Photocopy of 2 documents.Document 1, Memorandum from the Government Valuer, Department of Public Works re Exchange of Land at Ringwood School, dated 9th November, 1920. Document 2, Plan of Exchange of Land in Greenwood Avenue, 1920.

The Common School No. 213 East Brighton 1864 - 1878 replaced the original St Stephen's Church of England School in Tucker Road. 1878-1908 the School was known as Education Department State School No. 2083 Brighton East. 1908 - 1936 the School changed it's name to Bentleigh and then from 1936 - 1993 was known as East Bentleigh. 1993 the school was closed due to low enrollments and the building was demolished and land sold . Charles J Coates, the father of Pam Thomas, attended this school.A school photograph of one of the original schools in the Bentleigh area showing a gathering of adults and children who had connection with this school either as teachers, pupils, parents or neighbours in 1925.A Black & White panoramic photograph of a group of adults and children in front of the classrooms of the East Bentleigh SS No. 2083 in 1925on back : handwritten 1925education, st stephens anglican school east brighton, education department state schools, state school number 2083, coates charles j, thomas pam, tucker road bentleigh, henry dendy special survey brighton 1841,market gardeners, dairy farmers, poultry farmers, early settlers, pioneers, tuck family bentleigh, moorabbin shire, moorabbin roads board, city of moorabbin, bent thomas,

The Common School No. 213 East Brighton 1864 - 1878 replaced the original St Stephen's Church of England School in Tucker Road. 1878-1908 the School was known as Education Department State School No. 2083 Brighton East. 1908 - 1936 the School changed it's name to Bentleigh and then from 1936 - 1993 was known as East Bentleigh. 1993 the school was closed due to low enrolments and the building was demolished and land sold. Eric Hutchinson, the uncle of Les Hutchinson attended this school. A school photograph of one of the original schools in the Bentleigh area showing a gathering of adults and children who had connection with this school either as teachers, pupils, parents or neighbours in 1930.A Photograph , black & white panoramic showing group of adults and children in front of Bentleigh State School No. 2083 c1930 (Reprint) moorabbin, bentleigh, education department state schools, st stephens anglican school east brighton, hutchinson les, hutchinson eric, market gardeners, early settlers, pioneers, henry dendyspecial survey brighton 1841, east bentleigh state school no. 2083, coates charles j, bent thomas

The Common School No. 213 East Brighton 1864 - 1878 replaced the original St Stephen's Church of England School in Tucker Road. 1878-1908 the School was known as Education Department State School No. 2083 Brighton East. 1908 - 1936 the School changed it's name to Bentleigh and then from 1936 - 1993 was known as East Bentleigh. 1993 the school was closed due to low enrollments and the building was demolished and land sold. Eric Hutchinson, the uncle of Les Hutchinson, attended this school. Eric is second row far left ' behind the boy with the white handkerchief '. The 1920 gathering may be for the unveiling of a World War 1 Honour Roll - for past students killed or injured - as can be seen at the back of the group A flag pole may be the central wood post as all the boys and men have removed their hats and caps. A school photograph of one of the original schools in the Bentleigh area showing a gathering of adults and children who had connection with this school either as teachers, pupils, parents or neighbours in 1920.A black & White photograph showing a group of adults and children in front of Education Department State School Bentleigh no. 2083 in 1920 (Reprint)education, st stephens anglican school east brighton, education department state schools, state school number 2083, coates charles j, hutchinson eric, hutchinson les, tucker road bentleigh, henry dendy special survey brighton 1841, market gardeners, dairy farmers, poultry farmers, early settlers, pioneers, tuck family bentleigh, moorabbin shire, moorabbin roads board, city of moorabbin, bent thomas

