This is a scene of Cape Conran, in Far East East Gippsland .Orbost locals have been camping and picnicking at Cape Conran since at least the early 20th century. This photograph was taken at a time before Cape Conran Coastal Park a 11,700 hectare area was declared a coastal park under the National Parks Act in 1997. A black / white photograph photograph showing the rocks and ocean at Cape Conran in Far East Gippsland. There are three people on a rock with their backs to the camera.Two women are sitting and a man is reclining.cape-conran beach-east-gippsland

This photograph shows spectators watching the Orbost Races on the flat in 1899. Some of the earliest horse races were held on a course in a paddock belonging to Mr James Cowell at Jarrahmond. For a long time horse races were part of the Marlo Picnic Races. Bellagoogan on Majors Creek near Orbost was the site of the first race courseThis item is a pictorial record depicting the popularity of horse racing in Orbost in the late 19th century.A black / white photograph on a grey buff card. It is of a man on a horse holding a whip in his right hand. A horse with jockey is approaching. Spectators are standing on the right hand side under the trees.on front - "Finish Orbost Cup 1899: on back - "Mr Edlington"horse-racing-orbost sport recreation

This appears to be a photograph of Augustus Willhelm Scharlemann who was born on 16th July 1861, at Celle, Uetze, Province of Hanover, Germany. He left for Australia in August 1884. after various jobs and exploartions he travelled to South Gippsland in 1889. He got a job on the railways and then worked as a carpenter in Leongatha where he was an early builder of the township. He journeyed with a mate to the Murrungowar area and became one of the first pioneers when he selected land at Glen Arte, Upper Murrungowar in 1891. On 21st December, 1899, he became a naturalised Australian. At Murrungowar he bred a champion hunter which, when sold, won 400 prizes in two years, taking prizes at Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide in 1911-12. He married Margaret Agnew Gray, daughter of Rev. William and Mrs. Annie Gray, at the Manse, Orbost, on 24th November 1909, and there were three children born to the couple: Elfriede Louisa Wilhelmina, born 10th October 1910, decd. 1917. Rotha Margaret, born 23rd November 1913. Donald Ross, born 22nd March 1922. After leaving Murrungowar in 1922 the family moved to Orbost where Billie did carpentry for several years. In 1929 he became curator of the Orbost Bowling Green, a position he held until about 1937. He died on 6th June 1940, and was buried on 7th June 1940, at 10 a.m. by Presbyterian Rev. J. G. Bucknall. (info. John Phillips October 2008 Newsletter)This is a pictorial record of Augustus Willhelm Scharlemann. an early settler of Murrugowar, which was a small township east of Orbost.A copy of a black / white photograph of a wooden cabin in a bush setting. On the right side there is a man on a horse holding the reins to another horse.murrungowar scharlemann-augustus-willhelm

Alan Richardson was born in 1853 and died in 1936. He was a sawmiller at Tabbara who built and held the ticket for the Paddle Steamer Curlip. PS Curlip was registered in 1893 and the Passenger Certificate issued on 30th January 1903 to Captain Alan Richardson by the Marine Board of Victoria entitled her to carry 25 passengers and only 10 passengers when engaged in towage service. Two children under 12 years of age to be reckoned as one passenger. He had the first horseless motor buggy in Orbost. Alan Richardson was married to Emily Dawson and had two children - Alan Jnr and Ruth.Alan Richardson was a prominent Orbost identity. He was associated with the Paddle Steamer Curlip.A black / white photograph of a man standing beside a fence covered with ivy. He is wearing a three piece suit and a seaman's type cap.on back - Alan Richardsonrichardson-alan p.s.curlip sawmilling-tabbara

This appears to be the Boggy Creek bridge and to have been taken at Nowa Nowa. The Boggy Creek Bridge was built in 1916 as part of the Bairnsdale to Orbost extension to the main Gippsland Railway, and is situated in the middle of the township of Nowa Nowa, crossing a steep-sided and well-timbered creek-valley. This section of the line closed in 1987.This bridge plays a major part in the identity and history of the town of Nowa Nowa, since Boggy Creek’s steep sided valley divides the township into two components. It is part of the East Gippsland Railway line.A black / white photograph of a bridge across a creek. A young man in a suit is standing in the foreground.boggy-creek-bridge-nowa-nowa

