Inspected by Joonna Freslov, archaeologist 2.6.2008. Stone tools were used for a variety of purposes, in ways similar to those of steel knives, axes, hammers and chisels. Ground-edge tools are made from fracture-resistant stone, such as basalt which is able to withstand repeated impact, and is suitable for use in objects such as stone axes. The stone was quarried, and then roughly shaped into a tool blank with blows from a hammerstone. The edges were then sharpened and refined by grinding the tool against a coarse, gritty rock.The necessary tools and equipment for hunting, fishing and warfare were one of the very few items that Aboriginals carried with them from place to place. Most were used for a multiplicity of purposes. Because many were made from raw natural materials, such as wood, generally only partial remains are found today. This axe head is an example of an early stone tool used by the Indigenous people of Eastern Australia.A handmade stone Aboriginal axe head. Finger grips are clear.axehead aboriginal tool stone-artefact

Inspected by Joanna Freslov, archaeologist 2.6.2008. This club was brought from New Hebrides to Orbost by Reverend Alex Morton in 1894. Morton was the minister at the Presbyterian church about 1890. He had spent time in new Hebrides and went on to New Zealand.A handmade carved wooden club with carved rings at top and bottom.weapon new-hebrides hunting-club morton

Inspected by Joanna Freslov, archaeologist 2.6,2008. Possibly African spear - unknown origin.A carved wooden spear with a long metal blade.spear weapon hunting

Inspected by Joanna Freslov, archaeologist 2.6.2008 - possibly Melanesian origin.A long, thick, handmade wooden club with carved rings at one end and club ball at other,club weapon hunting

Hand drawn by Kerr, Hilda (nee Temple). Daughter of George Temple and Mary McAuslane of Castlemaine, Hilda married James Kerr in 1893 and lived at Lincluden, Raymond Street, Orbost. Her husband, Dr James Kerr, was a Scot who had come to Australia as a ship's doctor and practised in NSW before visiting Orbost on a government vaccination programme. He liked Orbost and returned there, its first doctor, until his death in 1928. Hilda was sometimes referred to as 'Mrs Dr Kerr.' She and her sisters Mabel Stewart Temple and Margaret Ferrie Temple were all talented writers and musicians. This item is associated with Hilda Kerr (Temple) a prominent resident of early Orbost. She and her sisters Mabel Stewart Temple and Margaret Ferrie Temple were all talented writers and musicians. A selection of 7 pencil illustrations of Marlo in a wooden frame. Hessian background with red/brown wood.illustrations marlo kerr temple

A rectangular block of wood with faces of two women carved into it. Faces have been lightly coloured with paint.handcraft carving

This painting has aesthetic significance and shows the skill and craftmanship of the early settler families.Two oil paintings on rectangular-shaped tin. Tin is curled at ends. Paintings are of trees on a river bank.paintings oil tin

This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the earl 20th century. Crochet work was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value to homes, and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homes, A crocheted picture of bushland in East Gippsland. It is in white wool and framed in an ornate gold frame.handcraft crochet picture

This box was donated by Mary Gilbert who was the Orbost Red Cross Superintendent. Australian women's efforts on the home front to support the nation during WWI and WWII were monumental. They worked tirelessly for Red Cross in response to the national emergency, serving the humanitarian needs of the nation. Women produced millions of pounds worth of in-kind support through volunteer labour and goods, sending an astonishing volume of goods overseas to servicemen and prisoners of war. They knitted and sewed socks, towels and vests for soldiers.A black Red Cross box containing training cards, forms and badges. The box is made of card and covered in black fabric.red-cross gilbert-mary world-war-11

Research by O.D.H.S. suggests that the 'Oliver' who received this wallet from 'John' is likely Oliver George Scott but the identity of 'Jack' or 'John' is unknown. Oliver G Scott was born 19/2/1880, enlisted 13/9/15 after examination by Dr Kerr of Orbost, returned 7/5/19, died 3/8/1920, buried in Bairnsdale. His name is on the Orbost Roll of Honour. He was one of four Scott brothers who enlisted with three of the four dying in action. The Scott family lived at Ensay. A fifth son John was not accepted on medical grounds. Prior to enlisting, Oliver is described as a sawmiller and a single man. This is a personal item with high significance because it was owned by a man who enlisted from Orbost for World War I. It was a gift from one soldier to a mate during World War I and has personal inscriptions.A square black leather card wallet with metal binding and clip. It has two flat leather pouches inside.In pen - "From John to Oliver for birthday 18.2.18. Salisbury Road Fovant England Jack killed 4.4.18wallet

Used for closing sacks - probably corn or wheat sacks.A large metal needle with leather thonging and hole through the middle. Used for sewing up wheat, corn bags.needle rural-industry horticulture

Mercury thermometers are rarely used in homes nowadays. This item reflects changes in medical practice and research.A glass pocket mercury thermometer in stainless steel cover. Kept in cardboard cover with lid. Has a hook on top to hold in pocket.thermometer medicine nursing

Handmade by Julia Eaton ( nee Thomas), daughter of George and Granny Thomas, respected Aboriginal couple of Newmerella.This item is an example of a handcrafted item and reflects the needlework skills of women in the first half of the 20th century.Square shaped calico cushion cover. It is hand-embroidered with ribbon embroidered leaves and flowers. The edging is flounced. Flowers are pink with yellow stamens and green stems. handcraft needlework thomas-julia

