The Coat of Arms of the Shire of Orbost has been designed in the form of a cross in which five stars are set on a shield. This was typical of those used by many shires and cities throughout Victoria and the Commonwealth. A small crown above the cross indicates the loyalty of the President, Councillors and Ratepayers to the reigning King or Queen. The inner circle of the shield contains four figures, a sheaf of wheat, a factory, a cow, and a ship, which represents the activities of agriculture, fishing, industry and dairying undertaken in the district. Originally part of the Bairnsdale district, Orbost split away as part of the Shire of Tambo in 1882, and became a Shire in its own right as the Shire of Croajingolong on the 30th may 1892. The name changed to the Shire of Orbost on 17 February 1893. Orbost was divided into four ridings on 31st May 1895, they were the North, South, East and Central riding, which was represented by three elected councillors. The Shire coat of arms was on the wall on the right of the front entrance to the building and was removed from the current building when Orbost Shire Council was amalgamated into East Gippsland Shire in 1994.The current building was opened on Friday 28th February 1969 by the Premier of Victoria, The Hon. Sir Henry E. Bolte, K.C.M.G., M.P. Local governments play an important role in the lives of citizens in Australia. Local government authorities exist to provide services and amenities to local communities, and are also responsible for regulating and providing services for land and property in their district. This item is representative of a time when Orbost had its own Shire Council. A large round metal plaque with the words SHIRE OF ORBOST1892 in gold letters around a crown and shield divided into four sections to represent four industries : Shipping ; farming - maize ; dairy and mining.SHIRE OF ORBOST 1892government orbost-shire-council coat-of-arms plaque

This bassinet was used for new born babies at the first Orbost Hospital. It would have been used before 1961 as in August 1961, the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Orbost Hospital bought ten new chrome plated cribs for the hospital nursery. These new cribs were on wheels and could easily be taken to the wards. (ref. Orbost Hospital History, Personalities and Stories by Margaret Hollands)The Orbost Hospital was completed by the end of October 1929 after more than twenty years of agitation and preparation. Orbost is an isolated town and the importance of the medical service in the community is immense. This crib is a reminder of its early history.A very rusty wire baby's bassinet. it is oval shaped and has four connected legs. It could be hand made.bassinet health orbost-hospital medical, bassinet health orbost-hospital medical

This spike came from the old Brodribb River bridge which is about 9.6 kilometres from Orbost. The Brodribb River joins the Snowy River north of Marlo. In 1906, a bridge replaced the punt over the Brodribb River, improving communication with Orbost. It was eventually replaced by a reinforced concrete bridge built by the Road Construction Authority in 1989 where the Princes Highway passes over the Brodribb RiverThis item belongs to a significant local structure which has been replaced.A very rusty iron bridge spike from the old Brodribb Bridge.brodribb-river bridge-spike

These spikes are from the old Snowy River bridge (the second) constructed in 1922 alongside the previous suspension bridge. Its building was a combined effort of the Victorian Railways and the Country Roads Board at a cost of 35,000 pounds. It was replaced in 1976 by the present bridge after several major floods.These items are from a significant piece of infrastructure built in Orbost in the early 20th century. This bridge no longer exists.Twenty-four iron spikes of four different lengths. They are probably hand-made and have round shafts and heads. They are very rusty.snowy-river-bridge bridge-spikes bridge orbost

This was the seal for the snowy River Improvement Trust (1952-1997). The trust inaugurated the push with governments and government authorities to return the environmental flow of fresh water to the Snowy River at Jindabyne. During its existence the Trust worked hard to improve the health of the Snowy and Brodribb Rivers (revegetation, erosion prevention, fencing, drainage).This Common Seal will remind the lower Snowy district of the beneficial work of the Snowy River Improvement Trust during its existence from 1952 to June 30 1997.Common seal for the Snowy River Improvement Trust - 1952-1997. It is made of metal and has a lever to press down for the embossing stamp. The lever is spring loaded.snowy-river-improvement-trust snowy-river embossing-machine white-max

