.1 The Preferred In-House Option (PIHO) proposes to meet the full requirements of the Request for Tender (RFT) by disestablishing Army Survey Regiment and establishing a new organisation which they have named the Defence Topographic Support Establishment (DTSE). It is proposed to locate the DTSE at Bendigo in the GFE facilities offered by the Commonwealth. The DTSE will be staffed by 140 Defence civilians, principally sourced from ex-RASvy members transferring to the Public Service under the provisions of Section 81B of the Public Service Act. Any existing civilian members excess to DTSE requirements are proposed to be managed within the terms and conditions of the Australian Public Service Redeployment and Retirement (Redundancy) Award 1987. Military members who elect to remain in the Service will be subject to redeployment or retraining in accordance with Service requirements. .2 Proposed re-organisation of Product Construction Squadron (PCS). Due to the transfer of Image and capture Sections to Digital Acquisition Squadron wef Jan 1995 it has been necessary to review the structure of those elements remaining within PCS. The review highlighted that there was an imbalance between Mapping and Digital products Troops. This could only be resolved by collapsing these two Troops into one single production element. This would halve the senior administrative personnel needed thus allowing them to be employed in other higher priority technical areas. The proposed restructure of PCS is outlined in Annex A with redundant personnel listed in Annex B. The combined Troop is to be designated "Construction Troop" and comprises 1 Offr and 69 ORs. The role of this Tp would be to perform all digital production. It is further divided into small and Large Format Sections. This division is functionally based and reflects the hardware and software configurations now resident within the Sqn post system upgrade. .3 During the transition period leading to full implementation of the PHIO, the Army Svy Regt and DTSE (later ATSE) will at times operate concurrently whilst Army Svy Regt scales down production and progressively transfers all technical functions to DTSE. army Svy Regt and 4 Fd Svy Sqn will continue programmed production activities until declared operationally ineffective, however a contingency mapping capability will be maintained throughout the period of implementation. Implementation of the PHIO involves a number of related activities including staff recruitment, equipment acquisition and transfer of technical responsibility. This instruction details the coordination of these and related implementation activities. .1 Preferred In-House Option, Army Topographic Support Establishment. Summary of Tender. 10 x pages typed text and schematic diagrams. .2 Proposed reorganisation - product Construction Squadron. 9 x pages typed text and schematic diagrams. .3 Implementation of the Commercial Support Program (CSP) Digital Topographical support to the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Preferred In-House Option 14 Jun 1995. 22 x pages typed text and schematic diagrams. royal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army svy reg, army survey regiment, atse

This particular geological specimen was found in Mount Franklin or Lalgambook in Djadjawurrung, located between Daylesford and Newstead, approximately ninety minutes drive from Melbourne. The mountain is an example of a breached scoria cone (a steep conical hill of loose pyroclastic fragments) which was created by a volcanic eruption about 470,000 years ago, a date which may indicate the age of this geological specimen. The volcanic eruptions of Mount Franklin were most likely witnessed by members of the Dja Dja Wurrung Aboriginal tribe, who referred to this country as the 'smoking grounds'. Mount Franklin and the surrounding area appears to have been a place of considerable religious significance to Aboriginal people, there is evidence which indicates that frequent large ceremonial gatherings took place in the area. Basalt is the most common rock on Earth’s surface, more than 90% of all volcanic rock on Earth is basalt. Basalt is an aphanitic extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava exposed at or very near the surface of a rocky planet or moon. Specimens are black in colour and weather to dark green or brown. Basalt is rich in iron and magnesium and is mainly composed of olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase. Olivine is the name of a group of rock-forming silicate minerals with compositions ranging between Mg2SiO4 and Fe2SiO4. Unlike other minerals, Olivine has a very high crystallisation temperature which makes it the first of the minerals to crystallise from magma. As magma cools, the crystals begin to form and settle on the bottom of the lava and form basalts that are abnormally enriched in olivine in the lower part of lava flows. According to H. M. King (on geology.com) "Olivine is thought to be an important mineral in Earth's mantle. Its presence as a mantle mineral has been inferred by a change in the behaviour of seismic waves as they cross the boundary between Earth's crust and mantle". Lava from Mount Franklin and other volcanoes in the area filled valleys and buried the gold bearing streams that became the renowned ‘deep leads’ of the gold mining era. In 1852, as part of the Victorian gold rush, gold was discovered in the immediate area, this gold was created by lava flows during the Newer Volcanic period, which were mined intensively during the nineteenth century. Around 1865 the presence of a deep lead in Mount Franklin was established. Deep lead mining was initially unsuccessful, and it was not until the late 1870s that the Franklinford Gold Mining Company mined at Mount Franklin on a significant scale. A few years later the Mount Franklin Estate Gold Mining Company also struck gold, followed by the Shakespeare and Great Western companies in the mid-1880s. By the late 1880s, however, deep lead mining had ceased in the area. Soon after gold was discovered in 1851, Victoria’s Governor La Trobe wrote to the Colonial Office in London, urging ‘the propriety of selecting and appointing as Mineral Surveyor for this Colony a gentleman possessed of the requisite qualifications and acquaintance with geological science and phenomena’. Alfred Selwyn was appointed geological surveyor in Australia in 1852 which began the Geological Survey of Victoria. In 1853-69 the Geological Survey issued under Selwyn's direction sixty-one geological maps and numerous reports; they were of such high standard that a writer in the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London bracketed the survey with that of the United States of America as the best in the world. During his years spent in Australia, Selwyn collected numerous significant geological specimens, examples of which are held in collections such as the Burke Museum.This geological specimen is an example of basalt and olivine which shows the volcanic lava activity and geographical specific nature of Mt Franklin as a significant volcanic site. According to Agriculture Victoria 'The crater is one of the deepest in the Central Highlands area. It is a major megacryst site with some of the largest known Victorian examples of megacrysts of augite and an orthoclase. The small parasitic mound of Lady Franklin on the western flanks adds to the geological interest of the site'. This specimen also highlights the locality as a significant place for both indigenous activity and Victorian gold rush era mining practices. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.An angular, solid hand-sized piece of grey volcanic Basalt with green/brown Olivine phenocrysts along one flat edge.Olivine in basalt / - label is probably / correct. / C. Willman / 15/4/21burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, beechworth museum, geological, geological specimen, mineralogy, basalt, igneous rock, igneous-volcanic, volcanic geology, volcanic, olivine, olivine specimen, basaltoid

Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p175 It’s Saturday morning and thousands of people are visiting St Andrews Market at the corner of Heidelberg-Kinglake Road and Proctor Street. It’s hard to find a park. Cars are banked up along the narrow road and crammed in a nearby parking area. Yet, at the market, people look relaxed and happy amongst the yellow box gums on the site where the Wurundjeri people used to gather. Stone artefacts unearthed there by Koorie researcher, Isabel Ellender, indicate the site was once a Wurundjeri meeting place, according to Aboriginal Affairs Victoria. Acoustic sounds mingle with quiet conversations. A guitarist blows a mouth organ while his bare toes tickle chimes. A tiny busker, perhaps five years old, plays a violin while sounds of a harp emerge from the hall. One stallholder, selling delicious-looking pastries, chats to another in Spanish, then to me in broad Australian. ‘I was born in Fitzroy but my mother came from Mexico and my dad from Serbia,’ she smiles. A New Zealander fell in love with Mongolia and now imports their hand-made embroidered clothes and Yurts (tents) and runs adventure tours. A young woman visited Morocco and when friends admired the shoes she bought, she decided to import them and sell them at the market. Oxfam sells Fair Trade toys and clothes and displays a petition to Make Poverty History. Other stalls sell Himalayan salt, jewellery made from seeds from northern Australia, glass paper-weights from China as well as locally grown vegetables, flowers and organic freshly baked bread. A woman sits in a state of bliss under the hands of a masseur. Another offers Reiki or spiritual healing. A juggler tosses devil sticks – ‘not really about the devil,’ he smiles. This skill was practised thousands of years ago in Egypt and South America he says. At the Chai Tent people lounge on cushions in leisurely conversation. The idea for the market was first mooted among friends over a meal at the home of famous jazz and gospel singer Judy Jacques.2 Jacques remembers a discussion with several local artists including Marlene Pugh, Eric Beach, Les Kossatz, Ray Newell and Peter Wallace. ‘We decided we wanted a meeting place, where all the different factions of locals could meet on common ground, sell their goodies and get to know one another,’ Jacques recalls. They chose the site opposite another meeting place, St Andrews Pub. A week later Jacques rode her horse around the district and encouraged her neighbours to come along to the site to buy or sell. On February 23, 1973, about 20 stallholders arrived with tables. They traded ‘second-hand clothes, vegetables, meat, cheese, eggs, chickens, goats, scones, tea, garden pots and peacock feathers’. Now around 2000 people visit each Saturday. People usually linger until dusk. The market – with around 150 stalls of wares from a wide variety of cultures – stands alongside Montsalvat as the most popular tourist attraction in Nillumbik. By the 1990s St Andrews Market was in danger of being loved to death, as the site was becoming seriously degraded. The market was spreading in all directions and the degradation with it. A local council arborist’s report in 1994 noted exposed tree roots from erosion and compaction. The Department of Sustainability and Environment threatened to close the market if the degradation was not rectified. After many months of research, discussions and lobbying by a few residents, the council formed a Committee of Management, with an Advisory Committee, and introduced an Environment Levy. The State Government, the council and the market, funded terracing of the site to stop erosion, and retain moisture and nutrients. Vehicles were excluded from some sensitive areas and other crucial zones reserved for re-vegetation. Volunteers planted more than 3000 locally grown indigenous species. The old Yellow Box trees fully recovered and are expected to give shade for many years to come.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, didgeridoo, jesse tree, st andrews market, swiss hang drum

ELTHAM’S GROWTH HAS BEEN RAPID IN RECENT YEARS Unknown local paper c.1960s Recent years have seen a rapid change in the appearance of Eltham’s business centre - so rapid, in fact, that the growth of premises has been almost 300%. For more than thirty-five years Eltham had little more than a dozen traders - the town's business area spreading from Pryor Street in the north, to Pitt Street in the south. The greatest density of businesses - no more than a handful of shops - were situated in the present shopping centre but other essential services such as the Post Office, were located half a mile away. As the town's population grew and the need for more shops became apparent, the growth was centralised around the railway station and Shire hall. Few of the old premises are used for their original form of business today, though many are still in existence. One of the oldest (seen clearly in the illustration) still in use is now Ferrari's Greengrocery. This shop was Eltham's butchery in early days, conducted by Jim Ryan. Up to twenty years ago, Mr. Ryan ran his business from the shop. whilst his son toured Eltham in his horse and cart, cutting his customers' orders as he went from door to door. Another business - one of the few still trading in the same goods-was Burgoyne's Hardware. This is now owned by Mr. R. Clinton, a new shop has recently been added and shortly the old premises will disappear completely. The Burgoyne family were well known to Eltham's population. The Post Office and Store (then in Main Road, near Bridge Street) was run by Mr. and Mrs. Burgoyne. The Post Office was later moved, and attached to the hardware store. OLD HOTEL In this same area was the old Eltham Hotel, almost opposite the present hotel. The building still stands, but has been converted into a house. The hitching rail can still be seen by the roadside. Back in the township was Barber's Blue Gum store, later conducted by Mrs. Burges (mother of Garnet Burges) and claimed to be Eltham's oldest shop. Further down the road, just past the hardware store, was the barber shop and billiard saloon. Next door was E. J. Andrew's news agency, library and State Savings Bank. Eltham's original chemist's shop, or dispensary as it was called, is now an electrical repair shop. On this side of the street too, was Mrs. Monteith - Draper. Mr Monteith was the owner of Eltham' s bus service. This bus service had no regular route, but deposited passengers at the point nearest their homes - a. door to door taxi service. Next to Mrs. Monteith stood another grocery - and general store, and next again, the local blacksmith. Another of Butcher Ryan's sons was Eltham's blacksmith and obviously an enterprising man he conducted a timber business next door to his smithy's shop. These two premises are still run by one man - Garnet Burges. BOOM STARTS Twenty years ago, when Thompson's took over Eltham's pharmacy they occupied the old shop adjoining the Shire hall. The building of Thompson's new premises, from which· they operate today, was the beginning of Eltham's recent growth and development. With another grocery store and a bakery at the corner of York Street, a butcher near Franklin Street, a cobbler's shop opposite the State School (did you ever wonder what that-little building attached to one of Eltham's oldest houses had been?), and an estate agency conducted by Mr. Clark, now Eltham Real Estate - only one trader remained - and today, still carries on, the only original owner of one of Eltham's .oldest established businesses - Mr. Dave Lyon, of Lyon Bros. Garage, which was formerly located in what was later used as Chenowyth's Foundry in Main Road. From the early twenties until little more than six or seven years ago that was the picture of Eltham. Some businesses had changed hands - many years before Mr. C. Rains had acquired Andrew's news agency, Mrs. Monteith's drapery had become Mrs. R. Smith's home-made cake shop, to change again and again to many other types of business. But generally, Eltham was unchanged, for nearly thirty years. Then suddenly new shops mushroomed. The new news agency and drapery, the chemist and adjoining shops, a new butcher, a green grocer and several more. POPULATION DOUBLED In the space of a few years, fifteen new shops, two banks, a restaurant and a post office were built at Eltham. New types of businesses found a ready market in an area which was quickly almost doubling its population. A little over twelve months ago, another wave of progress hit Eltham. Since then eight more shops have been built - a cake shop and fish shop in Dalton [sic – Dudley] Street - for building areas are unprocurable in the Main Street shopping centre now – have been built by Mr. D. Kimball; a new ladies’ and children’s wear shop has been opened by Rains; Eltham Dry Cleaners have another of these new shops, and Mr. R. Clinton has built elaborate new premises. Further down the road, Mr. C. Campbell has built a new butcher's shop, and next door, at present under construction, are a self service store and a shop which Mr. J. Hodges will open on completion. In addition to these new shops, Mr. J. Millett has extended his grocery to almost twice its original size. FLOURISHING Outside the central area, other businesses are flourishing. Latimer's felt factory is being developed in a picturesque rustic setting; P. J. Timber and Trading Company have recently completed a large showroom and timber yard, and in the town itself Nicholson and Merritt are now completing the extension of their foot wear factory to double its former area. This is Eltham today. Progress is moving rapidly in this rural area on the fringe of the metropolis. Less than a decade has seen vast development. The years to complete that span of time will see even greater changes and greater prosperity in this heart: of the Diamond Valley. OLD LANDMARK GOES Perhaps the most famous landmark in Eltham's' business section disappeared last Wednesday when the towering blue gum in Pryor Street at the rear of Main Road shops was felled. The tree, stated to be more than 80 feet high, was the one for which the adjoining café was named, when that business was Eltham’s only provision store, long before the turn of the century. Mr. J. Millett, who now owns the property on which the tree stood, deeply regretted its removal, but was mindful of the need for expansion in the business area. The "Old Blue Gum" was removed by Mr. A. Wilson, expert tree feller, from Heidelberg. Its proportions might be assessed by these facts – it took a gang of experienced men two days to completely fell and clear the tree, and, falling sections being brought down by cable tipped electricity wires on the opposite side of Pryor Street.andrew's news agency, bakery, barber shop, barber's blue gum store, billiard saloon, blacksmith, blue gum, burgoyne's hardware, butcher, cake shop, chemist's shop, chenowyth's foundry, cobbler's shop, dave lyon, dispensary, draper shop. mr monteith, dudley street, e. j. andrew's news agency, electrical repair shop, eltham bus service, eltham butchery, eltham dry cleaners, eltham hotel, eltham railway station, eltham real estate, eltham shire hall, eltham shopping centre, eltham shops, eltham town centre, estate agency, expert tree feller, ferrari's greengrocery, fish shop, foot wear factory, franklin street, garnet burges, general store, grocery, heidelberg, horace clark, jim ryan, ladies’ and children’s wear shop, latimer's felt factory, library, lyon bros. garage, main road, mr. a. wilson, mr. c. campbell, mr. c. rains, mr. d. kimball, mr. j. hodges, mr. j. millett, mr. r. clinton, mrs. burges, mrs. monteith, mrs. monteith's drapery, mrs. r. smith's home-made cake shop, nicholson and merritt, p. j. timber and trading company, pitt street, post office, pryor street, self service store, shopping centre, state savings bank, taxi service, thompson's pharmacy, york street

