In 1861, August Dhmel of Slatey Creek near Ballarat, applied to be naturalized. He was born in Prussia and arrived by ship from Hamburg in 1849. He was thirty years old and was wishing to purchase land intending to settle for the rest of his life in the Colony of Victoria. This would be granted after taking the Oath before one of the Judges of the Supreme Court. This was taken before Sir Redmond Barry, Knight, in April 1861. A copy of the wording of the oath August Dhmel took hand written on a separate page.Thick cream paper, hand written in ink. Official seal - red and gold - between two pieces of light blue paper and dark blue ribbonSeal Signature of I Moore Date 20 February 1861 Signature of Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Barklyaugust dhmel, slatey creek, ballarat, naturalize, colony of victoria, judge of the supreme court, redmond barry

On March 2, 1940, Sir Winston Dugan, Governor of Victoria unveiled the busts of the six first prime ministers of Australia at a ceremony on the long avenue of Horse Chestnuts. The donor, Richard Armstrong Couch, was born in Ballarat in 1868. Edmund Barton (1849 –1920) was an Australian politician and judge who served as the first Prime Minister of Australia, in office from 1901 to 1903. He was appointed prime minister on 1 January 1901, the day on which the new federal constitution came into effect. The Prime Ministers Avenue is a feature of national significance, set in the magnificent Horse Chestnut Avenue of the Gardens. The 28 Prime Ministers of Australia are displayed as bronze portraits mounted on polished granite pedestals. The collection includes a portrait of one of the founding fathers of Federation, Alfred Deakin, who was the first Federal Member for Ballarat and the second Prime Minister.3/4 view using flash of the bronze bust and granite pedestal of Prime Minister, Edmund Barton in the Prime Ministers Avenue. A vertical scratch line is visible on the right side.Kodachromeballarat botanical gardens, trees, lawns, pathways, sculptures, busts, governors, prime ministers avenue, richard armstrong couch, federation, 1940, chestnut trees, horse chestnuts, bronze, granite, pedestals, alfred deakin, edmund barton, wallace anderson, sir winston dugan

This tool is one of a collection of tools which are believed to have belonged to the Warrnambool carpenter and businessman, Henry Phillips. English-born Henry Phillips (1821-1896) came to Australia with his wife Elizabeth in 1849. They lived for some time in Port Fairy and in 1865 Henry Phillips formed a partnership with Christopher Beattie and established the Warrnambool undertaking business of Beattie and Phillips. This business continued on after the deaths of the founders and lasted until the year 2000. In Warrnambool Henry Phillips was involved in the management of the Mechanics’ Institute.This tool is of interest as a good example of a vintage tool and as a memento of the Warrnambool carpenter and businessman, Henry Phillips. This is a small plane tool with a rectangular body which is slightly curved. A metal blade resting on a piece of wood has been inserted at the top and protrudes at the base to form a planing blade. vintage tools, henry phillips, warrnambool, history of warrnambool

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Thomas Bath came to Australia in 1849, establishing a butchering establishment at Geelong. He mined during the rushes at various sites, eventually coming to Ballarat where he established a hotel now known as Craig's Royal Hotel. He held the first publican's license on Ballarat (1854) and his hotel was known as The Ballarat, later changed to Bath's Hotel; after the sale to Mr Craig in 1857 Thomas Bath established his farm Ceres, at Learmonth. Thomas Bath was instrumental in the formation of Ballarat and was a champion of all public institutions. He died in 1901. These reminiscences appear to have been recorded by the AHRS rather than Mr Bath writing them himself.goldrush, sailing ships, coach fares

This is a bowler hat, commonly worn by men in the second half of the 19th century for semi-formal and informal wear. The bowler hat was first made by the hatters, Thomas and William Bowler, in 1849 and was said to have been commissioned by the owners of Holkham Hall, England, for use by gamekeepers on horseback to protect their heads from low-hanging branches. In the 19th and early 20th centuries bowler hats were worn mainly by businessmen in Britain, U.S.A and Australia but were also popularized for general use by notable personalities and actors such as Charlie Chaplin. This hat has no known local provenance but is retained for display purposesThis is a black felt hat with a rounded crown and a ribbon around the crown. The rim is slightly turned up. There are breathing holes in the crown.men’s headgear from the past, history of warrnambool

