The first hotel built in Orbost was the Club in 1885 an old wooden place on the corner built for J. A. Petersen of the Mitchell Hotel Bairnsdale, with the licence in the name of Mr Thomas Maguire (stepson of Petersen). In June 1889 there was a rush to Mackenzie River, about 28 miles from Orbost, on Twelve Mile Creek. An estimated 80 men rushed the ground, but yields were patchy and large numbers eventually left. They were coming and going almost daily.The Club Hotel was the first hotel built in Orbost and remains a significant building in the town. It was an important hub for the township with many whole town meetings held there.A yellowed black / white newspaper clipping of a photograph of people with a horse and cart outside a one-storey hotel building. It is glued onto a piece of cardboard.Caption at bottom - "View taken in 1889 of the Old Orbost Club Hotel"orbost-club-hotel

P.S Decoy was built in Scotland and reassembled in 1878 in Melbourne. It steamed to Goolwa, arriving in July 1878. It was used on the Darling River, and as a South Australian tug. In 1905 it sailed to Fremantle W.A for use as an excursion vessel. It was towed back to work on the inland river trade on the Darling -Murray system in 1909. It is now a house boat at Mannum. It's owner is Dick Bromhead.( Ref; Parsons, Ron. "Ships of the inland Rivers. P. 65.)The P.S Decoy is significant because it worked as a passenger vessel as well as a transport vessel. It was built in Scotland and reassembled in Melbourne. It was built to use coal, but when it started work on the inland rivers system it was converted to wood fuel.Two black and white photographs ( P000385.1 is missing) of the P.S Decoy passing under a bridge. There are high banks behind the boat and there are nine people on board.On the boat is the word 'Decoy' written on the bow and under the wheelhouse.p.s decoy, darling river, murray river, goolwa, mannum, passenger vessel, bromhead, dick

A colour photograph of the walking track which leads to Steavenson Falls after a snowfall.A colour photograph of the walking track which leads to Steavenson Falls after a snowfall. The Steavenson Falls are named after the Victorian Assistant Commissioner of Roads and Bridges, John Steavenson who arrived in Victoria in the early 1860s.2007/ Steavenson Fallssteavenson falls, waterfalls, marysville, victoria, snow, john steavenson

The letter is to “Lena RICHARDSON” from "William Irwin PHAIR", born Bendigo, enlisted 21.10.1915 age 20 years in the 15th Reinforcements 7th Bn AIF, Regt No 4873, embarked for England 7.3.1916, transfers to 1st Pioneer Bn, returned to Aust 25.1.1919. Refer Cat No 3996P re “Lena” and other cards. Post card, coloured showing a street scene with buildings, people walking and a Trolley car. Extensive letter on the back written in pencil to “Dear Lena”.post card, 7th, wiliam irwin phair, lena