The paper shopping bag was most likely used for carrying garments, silk or woollen fabrics home from the Wallace Hughes department store. This substantial drapery operated from the late 19th-century-to the mid-20th century, and had 30 departments and stood at 464 - 470 Brixton Road, south London, U.K. The building was destroyed during the second World War and rebuilt in the 1950s. Brixton was once home to several large department stores, none survive today. History of shopping bags: Before the late 1800s, shopping bags didn’t exist. Shoppers would either carry their goods home in baskets, or have the merchant deliver them to people's homes, until 1852 when Francis Wolle, a schoolteacher in Pennsylvania, invented a machine to produce paper shopping bags. This invention would allow customers to carry items home in disposable paper bags. Soon after, owners of department stores and retailers began to realise that paper shopping bags could be used to help market their brands, and as such custom shopping bags with printed logos became common place. Carrying a shopping bag from certain shops became a type of status symbol for consumers, providing evidence that one was well-off, had good taste, or both.The paper shopping bag is a rare survival of ephemera related to a department store owned by Wallace Hughes in Brixton, South London, Britain that operated during the early-20th century, The arrival of waves of more than ten million migrants by boat is one of the major themes in Australia’s history. The paper shopping bag is representative of personal items purchased for migrant journeys as markers of domesticity, warmth and making oneself at home in a new land that speaks of the transnational lives embedded in threads of migration.The green coloured paper shopping bag with a printed logo and store information in red ink.Wallace Hughes, Brixton; For jumpers; For blouses; brixton's most fashionable draperwallace hughes, shopping bag, draper, migration, brixton, flagstaff hill

Adda & Co operated a business at 52 Boulevard Haussmann, Paris.The store sold crocheted silks, furs and hides. History of shopping bags: Before the late 1800s, shopping bags didn’t exist. Shoppers would either carry their goods home in baskets, or have the merchant deliver them to people's homes, until 1852 when Francis Wolle, a schoolteacher in Pennsylvania, invented a machine to produce paper shopping bags. This invention would allow customers to carry items home in disposable paper bags. Soon after, owners of department stores and retailers began to realise that paper shopping bags could be used to help market their brands, and as such custom shopping bags with printed logos became common place. Carrying a shopping bag from certain shops became a type of status symbol for consumers, providing evidence that one was well-off, had good taste, or both.The paper shopping bag is a rare survival of ephemera related to a retail store called Adda &Co that operated at 52 Boulevard Haussmann, Paris. The arrival of waves of more than ten million migrants by boat is one of the major themes in Australia’s history. The paper shopping bag is representative of personal items purchased for migrant journeys as markers of domesticity, warmth and making oneself at home in a new land that speaks of the transnational lives embedded in threads of migration.A brown paper shopping bag with a printed logo and store information in black inkparis, department store, shopping, adda & co, flagstaff hill, maritime museum

Contract of sale of land dated 24th March 1954 between Mr. E.T. Fennell (seller) and Mr. L. Riddell (buyer) for that land situate Jackass Flat being described in right to occupy residence area right No. 0251, together with weatherboard dwelling and all sundry. Price 525 pounds. Also attached receipt no.81247, dated 13 April, 1954 from the department of Crown Lands and Survey, also a letter to Messrs T.M. Williams , Watson, James, Solicitors, Bull Street Bendigo dated 26 March, 1954 signed by Mr.. Fennell instructing to pay from the proceeds of sale of property, Grassy Flat, the sum of 400 pounds to Messrs H.A. & S.R. Wilkinson of 182 Mitchell Street, Bendigo as deposit on purchase of Mr. A.L. Stuckenschmidt's property Raglan Street, White Hills.organization, business, h.a. & s.r wilkinson real estate

Conditions of sale by private sale dated 10th April, 1940 between W.V.O. Earl (seller) and C.M.F. Skilbeck (buyer) for land situate No.148 Booth Street, Bendigo, being the land described in right to occupy residence area No.4501. Also all the vendor's right, title and interest in that piece of land adjoining the above mentioned land described in permissive occupancy title no. W.52845, together with 5-roomed weatherboard dwelling and all sundry. Also bath, copper and troughs. Price 175 pounds. Attached 5 receipt issued by Department of Lands and Survey plus 2 receipt from City of Bendigo for rates. Vendor's copy.organization, business, h.a. & s.r wilkinson real estate

