The shrouds or fore-rigging are a part of the standing rigging on a sailing ship. They are used in pairs on each side of a ship to help hold the masts in place and to aid the sailors who climb the rigging. They are part of the basic framework for the sails. Larger vessels may have two or three pairs, and some ships may have upper and lower shrouds. The upper shrouds would be fixed to a protruding structure on the top of the masts so that they hung from the right angle. The ropework skills of the sailmaker would be used to create the shrouds, choosing fibres with properties suitable for the job at hand and creating the triangular shape carefully. Deadeyes and ropes were then used to attach the shrouds to the ship's structure.This shroud is an example of a part of the standing rigging of a sailing ship. Shrouds were used in pairs on larger sailing vessels to help hold the masts in place and give access to adjustable rigging such as sails.Fore Rigging or Shrouds, made from rope fibres. This shroud includes the upper and lower wooden deadeyes. They are part of a ship's rigging. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, shroud, fore-rigging, ropework, sailing ship rigging, standing rigging, natural fibres, sailmakers, handmade, deadeye, knot making

The shrouds or fore-rigging are a part of the standing rigging on a sailing ship. They are used in pairs on each side of a ship to help hold the masts in place and to aid the sailors who climb the rigging. They are part of the basic framework for the sails. Larger vessels may have two or three pairs, and some ships may have upper and lower shrouds. The upper shrouds would be fixed to a protruding structure on the top of the masts so that they hung from the right angle. The ropework skills of the sailmaker would be used to create the shrouds, choosing fibres with properties suitable for the job at hand and creating the triangular shape carefully. Deadeyes and ropes were then used to attach the shrouds to the ship's structure.This shroud is an example of a part of the standing rigging of a sailing ship. Shrouds were used in pairs on larger sailing vessels to help hold the masts in place and give access to adjustable rigging such as sails.Fore Rigging or Shrouds, made from rope fibres. This shroud includes the upper and lower wooden deadeyes. They are part of a ship's rigging.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, shroud, fore-rigging, ropework, knot making, sailing ship rigging, standing rigging, natural fibres, sailmakers, handmade, deadeye

A wooden chest (.1) containing lawn tennis and badminton equipment, specifically: a badminton net (.2); a tennis net (.3); net posts (.4 - .5, 3 parts each); guy ropes (.6 - .7); rope (.8); pegs (.9 - .12; and, a mallet (.13). Orange and white print across inside of lid features inscription: THE GAME OF/LAWN TENNIS. A sticker adhered above reads: FURNISHING [...IRO]NMONGER/JAMES HAWKINS/35 HIGH STREET/TUNBRIDGE WELLS. Materials: Wood, Metal, Lacquer, Cord, Ink, Paper, Ropetennis

Set of reports for the "Return of fuel & Oil used at ...... Power House during the Month of November 1918", listing the amount and value of fuels, lubricants, bearing oil, road pulley lubricants, rope oil and rope tar for various cars houses. Prepared on a pre-printed form. Also lists the length of ropes and the average amounts per mile of rope. Form No.374, 7/17 Gives details for the following Power houses. Richmond Fitzroy Brunswick Johnston St North Carlton St Kilda Esplanade Prahran North Melbourne South Melbournetrams, tramways, cable trams, reports, winding houses, power house, richmond, fitzroy, brunswick, johnston st, north carlton, st kilda, esplanade, prahran, north melbourne, south melbourne

