Orbost and East Gippsland Railway League had proposed a railway extension through East Gippsland in 1908, which aimed to develop an isolated part of the country. At the time, construction of a railway could be considered a beneficial investment for the country as it could increase the population in the region. The proposed railway length in 1908 was about 140 miles and the cost was estimated £800,000. The line was proposed to proceed from Bairnsdale by way of the Lower Nicholson to Bruthen. “After crossing the Tambo River, it would be carried to near Nowa Nowa; the head of Lake Tyers, forward to Orbost. From Orbost it would proceed in a north-easterly way to the New South Wales border. There were different suggested routes between Orbost and the New South Wales border, the first was through Bendoc, another by the Cann River and another which is located between these two. This item is associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost. The Bairnsdale-Orbost railway was opened in 1916 to serve the agricultural and timber industry. Because of the decline in traffic and heavy operating costs, the line was finally closed in August, 1987. Two small magazines showing the railway extension through East Gippsland. 678.1 has a dark maroon cover with gold print writing. It contains b/w photographs. 678.2 has a red cover with black print writing. Both are bound. 678.1 - inside front cover - M. Beattie ???????? Newmerella 678.2 - inside front cover - Gordon Fisher Orbosteast-gippsland-railway-league railway

Ferdinand von Mueller was born at Rostock, Germany, on 30 June 1825 , died at Melbourne, Australia, on 10 October 1896. He studied pharmacy and took his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Kiel in 1847. He came to Australia in 1848 for health reasons and became a great botanical collector and writer. He was Victorian Government Botanist from 1853, and for a time Director of the Botanic Gardens. He travelled widely in Victoria and was on the A.C.Gregory expedition to northern Australia in 1855-57. He supported botanical exploration and collecting throughout the colonies. Charles Henry [Carl] Grove died on 17/4/1938 at Box Hill at the age of 88 and was buried in Orbost. Prior to coming to the Snowy River district, Carl worked as overseer on Buchan Station. In 1880, he selected land at Newmerella after first coming here in 1874 with early selector James A Robertson. He married Annie Robertson in 1876. Carl was a farmer, hop and seed grower and nurseryman. He was an elected Councillor of the newly formed Tambo Shire in 1882, and then in 1892 to the Orbost Shire where he served for many years filling varioius public roles. In 1911, he shifted to Queensland, but later returned to Victoria and died at Box Hill. (Ref. Nov 2014 Newsletter) Mueller was one of the first people to take a scientific interest in Victorian forests, and argued against indiscriminate clearing of land. This item is a useful research tool. It is associated with Carl Grove, a prominent early resident of Orbost.A black book with the title "Key To The System of Victorian Plants 1" in gold print.inside cover - "To Carl Grove from Baron Von Mueller March 1896"von-mueller-ferdinand botany-victoria plants-victoria grove-carl

Ferdinand von Mueller was born at Rostock, Germany, on 30 June 1825 , died at Melbourne, Australia, on 10 October 1896. He studied pharmacy and took his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Kiel in 1847. He came to Australia in 1848 for health reasons and became a great botanical collector and writer. He was Victorian Government Botanist from 1853, and for a time Director of the Botanic Gardens. He travelled widely in Victoria and was on the A.C.Gregory expedition to northern Australia in 1855-57. He supported botanical exploration and collecting throughout the colonies. 681.3 was presented to Carl Grove from G. Tadgell of Flemington. Charles Henry [Carl] Grove died on 17/4/1938 at Box Hill at the age of 88 and was buried in Orbost. Prior to coming to the Snowy River district, Carl worked as overseer on Buchan Station. In 1880, he selected land at Newmerella after first coming here in 1874 with early selector James A Robertson.He was one of the first selectors at Orbost - in 1880 he selected 320 acres at Newmerella, which he called „Ulinda‟ He married Annie Robertson in 1876. Carl was a farmer, hop and seed grower and nurseryman. He was an elected Councillor of the newly formed Tambo Shire in 1882, and then in 1892 to the Orbost Shire where he served for many years filling varioius public roles. In 1911, he shifted to Queensland, but later returned to Victoria and died at Box Hill. (Ref. Nov 2014 Newsletter) Mueller was one of the first people to take a scientific interest in Victorian forests, and argued against indiscriminate clearing of land. This item is a useful research tool. It is associated with Carl Grove, a prominent early resident of Orbost.Three copies of fabric bound book with a deep blue cover and the title, "Key To The System Of Victorian plants" in gold print. It has an ornate border around the edge.inside cover of 681.1 - To H. Grove, March 1891 Ulinda, Newmerella, Victoriaferdinand-von-mueller grove-carl botany plants-victoria

