James Alexander Robertson was born 14th June, 1855, at Pentridge. the Coburg area which was known as Pentridge at the time, and prior to the building of the gaol. His parents were James Thomson Robertson and Esther (nee Hale), At age 20 James became the first selector on the Snowy River at Lochend. He took up Lots 1, 2 and 3, in the Parish of Newmerella in 1875; with his selection being ratified on May 1st, 1876. The selection included hill and river flat land in the area near where Icy Creek enters the Snowy River. James gradually improved and farmed the property; he cleared and drained Icy Creek and constructed the first known flood-gate on the Snowy River. To meet his farming commitments he supplemented his income by working on the construction and maintenance of roads and drains in the Newmerella area. He gained a contract with the Bairnsdale Shire council to construct the first road cutting down Burn’s Hill at Newmerella. His tender was for £16 ($32), and it took him, with four others, two months to complete the contract. He was single, and, after his untimely death at aged 29, in 1884, his parents and surviving unmarried sisters and brothers moved from Sarsfield to take over his selection at Lochend. (more information Newsletter April 2013)James Robertson was the first selector of land at Lochend, Orbost.A small black / white portrait photograph, oval shaped with a white background. It is of a middle-aged man with a full beard and moustache.on front at bottom - typed in black -:"James Alexander Robertson, Late of Lochend, Snowy River"robertson-james-alexander lochend-robertson

This certificate was presented to Donald David Thomson , sleeper hewer, aged 42 years for rescuing S.C. Curtis, aged 52, G. Wylie, aged 54, J. Dalgleish, aged 5 from flood waters at White gulch on the Snowy River on January 8, 1934. (The certificate reads as White's Gulch but should be Watt's gulch.) Although damage estimated at 500,000 pounds was caused by the unprecedented floods along the Snowy River, no lives were lost because of the courageous actions of men like Donald Thomson.A framed copy of a printed and hand-written certificate from the Royal Humane Society of Australia awarded to Donald David Thomson for rescuing victims of the floodwaters in Orbost January 1934. It is dated 6.3.1934.Printed at top of certificate: THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY / OF AUSTRALASIA. Has names of Society patrons and committee as well as names and ages of those rescued. award certificate royal-humane-society flood snowy-river 1934 thomson-david

This photograph shows the construction of the first bridge over the Snowy River at Orbost being built. a copy was also donated by Gil and Heather Richardson. The first pile bridge over the Snowy River was just completed by Mr Jim Granter when the 1891 flood took out the centre,. There were differences of opinion as to whether the council should pay . The Shire Secretary, Mr John Draffin, persuaded them to honour their obligations. Mr Granter and Mr Clarke finished it as a suspension bridge which was opened by Mrs William Watt. Soon after a mob of cattle stampeded, the weight snapped the cable, letting one side sag. Mr R.P. Cameron repaired it and this bridge remained until 1922. "In 1890 the contract for a bridge was let to Mr James Granter for £1450. This structure with additions and improvements made to it was to cost the ratepayers about £2,500, and its erection was proceeded with in a very satisfactory manner until, just as the greater-part of the work had been completed, the flood of 1891 came down on it, piling up mountains of logs, timber and debris against the piers, which had not been made wide enough apart to allow for. contingencies of this kind. The structure held out bravely until the turn of the flood and then gave way with a crash, about five bays from the centre disappearing in the stream." ( Snowy River Mail August 12 1893)This is a pictorial record of the construction of the first bridge over the Snowy River.A black / white photograph of four men working on the construction of a new bridge and its pylons a man is standing on a timber tower/ derrick. There are logs in the foreground, trees in the background. sheds on the left and possibly a steam engine.on back - "first bridge - 1st pile being driven"snowy-river-bridge granter-jim bridge

This bridge over the Snowy River was opened on July 4 1922. It was constructed in 1922 alongside the previous suspension bridge. Its building was a combined effort of the Victorian Railways and the Country Roads Board at a cost of 35,000 pounds. It was replaced in 1976 by the present bridge after several major floods. This photograph shows people walking over the bridge for the last time.This is a pictorial record of the former Snowy River Bridge at Orbost.A black / white photograph showing a group of people walking across a bridge. There are several cars, a man on a horse and people standing on the side of the roadway.on back - "1976 - old bridge"snowy-river-bridge-1976