This Bosun's char was part of the equipment on the vessel 'Reginald M. It is typical of items included on board a vessel in the late 19th and early 20th century. The nautical word 'bosun' is an abbreviation of the word 'boatswain' who is the person responsible for the repair and maintenance of the vessel. It could be used when rigging the sails and for rescue at sea, along with a thick rope anchored on shore or a rope between ships. It could also be used to move passengers to and from a ship as well as cargo on, to and from the vessel. A bosun's chair is a simple piece of equipment made from a short plank of wood and a sturdy piece of rope. It looks a little like a child's swing but usually has a pulley system that allows the user to adjust the length of the hanging piece of rope, and in so-doing adjusts the height above the floor or ground or sea. In modern times a harness would also be worn by the bosun’s chair user for safety reasons. Bosun's chairs are also used by window cleaners, construction workers and painters. The bosun’s chair is sometimes just a short plank, or even a canvas sling. The REGINALD M - The vessel “Reginald M” was a two-masted coastal ketch, owned and built by Mr. Jack (John) Murch of Birkenhead, Port of Adelaide, South Australia. Its construction took approximately 6 months and it was launched at Largs Bay in 1922. The vessel had many owners and adventures over the years until it was purchased by Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum & Village in 1975 from the Melbourne Ferry Company at auction. It was then used as an active display until 2016. Visitors could go aboard, turn the ship's wheel, go below deck and get the feel of the captain's quarters, sailors' quarters and the storage space available. The Reginald M was a popular exhibit for young and old, until 2016.This bosun's chair is significant for its connection to the maritime history. It has been used for rigging, painting, maintenance and importantly for life saving and safety. The bonus's chair is also significant because of its connection to the history of the vessel REGINALD M, the coastal trading ketch from South Australia built in 1922 and in existence until 2016. Its flat bottom, single chine shape illustrates a very simple but robust method of construction, compared to other round bilged examples of trading vessels. The Reginald M is listed on the Australian Register of Historic Vessels (ARHV Number: HV000562.)Bosun's chair; seat is a rectangular plank of wood with a hole drilled in each corner and three reinforcing wood lengths attached below the plank. The ends of two looped thick ropes have been threaded through the holes in the plank, crossed over then spliced together. The loops of rope above the plank have been tied with light rope. A roughly made wire hook is attached at the base of one length of rope. Top surface reveals indents where the bottom wooden pieces are joined to the top and some of the metal fixtures can be seen along the edge. There are remnants of white paint on the top.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, bosun's chair, bosuns chair, boatswains chair, rigging, maritime equipment, bosun's seat, life saving, marine technology, ship rigging

A wooden chest (.1) containing badminton equipment, specifically: two racquets (.2 - .3); a shuttlecock container (.4, 3-part container, with 5 shuttlecocks); a net (.5); two guy ropes (.6 - .7); and, net posts (.8 - .9, 4 parts each). Two unrelated badminton racquets (TA 2009.298 - .299) are also contained in the badminton set chest. Inscription across the top, and the underside of lid: ARMY & NAVY C.S.L./ASSOCIATION/BADMINTON. Materials: Wood, Metal, Lacquer, Cord, Ink, Paper, Cardboard, Cloth, Nylon, Gut, Bird feather, Rubber, Leather, String, Gluetennis

A Ring Tennis set chest (.1) containing: rings (.2 - .5); guy ropes (.6 - .7); net posts (.8, 2 parts, .9, one part); court boundary markers (.10 - .19); rope (.20), and a metallic flag marker (.21). Eight miscellaneous pieces also feature. Inscription across top of lid: "TENIKOIT' OR RING TENNIS/...REGULATION FOUR PLAYER SET. Across top of base: R.H. MOTTRAM/(SOLE MAKER)/CHURCH STRETTON/SHROPSHIRE. On sides of box: TENIKOIT/NO. 2A. Materials: Wood, Metal, Lacquer, Ink, Glue, Rubber, Paint, Rope, Cord, Stringtennis

The Kerosene lamp was one of the most common oil lamps used and was manufactured until the 1980s. The Anchor Lamp design was used for marine purposes in the days of sailing ships when a ship at anchor or sailing in the dark was required to display a white light on the top of its main mast. The Anchor Lamp's top loop was for a rope to hoist it up the mast, and ropes through the two bottom loops to anchor it in place and prevent it from swaying. The light could be seen by ships up to 20 miles away due to the magnification of the Fresnel glass lens. This lamp in our collection has a design is similar to the early marine designs but its finish and materials resemble lamps made in the 20th century to represent the older ones. The etched "20" on its cover could represent the 20-mile distance the light could shine, and the "↑" Broad Arrows could represent a maritime navy ship. The lamp is an example of 19th and early 20th-century Anchor Lamps fueled by kerosene and used onboard ships when at anchor or sailing at night.Kerosene lamp; This Anchor Lamp design has a brass frame, a handle with a loop at the top, a rail around the base two opposing loops, and a kerosene burner and tank with ventilation holes around it. A clear glass Fresnel 360-degree lens covers the burner. It is an All Round design. The brand Anchor is inscribed on a plate fixed to its brass cover. An etched inscription on the cover includes the Broad Arrow symbol identifying government property.Engraved plaque: "Anchor" brand. Etched into the metal: "↑20↑"warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, kerosene lamp, lighting, ship light, anchor lamp, marine technology, marine lamp, 20 mile light, broad anchor, oil lamp, whale oil lamp, ↑