Taken in 1910, this photograph depicts a scene of Bridge road in Newtown, Beechworth. Walking on the road are two men on horseback, one of which is pulling a carriage with a small dog standing beside it. Behind them are a line of small buildings and shops. Small industries began to expand dramatically in Beechworth, particularly during the 1860s, leading to a strengthening of the towns economy. As early as 1853, areas surrounding the waterway known as Spring Creek were surveyed with the intent of mapping out plans for new roads and building allotments. Land was sold and new buildings were erected, creating an expansion of the Beechworth township and retail services. One building shown in this photograph is Straughair and Duncan's Beechworth Foundry. This business was established in 1858 through the partnership of Mark Straughair and John Duncan. It dealt mostly in the manufacturing of castings and mining machinery, receiving orders from all over the Ovens district. The Business eventually collapsed after the deaths of Straughair in 1882 and Duncan in 1896 but was reopened by W.H. Phillips in 1905. The two other buildings are both associated with the name McKenzie. Evidence suggests that the McKenzie family has a long association with the town of Beechworth. This photograph is historically significant as it provides insight into the nineteenth and twentieth century industrial expansions that happened in the area of Newtown, leading to the urbanisation of Beechworth. Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper mounted on card.Reverse: Newton / 1997.2648 / 33 Newton Beechworth / 84-219-1 / McKenzies / BMM3055 / newtown beechworth, bridge road, 1910, j. duncan, r. mckenzie, m. straughair, industrial growth, ford street, beechworth foundry, straughair and duncan, mckenzie and sons grainstore, mckenzie family store

This photograph was taken in approximately 1870 and depicts four male miners standing in mining sluice at the Three Mile Goldfields. These men are wearing typical attire for 1870s gold miners. They wear white shirts, tan coloured pants with water proof shoes and most of the men are wearing an apron to prevent their clothing from becoming too dirty from the mud. Each man is wearing a wide brim hat and hold large wooden tools used for sorting through the sluice. Three of the four men have full beards. The photograph was donated to the Burke Museum by R. Ziegenbein before 2001 but the photographer and the individuals captured in the photo are unknown. The image depicts the landscape of the Three Mile Goldfields during a period when open cut sluicing was undertaken to reach gold. Open cut sluicing is a method used to extract gold and other precious metals from beneath the surface of the earth. This technique involved the use of high-powered hoses which broke down the soil enabling miners to come along and search this soil for gold. After the gold rush of the early 1850s, diggers had to enlist the assistance of heavy machinery and techniques like hydraulic sluicing in order to reach gold because the surface alluvial gold had already been discovered and removed. This heavy machinery was not used until after 1853. The Three Mile Goldfields was a site of rich alluvial gold deposits located about 5 km south of Beechworth in Victoria. Today, the location of this gold deposit is called Baarmutha. It was a popular area for gold mining in the 1850s but became largely abandoned by the following decade. In 1865, a man named John Pund recognized that the area could be potentially rich if a better water supply could be obtained. He secured a 15 year license with three other miners. Within the next five years, these men had constructed 19 km of water race going from Upper Nine Mile Creek to Three Mile Creek. By 1881, these four men had delivered 950,000 gallons to the Three Mile Sluicing area which is depicted in this photograph. Pund was later go into partnership with John Alston Wallace who would become owner of the Star Hotel in Beechworth. The Three Mile sluicing location continued to be operational until 1950. Sluice box workers were a vital part of gold mining regardless of how inefficient they were in the recovery of gold. After using hydraulic sluicing to cut away the earth, miners would use the big wooden boxes depicted in the image to catch the earth which would then be sifted for gold. However, accidents would occur often which would result in the gold washing away and unable to be recovered. It was not a very efficient system because the gold, which was alluvial and thus very fine, would often pass through the sluice box undetected.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray an open cut sluicing site can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about sluicing and the methods used to find gold in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It also shows a location where sluicing was undertook which provides insight into the impact of sluicing on the environment at a time when it was done. Images, like this one, of Australian gold rush history can reveal important information about the social and environmental impact of this period. This image depicts diggers standing in a mining location and therefore, this image has the capacity to reveal or support significant information for researchers studying the fashion and social status of diggers in Australia in approximately 1870. It can also provide information on the landscape of Australia in this period and the impact of mining for gold on both society and the Australian landscape. The Burke Museum is home to a substantial collection of Australian mining photographs which can be used to gain a deeper understanding into life on the gold fields, technology used in mining, the miners themselves and the impact of the gold digging on the environment.Sepia toned rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper and mounted on board.[illegible] about 1870 / 97 2514.1 / 2594 30three mile goldfields, goldfields, 1870, 1870 gold, australia, australian landscape, miners, gold miners, diggers, gold diggers, beechworth, victoria, sluice box workers, sluicing, sluice, mining