This photograph shows the second major bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost. The current Snowy River bridge is the fourth to provide a crossing to the township of Orbost. The first, in 1891, lasted just two years before it succumbed to flood waters. The bridge in this photograph was built in the 1920s as a road and rail bridge, and was again partly washed away by flood waters in 1934. After the end of the first World War the Victorian Railways considered an extension of the railhead across the river at Orbost, and in 1922 a new timber and steel girder structure, a joint Country Roads Board — Victorian Railways venture, was built and completed at a cost of £41,000 (the steel girders came from the Flinders Street viaduct reconstruction). Subsequently it was decided not to take the railway across the river, and the bridge was only used by road traffic. It was severely battered by floods during its life. and after the devastating 1971 floods was eventually replaced by the current bridge in 1975. (info from Newletter 54N by John Phillips)This is a pictorial record of the flood damage in 1971 when part of the Snowy River Bridge was washed away.A black / white photograph of a bridge which has been damaged by floodwaters. It shows one end has been washed away.orbost-snowy-river-bridge-1971 floods-orbost-1971

They are both pieces of ribbon used for the opening of the snowy River Bridge on July 4 1922. The ribbon was made to represent the red, white and blue of the British flag. This was the second bridge over the Snowy River. The first bridge was officially opened in August, 1893 (ref. S.R.M. 12.8.1893) by Mrs W. Watt, the mother of Councillor Watt, who presided over the opening of the 1922 bridge. This bridge was extensively damaged when a herd of cattle allegedly stampeded over it causing the cable to snap. Even after repairs it became obvious that a new bridge was needed. This second bridge, was built by the Victorian Railways and the Country Roads Board. Constructed at a cost of 35,000 pounds and used second-hand girders from the Flinders Street- Spencer Street viaduct. On July 4 1922 it was officially opened by Mrs James Cameron. Unfortunately, her husband, who had long championed the building of the bridge so that it would be ready for the railway to continue to the border, was too ill to attend the ceremony. In fact, James Cameron died on July 13 after a long and severe illness (ref. S.R.M. 20.7.1922). Souvenirs kept by enthusiastic spectators like this have helped to preserve the history of an important Orbost event.Two pieces of ribbon in British flag pattern of red, white and blue. These have been pinned onto card with a handwritten description of their history.snowy-river cameron souvenir

This photograph shows vehicles and people being ferried across the Snowy River during the 1934 flood. The Orbost punt was reinstated on a temporary basis following damage to the bridge. Damage estimated at £500,000 was caused by the 1934 floods in the Orbost district. This 1934 flood was devastating, destroying a section of the 1922 Orbost bridge, wrecking fences, bridges and roads, dumping silt and debris on the rich river flats and drowning cattle. The centre span of the Orbost Bridge was washed away.This is a pictorial record of the effects of the 1934 floods in the Orbost district.A large black / white photograph of a punt with a motor vehicle and people making their way across a river.on front - "On the Snowy 1934"snowy-river-orbost flood-1934 river-transport-punt

This printer's block was used by the Snowy River Mail in the 1920's. This block is an advertisement for Tomlinson and McFarlane Bros, Drapers and General Merchants of Nicholson Street, Orbost.Since 1890 the Snowy River Mail has been the local newspaper of the Orbost district.This local paper has been the means by which readers in Orbost were able to learn about newsworthy events and issues in their local community for over a century.A printer's block from the Snowy River Mail. It is an advertisement for ladies' wear in the 1920's. It is an ad for Tomlinson and McFarlane Bros.of Nicholson Street Orbost and advertises fashionable contour corsets. The plate is nailed onto a block of chipboard.printing newspaper media advertisement tomlinson-and-mcfarlane-bros

This is a bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost. This bridge was built in the 1920s as a road and rail bridge, and was partly washed away by flood waters in 1934. After the end of the first World War the Victorian Railways considered an extension of the railhead across the river at Orbost, and in 1922 a new timber and steel girder structure, a joint Country Roads Board — Victorian Railways venture, was built and completed at a cost of £41,000 (the steel girders came from the Flinders Street viaduct reconstruction). Subsequently it was decided not to take the railway across the river, and the bridge has only been used by road traffic.This is a pictorial record of an early bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost.A very large black / white photograph under glass in a timber frame. It is of a bridge across a river and is framed by trees.bridge snowy-river-bridge road-transport-orbost

A new bridge over the Snowy River at Orbost was opened for traffic on June 20th 1922. It was intended as a road and rail bridge, and was again partly washed away by flood waters in 1934. After the end of the first World War the Victorian Railways considered an extension of the railhead across the river at Orbost, and in 1922 a new timber and steel girder structure, a joint Country Roads Board — Victorian Railways venture, was built and completed at a cost of £41,000 (the steel girders came from the Flinders Street viaduct reconstruction). Subsequently it was decided decided not to take the railway across the river, and the bridge was only used by road traffic. This is a pictorial record of an early bridge over the Snowy River at Orbost.A black / white postcard photograph of a bridge across a shallow river with men on horseback underneath.snowy-river-bridge