Two very small china plates from a doll's tea set. Large orange and white star in centre with blue flowers and green leaves around edge.plates toys dolls tea-set

Women wore frames characterized by an upsweep on the top rim, a style that was very popular until the end of the 1950s, while men tended to sport gold wire frames. These glasses are probably men's glasses. By the latter half of the 20th century, spectacles were considered part of a person's wardrobe. Similar to clothes, eyeglasses needed to be continually updated or a person could be perceived as old-fashioned. More and more celebrities were influencing spectacle fashion.These items reflect how glasses styles have changed over time and are becoming a fashion accessory as well as a prosthesis and support for lenses, Six pairs of assorted glasses and 4 cases. spectacles

About 5000 of these projectors were produced. They were the first type of home projector and were very popular. Ref. Nick Richardson ACMI.A 9.5mm movie projector. Similar to Pathescope model. No maker's name. An early home projector.None on projector. Large spool - pathescope. Small spool - BABY FILM, MADE IN FRANCE, BRIT. PATS.film projector movie-projector

Shells were collected by Edgar lavell and son, alan.The fossils paint a vivid picture of life below a sea that once covered parts of East Gippsland. They reflect the geological history of the area.Square shaped wooden display case with glass front. Holds a collection of fossil shells on cork. Shells are from the Middle Miocene Age.shells natural-history middle-miocene fossils

A wax matches' box in the shape of an egg on a mall pedestal. It is made of carved wood and painted red, green and black in a tartan design. It has gold dots down the side and on the base.vestra matchbox smoking personal-effects container

A pearl-handled pen with the end in the shape of a feather. It has metal pieces along its length. There is a copper nib and a silver nib holder.pen writing-equipment

A small compass in a square-shaped hinged wooden box with a metal latch.compass instrument

Used by Nance Gilbert, Orbost.This is a useful research tool.A blue covered book of songs with music and lyrics. Edited by Frederic Earp, Melbourne High School.In back is a handwritten song with notes below. On fly at front handwritten in red ink is : "Nance Gilbert".book music education earp-frederic

The box was made by Albert Richardson from the first Blackwood Tree felled, dried and treated on the Brodribb River by him at the Tabbara Mill in 1882. Albert was the son of Samuel Richardson early Orbost pioneer and builder of The Paddle Steamer Curlip.Small, rectangular hand- carved wooden box made of blackwood. On the top it has a diamond design. It has metal hingesbox handcraft richardson-albert carving

Collar boxes were used for the storage of the stiff, starched collars that were sold as a separate item to collarless shirts. These were fastened by collar studs, on the front and back. These collarswere in vogue from the late 1800's to around the 1920'sA round black collar box containing 2 collars. Collars are of a stiff white material and have pointed ends.On lid in gold writing "Collars Made in England"costume collars container

A small glass paper weight consisting of a round glass dome with a scooped out centre which has a long coiled wire prong.paperweight commerce-equipment stationery

These four stamps are from George Temple's Store which was established in Orbost in 1887. George Temple, born in Yorkshire on 26/2/1832 was of the earliest Orbost storekeepers. Temple's Store was on the corner of Ruskin and Nicholson Streets opposite the post office. He packed stores to the Bendoc area goldfields. The store building eventually became part of Herbert's store when he died in 1917.Four rubber stamps. All have wooden handles. Two have metal seals and two have rubber seals. All seals are circular.temple-george stamps-rubber

Worn by Mrs Jack Mundy while in New Hebrides. The Mundy family were farmers / settlers in the Snowy River area since c. 1880s. The original Mundy family moved to a land "selection" at Bete Bolong in the early 1880's from Buchan. Mundy familyHandmade grass skirt made of native plant fibres and held together with knotting along the top. Natural colour.nonegrass-skirt new-hebrides mundy costume-female native-materials

Gem Albums date from the 1860s in the USA, made for small ferotype images.A small photo album with grey-brown fabric cover and the words Gem Album written in gold lettering on the front.inside cover - G Munro, Clifton Hill, 1881album gem-album book photos

Music boxes have been around at least since the end of the 18th century. The finest artisans in Europe created them and brought music into family homes when there were really no other types of music entertainment for homes. Music boxes performed the popular music of their day; songs from the opera, traditional songs, and hymns.The Nicole Freres were regarded as the best maker of cylinder music boxes during the mid 1800s. This is a fine example of a 19th century music box.Small wooden music box operated by winding a key which moves a studded cylinder against a comb of tuned teeth. A green paper label has been tacked to the underside of the lid. Cylinder music box, made by Nicole Freres, Geneva, Switzerland, c.1830-1840 Music box with an outside key wind . The cylinder length is 20cm and it plays 4 different airs. single comb, 112 teeth with exposed control levers. on label underneath the lid is "Music de Geneve" and the names of the tunes and the number 5929music-box musical-instrument nicole-freres

Handmade running spikes worn by Pen Gilbert, winner of the open event at the Exhibition Oval c. 1922. She was not allowed to wear them in the final event because it was unknown for women to wear spikes.Associated with an Orbost identity and well-known local family.A pair of leather running shoes with spikes on the soles, with leather lacing and white stitching through metal eyelets.running-shoes running-spikes athletics sport women-sport

Used as a dripping jar.Small ceramic container with a wider top than bottom and with lines running down the outside. Cream colour with staining inside.container ceramic dripping-jar household-uses