The photograph shows the wagon and team owned by Mr Tom Malinn of Sardine Creek. On lst Juy 1926, Tom Malin took over the horse drawn coach run from Orbost to Delegate. After a few years he obtained an International 2-3 ton truck. On his first trip to Bendoc he did not carry mail, but brought Miss Cunning, the first lady head teacher and collected ballot boxes. On his next trip (March 1930) he made history as the first mailman on this route to deliver mail in a motor vehicle. (info. Bendoc History) Tom and Sophie Malinn farmed at Martin’s Creek. Sophie (nee Jensen) married Tom Malinn in 1926. Sophie’s family had run the historic “Danebo Hotel” at Martin’s Creek for many years, and in 1931, Tom and Sophie began farming at Martin’s Creek, initially cropping maize and beans. This is a pictorial history horse-drawn transport used widely in Orbost until the late 1920sA black / white photograph of a large wagon loaded with wool bails being pulled by a team of horses. a man is standing behind the horses in the background.on back -"Tom Malinn with wool from Bonang"malinn-tom-bonang transport-horse-drawn

There are records of members of the Helmers family attending Bendoc State School. George Henry Helmers was a prospector who mined all the gold from the dry gullies that ran into Bendoc. George was born in 1866, in Bombala, New South Wales, Australia. He was married to Euphemia Lock, born on October 19 1870, in Bendoc Upper, Victoria, Australia.This photograph is associated with early settlers of Bendoc, East Gippsland.A black / white portrait photograph of a man in a suit, hat and tie. He has a large moustache. on back - "George Helmers"helmers-george-bonang

Mr John Watt set up farming in 1879. He was a native of Port Fairy. He was educated in Scotland and came back to Victoria and selected 320 acres on the Snowy.The property extended from Majors Creek Road to around about Gilbert's Gulch.This is associated with John Watt, a prominent early settler in Orbost.A black / white photograph of a horse-drawn wagon with a man, lady and a dog standing beside it. There is a young boy holding a whip sitting on top of the wagon. Behind the wagon is a large wooden slatted barn.on back - " a farm down Marlo Rd - Watts)farmhouse transport-horse-drawn watt-john

Maize,has been grown on the Orbost flats for at least 70 years. When early settlers began to arrive on the Snowy River somewhere in the 1880s, the land was mostly swamps and heavily timbered jungle on the river frontages. The swamps were drained, bit by bit, by men with short handled shovels and working in mud and water. The frontages were cleared by axe and shovel and fire. Several kinds of crops were experimented with such as hops, hemp and maize, the latter grew particularly well and became the main crop of district. The problem then was to thresh and deliver the product to the market. A small single cob machine was brought here and one man turned the handle, while the boy or Mum fed the cobs singly into the machine. A good day’s work would thresh about 50 bushels or about 12 bags (4 bushels). The task then was to cart the maize to market. For a few years this was done by horses and dray carrying about 60 bushels to Mossiface, where it was loaded onto river boats to Lakes Entrance, and then by ocean boats to Melbourne. Later it was taken to Bairnsdale by foot and loaded onto the trains to Melbourne. (more information in Newsletter October 2006)The growing of maize in the Orbost district contributed significantly to the economy of the township for many years, The many maize cribs once seen on the surrounding farms have now disappeared and this photograph is a pictorial record of that significance.A black / white photograph of a man unloading maize from a horse-drawn wagon into a maize crib. Another man is standing by the horse.maize-crib-orbost agriculture maize-corn-orbost

Before 1850, Bendoc was peopled by a few Chinese settlers. History sources reveal little of its beginnings, Cattlemen used the spot as a temporary watering place and Ben Boyd sometimes brought his cattle down from the Monaro High Plains to be docked. “Ben's Dock” then is a possible derivation of the name Bendoc. (info. Bendoc Progress Association)This is a pictorial record of Bendoc in the late 19th -early 20th century. It shows early horse-drawn transport.A black / white photograph of a horse-drawn wagon and a man on a horse outside a wooden building.on back - "stop before Bendoc Hotel"bendoc transport-horse-drawn

