Sign attached to wire fence stating "RABBAIT PINDONE BAIT has been laid on this property to control RABBITS" Newsletter No., 228, June 2016 Heritage Excursion – Back-track walk to Fitzsimons Lane – Saturday 2nd July Our July heritage excursion will be a walk to Yarra Hill Close and Fitzsimons Lane Bridge, based on the story on pages 3 and 4. Although the route is close to Fitzsimons Lane it will follow streets and paths that may not be familiar to many local residents. It will include commentary on the history of this corner of the Town of Eltham. This walk on Saturday 2nd July will follow a “there and back” route, that is returning over much the same course. It is about 2.5 km in length and will take 2 to 2.5 hours. It includes some hills. It will start at 2pm at the corner of Bolton Street and Old Eltham Road (Melway ref.21 F10).Born Digitalelection day, heritage excursion, activities, eltham district historical society, fitzsimons lane, poison, rabbits

The Museum was first considered in 1963 when it was felt that Victorian narrow gauge railway history was quickly being destroyed by progress. Originally it was planned to only cater for two locomotives and some rolling stock associated with the Moe and Walhalla Railway. Construction of the site commenced on Labour Day Weekend in March 1964, the area was then fenced. The first exhibit arrived soon after and companies with locomotives and other railway features offered items to the Museum. When interesting exhibits from the "Steam Era " were known to be coming available,discussions were held with the owners in an attempt to obtain the item for preservation. In 1965 an Umbrella style shed was built and by May, the first locomotive ex Erica State Saw Mill (CLIMAX) had arrived. The Museum was opened to the public in November 1970 but was officially opened by His Excellency the Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan Delacombe on Saturday 7th April 1973.Historic - Puffing Billy Museum Entry SignPuffing Billy Museum Entry Sign Rectangular hand painted sign in use from 1970.Puffing Billy Museum This is one of the Volunteer activities of The Puffing Billy Preservation Society Preserving part of our National Heritage Proud to Help Preserve Australia's Heritage puffing billy, menzies creek, sir rohan delacombe, narrow gauge, steam

The photo is of ‘Spenceycroft’ at 654 Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills. For many years this home was hidden behind a large fence sheltering it from the noise of traffic along Canterbury Road, however it dates back to the very early days of settlement in the Surrey Hills area. Canterbury Road was then known as Delany’s Road. ‘Spenceycroft’ is thought to incorporate part of the original farmhouse built on the site by George Klepper, who planted a vineyard in the area. George’s family was one of a number of German families who settled in Surrey Hills during the later part of the 19th century. Later, the land associated with ‘Spenceycroft’ was worked as a dairy farm by James and Elizabeth Rayment. In recent years 'Spenceycroft' has been sold several times and has become increasingly derelict. Sold again in 2015 when it had become quite derelict, it was demolished and re-developed.A black & white photo of double-fronted Victorian style home with a fountain centre front and low foliage in front of the veranda. A woman is sitting by the fountain. 'spenceycroft', canterbury road, james rayment, elizabeth rayment, george klepper

Miranda was a very popular journalist of this era, whose homely style appealed to many readers, especially women, her main audience in her writing. Here she talks about renting a new demonstration holiday home (probably a Coldon Home), which, although small, had a 'dream kitchen'. She describes the birds and walk through the wattle to the beach, but also the many blocks for sale and wonders what the island will be like in 10 years time from their visit. Her son drove them to Pyramid Rock where they almost got bogged on the road. They visit the usual spots, which she describes with a combination of curiosity and enjoyment. She also mentions another block fenced off on the main road which was a gift from the ratepayers of Phillip Island, and which the Young Farmers were to plant out for koala trees.This article is significant because thousands of Weekly Times newspaper readers read Miranda’s letter article without fail each edition. She describes renting a house for a holiday, which indicates the move away from family holidays in guest houses. She also describes some of the rough roads in parts of the island at the time. She concentrates on the island’s natural attractions rather than man- made tourist attractions, which is also significant in letting us see why people would visit Phillip Island in that era. Miranda also predicts the explosion of the holiday home owner market which took place soon after, and continues today though in a more controlled way.Photocopy of newspaper article cut out from full page. Cutting has three columns of text, no images. Black text on white paper. Dark areas due to poor photocopyingWEEKLY TIMES / 2/9/65phillip island, miranda, weekly times newspaper, holiday home, phillip island flora and fauna, pyramid rock, phillip island pengiun parade, young farmers, phillip island beaches, cuddly koala bears, phillip island housing estate land sales