Greyish shaded card with grey border on the cut edges. 4 gold ropes, 2 from top to bottom & 2 part way with grey & gold bells with red/pink interiors. Holly embossed on the gold edges of the bells. 2 little red birds are sitting on the top bell and another is flying beside the second one. The card is hinged at the top to a larger piece of card with a grey border and a red toned scene with water, trees and an old windmill. Along the bottom are some leaves. A small gold bird is flying by. Under the bird 'The Fleeting Wings of Time bring ever Golden Days' is printed in gold with red on the first letter.Raphael Tuck & Sonsperson, greeting cards, malone collection, malone collection, greeting cards

small dark green hardcover book with an illustration imprinted on the front in black ink of men and a woman standing on the shore retrieving items from a shipwreck. A barrel, ropes and anchor are shown on a wharf at the bottom left. The back cover has the initials of the publisher RTS ( Religious Tract Society) ornately written in black on a lifebuoy with the ocean bed below. The title, The Old Endeavour is imprinted with a gold coloured rope style lettering. The frontispiece illustration opposite the title page depicts rescue boats, a man saving a child in the sea with his mother close by. Some black and white illustrations throughout and ornate floral strips of decoration at the top of each new chapter. 158p.fictionAn adventure story of a shipwreck and rescue. ships fiction, adventure stories, stories for boys

A vintage 1950's hardcover children's book with the title Bonzo's Annual printed at the top in green lettering on the front cover.There is a large coloured illustration of the dog Bonzo riding on a rocket above the town rooftops with a smiling full moon in the sky. It is bound on the left side with faded grey fabric tape. The back cover is plain grey coloured.The frontispiece illustration shows Bonzo on a swing attached by ropes to a giraffe's long neck with a monkey and two toucan birds looking on. The illustration is from the story 'Bonzo's Festival. The title page has the title, author, illustrator, publisher details and a coloured illustration of Bonzo as an artist at his easel. Pp. 92.fictionA vintage 1950's collection of Bonzo the dog stories for children with two tone coloured illustrations throughout the book. Bonzo has a lot of fun adventures. These Bonzo annuals were popular from 1935. They ceased publication during the war years and resumed afterwards.children's books, books, children's stories, dog stories, annuals

Handwritten copy of mining accident. Wire Ropes in Mines. Accident at Gt. Northern - Bdg'n 8/6/1899 Page 14. Mining Accident at Windmill Hill. Geo. Watson of Cal. Gully was hauling a truck of dirt, and whilst engine was in motion, he started to wipe the crank with a piece of waste. His arm got caught between the conrod & crank and was badly crushed. He managed to free it and stop the engine before the cage got to the wheels. He was taken to hospital. Bones fractured in one or two places. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, windmill hill, windmill hill, mining accident at windmill hill, gt northern, bdg'n 8/6/1899 page 14, geo watson, albert richardson

Colour photograph of Award CertificateCertificate includes the names of team members who won Championship. Note under the photograph- Season 1994/95- VLBA State Title Championships- Inaugural Group 17. Fours Winners: Congratulations were in order to Ringwood's team comprised of Joyce Clayton (Skip), Bobbie Sanderson, Jean Baxter and June Boyd, for their success in winning the Inaugural Group 17 Fours in the VLBA 1994/95 State Title Championships. The team went on to a very creditable performance in finishing Equal Third in the State Finals.

A chest (.1), housing a lawn tennis and badminton set. Black and green lithographic print features couples playing mixed doubles tennis and badminton in Cassiobury Park, with Cassiobury House in the background. Inscription: THE CASSIOBURY GAMES OF/BADMINTON AND GARDEN TENNIS/.../LONDON/DEAN & SON 160 FLEET STREET. The hourglass court used in Wingfield's version of lawn tennis is depicted in this lithograph. Contents include: racquets (.2 -.3); tennis balls (.4 - .5); shuttlecock (.6); badminton net (.7); guy ropes (.8 - .9); ornate pegs (.10 - .11); mallet (.12); and net posts (.13 - .14, 2 parts each). Materials: Wood, Metal, Ink, Glue, Paint, Paper, Lacquer, Gut, Rope, String, Velvet, Bird feather, Felt, Rubbertennis