Contract of sale of land dated 4th July, 1952 between Mr. D. R. McClure (seller) and Mr.. H. A. Pitson for land described in right to occupy residence area No. 9508, together with all buildings and erection thereon, also all sundries inside and outside the building. Price 60 pounds. Also attached various receipt from Department of lands and survey, copy of the right to occupy land issued in 1942, letter from the City of Bendigo dated in 1951 drawing attention to unpaid rates on the property.organization, business, h.a. & s.r wilkinson real estate

140 Loose pages titled The Bendigo Saleyards Economic Viability Study. Report written by Kate Millard on behalf of the Bendigo Development Committee Inc. Contents include: Chapter 1 - Background Information, Chapter 1 - Present Operations at the Saleyards, Chapter 3 - Economic Factors, Chapter 4 - Environmental Factors, Chapter 5 - Selling Techniques, Chapter 6 - Employment Study, Management and Sundry Issues, Chapter 7 - Survey of Farmers and Saleyard Users in the 'Catchment Area', and Chapter 8 - Recommendations of the Report. Includes diagrams and maps. Recommendations printed on dark yellow paper.bendigo, council, cattle markets, bendigo saleyards collection - the bendigo saleyards economic viability study, bendigo development committee inc., kate millard, loddon campaspe planning authority, street, ryan and associates, bendigo city council, strathfieldsaye shire council, department of industry technology & resources, national library of australia, meldrum burows & partners, core wilson sayer, town planning appeals panel, ces, victorian farmers and graziers association, stock agents association, department of agriculture, department of industry technology & resources, department of conservation forests and land, cr jock comini, rca depot, wellsford rifle range, bendigo airport, bendigo field naturalists club, mr david kennedy, mr john brumby, mr john radford, neil o'keefe, bendigo east progress association, bendigo east traders, trades hall council, mr tom uren, mr frank wilkes, mr bruce reid, mr k i m wright, mr e t ebery, bendigo pastoral council of the vfga, victorian meatworks association, bendigo stock & station agents association, rutlands transport, mr don pickles, country abattoirs & wholesalers association association of victoria, meat and allied trade federation of australia, bendigo saleyards advisory committee, bendigo residents & ratepayers association, a h & n graham, mrs p unmack australian bureau of statistics, mr lloyd houlden, cr c rodda, mr jolly, mr tony milanese, dr robert carter, university of melbourne, bendigo college of tafe, t matthews, a s & r d rutland, john kerr, j talbot, g l o'sullivan, penney & lang pty ltd, graeme pickering, pickhall j w & sons, r a plant, w k schmidt, t j vick, k & j wignall, a e wright, g chapman, a j gillies, p g & m m harris, ian r hollingsworth, b kennedy, s letcher, s & d k letcher, p m llewellyn, l g mason, boyer r t, connally m f, kennedy & mortlock, nevins j p, r w johnstone, w j keith, b d kelly, notman r, pitts a j & c a, pitts mervyn l & co, rowe w o, warren k m, associated stock & station agents, dalgety farmers ltd, elders dsm estates, ellis nuttall & co, gallagher g d, hamilton real estate, mcgregor ralph h & co, mckean w & co, miller turner livestock co, vains e m & co, victorian producers, hill m j & co, bennetts meats, comell bros, davis b & d, hardwick g f & v c, penney & lang p/l, tendercut meats, northern seed supply co, bendigo fertilizers, agri business pty ltd, agrilink consulting group pty ltd, acil aust pty ltd, mcgowan & associates, chapman w c, talbot e j, mcculloch w & sons pty ltd, k v equipment, commercial egg producers assoc co-op, monsanto aust ltd, balmer bryan r, barry i j, bath l, clarke b j, treacy k m, turner j m, bendigo mower serv pty ltd, everlast concrete tank tyltd, wicks bros, canvas goods, don mcarthur, bendigo communications, transcom, emdell pty ltd, epsom pharmaceutical supplies, sandhurst fencing pty ltd, arnolds gates & fencing, r furniss, carne neville, awa & unicla, ajm refrigeration, bendigo concrete sawing service, hamilton r j, hearpes t w, j e brown, campey dr a r, fyffe j j, kangaroo flat vet clinic, ottrey k e, bendigo sprinkler installations, milnes irrigation, onga pumpshop, barastoc products, bush's produce stores, epsom produce, k m m pty ltd, bendigo grain co, eaglehawk chaff mills, grain elevators board dept, bonneys pest control, knights pest control, brown wk & l d, bendigo sewerage authority, bendigo water board, aci computer services, leham donald, a e hueffer & associates, wolmoke planners, p langley, mr ken strachan, mr evan jones, mr peter byrnes, mr wayne street, street ryan & associates