This photograph was taken in 1911 at Three Mile Creek, about five kilometers south of Beechworth town. Significant digging took place at this location from late 1855, which led to a flood of workers and stores to follow, though daily earnings were slim compared to the nearby Woolshed site. This remained the case even after workers at Three Mile Creek attempted to protest around Beechworth during an election in November 1855. Three Mile Creek was one of seven significant divisions of the Beechworth Mining District formalised by the Governor-in-Council in 1858, though by the time this photograph was taken, the boundaries of the original seven districts had shifted to create seventeen divisions. The Three Mile Goldfields was a site of rich alluvial gold deposits located about 5km south of Beechworth in Victoria. Today, the location of this gold deposit is called Baarmutha. It was a popular area for gold mining in the 1850s but became largely abandoned by the following decade. In 1865, a man named John Pund (a man second from the left in the back row of this photograph shares this surname) recognized that the area could be potentially rich if a better water supply could be obtained. He secured a 15 year license with three other miners. Within the next five years, these men had constructed 19 km of water race going from Upper Nine Mile Creek to Three Mile Creek. By 1881, these four men had delivered 950,000 gallons to the Three Mile Sluicing area which is depicted in this photograph. Pund would later go into partnership with John Alston Wallace who would become owner of the Star Hotel in Beechworth. The Three Mile sluicing location continued to be operational until 1950. The eleven miners in this photograph are: Back row: Led Guthrie, P. Pund, F. Beel, [Unknown] Miller Front row: Paddy McNamara, J. King, W. Beel, [Unknown] Garland, J. Clarke, J. Ryan, H. Bartsh In the background of the photograph is a huge dirt wall that appears to suffer damage caused by hydraulic sluicing. Hydraulic sluicing is a specialised mining technique that involves directing high pressure water flows at dirt to uncover gold. The technique played a significant role in shaping Beechworth's landscape during the gold rush to create the topography seen today.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray an open cut sluicing site can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about sluicing and the methods used to find gold in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It also shows a location where sluicing was undertook which provides insight into the impact of sluicing on the environment at a time when it was done. Images, like this one, of Australian gold rush history can reveal important information about the social and environmental impact of this period. This image depicts diggers standing in a mining location and therefore, this image has the capacity to reveal or support significant information for researchers studying the fashion and social status of diggers in Australia in approximately 1911. It can also provide information on the landscape of Australia in this period and the impact of mining for gold on both society and the Australian landscape. The Burke Museum is home to a substantial collection of Australian mining photographs which can be used to gain a deeper understanding into life on the gold fields, technology used in mining, the miners themselves and the impact of the gold digging on the environment.Black and white / sepia rectangular reproduced photograph printed on glossy photographic paper mounted on board.beechworth, beechworth museum, mining, mining team, three mile creek, sluicing, hydraulic sluicing, photography, gold sluicing, gold mining, pund mining

This photograph shows a piece of gold mining equipment identified as a mine winch, possibly an air winch cylinder of 1870s RG Ford's Patent design. Throughout the history of mining for gold and other precious materials, the windlass or winch (pictured) was used to bring up buckets full of soil from the bottom of a mine. This soil was then searched for gold/metals before being relocated to a different area. Due to the size and complexity of this particular piece of equipment, this winch may have been used to raise and lower mine carts to the entrance of the mine (often used in coal mining) and could have been used in raising cages up and down (acting as elevators) containing miners if the mine was particularly deep. The actual use of this particular item in the Beechworth locality is undocumented but these are some possibilities based on the use of these pieces of equipment in other mining locations. Mining can have a largely detrimental impact to the environment and therefore, the study of machinery like the one depicted in this photograph can help researches to reconstruct the methods and technologies used in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This particular item appears to have been removed from it's original site where it would have been used to assist with mining. It is possible that this photograph has been taken for recording purposes or as part of a machinery exhibition. Prior documentation records that this piece of equipment had connections to the Rocky Mountains Mining Company. Today, the Rocky Mountains Gold Mining company is famous in Beechworth for having been instrumental in the creation of the Rocky Mountain tunnel. Construction for this tunnel began in 1859 when a group of 12 men blasted a 400ft long tailrace though the rock beneath the town of Beechworth. Today, the 800ft tunnel, completed in 1871, is a popular tourist attraction but during the decades of gold mining, the purpose of this tunnel was to divert water away from the main sluicing operations so miners could better access gold and precious materials. The tunnel was used for this purpose for many years, later becoming useful for the Zwar Brother's tannery and currently as an outfall drain for Lake Sambell. This area continued to be mined until the early 1900s. The period when this item was in use is unclear but it is estimated to have been in the 1870s based on the design and appearance of the image. The gold works at the Rocky Mountain Tunnel closed in the early 1920s but the impact of mining remains in Beechworth today and therefore the study of photographs like this one which contain mining equipment can further understanding of mining in this region.This photograph has historic and research potential for study on the gold mining of the Beechworth region and types of equipment used to locate gold after the initial gold rush of 1853-1854 which resulted in the discovery of the surface gold and required miners to dig deeper to access precious metals. The clarity of the photo, and its good preserved condition, means it can continue to be used for research. This photo is part of a collection of six photos all within the Burke Museum Collection which depict mining equipment.Square black and white photograph on card.7793.1beechworth, mining, goldmining, goldmining equipment, beechworth burke museum

The Scarlet Tanager is an American songbird of medium size with bright coloured plumage. They are commonly located in eastern North America and in northwestern South America. They can often be found within woodlands that have oaks. On occasion, the Tanager can be seen in suburban areas including parks and gardens. These birds are sociable and often join with other foraging flocks. They are carnivores (insectivores) and feed on insects including wasps, ants, moths, beetles, butterflies and grasshoppers. The numbers of these birds in America are declining due to exposure and starvation during the colder months. These birds can also die from collisions with man made objects which includes the TV and radio towers, buildings and cars. They also have high rates of predation and brood parasitism. However, at current the IUCN classifies this species as Least Concern and note that their numbers are stable. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.The Scarlet Tanager specimen stands perched on a wooden platform looking towards the ground. It has bright red/orange feathers on the main body and head with dark black feathers on the tail and wings. Overall, whilst retaining a bright appearance the bird has faded in contrast to it's original colouring This particular specimen has disheveled feathers and is missing one leg. The bill is short and pale and the specimen has been provided with glass eyes made in a dark colour. The specimen has two paper identification tags attached to the damaged leg.Swing tag: 114a / unnamed / catalogue, page 59 Cotton tag: A.4440 /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, australian birds, american, american birds, scarlet tanager, tanager, medium bird, small bird

The Scarlet Tanager is an American songbird of medium size with bright coloured plumage. They are commonly located in eastern North America and in northwestern South America. They can often be found within woodlands that have oaks. On occasion, the Tanager can be seen in suburban areas including parks and gardens. These birds are sociable and often join with other foraging flocks. They are carnivores (insectivores) and feed on insects including wasps, ants, moths, beetles, butterflies and grasshoppers. The numbers of these birds in America are declining due to exposure and starvation during the colder months. These birds can also die from collisions with man made objects which includes the TV and radio towers, buildings and cars. They also have high rates of predation and brood parasitism. However, at current the IUCN classifies this species as Least Concern and note that their numbers are stable. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.The Scarlet Tanager specimen stands perched on a wooden platform looking forwards in a raised position. It has bright red/orange feathers on the main body and head with dark black feathers on the tail and wings. Overall, whilst retaining a bright appearance the bird has faded in contrast to it's original colouring. The bill is short and pale and the specimen has been provided with glass eyes made in a dark colour. The specimen has two paper identification tags attached to the right leg.Swing tag: 143a / unnamed / catalogue page 59 Metal tag: A4439 /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, australian birds, american, american birds, scarlet tanager, tanager, medium bird, small bird