The pilot is more than likely Flt Lieut. Jim Nixon with his Spad aircraft during WW1. James Harold Claude Nixon was born 12/12/1890 and before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force was an auctioneer at Delegate. After training at Aldershot for the Royal Flying Corps he was granted an Aviators Certificate (No. 4607) by the Royal Aero Club. ( more reading in "From White Knowle to Pumpkin Point" by Peter Nixon)The Nixon family was a prominent family in the history of Orbost and its surrounds.A black / white photograph of a man in uniform standing next to a small fighter plane (a biplane). There are two copies and a letter from Peter Nixon with this photograph.handwritten on back - "Since writing that letter of grief, found now that I am going out to fly the Spad Scout which photo you see here. I am going across tomorrow morning so will not be long to know what ariel (sic) warfare is like now. I am in the best of health & happy as a lark. This is all I have to say with lots of love from your son Jim"nixon-james-pilot-ww1

The Richardson family was one of the very early settler families to establish themselves in the Orbost district. Samuel Richardson was a sawmiller and farmer in Orbost. He built The Curlip, a wooden paddle-steamer of 9 tons gross and dimensions of 43 feet long, 10 feet wide and a depth of 3 feet, on the slipway at their Tabarra sawmill in 1890. The Ballarat Horticultural Society was established in 1859 by a group of thirteen men with the aim of establishing an association for all lovers of horticulture. There were many such societies throughout the colonies making a contribution to their communities.Samuel Richardson, with his family, was a very early settler in the Orbost / Marlo district. A black / white portrait photograph of a full-bearded man sitting at a table with one hand leaning on his knee and the other holding a piece of paper. He is wearing a dark suit with a longis coat.on back - Samuel Richardson 1821-1892richardson-samuel curlip timber-orbost

Martin Jorgenson lived at Marlo for 60 years. He had built his home there in the early years, and worked on the paddle boats and barges that plied their trade on the Snowy River from Marlo to Orbost. He and his wife ran a guest house in Marlo.Martin Jorgenson was a prominent Marlo resident.A black / white photograph of a man with a hunting dog on a leash standing in front a fence. To their left are animals hung on a rod.on back - Martin Jorgensonjorgenson-martin marlo

The photographs show the Butter Factory at Orbost in 1892 and 1906. The postcard is addressed to Miss N. Cameron C/- Mrs H. Nixon of Picnic Point Bairnsdale. The Orbost Butter and Produce Co. Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893 and was an important source of income to the Orbost district. The first shipment in about 1893 to England went rank and was only good for axle grease on wagons and carts.The milk was brought to the factory by horse and dray.Most people would take the whey home for their pigs,which were abundant on the farms in the Orbost district. Mr John Gilbert is the man second from the left in 1250.1.Postcards form a vital part of social and historical records for researchers. These cards are photographs of the Orbost Butter Factory. The Orbost Butter and Produce Co. Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893 and was an important source of income to the Orbost district. Two photographs / postcards of the Orbost Butter Factory. 1250.1 is a a photograph of several horse-drawn wagons outside a large wooden building.There are several men on top of the wagons, seated and standing. 1250.2 is a postcard with a photograph of the butter factory taken from the north side showing the two storeys with a person standing at a door on each level. There are horse drawn carts behind a wooden fence and several men standing on the front verandah with one man at a top window. On the back of this postcard is a hand-written letter.1250.1 - on front - Orbost Butter Factory Ward Bros Sale 1250.2 - on front - Butter Factory Orbost on back - " 27/11/06 Dear Girls Yours to hand you should have had a letter from me yesterday. Glad you wrote to Miss Alexander. Hope ypou have a good time out there. ??? meeting a success, Mother"dairy-orbost orbost-butter-factory

