The donation was accompanied by the following letter from the donor: "Hi. I found these in with family photos. Taken by family as Mamie McLeod was living in Fellows Street, Kew, so would be near there. Retain (or discard) as you see fit." [Donor's name and address withheld from public view]. To gain an insight into the flood levels at Kew, it is worth reading newspaper accounts of the event. The Age published an article - Valuable Gardens Destroyed at Kew - on 25 September 1916: "VALUABLE GARDENS DESTROYED AT KEW. From the heights of Studley Park, Kew, a splendid view of the flood waters can be obtained, and yesterday afternoon, despite continuous rain, crowds of citizens assembled there to witness the spectacle. There is a vast stretch of water some 300 or 400 yards broad, above the foot bridge connecting Gipps-street, Collingwood, and Studley Park. The river is only about 3 feet from the top of the embankment connecting with the ramp of the bridge on the Studiey Park side. When the upper llood waters come down it is almost a certainty that tne embankment will be submerged and the bridge rendered impassible. Below the bridge the waters again stretch out, and have submerged all the low-lying land on the Collingwood side and invaded the back premises ot the Kodak Co., Phoenix Biscuit Factory, a tannery adjoining thereto, the Shamrock Brewery, and Chinese gardens in the vicinity. At Walmer-street-bridge, at the end of Studley Park, the low-lying land on the Kew side is covered with water to the depth of many feet. Tlie land in question is owned in a great part by Mr Frank Lavers who haa gone in for intense culture on a pretty liberal scale on both the slopes of the hill and on the river flat. On the latter he is cultivating many acres of asparagus, and has at a considerable cost spent three years in preparing the ground and installing an irrigation system, reticulated from the Yan Yean water supply. This year the asparagus was put down, and the plants were in a promising condition. Tlie flood waters are now flowing fast over the land. The crop is ruined, and three years' work and expenditure destroyed. Mr. Laver's private residence fortunately is high above flood level, but two houses he owns off Young-street have been flooded out. Having been warned in time, the tenants removed their furniture hefore the water came down to Mr. Laver's residence, where they themselves have been given accommodation in the meantime. All the river flats in East Kew are under water. One or two low-lying houses have been flooded. Chipperfield's boat shed at Willsmere is nearly covered, and some Chinese gardens in the vicinity are several feet under water."This, and the other three photographs donated of floods in Kew are believed to be the earliest in the collection. Together with our original MMBW River Yarra map showing flood levels, these items, when compared allow researchers to gain a visual perspective of the extent of the flood in 1916. Small black and white photograph of flooded trees in Kew.Inscription on reverse in ink "Flood R. Yarra Kew Vicriver yarra, kew, floods 1916

At the beginning of the 1890s, the Kew businessman and Town Councillor, Henry Kellett, commissioned J.F.C. Farquhar to photograph scenes of Kew. These scenes included panoramas as well as pastoral scenes. The resulting set of twelve photographs was assembled in an album, Kew Where We Live, from which customers could select images for purchase.The preamble to the album describes that the photographs used the ‘argentic bromide’ process, now more commonly known as the gelatine silver process. This form of dry plate photography allowed for the negatives to be kept for weeks before processing, hence its value in landscape photography. The resulting images were considered to be finely grained and everlasting. Evidence of the success of Henry Kellett’s venture can be seen today, in that some of the photographs are held in national collections.It is believed that the Kew Historical Society’s copy of the Kellett album is unique and that the photographs in the book were the first copies taken from the original plates. It is the first and most important series of images produced about Kew. The individual images have proved essential in identifying buildings and places of heritage value in the district.Dight’s Falls in Studley Park is an artificial weir built on a natural rock bar across the Yarra. The weir was built in the 1840s to provide water to the ‘Ceres’ flour mill, one of the earliest industrial sites in Melbourne. The falls were later to be named after the owner of this mill. In 1888, William Guilfoyle, Director of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens had called for fresh water to be piped from above the weir to the Botanical Gardens, using a pumping station on the Kew side of the Falls, a holding reservoir in Walmer Street and a series of pipes from there to the Gardens. This system was opened in May 1891. Farquhar’s photograph of the man-made weir obscures the industrial activity on both sides of the Falls and focusses solely on the river and the surrounding natural vegetation. The photograph probably predates the disastrous flooding of the Yarra River in July 1891, the greatest to have occurred in the Colony since the foundation of Melbourne.Dight's Fallskew illustrated, kew where we live, photographic books, henry kellett, yarra river