The photograph records that this image is of Pat White, cataloguer and performer of other duties at Burke Museum for a number of years. Pat White was involved in the Oral History project at Burke Museum and was tasked with transcribing the recordings of elderly Beechworth residents recalling their early days in the town. Estimated date of photo is 2000.This photograph is of social significance because it depicts a local Burke Museum volunteer, Pat White, who had a connection to the Beechworth area. It also reveals museum practices at Burke Museum in 2000, specifically the equipment and technology used to record and transcribe oral stories, which is of interpretive value when considering the ways in which museum practice has changes over the last 20 years.Colour rectangular photograph printed on paper.Obverse: (illegible) Reverse: Museum volunteer profiles / Pat White / When the original meeting was held to tell us of the proposed Oral / History Project I thought it was a very good idea and one in which I / would like to be involved. I have enjoyed transcribing tapes that Jennifer / Williams has made while interviewing older residents of Beechworth. / The ‘oldies’ have a lot to five back to Beechworth in telling of their early / days in the town. I have learnt a great many things I did not know / about Beechworth’s early history through these people and have enjoyed my / hours of work listening to them. beechworth, burke museum, cataloguing, oral history, elderly residents, pat white, patricia white, recordings

The Silver Gull is more commonly referred to as the 'Seagull'. Found all along the coast of mainland Australia and Tasmania, it can also be found in New Caledonia and New Zealand. These birds are a common nuisance at beaches and urban areas, such as shopping centres. Since the 1950s, humans have become increasingly wasteful, leading to an explosion of the Silver Gull population due to the availability of rubbish to scavenge. They feed mainly on small marine life, but they are a versatile scavenger. The population increase has impacted the breeding of other bird species, as Silver Gulls have dominated offshore island breeding grounds. Their breeding season is from August to December, when they nest on the ground, however mating can occur year-round. This species has a harsh, high-pitched call 'kwarwh', well known to all Australians. Although protected under Australian Environmental Law, there are many strategies in place to discourage increasing the numbers of Seagulls. This specimen is an inaccurate example of a Silver Gull, which although is in good condition and intact, does not look like an accurate representation of this species. The legs have been mounted too far towards the tail on this specimen, giving it an unbalanced appearance. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This adult Silver Gull has a white head, body, underpart and tail. Its wings are silver-grey, with black and white tips. It has an orange-red bill, feet and beak, indicative of its maturity. The irises are white. This specimen stands upon a wooden platform and has an identification tag tied around its leg.Swing-tag: 11a / Silver Gull / See catalogue, page, 40. taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, seagull, silver gull, australian bird, nuisance

The red-winged blackbird is native to North America. They live in a verity of places from southern Alaska at its northern most point, to the Yucatan peninsula in the south and covers the greater part of the continent reaching from the Pacific coast of California and Canada to the eastern seaboard. Populations that are most northerly migrate south after the mating season, but some of the populations in the central and western United States, Central America and the Gulf Coast are resident year-round. In the breeding season, Red-winged blackbirds are found in a range of fresh and saltwater environments, including in small trees and bushes along marshes and watercourses, in agricultural areas and dry meadows. During migration, they can be found in, pastures, prairies and cultivated fields. They are polygamous. In the north, the early arrival and tumbling song of these birds are welcome indications of spring's return. The Red-winged blackbirds are known for their scarlet and yellow shoulder patches on this specimen are rather dull and the feathers are not as glossy black as they are in other images. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This is one of the most common birds in North America and is the most boldly coloured one. The males are glossy-black with shoulder patches of scarlet and yellow which they are able to puff up or hide according to their level of confidence. Females look like a big, dark sparrow, being a subdued, streaky brown. This specimen has the colouring of the male Red-Winged Blackbird which helps to identify it as such.Swing-Tag: 137a. / Red-winged Starling / Catalogue page, 58 / Tag: A. 4429taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, american birds, north america, red-winged blackbird, red-winged starling, migratory, alaska, canada, saltwater

Noisy Miners are native to Australia and can be found on the East Coast. Noisy Miners live in northern Queensland and all along the eastern coast to South Australia and Tasmania. Noisy Miners are found in woodlands and open forests. They have also become well adapted to suburban situations and are a common sight in parks and gardens. The Noisy Miner feeds on nectar, fruits and insects. Very occasionally they will eat small reptiles and amphibians. Food is either taken from trees or on the ground. In keeping with its highly social nature, the Noisy Miner usually feeds in large groups. The Noisy miner specimen is mounted accurately. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.The Noisy Miner is identified by its mostly grey body and black crown and cheeks. The bill is yellow, as are the legs and the naked skin behind the eye. The name is well suited as the common calls are uttered repeatedly by the members of the colony .Despite their moderate size, Noisy Miners aggressively attack larger birds such as hawks and kookaburras. These attacks may be so vigorous that most other birds are excluded from an area occupied by Noisy Miners.Swing tag: 65a. Garrulous Honey-Eater / See Catalogue, page 19 /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, australian birds, noisy miner, garrulous honeyeater, yellow beak, honeyeater, east coast

The red-winged blackbird is native to North America. They live in a verity of places from southern Alaska at its northern most point, to the Yucatan peninsula in the south and covers the greater part of the continent reaching from the Pacific coast of California and Canada to the eastern seaboard. Populations that are most northerly migrate south after the mating season, but some of the populations in the central and western United States, Central America and the Gulf Coast are resident year-round. In the breeding season, Red-winged blackbirds are found in a range of fresh and saltwater environments, including in small trees and bushes along marshes and watercourses, in agricultural areas and dry meadows. During migration, they can be found in, pastures, prairies and cultivated fields. They are polygamous. The Red-winged blackbirds are known for their scarlet and yellow shoulder patches but on this specimen are rather dull and the feathers are not as glossy black as they are in other images. It is mounted accurately but the feathers appear to be ruffled. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.The Red-Winged Blackbird is one of the most common birds in North America and is the most boldly coloured one. The males are glossy-black with shoulder patches of scarlet and yellow which they are able to puff up or hide according to their level of confidence. Females look like a big, dark sparrow, being a subdued, streaky brown. The colouring of this particular specimen identifies it as male.[torn] page 58 / Tag: A. 4423taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, american birds, north america, red-winged blackbird, red-winged starling, migratory, alaska, canada, saltwater