This tool is one of a collection of tools which are believed to have belonged to Henry Phillips. English-born carpenter, Henry Phillips (1821-1896) came to Australia with his wife Elizabeth in 1849. They lived for some time in Port Fairy before coming to Warrnambool where Henry formed a partnership with Christopher Beattie and established the undertaking firm of Beattie and Phillips in 1865. This firm continued on after the death of the two founders and lasted until the year 2000. In Warrnambool Henry Phillips was involved in the management of the Mechanics’ Institute. This tool is of interest, firstly as an example of a vintage tool and secondly as a memento of the Warrnambool carpenter and businessman, Henry Phillips. This is a hand drill with a composite material handle at one end (for one hand) and a tubular metal piece at the other end for the insertion of a bit or drill. In the middle is a circular turning piece with metal spokes and a metal handle (for the other hand). The circular piece is held together and attached to the main body of the tool with several screws. vintage tools, henry phillips, history of warrnambool

This tool is part of a large collection of vintage tools and they are believed to have belonged to a Warrnambool businessman, Henry Phillips. English-born carpenter, Henry Phillips (1821-1896), with his wife, Elizabeth, came to Australia in 1849 and lived in Port Fairy for some time. In 1865 he formed a partnership with Christopher Beattie and established the undertaking firm of Beattie and Phillips. The funeral business continued on after the deaths of the two founders and lasted until the year 2000. In Warrnambool Henry Phillips was involved with the management of the Mechanics’ Institute.This tool is of interest as an example of a vintage tool and also as a memento of the 19th century Warrnambool businessman, Henry Phillips.This is a large rectangular-shaped wooden plane tool. It has a curved wooden handle with a flattened top and this is inserted into the top of the body of the tool. The middle section of the top of the tool had been gouged out and a metal blade inserted at an angle and this blade partly protrudes at the base to make a planing tool. The metal blade is held in place by a covering piece of wood and a metal screw holds both the inserted wood and the blade in place.vintage tools, henry phillips,, history of warrnambool

David Kennedy(1825-1886) was a Scottish singer. Initially a church musician. HE had a large family many of whom were also singers and toured throughout the world. 1872-1876 the group toured Canada, New Zealand and Australia. In 1879 and 1880 they toured India and South Africa. In 1881 three of his children died in a fire at a Nice theatre. David died in South Africa but is buried in Scotland. David junior(1849-1885) began as a singer with his father but later moved into writing.Hand written account of Scottish singer David Kennedy and his family's World Tour, of which Bendigo was a part, written by David Kennedy Jnr. He tells of the mine in Pall Mall, the gold cakes from the different companies displayed in the bank windows, meeting some Chinese sifting tailings, buying a Chinese book and then finding it was an old almanac. Meeting two Irishmen and an account of a large public school. Some of the ink has run.document, bendigo 1873, david kennedy, david kennedy jnr, great extended hustlers, messrs smith and jones, david kennedy the scottish singer, marjory kennedy, alexander gardener

Original steel engraving by J.C Armytage after John SkinnerPROUT (1806 - 1876). Prout was born in Plymouth and was a member of the New Watercolour Society in London, he latter emigrated and lived for some time in Sydney and Hobart before returning to England. Published in "Australia... Illustrated with Drawings by Skinner Prout, N Chevalier, etc. by Edwin Carlton Booth F.R.C.I. (printed 1873-76) Virtue & Co., London, and as part work from about 1873. Steel Steel Engraved antique print some with marking to the margins. Image 12 x 18 cm. John Skinner Prout (1806 - 1876) was an architectural illustrator and painter. Born in Plymouth and nephew of Samuel Prout (Topographical illustrator, drawing master and colourist). John specialised in similar subjects to his uncle but was practically self-taught. He was elected a member of the New Watercolour Society on his return from Australia in 1849, where he visited Sydney and Hobart. He had already forfeited his membership of the NWS in 1838 by being overseas. John settled in Bristol after 1849 whewre he became a good friend of W.J. Muller (artist). He later moved to London where he died, at Camden Town on 29th August 1876Framed print of etching depicting four aboriginals one of which is climbing a treeprint, gwalior plains

This is an invoice sent to Messrs W.& J. Hall in September 1871 by the Committee of the Tower Hill Presbyterian Church. It refers to the annual church seat rental fee of three pounds, half of which had been paid in January of that year. The Tower Hill Presbyterian Church was under the auspices of the Koroit Presbyterian Church and services had been held in the Tower Hill area as early as 1845. The first permanent minister, Rev. Lachlan McGillivray. was appointed in 1849 and a wooden church was erected at Tower Hill in 1850. William and James Hall were early farmers in the Tower Hill district.This invoice is of considerable interest as a rare memento of the 19th century Tower Hill Presbyterian Church and a record of the practice of charging an annual fee for a family's use of its own pews in a church.This is a sheet of blue and cream mottled paper with ruled red lines, black printing and handwriting in ink. The sheet is creased, torn at the edges and faded.Messrs W. & J. Hall 30 Sept. 1871 An Account with the Committee of the Tower Hill Presbyterian Churchtower hill presbyterian church, w.& j. hall koroit