Half an hour later her brother Keiran gallops up with the news that Artie Klinberg's mob has been ambushed by police. All the cattlemen other than he had been caught. Keiran escaped by jumping fences and coming home across country. Soon after Sergeant. Baker and Trooper Ryan arrive, and are refused entry by the widowed Mrs. Ellen O'Hara whose husband, some years previously, had been shot by police in mistake for a wanted bushranger. As he is acting mainly on presumption the chagrined Sergeant has to leave, warning O'Day to watch his company. Realising someone has "dobbed them in", Keiran decides it has to be George, "Microbe" Nugent, an unpopular fellow - traveller at loggerheads with Klinberg, and vows vengance. Maj. John Hardwick as Sgt. Baker. Mrs. Kerry Hardwick as Mrs. O'Hara. Bill Tenteye as Keiran.The album and images are significant because they document literature written by a prominent member of the Wodonga community. The presentation of this precis was supported by several significant district families and individuals.Ringer's River Album Coloured photo Plate 15des martin, many a mile, ringer's river, northeast victoria stories

The photo shows the cenotaph on the steps of Parliament House in Spring St after a wreath laying ceremony. There was a picket fence around the area which was erected for occasions (see the newspaper clipping from Anzac Day in 1928 copied from item no 01204). It is possible that the stamp on the reverse, '4 24', means April 1924, also see similar photos at 01203. From articles in Trove: The temporary cenotaph was the original first world war memorial until the Shrine of Remembrance was dedicated in 1937. The cenotaph was a half size replica of the London Symbol of Remembrance in Whitehall. It was made from timber and plaster and was initially meant to only last for the 1926 Anzac day service and be removed. With annual upkeep it remained until at least 1934 when ex-service men proceeded from the incomplete Shrine to the cenotaph on the steps of Parliament House.An early Anzac day ceremony held at the cenotaph in Spring St, Melbourne, before the Shrine of Remembrance was built.Black and white photo of the cenotaph in Spring St, Melbourne.Stamped '4 24' in blue ink and 'Printed by Harringtons' in black ink in a circle.anzac day, wreath laying ceremony

