three times a week, by coach". There was also a branch mail that operated between Eltham and Greensborough, three times weekly. This was also conveyed by coach. Some time between 1864 and 1868 the management of the post office passed from Thomas Hunniford to his daughter, Miss Anne Hunniford, who managed the Eltham Post Office until her death in 1928. A big improvement in communication was provided for Eltham residents when a telegraph office was established at the post office in 1877. During 1923 a manual telephone exchange was provided at Eltham, the first two subscribers being J.J. O’Connor and Eltham Police Station. In 1949 the manual exchange was replaced by an automatic exchange and there were some 150 subscribers. Following the death of postmistress Miss Anne Hunniford in 1928, B.M. Burgoyne was placed temporarily in charge of the office. In 1929, J. N. Burgoyne was appointed postmaster, and he in turn was succeeded by H. C. Burgoyne in 1951. The post office was moved to a new site in 1954, but continued under the charge of Mr Burgoyne. In January 1958 there was a further change of site when the post office was raised to official status and transferred to new premises in Main Rd. William Donoghue was acting postmaster when the new office was opened. In March 1958 Mr W.E. Tovey was appointed postmaster, followed by Douglas McG. Gilmour in 1959. William Donoghue was fully appointed in 1966 and Barry Reichelt followed in 1973, prior to the present postmaster, Peter Jolly in November 1982. Peter is a young man with 18 years' experience. He commenced his training as a postal clerk at the training school in Melbourne in 1968 and was promoted to postal clerk at the Brunswick Post Office in 1969. He was finally transferred as postmaster to Fawkner Post Office in 1980. He has been at Eltham Post Office for the past 2½ years. He is married with one child and lives in Montmorency. The Eltham Post Office employs a staff of 21, of whom seven are indoor staff, 12 are postmen and two are drivers. The postmen in Eltham have an uphill battle delivering mail because of the hilly terrain. Nine of the postmen deliver mail on motorbikes, and the two delivery vans are both four wheel drives. Eltham Post Office services basically a residential area, with deliveries to 5600 homes. This is growing at the rate of 600 homes every 18 months, i.e. about 32 homes per month. At the present rate we will need a new postman every 18 months.Sepia photograph mounted on cardpost office, eltham, main road, anne jane hunniford (1855-1928), clark bros. photo

This Kandy Koola Tea tin dates to the early 20th century and was made and sold in Melbourne, Victoria. It once belonged to the Giles family. About Kandy Koola Kandy Koola ran an advertisement in the West Gippsland Gazette on 2 May 1911 promoting its tea as perfect for a picnic. The text reads “Picnicing. All as hungry as hunters – made a fire of small twigs – put on our billy of fresh spring water – and waited. Soon bubble, bubble, bubble and the billy boiled. In goes the pure Kandy-Koola Tea. Tea! Tea is not the word – it tasted like nectar! One cup, two cups, three cups – then had to make a fresh billy full. Lazed away the rest of the day sipping our Kandy Koola and chatting. How good indeed! “All grocers sell Kandy Koola Tea. It is pure leaf, selected and blended with the greatest care and skill. Ask your grocer for Kandy Koola. Sold in three grades, i.e. red, blue and green packets” About the Giles Family There are many 19th century items of furniture, linen and crockery donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village by Vera and Aurelin Giles. The items are associated with the Giles Family and are known as the “Giles Collection”. These items mostly came from the simple home of Vera’s parents-in-law, Henry Giles and his wife Mary Jane (nee Freckleton), whose photos are in the parlour. They married in 1880. Henry Giles was born at Tower Hill in 1858. He was a labourer on the construction of the Breakwater before leaving in 1895 to build bridges in N.S.W. for about seven years. Mary Jane was born in 1860 at Cooramook. She attended Mailor’s Flat State School where she was also a student teacher before, as family legend has it, she became a governess at “Injemiara” where her grandfather, Francis Freckleton, once owned land. Henry and Mary’s family of six, some of whom were born at Mailor’s Flat and later children at Wangoom, lived with their parents at Wangoom and Purnim west, where Henry died in 1933 and Mary Jane in 1940. The Giles family collection has social significance at a local level, because it illustrates the level of material support the Warrnambool community gave to Flagstaff Hill when the Museum was established. The tin and the tea that was in the container are significant for their association with the Australian and Victorian food industry, being blended and packed by John Connell and Co, Proprietary Limited Melbourne.Container; tin, for Kandy Koola Tea, part of the Giles Collection. Round tin, green background, gold band on top and bottom, printed on gold background. Ceylon flavoured tea. Also five gold flowers of various sizes with scalloped band, large golden inscription “Kandy Koola Tea” and “Ceylon Flavoured” and “Blended and packed by John Connell & Co Pty Ltd Melbourne” “Kandy Koola Tea” and “Ceylon Flavoured”and and “Blended and packed by John Connell & Co Pty Ltd Melbourne”. Printed on lower band “MADE AND PRINTED BY WILSON BROS. NORTH MELB.” “1LBS NETT”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, giles family, 19th century domestic items, tea, tea merchant, tea tin, food and beverages, giles collection, henry giles, tower hill, warrnambool breakwater, mailor’s flat, wangoom, 19th century household goods, metalcraft, tinware, kandy koola tea