The Nankeen Kestrel, a small type of falcon, can be found all over Australia, usually in grassland or farmland areas. This falcon is carnivorous and hunts all manner of small prey including mice, lizards, insects, and other birds. When hunting, Nankeen Kestrels can be seen hovering in the air searching for prey. Nankeen Kestrels are generally monogamous, staying with the same breeding partner for multiple seasons. The Nankeen Kestrel is known for its reddish-brown feathers, spotted with a distinctive black pattern on its back, and have black-tipped wings and tail band, a stark contrast to its white chest. Females tend to be larger, and males will have a grey head and neck area. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This female Nankeen Kestrel is relatively small and slender. It is mostly reddish-brown, streaked with darker coloured areas. The tips of the wings and tail feathers are tipped in black. The chest is white with streaks of reddish-brown. The areas around its eyes, beak, and feet are a bright yellow. This specimen stands upon a wooden platform and has an identification tag tied around its leg.Swing-tag: 19. / Unnamed / Catalogue page, 5 /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, nankeen kestrel, falcon

Red Headed Woodpeckers can be found in Southern Canada and a large portion of the United States of America, generally migrating to the south if they originated in the northern regions. Their habitat is open forests or savannahs. They are classed as omnivores, finding food from pecking at wood or in flight. The Red Headed Woodpecker is threatened in Canada and some areas of the United States due to deforestation, lack of deadwood for nesting, competition with other birds, and a lack of food. They are an important part of the ecosystem, controlling insect populations and pollinating flora. Red Headed Woodpeckers typically have a beautiful, vibrant red neck and head, a stark white chest, black back, and black wings with white secondary remiges. They have a large chisel-like beak, suitable for foraging for their food. Their heads are rounded and they have short tails. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This Red Headed Woodpecker is a small to medium-sized bird found in North America. This specimen is tricoloured: it has a red head and neck, a white chest, a black back, and black wings with white secondary remiges. It has a large chisel-like beak. This specimen has pest or humidity damage on the neck and head area. This specimen is standing on a wooden mount with a swing tag attached to it's leg.Swing-tag: 151a. Unnamed / Catalogue page, 60 /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, red headed woodpecker

Ural Owls are one of the largest nocturnal birds of prey and are distributed across Northern hemisphere land masses from Scandinavia in the west, across Russia and China to Japan in the east. They average between 500-640mm in length, have large ears, a very long tail, and wing spans up to 1340mm. Ural Owls display reverse sexual dimorphism. They have a range of calls and sounds that vary between regions and among subspecies. Ural Owls prefer mature primary forest habitats that are not too dense, but adapt to a range of environments, including damp heathland and high elevation mountain forests. The species is considered nocturnal but may be more correctly described as ‘cathemeral’, due to frequent daylight activity in the taiga zone. Ural Owls are non-migratory and highly territorial. They prefer to hunt from a perch into open areas of forest, seeking small mammal prey, such as voles, as well as birds, amphibians, and invertebrates. Ural Owls have a broad, rounded head and a well-developed round facial disc with a small V-shaped indentation. They tend to be plain greyish-brown to whitish overall, though some subspecies display darker colour variation. The underparts are pale cream to grey-brown and boldly overlaid with dark brown streaking. Ural Owls lack the richer colour tones of other Strix owls. Their flight style gives the appearance of a large bird. The eyes are dark brown and relatively small, and the bill is yellowish. Tarsi and toes are feathered grey and the talons are yellowish brown with darker tips. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century. This Ural Owl is an average sized specimen with a broad, rounded head and characteristic V-shaped facial marking between the eyes. Overall plumage is plain and consistent in colour and pattern, with white, brown and grey streaks. The eyes are large and the bill is small and yellow. This specimen stands on a wooden perch with identification tags attached to its leg.Swing tag: Strix noctua / Athene noctua, [illegible] / near leiden / 26 Mai 1860. / Holland / Other tag: N38 / Strix noctua / Holland. / Metal tag: 4062 /taxidermy, taxidermy mount, burke museum, australian museum, owls, birds of prey, heart-shaped faced owl, nocturnal birds, predator birds, carnivore, territorial owl, animalia, large owl, long-tailed owls, ural mountains, taiga zone owls, cathemeral, monogamous, iucn red list, strix, wood owl, attacking owl, long-tailed owl, large-eared owl, owls with facial disc

The Common Buzzard is part of the buteo genus (Latin for buzzard or hawk) which indicates it is part of the raptor group whose features include a medium to large build, a strong body and larger wings. The family includes birds of prey such as hawks and buzzards. Like their name suggests, Common Buzzards are very ‘common’ in the UK but can also be found in other parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. The birds’ habitat consists of woodland, shrubland, forest, wetlands and countryside, and they can live in cold, tropical and temperate climate zones. Similar to other raptor species, Common Buzzards make their nests in tree branches or tree forks. With finely tuned hearing, they are able to detect small marsupials, and their diet consists of small amphibians, birds and mammals. Normally solitary, these raptors can occasionally be seen with others. Common Buzzards are classified as of ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List. While there is some noticeable fading of this particular taxidermy specimen’s plumage, it is relatively well presented. The completely black eyes and string through the nose of the specimen seem to be taxidermy/curatorial choices, as this is not something that is normally found on living versions today, and the eyes of Common Buzzards are normally golden eyes with black pupils. It is interesting to note, when considering the selected artificial eyes, that the original swing tag labeled this specimen as Saleo tinnunculus Lina, a form of kestrel (known to have complete black eyes), which perhaps explains this taxidermist choice. As a Common Buzzard, this particular specimen could have had its frame and breast area bulked out a little more, as birds within the buteo genus are generally recognised to be of medium to large build. Overall however, this is a fairly reasonable and accurate representation of the species. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.With similar colourings and features to a range of raptor species, the Common Buzzard can often be mistaken for other varieties of buteo and raptor. The bird’s plumage generally varies by location, but normally includes a variety of shades of brown, commonly with darker brown on its back and lighter coloured feathers on its breast, underbelly areas and face. These birds normally have fine bands on their tail and darker tipped wings. Common Buzzards have smaller heads with a band of yellow around the base of their small curved beaks and golden yellow eyes. This particular specimen’s feathers have faded and he stands upon a wooden perch with an identifying tag hanging from its right leg.Swing Tag: Swing tag obverse seems to read: ‘…io [? First few symbols aren’t clear]/ Saleo /tinnunculus/ Lina [there is also another illegible symbol on the tag in the centre on the second line] Swing tag reverse: illegible sections of text and the beginning of a number ‘403…[?]. Metal tag: 1032[?]taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, common buzzard, buteo, hawks, raptors, birds of prey, buzzards

The Black Shouldered Kite is commonly found throughout mainland Australia in grasslands and other open habitats. It is a raptor (bird of prey) that will eat mice and other small rodents. The species is monogamous and will find a mate by the male giving food to the female while both are in flight. It is sometimes confused with the letter-winged kite though there undercarriages when in flight are very different with the letter-winged showing the letter W or M and the black shouldered kite showing black wing tips with white towards its belly area. The feathers of this species when alive and in the wild are more white than this specimen. The iris is usually red in mature birds so this specimen may not have been a mature bird as its eyes are brown. However, this is difficult to ascertain because it is also possible that the taxidermist who replaced the original eyes with the current glass ones provided a colour which was not accurate to the age/species of the bird. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This Black Shouldered Kite has a white face and front of body with a grey posterior from the top of its head to its tail. It has black on its wings/shoulders. Its face is white with its eyes delineated by small black apostrophe like shapes from the inner eye to the top of the eye. The specimen stands on a wooden perch and has a swing tag tied around its right leg. Its eye colour is brown rather than red, indicating it is not a mature specimen.9. / Black Shouldered Kite / See Catalogue, page 3 / taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, black shouldered kite

