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

Grace Elizabeth Jennings Carmichael (1867-1904), poet and nurse, was born on 24 February 1867 at Ballarat, Victoria, daughter of Archibald Carmichael, a miner from Perthshire, Scotland, and his wife Margaret Jennings, née Clark, from Cornwall, England. . About 1880 the family moved to Gippsland where Henderson managed a station near Orbost. Grace learned to love the Gippsland forest. She began to express in verse her understanding of the sights, scents and sounds of the bush, often writing in some remote clearing, her manuscripts stored for privacy in a hollow trunk. The Bairnsdale Advertiser published her first story, and the Weekly Times an early poem; then on 28 November 1885 her poem 'The Old Maid' was published in the Australasian under her pen name Jennings Carmichael. Encouraged by its editor, David Watterston, Grace sent nearly all her subsequent verse to that newspaper. (Read more by Lindsay Gardiner in Australian Dictionary of Biography.) This is a useful collection of the poetry of Jennings Carmichael, a leading Australian poet who spent much of her childhood in Orbost.A 212 pp cloth bound book with a dark purple cover and gold print on the spine and front - "Poems by Jennings Carmichael".Inside cover.carmichael-jennings literature poetry

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 thefirst edition of "Personalities and Stories of Early Orbost which was collected and compiled by Mary Isabelle Gilbert. 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. This book is a collection of stories as told and writtenabout Orbost in early times. This is a useful research and reference tool on the early history of the Orbost district.A 130 pp light grey covered book, titled "Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District." The title is in black print inside a black rectangular frame.gilbert-mary orbost-history recollections-orbost

This book was part of a series of books published for the Australian Military Forces by the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Contents for the book came from the Australian military forces in early 1945 and the book was ready for printing at the beginning of August, ready for Christmas release. The title signified the ending of the war to the north of Australia.This book is a significant contemporary record of the participation of Australian soldiers in World war 11.A 208 pp book with a dust jacket which has a picture of a soldier wearing a slouch hat holding a world globe with Australia to the front. a soldier is standing on top of the globe holding a bayonet high. The title, "Stand Easy" is in red print at the bottom right. The hard cover of the book inside the dust jacket is green with the wording 'Stand Easy after the defeat of Japan, 1945' in pale green, along with an image of a soldier waving a gun above his head. It contains prose accounts of the war, cartoons, photographs, verse, illustrations and maps.inside cover - " To John Gilbert Esq..........from Capt Shannon Tallagoota Orbost Victoria"military world-war-11 book-stand-easy

"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 Royal Readers had been prepared especially for Victorian schools and featured some Australian content. The authors made great use of the natural world as well as incidents and common daily events to attract children to the stories. Teachers were encouraged to teach children not only the 'art of reading' but also a 'love of reading'. Illustrations were used effectively to attract children 'through the eye' to the stories and to help them understand same. They were used extensively in Victorian schools as well as in other states. However, during the 1890s and especially the early 1900s, governments came under increasing pressure to change the reading books again because these books did not reflect the rapid scientific advances in the 1890s. Royal Readers date quickly when a new syllabus was introduced in 1905. Education materials were to be relevant to children's daily lives with a demand for greater local content. (info. from http://education.qld.gov.au)This book as an example of school work in the early 20th century. It reflects the the way reading was taught, to young children in Victoria. It reflects the changes in education in East Gippsland and is a useful comparison tool for literacy teaching. A small book with a blue fabric cover. It is titled Royal Readers No V1 and is a part of a series of Royal Readers.inside cover - E.A. Stephenson, Longford.education-texts schools-reading royal-readers

Annie Cameron was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Cameron. Her father was a keen geologist and botanist. Robert Pullar Cameron was a Shire Councillor for many years. He married Penuel Hossack and had a family of James, Flora, Penuel and Alex. He was listed as a significant plant collector at Orbost, Victoria who collected on the Bemm, Cann and Snowy Rivers. (Based on the list published by J.H. Willis, D. Pearson, M.T. Davis, and J.W. Green, Western Australian Herbarium Research Notes Number 12, August 1986. Enhanced with information from George, A.S. (2009) Australian Botanist's Companion, Four Gables Press, WA.)These items are significant as a record of the occurrence of a plant species at a particular place and time and are a useful research resource. They are associated with the Cameron family, early Orbost settlers. Two albums of pressed flowers. 765.1 has a red cover with gold trim and printing. 765.2 has a blue cover. 765.1 - "Collected at Cann River 1874-98 by Annie Cameron " 765.2 - "Collected we believe by Robert P. Cameron in 1890's"botany australian-plants-flowers cameron-robert-pullar cameron-annie

