William Grant Junior was President of the Shire of Bacchus Marsh in 1901 when the Australian Colonies federated to become a federal nation state. Grant was a member of a prominent local family and was active in public affairs throughout his life. The federation of the Australian Colonies was a turning point in Australian history and as such its achievement was celebrated in a range of ways. A major step towards achieving Federation was the referendum of July 1899 which saw five of the six Australian colonies vote in favor of Federation, with Western Australia later voting in favor in 1900.Printed poster sized document certifying that William Grant of Bacchus Marsh voted in a referendum of Victorian electors on 27th the July 1899 on the question of an Australian Federal Constitution. The body of the certificate text is surrounded on three sides by captioned photographic portraits of the Premiers of the six Australian Colonies. A British coat of arms is at the top of the certificate and at the bottom is an image of Parliament House in Melbourne, which includes a Dome, which was a projected feature of the building which was never actually added to the Victorian Parliament building.Across the top of the certificate: 'Australasian Federal Referendum July 1899'. In the centre: 'This is to certify that the question of an Australian Federal Constitution was submitted to the Electors of Victoria on the 27th day of July 1899 and that out of a Poll of 103,783 votes 152,653 were cast in favor of such Australasian Federal Constitution and further that William Grant, voted at the said election'. Signed, [George Turner], Premier. At bottom: 'Robt. S. Brian, Government Printer, Melbourne'.william grant 1850-1924, federation (1901), referendums, illuminated certificates

Julia Eaton was the daughter of George Thomas who lived with his family at Newmerella on Grand View Road until the 1950's. The family was a very well-respected local Aboriginal family.This item is an example of a common domestic item hand made by an Orbost local. It reflects the needlework skills of women in the early to middle 20th century. White/cream coloured soft thread macrame cloth with tassels around the edge.cloth tablewear domestic linen

Ellen Thomas was an Aboriginal woman who lived in Newmerella. George Thomas who lived with his family at Newmerella on Grand View Road until the 1950's. The family was a very well-respected local Aboriginal family.The Thomas family were early residents of Newmerella.A black / white portrait photograph of a lady in a long-sleeved top and long skirt. The photo is oval -shaped and mounted in a light grey card.on back - Ellen Thomasthomas-ellen

This was a small domestic bookcase made by local Ballarat family firm of A. H. Harris in 1920. The firm ceased operating c. 1980. It is stamped at the back with the firm's name and is like several pieces in this 126 year old family home of local origin.A small domestic bookcase with adjustable shelves made by A. H. Harris of Ballarat. The firm was created at Ballarat in 1928 and became notable for making church furniture including the fitting out of St Therese' on Wendouree Pde Ballarat. This is an early small piece made for the home in an Arts and Crafts style.A.H.Harris & Sons.stamped into rear of shelf.bookcase, ballarat, hymettus, taffe, a. h. harris, australian furniture

Constructed 1940 by Kleinitz family using local and recycled materials.Colour photograph of a rustic building situated on the bank of the lake beside the Nungurner Jetty, Gippsland Lakes. Entirely clad in corrugated iron, black painted walls and red painted gable roof, double door facing lake. Nungurner Victoriawaterways, jetties, buildings

The donors of the fur stole come from a local family in the Warrnambool area. They believe the fur stole is around 60 years old. The stole belonged to the donor’s mother, now deceased, who wore it to local balls and dances as an accessories and maybe for warmth too! The donors believe the fur could have been purchased in Melbourne or Toorak. The fur is likely to be from the Mustelidae family, which is the largest family of carnivorous mammals. They inhabit all continents except Australia and Antarctica. This species includes the weasel, badger, otter, marten, ferret, sable, mink, stoat (ermine) and wolverine. The fur is thick and dense close to the skin, indicating that it is the winter coat of the animal. This fur collar is representative of fashion accessories in Warrnambool and District in the 1940's - 1950'sFur stole, ladies; comprising two animals with heads and legs, stitched together to form a stole. The fur is believed to be the winter fur of animals from the mustel family and is not as soft as rabbit fur. The first head has only the nose, the second head has nose and eyes. The heads are dark brown, each animal has a dark brown stripe the length of its fawn coloured back. Tails are dark but not as dark as the head. The stole can be clasped together using a decorative knotted brown tie and hook, or by using the clip attached to the snout of the front animal. 1940-s - 1950s.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, mustelidae fur stole, mustel fur, fur stole with body head and legs, fur stole made with animals, ladies clothing, fashion accessory of 1950’s, fashion of south west victoria