This tool, along with many other vintage tools in the collection of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society, is believed to have belonged to Henry Phillips, a19th century Warrnambool identity. English-born Henry Phillips (1821-1896) came with his wife Elizabeth to Australia in 1849 and lived in Port Fairy for some years. In 1865 Phillips formed a partnership with Christopher Beattie in the Warrnambool undertaking business of Beattie and Phillips. This was a major business in Warrnambool, continuing after the deaths of Phillips and Beattie until the year 2000. Henry Phillips was involved in the management of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute and the Art Gallery. This tool is of interest as an example of a 19th century tool and as a memento of a prominent Warrnambool businessman of the 19th century, Henry Phillips. This is a planing tool with a rectangular-shaped wooden body and two round polished wooden handles at either end. The wooden piece is curved on the base. A metal plate with a curved end is inserted in an opening on the top of the wooden piece and extends down to a small slit at the base. Metal screws keep the handles and the metal blade in place. vintage carpentry tools, henry phillips, warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This item is one of several in a collection of tools that are believed to have been owned by the Warrnambool carpenter and businessman, Henry Phillips. The needles are bag needles, used with leather or string to sew up and enclose hessian bags etc. English-born Henry Phillips (1821-1896) came to Australia with his wife Elizabeth in 1849. They lived for some time in Port Fairy. In 1865 Henry formed a partnership with Christopher Beattie to establish the Warrnambool undertaking business of Beattie and Phillips. This business continued on after the deaths of the founders and lasted until the year 2000. In Warrnambool Henry Phillips was involved in the management of the Mechanics Institute.This is a wooden case, elliptical in shape, with a detachable lid. The case is pointed at both ends. The lid is bound at one end with several strands of string. The case contains twelve metal needles of varying lengths and eye hole sizes. Two of the needles have curved ends and several have flattened middle sections. The needles are much rusted and the case is stained.Made in Englandvintage tools, henry phillips

Grave of Victor Bonsak (died 11/04/1891) and Mary Bonsak (b1878 died 24/03/1938) in Plot# N3 Greensborough Cemetery. Johann George Bonzak arrived at Port Phillip on December 19th 1849, from Germany. Mary Bonzak, of German birth, applied for a Certificate of Naturalization in Eltham on 13th April 1905. She had 10 children (4 boys and 6 daughters) . Her sister (maybe) Sarah Jane Bonsak (1881-1978) married George Arthur Iredale in 1908. A Bonzak Family lived near the Partington Family of Willis Vale.Greensborough Cemetery was created when land was given for the cemetery by Mr William Poulter, a local settler, about 1864. The cemetery holds the graves of many early settlers in the district. Digital copy of colour photograph of Greensborough Cemeteryvictor bonsak, mary bonsak

Born Grantham, Lincolnshire 9 August 1841. Migrated to Australia in 1849 and settled in Geelong. Entered the ministry in 1866. Posted to Mortlake, Echuca, South Yarra, Lonsdale St. Melbourne, Carlton, Bendigo and Hawthorn. Founding President of Methodist Ladies College, Melbourne, 1882. Elected President of the Wesleyan Conference of 1895 and was the first President following Church Union in 1902. Elected President General in 1904. Married 1870 (1) Jemima Shaw - died 1918; (2) 1920 Edith Skelton nee Wimble, widow of the Rev William Williams. Died 25 May 1928.Sepia toned head and shoulders studio portrait of Rev. William Henry Fitchett, in carte de visite format.william henry fitchett, methodist, minister, methodist ladies college, president of conference

Born Grantham, Lincolnshire 9 August 1841. Migrated to Australia in 1849 and settled in Geelong. Entered the ministry in 1866. Posted to Mortlake, Echuca, South Yarra, Lonsdale St. Melbourne, Carlton, Bendigo and Hawthorn. Founding President of Methodist Ladies College, Melbourne, 1882. Elected President of the Wesleyan Conference of 1895 and was the first President following Church Union in 1902. Elected President General in 1904. Married 1870 (1) Jemima Shaw - died 1918; (2) 1920 Edith Skelton nee Wimble, widow of the Rev William Williams. Died 25 May 1928.B & W head and shoulders studio portrait of Rev. William Henry Fitchett mounted on buff card.william henry fitchett, methodist, minister, methodist ladies college, president of conference

