\When the railway reached Wodonga from Melbourne on 19th November 1873 the first station building, which included a refreshment room and dining room, was a temporary structure. It was 300 ft. long and was removed and taken to Beechworth when the new station was built in 1874 by contractor J. Richardson. The Goods shed was 100 feet long and was built by Frew & Hill in 1873. One year later it was extended an additional 150 feet by James Nation. The date of the construction of the Locomotive shed is not known but predates 1883. It was a galvanised iron clad building which housed 4 engines on 2 tracks; in 1910 it was extended to 250 feet in length to house six more engines. The location of the railway tracks and station were a constant cause of congestion in the centre of Wodonga as the tracks crossed over Sydney Road (later named High Street). Lines of traffic were frequently banked up as the gates were closed to allow trains to cross. The Wodonga Rail Bypass project moved Wodonga station from the original central location to a position on a new line on the northern edge of the town. Not only did this release land in the middle of the city for commercial and public use, but also eliminated 10 level crossings. The project actually commenced in 2008 with the last passenger train passing through Wodonga on 8 November 2008. On 23 July 2010, the new rail bypass was opened, the original line through Wodonga closed and the station fell quiet. The area has now been redeveloped as Junction Place and the old buildings now house a restaurant, cafe and the Goods Shed Craft Beer Cafe.These images are of local, state and national significance as the Wodonga Railway complex formed a vital link in the Victorian state, interstate and national railway system.A collection of colour photos of the buildings at the former Wodonga Railway Stationwodonga railways, railway station wodonga, junction place wodonga

Black and white photograph of Fortuna with lake in foreground. Poppet head and chimneys in background. Inscriptions: on front - 'W Ninnis' Photo Bendigo. Inscription on back: 'Old Chum Mine - New Chum Hill. Taken from rear, Lansell's Fortuna lake.' A. Richardson, 29 Harrison St., Bendigo.buildings, residential, fortuna villa, bendigo, mines and mining, mine, mines, mining, poppet head, old chum mine, landscape, mining landscape

Handwritten notes from a Bendigo Advertiser report 7 Jan 1907. Three shifts of men working all Saturday and Sunday had not located the main. A large are of Eaglehawk and the City are without water. Had to timber a hole to a depth of 25 ft. Victoria Quartz, Windmill Hill, Needle, Confidence Ext'd, Princess Dagmar, Golden Age, Golden Pyke, Macduff, constellation, Gt Northern, (partly), Specimen Hill, Clarence, New Argus, Comet, Gt Central Victoria and Victoria Consols had to close because they had no water and five to six hundred men believed to be out of work. City Council will put water-carts on and supply residents free of charge. New Moon, South Moon, Virginia , Catherine and Devonshire mines get their water direct from the water race so they did not close down. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, burst water main under garden gully sandheap, bendigo advertiser, 7/1/1907, victoria quartz, windmill hill, needle, confidence ext'd, princess dagmar, golden age, golden pyke, macduff, constellation, gt northern, (partly), specimen hill, clarence, new argus, comet, gt central victoria, victoria consols, north johnsons, johnson's reef, snobs hill line, new moon south moon, virginia, catherine, devonshire, albert richardson

Handwritten notes mentioning Bendigo Mines. Four mines, Garden Gully United, South New Moon, Hustlers Reef and Catherine Reef United have some information about them. Others listed are: Catherine Reef United, Carlisle, Clarence United, Central Ellesmere, Collman & Tacchi, Confidence Extended Cornish United, Ellenborough, Extd South Devonshire, Eureka, Fortuna Hustlers, Garden Gully United, G G Consolidated, Geribaldi, Great Southern, Gt Northern, Gt Extended Hustlers, Gt Central Victoria, Golden Age, Golden Pyke, Goldfields North, Goldfields Consolidated, North Johnsons, Pearl, Princess Dagmar, Phoenix, Railway Prince of Wales, Shamrock, St Mungo, Sadowa, Sea, Specimen Hill Sth St Mungo, South New Moon, South Devonshire, Suffolk United, United Devonshire, Unity, United Hustlers & Redan, United Ulster, Victoria Consols, Victoria Quartz, Pansora, Virginia, Victoria Proprietory, Williams United, Hustlers Reef, Hustlers Royal Reserve, Hercules & Energetic, Ironbark, Johnsons Reef No 1, Hustlers Royal Reserve, Ironbark, Johnsons Reef, Johnsons Extended, Kochs Pioneer, Lazarus New Chum, Lady Barkly - Lightning Hill, McDuff Amalgamated, Morning Star, New Chum Consolidated, New Chum Railway, New Chum & Victoria, New Blue Consolidated, New Hopefu, New St Mungo, New Argus, New Moon, New Victoria Catherine, New Chum Goldfields, North New Moon and North Argus. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, bendigo mines 1906, bendigo mines 1906, catherine reef united, carlisle, clarence united, central ellesmere, collman & tacchi, confidence extended cornish united, ellenborough, extd south devonshire, eureka, fortuna hustlers, garden gully united, g g consolidated, geribaldi, great southern, gt northern, gt extended hustlers, gt central victoria, golden age, golden pyke, goldfields north, goldfields consolidated, north johnsons, pearl, princess dagmar, phoenix, railway prince of wales, shamrock, st mungo, sadowa, sea, specimen hill sth st mungo, south new moon, south devonshire, suffolk united, united devonshire, unity, united hustlers & redan, united ulster, victoria consols, victoria quartz, pansora, virginia, victoria proprietory, williams united, hustlers reef, hustlers royal reserve, hercules & energetic, ironbark, johnsons reef no 1, hustlers royal reserve, ironbark, johnsons reef, johnsons extended, kochs pioneer, lazarus new chum, lady barkly - lightning hill, mcduff amalgamated, morning star, new chum consolidated, new chum railway, new chum & victoria, new blue consolidated, new hopefu, new st mungo, new argus, new moon, new victoria catherine, new chum goldfields, north new moon, north argus, bgo library 'healthy golden bendigo' - 1906