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

The Lady's Realm was a illustrated monthly women's magazine published in London in the 19th century, initially edited by W. H. Wilkins. It also published 36 volumes between 1896 and 1914. The Lady's Realm was a British women's magazine published from 1896 until 1914, possibly until 1915. It primarily targeted upper-class readers as well as an aspirational middle-class audience, featuring photographs, poems, fiction, and columns by popular authors such as Marie Corelli, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Jack London, and H.G. Wells. (Wikipedia) Founded in 1833, the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts is the longest running School of Arts (also known as a "Mechanics' Institute") and the oldest continuous lending library in Australia. These magazines reflect women's interests in the early 20th century. Women’s magazines developed rapidly through the 1800s, reflecting both marketing developments and social changes. As the century progressed, publications aimed at women changed from the middle-class drawing-room journals of the 1830s and 1840s to the cheaper, chattier, more domestic magazines of the 1880s and 1890s. This item oi an example of a publication aimed at a particular social class.A thick hard back book with a dark blue and red fabric cover. It contains short stories by various authors. "SYDNEY MECHANICS SCHOOL OF ARTS 225 PITT STREET" on front cover.literature-lady's-realm short-stories

This item belonged to Alan Richardson, a sawmiller at Tabbara. He helped to build and held a ticket for the paddle steamer "Curlip". He was a member of the Rechabites from March 3 1892. The Independent Order of Rechabites began in Salford, England in 1835. It was named after Rechab, a leader in the Old Testament, who instructed his tribe to refrain from drinking alcohol. During the Industrial Revolution the idea of temperance became popular as damage was caused to families by alcohol. In Australia it was first established in Tasmania in the mid 1800s. In 1847 a branch was created in Victoria, and it then spread to other States. Members were provided with assistance during times of sickness, death and hardship. This item is associated with the Richardson family, early settlers in the Orbost district.A small grey book with a black spine. The title and details are in black print. Inside is a magazine cutting - "The Rechabite July 1st 1931". This book is the "Constitution of the Victorian District, No 82" and contains the district by-laws."This is to certify that Bro. A.J. Richardson was admitted clearance a member of the Orbost.........."richardson-alan rechabites

This diary probably belonged to Alan Richardson who was a member of the Rechabites. Alan Richardson, was a wmiller at Tabbara. He helped to build and held a ticket for the paddle steamer "Curlip". He was a member of the Rechabites from March 3 1892. The Independent Order of Rechabites began in Salford, England in 1835. It was named after Rechab, a leader in the Old Testament, who instructed his tribe to refrain from drinking alcohol. During the Industrial Revolution the idea of temperance became popular as damage was caused to families by alcohol. In Australia it was first established in Tasmania in the mid 1800s. In 1847 a branch was created in Victoria, and it then spread to other States. Members were provided with assistance during times of sickness, death and hardship. This item is associated with Alan Richardson. The Richardsons were a prominent pioneering family in early Orbost.A small book, a diary with a fabric and paper cover. It contains handwritten costings for building projects, There are some loose pages with Literature associated with the Rechabites. rechabites richardson-alan

Small handmade booklet. A geographical history of Doncaster - Templestowe, Victoria, Australia.

This lamp pattern was originally made in USA between 1880 and 1900. The pattern is called Feathered Cartouche and generally had a painted motif on each of the panels on the front. This lamp is probably a copy of the American lamp and made in Australia sometime in the first half of the 20th century. The lamp has an English style collar rather than an American one and the pattern is not as crisp as the American ones. There were several lamp patterns made here that were copies of American patterns and that style of collar was used on most of them. (ref Oil Lamp Antiques)This item is an important example of the early technology of artificial light. It has historical significance in demonstrating lighting devices used before the widespread use of electricity.Ornate clear glass kerosene lamp. Glass chimney is missing. Base is square and patterned with raised oval shapes, as is the stem. Both base and stem are hollow. At the top, the kerosene holder is squarish with round corners.. The wick holder is of brass and has a small wick adjustor.lamp, kerosene lamp, lighting - domestic

Owned by Alexander Cameron who arrived in Australia in 1853. Alexander Cameron ("Big Alex") was an early settler on the Snowy River flats. he worked the paddle steamer Cheviot for a while, having a wharf and sheds on the Snowy River in 1900. Later moved to Cann River.This item is an example of a handcrafted religious ornament of the late 19th-early 20th century.Handmade, round, religious text ornament of celluloid and cardboard with silver writing.Front - "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?"ornament handmade religious

Domestic water filters would have been used in Orbost before water was reticulated to all town houses and on rural properties using tank water.This is an example of a domestic ceramic container used to hold and filter water in the early 20th century."The Abbot Filter" used to cool water. Tall, stoneware, cylindrical, cream coloured with handles and tap. Tap is stainless steel."The Abbot Filter" - Australianwater-supply abbot-filter container water-cooler

This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the early to mid 20th century. Embroidery was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value to domestic linen and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homes, One pair of hand embroidered white linen pillow shams. Crocheted edge. Decorated with embroidered flowers in assorted colours.pillow shams bedding manchester handcrafts needlework embroidery