WARRNAMBOOL PUBLIC LIBRARY The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) was formed by a voluntary community group in 1863, within six years of Warrnambool’s beginnings, and it's Reading Room opened in 1854. The WMI operated until 1963, at which time it was one of the oldest Mechanics’ Institutes in Victoria. Mechanics’ Institutes offered important services to the public including libraries, reading rooms and places to display and store collections of all sorts such as curiosities and local historical relics. In 1886 a Museum and Fine Arts Gallery were added to the WMI and by the beginning of the 20th century, there was also a billiards room and a School of Art. By this time all Mechanics’ Institutes in country Victoria had museums attached. Over the years the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Library was also known as the Warrnambool Public Library the Warrnambool Library and the Free Library. Early funding from the government was for the “Free Library”. The inscription in a book “Science of Man” was for the “Warrnambool Public Library”, donated by Joseph Archibald in 1899. Another inscription in the book “Catalogue of Plants Under Cultivation in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens 1 & 2, 1883” was presented to the “Warrnambool Library” and signed by the author W.R. Guilfoyle. In 1903 the Warrnambool Public Library decided to add a Juvenile Department to library and stock it with hundreds of books suitable for youth. In 1905 the Public Library committee decided to update the collection of books and added 100 new novels plus arrangements for the latest novels to be included as soon as they were available in Victoria. In July 1911 the Warrnambool Council took over the management of the Public Library, Art Gallery, Museum and Mechanics’ Institute and planned to double the size of the then-current building. In 1953, when Mr R. Pattison was Public Librarian, the Warrnambool Public Library’s senior section 10,000 of the 13,000 books were fiction. The children’s section offered an additional 3,400 books. The library had the equivalent of one book per head of population and served around 33 per cent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 per cent reference and 40 per cent fiction. The library was lending 400 books per day. In 1963 the Warrnambool City Council allocated the site of the Mechanics’ Institute building, which included the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery, for the new Municipal Offices and the Collections were dispersed until 1971. The Warrnambool Library took over the Mechanics’ Institute Library’s holdings on behalf of the Warrnambool City Council. Since the closure of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, the exact location and composition of the original WMI books and items has become unclear. Other materials have been added to the collection, including items from Terang MI, Warrnambool Court House and Customs House. Many of the books have been identified as the Pattison Collection, named after the Librarian who catalogued and numbered the books during his time as Warrnambool Public Librarian in the time before the Mechanics’ Institute closed. It seems that when Warrnambool became part of the Corangamite Regional Library some of the books and materials went to its head office in Colac and then back to Warrnambool where they were stored at the Art Gallery for quite some time. Some then went to the Warrnambool Historical Society, some stayed at the Art Gallery and some were moved to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The various stamps and labels on the books held at Flagstaff Hill show the variety of the collection’s distribution and origin. The books in the collection at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village date from the 1850’s to the late 1950s and include rare and valuable volumes. Many of the books are part of the “Pattison Collection” after the Warrnambool’s Public Librarian, Mr R. Pattison. Pitcairn Author: Rev Thos. Boyles Murray Publisher: Society For Promoting Christain Knowledge Date: 1860 Further Information: The Islands, The People and the PastorThe label on spine cover has typed text R.A. 994.8 MUR Pastedown front endpaper has the name J. Chambers in handwriting and the date 1878 Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Warrnambool Public Library Flyleaf has a stamp from Warrnambool Public Libraryflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, book, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, warrnambool public library, pitcairn

Shows the importance of the jetty to Cowes around the turn of the 20 century.Postcard with black and white photo in oval frame. Cowes jetty with sailing ships and a large group of people at the end. Also men and jinkers on land.Cowes Jetty, Phillip Island, Victoriacowes, cowes jetty, sailing ships, transport, photographs, local history, postcards

One of a collection of photographs donated by Bruce BennettSepia photograph of the Newhaven Pier with shed front end. Two cars and a boat beside the shed. Two boats near the pier and people on the pier.On back: "Newhaven Wal Steer collection"newhaven pier phillip island, bruce bennett

One of four photographs/postcards donated by Norah Johnson given to her by tourists over the years. (Norah created "The Zoo" in Thompson Avenue, Cowes)Colour postcard of the Cowes Jetty looking towards the foreshore. Lots of people on the pier. Cowes Jetty Shed and Isle of Wight Hotel visable in the background.cowes jetty phillip island, cowes pier phillip island, norah johnson

One of 23 photographs from the Jessie Smith Collection. Donated by Stan McFeeBlack & White photograph of a group or approximately 80 people seated and standing on lawn. Group from the Isle of Wight Hotel. Trees behind them.On back: "Group from Isle of Wight Hotel"isle of wight hotel patrons, phillip island, cowes phillip island, jessie smith collection, stan mcfee

One of a collection of photographs purchased by the Society from Jack Day of Mornington.Black & White postcard of a boat steaming toward the Cowes Pier. Windswept tree in foreground near rocks on foreshore. Five people walking on the pier."235A Cowes Pier"cowes pier, cowes jetty, phillip island, jack day collection

One of a collection of photographs purchased by the Society from Jack Day of Mornington.Black & White postcard of people walking down the Cowes pier to meet the ferry. Two yachts and one dingy anchored along side the pier.cowes pier, cowes jetty, phillip island, jack day collection

Black and white reproductive photograph of earlier image. People standing in front of Post Office building - double storey bluestone with decorative stone balcony.Front: Post Office, Portland (on photograph original). Portland Post Office Cnr Bentinck & Cliff Streets c1900 (built 1991) (typed label, lower centre). Back: B21766/98 (pencil, upper left). State Library of South Australia Photographic Section. Order No. A16493 (stamp, centre).portland post office

Displayed at History House.Black and white photograph of large crowd of people outside a wooden building. They are not posed for the camera. All adults are wearing semi-formal dress with hats.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: This was taken at the school at Portland. Wal is the only one of us in the photo. He is the second from the left (ink, left), Otway Street (blue pen, centre).