Handwritten notes of statistics on the Garden Gully Line of Reef. Notes mention name of mine, years, tons of ore, yield (ozs and dwts), Calls and Dividends. Some also have the mine number, others have the Sheet No. Mines mentioned are: New Moon, North New Moon, Suffolk United, North Argus, Clarence, New Argus 202, Specimen Hill United, Virginia and Specimen Hill, Virginia, Great Northern, McDuff, McBeth, constellation, Golden Pyke, Johnson's Reef Extended, Golden Age, Princess Dagmar, South New Moon, Gt South New Moon, Johnsons Reef, North Johnsons, Confidence Extended and Windmill Hill. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, garden gully line of reef statistic, garden gully line statistics, new moon, north new moon, suffolk united, north argus, clarence, new argus 202, specimen hill united, virginia and specimen hill, virginia, great northern, mcduff, mcbeth, constellation, golden pyke, johnson's reef extended, golden age, princess dagmar, south new moon, gt south new moon, johnsons reef, north johnsons, confidence extended, windmill hill, m d, 3 a m s 1/6/99, 3 d e t a o d 1952, garden gully line of reef

Handwritten copy of production statistics from Windmill Hill. Some of the Miners were: Sullivan and his sons, Lindsay and Taylor, Thorpe & Co and Mr Lansell. The mines mentioned are: Confidence Lease, Central Windmill, Cinderella Claim,Confidence Extended, Extended Hustlers, Carlisle, Garden Gully, Johnsons Reef, United Hustlers & Redan, North Johnsons and United Devonshire. Also a piece of paper (b) with Johnsons Group See Annals of Bendigo 1872. Page 140. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.gold, windmill hill, windmill hill, production statistics, sullivan and his sons, lindsay and taylor, thorpe & co and mr lansell, confidence lease, central windmill, cinderella claim, confidence extended, extended hustlers, carlisle, garden gully, johnsons reef, united hustlers & redan, north johnsons and united devonshire. a m s special edition 1/6/1899 page 47, annals of bendigo 1872 page 140, albert richardson

Handwritten copy of mining accident. Wire Ropes in Mines. Accident at Gt. Northern - Bdg'n 8/6/1899 Page 14. Mining Accident at Windmill Hill. Geo. Watson of Cal. Gully was hauling a truck of dirt, and whilst engine was in motion, he started to wipe the crank with a piece of waste. His arm got caught between the conrod & crank and was badly crushed. He managed to free it and stop the engine before the cage got to the wheels. He was taken to hospital. Bones fractured in one or two places. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, windmill hill, windmill hill, mining accident at windmill hill, gt northern, bdg'n 8/6/1899 page 14, geo watson, albert richardson

First Public Quartz Mining Coy on Field. Ref: Production Statistics B. M. L. N. L. Page 201 Windmill Hill Coy. 'Bendigo Q. M. Co,1857 - 1863. Claim at foot of Windmill Hill. Probably same ground as Royal Oak Co. No yield given.' Query. - Is this first Public Q. M. Co.? See J. N. Macartney. Bdgo G'Field Registry 1870. Initialled AR. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, windmill hill, windmill hill, first public quartz mining coy on field, production statistics b m l n l page 201, windmill hill coy, bendigo q m c 1857 - 1863, royal oak co, j n macartney bdgo g'field registry 1870

B&W photograph Grade 4B, Camp Hill State School Four rows of students taken in school ground Mixed class, some nominated student names: N. Weddle T. Bodner (!), N. Player, F. Leach, Cannaton (!), Stadler, B. Murley, Neilson, R. Hardman, K. Brown, N. Wiley, A. Richardson, D. Quinn C. Watts, F. Kerr, C. Johns, P. Leachphotograph