Clothing. Wedding Dress - Bodice.Cream coloured bodice of wedding dress. ''Japanese silk with transparent yolk of chiffon tucked Russian Body'' ( Quote from newspaper of the day).Long pintucked sleeves. Fine ribbon trim and bows at wrists. Two flounces of silk, trimmed with ribbon at elbows. Front panel fastened at side with metal hooks and hand made loops, to show a centre panel trimmed with chiffon frills. Pearl beaded motifs at front. Sash at waistline ties at the side - finished with pearl beading, and and a stand up chiffon collar. Worn by Mary Smith who was the daughter of Felix Smith. He built the Wycheproof Court House, Post Office and Royal Mail Hotel. Mary and John Keane lived in a mud brick house after they their marriage. See also 11400.75, & 11400.77.costume, female, wedding dress bodice

Information folder containing items pertaining to Margaret Douglas. Contents: -article, 'A life of growth for Sister Margaret', Knox Easterly, 22 October 1986 2 original copies, 1 photocopy) -articles, "Sense of community', 'Resident doctor', 'The Angliss Hospital - through the years', Mail, 10 June 2014 -order of service, funeral of Margaret Shirley Douglas, Blair Chapel, Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Friday 16th April 2010 -eulogy (by nephew, who conducted service) -Article, The Age, "Artist of Crazy Man's Creek: A portrait", circa 1996. -Article, Free Press, "Cr Margaret 'worked quietly', 28-9-1983. -Article, The Leader (?), "Oft, the best leave", undated (but after 1995). -Article, Knox-Sherbrooke news, "Sister Douglas still cares", 25-8-1987.

Yields information about the tram operations on the Sebastopol line at Grey St and the terminus.Five (5) Digital images taken by George Coop during the period 1968 - 1970, of SEC trams on the Sebastopol line .1 - Trams 40 (Sebastopol) and 41 (Lydiard St North, with Johnny Walker Whiskey roof adverts) cross at Grey St. .2 - Trams 40 (Lydiard St North) and 35 (Sebastopol) cross at Grey St. Photos has the street signs - Gray St and Bala St in the photo. .3 - ditto, with a male passenger with walking stick boarding 40 - photo shows the loop arrangements. .4 - Tram 40 at the Sebastopol terminus - has destination of Lydiard St North, the Royal Mail Hotel in the background. .5 - ditto with poles being reversed. Tram has roof adverts for Eureka Tiles and a SEC roof advert. trams, tramways, sebastopol, grey st loop, gray st, passengers, crews, tram 40, tram 41, tram 35