COLLECTION OF RIGHT TO OCCUPY A RESIDENCE AREA -LAND (RESIDENCE AREAS ) Act 1935 / thick cardboard book -cloth and string binding / written on front in texter '1936' / numbers 5001 to 5100 / inside - stubs of documents showing Granted to , of, period, Date of Right , Description of Land , Allotment, Section, City, Town , Borough , Township of , Parish of , Authorised Person . Rubber stamps show The interest of this Right has been transferred to /one stub shows Department of Lands and Survey note on Bendigo Historical Society Catalogue Sheet dated 12.6.2008 All buts completed and original application forms removed. Note -forms were originally in triplicate on one page with serrations for removal of two parts; butts remain .Residence areas in Central Goldfields.Bendigo City Council - Acquisition 1990organization, government, official

Thirty paged manuscript re the ''History of old Inglewood'' (No actual title or stated author. The 'Preface' (last page) states that in 1961 the town would celebrate its centenary and, also, that it lost its official identity (amalgamation with the Shire of Korong). Comprises:Introduction; Aboriginal life and early history of interaction with settlers; Major Mitchell exploration in area (''Yarrayne'' as name given for the Loddon; Mt Korong - aboriginal ''Barrabungale''); Pioneers on the Loddon - land tenure (Order of Council 1847), ref to Simson (Donald Campbell; Hector Norman); Charlotte Plains (run); John Catto (of Loddon) and John Catto (of Berlin); William Allen; Alexander Moffat Allen; Mr Sellars; 1852 gold rush to Mt Korong (surface); 1859 discovery of gold at Inglewood ( A J Thompson, T Thompson, T Harvey); detail of gold mining in Inglewood; Borough of Inglewood (1863); growth of the town - hotels, banks, newspapers; 1863 fire in township; fire brigade at Inglewood; selection of land; the ''Land Convention''; the ''Duffy Act''; land selection; 'modern' developments in Inglewood(rail, gas); Jack Donaldson - runner 100 yds sprint title; armed services involvement of Inglewood (WW1 & WW2); government departments.inglewood, history, early history, lodden, mt korong, donald campbell, hector norman, inglewood fire brigade, duffy act, jack donaldson, alexander moffat, john catto, major mitchell, ww1, ww2. aboriginal life, order of council 1947.

Land was first selected at Murphy's Flat in 1865. The first Wesleyan church was built in 1866 and from 1869 this was used as State School 149. A purpose built school, No. 1311 opened mid 1876. The areas name was changed to Murphy's Creek in 1915.A blue and white exercise book. Attached within are various subscription receipts in the front and back, including the "Australian Home Journal," "Singer Sewing Machine Company," and an "Annual Audit of Depositors' Pass-books by the State Savings Bank of Australia. Also included in approximately half the book are handwritten record of correspondence notes in blue ink, many regarding sewing from 1949-1956.The Shell Exercise Book. Name: M. Symons (Handwritten Blue Ink). Grade: Murphys Creek. School: Via, Tarnagulla, Victoria (Handwritten Blue Ink). Receipts, Etc.(Handwritten Blue Ink), Approved by the Education Department. Shell Series. On the back is printed Arithmetic Tables and a Multiplication Tableexercise book, receipts, tarnagulla

BHS CollectionDocuments related to Mining in Bendigo, purchase of a property. 8663.3a Front of Miners Right issued to Robinson Fairbairn 8663.3b Back of Miners Right issued to Robinson Fairbairn 8663.3c Valuation from Shire of Marong, 14 Bray St., California Gully 8663.3d Receipt from the Lands Department and Closer settlement Commission 8663.3e Receipt from the Lands Department and Closer settlement Commission 8663.3f Receipt from the Lands Department and Closer settlement Commission 8663.3g Receipt from the Lands Department 8663.3h Receipt from Albert E. Brown Land and Stock Agenthistory, mining, robinson fairbairn collection, miners right, victorian lands department and closer settlement commission, albert e brown land and stock agent

