Donated by founder, Mother Gonzaga Barry's, brother, John Barry, to Loreto's Ballarat school, Mary's Mount, in 1887. Brought back by Mother Gonzaga on her return from Europe in 1887. Maintained by Captain Henry Evans Baker, Superintendent of the Oddie Observatory, Mount Pleasant Ballarat, who subsequently made the students a telescope. Used in the curriculum for the study of astronomy.Connection with founder of Loreto in Australia and her family. Evidence of early curriculum. Rare artefact.A clockwork scientific instrument modelling the solar system.Paterson & Son Maker Liverpoolorrery, astronomy, science

Prue Sanderson, in her groundbreaking ‘City of Kew Urban Conservation Study : Volume 2 - Development History’ (1988), summarised the periods of urban development and subdivisions of land in Kew. The periods that she identified included 1845-1880, 1880-1893, 1893-1921, 1921-1933, 1933-1943, and Post-War Development. These periods were selected as they represented periods of rapid growth or decline in urban development. An obvious starting point for Sanderson’s groupings involved population growth and the associated economic cycles. These cycles also highlighted urban expansion onto land that was predominantly rural, although in other cases it represented the decline and breakup of large estates. A number of the plans in the Kew Historical Society’s collection can also be found in other collections, such as those of the State Library of Victoria and the Boroondara Library Service. A number are however unique to the collection.The Kew Historical Society collection includes almost 100 subdivision plans pertaining to suburbs of the City of Melbourne. Most of these are of Kew, Kew East or Studley Park, although a smaller number are plans of Camberwell, Deepdene, Balwyn and Hawthorn. It is believed that the majority of the plans were gifted to the Society by persons connected with the real estate firm - J. R. Mathers and McMillan, 136 Cotham Road, Kew. The Plans in the collection are rarely in pristine form, being working plans on which the agent would write notes and record lots sold and the prices of these. The subdivision plans are historically significant examples of the growth of urban Melbourne from the beginning of the 20th Century up until the 1980s. A number of the plans are double-sided and often include a photograph on the reverse. A number of the latter are by noted photographers such as J.E. Barnes.The Normanby Heights Estate not unusually used hyperbole to attract purchasers to the auction of 17 lots facing Argyle Street (sic), Pleasant Avenue and Normanby Road. Predictably factors appealed to included the proximity to schools etc, the availability of public utilities, friable soil, picturesque views and ‘advancing settlement’. If that were not enough, the sales pitch exhorted prospective purchasers to consider their backbone. ‘Thrift is unquestionably the Backbone of any Nation. No better form of Thrift can be encouraged in the young citizen than by investing his or her savings in a piece of land in a growing, healthy and beautiful locality. NORMANBY HEIGHTS ESTATE admirably fits the need.’ The experience of Australia at war undoubtedly contributed to the use of terms such as ‘Backbone of a Nation’ and the appeal to egalitarian principles in the choice of the term ‘young citizen’. The recognition that women had savings and might be the prospective purchaser also reflects a new sense of the rights and entitlements of women in the postwar period.subdivision plans - kew, normanby heights estate, pleasant avenue, normanby road, argyle street

J.T Minns was president of the Shire Council from 1923-24 Isaac Robinson was president of the Shire Council from 1924-25. The Robinson family lived in the area. The following is from 100 Years at Melton: Isaac and Henrietta Robinson. Jeanette nee Rohner Robinson 1985. Creighton Melton. The Robinsons of Wyndham William Robinson married Ann Bee in 1952, Weardale, Durham England. They arrived in Australia on the ship “Ben Nevis” in 1852. They settled in Wyndham in 1855 and began dairying and haygrowing. They bought 50 acres and rented 300 acres until buying 300 acres in 1872 – Mt Pleasant Farm. Their children were sent to school even though Ann had been a school teacher in England. The older boys had to travel 5 ½ miles to Mt Cotterell school before one was built at Tarneit, a mile from their home. The children of William and Ann: George, Thomas, William, Isaac, Mary Ann, Mary Ann , John and Thomas. Thomas moved to Melton aged 19. When Ann died in 1898 Mt Pleasant farm was let then sold about 1920. In 1872 William Snr bought more land in Melton. William, Isaac and George worked on the land until 1887 when George and Isaac bought more land in Melton Creighton. Thomas and John also bought adjoining land. Outside Shire Offices, High Streetcouncil, local identities

Mara Gluyas was secretary of this organisation for 11 continuous years (1983-1994), and President Ian McKinnon was President for 9 years from 1983-1992). The inaugural 1983 committee was Ian McKinnon, Mara Gluyas, N. Strange, A. Graham, M. Davidson, M. Adams, Peter Hiscock, Ian Blomeley. The Association was concerned with the advancement of the Ballarat area in general and to promote Golden Point - Mt Pleasant area in particular. Small box with purple lid filled with the constitution, minutes associated with the Golden Point - Mt Pleasant Progress Association, and lists of members.mara glouyas, ian mckinnon, sovereign hill, pearce's park rotunda, elms, tree planting, sovereign hill lookout reserve, christmas carols, mine collapse, former golden point direction indicator, signage, norm strange, golden mount historical mines direction indicator, yarrowee creek tree planting committee, peady street, pearce street, barry davis, nerrina tip, ballarat observatory, carols by candlelight, yarrowee park project, magpie street bbq park, neighbourhood watch, magpie street park, cobden street, pryor street bus shelter, hill street, urban wildlife corridor, south street bluestone gutter, eastern baths site, grant street, street lighting, magpie street, letterhead, aboriginal advancement league, golden point primary school, sunnyside woollen mill, ballarat west goldfields, fred hunt, kerry daniell, craig ford, jack colin greville, jack colin greville plaque at mt pleasant lookout, golden point school oval