Has a strong association with Arthur Hugo the Inspector. Yields information about Uniforms, badges, equipment and the equipment on the tramcars at the time - bumper bars and interior saloon blinds.Photograph of a four SEC crew, Inspector Arthur "Peter" Hugo on the right hand side standing in front of a single truck tram in SEC 1930's colour scheme, March 1937 (from Reg item 2926) at City Loop. Note the high set bumper bar on the tramcar and the large ticket wallet in the Conductors bags and the inside blinds on the windows of the saloon. Alan Bradley advised by e-mail of 1/9/2006 of the change of style of uniform from tunic with high collars to the jacket style. Could be 1940 or slightly earlier. Email with worksheet. Reg Item 2926 - has a photo of Arthur Hugo in uniform standing by himself. Photo dated march 1937. Hi Res scan added 25/3/2011.in pencil on rear - "808 Macarthur St" tramways, trams, inspectors, secv, city loop, uniforms

BTPS Postcard, featuring No. 27 and 38 in Wendouree Parade (Reg. Item 1781) that has been manufactured or stamped into a 24 piece jigsaw by Resort Puzzles Pty Ltd. of Lithgow, c1988. Card after stamping has been mounted onto a sheet of brown cardboard then enveloped with a sheet of clear light weight plastic and onto the rear, a printed white sheet of paper has been glued or fixed onto it. The pre-printed sheet of paper acts as the rear of the postcard for mailing purposes, providing a stamp location, address and writing area. The printed details give information about the manufacturer, phone number and on the top left hand corner has the words "Greetings from Australia" and has been translated under that into oriental characters.trams, tramways, btps, jigsaw, postcard, wendouree parade

BTPS Postcard, featuring trams No. 26, 27 and 33 over three separate images Wendouree Parade (Reg. Item 1657) that has been manufactured or stamped into a 24 piece jigsaw by Resort Puzzles Pty Ltd. of Lithgow, c1990 Card after stamping has been mounted onto a sheet of brown cardboard then enveloped with a sheet of clear light weight plastic and onto the rear, a printed white sheet of paper has been glued or fixed onto it. The pre-printed sheet of paper acts as the rear of the postcard for mailing purposes, providing a stamp location, address and writing area. The printed details give information about the manufacturer, phone number and on the top left hand corner has the words "Greetings from Australia" and has been translated under that into oriental characters.trams, tramways, btps, jigsaw, postcard, wendouree parade

Digital Image of BTPS tram No. 14 in La Trobe St during the 1979 Transport Cavalcade. Image provided by Paul Nicholson - see notes from an e-mail - 31/7/2021. Has the La Trobe library and State Library in the background. Hi Warren I’ve been given a few photos from the Vic Solomons collection. I thought this one, from 31 January 1979, would be of interest; for 14 of course but I wonder if the yellow car was that of Peter Winspur who looks to be in the picture. I wonder who the other two are? The chap facing the camera could be Neal Elphick? Our hobby and its people are often more interesting than the topic? Paul Peter Winspur confirmed that it was his car of the time.trams, tramways, btps, transport cavalcade, latrobe st, tram 14

Set of two black and white photographs, of the front of a Mock-up tram at Preston workshops, the fore running of prototype tram 1041. In an e-mail of 2/9/2019, Mal Rowe advised: - > The second one I think is of a large model of the future 1041, of interest. > The left side photograph could be a model or an early rough-up of the mock up. The right side Photograph is probably the mock-up - judging by the window in the background. See: https://tdu.to/m/168842/melbourne-1040-and-a-half c late 1960's. The photo with the window in the background could be the actual mock-up (two copies held), while the 2nd is of a narrower body, but has workshop lights reflected in the window. All photos have a remnant of an adhesive strip on the rear.trams, tramways, prototype tramcar, preston workshops, models, 1041

Black and white photographs, of 15 men around a SW6 fitted with dash canopy lighting. In an e-mail from Mal Rowe dated 2/9/2019, he advises "If it is Essendon (and that looks right) especially noting that 454 (in the background) was allocated to Essendon at that time, so Essendon is pretty certain. The tram is most likely 927 - the only dash canopy SW6 with a number including 2 allocated to Essendon in the period. Geoff Warburton's tables say the three holes were cut in 927's dash in Nov 1951 and the it was converted to headlights in December 1951! As you say, looks like MMTB staff - in the pit in their suits! It's a long shot, but is the guy with his hand on the bumper on the opposite side to the number possibly Frank Kirby?""On rear in ink "About 1953 @ Essendon Depot"trams, tramways, dash canopy lights, essendon depot, engineers, tram 927, sw6 class, mmtb, staff

