This ornate cross sits at the right hand side of View of Trajan's column, Cast Courts, Room 46a, The West Court, Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Cast Courts: "When the Architectural Courts – or Cast Courts as they are now known – opened in 1873, The Builder magazine compared the experience of seeing them to a first glimpse of Mont Blanc, creating one of those 'impressions that can scarcely be effaced'. Since then, these two enormous rooms and the reproductions they contain have continued to impress and inspire visitors to the Museum. For centuries, antiquarian interest in world architecture and sculpture led to reproductions – or copies – being made of outstanding national monuments and notable sculptures. When the Museum was founded, it collected and displayed reproductions of great art and architecture from across the world in order to offer objects for study and tell a complete story of the history of art and design. Casts are made by placing several plaster moulds upon the surface of the original structure. Once hardened and removed, the moulds are then enclosed in an outer casing, the interior coated with a separating agent and the wet plaster poured in. When set, the pieces are then assembled and the joints and surfaces finished off, to make a complete reproduction of the original work. The finished product – as well as being a formidable technical achievement in its own right – enables admirers to study faithful reproductions of important monuments and works of art." Ref: https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/history-of-the-cast-courtslondon, victoria and albert museum, cast courts

The town of Vire is on a rocky promontory above the Vire River, situated in the south-west of the Calvados department of Lower Normandy, about half way between Caen (north-east of Vire) and Mont-Saint-Michel (to the south-west). Since 2016 the town has been part of the commune called Vire-Normandie. The town suffered quite heavily during bombardments at the end of the Second World War, and much reconstruction and renovation took place in the decade that followed the end of the war. (https://www.francethisway.com/places/vire.php) Julien Hardy, a stonemason and first discoverer of gold at Happy Valley, near Ballarat, Victoria Australia, was born near Vire, France. This photograph was taken by a descendant of Julian Hardy.Two colour photographs of buildings in the town of Vire, Normandie, France.julien hardy, vire, normandy

The Myer store, at the south west corner of Armstrong and Sturt Streets, with the 'new' cantilevered verandah (and evidently still some building renovations happening). This building has had many tenants and occupiers, but has always been a department store, originally constructed 1869-71 for R.J. Mitchell. The architect was noted Ballarat architect H.R.Caselli. A replica of the 1901 verandah was built in the late 1980s. Mrs Bon Strange and her husband Bert were well known Ballarat residents. When Mrs Strange died some years ago, her extensive slide collection was sorted through and those relevant to Ballarat were gifted to the Ballarat Library. sturt street, myer store, christmas lights, christmas decorations, verandahs, ballarat, olympic games

A night exposure of Bridge Street looking west. The tram tracks are clear, one set going straight ahead up Victoria St hill, the other set turning along Main Road. Stone's at Stones Corner was a select ladies dress shop for many years. Mrs Bon Strange and her husband Bert were well known Ballarat residents. When Mrs Strange died some years ago, her extensive slide collection was sorted through and those relevant to Ballarat were gifted to the Ballarat Library. bridge street

A lovely shot of the western end of Sturt Street, looking east to Mt Warrenheip. Not much traffic today! Just a tram and an early Holden, yet at the time of this photograph, this was the main highway through to Adelaide. Mrs Bon Strange and her husband Bert were well known Ballarat residents. When Mrs Strange died some years ago, her extensive slide collection was sorted through and those relevant to Ballarat were gifted to the Ballarat Library.sturt street, trams

View from the West Ballarat Fire Station looking north west looking towards Drummond and Errard Streets. Both the Base and St John of God Hospitals roofs and chimneys are seen.west ballarat fire station, ballarat, drummond street, errard street, base hospial, st john of god hospital

Looking west along a bluestone goods shed at the Ballarat Railway yard in 1960.ballarat railway, building, goods shed, ballrarat, railway

Photo was taken on the south east corner of Sturt Street and Lydiard Street North looking north west. ballarat, sturt street, median strip, lydiard street north

A night scene looking west along Sturt Street during the Centenary Celebrations in 1938. The Town Hall Tower can be seen in the background.sturt street, centenary, town hall, ballarat

circa 1870-1880 from the Premier Album of Ballarat Views.sturt street, grenville street, sketch, streetscape, premier album of ballarat views

Bridge Street looking west Circa 1870-1880 from the Premier Album of Ballarat Views.. Pittard's Shoe Warehouse.bridge street, pittard's shoe warehouse, streetscape, commerical, ballarat, premier album of ballarat views