Mr. Robert Martin - First Church of England was a clergyman stationed at Orbost - 1884-1891. Mr Martin, who was appointed by Bishop Moorhouse of Melbourne, to be Stipendiary Reader in charge of the district in 1885. Prior to that, Mr Martin, a retired sea captain, had unofficially conducted services in all sorts of places, where a congregation could be gathered together, though his business officially was that of a fire insurance argent. (more information in October 2007 Newsletter)This item is associated with churches in Orbost.A black / white portrait photograph, head and shoulders, of a middle - aged man with a white beard.It is an oval shaped photograph set in a cream cardboard mount.on front at bottom - Freeman & Co Sydneymartin-robert church-of-england-orbost church-orbost

This photograph shows Harold Rodwell and his daughter, Ina, in a paddock full of pumpkins. Pumpkins were grown widely on Orbost farms and used to feed pigs. There was usually a competition for the heaviest or biggest pumpkin at the annual Orbost agricultural Show.This photograph is associated with the history of pumpkin growing in the Orbost district.A black / white photograph of a man and a woman people standing in a large paddock of pumpkins.on front - INA & H, Rodwellrodwell-harold rodwell-ina pumpkins-orbost agriculture-orbost farming-orbost

Farmers on the Orbost flats and nearby districts used to grow a lot of maize and harvest the maize by putting the pigs in to eat the maize. They had to get the pigs to Bairnsdale with other chaps, droving about 600 pigs. It would take them 12 days. A wagonette would go in front and dribble out the maize. When they reached Swan Reach, the drovers would often go over to the old grog shanty and got drunk while one man would stay to keep the 600 pigs together. It was a difficult job. The pigs were ferried across the rivers. This is a pictorial record of early farming in East Gippsland.A black / white photograph of men on horseback droving pigs from the Cann River district to market along a dirt road.pigs agriculture farming-orbost-cann river

Maize, or corn as it is called in America and New South Wales, has been grown on the Orbost flats for at least 70 years. When early settlers began to arrive on the Snowy River somewhere in the 1880s, the land was mostly swamps and heavily timbered jungle on the river frontages. The swamps were drained, bit by bit, by stout hearted men with short handled shovels and working in mud and water. The frontages were cleared by axe and shovel and fire. Several kinds of crops were experimented with such as hops, hemp and maize, the latter grew particularly well and became the main crop of district. The problem then was to thresh and deliver the product to the market. A small single cob machine was brought here and one man turned the handle, while the boy or Mum fed the cobs singly into the machine. A good day’s work would thresh about 50 bushels or about 12 bags (4 bushels). The task then was to cart the maize to market. For a few years this was done by horses and dray carrying about 60 bushels to Mossiface, where it was loaded onto river boats to Lakes Entrance, and then by ocean boats to Melbourne. ( from NEWSLETTER OCTOBER, 2006) This is a pictorial record of farming practices in Orbost in the early 20th century.A black / white photograph of a horse team hauling a wagon loaded with bags of maize.A man is sitting on the edge of the wagon.farming-orbost agriculture maize corn transport

James John Thomson was the first secretary of the Snowy River Shipping Company. The Snowy River Shipping Company was formed by Mr Henry James in 1880 with Captain McNeil as master. This photograph was taken off a one inch daguerrotype which was the first publicly available photographic process, widely used during the 1840s and 1850s.James John Johnston was a prominent citizen of Orbost in the late 19th / early 20th century.A black / white photograph of a man - an octagonal shape on a white buff card.on front above portrait - "One Inch" and a hand-drawn ruler. on front below portrait - in capitals and underlined "Mr J.J. THOMPSON"johnston-j.j. snowy-river-shipping-company

Edward James Pardew died in 26/9/1927 aged 92. He came to Orbost from New Zealand in 1886 and selected 720 acres of hill land in the Brodribb area. He was a member of the first Orbost Shire Council. His daughter had a fruit & meat shop in McLeod Street. He was an inaugural vestryman of St James Church of England. Edward Pardew was a prominent Orbost citizen in the late 19th / early 20th century.A black / white photograph of a bearded man wearing a hat sitting on a horse. He is holding a horse whip. a riding crop. Behind him is a fenced house.pardew-edward