This item was located in a book called The English Lakes which was owned by E.C. Holmes [Edward Carter Holmes was the name of my mother's, Elizabeth Mary [Elizabeth] Holmes family's pioneer settler. He arrived in Geelong on the 28th of June, 1849, with his wife Sarah and their first child Frances Harriet as assisted immigrants (people whose passage was subsidised by an assisted immigration scheme) to New South Wales at Port Henry, Geelong in the sailing boat ‘Larpent’. Sarah and Edward arrived two years before his mother, Harriet, arrived as unassisted passenger in Geelong on ‘The Eagle’. 200 of the " Larpent" passengers had been selected in England by Rev John Dunmore Lang whose wish was to encourage the migration of hard-working, God-fearing Protestants to the colony. He sponsored two ships, the "Travancore" and the" Larpent', to bring the settlers to Australia in 1849 with Dr Alexander Thomson, a Sydney Presbyterian minister, ready to receive and settle them. Thomson owned section 10 of the parish of Barrabool known as the Kardinia section — a square mile of undulating land west of Colac, still known today as Larpent. Among the 'Larpent' immigrants were many well-known Ballarat and District pioneers including Armitage, Mercer, Oddie and Scott. For more details about this migration scheme refer to: A thoroughly Protestant emigration: the emigration activities of the Rev. Dr. J.D. Lang / Ian Wynd.2006.] [source: Jane Dyer 2024] Printed card with a pressed botanical specimen glued onto it. Printed onto the card 'Flowers from the Holy Land. Placed on the Holy Sepulchrechatham family archive, chatham, holmes, ec holmes. holy land, relic, botanical, botany, holy sepulchre, botanical specimen

This tool, along with several others in a collection of tools, is believed to have belonged to the Warrnambool carpenter and businessman, Henry Phillips. English-born Henry Phillips (1821-1896) came to Australia with his wife Elizabeth in 1849. They lived for some time in Port Fairy. This tool is one of several tools in a collection that is believed to have belonged to the Warrnambool carpenter and businessman, Henry Phillips. In 1865 he formed a partnership with Christopher Beattie and established the Warrnambool undertaking business of Beattie and Phillips. This business continued on after the deaths of the founders and lasted until the year 2000. In Warrnambool Henry Phillips was involved in the management of the Mechanics Institute.This item is of interest as an example of a vintage tool and as a memento of the Warrnambool carpenter and businessman, Henry PhillipsThis is a small metal wide-mouthed chisel. It is slightly rusted and damaged at the edge of the mouth.vintage tools, henry phillips,, history of warrnambool

Document. Newspaper Article - Mr J W Faul, J. P. Newspaper article from 'Bendigo Advertiser' dated Saturday Feb 3 1917, reporting on the death of Mr John William Faul, J. P. He was born in 1849 London. He worked in the publishing room of the 'Bendigo Advertiser' c1863 - 1865. Was an apprentice plumber and was later foreman on the Hepburn Mineral Water Supply Works at the age of 20. In 1871 he opened a shop in Williamson St, later Williamson St and then Hargreaves St until a fire on 21 Dec 1912 destroyed his business. In 1891 he was gazetted a Justice of the Peace. In 1902 he contested the South Sandhurst Seat, narrowly missing out. Survived by his wife (nee Steane) married 1871, 2 sons and 2 daughters.person, receipts, newspaper article mr j w faul, j. p., bendigo advertiser

First published in 1806 by John Murray and written by Maria Rundell, later editions were "By a Lady". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_New_System_of_Domestic_Cookery A legal dispute arose between Murray and Rundell over the copyright of the cookery book titled "A New System of Domestic Cookery" by Mary Eliza Rundell. The book, which was published in 1806, gained immense popularity over the years. In 1821, Murray claimed that Rundell had infringed on his copyright by publishing a new edition of the book without his permission. The case was brought to court, and after much debate, it was ruled that Rundell had indeed infringed on Murray's copyright. The court ordered her to pay damages and to stop publishing the book without Murray's consent. This ruling was significant as it established the legal precedent that copyright law applied to books and other written works. - Based on an article from The Edinburgh Annual Register, 1821 Robert William Whatmough (1815 Heywood, Lancashire-1887 Diamond Creek, Victoria) and his wife Mary Hill ( 1813 Rochdale, Lancashire - 1881 Greensborough, Victoria) were pioneer settlers on the Plenty River at Greensborough. Their daughter, Jemima Whatmough (1840-1926) married Robert Fielding (1820-1891) who were the parents of Thomas Edmund Fielding and great grandparents of Tom FieldingInscribed inside front leaf facing page in ink: Robert Whatmough Plenty River 1858tom fielding collection

