The “Q” Theatre Guild was formed in 1957. It inherited the productions and casts of the earlier Kew Light Opera Company. The Guild initially performed in the Kew Recreation Hall (Wellington Street) and later at the Kew Civic Hall (Cotham Road). A partial list of its performances include: 1957 The Geisha 1958 Maritana 1959 They All Do It (Cosi Fan Tutti) 1959 Blossom Time 1959 Love’s a Luxury 1960 There And Back & The Bohemian Girl 1960 Die Fledermaus 1961 Gay Rosalinda 1961 The Land of Smiles 1961 Kisses For A Kid & Hansel and Gretel 1962 Die Fledermaus 1964 Monsieur Beaucaire 1964 Macbeath [The Beggars’ Opera] 1964 The Beggars’ Opera [Undated] And So To BedThe Marion Tilley scrapbook is a significant record of performing arts in Melbourne during the 1950s and 1960s. The scrapbook includes programmes, photographs, newspaper reports and personal annotations which are a rich source of detail about repertoire, performers, and artistic sensibility in the period.Souvenir programme issued by the "Q" Theatre Guild for a performance of Mozart's They All Do It (Cosi fan tutte) at the Kew City Theatre in 1959. 30.11.1959 / The day Robbie died"q" theatre guild, performing arts (kew), theatre (kew), kew city theatre

Prior to the election of female Councillor's and Mayors, the Mayoress role as wife of the Mayor, was one of the few ways women could officially undertake civic duties. Mayoress's made important contributions through their charity work, even stepping in on occasions to undertake Mayoral duties. Mayoress Giudice was born Beatrice Annie Harvey in Bendigo and became the first Girl Guide Commissioner in Bendigo. The Giudice family was associated with the Lyric Theatre, the Bendigo United Breweries, Shamrock Hotel and the Bendigo Lyric Photo Plays. Mrs Giudice died in 1980, aged 95 years.Framed, oval photographic portraits with convex glass and print, created using a collodion wet plate process. Hand coloured detail.Mrs M.G Giudice / Mayoress 1922 -24.sandhurst, bendigo, mayoress, mayor, vincent kelly, studio photography, portrait, giudice, beatrice annie harvey, lyric theatre bendigo, girl guides, mayor giudice, city of greater bendigo portraits

The origin of Moomba dates back to 1951, when Melbourne celebrated fifty years of Federation with a parade and the staging of the theatre production 'An Aboriginal Moomba: Out of the Dark'. The following year, the final Labour Day procession was held in Melbourne after running for almost a century. A parade through the streets of central Melbourne have been a key part of the Moomba festival since its beginning. The floats have an annual theme, usually an elaboration on 'Let's get together and have fun', the avowed mission and vision statement of Moomba. In the beginning the floats usually promoted a Commercial or Government organisation, but in later years, as business became more reluctant to spend money on elaborate floats, they tended to represent sporting clubs, ethnic groups and other community organisations (source Melbourne Museum).Mounted colour photograph with cover depicting the COGB Moomba Float. Taken on corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets, Melbourne. Bendigo Easter Fair Guest Float.moomba, swanston street, labour day, city of greater bendigo tourism, city of greater bendigo events

The Tivoli Theatre was an open air theatre located behind the ANA building on View Street in Bendigo which began operating in 1910. This pamphlet features portraits of popular silent film actors of the day such as Paul Capellani noted French star and Miss Florence Turner American actress alongside tobacco slogans such as 'For Aroma, Sweetness and Flavour.' The 'Seasons Greetings' message from the Tivoli Theatre is limited to the front page which features illustrations of a fairy, Father Christmas and various Australian characters.Fold out, double sided, two colour printed brochure promoting Perfection Tobacco and the Tivoli Theatre Bendigo. Features photographs of a variety of actors and characters endorsing the tobacco.Xmas 1912 / With the Compliments of the Season / From Tivoli Theatre, Bendigomaking a nation exhibition, city of greater bendigo commerce, city of greater bendigo leisure

General district street, business and services directory aimed less at the tourist market and more at the Bendigo and Eaglehawk population. Includes advertising. Index is extensive and includes services such as child care centres, cemeteries, theatres and schools.Thirty two page, printed and bound street and business directory for Bendigo, Eaglehawk and district. Grey card front cover with grey cardboard back cover. Printed in red and black ink. Includes Index for trades, streets and services such as banks, baths, sporting clubs and police stations. Majority of content is text and advertising and the only map included in the publication is printed inside the back cover.The Street Finder / for the municipalities of / Bendigo, Eaglehawk / & District. city of greater bendigo commerce, city of greater bendigo community groups, city of greater bendigo tourism, borough of eaglehawk, making a nation exhibition