Many Orbost babies were weighed on scales using these weights. Used in early 1930's.The early 20th century saw an emphasis in Australia on the reforming of mothering practices. There was a desire to improve infant mortality rates and produce healthy, well-adjusted citizens.Government organisations, in particular hospitals and baby clinics. encouraged mothers to measure their babies and regulate their feeding patterns. By the 1930s most mothers had been influenced to a greater or less extent by these new approaches to infant care. These weights are representative of that period.Two steel circular 10lb weights used with 106.1 scales used to weigh babies at Orbost Hospital. Gold painted. 10 lbs in relief on top of each weight.weights instruments-weighing orbost-hospital nursing

Ruth Woodward was the daughter of Alan Richardson a sawmiller at Tabbara. Richardson Helped build and held ticket for paddle steamer "Curlip". Crochet covers for milk jugs, teacups and bowls were produced to repel the dreaded Australian blow fly. They were typically decorated with Australian flora and fauna and commemorative motifs and sometimes edged with beads, shells and other three dimensional forms, not only for appearance, but also to weigh down the crochet so it would stay safely in place on the jug. The three dimensional parts were stiffened with sugar syrup, or sometimes starch, paraffin or gelatine. The main sources for crochet cover and other needlework designs available to women were in journals, magazines and pattern books. This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the families of the early settlers.Small handmade star-shaped milk cover with a white tulle centre and beading coming down to points off the centre. Beads are clear and black.milk-cover handcrafts needlework beading richardson

Marjorie McKeown (nee Ford) was an excellent needlewoman and has made this cushion cover.This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the early 20th century when women's focus was the home and its decoration was important. Embroidery and crochet work was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value, and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homes.A cushion cover made of black fabric, embroidered with large roses on stems and hand painted over the roses. cushion-cover womens-needlecraft handcrafts

The Man from Snowy River" is a poem by Australian bush poet Banjo Paterson. It was first published in The Bulletin, an Australian news magazine, on 26th April 1890. The poem tells the story of a horseback pursuit to recapture the colt of a prizewinning racehorse that escaped from its paddock and is living wild with the brumbies (wild horses) of the mountain ranges. Eventually the brumbies descend a seemingly impassably steep slope, at which point the assembled riders give up the pursuit, except the young hero, who spurs his pony down the "terrible descent" to catch the mob.Two characters mentioned in the early part of the poem are featured in previous Paterson poems; "Clancy of the Overflow" and Harrison from "Old Pardon, Son of Reprieve".The town of Orbost is situated on the Snowy River and the town has always been "the heart of Snowy River country".A first day cover for "The Man From Snowy River" stamps. There is a picture of a saddle in the top left-hand corner. There is a strip 5 stamps on the envelope and it has been stamped at Orbost Post Office. This strip has 5 scenes based on the Banjo Patterson legendary poem by the same name. The stamps include: At The Station, Mountain Bend, The Terrible Descent, At Their Heels and Brought Them Back.first-day-cover man-from-snowy-river stamps philately

Made by Mrs McKeown (nee Ford) and used in her house.This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the early to mid 20th century. Embroidery was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value to domestic linen and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homes,A small pillow sham, square shaped, made from a coarse weave cream fabric front and a backing of bright yellow fabric. Four sprays of pink & yellow flowers with green leaves are embroidered onto the front. Around the edge is a border of drawn thread work which allows the bright yellow backing to show through.table-linen home-manchester hand-embroidery

William (Billie) Blackmore was born at or near Richmond, Victoria.At age 26 he joined the A.I.F. in WW1 while he was employed at Orbost as a labourer. He served in Egypt and France until following his discharge on December 20th 1916, he transferred to 15th Machine Coy in January 1917. He was severely wounded, repatriated to England until after an operation and further hospitalisation returned home to Orbost .In Orbost he did farm work for George and Elizabeth Trewin, eventually building a small shack on what was Rupert Leatham's property at Brodribb. He fossicked for gold in a nearby creek and the story goes that he buried his coins around the property. He donated these scales to the Orbost & Districet Historical Society. (more details and ref. John Phillips July 2016 Newsletter)This item is typical of those used by gold fossickers in the early 20th century. This object was likely to have been imported into Australia (possibly German) for use in Victoria,Small round hanging scales. At the top is a loop for hanging. There is a brass plate in the centre with measuring scale, in lbs, and needle pointer.scales instruments-weighing

Wagon wheels were required equipment in Australia early days. They were used for transporting goods, commodities, agricultural materials, supplies, and sometimes people. Horse-drawn wagons are an important part of Orbost’s agricultural history.Two large solid elm bullock dray wheel hubs. They have a hole through the centre for spokes and have cut out sections at the sides. They are possibly hand-made. 456.1 is lighter coloured.wheel-hubs transport-bullock handcraft carving

Wagon wheels were required equipment in Australia early days. They were used for transporting goods, commodities, agricultural materials, supplies, and sometimes people. Horse-drawn wagons are an important part of Orbost’s agricultural history.A hand carved wagon spoke made of treated ironbark.wagon-spoke transport handcraft carving