Mrs Jessie Beardmore, wife of the Shire President, Mr Henry Beardmore, was invited to switch on the electrical current at the power house in Wodonga on 15th January 1912. This was not the official opening of the newly installed system which took place a few weeks later. Disagreement existed amongst Shire Councillors about the official opening, several of them including Mr Beardmore believing the opening should only take place when the scheme was completed. However Dr Schlink, Mr D. M. Stavely, Cr Twomey and Mr C. Holloway, Engineer for the Electric Lighting Company, arranged a small ceremony to turn lights on for the first section of the scheme. This included street lighting along Sydney Street between South Street and the Shire Hall as well as a few business houses and private establishments, with the balcony of the Terminus Hotel illuminated by over 100 lights. Other areas and buildings were connected over the following weeks. Mr Beardmore was not present at the beginning of proceedings but joined the crowd in the street. During a small number of speeches, credit for his work to instigate and further the introduction of electricity to Wodonga was given to Councillor Twomey, referred to as “the father of the scheme”. This item is significant because it records the first connection of electricity to Wodonga in 1912.A hand written letter addressed to Mrs Beardmore of Wodonga. A portrait of Mrs Beardmore is also included. A transcript of the letter is included below. Wodonga 15 -1-12 Mrs Beardmore Wodonga Dear Madam, Mr Holloway, Engineer for the Electric Lighting Company, has invited me to invite you as the wife of the Shire President to switch on the electric supply for the town at the power house not later than 8.30PM (this evening). Hoping that you and Mr Beardmore can make it convenient to attend. I remain yours sincerely, R. H. Schlinkbeardmore family, electricity in wodonga

Ballarat School of Mines was a predecessor of Federation University. .1 Letter from The Institute of Engineers, Australia requiring conformation of information regarding Alfred Thomas Henry Adams. .2 Reply to Letter from The Institute of Engineers, Australia confirming informationthe institute of electrical engineers, school of mines ballarat, w.k. brasher, r.w. richards

Vida Evelyn Holmes born 1903, Byaduk, second daughter of Joseph and Agnes Holmes, Byaduk. Worked as a nurse and died in Warrnambool hospital in 1928. 7358 Pte William Thomas Harper, born 1896, Byaduk, 8th Battalion-24th Reinforcements, embarked in Melbourne on HMAT A 70 Ballarat, and killed 3rd May 1918, aged 22 years, buried in Outtersteene Communnal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul, France, Grave HMAT A70 Ballarat, a transport ship sunk by a submarine in the English Channel1809.1-1R envelope 14.5 x 9.00cm, opened along upper side 1809.2-4R letter 22.5 x 15.00cm, 3 pages of buff writing paper, handwritten blue on both sides 1809.5-.5R military pass 19,00 x 10.00cm, commercial pull out sheet, slight pertains on left hand side 1809.6-.9R postcards 14.00 x 9.00cm, sepia photographs/views, green ink, red 1d penny stamp and handwriting. 1809.1-1R envelope: light sepia, ink postage stamp and black ink address and sender details, reverse has lead pencil calculations 1809.2-4R letter: buff writing paper, blue ink handwriting on both sides 1809.5-.5R military pass: printed, blue stamped and handwritten information, red signature Wm T Harper; reverse - black printed instruction and chart 1809.6-.9R postcards: Souvenir of Salisbury/Views Only, partial postmark.Miss Vida Holmes/Byaduk/Hamilton/Victoria/Australia Reverse inside note signed 'Yours Sincerely/Cousin Bill/ One of the "Ballarat' heroes/...s the King calls you/ Wednesday May 9th 1917Love to all the children/and Mother and Fathervida holmes, bill harper, hmat a70 ballarat, ww 1, byaduk, letter, postcard, military pass, 7358

A letter for Capt. P.R. Young doing a refresher course for parachute jumping so that he could parachute in the couse of his duties as Australian Intelligence Service dated 10 January 1962 with US special forces. Found in top left hand pocket of jacket. Cat. No. 11889letter, young, peter raymond

The "letters to Lillie" show the international nature of the Mission to Seafarers. They are an important display of the handwriting style of the time, revealing courting attempts and give us an insight into life in 1925.Lillie Duncan was a member of the Harbour Lights Guild and this letter forms part of a collection of letters sent to her by different seafarers.Letter addressed to Miss Lillie Duncan, 11 Paxton St, East Malvern, Melbourne, Australia from J. Kokx M.S.S. Medusa c/o PM San Francisco 5th Div Cal. in two parts: Part 0098.1 Envelope Part 0098.2 Letter Both the envelope and the letter are creamy yellow in colour with black curly writing on one side of the envelope and both sides of the letter. The letter begins with "Dear Miss Duncan. I am very..." and concludes with "I will answer your letter most promptly I swear I will, Lovingly Julius Kokx"The envelope is torn across the top for access to its contents. It has three 2 cent stamp with the text "United States Postage" across the top and "Washington" underneath.handwriting, correspondence, melbourne, lillie duncan, julius kokx, san pedro, california, uss medusa, lhlg