Handwritten notes and drawings of mines in Bendigo. Notes contain measurements of pulley wheels, poppet legs, engine houses, chimney and buildings. Mines mentioned are: True Blue Mine, Little 180, Alliance, East Clarence, North Virginia, Ironbark, Ironbark (Sheepshead), Hercules, Stanfield, Hercules No 1, Central Nell Gwynne, North Nell Gwynne, North Deborah, New Chum Syncline, Deborah, True Blue. Notes written by Albert Richardson. Reference A E Kennedy.gold mines, bendigo mines, notes on bendigo mines, a e kennedy, true blue mine, little 180, alliance mine, east clarence, north virginia, ironbark, ironbark (sheepshead), hercules, stanfield, hercules no 1, central nell gwynne, north nell gwynne, north deborah, new chum syncline, new south red white & blue, deborah mine, r g doble, windmill hill mine, true blue, lansell's little 180, south virginia

Photo of Lansell's Big 180 Victoria Hill - early 1870's. In the background is New Chum Hill. In the right foreground is Ballerstedt's second Open cut. On the left edge of the opencut is a building with a chimney beside it and poppet legs and a chimney further behind the building. Behind the opencut are more chimneys, poppet legs and buildings. Two photocopies donated by A Richardson in Folder 124 (3556.1).Lansell's big 180 Victoria Hill early 1870sphoto, lansell's big 180 mine, new chum victoria, nth old chum, old chum, ballerstedt's 2nd opencut, a richardson

Two poor quality photocopies of Lansell's Big 180 Victoria Hill - early 1870's. In the background is New Chum Hill. In the right foreground is Ballerstedt's second Open cut. On the left edge of the opencut is a building with a chimney beside it and poppet legs and a chimney further behind the building. Behind the opencut are more chimneys, poppet legs and buildings. On one copy the names have been written in in blue pen: Lansell's 180, New Chum Victoria, Nth Old Chum, Old Chum and Ballerstedt's second opencut. Photograph 10786 stored in Box 1008.lansell's big 180 mine, new chum victoria, nth old chum, old chum, ballerstedt's 2nd opencut, a richardson

White Hills Primary School (No.1916) opened in Napier Street in 1877. It moved to its current site in Plumridge Street in 1985.Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2003. Good old days: White Hill primary school grades 2,3 and 4; circa 1951. Back row from left: Bruce McDowell, Frank Honeychurch, Ken Smith, Gillian Phillips, Ruth Drummont, Dawn Barfoot, unknown, Ronald Sylvester, Dick Watts. Fourth row: Joan Grabbish, Joan Ward, Beth Yates, Margaret Baum, Suzette Gillen, June Richardson, Joy Oakes, Eileen Tappe, Helen Keckes. Third row: Rodney Hamilton, Barry Wright, Marjorie Grey, June Luke, Glenda Gooding. Second row: Nola Peake, Marlene Smith, Lillian Watts, Barbara Smith, Lynette Phillips, Elaine Baum, Jacqueline Williams. Front row: Nick Hawke, Keith Veale, Wally Forbes, Noel Honeychurch, Kelvin Raison, Daryl Jones, Ronald Taig, Sidney Howie, Kevin Eddlestone. Some names are missing. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Black and white photograph mounted on brown board. Ten males in front of mine shaft. One male in divers suit. Male second from L holding small dog. Cage and poppet legs in background. Mullock heap at back. Inscriptions: Hand written on BR corner of photo 'Percival Pinder, Photo, Bendigo' Hand written on board under photo 'Tambour Major GM Coy 846 ft'. On separate card glued to bottom of mount board, printed 'Diver inspecting flooded Tambour Major Mine at Specimen Hill in 1920'. Hand written in ball point pen on back 'Tambour Major' Mine Group photo taken at Tambour Major about 1920. Dad on extreme right, Joe Sheard, Mine Manager in diving suit. A Richardson, 29 Harrison Street' Hand printed in black ink on back 'Diver inspecting flooded Tambour Major Mine in 1920'. On back - circular purple stamp 'Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Bendigo Branch'.Percival Pinder, Bendigomining, surface equipment, tambour major mine, bendigo, mines and mining, miners, mine, specimen hill, flooded mine, diver

Book - "Destination City" - paper covers - 20 pages - centre stapled - with sub title "A Pictorial Review of Melbourne's Tramcars", priced at 2/-, published by Traction Publications of Brighton Beach in 1954. Reproduced from the Australian Tramway Album 2nd Edition, (revised). Two colour cover - green with black. Describes Melbourne s tram car fleet, including Victorian Railways tramcars, cable cars and the Doncaster and Box Hill tramway. Includes brief description of each type, photographs and a summary history. Has many photographs of the various tramcars associated with relevant text. On front cover, has PCC 980 with green banding and price. On back cover is a map of Melbourne tramways drawn in 1948. See image i4 for a pdf copy.trams, tramways, melbourne, tramcars, mmtb, vr