This book was published by the Municipal Association of Victoria to commemorate the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The addresses were made on the occasion of the Duke &​ Duchess of Cornwall &​ York's visit to Melbourne in May 1901. They were in the city for the opening of Federal Parliament which took place at the Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens on 9 May 1901. .This item is associated with the history of the Federation of Australia and is a useful research tool.Hard-covered book, red cloth, with gold impressed lettering, containing 118 pages of illustrated copies of addresses to HRH Duke of Cornwall & York and His Excellency, Earl Hopetoun, the Governor General from the Shires of Victoria (includes Orbost). The addresses are surrounded by elaborate borders containing native flowers, particularly wattle. There are alsos cenes of rural Victoria. Incised on front cover - Addresses to H.R.H. Duke of Cornwall & York and his Excellency the Gov. General, the Earl of Hopetoun from the Municipalities of Victoria.federation duke-of-cornwall speeches-addresses

Born in 1893, Anthony Bolam was the Station Master at Ooldea Siding on the Trans-Australian Railway from 1920 to 1925. Bolam was very interested in Aboriginal culture and was a careful and sympathetic recorder of their lifestyle, customs and ceremonies. A keen photographer, he took many photographs of the Aboriginal people who congregated at Ooldea Siding in the early 1920s. Many of these photographs were included in this book. He died in 1966. This item is a useful research tool as it contains a contemporary description and photographsof the Aboriginal people of Ooldea, a tiny settlement in South Australia, on the eastern edge of the Nullarbor Plain. A small 134 pp book with a red and white cover which has a photograph of an Aboriginal holding a spear. The book has some full-page b/w plates and a folding map at the end.inside on front page - No. 58

Nathan Frederick Spielvogel (1874-1956), teacher, writer and historian, was born on 10 May 1874 at Ballarat, Victoria. as well as his stories he published a number of Books about the history of Ballarat. Spielvogel taught at Orbost for at least a year and this book reflects that time. Spielvogel was a teacher, writer and historian. As a country schoolteacher, he traveled widely in the eastern Australian outback and also made a journey to London. Spielvogel gained distinction as one of the only Australian Jewish writers of his time. Many of his early books were best-sellers. He has an association with the history of Orbost having spent a year as a teacher at Orbost. The book also has an association with J.W. Bird an early auctioneer and estate agent in Orbost.A small 124 pp book with a pink, white and red cover with an illustration of a fisherman at a river. It is titled "The Gumsucker at Home" by N. F. Spielvogel.inside cover - J. W. Birdspielvogel-nathan the-gumsucker-at-home australian-literature

Langwill Bros & Davies of Melbourne were agents for imported farm pump engines, windmills and other farm implements.. Because of war shortages, they started building the engines themselves under the Challenge brand in 1916. "..with the exception of the magneto, every part of the engine is manufactured in Australia from Australian raw material." They also sold imported Challenge windmills.This item is associated with the history of agriculture in early Orbost and is a useful research tool.A small light brown covered catalogue which has "Langwill Bros. & Davies Pty Ltd" diagonally across front in black print, items on offer and details of the company. There is a white stamp on the front with red print - "If you're not interested in this; PASS IT ON; Please; It will be doing us a good turn".catalogue farm-machinery langwill-davies

This is the second report by the East Gippsland Regional Planning Committees part of the Regional Studied Program in East Gippsland requested by Mrs Marion Le Cheminant.This is a useful reference tool. It documents sites of significance, including the Orbost area of East Gippsland.A stapled book with a brown/orange cover. On the front cover is a black print hand-drawn illustration of some buildings (possibly Bairnsdale Courthouse. The title, "Sites of Historical Significance in the East Gippsland Region", is in black print at the top. This is inside a black border.Sites of Historical Significance / in the East Gippsland Region / EAST GISPPSLAND REGIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEEhistoric sites, history, east gippsland, heritage

"This is an illustrated trip through some of the most important and picturesque towns, with short articles touching upon the industries of the state of Victoria. Distributed gratis by the Government".This is a useful reference book. A worn,294 pp hard cover book with a dark brown cover. The title, "Victoria Illustrated" is written diagonally across the top in white print inside a red border. The spine is blue. It contains advertisements, sepia photographs and text.book-victoria-illustrated

This book was written by Alexander Sutherland from the discovery of Australia, through to the exploration of Victoria and the first settlers to the pioneers. It then continues on to discuss immigration, the era of gold, the development of government, agriculture, music and art, literature and the metropolis of Melbourne. There were two volumes. It was published to co-incide with the centenary of Australia's first settlement.This book is a history of Victoria and Melbourne to 1888 and is useful resource for all local and social historians of Victoria and the metropolis of Melbourne.A very large book. It has no cover. Pages are gold edged and there is string in the binding.history-victoria sutherland-alexander melbourne-history