This is a photograph of two people (James Toole and Beryl Witkowski) amid celebrations for St Patrick's Day at the Burke Museum in an unknown year. St Patrick's Day is traditionally an Irish religious holiday, but has been adopted in countries such as Australia to celebrate an idea of Irish culture. These celebrations often include wearing green clothes, especially a shamrock hat, and drinking beer, all pictured here. This celebration appears to be taking place within the Burke Museum itself, with museum's iconic stained glass oval window in the background. The Museum, situated in Beechworth, holds a collection of over 30,000 individual objects - including this photograph. James Toole (left) was the 'face of the Beechworth Post Office' until his retirement in 2015, following a 45-year career in mail service. He is a Friend of the Burke Museum, volunteering on projects such as crafting the Burke Museum's float in the 2018 Beechworth Bakery and Beechworth Honey Grand Parade at the Golden Horseshoes Festival. He is known for his flamboyant character. Beryl Witkowski (right) was a historian and curator for the Burke Museum, retiring from her position in 2016. She was involved as a Friend of the Burke Museum from at least 2004.This photograph is significant to the Burke Museum and Beechworth as it depicts two prominent, contemporary members of the museum's paid and volunteer staff in the museum itself. It highlights both how the staff interacted with the museum through celebrations and how the museum itself was used in capacities other than object display. The photograph can also be used to interpret Australia's relationship to the St Patrick's Day holiday, especially given the presence of Irish immigrants to the Beechworth area in the nineteenth century.A colour, square photograph printed on rectangular photographic paper.First Card: WITKOWSKI, Beryl / TOOLE, James / BMM 3067 / Databased Second Card: Burke Museum / 3067 /burke museum, beechworth, museum staff, celebrations, st patrick's day, beer, australia, st patrick's day celebration

The Long-eared owl is one of the most widely distributed and most numerous owl species in the world. It is a rather slim and long-winged bird with usually prominent erectile ear tufts, which are positioned closer to the center of the head than in many other types of owl. Long-eared owls prefer open landscapes with groups of trees, hedges or small woods, as well as pastureland with rows of trees and bushes, any type of forest with clearings, forest edges, semi-open taiga forest, swampy areas and bogs, orchards with old fruit trees, parks, even gardens and timbered areas in villages, towns or cities. In many parts of the world, Long-eared owls have even adapted to deserts, though more commonly semi-desert, and may nest and roost in available oases and hunt prey over the open desert ground. This particular specimen has been mounted in a correctly stylised fashion. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This Long-Eared Owl is a rather slim, long-winged bird with prominent erectile ear tufts. The coloration of this Long-eared Owl is a hue of ochraceous-tawny with a brownish wash. The wings, back and chest are patterned and the facial disc is visibly well developed and light brown in colour. The ear tufts are dusky in front and darter tawny on the back. This Long-eared owl possesses a light-coloured bill and its eyes are yellowish-orange. The specimen stands upon a wooden platform. Swing tag: 33 / Virginian / Bee-boo Owl / Catalogue, page 52 / Other tag: No 19 / STRIX Virginian / N. America / taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, owl, long-eared owl

Taken on 14 May 1979, this photo depicts Mr Alan J. Dunlop and his wife presenting a 2.86-gram solid gold nugget found in the Beechworth area more than 100 years ago, to the Shire President, Councillor Mrs Valerie Mason. The gold is reported as attached to a small amount of milk quartz mounted onto a tie pin, and was donated to the Burke Museum by the Dunlop family. Alan Dunlop, pictured, was Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop's older brother. The tie pin artefact being donated in this photograph is entered into the Victorian Collections, and records that the nugget was found in the Beechworth Goldfields by Mr Fred McIntosh, in the last 1800s. Fred McIntosh, the husband of Elizabeth (Bessie) Dunlop (the sister of Alan & Edward's father, John) had the nugget made into tie pin and presented it to the Dunlop Family. Furthermore, Valerie 'Val' Mason was the first female president of the former Beechworth Shire for two terms and a councillor for nine years. This photograph is of historic significance as it depicts known individuals who have connections to key Australian figures. Alan Dunlop is the brother of famous war doctor Edward 'Weary' Dunlop, and both men are Beechworth locals. The object Alan holds is a tie pin made from gold found by the Dunlops' uncle, and the provenance of the item – from goldfield to family collection to museum collection – provides a recent context with which to interpret the significance of gold-mining on present and future generations, as well as strong research potential on minerals known to be sourced in the area. In conjunction with other photographs in the collection, this photograph visually documents the donation and acquisition of the tie pin artefact into the Burke Museum Collection. In addition, it depicts Valerie ‘Val’ Mason, in her role as the president of the former Beechworth Shire. Val was the first female in this role, which she held for two terms, and was a councillor in the Shire for nine years. This photograph is of social significance as it depicts two well-known and respected Beechworth locals handling a key artefact of significance to the Beechworth Goldfields. It also shows the Burke Museum in 1979, providing research potential for those interested in the history of the development of the museum's collection. Colour rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper.Reverse: Polacolor (Registered Trademark symbol) Type 108 / LR / Mrs Valerie Mason / Mr Dunlop (Weary's brother) / Mrs Vivian Payne (erased) / 14-5-1979 A.J. Dunlop & wife with Cr. Mason /L85052P gold, nugget, tie pin, pin, beechworth, burke museum, goldrush, goldfield, dunlop, edward dunlop, weary dunlop, alan dunlop, valerie mason, fred mcintosh, gold mining, donation, museum, collection, president, councillor, shire, female

This photograph is recorded as having been taken in the North East Victoria Regional Tourist Authority, Wangaratta and depicts an exhibition display of items and interpretative labels associated with the Kelly Gang. The display was reportedly laid out as part of a Vic Tour Stamp, with items from the Burke Museum Collection.This photograph is of social significance due to its connection with the Burke Museum as well as the Kelly Gang. The Kelly Gang story is integral to the formation of the Australian identity and highlights the Irish oppression during the 1880s. Ned Kelly is an Australian icon, mythologised in Australian literature, art, folklore and history, and the Kelly Gang permeates Australia's national consciousness. The significance of the Burke Museum is also highlighted here, as the photograph shows the importance of the Kelly story to the Beechworth area and local identity, as well as its significance within the museum collection. The photograph is of strong research potential due to its depiction of the Kelly Gang history in Australia and its presentation of a historical museum exhibition which toured from Beechworth to other Victorian locations. With a depiction of the exhibition and associated label, the photograph provides insight into how the language and historical interpretation of Kelly Gang has developed, and how cultural and social opinions which are often shaped by exhibition displays, have shifted. Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper.Obverse: Gold Cradle / History / Claim 1835 / The north east is rich in history. It was the home of Ned Kelly, the 'Man from Snowy River' and (???) dog Mogan. Century old buildings are common and (???)nders of the gold rush days are everywhere / V. R. / £8000 Reward / Robbery and Murder / (indeterminate) Reverse: The historical display laid out in VICTOUR / 1997 3135 / North East Victoria/ Regional Tourist Authority/ P.O. Box 250/ Wangaratta. 3577 /BMMA03324burke museum, ned kelly, kelly gang, museum collection, exhibition, display, gallery, museum, exhibit