Handwritten one page table of information. On top of page ' Ref. derelict land in the City of Bendigo copied 17.4.62. Shafts alienated and sites reserved by the Mines Dept' List of mines, dates, depth of shaft, receiving body. For example: Londonderry, 1957, 2900 feet, Kindergarten. Reference: 'Derelict Land in the City of Bendigo' P.J. Rimmer and R.J. Johnston. Published jointly by the Dept of Geography, University of Sydney and The Geographical Society of NSW.Albert Richardsonbendigo, mining, derelict land reused

Colour aerial (faded) photograph of West Gate Bridge under construction with two land spans incomplete. "Rotten Row" (disused old piers) in the foreground. Aircraft factory and other industry in foreground."Master Copy . Not to be removed from Marketing department " lightly stamped on photo. and on reartransport, engineering, engineering - bridges, fishermans bend, industry, west gate bridge, rotten row, williamstown, yarra river

Dr Harry Jenkins owned Churchill Island from 1936 to 1963 and bequeathed it to Margaret Campbell on his death. Sister Campbell had been nurse to his disabled son and wife and she lived on the island from the time of World War Two. The item was given to Arthur Evans, a family friend, on the day of the auction sale of artifacts when she sold the island, approximately 1973. The document demonstrates Harry Jenkins interest and committment to farming and provides information on farming of the era.Typed letter on Department of Agriculture, Victoria letterhead, addressed to Mr. E.H. Jenkins, regarding improvement of pasture land at Churchill Island, signed 'R.L. Twentyman,' Agrostologist, dated 9th April, 1941R.L. Twentyman [bottom right hand corner]department of agriculture, mr. e.h. jenkins, harry jenkins, churchill island, farm

Document. Various legal papers. 1 - 1919 - Murphy Luke, re costs owed - you to Lindsay. 2 - 1919 - Woods Fred (Prairie) re costs Coutts. 3 - 1920 - Stone D B R (Woodstock West) re costs Federal Land Tax. 4 - 1920 - Stone Bros ( D B R Stone Farmer) (Woodstock West) re costs Dissolution of Partnership. 5 - 1920 - Stone A W re costs Will. 6 - 1919 - Smith J W (Elmore) re costs Hunter. 7 - 1920 - Stone A H (Farmer Hayanmi) re costs - you to Stone A W. 8 - 1920 - Southern G B (Farmer Kerang) Re costs Haybittel. 9 - 1920 - Semmens J (Forest Department Bendigo) re costs Makepeace.cottage, miners, connelly, tatchell & dunlop, murphy luke, lindsay, woods fred, coutts, stone d b r, federal land tax, stone bros, stone a w, smith j w, hunter, stone a h, southern g b, haybittel, semmens j, forest department bendigo, makepeace

McColl Rankin & Stanistreet, South Frederick the Great Co NL. a/ Plan of Residence Areas on No. 10287, by J O Charlton, Parish of Yarraberb. Includes land for school, owners names of blocks, crown land. Signed: Garnet G Birch. Dated 27/4/1935, licensed surveyor. b/ Letter from Department of Mines to McColl Rankin & Stanistreet in reference to letter regarding lease No. 10287. On back of letter are notes relating to blocks of land on lease No.10287. c/ Plan Of Area For On Lease No. 10287 Ben. By John O Charlton. Mining District of Bendigo, Parish of Yarraberb, Lease No. 10287 Ben. By John O Charlton. Mining District of Bendigo. Date 21/6/1934. Signed Garnet G Birch. Blocks include name of purchaser. d/ Plan Of Area For On Lease No. 10287 Ben. By John O Charlton. Mining District of Bendigo, Parish of Yarraberb, County of Bendigo. Dated 21/6/1934. e/ envelope inscribed South Fredrick the Great. 51.organization, business, gold mine, plan of area for on lease no. 10287 ben. by john o charlton. mining district of bendigo, parish of yarraberb, county of bendigo j o charlton garnet g birch department of mines lease no. 10287 ben. by john o charlton mining district of bendigo 1934