Set of three hanimount light brown 35mm slides - December 1963 taken by Les Fordham. .1 - W6 981 (Route 96, East Brunswick, Blyth St) at the Spencer St terminus with a large mob or group of people waiting to board a tram. Note both trolley poles are in the up position. IN the background is the West Melbourne Police Station, The tramway building and Carlyon's Hotel. Alongside is a Newsday (newspaper) van. A policeman is on point duty. .2 - W7 1010 (Route 88 East Preston) at the Spencer St terminus, Has the Mail Exchange in the background. .3 - W6 988 waiting to enter the terminus (Exhibition), a crewman is changing the route number. In the Safety Zone is W7 (1008??), Route 97 with a conductor walking in front of the tram.trams, tramways, bourke st, route 96, east brunswick, police, w6 class, w7 class, route 88, tram 981, tram 1010, tram 988, tram 1008

Black and white negative, by Wal Jack, of S class 168 on the western road at Footscray Tram depot. Two other S Class cars are behind 168 and on the other roads is a further S Class and X1 Class car. Shows the depot layout. There are three buses in the yard - advised by Paul Kennelly via David Kemp by e-mail: Two Leyland Cubs sandwiching a Federal B20, all with MMTB Preston Workshops bodies. The Leyland Cub closest to the camera is No 49 new 8/1936. This bus had been re-engined to Diesel by this time. May explain the missing engine cover. The other Leyland Cub maybe in the same 41-50 number sequence. The Federal B20 was new the following year and was numbered in the sequence 53-60.trams, tramways, footscray depot, buses, s class, tram 168, mmtb, mmtb buses, leyland cub, world war ii, footscray, x1 class, federal b20

Translated copy, dated 25 and 28 January 77. Translation refers to the acknowledgement of the receipt of £13.10/- sick pay from the Bendigo German Club and Court of Foresters. Enclosed Doctor's certificate for Mr. Moeckelmann. Because Detlef Moeckelmann was blind, and his sense of hearing was getting gradually weaker, and his old mother had continuous illness, and it was hoped that the German Club and Court King of the Forest could do a little extra for him. The German Club were not in favor of granting extra assistance for an indefinite period. The German Club voted the money, which was dispatched by the next mail. Mr. Detlef Moeckelmann lost his eyesight through an explosion of gunpowder. His left eye was destroyed, and his right eye badly injured to such an extent, that the recovery of sight is an improbability.societies, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - correspondence, mr weibgen, bendigo german club, mr moeckelmann, court king of the forest, h schott, d brinckmann, schmidt

Aged 19 James Stirling arrived in Melbourne on January 26, 1842 with his family - parents, three sisters and two brothers. James Stirling moved around a lot to Whittlesea, Ballarat goldfields, Cunninghame, (now Lakes Entrance), then to the Old Station about 36 miles to the east along the coast near the mouth of the Snowy River and for a time settled there with his wife also from Wigton, Scotland, and their family four sons two daughters (James, John, William, George, Margaret and Polly). The first settler to occupy the Marlo township area was James Stirling around the year 1875. He built a bark hut on the bluff that had two rooms, bark walls, earthen floors and a shingle roof. By 1884, this structure had expanded to a 9 roomed accommodation house and in 1886 became the Marlo Hotel when a liquor license was granted. (more information from “Snowy River Mail”, Wednesday, April 13th 1977: MEMORIES OF MARLO by Mrs Elsbeth Conlon (nee Stirling ) During the 19th century bullock teams were the most effective means of transporting people and goods inland, as the roads were badly made and in poor condition. The better roads were closer to the towns, and the further away from the town, the worse the conditions of the roads. Bullock teams drew heavily laden carts full of provisions, equipment and people from town to town and into the countryside to isolated homes. This item is associated with that era. It is also associated with James Sterling a very early settler of Marlo.A black / white photograph of a bullock team with a man standing beside it.on front - J STIRLING S BULLOCK TEAMstirling-james marlo-history bullock-team transport