Large book with green cloth cover ;222 pagesnon-fictionanne rennie collection, wal harbord, merchant navy, seamen, seafarers, ww2, battle of the atlantic, walter harbord, navigation

Small book with green cloth cover; 100 pagesnon-fictionanne rennie collection, wal harbord, merchant navy, seamen, seafarers, ww2, battle of the atlantic, walter harbord, navigation

Black leather-covered board. Spine has gold lettering and 7 raised horizontal lines. Black line border on both covers.

This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imageshire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, other areas, plenty river, anderson's mill

The bible belonged to Francis Newton, who was born in Cornwall, England in 1831. Newton came to Wandiligong with his Irish wife, Mary (Molly) about 1860 by way of Sydney and BeechworthBrown embossed leather like cover. Gilt edged fine paper pagesCover spine : Hole Bible Common Prayer - in gold. Front Cover : Henry John Colles 1852 - in gold Fly page : Francis William Newton The gift of Mrs. C N Spaulding Growlers Crk Dec 1 1864 - in pencil

This is one of two cast brass nameplates of James & Alexander Brown in our collection. The Newcastle, NSW, firm was renowned for its coal mining and exporting business established in colonial Australia in 1843. The firm had an office in Melbourne and sold coal for commercial use and from the Wharf for the domestic market. The coal was then distributed along the southwest coast of Victoria in steamships or steam packets and into the regional areas of Victoria by cart and wagon. In 1890 there was a strike of coal workers but the Geelong Advertiser, September 1, 1890, announced that “a firm of coal merchants only recently received some large cargoes from Newcastle”. This supply of coal could have originated at the colliery of James & Alexander Brown. About James & Alexander Brown: - James (1816-1894), John (1823-1846) and Alexander Brown (1827-1877) migrated with their parents from Scotland to Sydney, Australia, in 1842. The next year James leased land and was assisted by his brothers Alexander and John in mining coal in the area near Maitland. The market was very competitive, with the government controlling prices. James was instrumental in a legal battle that resulted in the introduction of open competition for coal mining. James and Alexander had become business partners by 1852 and moved south of Newcastle where they established and worked a profitable mining enterprise. Their assets by 1857 included a ships’ chandlery, a fleet of steamships and an overseas trading business. They were the first firm to import rum, sugar and coffee into Newcastle. By 1892 they were exporting coal to New Zealand, China, North America, and various colonial ports. They had elaborate workshops to service their own steam engines and steamships. They were the first to use a steam collier vessel in Australian waters and they set up the second tug boat in Newcastle, the beginning of being owners of many more tug boats and performing a towing business. By 1868 James & Alexander Brown was the largest coal producer in the colony. James focused on managing the colliery and Alexander on overseas trade. It was estimated that the firm had produced over eight per cent of coal in New South Wales by 1914. James & Alexander Brown advertised in the Melbourne Herald in the early 1900s and kept an office at Queen Street, Melbourne as well as at the Wharf, stating their telephone numbers for both places. The coal was available for ‘Immediate Delivery’ for household and industrial purposes. The advertising claimed that their Pelaw Main coal was the famous household coal that met the highest test in Australia and burned bright and clean. Domestic customers could purchase the coal at the wharf or pay for delivery. Commercial customers could load their purchases into their steamships or wagons for further distribution into regional Victoria. After James’s death in 1894 his son John managed the firm, which was also known as J & A Brown. John passed away in 1930 and his sons took over. In 1931 the firm amalgamated with Abermain Seaham and the new name was J & A Brown & Abermain Seaham Collieries Ltd. commonly abbreviated to JABAS, which merged with Caledonian Collieries Ltd in 1960 and Coal & Allied Industries Ltd. was formed. The pair of nameplates is significant for its connection with the firm James & Alexander Brown. The firm was established in 1845 and became one of the largest collieries in colonial Australia. It was involved in trading within Australia and overseas. James was involved in the introduction of open competition for coal mining prices. They were the first to use a steam colliery in Australian waters and the first to import goods such as rum, sugar and coffee into New South Wales. The firm had a Melbourne office in the early 1900s, selling and distributing coal throughout Victoria, which likely included the Port of Warrnambool, which opened in 1890. The nameplates are likely to have originated from the Melbourne location.Brass Entrance Name Plate, one of a pair. Eight holes are formed through the plate; one in each corner, and four more holes are within the inscription area. The cast plate has three rows of text with the company’s name and type of business. The plate was owned by James & Alex. Brown. "JAMES & ALEXR. BROWN / COLLIERY PROPRIETORS / & STEAMSHIP OWNERS"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, nameplate, james & alexander brown, j & a brown, james & alexr brown, colliery proprietors, steamship owners, ship chandlers, coal mine, coal export, australian import, australian export, newcastle, colliers, coastal trade, steamships