This dress was worn by Beatrice Coulson on her marriage to Archie Henry Robinson on 17.3.1945 at the Methodist church in Orbost.The wedding gown is provenanced and in good original condition and is of historic significance as an object directly related to the Robinson and Coulson families.A hand-made long magnolia slipper satin wedding frock with a high draped neck and full flared skirt. It has a train at the back. It has long sleeves , covered buttons on the back, shirring on the front and a decoration of white flower shapes on the front.coulson-beatrice robinson-archie wedding-dress costume

This flag was used at the Slab Hut, the Visitor Information Centre in Orbost for various celebrations - possibly 20th birthday in 2007, and for Australia and Anzac Days.An Australian flag. It is made of polyester material. It has a blue field with the Union Jack in the upper left quarter and a large white seven-pointed star known as the Commonwealth Star in the lower left quarter. The right hand side contains a representation of the Southern Cross constellation, made up of five white stars – one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars.Made in Taiwan 100% polyesterflag australian-flag

These two flags were used at the Slab Hut, the Orbost Visitor Information Centre for various celebrations - possibly 20th birthday in 2007, and for Australia and Anzac Days.Two Union Jack flags. The Cross of Saint Andrew counterchanged with the Cross of Saint Patrick, over all the Cross of Saint George.flag orbost-visitor-information-centre union-jack

In 1983 the boxing kangaroo received national and international prominence when it served as the symbol for the successful Australian challenge for the America's Cup, where the boxing kangaroo flag, a red-gloved golden kangaroo on a green background, was flown from the yacht Australia II. Alan Bond (owner of the Australia II yacht) owned the image and licensed it for mass production. The image was later bought by the Australian Olympic Committee, and is used as a mascot to represent the Australian Olympic team and to promote sport and fair play in schools.A synthetic rectangular green flag of the yellow boxing kangaroo wearing red boxing gloves.

Used at the Orbost Information Centre, the Slab Hut, for various celebrations - possibly 20th birthday in 2007, and for Australia and Anzac Days.A Canadian flag. The National Flag of Canada (also known as the Maple Leaf) consisting of a red field with a white square at its centre, in the middle of which is featured a stylized, 11-pointed, red maple leaf.

Used at the Orbost Information Centre, the Slab Hut, for various celebrations - possibly 20th birthday in 2007, and for Australia and Anzac Days. A synthetic rectangular American flag. It consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the top left corner with fifty small, white, five-pointed stars horizontal rows.The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 states of the United States of America and the 13 stripes represent the thirteen first states in the Union.flag orbost-visitor-information-centre american-flag

Used at the Orbost Information Centre, the Slab Hut, for various celebrations - possibly 20th birthday in 2007, and for Australia and Anzac Days. . 1 is a hanging length of natural coloured canvas, a hammock, which can be suspended between two trees or other supports and used as a seat or bed. .2 is the storage bag. hammock orbost-visitor-information-centre

This cap would have been worn by a student nurse in her third year of training as in the first year her cap had no arrows. Prior to the transfer of nursing education to the university sector, nurses were trained in a course of instruction in hospital nursing schools that awarded a certificate in general nursing. These courses were generally for a three-year period, and nurses were paid employees of the parent hospital. In Melbourne after WW11 because individual hospitals couldn't get enough nursing students a school of nursing was established - The Royal Melbourne and Associated Hospitals School of Nursing.A white cotton cap which draws up at the back with string to form a frill. It was pinned on the hair. The cap has two red arrows on the rim.H.D. MURRELL 5485health nursing uniform

This cap was probably worn by a student nurse in her first year. A white cotton cap worn as part of a student nurse's uniform. It has one button at the back and has a turned up frontnursing uniforms health nurse's-cap

Two starched white linen cuffs which are part of a nurse's uniform. Each has a small hole at either end. They would be attached with buttons which have shanksL.E.Trembathcuffs nursing nurse's uniform health

A grey uniform denoted three years of training.A short-sleeved grey cotton nurse's uniform (.1). It has cuffed short sleeves, a collar and buttons at the top. The belt (.2) is a paler grey ribbed cotton.On the uniform inside the back of the neck : G.A. THOMPSON S 559 On the belt : L. WARD S 533nursing health uniform nurse's-uniform