Protestant Alliance Friendly Society handwritten letter

Letter from George Minns to his aunty

David McKenzie obituary, Romsey Examiner 1928 Another of Australia’s very old pioneers in the person of Mr McKenzie, passed away last weekend at his daughters residence At regent at the ripe old age of 92 years ( he would be 93 in November) Born at Berwick of Tweed Scotland, the late Mr McKenzie arrived in Australia with two of his uncles in 1855 by the ship “Red Jacket”. A stone- mason by trade he worked about Melbourne and at Geelong until attack by “gold fever” but met with no success at this venture so he returned to his trade, arriving at Melton about 1860. There he married and settles for about 20 years. In 1880 the Cherokee Heights with its subdivision was famous and Mr McKenzie moved there with his daughter. He continues in his trade, his work extending to Gisborne, Bacchus Marsh, Romsey, and Springfield and other places, where to this day, may be seen monuments of his skill and through tradesmanship as a mason. During his residence in the Mount, he took a keen interest in all the affairs of Kerrie and Cherokee, and he was a familiar figure at all the public gatherings at which he nearly always filled the position of Chairman, because of outstanding qualifications. He was a man of those sterling qualities possessed by those men who laid the foundation of this country so well and truly. Loyal, broad of vision, just in thought and deed, honourable to the extreme in all dealings, fearless in the cause of right, a lover of home and family, and ready to lend a hand to all progressive movements. To the memory of those grand men the youth of today should lift their hats in reverence. Mr McKenzie was a prolific reader of educational works, and the wonderful knowledge he retained upon a variety of subjects was a source joy to those who associated with him. His wife predeceased him by 43 years ago soon after arrival in Cherokee. A Pioneer of Melton There are probably some residents left at Melton and Bacchus Marsh who will remember the late Mr McKenzie, one of them has written as follows:- I knew the late Mr. McKenzie since I was a little boy – over 50 years ago- and no better man ever lived than he, he was a good man from every point of view. The late Mr McKenzie was born on the November 25th, 1835 at Montrose, Scotland. He came to Australia in 1853 and resided for a time with his uncle the late Mr. Gibson on the Kororoit Creek near Melton. A few years later he settled in Melton. In 1861 he was married to Miss Mary Buchanan, the eldest daughter of the late Mr. George Buchanan, one of the early settlers of Melton. Deceased resided on the main road to Bacchus Marsh one mile from Melton. He was a stone- mason by trade, and some fine buildings in Melton and surrounding districts to this day, stand to his credit. He built the Presbyterian Church Melton. The old school, the Shire Hall, many private dwellings and numerous bridges. He was highly respected, as he was well known for the good work he put into all he had to do with. He also took numerous contracts in the Melton Shire, and was also employed by the Shire as Clerk of Works. He was a most conscious man. In his day he took a prominent part in all public affairs, and was a leading spirit in the old school Board. He was one of the pioneers of the Melton Rechabite Tent. He was one of the earliest workers and supporters of the Melton Presbyterian Church, of which he was an elder, and for a great number of years, its Sunday School Superintendent and Teacher. He also lead the singing for many years before the days of the organ, as he had a splendid voice, and could sing his old Scotch songs and hymns up to within six months of his death. For the past five years he has resided with one of his daughters at north Preston, where he died. He had good health up to within six months of his death and could well remember all the early happenings at Melton and surrounding districts. There are five daughters and one living son:- Margaret Mrs. Walter Wyatt Twose of Burnley Elizabeth Mrs George Shebler of Brunswick Georgina Mrs Jack Sinclair Isabel Mrs H Knight of North Preston Jane Mrs William Gibson of Warragul John W. of Fremantle - Western Australia Letter from Margaret to the Melton Presbyterian Churchchurches, local architecture