"The Mechanics Institute movement flourished in Victoria from 1839 to 1950. It was based on the development of Mechanics’ Institutes in Scotland and England from the 1820s, which were intended to educate and enlighten the working classes. The term ‘mechanic’ in those days meant an artisan, craftsman or working man, especially those who had moved from rural areas to work in new city factories during the Industrial Revolution. The early Institutes were usually equipped with a reading room, a library and a lecture room. Although enjoying mixed success in Britain, they contributed to the development of public education and library services. The movement was adopted more enthusiastically in the colonies. It began slowly in Victoria but its expansion after the gold rushes population influx was rapid, especially in rural areas. Every suburb and town wanted to have a Mechanics’ Institute. During the 1850s approximately forty Institutes were established, with even greater growth in the period 1860 to 1900. By 1900 there were 400 Institutes in Victoria. The establishment of a Mechanics’ Institute was often a great achievement for a local community, requiring organising committees to raise substantial funds for a building site (where this had not been granted by the Government), and the building. Once built, the committee then had to purchase books, provide a caretaker or librarian, and finance the ongoing use of and improvements to the building. ‘The history of many Institutes is a story of tremendous community effort, and often, financial difficulties’. In addition to being monuments to local enterprise and community life, the Mechanics’ Institutes played a vital role as an intellectual forum, and in contributing to an informed and participatory democracy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They provided journals and other reading matter on local, state, national and international issues, and hosted of lectures and held debates about wider issues such as Federation, colonial nationalism, defence, female suffrage, the price of land and labour. With the development of the school and technical education in the latter part of the nineteenth century, the need for community technical and adult education declined. As a result of the introduction of government library grants in 1867, many Mechanics’ Institutes incorporated a free library in their buildings to finance collection of their books. By 1884-85, there were 257 free libraries in Victoria. However, government support and library grants dropped off in the 1890s depression. Entertainment took on a greater role in the 1890s, with the introduction of moving pictures, billiards rooms, games rooms (chess), concerts and dances. The First World War had a devastating impact on many rural communities, and some Mechanics’ Institutes were no longer viable. On the other hand the early twentieth century was also a time of agricultural development, and many country towns were growing in this period. The 1930s depression further limited growth of many libraries and reduced grants substantially. In response many Mechanics’ Institutes were renamed, for example as memorial halls, in order to retain and attract more patrons (eg at nearby Sunbury). The diminishing role for Mechanics’ Institutes and the preference for larger and better appointed halls (with supper rooms, cloak rooms etc) resulted in demolition of some small Institutes. The advent of cars, radios, and television also provided other opportunities for recreation, learning and entertainment. The greater role of municipalities in providing library services also eroded the need for free libraries. While over 500 Mechanics’ Institutes or halls are extant, very few of these retain their original role as ‘diffusers of useful knowledge’. Most are still available for community purposes, as venues for meetings, socials, civic occasions etc, while others are employed as museums, shops and theatres. Most buildings are on Crown land, and managed by a delegated committee of management, who are responsible for raising revenue to maintain aging buildings. Many of those which were originally established on private land, such as Melton, have since reverted back to the Crown, and municipal Councils. The most common Mechanics Institute building form is the simple weatherboard gable building with iron roofs, notable for their ‘honest simplicity’ rather than as ‘monuments of the ancients’. At the other extreme there are some magnificent two storeyed brick and stucco structures with elaborate ornamentation (as was apparently envisaged by some in Melton in 1905-10)". The future of Melton Mechanic Institute Gazette articlelocal architecture

Miss Olive Codling was a Foundation Member and a Life Member of the Wodonga Historical Society. Many of her prize-winning photos are held in the Society Collection. She also held a range of roles and committee positions in a wide range of Wodonga community organisations. These included the Horticultural Society, the Wodonga Arts Council, the Wodonga Camera Club and the Wodonga Lapidary Club. Wodonga Civic Centre - In the late 1960s the area in Wodonga between Hovell and Havelock Streets was zoned for civic purposes. By 1969 Melbourne architect Bruce Marshall had designed the civic centre which included a library, theatre and senior citizens' rooms. The main hall had a seating capacity of 1,000 people but could be divided by a sliding door. into smaller areas. It also included meeting rooms and kitchen facilities. The Civic Centre was officially opened by the Honorable Sir Henry Bolte, K.C.M.P., M.P., Premier of Victoria who was accompanied by the Honorable R. J. Hamer E.D., Minister for Local Government. The Shire President was Cr. James A. Terrill, J.P. This image records an important stage in the development of local government and civic buildings in Wodonga, Victoria.A series of black and white images showing the constriction and opening of the Wodonga Civic centre.wodonga businesses, high st wodonga, melba theatre