Mrs George Rolfe was the wife of the owner of Lyndoch. He was a Melbourne tea merchant, who owned 216 acres of the Shipley estate further up the Hopkins River. In the late 1870s he bought 2 acres of land and house along the Hopkins near the bridge and developed into Lyndoch. By 1883 he increased to 50 acres. He resoiled the land, put in a water supply reservoir, water tanks and pumps, a reticulation system and a windmill- 50 feet high with four sails 18 feet high and 4 1/2 wide. George Rolfe died in 1919 and the present Lyndoch House was built in 1925. Source: By These We Flourish, A History of Warrnambool by C.E. Sayers and P.L. Yule Edition 1 A4 landscape black and white photograph of a mens rowing four on the Hopkins River, Warrnambool.The Final for Mrs Rolfe's Trophy Presented by Mrs George Rolfe by W.R.C.lyndoch, lyndoch warrnambool, city of warrnambool rowing club, warrnambool rowing club, george rolfe

The huts along the railway line were built to house 'navvies' who worked on and maintained the Bendigo-Echuca railway line. At the time this photo was taken, work was being undertaken on the railway line in the Sunbury area.The Bendigo-Echuca was one of Victoria's earliest government owned and operated regional rail systems. It was an important link with the river traffic along the Murray and Melbourne.An oval shaped sepia photograph within cream border of a row of small huts along a railway line. With trees forming a backdrop. railways, 'navvies'

Scouring is the process that removes wool wax and other unwanted products from wool. Wool is washed in a hot detergent solution. It moves through a series of scouring bowls and is then rinsed and dried. Careful handling and washing preserves the strength and softness of wool. If the wool contains lots of seeds and other vegetable matter, it must be cabonized. This means it is treated with a solution of sulpheric acid and then baked at high temperature to remove impurities. The disused scouring water left-over from this process was often let drain into rivers and watercourses causing pollution. Many of Geelong's wool scours along the Barwon River were closed due to environmental damage. The race system on this bowl is not the original it has been modified with a variation of the harrow system. Used at E.P. Robinson South Geelong from c.1890-1970.Scouring bowl.J. Dyson & Sons Pty Ltd, Geelongsouring bowl, j dyson & sons, geelong, wool processing, e. p. robinson, textile industry, factory, mill

The district of Strathfieldsaye was proclaimed in 1861 and named a Shire on the 17th September in 1866. It remained a shire until amalgamation in 1994 when it became part of the City of Greater Bendigo. The shire was located 8 km to the south- east of Bendigo and covered an area of 601 square kilometres and extended from the Calder Highway to the Coliban and Campaspe Rivers. The shire's administration activities were centred at the Strathfieldsaye Shire Hall which was built in 1869 at a cost of £700 based on a design by George Steane, the shire surveyor and built by George Pallett of Sandhurst. Constructed of red brick, the hall has a unique ventilation system with hollow walls open at the top and bottom to ensure a draught to cool the building in summer. Framed and mounted photograph of the Strathfieldsaye Shire Hall. Verso; W M Robinson / Photographer / Mundy Street Bendigostrathfieldsaye shire hall, shire of strathfieldsaye, strathfieldsaye shire council

This set of photos is from a leather bound album bearing the inscription "HUME RESERVOIR AUSTRALIA" plus 'The Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, P. C., M .P.' all inscribed in gold. It was presented to The Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, P. C., M. P, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs on the occasion of his visit to the Hume Reservoir on 2nd November 1927. This album is of local and national significance as it documents the planning and development of the Hume Reservoir up to 1927. It was the largest water reservoir in the British Empire. The album records the pioneering engineering work that went into its construction.DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, N.S.W. RIVER MURRAY WATERS SCHEME. HUME RESERVOIR. 34. Needle Valves. Some of the needle valves in parts stacked ready for removal by the cableway to their positions on the outlets. There are seven of these, 7 feet 6 inches in diameter. The heaviest single part weighs about 10 tons. New South Wales. August 1927. A needle valve is a type of valve which can be used to regulate flow of a substance, usually either gas or water, through an appliance or system. The unique feature of the value is the inclusion of a small plunger, with a shape akin to a needle.hume reservoir australia, river murray waters scheme, hume reservoir construction

non-fictionInter-colonial railway communication was established in 1883 when the Melbourne - Wodonga railway was extended over the River Murray to meet the New South Wales railhead at Albury. When the two lines finally met a significant fact became apparent - the track gauges of the two systems differed by six and a half inches. For 80 years this difference created havoc until a new railway of uniform gauge was built parallel to the Victorian gauge line from Melbourne to Wodonga. This book deals with the planning, construction and the first 100 years of operation or the railway to Wodonga, together with its locomotives, stations and trains which travelled its tracks.railways victoria, railway melbourne to wodonga

non-fictionA study of the Murray River system, commissioned by the Murray Darling Basin Commission and published in 1990. This book provided a starting point for the understanding needed to make sustainable development og the Murray-Darling system an achievable goal. It provides a basis for action to halt futher degradation of the River and to rehabilitate its damaged environment. The picture that emerges from this volume is of a river in decline but not yet beyond saving. It covers topics such as groundwater and salinity, the associated fauna and flora, the surrounding environment, and the human impact. Illustrated with maps, diagrams and colour photographs. Includes a glossary and an index.upper murray region, murray river ecology, stream ecology murray river