.1 - Foolscap duplicated sheet with changes marked in red ink and pencil notes along the bottom edge, titled "Christmas Eve - Sunday 24 December 1939 - Special late trams and buses to be run in connection with the choral and musical festival to be held in Alexandra Gardens from 11pm to Midnight". Lists routes, times from terminus, city, and arrive back at the depot. Gives details for both the Southern and Northern systems. Dated 21/11/1939, signed W. Simpson Assistant Manager. .2 - Associated passenger check sheet - completed for St Kilda Road at intersection of City Road - records 10 trams with passenger number - does not give car number. Form No 3/201 - July 1939. .3 - Notice to Conductors and Bus Operators - all depots except Footscray and Clifton Hill dated 21/12/1939 on foolscap duplicated paper, advising crews of the event, minimum fares of 6d, special tickets and completion of revenue journals. signed by S. M. Richardson as Manager (stamped signature).trams, tramways, mmtb, public transport, holiday arrangements, buses, services, christmas, tickets, revenue journal, conductors

Albert Richardson was a mining historian who wrote widely on the mines of the Bendigo Goldfield. The park opposite the Goldmines Hotel in Marong Road, is named in his honour. Five page document, hand written by Albert Richardson on lined foolscap and edited with cross-outs and insertions, . The mines along the Hustlers line of reef and the Sheepshead line of reef are described. Mines listed on Hustlers line of reef: Fortuna Hustlers (1888 - 1913), shaft 2,240 feet at rear of Buckell and Jeffrey's offices; Royal Hustlers Reserve No. 2 - two shafts 'City" 860 feet, now covered by R.S.L. building Pall Mall, steel poppet legs 60 ft high and 'Park Shaft" at rear of Camp Hill School, 1,775 feet, steel poppet legs 60 feet high; Hustlers Hill Group first worked by Jonathan Harris in 1853 and bounded by Valentine, Anderson and Ironbark Creek to the north and Milroy Street to the east, one of first areas worked for quartz reefing. It with Garden Gully line west and Victoria Hill Ironbark, formed by far the richest cross section of the Bendigo Goldfield. Great Extended Hustlers (1865-1921) close to intersection of Anderson Street and Hustlers Road, mullock heap against road and shored up around shaft, steel poppet legs now at Wattle Gully mine, Chewton, large winding machine, air compressor south of shaft and 36 head crushing battery. Hustlers Reef (Old Hustlers) and Hustlers Reef No. 1, two shafts, main 2,210 feet, about 220 yards east of Moran Street and against Fenton Street. , No. 1 shaft 1,140 feet and about 155 yards east of Moran Street. Lansell's Comet, Lightining Hill line, 2.100 feet, on Comet Hill approx 70 yards west of Holmes Road, near Comet Creek, steel poppet legs. United Hustlers and Redan (1876-1918), main Redan, 1,830 feet about 155 yards west of Sandhurst Roead, in line with Comet Hill State School, this hill known as Redan Hill. North, or New Hustlers, once known as Agnew Hustlers, wooden poppet legs, south side, Kneebone Street, Eaglehawk. Derby line, Johnson's No. 3, South Johnson's (east shaft of Collman and Tacchi) 439 feet on west wide of Woods Street, south of Wetherall Street. Paddy's Gully Line, south to north, some shafts - Lansell's 'Sandhurst" ('Needle") Eaglehawk Road shaft 2,425 feet, about 50 yards east of Needle Loops, a brick square sided chimney with Cleopatra Needle top. British American, 789 feet, just south of Holdsworth Road. Collman and Tacchi, main shaft 2,588 feet, 60 yards west of Eaglehawk Road, California Gully. Deborah Line of Reef, The Deborah (1932-1954) shaft 2.017 feet, west of Adams Road and south of Abel Street, Quarry Hill. North Deborah (1937 - 1954) shaft 1,151 feet, Breen Street, Quarry Hill, steel poppet legs. Central Deborah (1939-1954) shaft 1,347 feet Sheepshead line of reef, Lansell's South Red, White and Blue, shaft 2,124 feet, north east of Bellevue Road and 220 yards east of Adams Road. The New Red, White and Blue Consolidated (Big Blue) main shaft 2,416 feet. Lansell's Bendigo Battery 105 head, north of 'Big Blue" on his freehold lease, commenced crushing on 24th February 1895. After closing was erected as the Showground's Industrial Hall, July 1926. North Red, White and Blue, burnt down February 1926, new company 1934, closed 1938. Document is part of the Albert Richardson Collection of Bendigo mining history. bendigo, gold mining, deborah line of reef, sheepshead line of reef, hustlers line of reef, royal hustlers reserve mine, hustlers hill group of mines, great extended hustlers, hustlers reef no. 1, lightning hill line, old comet, collman and tacchi, lansell's comet, north deborah, central deborah, dhrrpdhrsf linr og trrg, new red, white and blue consolidated mine, big blue, lansell's bendigo battery, north red, white and blue mine, albert richardson collection