The Central State School no. 33, Ballarat West circa 1870-1880 from the Premier Album of Ballarat Views. We know this school today as Dana Street Primary School.building, public, school, education, central state school, dana street primary school, premier album of ballarat views, ballarat

Former West Fire Station decorated for Centenary 1838-1938. building, fire station, centenary, public, ballarat

This photo shows the rear view of the Court House, Methodist Church and Ebenezer Church.building, court house, methodist church, ebenezer church, public, grant street, armstrong street, lydiard street

View from the Ballarat Town Hall Tower looking west. Buildings that can be seen are William Dawson Ironmonger and Walter Cornell Chemist. The slate roof of St Andrew's Kirk can also be seen.ballarat town hall tower, gardens, william dawson, walter cornell, commercial, st andrew's kirk, ballarat, ironmonger, chemist, church, sturt street

Looking west from Grenville Street along Sturt Street. A Horse Drawn Tram can be seen along with the Rotunda.sturt street, grenville street, streetscape, commerical, gardens, trams, horses, ballarat

View of Sturt Street looking west from the Ballarat Homecoming publication. Buildings of interest include the Ballarat Town Hall, City Mutual Building and Marks & Co. You can also see both horse drawn cabs and the electric tram.sturt street, ballarat, ballarat town hall, city mutual, marks & co, electric tram, horse drawn cabs, streetscape, public, commercial, ballarat homecoming

East and west views along Bridge Street. Buildings along the streets include Cowdell Tonner & Ellis and the Bucks Head Hotel. This comes from the Ballarat Homecoming publication.bridge street, ballarat, streetscape, buildings, cowdell tonner & ellis, bucks head hotel, public, commerical, hotel, ballarat homecoming

The procession passes the south west corner of Mair and Armstong Street North. This was a double funeral for two boys who drowned in Sebastopol. Funeral Director Hugh Evans Snr walks before the hearses. Businesses in the background include Robert Ritches Grocer, the Plough & Harrow Hotel and an advertisement for Beaurepaire Mobilo.h. evans & son, hugh evans snr, funeral procession, advertising, building, mair street, armstrong street north, robert ritches grocer, plough & harrow hotel, beaurepaire mobilo, commerical, vehicle, ballarat, sebastopol

The fire station in Sturt Street was decorated for the Ballarat Centenary Celebrations.ballarat west fire station, centenary celebrations, sturt street, building, decorations

Shows a south west view towards Sovereign Hill before the establishment of the Ballarat Historical Park Association.sovereign hill, private dwellings, landscape, ballarat, mt pleasant

Aerial view looking west from Stawell Street.victoria street, ballarat, ballarat east, streetscape, bulding, garden, houses, private dwelling, vehicle, aerial view

View looking north west over the former saleyards on Doveton Street North. The site would be used as the site for the Civic Hall.saleyards, doveton street north, civic hall, building, streetscape

Taken from Doveton Street North looking west. The George 5th Statue, St Andrews Kirk, St Patrick's Cathedral and the Alexandra Bandstand can be seen.doveton street north, sturt street, king george 5th, st andrews kirk, st patricks cathedral, alexandra bandstand, gardens, public, statue, commerical, church

View west from Gillies Street along Sturt Street to Arch of Victory. Sheep can be seen grazing in the future Ballarat High School grounds.sturt street, arch of victory, streetscape, public, vehicle

Sketch of Dr Pinnock's residence and the Ballarat West Fire Station on Sturt Street.dr r.d. pinnock, ballarat west fire station, building, private dwelling, public, vehicle

Sketch of the George Munro Engineering Works in Alfredton. Sign on front of building reads G. Munro Agricultural Implement Maker Ballarat West.george munro, agricultural implements, manufacturing, building, alfredton, ballarat west, engineering

Photo was taken from the Town Hall tower. Both St Andews Kirk and St Patrick Cathedral can be seen.sturt street, town hall, streetscape, commerical, church, st andrews kirk, st patricks cathedral, vehicle, garden

Photo was taken from the Ballarat Post Office tower. The National Mutual Building is under construction. Sign on building reads 'H.M. Theatre Farewell Concert Jessie Maclachlan'.sturt street, ballarat post office, national mutual building, h.m. theatre, streetscape, garden, trams, vehicle, commerical, public