A light blue linen long-sleeved nurse's uniform. It has a collar with a pocket on the top left and pockets below the waist on both sides. It is a button through uniform.health uniform nursing nurse's-uniform

A white linen full bib apron to be worn over a nurse's uniform.H.D. MURRELL S 485uniform nursing nurse's-uniform

Miss Ethel Lynn nursed in England for a time in her later life. She did private nursing at Orbost Hospital until she had a fall and broke her hip -1950's.The Lynn family is well-known in the Orbost area. Ethel Lynn is believed to have been working at Bairnsdale in 1924. Two white linen collars to be worn on a nurse's uniform. A white linen belt to be worn with a nurse's uniform.E. LYNNnursing health lynn-ethel uniform-nursing

The clock was the original clock located over the bar in the Orbost Club Hotel. In 1884 J.A. Petterson built the first Orbost Club Hotel with the licence in the name of Thomas Maguire (his stepson). This hotel was the first in the area and cost 1,400 pounds to build (ref. In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall) and was actually built before Orbost was proclaimed a township - April 17 1885 The R A on the pendulum stands for: retard/advance. It is a common pendulum bob, used by many manufacturers, worldwide. Regulator clocks, sometimes referred to as pendulum clocks, were invented in the late 18th century in a quest for greater timekeeping accuracy. They were weight-driven devices. The pendulum on this clock appears to be German made. .The Orbost Club Hotel was the first hotel built in the Orbost district and was an important hub for the township with many whole town meetings held there.A wall clock with Roman numerals inside a dark brown wooden case. It has a brass pendulum and the key is inside the case.R A on the pendulum.wall-clock orbost-club-hotel

This bag was possibly owned by Keith Nixon. This bag was used by Keith Charles Nixon who was born in Orbost on May 17 1907, the son of Percival Charles Nixon, Keith farmed at Bellagoogan and Jarrahmond. He was a keen racegoer, racing the successful Bravesia, trained by P.B. Quinlan and winner of the William Reid Stakes and other races. He died on 22 June 1994. (ref. From White Knowle to Pumpkin Point by Peter Nixon) A stiff brown leather Gladstone bag with a metal clasp. It is a small portmanteau suitcase built over a rigid frame which separates into two equal sections.

Made by a soldier while convalescing after being wounded in WW1.This personal item gives an insight into the human element of World War 1. A very elaborate, handmade photo frame made of small pieces of wood put together with pegs.handcraft ww11 photo-frame

The Mixmaster 9B in 1948 was the first Sunbeam appliance to be made in Australia. It was designed in the USA.After years of rationing and shortages, the 1950s were a period of economic prosperity, high employment and great technological development. During this period, Australians enthusiastically adorned their homes with a dazzling range of new domestic appliances. Hire-purchase schemes allowed people to take products home and pay for them in instalments. The American-designed Mixmaster 9B was the first Sunbeam appliance manufactured and sold in Australia in 1948. An early Sunbeam Mixmaster. It is an electronic stand mixer with a black metal base in the shape of a rounded teardrop with two holes for the turntable. It has a cream enameled metal arm, cream coloured metal motor housing with a black plastic handle on the top. On the back of the motor housing is a black plastic knob with ten speed options for the mixer, and the "OFF" position. a black electric cord is attached under the motor housing with a black switch beneath the cord. The motor housing is able to tilt backwards on a hinge which is attached to the top of the stand arm. It is worked on AC or Dc power 240 On the bottom are the words "MODEL 9B". mixmaster sunbeam kitchen-appliance food-technology

This photograph was taken prior to the closure of the Orbost -Bairnsdale freight line in 1987.The Orbost-Bairnsdale railway initially played a crucial role in developing agricultural industries in Gippsland as well as tourism. It opened in 1916 and operated until 1987, principally carrying timber and farming produce. In the early days of the railway's operation dedicated passenger trains ran but these ceased by the 1930s. The line was completely closed to freightage in 1987.The track infrastructure was dismantled in 1994 and has been redeveloped as the East Gippsland Rail Trail.A large black and white aerial photograph of Orbost Railway Station in the foreground and the Orbost township in the background. It has been pasted onto a piece of Masonite. railway photography orbost, railway photography orbost