Comprises extracts from the monthly journals covering rural changes in Victoria, improvements in agriculture and horticulture, Royal Shows and farming history.This item is a useful reference tool.A 448 pp book with a dark blue fabric cover with gold print.agriculture-history-victoria

In 1961 Bruce Evans was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly as the member for Gippsland East. He was the party's deputy leader from 1964 to 1970 and its whip from 1970 until his retirement in 1992. "The Land Conservation Council was established by the Land Conservation Act 1970. As one of its three functions, it makes recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Environment with respect to the use of public land, in order to provide for the balanced use of land in Victoria. This report contains the Council’s final recommendations concerning the use of public land in the East Gippsland study area, the boundaries of which correspond to those of the Shire of Orbost. The recommendations in the text are grouped under major headings, such as Parks, State Forest, and so on. " The Council met on seven occasions during the year, and also made visits of inspection to each study area. The Chairman visited Shire Councils in study areas to explain the role and the functions of the Land Conservation Council and to invite submissions on the use of public land in these areas. This is the fourth annual report by the council. This is a useful research tool.A large book 236 pp book with a yellow / gold cover with a green bush scene . The binding is orange. It contains folded maps and information on public land use in East Gippsland.inside - "With Compliments - Bruce Evans, M.P."east-gippsland-study-area conservation public-land-use

This book was produced as a gift for Australian soldiers and their families on the Western Front in 1917. In the introduction General Birdwood, Commander of the ANZACS, explained it was for ‘…those whom we left behind in Australia, and who we know are thinking of us, some idea of our surroundings on the battle fronts…’.This book is a significant contemporary record of life for the Australian soldiers on the Western Front during World War 11.Grey cardboard covered 128 pp book with black and red writing on cover. the title, "FROM THE AUSTRALIAN FRONT" is in black print at the top above a black drawn sketch of two soldiers behind a mound and holding bayonets. at the foot is XMAS. 1917 inside a red rectangle with the insignia of the Australian Army (the rising sun) at the top. It contains cartoons, illustrations and photographs created by the soldiers themselves and put together in the style of an annual. military book-from-the-western-front world-war-11

Teachers from all across Victoria enlisted in the Australian Imperial Army to fight overseas. 752 from the Victorian Education Department are listed as signing up. Many were teachers but also included were clerical staff, medical officers. Included in the book are details of the contributions made by others through donations of "comfort items" and subscriptions. There are details of The Young Workers' Patriotic Guild, the war savings effort in the schools and general school subscriptions. 703.1 was presented to Jarrahmond School and 703.2 to Corringle School. Neither school exists today. This is a useful reference tool for the study of the particpation of teachers of the East Gippsland area in World war 11.Two copies of a hard back book with a light brown/orange cover with the title, "The Education Department's Record of War Service 1914-1919' in gold print. It contains portraits and biographical notes on "the men who fell" and "the men who returned". world-war-11 department-of-education-victoria

These survey plans are a useful research tool.A flat green fabric folder with a white label with "SNOWY RIVER FLATS" hand-written in black. It contains plans.plans-survey snowy-river-flats department-crown-lands-victoria

This book belonged to Mary Gilbert and was probably used by her whilst at Melbourne University as a student. Mary Isabelle Gilbert was born in 1905 in Orbost, Australia. She was born to John Gilbert and Annie Cameron Gilbert, and had seven sisters and one brother. Four siblings died at a young age. .She was a teacher historian loved and respected by her family and the wider community.Mary Gilbert was the first curator of the Orbost Museum, and a local teacher. She was a highly respected Orbost citizen.A black paged botany book with a leatherette cover. Inside are hand -drawn botanical specimens. On the front, in gold, is the Melbourne University insignia with its motto -"Postera crescam laude" ( "May I grow in the esteem of future generations").MARY I. GILBERT BOTANY 1 1926 No. 437gilbert-mary

This is a useful reference tool.A stapled soft covered 26 pp brochure. The cover is white and inside a black frame is the title, "Melbourne Our City. Do You know It?' in black print with a black/white photograph of the city in the early 1900's. At the foot is " A guide to some Interesting places to view". It contains b/w illustrations and the last page folds out.