This is one of two cast brass nameplates of James & Alexander Brown in our collection. The Newcastle, NSW, firm was renowned for its coal mining and exporting business established in colonial Australia in 1843. The firm had an office in Melbourne and sold coal for commercial use and from the Wharf for the domestic market. The coal was then distributed along the southwest coast of Victoria in steamships or steam packets and into the regional areas of Victoria by cart and wagon. In 1890 there was a strike of coal workers but the Geelong Advertiser, September 1, 1890, announced that “a firm of coal merchants only recently received some large cargoes from Newcastle”. This supply of coal could have originated at the colliery of James & Alexander Brown. About James & Alexander Brown: - James (1816-1894), John (1823-1846) and Alexander Brown (1827-1877) migrated with their parents from Scotland to Sydney, Australia, in 1842. The next year James leased land and was assisted by his brothers Alexander and John in mining coal in the area near Maitland. The market was very competitive, with the government controlling prices. James was instrumental in a legal battle that resulted in the introduction of open competition for coal mining. James and Alexander had become business partners by 1852 and moved south of Newcastle where they established and worked a profitable mining enterprise. Their assets by 1857 included a ships’ chandlery, a fleet of steamships and an overseas trading business. They were the first firm to import rum, sugar and coffee into Newcastle. By 1892 they were exporting coal to New Zealand, China, North America, and various colonial ports. They had elaborate workshops to service their own steam engines and steamships. They were the first to use a steam collier vessel in Australian waters and they set up the second tug boat in Newcastle, the beginning of being owners of many more tug boats and performing a towing business. By 1868 James & Alexander Brown was the largest coal producer in the colony. James focused on managing the colliery and Alexander on overseas trade. It was estimated that the firm had produced over eight per cent of coal in New South Wales by 1914. James & Alexander Brown advertised in the Melbourne Herald in the early 1900s and kept an office at Queen Street, Melbourne as well as at the Wharf, stating their telephone numbers for both places. The coal was available for ‘Immediate Delivery’ for household and industrial purposes. The advertising claimed that their Pelaw Main coal was the famous household coal that met the highest test in Australia and burned bright and clean. Domestic customers could purchase the coal at the wharf or pay for delivery. Commercial customers could load their purchases into their steamships or wagons for further distribution into regional Victoria. After James’s death in 1894 his son John managed the firm, which was also known as J & A Brown. John passed away in 1930 and his sons took over. In 1931 the firm amalgamated with Abermain Seaham and the new name was J & A Brown & Abermain Seaham Collieries Ltd. commonly abbreviated to JABAS, which merged with Caledonian Collieries Ltd in 1960 and Coal & Allied Industries Ltd. was formed. The pair of nameplates is significant for its connection with the firm James & Alexander Brown. The firm was established in 1845 and became one of the largest collieries in colonial Australia. It was involved in trading within Australia and overseas. James was involved in the introduction of open competition for coal mining prices. They were the first to use a steam colliery in Australian waters and the first to import goods such as rum, sugar and coffee into New South Wales. The firm had a Melbourne office in the early 1900s, selling and distributing coal throughout Victoria, which likely included the Port of Warrnambool, which opened in 1890. The nameplates are likely to have originated from the Melbourne location.Brass Entrance Name Plate, one of a pair. Eight holes are formed through the plate; one in each corner, and four more holes are within the inscription area. The cast plate has three rows of text with the company’s name and type of business. The plate was owned by James & Alex. Brown. "JAMES & ALEXR. BROWN / COLLIERY PROPRIETORS / & STEAMSHIP OWNERS"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, nameplate, james & alexander brown, j & a brown, james & alexr brown, colliery proprietors, steamship owners, ship chandlers, coal mine, coal export, australian import, australian export, newcastle, colliers, coastal trade, steamships