Document: A letter from the Mines Department to Central Napoleon Gold Mining Co. N.L informing them of land application no 94/152 by Mr J. Bakker which a portion of the block is within their lease no 11272 Bendigo, the letter is asking whether or not the Company has any objection to their granting of the application.organization, business, industrial - mining, mccoll rankin & stanistreet, mining, gold mining, central napoleon

McColl Rankin & Stanistreet, New Star Gold Mine Harrietville NL. a/ Department of Mines 20.2.1934 laboratory reports results, 3 receipts attached, list of general expenses, quarter ended 30.4.1934, heading Dargo ''Gold Butterfly'' Gold Butterfly crossed out hand inscription Gold Reefs Syndicate, Wanangatta, Dargo. b/ copy of Purchase agreement of leasehold land for the purpose of mining. Dated 28.6.1934. c/ Payments by R.A. Rankin - Office Account A/C Leases No's. 5187 and 5195 Dargo, Gippsland, prior to exercise of option. Inscription: Paid by New Star Company ?? On ?? 1934 ?? ?? ??. d/ Letter: purchase of Leases No's 5187 & 5195 Black Snake Black Snake Creek, Dargo. Dated: 22.8.1934. e/ letter acknowledging receipt of payment for application of Lease No. 5187, lease will be delayed until precise area is determined. Signed: ?? Rankin. 3 pence stamp for stamp duty attached. Dated: 23.8.1934. f/ Memo, Mr Grelis. Re Leases No's 5187 & 5195 Dated: 4.9.1935. Signed: ?? g/ McColl Rankin & Stanistreet business envelope. Envelope labelled New Star Gold Mine Harrietville. 46.organization, business, gold mine, mccoll rankin & stanistreet, new star gold mine harrietville nl. dargo ''gold butterfly'' gold reefs syndicate, wanangatta, dargo black snake black snake creek 1934 1935