A group of men and women, some holding tennis rackets pose for photo. Local families from Hurstbridge are represented including Hurst, Burston, Yates, Clark and Gray. (L to R) Frederick George Hurst, Ida Burston, unidentified man, Annie Yates, (kneeling) Ada Hurst, unidentified man, (sitting) Annie Yates sen., Tom Clark, Mrs Catherine (wife of F.G.) Hurst, Walter Yates Sen., unidentified woman, unidentified man, F.E. Hurst ( Mrs Gray), Laura Yates, unidentified kneeling woman, 2 unidentified men, lady in black, Mary Ellen Hurst. Reproduced on page 81 of "Pioneers & Painters" This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book, "Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image Printsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, hurstbridge, ada alice hurst, annie yates, annie yates snr, catherine e. hurst, frances ellen hurst, frances ellen gray (nee hurst), frederick george hurst, hurst family, ida burston, laura yates, mary ellen hurst, tom clarke, walter yates snr, yates family, tennis, pioneers and painters, hurst

Established in 1921 by Reginald Langdon Buller, the ‘Calliope Vineyard’ was named after the only surviving ship from the Great Hurricane at Samoa - 1889. A.B. (Banjo) Patterson’s Ballad Of The Calliope tells the tale in stirring fashion. Reginald’s vision of his new enterprise successfully sailing through the tempests of business and agricultural life proved prophetic. Coincidently, Calliope is also the Greek Goddess of Poetry. ​ Today Buller Wines remains a local family business. Purchased by the Judd Family in 2013, Buller Wines has had a strong focus on the investment of cellar, storage, operations and most importantly, the vineyards which is reflective in the quality of wines produced by Winemaker Dave Whyte.Black and white photograph of the front of Bullers WineryOn back of photo: "145% [upper case D in small circle] Bullers Calliope"wineries, north east victoria, wine industry, bullers winery, bullers calliope, reginald buller

Loris McKeeman McLeod, married to Alex McLeod, was a local farmer at ‘Glendale’, Grasmere and later lived in Warrnambool. She was interested in local and family history and published material in the 1980s on the Oakley, McKeeman and McLeod families. She also wrote poetry and this is an example of her work.This poem is worth keeping as an example of the personal writing of a local person, Loris McKeeman McLeod. This is white card with a poem’ My Australian Pioneer’ printed on it in black type. There is a decorative border around the printed material. The poet was Loris McLeod.loris mcleod, warrnambool, glendale

The Township of Kaleno is in the Pitfield Plains. The Cape Clear Cemetery T contains the graves of miners and local pioneering families from the Cape Clear, Hollybush, Kaleno, Pitfield Plains, Pitfield, Illabarook, Berringa, Springdallah, Wallinduc, Glenfine, Happy Valley and Western Creek districts.Plan of allotments in Commeralghip, County of Grenville, Victoria. The plan includes the township of Kaleno, Dereel Pre-Emptice Right (John Cullen), Commeralghip Pre-Emptive Right (John Gordon McMillan and Glenfine Pre-Emptive Right (William Rowe). It also includes landholders such as Robert mcPherson, C. Cameron. John Boyd, John Cullen, W.T. Rowe, George Currie, J.P. Mackay, T. McCaffery, G. Hawkins, Alexander McPherson, C. Cameron. Gift of the Squire Family, 2014commeralghip, pitfield plains, kaleno, dereel, glenfine, squire, richard squire, w.t. rowe, john cullen, alexander mcpherson, george currie, mt misery, william rowe, mindai, john gordon mcmillan

Hume and Hovell discovered the area in 1824 and by the end of the 19th century the valley was transformed by logging, dairy and beef cattle properties and tobacco farms. Timber was required for construction of McKay Creek Power Station which began construction in 1951 and also the camps and houses for the workers and their families. There was a need for housing and infrastructure for an increasing population of workers for the hydro-electric scheme as there was a general shortage of this commodity. A timber mill was started in Tawonga by Mates, of Albury, in 1945, and electricity became available in 1946 the S.E.C. bought the mill, and enlarged it. In 1960 it was purchase by a local family. They also started a timber mill in Mt Beauty and worked both until 1980 when they closed the Tawonga mill and enlarged the mill called Mt. Beauty Timbers Pty Ltd which employed approximately 50 people. A pictorial record of the development of the Mt Beauty community and the local timber industry.Colour photograph of aerial view of Mt Beauty Timber Mills and surrounding area including pondage and part of airfield. Photo taken in 1960’s (estimate only)Handwritten in ink on back of photograph in very faint writing – Recent photo of Mt Beauty Timber Industries Mt Beauty Operationsmt beauty timber industry, timber industry, timber mill, secv