This is the 2nd edition. In the Gippsland Times newspaper on June 1 1936 there is a report of a meeting of the Greater Gippsland League at which the production of this book was mentioned as"a method of marking the Gippsland Centenary. TOURIST BOOK-LET. The work of -Messrs A. Gilchrist and A. B. Cooper in connection with the preparation of a tourist booklet was warmly commended and a minute of appreciation placed on record." This group seems to have been a group of Gippsland citizens interested in the progress of Gippsland and any government action in the area. This meeting was held at Maffra. This tourist guide is a contemporary record of tourism promotion in Gippsland.A thin 48 pp booklet with a grey cover. The title, "GIPPSLAND FOR TOURISTS" is inside two blue, black bordered, bands. The print is navy. ath efoot of the page is "Issued by Authority of the Greater Gippsland League". At the top is "Gratis". at top of front cover - "Orbost Historical Society" stampedgippsland-tourism greater-gippsland-league

The Royal Society of Victoria convenes Victoria’s science community. It is the State’s oldest learned society and a part of Australia’s intellectual life since 1854. The Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria is their refereed journal, published twice annually.(Royal Society of Victoria web-site) Norman Arthur Wakefield (28 November 1918 – 23 September 1972) was an Australian teacher, naturalist, paleontologist and botanist, notable as an expert on ferns. He described many new species of plants.(info. Wikipedia)This is a useful research tool.A thin magazine a light green cover. It has the royal coat - of - arms in black / dark green print at the top above "Royal Society of Victoria Proceedings" on black. Underneath this is "Botanical Exploration of East Gippsland by N.a. Wakefield in black print.on front cover is a stamp of "Orbost Historical Society"botany-east-gippsland wakefield-norman royal-society-victoria

"Having a monthly circulation of 211,670 copies, the Victoria "School Paper" is claimed by the Education department to form the staple provision for leading matter in the elementary schools." -( December 29, 1920, The Argus). In Victoria the Education Department's School papers were compulsory reading for children until the 1930s when the Victorian readers became compulsory and the School Papers supplemented them. This one is for Grades V and VI.This item is an example of a school text book used in the very early 20th century. School textbooks reflect the development of education in Australia.From them we can understand what was taught and how children learned in Australian schools in earlier times.A collection / compilation of magazines called the "The School Paper". Binding is string and the back cover is cloth covered. on front - "William Brown"education school-reader the-school-paper-1900

"Having a monthly circulation of 211,670 copies, the Victoria "School Paper" is claimed by the Education department to form the staple provision for leading matter in the elementary schools." -( December 29, 1920, The Argus). In Victoria the Education Department's School papers were compulsory reading for children until the 1930s when the Victorian readers became compulsory and the School Papers supplemented them. This item is an example of a school text book used in the very early 20th century. School textbooks reflect the development of education in Australia.From them we can understand what was taught and how children learned in Australian schools in earlier times.A collection /compilation of The School Paper magazines. It has a hard cloth cover with string binding. The front cover is brown and the spine has blue and white stripes. Pasted on the inside cover is a photo of a school group.education reader the-school-paper-1902

The association was formed as a means of giving Marlo residents a voice with the then Orbost Shire Council. It has continued as the Marlo Ratepayers & Residents association.This is associated with the history of Marlo which is a small town which has a close association with Orbost. Marlo sits at the mouth of the Snowy River and was the port for Orbost. It came under the Orbost Shire Council. A small dark blue covered diary with "Diary" in gold print written diagonally across the top and in the centre "MARLO PROGRESS ASSOCIATION" in light green print with "MEMBERSHIP 5/-" in light green print underneath. It is unused.marlo, east gippsland, coastal communities, orbost shire council, progress association, memberships

This piece of newspaper had been used as wallpaper lining. The Weekly Times was first published on September 11, 1869, by a group of Melbourne businessmen who owned the now-defunct Daily Telegraph, with the stated aim to be a “journal of literature, sport, agriculture, science and politics”. It is Australia’s oldest rural newspaper, and is known far and wide as the Bible of the Bush. (ref Weekly Times web-site)This is a useful research tool.A section of newspaper from the Weekly Times of 1884. there is also a photocopy of the item.newspaper weekly-times

Major General Sir Reginald Arthur James Talbot KCB (11 July 1841 – 15 January 1929) was a British Army officer, Member of Parliament, and Governor of Victoria in Australia. March 1905 and in April 1908 he visited East Gippsland, in particularMarlo and Orbost. Mr W. Cumming was the president of the Orbost Shire at the time. One of the topics discussed was the need for a railway in East Gippsland.This is a contemporary record of a significant event.A long narrow cutting from a newspaper. It is titled, "Governor in Gippsland National Railway Wanted". It relates to the visit of the then governor of Victoria, Reginald Talbot, to Orbost and Marlo. There is a photocopy and an original.talbot-sir-reginald governor's-visit-to-marlo