“The Squadron’s Most Prestigious Trophy” THE CACTUS STORY Years ago a story was told of a Donkey which lived in the desert. The standard of living was poor, and the main course on the menu when things were tough was cactus. The Donkey accepted the good with the bad, and in bad seasons it was always cactus. One day during his wanderings he came to a high fence. On the other side of the fence was lush grass and all sorts of vegetation and animals in prime condition. The Donkey said to a horse, “things look good in there, how does one get in”. The horse said “go down to the end of this fence, and you will come to a gate, there will be someone at the get, ask to get in”. The Donkey went to the end of the fence, found the gate and asked to get in. The horse at the gate said, “what do you want to come in for, all of us are geldings?”. The Donkey said “if that is the case, it is back to the cactus for me”. It was during the early stages of the great depression of 1929-1932, that this story was simulated to the conditions at the then Royal St. Kilda Yacht Club, when during the yachting season there were very few trophies due to the lack of money. A lot of members were out of work, and each Monday many would front up for the jobs that were offering or those who missed out went back to the dole or as many put it “Back to the Cactus”. The “Cactus Cup” race, to be free of entrance fees, was an idea conceived by H.A. (Toby) Armstrong, soon to be backed by Bert Bryant, Ivor Bowles and Jim Thorpe. It was First sailed March 25, 1922, when 9 yachts on sealed handicaps, raced over a 5 mile rectangular course for a small Trophy donated by Jim E. Thorpe and the winning crew of the yacht Helen, skippered by D.Dowse, entertained at a café after the race by the instigators of the race. The next contest was April 12, 1930, for another small trophy also donated by Jim Thorpe, and the crew of the winning yacht Petrel, skippered by Stan Gamble, later on having to arrange for a mussel supper to the extent of Trophy money at an informal musical evening held in the spar room. From then on races for the Cactus Cup became an annual event. In time the format was changed to result in the crew of the first winning yacht having to collect mussels from the pier on the first Saturday of July, cook and prepare them for a no charge informal supper and entertainment evening held in the spar room, towards which the Club provided a keg of Beer. Member Bob Ellis had a special song for the occasion, “Up at Tumba Bloody Rumba shooting Kanga Bloody Roos”. Jim Thorpe then agreed to purchase a Perpetual Cup to be named the Cactus Cup. As guest of honor at the Cactus Supper Evening, May 1940, a dinner suit function in the Spar room, he presented the Cup along with Replica to Barney Snider who won with Eun-Na-Mara. Soon entries became few, for reason nobody wanted to win because of the penalty of having to collect, cook and prepare the mussels. In the interest of the contest and its revival, it was decided that the crew of the last yacht to finish had to collect, cook and prepare the mussels. On the death of Jim E Thorpe in 1944, the trophy, along with its annual replicas, were then provided for by Ivor Bowles until his death in 1970. In time for reason of pollution, the collecting of mussels from the pier was discontinued, so Otto Meik the new provider decided that the format be changed and be replaced by a supper on the day of the race, consisting of bottle mussels, beer and frankfurts. Following the death of Otto Meik in 1979, with no provider for the trophy of replicas, the Squadron in the early 80’s broke tradition by introducing race entry fees. In 2006 the Cactus Cup Tradition was reinstituted by a donation from J.H. (Bert) Ferris – RMYS historian. The Cactus Cup is now free to enter once again for all. The race is run early and a late afternoon feast of mussels and frankfurts is eaten afterwards.Deep sectioned Silver Cup, 300mm high to lip, tapering to thick plain stem flaring out to stepped footing, has two shaped handles. Silver Lid with Donkey positioned on shaped dome. Overall height 110mm. Cup stands on 145mm high round black base with stepped footing, surrounded with Silver winner inscription band.ROYAL ST. KILDA YACHT CLUB PERPETUAL CACTUS CUP INAUGURATED 1922 INSTIGATED BY H.A. ARMSTRONG ESQ. ORIGINAL CUP PRESENTED BY J.E. THORPE ESQ.cactus cup, trophy

Iconic photograph taken by Edgar Dower on Ridge Road in 1913 from an area known as Point Clear that shows the buildings of early Mt Dandenong before the CRB road went through in the 1920s.Black and white photograph with tall, dead trees in foreground and a view of hills in the distance. Buildings can be seen across the centre of the photograph. There are handwritten annotations around the border with arrows referring to areas in the photograph. Reverse of photograph has handwritten description by John Lundy-Clarke.Front from top left: Namoora (Lumeah), Dower's Shop, First school, Talent's, Langford's house, School. Reverse: 1913 view from O'Halloran's LOT 4, Section 3 on Ridge Road. Showing Lumeah (Namoora) Farndons Road (fence) School, Lowes House?, Falls Road Shop (Dowers) Langford's Falls Road (LOT 9, Section 1) Shed on Colomb's LOT 19, Sect 2 Colomb's House (Fergusons) First school Campbell's Blythes Road Lil Badenhop's P.O. In middle distance - Talent's homestead and sheds.point clear, namoora, lumeah, langford, dower, talent, colomb, ferguson, campbell, farndons road, mt dandenong school

Four of a collection of 33 photographs donated by Leonie Brennan. The collection belonged to Edward (Ted) Sands, hairdresser.Photograph 215-18. People on the Cowes Pier enjoying an event. A sign reads "Cowes - Ferries - Speedboats" and a string of bunting decorates the pier. There are also cars on the pier. Photograph 215-19. Phillip Island - San Remo Suspension Bridge viewed from Newhaven at very low tide. Photograph 215-20. A couple enjoying a picnic in a bush setting. Photograph 215-21. Three people sitting on the stone fence in front of the Isle of Wight Hotel. A large sign shows "ENTRANCE RESIDENTIAL & BAR - MELBOURNE BITTER"isle of wight hotel, isle of wight hotel phillip island, phillip island - suspension bridge, suspension bridge phillip island, cowes pier phillip island, mr edward (ted) sands, leonie brennan