This is a photograph of Percy Nixon's sons - Jack, Allen, Pres, Keith and Jim. The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images.This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker. It is also associated with the Nixon family, early settlers in the Orbost district.A black / white photograph of four young boys in a pumpkin with an older boy pushing them. There is a Union Jack flag at each end of the pumpkin with "HMAS ORBOST" on the side. The boys are wearing shirts and ties. A baby has his hand over the side trying to touch the water. pumpkins-orbost warren-helena-photographer nixon-percy nixon-jack nixon-pres nixon-keith nixon-jim nixon-allen

This is a photograph of Jack Warren, Bon Trewin, Enid Eaton, Linda Warren, Ivan Trewin and Jim Trewin. The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images.This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker.A black / white photograph of si small children sitting in a pumpkin on water. There is a Union Jack at one end and an Australian flag at the other,. On the side is "HMAS ORBOST"pumpkins-orbost warren-helena-photographer trewin-bon trewin-ivan trewin-jim warren-jack warren-linda eaton-enid

This photograph shows Cora Lynn, Enid Eaton, Jim Trewin, Jean Trewin and Ivan Trewin. The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images.This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker. This item is associated with a popular activity of the Orbost community in the first half of the 20th century. Pumpkins have been been part of the district's agricultural history since settlement.A black / white photograph of three children and two babies in a carved out pumpkin. There is a flag at each endpumpkin warren-helena trewin lynn eaton

This is a photograph of John Draffin and his family. John Draffin was for a time the Orbost Shire Secretary. John Draffin came to Australia as a child with his parents from the north of Ireland . He came to Orbost in 1894 and was Shire Secretary from then until 1910 He had four children: Andrina, Eva, George, Maggie, Sally and Nellie. "Mr Draffin was 67 years of age when he died. He had for many years been engaged in farming pursuits, and at one time held the position of champion plough- man of Victoria. In his younger days he used to make it his boast- that although he was a small man he could do as much work as a big one Some thirty odd years ago be took up land in South Gippsland, but in 1895 gave up farming, and was appointed secretary to the Orbost shire, a position which he held until he was compelled by failing health to resign." - from Snowy River Mail 1 August 1912.John Draffin was a prominent Orbost citizen involved in many community activities.A black / white studio photograph of a family - mother father and six children. The parents are seated with the youngest child, other children are standing.draffin-john orbost-shire-secretary

In the mid to late 1930’s survey outposts were established to plot the early stages of the Kiewa Hydro Electric System for the SECV in the Bogong High Plains. Before any roads were built, the old cattleman’s tracks were used with packhorses to deliver supplies, wages and mail and collect timesheets and correspondence from the workmen and dam builders living in canvas tents and at the outlying survey posts. The trip up the mountain was long and hard and dangerous for both horse and man Most of the men of the survey teams were not bush-men and were often ill equipped for the harsh weather and living conditions of bush camping, often arriving in their city clothes ready for work. The tent city at Bogong was destroyed by bush fires in 1939 after which an access road was built from Mt Beauty to transport building materials for more permanent dwellings for workmen. Pack horses continued to be used for transporting goods etc. to workers further up the mountain.Without the work of horsemen and their pack horses providing supplies and communications for outlying outposts, surveying and early planning for the Kiewa Valley Hydro Electric scheme could not have gone ahead and the dams and power stations which support the system could not have been constructed. The Hydro-electric scheme, and the workers who planned and built it play a major part in the early history of the Kiewa Valley and many original families still remain living, or have ties with the local area.: Set of 21 black and white photographs and copies of photographs depicting the pack horses and the men who handled them, transporting supplies and correspondence to the outlying camps and survey posts in the Bogong High Plains, via the rough cattlemen’s tracks. Photographs also show the early tent camps of the workers. Some photos mounted on A4 white paper. Some photos enlarged to A3 poster size for display1. Handwritten on back – Max Lawrence 2. -8 No inscriptions 9. Handwritten on back- Packing in supplies for early workers of the Kiewa Hydro scheme. There were no roads in the early days of the scheme 10. Printed on bottom of photo- Roper’s cattle on road below Howman’s Gap 11. Handwritten on back – Roper’s et al about to leave for the high plains 12. Printed under photo- Syd Ryder at the Pretty Valley Cut-Out (JBR) 13-16. No markings 17. Printed under photo- Gwen Talbot visits the Camp area. 1937 18. Handwritten on back- 14/1 Barbara Talbot 19. No markings 20-21. No markings 22. Printed under photo- STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA. Date: 15-3-45 Time: 8.0pm No: K 1838 Kiewa Hydro-Electric Works, Investigations 1944-1945 – Survey Camp at Young’s Hut pack horses; bogong high plains; survey posts; supplies delivery