This item is a special edition of The Herald to celebrate the 30,000th edition of the newspaper.This iteem is a useful research tool.A souvenir issue of The Herald - Issue No. 30,000. It has a special edition newsprint from 1880.the-herald

This article reports on a "gymkhana held at Orbost in aid of the Red Cross and kindred institutions by which £2000 was realised from a population of 22000 adults and children. The expenses were practically nil." The Australasian was published every Saturday in a tabloid newspaper format. It contained extensive pictorial coverage of the week's events. The Australasian gave an insight into the life and times of Australians from week to week. News from Australia, New Zealand and abroad was presented. The Australian Red Cross Society (ARCS) was formed just after the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, originally as a branch of the the British Red Cross. This is a contemporary record of a significant event in Orbost. It reflects the involvement of Orbost, a small town, in the efforts of the Australian Red Cross Society to provide comforts to soldiers during World war 1.A single page cutting from the Australasian. It has black / white photographs of local red cross workers at an Orbost Gymkhana. There are photos of a jumble stall, flower sellers. a fruit cart and a display of soldiers' comforts. 738.2 is a photocopy of the original.In black - names - Evelyn Blacklock, Leila Perry, Grace & Nell Cameron, Jane Cameron, Florrie Cameron, Annie Stirling, Jean Stirling, Lily Perry, Marion Gilbert, Grace Cameronww1 australasian-newspaper red-cross-orbost

These articles were collated by Mary Gilbert. Mary Isabelle Gilbert was born in 1905 in Orbost, Australia. She was born to John Gilbert and Annie Cameron Gilbert. She was a teacher historian loved and respected by her family and the wider community.These articles are contemporary records of significant events in the history of Orbost and as such are useful reference tools.A cardboard folder of black and white newspaper cuttings relating to the 1934 floods in Orbost, war photographs and local events and residents. 747.1 is from the February 3, 1934 Weekly Times and is titled, " FLOOD PHOTOS ORBOST". 747.2 is from the Weekly Times, 9 June 1917 and contains war photos and photographs of Orbost - 11 May, 1929.orbost-floods-1934 ww1-photgraphs-orbost-weekly-times

Published in three volumes in 1903, 1904 and 1905 respectively, the full titles read:- The Cyclopedia of Victoria (Illustrated) – in Thee Volumes – An Historical and Commercial Review – Descriptive and Biographical, Facts, Figures and Illustrations – An Epitome of Progress – Edited by James Smith. It was published by The Cyclopedia Company, Publishers, Melbourne. These books are from the estate of Elsie Cooke. Elsie Cooke lived all her life in Gippsland,. She was born at Brodribb in 1895 and died in 1970, Elsie Cooke lived at Bruthen for a short time and, in 1937, moved to live with her aunt, Miss Jean Munro. Miss Cooke was Librarian at the Mechanics Institute for many years. Kindness and consideration for other were Miss Cooke’s attributes and she endeared herself to all who knew her. She was a loyal member of the Presbyterian Church and a stalwart of the Ladies’ Guild, an energetic worker for the Municipal Auxiliary and a member of the Red Cross. This is a significant reference tool as it is a vast source of biographical information.Three volumes of "Cyclopedia of Victoria". They have blue covers, black spines and gold print. The three volumes contain historical details which mention many people and also many biographies and thousands of illustrations including portraits. smith-james cyclopedia-victoria biographies-victoria

This is the second edition. The letters were written by Nathan Spielvogel, a country school teacher for the 'Dimboola Banner'. It cost one shilling. Nathan Frederick Spielvogel (1874-1956), teacher, writer and historian, was born on 10 May 1874 at Ballarat, Victoria. As well as his stories he published a number of books about the history of Ballarat. Spielvogel was a teacher, writer and historian. As a country schoolteacher, he traveled widely in the eastern Australian outback and also made a journey to London. Spielvogel gained distinction as one of the only Australian Jewish writers of his time. Many of his early books were best-sellers. He has an association with the history of Orbost having spent a year as a teacher at Orbost.A small brown soft covered booklet of 108 pages, titled "A Gumsucker on the Tramp" in black print. On the front cover is an illustration of It contains an Australian's impression during a lengthy trip to Europe.literature spielvogel-nathan gumsucker-on-the-tramp

This item is a contemporary record of engineering equipment used in farming, industry and mining in the 1920's.A Bennie, Teare & Co catalogue in a loose leaf clip folder with a blue fabric cover. It has a red seal on the front. At the side is a metal brace for page removal. catalogue bennie-teare-engineering