Campsites along the road leading to the Halls Gap shops.The photo shoes tents and cars amongst the bush beside a dirt road. Three people can be seen sitting/reclining on a rug in the right foreground.recreation, camping

Viewing area is known as The Balconies overlooking Victoria Valley. Photo is typical of tourism photos taken by the Victorian Railways during this period. c1950 -60'sa group of people (17) standing on a rocky ledge overlooking a treed valley. a second rock ledge is above them creating the impression of a large mouth. Printed on back: Copyright Photograph. This photograph may be reproduced on condition that it is acknowledged a s 'VICTORIAN RAILWAYS PHOTOGRAPH'. P3465 written faintly in pencil. The Balconies Halls Gap written in blue penscenery, lookouts

Emerald Football Club won the district Premiership in 1931, and had this photograph taken by Ferdinand ("Freddy") Woermer, whose stamp is on the reverse of the mounting. Woermer lived in a humpy on the Monbulk-Seville Road, Silvan (then Burleigh), and worked around the district as a professional photographer. He used a hollowed tree stump as a dark room for developing photographs.This photograph has double significance. On the one hand, it depicts the premiership team members in 1931. On the other, it is the work of F Woermer, a figure of some interest in the area.B/W photograph of the 1931 Emerald Football Club Premiers team, 22 people in all. Woodlands in background. Photo is glued to heavy cardboard.Rear: Stamp of manufacturers "F Woermer, Silvan Vic" and handwritten date "1931"emerald football club, woermer

Included in the photograph are: Arch Shillingford; Mick Spink; Jim Hossack; Mollie B.: Madge ?; Beatrice Morgan. The group appears to be a group of students. There is no other information with this item.This photograph shows the swimming attire common in the 1920s.A black / white photograph of thirteen people on a beach. The back row, all males, is standing and the front, females, sitting. They are mostly dressed in swimming costumes.on front - handwritten names photograph-beach recreation-swimming

Black and white photographs of wooden building. Flags flying from overhead string. People assembled outside. Signage on building reads 'Mechanics Institute'.Stamped on rear of one copy: J.B.McAlpin, Estate and Financial Agent, District Government Valuer, RINGWOOD.

Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and was awarded a gold medal for the highest marks in the ALCM examinations in the British Colonies at the age of seventeen years. He became the Australian Open Cornet Champion by the age of eighteen. A year later, Frank conducted the City of Ballarat Band, and later the Ballarat Soldiers’ Memorial Band. He formed the Frank Wright Frisco Band and Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra. These bands won many South Street awards, and Frank as conductor won many awards in the Australian Band Championship contest. In 1933 Frank Wright sailed to England to conduct the famous St Hilda’s Band and was later appointed Musical Director of the London County Council, where he organized many amazing concerts in parks, in and around the London district. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and conducted at the Guildhall of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. The Frank Wright Medal at the Royal South Street competition is awarded to an individual recognized as making an outstanding contribution to brass music in Australia.Black and white photograph of a steam train standing at Allendale Station. In the background is open countryside. The doors of the carriages are open and there are a few people standing on the platform.Written in pen on back - The 7.50 am train at Allendale R.S. Taken from foot bridge (overhead), 1/11/22, F.W. (au)frank wright, train, allendale, station, steam train, railway

1987 Cooking school's competition - Lady in red apron talking to elderly lady, several people around man cooking bbq. Location Unknown.Kodakevent, entertainment, school's cooking competition

BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO x 2 -male and female / mounted on cardboard. Two older and two younger people standing in front of a motor carphotograph, person, male / female

Fifteen Handwritten documents with heading 'Advances & Rents Payable'. Years 1902-94 listed. Lists of named people outlining amounts advanced and payable.bendigo, industry, cohn bros brewery