Bendigo Weekender from Saturday, February 20, 1999. Built on gold: Bendigo in the 1860s, looking up Mitchell Street. Bottom left corner shows a loan office and a saddler,AQ. Steele practical Plummer And Gas Fitter, A. Steele 'AGE', rooms,Timber Yard. Middle front is horse and cart with roof. person. Right of centre, tall post with sign, building with gable roof and annex with chimney, part of another building with a fence, bottom part of another post. Picture courtesy of Frank Cusack.newspaper, bendigo, bendigo weekender

Conditions of sale by private contract dated 7th March, 1939 between J.A. Robertson (seller) and A.E. Simms (buyer) for land situate Prowse Road, Bendigo, at present occupied by Mrs. Harbour as tenant, being the land described in right to occupy residence area No. 190. Also all the vendor's right, title and interest to the land as fenced adjoining the above mentioned property, together with 5-roomed weatherboard dwelling and all sundry. Price 250 pounds. Attached copy of application to register a Lienorganization, business, h.a. & s.r wilkinson real estate

Conditions of sale by private contract dated 9th February, 1934 between H.A. Wilkinson (seller) and Mrs. E.F. Rigby (buyer) for land situate Creek Street, Bendigo land being described in certificates of title volume 2776 folio 555075 and volume 5725 folio 1144851. Also all the vendor's right title and interest in and to that portion of land facing Clarke Street as fenced, and adjoining above mentioned land, together with 5-roomed weatherboard dwelling and all sundry. Price 350 pounds.organization, business, h.a. & s.r wilkinson real estate

Conditions of sale by private contract dated 14th November, 1938 between Sandhurst and Northern District Trustees Executors and Agency Company Limited as Executor of will of Richard Lowe deceased (seller) and W. A. Rankin (buyer) for land situate No. 139 Olinda Street, Bendigo being part of Crown allotment 5 and 6 section 96C described in certificate of title volume 2367 folio 473243 and having 100 links to Olinda Street by a depth as fenced, together with 4-roomed weatherboard dwelling and all sundry. Price 800 pounds.organization, business, h.a. & s.r wilkinson real estate

Sepia image mounted on board. Image shows horse drawn vehicle, four horses in harness, pulling stage coach. Minimum of 17 men/boys on top of coach. Driver is holding long whip/reins of horses. Women and children seated inside coach. Man standing on LH side, small baby at side, dressed in white, with hat. Coach is pictured in front of wooden paling fence, behind which is A. Roberts & Sons, Boiler Makers, building. On outside of building ' A. Roberts & Sons, Boiler Maker'event, recreation, picnic, bendigo, sandhurst, roberts & sons, boiler makers, procession, stage coach

Small photograph of a weatherboard house with a tiled roof. The house has an unequal gable, a veranda at the front and part way down one side which is made into a room. It has the same roof material as the house. At the back is a large chimney just above gable height. There are some short shrubs at the side of the house and a picket fence with a girl standing in front of it. In front of the house is the horse and buggy with the family sitting in it. In the foreground is the driveway and some shrubs. Photo mounted on white card with a gold border and photographer's name faintly on the back in pink.? Baume, 5 Collins St., Melbournebuildings, house, homes, house & horse & buggy, ? baume

Sepia photograph mounted on cream board. Brick house with cream brick quoins at corners and windows. Central door, 1 window on each side. Corrugated iron roof, verandah with iron lace, 2 chimneys, cast iron fence with decorative wooden posts and brick base. Corrugated iron in bottom half of gate, tree at left. Woman standing on verandah. Woman wearing floor length dark dress and hat. On back rubber stamp, oval shaped, 'Clark Bros, photographers, 25 Thomas St., Windsor.Clark Bros. Windsor.buildings, residential, victorian

B+W Photo on fawn board. Ornate Rotunda. Diagonal timber insert on bottom. Cast iron lace on top and lace work on eaves. Decorative finial to roof line. Tessellated tiles on floor. White fence on right side. Inscription: On front at bottom of image, !.3 x 2 cm piece of paper glued to board, hand written 'Cemetery'. On back, hand written in ballpoint pen, 'Royal Historical Society of Vic./Bendigo Branch', 'Rotunda/1204/FSP.'. Research: Rotunda at White Hills Cemeteryplace, cemetery, rotunda