A 64 page volume including text, black and white and colour images and maps.Rivers play an essential part in the life and wealth of our society. They are also the most striking feature of the landscape, contributing much to the beauty of rural and urban surroundings as well as to the recreation, peace and happiness of our people. This report includes historical colour and black and white photos and maps. It aimed to give an accurate account of the condition of the rivers of Victoria. It was produced by the Standing Consultative Committee on River Improvement.rivers in victoria, conservation victoria, water supply victoria

non-fictionThe final linking of the railway systems of Victoria and NSW at Albury-Wodonga was finally achieved in June 1883 when a temporary railway bridge across the Murray River was opened. A grand celebration was held in Albury to mark the occasion. This book details the significance of the railway and the celebrations of 1883.railways australia, railway albury wodonga, history railways

Track plan or track map or layout of the Melbourne system showing track layout, crossovers, depots, workshops and route numbers, terminus, substations, Bundy clocks, layout of Preston works. On the rear is a detailed layout of the city area. Shows railway stations but not the station names and rivers. Printed on cartridge paper. No details of to who prepared the plan or the drawing or date. Wattle Park line has been duplicated (Sept 1970), but the Essendon Airport line remains (closed Oct. 1976).trams, tramways, mmtb, track layout, junction, depots, substation, plans, trackwork, route numbers, terminus, map, bundy clock

Set of papers, handwritten concerning the history of Essendon electric system. .1 - two foolscap pages notes on the terminus of the electric tramway at Moonee Ponds creek and other notes - dated 31-7-59. .2 - five foolscap sheets - pinned in the top left hand corner - extract from the Victorian Government Gazette - 11.5.1905, p. 1425. .3 - four quarto sheets pinned in the top left hand corner - hand written extracts from: - Argus - 6/10/1960 - p20 - The Age - Friday Oct. 12, 1906 - p6 - Argus - 12/10/1906 - p4 - The Age 12/10/1906 - p6 Items 2027 to 2030 and 1309 copy 2 contained within box 72.3 in a brown folder marked "Historical Data regarding Essendon Tramways and their services to the City"trams, tramways, essendon, saltwater river, keilor rd, reports, essendon depot, nmetl, moonee ponds

Set of papers, handwritten concerning the history of Essendon electric system, track layouts, dimensions, field book notes, plans, sketches of Trackwork prepared by A H McC? - dated 28/8/1958. "Information searched at MMBW from 40' to 1 inch plans showing Essendon Tramways" Includes a copy of a newspaper cutting from The Age 11/10/1956, titled "A Women Drove the First Tram". Items 2027 to 2030 and 1309 copy 2 contained within box 72.3 in a brown folder marked "Historical Data regarding Essendon Tramways and their services to the City"trams, tramways, essendon, saltwater river, keilor rd, reports, essendon depot, nmetl, moonee ponds, mmbw, opening

Photocopy of an article from The Commonwealth Engineer, dated 1/8/1917, titled "Electric Lighting of Melbourne Cable Cars". Describes the battery system, the number of cars, the use of a motor generator at each depot, the lamps and the system on each car. Also has a start of a short item on the Kalgoorlie Electric Tramways Annual report. Short report in the same journal, 1/11/1917 titled Electric Lighting for Melbourne Trams", about a contract issued by the Tramway Board to the General Electric company for approximately 40,000 pounds. Also has an item about King River hydro electric power and the standardisation of the electrical industry.trams, tramways, cable trams, tramcars, lights, depots, general electric

Set of 7 Agfa Colour slides, cardboard mounts, by Keith Caldwell dated 11.3.1962 of the transfer of cars from Footscray to the "Main System" the day after the system was closed. See Keith Kings history of Footscray notes. All trams running trolley wheels. .1 - Footscray depot cars X1 463, X2 678, X1 460 and X1 466 in Gordon St, about to turn into River Street. .2 - X2 678 turning from Nicholson St into Irving St. Footscray with the Rockmans Store in the background. This store was later demolished for the Ring Road. Also is J. Boltons Chemist shop advertising Kodak film and another shop advertising Darrell Lea Chocolates, Peters Icecream and ? Lopes fruit shop. .3 - X1 460 at same location. .4 - X2 678 crossing Maribyrnong River Bridge - note the person crouching down on the south side of the bridge behind the tram. .5 - X1 460 in Rosamond Road, just before the curve onto Williamson Rd. This site became the Bunnings site. The tram has a modified 21E truck. .6 - X2 468 as above with part of the curve in the view. Has an advertisement for Bon Stores of Hopkins St Footscray. .7 - X2 678 at ditto..1 - in ink - "Farewell Footscray" Sun 11.3.1962 - Footscray Depot cars departing areas en route to Main system." .2 - .7 all have "Footscray Sun 11.3.62"trams, tramways, footscray, closure, maribyrnong, gordon st, river st, irving st, maribyrnong river, bridges, x1 class, x2 class, rosamond rd, 21e trucks, tram 463, tram 678, tram 460, tram 466