In the late 1960s the area in Wodonga between Hovell and Havelock Streets was zoned for civic purposes. By 1969 Melbourne architect Bruce Marshall had designed the civic centre which included a library, theatre and senior citizens' rooms. The main hall had a seating capacity of 1,000 people but could be divided by a sliding door. into smaller areas. It also included meeting rooms and kitchen facilities. The Civic Centre was officially opened by the Honorable Sir Henry Bolte, K.C.M.P., M.P., Premier of Victoria who was accompanied by the Honorable R. J. Hamer E.D., Minister for Local Government. The Shire President was Cr. James A. Terrill, J.P. In 1973, the Council engaged Bruce Marshall to design new offices beside the Civic Centre. Jennings Industries were contracted to complete the offices. The Governor, Sir Henry Winneke, laid the foundation stone of the new offices on 10 March 1976. The Civic Centre was demolished in 2011 to make may for a new $10 million community and entertainment centre which opened in August 2012.This image records an important stage in the development of local government and civic buildings in Wodonga, Victoria.A large framed image of Wodonga Civic Centre after it was upgraded in 1981wodonga history, wodonga civic centre, wodonga civic and government buildings

In the late 1960s the area in Wodonga between Hovell and Havelock Streets was zoned for civic purposes. By 1969 Melbourne architect Bruce Marshall had designed the civic centre which included a library, theatre and senior citizens' rooms. The main hall had a seating capacity of 1,000 people but could be divided by a sliding door. into smaller areas. It also included meeting rooms and kitchen facilities. The Civic Centre was officially opened by the Honorable Sir Henry Bolte, K.C.M.P., M.P., Premier of Victoria who was accompanied by the Honorable R. J. Hamer E.D., Minister for Local Government. The Shire President was Cr. James A. Terrill, J.P.This image records an important stage in the development of local government and civic buildings in Wodonga, Victoria.A black and white image of the Wodonga Civic Centre in a wooden frame.wodonga civic centre, wodonga history, wodonga local government

The newspaper was produced to celebrate the 100th year of the Ballarat Courier.96 page newspaper celebrating 100 years of publishing the Ballarat Courier Newspaper. Stories and images include: Robert Clark, Ballarat history, Sturt Street, Selkirk Bricks, Ballarat Industry, Thomas Bath, Royal Hotel, hotels, Begonia Festival, James Smith, Hollways, Myers, Ballarat Orphanage, Nazareth House, Lake Elsworth, Batches, libraries, Timken, Sunshine Biscuits, M.B. John, AMCAST, reservoirs, Ballarat Council,, Morsheads, Civic Hall, Alfred Hall, Art Gallery, Christies, 3BA, Paddle Bros, South Street, BTV 6, Memorial Theatre, Her Majesty's, Whitelaw-Monier, Coltman, costume, Messer and opie, politics, Dudley Erwin, Bill Stephen, Vance Dickie, Tom Evans, Murray Byrne, McKay - Macleod, Crockers, Ballarat Shire, Sovereign Hill. St Patrick's Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, Ballarat School of Mines, Mt Helen Campus, Ballarat Girls School. Ballarat North Technical School , Burke and Wills Memorial, Joe White Maltings, Ballarat Airport, Sunicrust, architecture, women, trams, transport, Faulls, Franklin Caravans, Olympics, football, history of Sunshine Biscuits robert clark, clark, ballarat, sturt street, selkirk bricks, industry, thomas bath, royal hotel, hotels, begonia festival, james smith, hollways, myers, ballarat orphanage, nazareth house, lake elsworth, batches, libraries, timken, sunshine biscuits, m.b. john, amcast, reservoirs, ballarat council, morsheads, civic hall, alfred hall, art gallery, christies, 3ba, paddle bros, south street, btv 6, memorial theatre, her majesty's, whitelaw-monier, coltman, costume, messer and opie, politics, dudley erwin, bill stephen, vance dickie, tom evans, murray byrne, mckay - macleod, crockers, ballarat shire, sovereign hill. st patrick's cathedral, christ church cathedral, ballarat school of mines, churches, mt helen campus, ballarat girls school. ballarat north technical school, burke and wills memorial, joe white maltings, ballarat airport, sunicrust, architecture, women, trams, transport, faulls, franklin caravans, olympics, football, bray raceway, coliseum motors, schoools, education, craig bros, dayelsford, clunes, beaufort, linton, skipton, heinz bors, villiers, flecnoe, jones, robertson, cowles, bulless, cronn, matthews, ballarat library, cowley's eureka iron works, john hollway and sons, ken webb, mayoral chain, ken flecknoe, a.e. flecknoe, bath's hotel, eureka stockade memorial park