B+W Photo on fawn board. Ornate Rotunda. Diagonal timber insert on bottom. Cast iron lace on top and lace work on eaves. Decorative finial to roof line. Tessellated tiles on floor. White fence on right side. Inscription: On front at bottom of image, !.3 x 2 cm piece of paper glued to board, hand written 'Cemetery'. On back, hand written in ballpoint pen, 'Royal Historical Society of Vic./Bendigo Branch', 'Rotunda/1204/FSP.'. Research: Rotunda at White Hills Cemeterybuildings

Photograph of a two storied brick building, Norfolk Brewery, Bridge Street, Bendigo. Later taken over by William Bruce and became the BB Brewery. There are two large arched doorways in which there are several workmen and a number of barrels. There are several smaller wooden buildings flanking the main one. There is a dovecote centre left of the photo. Outside the log fence there is a workman holding a horse and cart on which there are several Barrels. On the side of the cart is the painted sign ' Sayer Bros ' and on the left of the gateway can be seen Batchelders photographic cart.Batchelderbuildings, commercial, sayer bros. brewery, sayer bros. brewery, bridge street, dovecot

Photograph of a woman in an equestrian event, she is riding a light coloured horse and jumping a high hurdle, there is a white picket fence surrounding the arena and a large number of spectators. On the left of the picture is a mini clock tower with a white roof and '9.30 Lager' written on it in large black letters, on the right there is a clock face with 'non - intoxicating' written above this. There is also a sign reading ' Farmers Notice , we are buyers of Barley in any Quantity. On the back hand written is ' Australian Champion High Jump Record, Bendigo Show,postcard, bendigo show, cohn brothers , 9.30 lager

The Rupertswood Hotel used to occupy the intersection of Evans and Brook Streets on the SE corner. It was demolished in the 1970s to make way for a modern retail complex. A photo of the Ruperstwood Hotel, on the corner of Evans Street and Brook Street, with a group of people and a horse and carriage outside it. The group is comprised of 5 men, 1 youth, 5 girls and a woman in the carriage. There is a sign on the fence stating " Horses and buggies always for hire. Good stabling" and on the building "Superior Wines and Spirits"; "Rupertswood Hotel" and "G. Millett. Licensed Victualler"The photo is mounted on a light brown cardboard matt, which is extremely brittle. The lower LH corner is cracked. The upper RH corner is missing and there are a number of pin holes in the corners.Handwritten on face: "McAlpine Bros - Rupertswood Hotel, Sunbury. E. Richd. Melb.April 16 1895" Handwritten on back: "Hazeldines"rupertswood hotel, hotels, buildings, evans street, brook street, sunbury, wines, transport, millett, victuallers, mcalpine brothers, hazeldines, george evans collection

B&W photo of Lynette Hermon's 4th birthday party, 24th November 1954. Four young children are sitting around a table set up in a garden. Lynette is on the right side at the front. She has a doll sitting in a doll-sized deckchair beside her. Behind her is a second girl. Opposite them is a girl (in the front) and a boy. The table has a cloth on and there is a cake with candles. There are also other cups and plates visible.. The sun is shining. There are trees in the garden and also a fence behind them.

Two grandsons of Charles and Minnie Gray of Belgrave South with an unidentified lad. The boy on the left is unnamed, the boy in the middle is Alan Gray, son of Bob and Elsie Gray, and on the right is Neil Sheldon Oram, son of Albert John (Jack) Oram and Margaret (Maggie) Oram nee Gray. They all appear to be in their teens and are wearing suits and ties. Alan Gray is holding a football. They are standing on a driveway with a paling fence behind them and the front of a car on the left. Copy of original photo donated to our society by Kath Oram, a founding member.