This is a photograph of John Johnston. John Johnston was elected as a member of the Orbost Council and during thirty-five years of service, he was president four times. He was also president of the Agricultural Society and Chairman of the local School Committee for over thirty years, (from Richard Johnston -1969 in "Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District: by Mary Gilbert)John Johnston was a prominent citizen of Orbost in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was referred to as "the father of the council".A black / white portrait photograph of a man, with beard and moustache, wearing a bow tie and suit jacket. johnston-john orbost-shire-council

This is a portrait of Dr James Kerr. Dr James Kerr practised medicine in Orbost from 1889 -1928. He was the first doctor to settle in Orbost. He served the Orbost community for 40 years travelling everywhere on horseback. He married Hilda Constance Temple in Orbost on November 30, 1893. On April 29th 1931, three glass windows were dedicated to "Dr James Kerr. Beloved Physician of Orbost" in St James Church of England , Orbost. ( Ref Orbost Hospital, History, Personalities and Stories by Margaret Hollands) Dr James Kerr was the first doctor to settle in Orbost. He was an integral part of the Orbost community for over 40 years.A black / white photograph of a man with glasses wearing a suit, hat and gloves, sitting on a chair, with one hand resting on his thigh. He has a bushy moustache. The portrait is oval shaped with a white background. kerr-james orbost-hospital medical-doctor

This is a photograph of Mr John Scouller (born 1861 , died 1935) who was the first manager of the Orbost Butter Factory which opened in 1892. He filled the position for thirty years.John Scouller was a prominent Orbost citizen in the late 19th and earyl 20th centuries.A black / white head and shoulders portrait of a balding man with a moustache. He is wearing a suit and tie.scouller-john orbost-butter-factory

This is a photograph of Mr Harry Felix . Richardson who selected land at Bete Bolong in 1887. He married Elizabeth Wardle in 1893 and had no children. Harry Richardson was a keen angler, rifle shooter and cricketer and was very much involved with the local community. With his brother, Alan, he had pioneered the move to the Snowy in 1878. He died in Bairnsdale , aged 83, in 1941.Harry Richardson was a prominent and active member of the Orbost community in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.A black / white portrait photograph of a man with wavy hair, a small white beard and moustache.

John Russell Senior was a blacksmith, wheelwright, farmer and chairman of the Orbost Butter Factory, makers of Sunny South Butter (today part of Murray Goulburn Co Ltd). He was a keen bowler, playing up to, the age of ninety.This item is associated with the Russell family, early settlers in the Orbost district.A black / white, head and shoulders, portrait photograph of a balding man in a suit and tie. There is a badge on his lapel.russell-john

This photograph shows Nelson Burn reading a telegram from the queen to his grandmother, Mrs Paul Hocking, on her 100th birthday. Her husband, James Hocking, was the first watchmaker in Orbost. He had been a lay preacher at Wangaratta and Yan Yean before coming to Orbost. He was an 1891 Rechabite and an Orbost Shire Councillor. Eliza Ann Hocking (nee Eddy) was born on 16.7.1856 at Blackwater Hall in England, She had arrived in Australia on the sailing boat "Poocia" on 8-7-1880. The voyage following the Cape route took about 7 weeks. For a time, with her husband, she lived at Chewton, on the gold fields, before coming to Orbost. She was a foundation member of the Methodist Ladies’ Guild in 1912. She lived in Salisbury Street, Orbost. She died on 9.4.1957. Colin Nelson Burn, born 7.7.1921, was her grandson, son of Robert Alfred Burn and Edith Jane Hocking. He began Sta-Brite' Painting and Decorating Services in Salisbury Street, Orbost. He served in the forces during World War II. He was a Life member of the Snowy Rovers Football Club. He joined the Orbost Fire Brigade on 1-5-1946. He died 1.2.2015. His son, Peter continues the painting business in Orbost. (info. from John Phillips)This is a pictorial record of an Orbost resident reaching 100 years. A 100 year birthday is a significant milestone. The Hocking / Burn family have been associated with the Orbost district since 1889.A large black / white photograph of an elderly lady standing beside a younger man who is holding a letter and reading to her.hocking-mrs burn-nelson telegram-queen-100th-birthday