This letter book (1910-1922) was found in the old Mackay Taylor building in Kepler Street. The Secretary of the Presbytery of Mortlake in the early 1900s was George Mackay who established his legal business in 1891 and merged with the business of James Fletcher in 1893 to form Fletcher and Mackay. In the 1920s J. Taylor joined the business which was known from then on as Mackay and Taylor and this firm existed until the 1990s. George Mackay was prominent in Warrnambool civic and community affairs and was Secretary of St. John’s Presbyterian Church for many years. The Presbytery of Mortlake was an administrative district committee established in 1862 and included the Presbyterian churches of Port Fairy, Tower Hill, Wangoom, Allansford, Warrnambool, Woodford, Hexham, Caramut, Mortlake and Terang. The committee consisted of the local ministers, some elders and other church representatives and met monthly or quarterly to discuss church business that affected the region.This letter book is of some significance as it indicates the type of business carried out by a district church council – properties, missions, individual church problems etc. It also shows the community work of George Mackay, a prominent Warrnambool resident at the time, and the book contains his signature many times over. The book will be of interest to researchers. This is a ledger with dark blue binding and binding reinforcements on the spine and corners. The inside covers are lined with thick paper in a mottled blue, black and white coloured pattern. There are 249 pages of copies of letters written, some typed, some handwritten. Front cover: Label with typed title ‘Presbytery of Mortlake’ Spine:’ Letter Book’, ‘Mortlake Presby’. presbytery of mortlake, george mackay, warrnambool

Framed letter written by Lord Palmerston to the porter of a hotel. Written from Broadlands 19th October 1863. Letter is framed with a picture of Palmerston placed above it. Frame 12" x 14"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, lord palmerston, letter

Certificate and letter between members of the Wallop family in an attempt to find out if the Harker /Wilson Archie and Ruby , are related to them and the Earl of Portsmouth. Ruby is the connection with the Wieland Family.Original scroll pertaining to the Earl of Portsmouth in England, and a printed photocopy. Letter on blue airmail paper with family tree. Tha aim is to find a connection with this family and the Harked / Wilson part of the Wieland Family. All contained within PostPak cyclinder.

Bob Hymans Collection Bob (Herman) Hymans (a former member of the Royal Netherlands Navy) was born in Bloemendaal, Holland on 30th September 1922. During World War II he fought against the Japanese in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and was imprisoned in Changi and on the Burma Railway. After gaining qualifications as a Ski Instructor, Bob arrived in Falls Creek in July 1950. Working as an Instructor and Supervisor at Bogong Lodge, Bob decided his future was in accommodation. He was successful in negotiating an indenture for land from the State Electricity Commission (SEC). It took Bob two years to build his Grand Coeur Chalet but, tragically, it was burned down in August 1961. Bob also built the first Chairlift in Australia. This was a single chairlift and the structure was built from wooden electricity poles. He was constantly full of new ideas and proposals for the village. Bob Hymans die on 7th July 2007. This Collection of documents and letters tells the story of Bob's endeavours to develop Falls Creek into the ski village it is today.This letter is significant because it documents plans made by Bob Hymans to develop Falls Creek Tourist Area.This letter was written to Bob Hymans by Vladimir Hájek from Australasian Ropeways 05.02.1960. It discusses plans for a chairlift at Arthurs Seat on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. The chairlift was built by Vladimir Hájek, a Czech engineer and opened on 21 December 1960. australasian ropeways, chairlift falls creek, vladimir hájek

Letter dated 7/1/1945 from Wing Commander ???? 83 Squadron RAF in Lincolnshire to Mrs Wilkinson acknowledging her letter dated 30/11/1944 seeking names and addresses of members of her late son's crew on the night they went missing. From collection of photographs and cuttings dedicated to the memory of WILKINSON JOHN HUDSON : Service Number - 400444 : Date of birth - 18 Feb 1914 : Place of birth - RUTHERGLEN VIC : Place of enlistment - MELBOURNE : Next of Kin - WILKINSON HUDSON. Wilkinson was awarded the distinguished flying cross in March 1944 and tragically killed in action over Germany also in 1944. See also 237 and 240. Original letter in black type Single page with embossed crest letterheadpilot, kia, killed in action, dfc, distinguished flying cross, wwii, world war two, air force

Early attempts to have a water supply connected to Cowes. It includes figures on tourism, valuations of local properties, local primary produce and what water they require.HistoricalFoolscap size carbon copy of typed letter. 7pagesThe Honourable The Minister for Water Supply. Suggested motions to be put to the meeting of ratepayers, 13 May 1936water supply, shire of phillip island, agriculture, isle of wight, anderson property, valuations, charmadene, bonnie doon guest house, population, tourism, primary produce, d h robb, r a grayden, h v johnston, j thornborrow, e r scott

Letter to J.R. Pound wishing him a speedy recovery7th June 1949 Dr J.R. Pound Dana Street Ballarat Dear Dr Pound, On behalf of the President, School of Council and Staff, I desire to tender you sincere sympathy on your serius illness and to wish you a speedy and complete recovery. With kindest personal regards and best wishes, Yours faithfully F.E. Ferguson Registrarballarat school of mines, j.r. pound, f.e. ferguson, illness