George Eddington arrived in Australia in 1839 and named and established property in 1841 calling the property Ballangeich after a Pass near his home town of Stirling in Scotland. It is situated 151 miles west of Melbourne and to the south of Mortlake and was originally part of the Mortlake shire, which was proclaimed 26th Jan 1864. Nearest streams are the Hopkins Riverand Lyall and Drysdale creek running through good agricultural land. This map relates to the breaking up of large runs which the Victorian government enabled through selection acts of the 1860's. The previously larger runs which were mainly cattle and sheep based were now more open to closer settlement and a greater variety in farming.The lots range in size from approximately 50 acres to around 600 acres.Some areas are set aside for reserves. By 1886 the population of Ballangeich had grown to around 600 with an hotel, three state schools and a church.Tri weekly coaches ran to Colac, Warrnambool and Camperdown providing access to supplies mail and communication. This map is typical of many which were produced in the 1860's in Victoria during a significant period of Victoria's and Warrnambool district history.Rectangular light card paper with black text showing allotments of land The area is coloured in green with scale at bottom right cornerAt the top: Plan of the Agricultural area of Ballangeich 1865 At the bottom left: Prepared by the Board of Lands & Works in accordance with the Amending Land Act 1865 Lands & Survey Office Melbourne 13th April 1865. With signaturehistory of warrnambool, ballangeich, land surveys victoria 1865, lands act 1865 victoria, ballangeich map 1865

This letter, the first air mail letter sent to Warrnambool, was written by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sir David Valentine Hennessy and carried by the aviator, Basil Watson on the first flight to Warrnambool January 24th 1917. The letter was delivered to the Mayor of Warrnambool, Cr Webb.There were several other letters delivered at the same time but this is the important official one. Basil Watson was a pioneer aviator who built his own aeroplane which was 18 feet long with a wing span of 26 feet and it had a 7 cylinder 50 H.P. Rotary Gnome engine. Watson flew from Point Cook to Warrnambool in one hour 55 minutes, an Australian cross-country flying record at the time. In Warrnambool Watson amazed the crowd with his dare-devil aerial acrobatics, looping the loop 14 times over the Warrnambool Racecourse. Basil Watson died when he crashed his plane into the sea near Point Cook, just two months after he landed in Warrnambool. This letter is of the utmost significance being the first air mail letter delivered to Warrnambool. It is an important memento of the first aeroplane flight into Warrnambool by the pioneer aviator Basil Watson. This is a cream-coloured sheet of paper folded in two to make four pages. It has handwriting in black ink on two pages. The writing is a little faded. The first page has the logo of the Melbourne Town Hall. The pages are partly torn at the folds. ‘Town Hall, Melbourne, 21/1/17. Lord Mayor’s Room, Dear Mr Mayor, I have much pleasure in sending you greetings by aeroplane piloted by my friend’s son, Mr Basil Watson. I hope when the cruel war is over and victory crowns our efforts, we all in the C’wealth will be able to fly from one state to the other. With best wishes for the New Year, …….. (signature indecipherable), D.V. Hennessy. His Worship the Mayor of Warrnambool.’pioneer aviation in the western district, basil watson, history of warrnambool