Copy of a colour slide showing Tram 17 in Lydiard Street North, at the terminus. This photo is taken from further north than 6013. From the direction of the trolley pole it is preparing to head back into the city, however the destination board is reading View Point.. One of the crew can be seen standing near a fence in the background, with a point bar in his hand. Several homes and motor cars can be seen. The photographer says this was taken on the last day of trams in Lydiard Street in 1971. There are shadows of other photographers at the location.trams, tramways, ballarat trams, crews, houses, last day, lydiard st nth, secv tramways, street scene, terminus, tramway closure, tram 17

Yields information about the condition of Ballarat ESCo tram No. 22 prior to acquisition by the Museum in 2009.Stt of 6 digital image prints - printed on a colour laser printer of Ballarat No. 22 prior to recovery from Sebastopol. Photos taken by Paul Mong 2/2/2009. See email in worksheet file for source information. .1 - 3/4 front on view .2 - side on view .3 - Interior roof view .4 - end view of number .5 - view of the side of the tram that was against the fence. .6 - another side view. See email date 2/2/2009trams, tramways, btm, sebastopol type, recovery, acquisitions, tram 22

Two black and white photos of bands. One is the Gervasom Dance Band consisting of four men and a woman. The lady is playing the piano, one man accordion, one a violin and one with a wind instrument. The fourth man is playing a large drum and he has two wind instruments in front of him. The second photo is another band called the Black Swan. The rest of the name is obscured by a small picket fence at the edge of the stage. A lady is playing the piano, a young man the banjo, another the drums, one the violin, and the last, the bass.entertainment, music, band, peter ellis collection, gervasom dance band

The original postcards in this series (2013.002 to 2013.018) were generously loaned to Williamstown Botanic Gardens by a private collector for copying. The postcards are evidence of the interest the gardens held as a subject for postcard publishers. The text and images provide a snapshot into fashions, social interests and concerns of the time. The professionally produced images provide a pictorial history of Gardens including changing planting styles, various structures and features of the Gardens eg the aviary, cannons, the fountain, the second Curator’s Lodge and gates. The images offer an opportunity to compare garden vistas with the present day. This postcard is evidence of the placement of two of the cannons relocated from Fort Gellibrand in 1906 and that they were in place in the Gardens in 1924. They were removed from the Gardens in the 1960s. These same cannons remain a feature on the Williamstown waterfront in 2013. The image also shows the original Elm Avenue plantings. A sepia scene looking west towards statue of Alfred Thomas Clark, with cannons on either side of statue pointing east down what is known as the Palm Avenue. The statue is surrounded by a white fence consisting of posts and a top rail. The top of the statue is hidden by the branches of the elm trees. It appears that the elms are in the process of either losing their leaves or new leaf growth. A cactus plant can be seen beneath the lower branches of the elm tree of the right closest to the camera. The cannons were moved from Fort Gellibrand to the Gardens in 1906.Front: VALENTINE’S, M.356 ELM AVENUE WILLIAMSTOWN GARDENS MELBOURNE, VICTORIA. REAL PHOTO. Reverse: vertical on left side of card and underlined: ‘Published by the Valentine & Sons Publishing Co. Ltd. / Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane’. Top centre of card: Contains logo of ‘VALENTINES / REAL PHOTO SERIES / POSTCARD’. Top right hand corner is stamped ‘BRANCHES (enclosed in a scroll) / SYDNEY / LONDON / DUNDEE / DUBLIN / CAPETOWN / MONTREAL / TORONTO’ The card is dated ‘29/12/24’ and addressed to ‘Dear Leah Alf & Dad’ signed by ‘Margaret’. postcard, gardens, post-card, williamstown-botanic-gardens, hobsons-bay-city-council, statue, clarke, alfred-thomas-clarke, cannon, elm, cactus, 1924, fort-gellibrand, 1906, armstrong, clark