Seven men were killed at the Great Extended Hustler's mine disaster on 2nd May 1914 by an explosion of dynamite occurring as the men were waiting at the plat to ascend the mine at the end of their shift. No blame was attached to anyone in the findings of the inquisition. It was unknown what caused the dynamite to explode. This document formed part of the research done at the time by Bendigo Historical Society, of the 100 years commemoration of the mine disaster, held at Hustlers Hill in 2014. Six page copy of research document, describing the history and geology of the Great Extended Hustlers Mine and the Great Extended Hustlers Reef Q.M. Co.. Topics include: general overview of history, mines along the Hustlers line, characters of the saddle reefs, gold occurrences, effect of pitch, influence of faulting, payable reefs and saddle reefs and spurs. Mine overview researched by Mr. Albert Richardson. great extended hustlers, goldmining, hustlers consols, united hustlers and redan, k.k. mine, comet, hustlers reef no. 1, hustlers reef, hustlers royal reserve co., park shaft, hustlers royal reserve no. 2, city shaft, fortuna hustlers

Three page document. Front page, extracts from F. Chamber's Report on Tambour Major Shaft, includes reference to Allingham and Moore's shaft and Specimen Hill Reservoir. Early workings on the Christmas Reef line, Specimen Hill or Tambour Major, are listed in a table format, example - Great Western Gold Mining and Crushing Coy, 1855 Fajeon and Coy, 1859, tunnel in hillside. Specimen Hill Coy 1861 Indefatigable 1862, 64, 67 - 1881 Agamemnon 1862-1863 - 1881 Invincible Co. 1865 - 1867 Old Bendigo Tribute 140 ft 1870 Great Eastern Co 1870 - 1881 Great Eastern Tribute Co. Bismark Co, No. 1 North 150 ft 1870 - 1881 Bismark No. 2 Tribute 212 ft Allingham and Moore 338 ft 1872 Specimen Hill United 450 ft 1881 Great Western United (amalgamation of Old Bendigo, Invincible, Gt. Eastern and Bismark Coys) 400 ft 1882 Tambour Major 847 feet 1881 - 1890 Christmas Reef Co. 200 ft. 1895 - 1897 Open Cutsbendigo, mining, christmas reef gold mining

Typed letter to Mr Richardson from Geoffrey A Lambert regarding Victoria Hill. He states that the Minister for Mines, Hon. J. C. Balfour has asked the Department's Geologist located at Bendigo to prepare a report on the Victoria Hill area. The Minister also points out that there are conflicting interests which exists between local municipal authorities who are seeking to have mine damaged areas reclaimed for recreation or developmental projects, while some would like the past relics preserved for historical interests among tourists. He also mentions ways of publicity. Dated 19/10/1967.document, gold, victoria hill, hon. j c balfour, clark jeffries, bendigo city council, racv, the age, geoffrey lambert, albert richardson

BHS CollectionTwo newspaper articles regarding the dismantling of the North Deborah and Deborah Gold mines. 1. Bendigo Advertiser 4th December 1979. 'Act Now!'. A letter to the paper written by Ken Bice and Trevor Palmer, Students of Eaglehawk High School, making the public aware of the possible dismantling of the mines. ' 2. Bendigo Advertiser 4th December 1970. 'North Deborah' article quoting Mr. G. Maskiel re action to clean up the area at the North Deborah Mine at Quarry Hill.bendigo, mining, deborah mines

St Peter's Church was established in 1861 in the school house. In 1864 the question of building a church was seriously discussed. A foundation stone for the church was laid on 16 November 1864 by Bendan S. Hassell. The architect was Charles Davenport Cuthbert; the trustees were Somerville Learmonth, W.P. Whitcombe, Robert Wynne and J.B. McQuie. The church building committee consisted of Horace walker, J.S. Carver, John M. Fisher, Robert Williams, Thomas Gibson, John E. Hodgson and W. Lindisay Richardson. The foundation stone of the Soldier's Chapel was laid on 06 April 1917. The beautiful stained glass in the chapel was donated by Mrs W. Tunbridge and H.C. Curwen-Walker, in memory of their sons who were killed during World War One. In 1929 a new three manual organ by London's Hill, Norman and Beard was installed. It was the first in Ballarat with electro-pneumatic action.White soft covered booklet outlining the first 100 years of St Peter's Anglican Church, Ballarat. The book includes information on each of the ministers until 1961, a programme of the Centenary Celebrations, and black and white photographs of the exterior and interior of the church. Images include the Pittard Memorial Windows, the Crocker Memorial Windows and baptistry, and H.W.H. Adeney.st peter's anglican church ballarat, churches, religion, charles d. cuthbert, stained glass, w. tunbridge, h.c. curwen-walker