Opened in 1891, the bridge formed part of the Maroondah Aqueduct carrying water from Watts River near Healesville to the reservoir at Preston where it joined Melbourne's metropolitan water system. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p99 Built to supply thirsty Melbourne in the late 19th century, the siphon bridge spanning the Plenty River off Leischa Court, Greensborough, was part of an engineering masterpiece. Opened in 1891, the bridge formed part of the Maroondah Aqueduct carrying water from the Watts River near Healesville to the reservoir at Preston where it joined the metropolitan distribution system. A major link in Melbourne’s water supply, it also had a huge impact on communities, which mushroomed along its route. Named after the Aboriginal word for the area around the Maroondah Reservoir, the Maroondah Aqueduct was fully operational until the 1970s. Since the 1980s the land along parts of the aqueduct have been used for walking and bicycle riding, shaded in places by Monterey Pine trees planted to stabilise the surrounding ground. From 1857 the Yan Yean Reservoir supplied Melbourne’s water but the growing city needed additional catchments.1 In 1886 work began on a weir on the Watts River to enable the aqueduct to carry most of the river water 41 miles (66km) to Melbourne. The aqueduct, built by the Board of Works, is the oldest remaining aqueduct near Melbourne and was probably the first built with concrete.2 Although the aqueduct is now only used between the Maroondah and Sugarloaf Reservoirs, it can still be traced across the Shire. It extends from the Maroondah Reservoir through Christmas Hills, Kangaroo Ground, Research, Eltham, St Helena and then previously wound west through Greensborough to Reservoir.3 Built by horse and manpower the aqueduct gravity fed 25 million gallons (113.6ML) of water a day to Melbourne along a gradient of one foot to the mile. It included 25 miles (41km) of open concrete and brick channel, six miles (10km) of tunnels, and nine miles (15km) of 14 inverted siphons of riveted wrought-iron across creeks. Bricks for the aqueduct were made from clay found near the sites and remains of several kilns can still be found between Kangaroo Ground and Christmas Hills. Building the aqueduct transformed local communities. An abattoir was established at Christmas Hills. Grog shanties and labourers’ camps sprang up and local courts dealt with cases of ‘petty pilfering and boisterous behaviour’.4 The Kangaroo Ground school population jumped to 91, crammed into a room with one teacher. Miners who built the tunnels camped just north of Churinga in Greensborough – then called Tunnel Hill Camp – and adjacent to the Evelyn Arms Hotel. The miners’ high spirits were sometimes quenched in horse troughs or by a ‘welt under the ear and kick on the behind’ as the local constable calmed them down rather than lock them up.5 But the growing city of Melbourne needed more water, so the O’Shannassy catchment, east of Warburton, was added to the system in 1914. In 1920 work began on the present concrete Maroondah Dam one mile (1.6km) from the weir on the Watts River. The aqueduct capacity was thus doubled to 50 million gallons (227ML) a day.6 Intense land development threatened to pollute the open water supply, so channel sections were replaced with large pipes. In the late 1960s a large water main was built from the tunnel outlet at Research and extended through St Helena and Greensborough, so this section of the aqueduct was taken out of use. Long sections of the unused open channels in Greensborough and Bundoora were destroyed, but the old channel in Research and Eltham North remained largely intact. In the 1970s, the Sugarloaf Reservoir was constructed, inundating 445 hectares of land in Christmas Hills. Sugarloaf was officially opened in 1980 and serves as a water storage and treatment plant supplying Melbourne. In the early 1980s pipes replaced the section from Sugarloaf Reservoir to the tunnel entrance at Kangaroo Ground. The Research-Kangaroo Ground tunnel operates as part of the pipeline system.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, maroondah aqueduct, pipe bridge, siphon bridge

Photo shows Geelong trams 33 & 40 in Moorabool St just south of the Barwon Bridge on the long crossing loop. Based on the running board at item 8267, most likely tram No. 33. One of a set of photos was taken between 15/2/1956 and 3/3/1956 when services operated only between Belmont and North before the final closure of the Belmont route on 25/31956 and that bogie tram 31 is not shown on the board, having gone to Ballarat on 15/2/1956 - see item 5554. See item 8213 for an article on the Geelong system by Keith Kings. Yields information about the Geelong operations toward the closure of the tram system.Black and white Negative - 120 sizetramways, geelong, moorabool st, tram 33, tram 40, barwon river