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 12 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. The first and last pages in the album document the Yarra River at Studley Park and at Kew. The remainder of the album includes photographs of walking and car tours in rural Victoria including 'wilderness' areas in the Grampians, Gippsland and the High Country. Six album pages document a camping trip by Henry Christian to the Grampians in September 1924. The photos include pictures of lookouts, and natural features including rock faces and waterfalls, as well as his camp site. This photo is of one of his campsites. The tent, beside which a man is standing, is a simple canvas sheet is supported by saplings and ropes. "Mt Victory / Grampians / 9.24"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, grampians, mt victory, gariwerd

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 15 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. The first and last pages in the album document the Yarra River at Studley Park and at Kew. The remainder of the album includes photographs of walking and car tours in rural Victoria including 'wilderness' areas in the Grampians, Gippsland and the High Country. Six album pages document a camping trip by Henry Christian to the Grampians in September 1924. The photos include pictures of lookouts, and natural features including rock faces and waterfalls, as well as his camp site. This photo is of a campsite with a pitched tent supported by slabs of bark and ropes. A man is standing in front of the tent partly obscured by the smoke."Grampians"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, grampians, mt victory, gariwerd

Series of six black and white photographs of fire trucks being tested for the roll over characteristics. .1 - .3 - Metropolitan Fire Brigade Board (Melbourne - MFBB) appliance or fire truck or pumper, being tested at Preston Workshops. Based on the number plate in .1 - c1969 - 1970 see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Victoria (accessed 22/4/2020) The facility appears to be long enough to test a bus, but appears to be one that was stored and then brought out for use. .4 to .6 are of testing a UK truck on a more dedicated facility. .7 - workers, some ex MFB workshops possibly, winching ropes. A copy of the Newsletter of the Fire Services Museum of Vic. 9/2021 featured some of these photos. Item stored in box 192 with the photographs.trams, tramways, preston workshops, mfbb, testing

This snagging team is on the Brodribb River, east of Orbost. The Brodribb bridge can be seen in the background of the Photograph. The Snowy River was used for commercial navigation after 1880 and extensive de-snagging A shipping company was formed in 1880, poling barges upstream until the removal of large trees and branches that had fallen into the river was carried out to make the river upstream of Marlo easier to navigate. "The snaggers played an important part in making the river free for transport. By 1880 Captain Collins, R McNair engineer, J McNair and the two Winchesters were at work with a punt on the Snowy and Brodribb. Mr. Jim Winchester took charge soon after. Early snaggers were Johnston, J Renton, Nat Lynch, John Drew, Hatton, J Scott and Harry Wilkinson. The system used was to use a tree on the river bank as a lever and with heavy manila ropes, slowly to haul the snags out. They were piled up around a tree and burned when dry. The snaggers lived in a row of cottages in Snaggers’ Lane." (info. John Phillips Newsletter March 2004)The snaggers played an important role in the early settlement of the Orbost / Marlo district helping bto open it up to commercial shipping.Two copies of a black / white photograph of nine men on a snagging boat, a flat-bottom barge. In the background is a bridge.on back - "Snagging boat on Brodribb with R.McNair"snaggers-brodribb-river snagging-east-gippsland transportation

Hand written notes on the fire at the Garden Gully United Mine 29/3/1911. Two reports from the Bendigo Advertiser 29 and 30 March 1911. First report battery watchman John Davey saw nothing unusual, then later saw the reflection of fire in the engine house. Second report mentions hose stretched over Mt Korong Rd being run over by Chinese market gardeners and others making the leaky hose leak all the more. Cages only travelled a short distance after the ropes broke. Unemployment after air compressors ruined by the fire. Written on the back: Some Facts and Figures - The Bendigo Goldfield has had its good and bad years. Yields ranged from 475, 857 ozs in 1852 and 451,588 ozs in 1856 to 168,990 ozs in 1878 and 148,700 -mine, gold, garden gully united mine, garden gully united mine, garden gully united fire, bendigo advertiser 29-30/3/1911, john davey

Henry Beater Christian (1886-1962) , was a descendant of one of the earliest settler families in Kew. Employed at the Kew Asylum as a 'public servant', he was a skilled amateur photographer, photographing numerous scenes in Kew and on his travels around Victoria. The majority of his photographs date from 1916 to 1929. His finest photographs are housed in two photograph albums. Digital copy of a photograph from page 12 of the 47-page photograph album containing 261 gelatinous silver images, loaned by Diane Washfold with permission given to digitise and hold a copy in our collection. The first and last pages in the album document the Yarra River at Studley Park and at Kew. The remainder of the album includes photographs of walking and car tours in rural Victoria including 'wilderness' areas in the Grampians, Gippsland and the High Country. Six album pages document a camping trip by Henry Christian to the Grampians in September 1924. The photos include pictures of lookouts, and natural features including rock faces and waterfalls, as well as his camp site. This photo is of one of his campsites. The tent, beside which a man is standing, is a simple canvas sheet held up by ropes and supported at one end by large slabs of bark. "Mt Victory / Grampians / 9.24"henry beater christian (1886-1962), landscape photography, christian-washfold collection, photograph albums, grampians, mt victory, gariwerd