This photograph was on display in the Orbost Information Centre - the Slab Hut - for many years. Originally the post office was not at Orbost at all but in the small settlement of Newmerella. The building in the photograph was completed and opened in 1898 at a cost of 1038/4/8 pounds. The post office building today is a replica of this building, opened in 2004 after a local campaign to retain a full post office in the town.The photograph of the early post office shows that it was a popular meeting place. Today's post office is a replica of this one and stands on the same site.A framed photograph of the Orbost Post Office (photocopy?) in 1917. The glass was cracked and has been removed. The frame is a wooden one with carved shell shape decorations. In the foreground of the photo is a horse and coach and an early model car. The mail coach is on its way to Cann River. In the car is the Warren family.W.S. Vogt, Bairnsdaleorbost post-office

Dross Drossou sold his cordial manufacturing business to Phillips and Stone, a Bairnsdale company, in 1948. Phillips and Stone continued to manufacture soft drinks at Orbost until the early 1970's when the factory became a distribution centre. It closed as a distribution centre in 1978 and later served as the headquarters of the Orbost State Emergency Service. The site of the Cordial Factory now forms part of a carpark. A deposit on the bottles was added to all sales as they left the factory. The returned bottles were washed and the old label removed. The inside was cleaned by pushing the bottle onto a revolving brush. The reusing of the bottles went on until the bottle was broken or the top became chipped. This bottle is an example of a product manufacture by a local industry no longer existing.A clear glass cylindrical bottle with a tapered neck.D. DROSSOU ORBOSTbottle drossou orbost-cordial-factory food beverages

This bottle was on display at the Orbost Visitor Information Centre - the Slab Hut.This item is a typical cordial bottle used in households during the 1930's.A clear glass green tinged bottle. It is possibly a cordial bottle.J. DICKSON & CO. PTY LTD estd 1854 MELBOURNE, AUST On base 2 AGMbeverages cordial bottle j-dickson a.g.m.

A wall phone used in the early 20th Century in Australia, this one in the Orbost district.A wall-mounted telephone with a handpiece connected by a cord to the left hand side of the main box. On the right hand side is a winder. Near the top of the box are two round silver gongs which make the ringing sound of the phone call. The box is mostly made of wood, with the front-bottom section with a metal facing which is able to be opened to reveal the mechanism behind (including the battery). The phone has a wooden writing slope attached to the front. On the front of the metal section of the box are the words L M ERICSSON & CO trade mark STOCKHOLM. L M ERICSSON & CO TRADE MARK STOCKHOLMtelephone-communication wall-phone

A large lamp used used to light a room by showing light from above. Used in the Orbost district late 19th to early 20th century prior to electricity connection. Generally, lamps like this had a matching decorations on the shade and vase. It would have been almost impossible to find an exact match if the shade was broken so the next best thing was to replace it with a plain white one. The majority of the removable slip fonts were made to the same dimensions so it was not uncommon for an original font to be replaced with a different brand if it became unusable. This is an example of a domestic lighting device in use before the widespread connection of electricity to houses in Orbost.A large lamp which hangs from a bracket. It has a large white glass cover above the wick burner and below is a white bowl decorated with flowers. The hanging lamp is American and, from the design and pattern of the brass work, it was made by Edward Miller & Co. Both the shade and vase (font holder) are glass. It is most likely that the shade has been replaced at some stage. (ref. oillampantiques.com) illumination-lamp hanging-lamp kerosene-lamp

Four spectacle cases used in the Orbost district, one being owned by S McKeown and supplied by R C Mansell who was a consulting optometrist in Orbost.Four spectacle cases catalogued 817.1 to 817.4. They are of a similar shape but have different colourings. 817.2 has the words S McKeown, Orbost written inside indicating the owner and R C Mansell L O Sc Optometrist, Orbost on the outside indicating the supplier. 817.4 has the word Polaroid on the outside.spectacle-case mansell-optometrist