Black and white photographs - 2 copiesTyped below photograph, "Boiler explosion at Ringwood station 20/6/1894. Heard in Box Hill". Article from newspapers:- Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 27 January 1894, page 21 Official enquiry. The Board of Enquiry appointed by the Railway Commissioners to enquire into the causes of the boiler explosion which shattered the locomotive at Ringwood on Saturday night, assembled at the Railway department on Wednesday to commence its deliberations, The board consisted of Mr R. Fulton, engineer, C. W. McLean; engineer to the Marine Board, and Mr Mephan Ferguson, iron-founder. There is some difficulty at the outset about the constitution of the board; It was suggested that the Apt of Parliament contemplated that boards of experts, after the manner of the present one, needed, to have their appointments confirmed by the Governor-in-Council. The point, however, was not considered sufficiently important to prevent the board from proceeding with evidence. Robert Greyford, stationmaster at Ringwood, was the first witness. He said he saw the explosion on Saturday night at about twenty minutes to 8. There was a rush to the engine to see what had happened, and the driver and fireman were both found on the platform of the engine. The driver seemed badly hurt, but the fireman, to all appearances, was not so badly injured. They were both attended to and sent up to Melbourne by the last suburban train. Witness had a look at the engine and found the dome and all the plates round the boiler blown clean, away. The springs were also blown clean away. The Chairman (Mr Fulton) : Did you measure the distance ? Witness: Yes; one of the plates was 209 yards away. A piece from the top of the boiler 15 pounds in weight he found driven into the hard beaten track 410 yards away. Several pieces of boiler plate were found scattered at various distances. The buildings roundabout were injured. The Chairman; Did you notice anything peculiar about either of the driver or the fireman ? — No ; nothing wrong, with either of them. If the engine was blowing off at all, it must have been very light. In your opinion, were they perfectly sober ? — Perfectly. In approaching the station, is there a down or an up grade? — A very slight down grade. How is the road from Healesville ? — Up and down all the way. It is down, grade for about 200 yards coming into Ringwood station. They shut off ; steam about a quarter of a mile away, and come in at a good pace. They generally put on 15 pounds of steam while they are in the station. Mr Ferguson : Had the driver the usual load on ? — Yes ; about the usual load. Witness added that he had known the driver personally for about 10 years, and he had always been a careful, steady, sober man. He did not know the fireman so well. John Palmer, porter at Ringwood station, also saw the explosion. He was attending to the train on its arrival. He was knocked down by the force of the explosion. When he got up he saw the engine driver being carried into the office covered in blood. He noticed nothing peculiar about the driver and fireman, nor about the engine. Mr McLean : How far were you from the engine when you were knocked down ? — From ten to fifteen yards. William Paul, the guard of the train to which the injured locomotive Was attached, said he was looking at the engine at the very moment the explosion occurred. It seemed to come from exactly under the dome. The force of it took him off his feet. He was about 15 yards from the tender. When he rose he tried to reach the engine, but could not do so on account of the steam and coal dust. He called out to know whether any of the passengers were injured, and got no response, so that he concluded they were all right. All the lamps but about half dozen were extinguished by the force of the explosion, although the glass was not broken. He could testify most distinctly that the driver and fireman were both sober. The driver was a man who never drank. The steam started to blow off about a minute and a half before the explosion took place. The last place at which the engine took water was Healesville. The Chairman : Do yon know anything of the quality of the water there ? Is it creek water ? — Yes ; it comes from the Graceburn River. You never heard of its quality ?— No. How long have you known this engine on the road— About 13 months. Hew long have you known the driver on this line ? — About six weeks. I have known the fireman several years. The driver was a strict teetotaller, and I never saw the fireman take anything to drink in his life. Mr T. H, Woodroffe, chief mechanical engineer of the Victorian Railways, produced a report he had written to the secretary, about this explosion. The document gave facts concerning the engine and the explosion. It stated that the rapture seemed to have occurred at the rim of the plates adjoining the fire box. The engine was built at the Phoenix Foundry, Ballarat, in 1883. It was repaired at various times, the last time being in July of last year when it was sent to the Port Melbourne shops, and was then tested to a cold water pressure of 195 and found all right. It was the custom to overhaul all locomotives about every five years. The Chairman : There were no very heavy repairs in July, 1893; were there? — Not to the boilers. The shop manager's report says that the plug and safety tap holes were repaired, five new copper studs put in firebox, ash-pan door repaired, tender cleaned and overhauled, and studs re-rivetted, and boiler tested to pressure of 195, cold water. Mr Woodroffe read the report of the repairs effected to the boiler in December, 1888. That would be the time the plate was put in the boiler. On that occasion three new plates were put in the bottom and the boiler tested up to 195. The Chairman: Do you keep a record of the water used ?