This photograph is of Toby Nixon (Percival Charles Nixon) and Lexie Nixon, his sister. It was taken at the Roll Call for the "Back To Orbost" celebrations in 1937. Toby Nixon was born on 27.3.1902. He was the of George and Emily Nixon. Married to Grace Forbes, he farmed maize at Jarrahmond as well as wheat at Buchan. He was an active member of the Maize Growers Association, helping to create the Maize Board. He was also a director of the Seed Bean Board for many years. His sister, Lexie, married Edward Fortescue Abbott. (more information in "From White Knowle to Pumpkin Point" by Peter Nixon.) This photograph is associated with the Nixon family which contributed greatly to the history of the Orbost district. Toby Nixon was a well-respected Orbost identity.A black / white photograph of a man and a woman on a horse. Behind them is a foal.

This is a photograph of Councillor Charles Henry Grove who represented South Riding on the Orbost Shire Council. from 1893 - 1901. He was president in 1893-1894, 1895-1896 and 1900-1901. He also served on the Tambo Shire prior to the formation of the Croajingolong / Orbost Shire. 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 various public roles. In 1911, he shifted to Queensland, but later returned to Victoria and died at Box Hill. (info. Newsletter 113)This item is associated with Carl Grove, a prominent early Orbost citizen.A small black / whitee head and shoulders photograph of a man with beard and moustache, He is wearing a suit and tie.grove-charles

James Alexander Robertson was born 14th June, 1855, at Pentridge. the Coburg area which was known as Pentridge at the time, and prior to the building of the gaol. His parents were James Thomson Robertson and Esther (nee Hale), At age 20 James became the first selector on the Snowy River at Lochend. He took up Lots 1, 2 and 3, in the Parish of Newmerella in 1875; with his selection being ratified on May 1st, 1876. The selection included hill and river flat land in the area near where Icy Creek enters the Snowy River. James gradually improved and farmed the property; he cleared and drained Icy Creek and constructed the first known flood-gate on the Snowy River. To meet his farming commitments he supplemented his income by working on the construction and maintenance of roads and drains in the Newmerella area. He gained a contract with the Bairnsdale Shire council to construct the first road cutting down Burn’s Hill at Newmerella. His tender was for £16 ($32), and it took him, with four others, two months to complete the contract. He was single, and, after his untimely death at aged 29, in 1884, his parents and surviving unmarried sisters and brothers moved from Sarsfield to take over his selection at Lochend. (more information Newsletter April 2013)James Robertson was the first selector of land at Lochend, Orbost.A small black / white portrait photograph, oval shaped with a white background. It is of a middle-aged man with a full beard and moustache.on front at bottom - typed in black -:"James Alexander Robertson, Late of Lochend, Snowy River"robertson-james-alexander lochend-robertson

This photograph shows Peter Nixon, Minister For The Interior officially opening the Orbost Historical Society Museum on December 1st, 1967. The first Orbost Museum was opened in 1967. It was situated in Nicholson Street, Orbost. Peter Nixon grew up on the family farm on the Snowy River. He entered Federal Parliament in 1961 as the Member for Gippsland, holding various portfolios before retiring in 1983.Peter Nixon grew up on the family farm on the Snowy River. He entered Federal Parliament in 1961 as the Member for Gippsland, holding various portfolios before retiring in 1983. The Nixon family has been in the Orbost district since 1885.A large black / white photograph of a man in a suit with one hand in his pocket Standing behind him are two men and a woman. The photograph has been taken inside the museum. The photograph is mounted on a white buff card and is in a white wooden frame. on front below the photograph - " Opening of the Orbost Historical Society Museum by Mr Peter Nixon M.H.R., Minister of the Interior 1st December 1967"museum-orbost-opening nixon-peter