There is a single record with the RAN for a John Kidd, who commenced service in 1909 and left in 1912. Kidd was born in 1885 in Sydney and his mother lived in Queenscliff. He served on the HMAS Parramatta from 1911-1912. There is no evidence of him having served on the HMAS Melbourne. Kidd served from 1911-1912 on the HMAS Parramatta, the first ship launched for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).A wooden box with mortise and tenon joins, brass fittings, circular handles, silver hinges and a name plate on the front. The box has a lift out section creating compartments. On the inside lid of the box is a postcard of the HMAS Melbourne surrounded by small rope decoration. A number of keepsakes are inside including a fidd for splicing ropes, a Capstan Wills tobacco tin, 3 postcards, a "Bengall Imperial" cut throat razor (T.R. Cadman & Sons, Sheffield England), black and white bakelite buttons with embossed crown and anchor and brass shank (either for war time or junior officers), gold naval buttons with embossed naval anchor and 2 piece shank (from a coat and cuffs), a bullet casing (Webley '45), a petty officers cloth badge (crossed anchors with a Crown), 4 shells, a good conduct badge (black with gold embroidery) and a red/brown vulcanized asbestos fibre fireproof dog- tag with rope attached."John Kidd" on front of box. "20171" stamped on edge of box. Tobacco tin: "Medium/"Capstan"/Registered/Ready Rubbed Fine Cut Tobacco/-1 oz net weight when packed/W.D. & H.O. Wills/(Australia) Ltd., Sydney. Postcard: Main Street, Samarai. Postcard: Sydney from Lavender Bay Kerry (Copyright) Sydney. Postcard: "Docks showing cathedral, Bristol BL 193. Copyright Lilywhite (1932) Ltd, Sowerby Bridge". Buttons: "AUSTRALIA/Y6-298", "Buttons Ltd B'HAM mark trade" "AUSTRALIA Stokes & Son Melbourne". Bullet casing "WEB WRA 45". Dog-Tag may read "L/Ford" written in ink?ditty box, john kidd, dog-tag, wwi identification tag, lilywhite ltd, w.d & h.o wills, stokes & son melbourne, naval buttons, hmas melbourne

The Conder Shield was sponsored by Major Wally Conder, a keen sportsman (amongst other occupations,) who sought to promote wrestling and boxing during his time as president of the Victorian Amateur Wrestling and Boxing Association. Presented to the winning club of the Inter-Club Gymnasium Competition, over a series of matches in individual athleticism. These included skipping, roller cycling and chinning bar, as well as light-weight, middle-weight and welter-weight wrestling. The clubs that vied for this shield were the Trojans (from the RVIB), Bonbeach Surf and Life Saving Club and Beattie's Physical Culture School. In 1934, the Trojans team consisted of Neil Westh, Charlie Bradley, A. McDonald, T. Hanlon, B. Cook and coach/captain V. Blucher. Mr Henry Vincent Blucher was a former police constable to lost his sight in 1931 due to a car accident, and who had previously held the title of Victorian novice middleweight. Metal plates on shield read: V.A.G.A. Inter-club gym contest 1933-34 Won by "Trojans" B.P.C.C. V.A.G.A. Inter-club gym contest 1935 Won by V.R.I. Gym Club Won by "Trojans" 1936 Won by "Trojans" 1937 Runners Up Bonbeach 1934 Runners Up Trojans 1935 Runners Up "Achilles" 1936 Runners Up "Achilles" 1937 Achilles Runners Up 1938 Presented by W.T. ConderImage of wooden shield with metal plaques and map of AustraliaInter-Club Gymnasium Competition conducted by Victorian Amateur Gymnasium Associationrecreation, royal victorian institute for the blind, awards