Date is approximate. Two original post cards of this image - "Surrey Hills - looking East" - were donated by Stephen Wyatt on 10 March 2012. One is blank; the other has been sent to Mrs A Wyatt, C/O Mrs E Young, 'Grand View', Warburton from daughter Nellie from 'The Quantocks', Surrey Hills - postmarked 10 Dec 1906. There is also a reproduction of this image in a framed collage of Surrey Hills photos.This is the earliest known image of the Surrey Gardens. The layout was originally designed by William Guilfoyle, who also designed Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens.Black and white photo taken from an early postcard. Taken from the roof of a house in Essex Road, it shows the development of housing between Essex and Union Roads and includes the section of land fenced off for the Surrey Gardens with paths roughly laid out, one existing tree but no tree planting. The houses depicted are largely Edwardian timber buildings with corrugated rooves. There are still some vacant blocks. Kirkland on Union Road can be seen in the distance, as can some of the shops along Canterbury Road.Lower LHS within original image: " Surrey Hills - Looking East"; on the rear "No 17" in black pen in top LH corner.edwardian style, residential development, kirkland, essex road, suffolk road, norfolk road, surrey gardens, post card

This photograph was taken four years after bicycles were purchased by the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) and is a record of the first mode of transport used by their Trained nurses, and a record of the change of head ware needed now bicycles were in use. The uniforms were grey with white collar, belt and cuffs and a red Maltese cross was in the centre of the pith helmet. Prior to the use of bicycles the trained nurses walked to their patients and had become exhausted, particularly in summer. The bicycles were a solution to this problem, and now they could visit more patients and the Society's areas (districts) could be extended. In February 1885, 50 years after Melbourne was founded, it was recognized that nursing care was needed for the sick poor in inner Melbourne. The Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), the first such Society in Australia, was founded with one Trained nurse, called 'Nurse' in those days, and a second employed six months later. They worked in the now CBD, ie from Spencer Street to Spring Street and from Victoria Parade to Flinders Street. From its inception the Society was at the forefront of health care. They provided high quality nursing care; educated their patients in the curing and prevention of disease; teaching the importance of cleanliness and good nutrition, both by verbal instruction and demonstration, even supplying soup and milk when needed. At that time they walked the streets and lane ways amid the slums of inner Melbourne carrying their nursing bag containing lotion, ointments, powders, liniment, bandages, dressings, a case of spirits, and the Nurse's own clean apron, soap and small towel. They supplied equipment on loan, such as earthenware hot water bottles, splints, urinals, bed pans, bed cradles, feeding mugs, and air-cushions as well as providing blankets, clean bed linen, and nightdresses as necessary. Trained Midwives began home births in late 1893 taking midwifery bundles and providing clothes for the babe and mother as needed. This was arduous work, particularly in the heat of summer. Permission to use bicycles was given to the Nurses in 1898 and the Society decided to purchase their own in 1903. A business man offered ‘new free wheel’ bicycles at £13 each which included maintenance for one year. Bells and wooden frames were added, at a cost of £5 per frame, so the Nurses could carry extra equipment. Nurses’ bags were strapped to the handlebars. Soup was made for those in need 2-3 times a week and if patients could not arrange to have it collected the soup was delivered by the Nurses on their bicycles. The use of bicycles caused a change in uniform, with white pith helmets, and veils covering them and tied under their chin, now being used. The Nurses provided high quality nursing care to a range of people, often in destitute situations, some lying on rags on the floor as they had no bed, others with just a bed and maybe a thin blanket, a chair and nothing else. Their ages ranged from babes, children, adults to the elderly. The Nurses gave medications as ordered by a Doctor, dressed wounds e.g. to the injured, and surgical cases, and to those with leg ulcers; attended to patients with ‘surgical ailments’ such as ‘hip disease’; gave care to those with acute illnesses such as bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, measles, and scarlet fever, as well as those with chronic illnesses such as consumption (tuberculosis), heart disease, arthritis, cancer, debility, neuritis and paralysis. Over the years the Nurses complained that their veils became wet in the rain and asked for a change of uniform but this did not occur until 1921. Bicycles continued to be used in inner areas until 1945. Black and white photo of a group of ten (one partially hidden at rear) Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) trained nurses, with each standing with their bicycles in front of a spiked metal fence.The Nurses are wearing their MDNS uniform long grey frocks with white collar, cuffs and belt and white pith helmets with a central Maltese cross. Nursing bags are strapped to five of the bicycles. A large pedestal urn is seen to the left behind the fence between the 3rd and 4th nurse. Bushes and trees are seen in the background. melbourne district nursing society, mdns, nurses, uniforms, mdns transport, mdns equipment, rdns, royal district nursing service