Depicted in the photograph is Newtown Bridge or the Newtown Falls Bridge, in Beechworth, Victoria. Noted for its location, detailed craftsmanship and stonemasonry by Scottish stonemasons the Newtown Bridge was built in the 19th century provincial town of Beechworth (completed in 1875). The bridge was built over Spring Creek, spanning 6.3 meters wide and 24.8 meters tall. Beechworth held a distinct role in the administrative and commercial management of Victoria's north-eastern goldfields, with many objects and structures still well preserved from the towns establishment. The bridge indicates the growth of the town, replacing a previous timber structure as well as its association to the mining activity in the area and the rapid increase in Australia's economy that led to investment and development of roads and railways. The local granite used in the construction of the single arch Newtown Bridge makes the bridge and other buildings made with the granite unique to the area, the honey-toned material distinct to Beechworth. This photograph is historically significant as it provides insight into the industrial development of Beechworth and the surrounding area, contributed to by the goldfields. The photograph further captures the representation of vernacular engineering traditions and Scottish stonemasonry.Two sepia-toned rectangular photographs featuring a bridge in the background printed on matte photographic paper mounted on card.Reverse: 97.2324/ Newtown Bridge/ Beechworthbridge, newtown beechworth, newtown bridge, newtown, beechworth, beechworth falls bridge, beechworth mining district, spring creek,

Basalt is a common igneous rock that composes most of the Earth's surface and can be found on the Moon and other rocky planets of the Solar System. It is generally composed minerals such as calcic plagioclase, clinopyroxene and iron ore which form grains that are indistinguishable to the naked eye. It can be dark grey or black in colouring and sometimes may contain holes left by gas bubbles. Most of the Earth's basalt was produced in environments such as oceanic divergent boundaries, oceanic hotspots, and mantle plumes and hotspots beneath continents. Basalt is commonly used in construction where it is crushed and used for multiple purposes such as concrete aggregate, road base, or railroad ballast. Thin slabs of basalt can also be cut and used for floor tiles, stone monuments, and building veneer. This particular specimen was excavated from Talbot in Victoria, which was a small gold mining town established in 1852. As basalt is a common rock, it is not specific to Talbot. However, this specimen can be assumed to be of the Cainozoic age due to previous geomorphic surveys of the area. This particular type of Basalt was used mainly for roads due to the durability of the rock.Basalt holds significance due to the continued use of the rock from historic until present times. The rock has been utilised for many types of construction and is still used for the same purposes today. Basalt also has significance to the Earth and other rocky planets of the Solar System as it makes up most of the planet's surface. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.A smaller than hand sized rock specimen which is dark grey in colour with small holes and white deposits across its surface.Geological survey / [illegible] /burke museum, beechworth, geological specimen, geology, basalt, basalt specemin, indigo shire, talbot, cainozoic, igneous rock

‘Ropy lava’ is known for its sculptural and layered qualities. It occurs in specific lava flows that are slow moving and slow cooling, allowing for unique formations to be created out of the motion. Ropy Lava is a flow that has a hardened crust with molten material underneath, the tension between these states is what creates its characteristic form. The brown/red hue of the stone is an indication of age, as it is oxidised iron deposits. This rock deposit is thought to be sourced from the area by Talbot, in western Victoria. This area has a rich mineral history and experienced the gold rush in the 1850's. The traditional owners of this area are the Dja Dja Wurrung people.This geological specimen shows the conditions in which the Australian landscape was created as well as provides an indication as to how these events occurred. It is representative of a common natural process that contextualises the formation of Australia with the formation of other landmasses. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.Hand sized specimen in brown/red hues42 / victoria, talbot, lava, ropy, ropy lava, mineral, geological specimen, geological, geological heritage, natural stone, natural history

This rectangle black and white photograph shows a bush scene with part of a suspension rope and wooden plank bridge visible in the middle of the image. It is likely this suspension bridge was used by the Tannery workers to move between the town and the Ovens Tannery located South-West of Beechworth due to its secluded bush location, the bridge likely spanned the gorge across Spring creek. The tannery itself was located alongside Gimlet Creek, about three kilometres from town, down what is now known as Malakoff and Old Tannery Road but which at the time was remote and accessed through bushland. The Ovens tannery was stablished in 1858 by Matthew Dodd and Hallahan and later Matthew and his brother Thomas Dodd in 1866 who developed it over the years. According to Doyle, 'we have little information about its early operations except the tannery itself comprised four small buildings' by 1870 ‘a small village with gardens of vines and fruit trees surrounded the tannery’ (Woods, 121), and by 1887 the Tannery employed fifteen men. The Ovens tannery was among several new businesses establishing themselves such as a foundry that brought industrial manufacturing alongside the developing township and which strengthened the economic stability of Beechworth after the receding mining surge. According to Woods (p. 121) in the 1860’s the government spent considerable sums to establish several public buildings such as the Benevolent Asylum, the Hospital and Insane Asylum to support those in need of care in the area directly after the Indigo gold rush which had left Beechworth, a fairly remote regional and newly formed township (Gold was first discovered in Beechworth in 1852) with a number of infirm and destitute people in its wake and which due to the support and establishment of these facilities ‘made Beechworth a significant social welfare centre in Victoria’ (Woods, p. 121). The tannery provided employment and connected the regional centre with other parts of Victoria and the wider colonial outposts and would have been a welcome opportunity for those seeking work after gold was no longer a source of income.A good example of the ingenuity of regional settlers to achieve what would have been a difficult and remote construction of a bridge as a means of access. This bridge is evidence of planning and forethought and shows dedication to establishing a life in a remote landscape.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on paperreverse: / 2983 / / BMM2983 /black and white photograph, bush, suspension bridge, rope bridge, tannery, spring creek, ovens tannery, bushland, gimlet creek, matthew dodd, beechworth

Alfred 'Alf' Spencer grew up on a dairy farm run by his mother, west south west of Beechworth 'down Robertson Road', and was very well connected to the wider Beechworth area. In this oral history, he recalls his time driving the milk cart around Beechworth as well as the time he spent buying lollies and seeing the pictures. He talks extensively about working as a butcher at his brother's store, including how the butchers interacted with the rest of the town and the staff, as well as his time constructing roads and the pipe network of Beechworth. He discusses the dynamics of other workplaces around Beechworth, describing issues with how the local tannery treated its workers as well as how post-war migrants integrated across the town. He briefly discusses racial tensions between Chinese migrants and other miners on the goldfields. He also discusses the experience of health care in a rural area during his childhood. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Alfred Spencer's oral history of his life around Beechworth during the 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural history of the region and Victoria. There is a lot of detail about workplaces, their staff, and how the resources of the town interacted. He explores themes that are important to Victorian history, such as migration. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up to 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mr Alfred Spencer /listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, spencer, alfred spencer, migration, post-war migration, goldfields, health care, farm, farming, dairy farm, black springs, butchers, meat processing, butcher, road, road network, labour relations