Double Headed Rail from Ravenswood Station Siding which was dismantled circa 1987 the two rails were stored for a time at Maldon before being donated to Puffing Billy Museum Bearing makers marks of Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield- Steel works Wilson & Cammell made Steel rails at their Dronfield Steel Works, in Dronfield, North East Derbyshire, England from 1872 - 1883 Double-headed rail In late 1830s Britain, railway lines had a vast range of different patterns. One of the earliest lines to use double-headed rail was the London and Birmingham Railway, which had offered a prize for the best design. This rail was supported by chairs and the head and foot of the rail had the same profile. The supposed advantage was that, when the head became worn, the rail could be turned over and re-used. In practice, this form of recycling was not very successful as the chair caused dents in the lower surface, and double-headed rail evolved into bullhead rail in which the head was more substantial than the foot. Info from Wikipedia - Rail Profile https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_profile The first records of double headed rail being used In Victoria by Victorian Railways was in 1859, the rails, chairs, oak and trenails were imported from UK. After the 1870’s the Victorian Railways went over to using flat bottom rails, but they still needed replacement double headed rail for lines already laid and this continued up to at least 1883 Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield- Steel works Wilson & Cammell made Steel rails at their Dronfield Steel Works, in Dronfield England from 1872 - 1883 Mount Alexander & Murray River Railway The Melbourne, Mount Alexander & Murray River Railway Company received parliamentary assent in February 1853 to build Victoria's first inland railway from Melbourne to Williamstown, and Melbourne to Bendigo and Echuca. Construction commenced in January 1854 with work on a pier at Williamstown but lack of funds slowed progress, eventually prompting the company to sell out to the government. The 100-mile (162 km) section to Bendigo opened in October 1862. Its cost of £35,000 per mile made it the most expensive railway ever built in Australia. In 1864, the line was extended to Echuca, tapping into the booming Murray-Darling paddlesteamer trade. info from Museums Victoria - Victorian Railways https://museumsvictoria.com.au/railways/theme.aspx?lvl=3&IRN=450&gall=456 1863 Ravenswood Station open on the 1st Feb 1863 Victorian Railways - purchased and imported the Rail and Chairs from Raleigh, Dalgleish, White and Co. London Importation of railway plant : abstract of a return to an order of the Legislative Assembly dated 27th June 1860 for - Copies of the advertisements calling for tenders, the names of the tenderers and the accounts and correspondence with Mr Brunel relating thereto GP V 1859/60 no. C 15 http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoC15.pdf Report from the Select Committee upon the Importation of Railway Plant : together with proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence and appendix GP V 1859/60 no. D 38 (2.9 MB) http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoD38.pdf Ravenswood Siding When the Victorian Railways were established in 1856 they adopted one of the popular British permanent way standards - heavy 80lb (36.3kg) double-headed rail held up right in cast iron chairs attached to transverse timber sleepers by wooden pegs called trenails. The Ravenswood Railway siding was constructed in 1862 with 12 feet wrought iron double-head rail held in cast iron chairs with Ransom and May patent compressed keys. Trenails held the chairs to the sleepers and the joints were secured in joint chairs. Joints were subsequently joined using fish plates. It formed part of the Melbourne to Echuca rail line, initially known as the Melbourne, Mt Alexander and Murray River Railway. George Christian Derbyshire, the first Engineer-in-Chair of the Victorian Railways was responsible for the design and construction of the works. No new lines were built in Victoria using double-headed rail after 1870. The siding was disconnected from the main line in 1988. The Ravenswood Railway Siding demonstrates the original 1856 philosophy of the Victorian Railways to adopt British permanent way technology. The siding demonstrates significant aspects in the development of permanent way technology in England and Victoria over the period from the 1830's to the 1880's. The chairs in the Ravenswood siding are physical evidence of early railway technology rendered obsolete 120 years ago, namely joint chairs at rail joints and trenails to secure the chairs to the sleepers. The double-headed rail demonstrates an important stage in the evolution of British rail technology in the 1830s. The old fish plates, square headed bolts and square nuts demonstrate the success of fishing the rail joins. The Ravenswood siding demonstrates the earliest form of rail joint technology developed in England, and existing in Australia, the joint chair. In part of the siding the sequence of joint and intermediate chairs is consistent with the 1856 specifications, that sequence is rare with the joints secured in joint chairs. The survival of chairs in this sequence is rare and almost certainly demonstrates that they remained in continuous use at the same location from 1862 to 1988. This remnant of the Ravenswood siding has survived 126 years. The siding has proved to be the most significant of extant remnant double-headed sidings in Victoria, containing a rare combination of early permanent way technologies. Construction dates 1862, Info from Ravenswood Railway Siding Victorian Heritage Database Report http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/4693/download-report The remaining section of this siding is significant at the State and National levels in that it demonstrates the use of chaired rail by the Victorian Railways Department for the Trunk Lines and, more particularly, the following stages in the evolution of this long obsolete method of permanent way construction: a) The use of joint chairs and intermediate chairs at regular intervals inferring that the original wrought iron rail lengths were 12 feet, as is known through documentary sources to have been the case. The survival of chairs in