McColl Rankin & Stanistreet, North Virginia Gold Mining Co NL. a/ John Shaw Ltd, Wire Rope Manufacturers, Sheffield England. Certificate that 2 lengths of 2-1/2 cir. 6/7 construction Best Black Plough Steel Wire Rope, Quality, Acid Material. 100/110 ton each 1250 feet long supplied. Breaking strain of not less then 24.8 actual tons. Stamped: For Hardware of Australia Propriety Limited. Signed: ?? (attached by pin to b) b/ Hardware Co. Of Australia, Iron & Steel Merchants, South Melbourne. Descriptions per (a) 109.7.3 Signed: Hunt. Dated 15/11/1939. c/ Test Certificate For Wire Ropes Issued to J R Reid & Sons. Rope dispatched per S.S.''Mildura'' to Melbourne on 3.12.1946.Tested in the presence of A Boots, Abbott Supply Coy. Pty. Ltd. For the Australian Wire Rope Works Pty Ltd. Signed: J Humphy. Dated: 6/12/1946. Includes picture.organization, business, gold mine, mccoll rankin & stanistreet, north virginia gold mining co nl. a/ john shaw ltd, wire rope manufacturers, sheffield england 6/7 construction best black plough steel wire rope quality acid material 100/110 ton each 1250 feet long supplied reid & son

The photograph printed on this postcard comes from the collection of the Mitchell Library in Sydney. It is sepia in tone and depicts seven men standing and sitting around a mine shaft in the Beechworth region. The photograph has been dated to approximately 1872. This period in history post-dates the Victorian gold rushes which occurred 1852-1853 in Ballarat, Bendigo and Beechworth. During this period, in the 1870s, the surface alluvial gold had been discovered and removed from location. Therefore, in order to reach the deeper and less accessible alluvial gold, diggers began to dig shafts into the earth. These shafts sunk below the ground level by 20 to 30 feet and required timber structures around the entrance and winches to bring the paydirt to the top. The top of this wooden structure is visible behind the man standing in the upper right of the image. This type of mining was highly dangerous as mines often caved in which injured the minors and often resulted in death. Thus, following this period, in the early 1900s, miners opted instead for hydrolic slucing which cut away the earth without the devastating consequences of a mine cave in. This particular group of miners appear to have been unable to afford a horse (then worth around 50 pounds) which were generally used at mines like this to help pull buckets attached to ropes up and down the mine. Instead, this group brought the buckets up and down by windlass. The windlass was a wooden structure mounted over the mining shaft and fitted with a hand-cranked winch which enabled the bucket attached to the rope to be brought up and down.Gold was first discovered in Beechworth in Spring and Reid's Creek in the summer of 1852-1853. At its popularity, this region had approximately 8000 people on the gold fields searching for gold on the banks of these creeks. These periods did not require the use of heavy machinery or the digging of deep mining shafts like the one depicted in this image. Therefore, this image has important connotations for the technologies associated with mining during the approximated 1870s when gold was harder to access. This is a later period in gold history which does not fit into the "gold rush" period. Instead, it occurred after the surface gold had disappeared and therefore, is essential for researchers who are investigating the mining techniques and structures used to reach the alluvial gold which was located deeper under ground in the 1870s. This period predates the use of big heavy machinery used to mine in the 1900s which include dredges. Images such as this one can also impart essential information as to the wardrobe and fashion of men during this period. It also imparts knowledge about the landscape of Beechworth which is useful for people researching the environment and impact of gold mining in the north-east region of Victoria. In addition, since this image is a postcard reproduction of an early Australian image which may date to approximately 1990 it can impart knowledge as to the interests of people during this time period when there may have been an increase into Australian history.A sepia tone facsimile of an early Australian photograph (circa 1872) printed as a postcard.Obverse: BEECHWORTH / Victoria, Australia / Reverse: GM 2 3275 / CORRESPONDENCE / AUSTRALIAN / YESTERYEAR / CARDS / ADDRESS / Published by George Symons (057) 65 3240 / THE MINEHEAD C. 1872 / The easily gleaned gold of the early fields did / not last very long. In order to reach less / accessible alluvial gold diggers began sinking shafts as much as twenty to thirty feet down / and the mines required timbering and winches / to bring the paydirt to the top. / This syndicate has been unable to afford the / luxury of a horse (about 50 pounds) and so everything / must go up and down by windlass and rawhide / bucket. / Photo: Mitchell Library, Sydney / A sepia tone facsimile of / an early Australian photographmining album, gold mine, beechworth, burke museum, mine shaft, postcard, australian yesteryear cards, george symons, the minehead, gold fields, alluvial gold, early australia, c.1872, 1872, gold diggers, north east victoria