— Yes, the water in this case, I think, came from the Maroondah scheme. Mr Woodroffe said boilers were examined front time to time in the running sheds. In his opinion every possible care had been taken to keep the engine in proper care. There might, however, be lessons learnt from this. The Chairman: No doubt. From his examination of the plates [the] witness did not think the state of them could have been detected from the outside. There were no signs of leakage or sweating or anything of that sort. The next witness- was Walter Stinton, workshop manager at Newport and he said that the injured engine had been repeatedly repaired under his charge. He gave a technical account of the repairs effected on various occasions. The testing of locomotives was under his special notice. They had a high pressure pipe running; round the works, and a pump set at 2001b. When the boiler was pumped full of water the pressure when applied up to 1951b. The board appointed by the department to inquire into the Ringwood locomotive boiler explosion sat again at Spencer street on 25th inst. Mr R. Fulton presided and the other members of the board were. Mr Mephan Ferguson and Mr C. W. McLean. Charles Grubb, foreman of the boiler-makers at the Newport workshops, said he had inspected the pieces of plate that had been blown out of the engine, and after examining them, pointed out to the Chief Mechanical Engineer the portion where the plate had started to burst. It was under the lap, on the right hand side of the boiler. The grooving might be accounted for by bad water. During the past twenty years he had examined all the boilers that came into the Williamstown workshops, and while some were hardly marked at all, others were very badly eaten away. The practice was to cut out the defective portions. In this case the boiler was repaired in a similar manner. The Chairman : Can you suggest any other way of repairing so as to prevent accident ? — No, unless by taking out a plate on one side from the joint, and carrying it further up so as to avoid the joints meeting, or by taking out the plate altogether. What would.be the cost .of putting in a new " plate I—Perhaps about double the price; but I wouldn't recommend that course. It would be putting a new plate against plates that have been in use ten years or so and that would not be advisable. I think the present system better. I consider the present system of repairing the best. This is the first we have had so bad like that, to my knowledge. You attributed this to bad water. Is there no other probable cause ? — Well; unless the iron be bad. This was Lowmoor iron. I think this accident was caused by the eating away of plates. This one was the worst I have seen, for the short time it had been running. We use three classes of iron — Lowmoor, Monkbridge and Bowling. By Mr Woodroffe (Chief Mechanical Engineer) ; There are engines still running that were repaired at the same time as this one, in 1888, and. in the same way. These are engines 339 and 333. They have been recently examined and are in splendid order. What in your experience, is the age of a boiler on the Victorian railways? — From 17 to 20 years our earlier boilers stood. The later boilers don't stand so well. How is that? — There is difference in construction, and the material is lighter. The old boilers had thicker plates. Have you been asked in any way to curtail boiler affairs? — No, sir; nor in any way. You have never hesitated to carry out any necessary repairs? — Never. Our orders have been to exercise every care in examining, repairing and renewing boilers. Witness said that his practice was when an engine came into the workshop to find out how long she had been running. If over five years, he informed the workshop manager, and they thought it necessary the tubes were taken nut. If everything was in good order witness reported to the manager. The cost of taking out the tubes and putting them in again was about L20. Mr Woodroffe : Have you ever hesitated to repair a boiler on the score of expense ? — No, never. Mr McLean : Hew do yon ascertain whether a boiler requires repairs?— I keep a record of every boiler examined. From every boiler that comes in I have the dome covers taken off, and when it is practical I get inside. l can almost tell from the top of a boiler what the bottom is like. If there is any doubt about it I have the tubes taken out. If I have suspicion of defective plate I cause to have bored a triangle in the plate at the point where there is the most wear. There is a travelling inspector who visits all the running sheds of the colony except Port Melbourne and tests the boilers. He reports to us and we note what he points out. Alfred Thompson, locomotive inspector of the eastern section, said he knew this engine, 297R. He read a list of her repairs. He heard of the accident on Saturday night and went up to Ringwood. The Chairman : Did you ever notice anything peculiar about the engine? — No, I considered her A1 and would not have hesitated to have put on 140lb pressure owing to the repairs she had undergone. Witness considered that the explosion was caused by the expansion and contraction of the plates ; and, no doubt, the plate had been eaten away through bad water. The other side of the boiler showed: signs of corrosion: By Mr Woodroffe ; Is every care taken with the boilers ? — Yes, every possible care is taken for the safety of boilers, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 27 January 1894, page 7 EXPLOSION OF A LOCOMOTIVE BOILER, NARROW ESACPE FROM FATALITIES. THE DAMAGED ENGINE. [See drawing of loco – saved in “Railways” folder] The explosion of a locomotive boiler at Ringwood on Saturday evening, formed the subject of much discussion in railway circles on Monday. The Minister arrived at the office at an unusually early hour and immediately entered into a consultation with the acting chairman, Mr Kibble, and Mr Commissioner Murray. As the result of the interview it was resolved to ask three gentlemen of acknowledged engineering experience to sib as a board with the . object of inquiring into the cause of the accident and furnishing a report. Mr Richardson and the Commissioners are tally seized of the importance of having a searching investigation into the accident, and, with Mr Murray, the former went to Ringwood to inspect the scene of the disaster. They will he accompanied by Mr Woodroffe. During the morning no official report had come to hand from the driver or fireman of the engine in reference to the accident, but that is thought to be due to the circumstance that they have not sufficiently recovered to be able to give a circumstantial account of what occurred. The engine was one of the old R's, and, Mr Kibble pronounced them to be about the best class of engines used. So far nothing can be said as to the probable cause of the accident, as the broken plating of the engine has not been submitted to the inspection of experts. Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 27 January 1894, page 7 STATEMENT BY THE FIREMAN. This morning Thomas Miles, fireman on the engine the boiler of which exploded on Saturday night, is suffering from an injury to the spine, as well as a very severe shaking to the system. He states that he was fireman on the engine attached to the train which left Healesville on Saturday evening, at ten minutes to 8. Everything went all right until Ringwood was reached, when, .just as the train was about to continue its journey, a load explosion took place and Miles remembers nothing more until he was picked np on the platform ; and found himself suffering from a pain in the back, and an injury to his arm. He cannot think of any reason which could have caused the explosion, as there was plenty of water in the boiler, and everything seemed working all right. Mr R. Fulton, consulting engineer, of Queen street; Mr McLean, a member of the Marine Board ; and Mr Mephan Ferguson, engineer, have consented to act as a board to inquire into the cause of the engine boiler explosion at Ringwood on Saturday evening. The board has been appointed under section 117 of Act 1135, which provides that the Governor-in-Council may direct the taking of a such a step. Mr1 Fulton will act as chairman of the board, which met for the first time at the railway offices, Spencer street, this forenoon. Before separating the members of the Board paid a visit to the Prince's Bridge locomotive sheds in company with Mr Woodroffe, the chief mechanical engineer, for the purpose of inspecting the shattered boiler. It has been stated that the explosion is known to have been caused by a flaw in a plate which was put on the boiler about four years ago, but enquiries have tailed to elicit anything in support of that view. The engineers connected with the department are not inclined to say anything on the subject. Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 14 April 1894, page 20 The Ringwood Boiler Explosion, The Minister of Railways has received the supplementary report of the board appointed by him to investigate the circumstances connected with the explosion of a locomotive boiler at Ringwood. In their first report the board did not attach blame to anyone. Mr Richardson felt satisfied that the responsibility of having the engines properly inspected and overhauled periodically could be fixed if the inquiry were extended. He therefore referred the matter again to the Board, who took further evidence. In the report now furnished, the Board hold Loco. Inspector Thompson blameable, but point out as a mitigating circumstance that he had not received "written instructions" respecting inspections and overhauls. Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 7 July 1894, page 32 The Ringwood Boiler Explosion. The Minister of Railways takes exception to the tone of a paragraph appearing in a morning contemporary respecting the Ringwood boiler explosion. It makes it appear that Mr Richardson has referred the report of the board which considered the facts connected with the explosion to the Crown solicitor simply because he differed from the finding of the board. The Minister explains that when he received the report he found that the responsibility for having boilers properly inspected and overhauled had not been clearly fixed. He personally obtained farther evidence on that point, and arrived at a conclusion, from which the commissioners differed. As he did not like to take upon himself the responsibility of deciding upon the effect of the evidence, he submitted the matter to the Crown Solicitor, but that officer did not furnish him with the information sought. He has, therefore, referred the question to the Attorney-General, together with the draft of a regulation respecting boiler inspections and overhauls in the future. Mr Richardson says that his whole aim is to have the responsibility positively fixed. Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 28 April 1894, page 23 The Minister of Railways has completed his consideration of the supplementary report received by him from the Ringwood Boiler Explosion Board. The report, it will be remembered, held Loco-Inspector Thompson blameable for the non-inspection of the boiler, but considered there was extenuating circumstances. There was a certain amount of doubt as to the absolute instructions given for overhauling engines periodically. Mr. Richardson is sending the report on to the Commissioners with instructions that the responsibility respecting inspection of boilers shall be made clear for the future.

BHS CollectionBlack and white photograph of mining landscape with poppet head, chimney and mining sheds (plus timber in stack) in foreground. Other mines in bare landscape on LHS background and housing on RHS background. Inscriptions: on front - 'The Hustler's Line of Reef from Redan Hill Hustler's Tribute Coy', 'Gt. Extended Hustler;s Claim', 'The Old Hustler's Claim, Gt. Hustlers (Late Latham & Watson's). On back - 'A Richardson, 29 Harrison Street, Bendigo'.mine, gold, hustlers reef mine, bendigo, mines and mining, mine, mines, mining, landscape, mining landscape, redan hill, poppet head, old hustlers, mining cottages