this sequence is unique and almost certainly demonstrates that they have remained in continuous use at the same location and in the same sequence from 1862 to 1988 . b) The use of joint chairs and intermediate chairs designed for use with trenails. c) The use of later intermediate chairs designed for use with steel pins and the use of fished joints with steel double head chaired rail, representing a second method of constructing the permanent way using chaired rail technology. info from Ravenswood Siding - Melbourne/Echuca Railway Line - Victorian Heritage Database Report http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/70103/download-report Addition to Citation for Melbourne to EchucaRailway Line 1/10/1990 Double Head Rail The surviving lengths of double head rail with chairs on this railway compare with one surviving similar remnant on the Geelong to Ballarat railway and are representative of permanent way construction techniques applied exclusively to the two trunk railways of the 1860's. In this respect they are rare survivors and may be unique at the national level and of technical importance at the international level to the extent that they enhance contemporary understanding of early railway building technology. Surviving lengths of chaired double head rail survive at Kyneton, Ravenswood and Bendigo on this railway and include a number of different types of cast iron intermediate and joint chairs with hardwood keys and metal pins. The Ravenswood siding is of special significance for the diversity of chair types and for the sequence of chairs recalling rail lengths known to be associated with construction of the line in 1862. Construction of the Railway Tenders closed on 24 March 1858 with no less than 133 tenders being received. A contract was let to Cornish and Bruce for £3,356,937 to commence work on 1 June 1858 and complete the line by 31 July 1861. Cornish and Bruce made quick early progress with the Melbourne to Sunbury section being officially opened on 13 January 1859. The line was officially opened to Bendigo (Sandhurst) on 20 October 1862 by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Barkly. A great banquet was held for 800 guests and this was followed by a grand ball. The extension of the line to Echuca was a relatively simple matter as that part of the line was across plain country without any significant engineering challenges. Tenders were called for the work in 1863 and the work was completed in 1864 by contractors Collier and Barry Apart from the line contractors, other firms directly involved were J Shire law and Co (sleepers), R Fulton, Langlands Brothers and Co, William Crossley (water supply), B Moreland, Langlands Brothers and Co (platelayers lorries), E Chambers (iron pins, traversers), Miller and McQuinstan (luggage vans and steam engines) and various contractors for building works. Info from Engineers Australia Engineering Heritage Victoria Nomination for Recognition under the Engineering Heritage Australia Heritage Recognition Program for the Goldfields Railways - Melbourne , Bendigo & Echuca Railway Page 25 - .2.9.2 Statement from National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Listing number B5323 for Mt Alexander/Murray Valley Rail Line: Page 69 - Theme 3 https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/portal/system/files/engineering-heritage-australia/nomination-title/Melbourne_%20Bendigo_Echuca%20Railway%20Nomination.pdf The Melbourne, Mount Alexander and Murray River Railway Company was a railway company in Victoria, Australia. It was established on 8 February 1853 to build a railway from Melbourne to Echuca on the Victorian-NSW border and a branch railway to Williamstown. The company struggled to make any progress and on 23 May 1856, the colonial Government took over the Company and it became part of the newly established Department of Railways, part of the Board of Land and Works. The Department of Railways became Victorian Railways in 1859. Construction of the Bendigo line commenced in 1858, but this private consortium also met with financial difficulties when it was unable to raise sufficient funds, and was bought out by the Victorian colonial government. The design work was then taken over by Captain Andrew Clarke, R. E., Surveyor-General of Victoria, with bridge designs completed by Bryson and O'Hara The contract for the first stage of the line from Footscray to Sandhurst (now Bendigo), was let to Cornish and Bruce for £3,356,937.2s.2d ($6.714 million) with work commencing on 1 June 1858. Completion of the permanent way was to be by 31 July 1861 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne,_Mount_Alexander_and_Murray_River_Railway_Company Victorian Railways - purchased and imported the Rail and Chairs from Raleigh, Dalgleish, White and Co. London Importation of railway plant : abstract of a return to an order of the Legislative Assembly dated 27th June 1860 for - Copies of the advertisements calling for tenders, the names of the tenderers and the accounts and correspondence with Mr Brunel relating thereto GP V 1859/60 no. C 15 http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoC15.pdf Report from the Select Committee upon the Importation of Railway Plant : together with proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence and appendix GP V 1859/60 no. D 38 (2.9 MB) http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1859-60NoD38.pdf Victorian Railways : report of the Board of Land and Works November 1862 GP V 1862/63 no. 21 (2.8 MB) https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1862-63No21.pdfHistoric - Victorian Railways - Double Headed rail Ravenswood Railway Station and Siding Victorian Heritage Database Reports Victorian Heritage Register VHR H1100 Victorian Heritage Register VHR H1786 National Trust VHR H1100 Mount Alexander and Murray River Rail way Line National Trust2 rail lengths of Double Headed Rail made of Iron makers marks : Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield - Steel and 20 joint chairs with metal rail pins Makers mark Wilson & Cammell - Dronfield - Steel (possible date 187? very hard to read ) puffing billy, double headed rail, wilson & cammell - dronfield - steel works, ravenswood station siding, melbourne to echuca rail line, initially known as the melbourne, mt alexander and murray river railway.