The publication, VicRoads Centenary: Keeping Victorians Connected for 100 Years, looks at the people and projects that define VicRoads’ history. Written by current and former VicRoads’ employees, the publication details the organisation’s portfolio of major projects, which includes the Great Ocean Road, Hume Highway and Eastern Freeway. Other sections report on Victoria’s world-first road safety initiatives, VicRoads’ use of technology and sustainability measures. (ref VicRoads) This item is one of several books donated by David Jellie at a presentation to Orbost Historical Society. He was a contributor to the book and was the engineer for the Snowy River Bridge (Princes Highway) at Orbost 1974-1976.This book is a useful reference tool on the history of road construction in Victoria including East Gippsland.A thick, bound paperback book, titled "VicRoads Centenary Keeping Victorians Connected for 100 Years". On the front cover is a black/white photograph of two men working on a road. One has a pick. The book contains the history of VicRoads, photographs, maps and advertisements. Some are b/w. Others are coloured.vicroads book roads snowy-river-bridge jellie-david

This inset was published to commemorate the Curlip Festival on 28/30 November 2008 and the P.S. Curlip 11 launch. The Snowy River Mail is an East Gippsland Newspaper. The original PS Curlip was a paddle steamer built in a Tabbara sawmill in 1889 by Samuel Richardson and his sons. It was operated along the Snowy River in Australia's Gippsland region between 1890 and 1919, before being washed out to sea, and broken on Marlo beach, by a flash flood. The Orbost and district community started a project in 2002 to construct a live steam powered replica, albeit somewhat larger than the original to meet safety regulations and carry additional passengers for commercial reasons, the Paddle Steamer Curlip II with the assistance of grants from the Federal and Victorian State Governments.Construction was started in earnest by shipwright, Bill Jones, in August 2006, and with the assistance of roughly 200 volunteers (a core group of 10 performing the majority of the work), she was finally completed and launched on the Snowy River in late November 2008. The construction of P.S.Curlip 11 was a community project which began as a project to re-engage the timber-working community of Orbost. The construction and launch was a major community event. The local newspaper, The Snowy River Mail, documented its progress on a regular basis.An insert from the Snowy River Mail newspaper dated November 2008. On the front cover is a coloured photograph of the Paddle Steamer Curlip 11. It contains photographs, information on the history of P.S. Curlip and the construction of Curlip 11. There are details of the Curlip Festival and advertisements.newspaper p.s.curlip

Black and white postcard of wharf at Marlo with SS Blackbird moored Marlo VictoriaMarlo Wharf Snowy Riverwaterways, bridges, rivers

The Henley on Snowy was a water carnival held on Saturday, 14th December, 1918. "It included a procession of decorated cars, buggies, etc., fancy costumes and sets, which left the township at 12.30. At 1 p.m. there was a speculator display of decorated boats. A luncheon, also afternoon tea and tea, was served by the ladies of the Red Cross, and the stalls were in the hands of the Comforts Fund girls." (ref Snowy River Mail 8.11.1919) Half of the proceeds were to go to the local Repatriation fund, the other half to be divided equally between the Y.M.C.A. and the Comforts' League. Unfortunately the carnival was not as successful as promised and the funds raised were not substantial. (More info. from O.D.H.S. May 2008 Newsletter by John Phillips)These badges are part of a historical local event. Two small paper Local Repatriation badges. They have a picture of a boat on the Snowy river and "Henley on Snowy- Orbost". 554.1 has a ribbon attached.henley-on-snowy water-carnival repatriation-funds

These postcards were made for sale in the Orbost Ehibition Centre. The Snowy River Talking Wall is on the lower outside of the Orbost Exhibition Centre. The cards relate the history of Orbost both indigenous and white. The contributors are: Barry Miller; Gary Green; Becky Illume; Dawn Van Den Berg; Ruth Hansen; Geordie Webb; Graham Falls; Laurie Harvey and Jonathon Renn. The Orbost Exhibition Centre is a community based, not-for-profit arts and entertainment center in Orbost, Victoria. It is the home to the National Wood Design Collection and the Annual Australian Wood Design Exhibition. Wood Workers of Orbost and District initiated the Orbost Exhibition Centre back in 1997 and it was opened in 2004. (from web-site)These postcards are pictorial advertisements for Orbost. They are associated with the Orbost Exhibition Centre, an important tourist attraction, in the town.A set of eleven coloured postcards. Each depicts a section of the Snowy River Talking Wall. Each is a folded rectangle of cardboard with a photograph of a section of the display and information relating to it.talking-wall-orbost postcards orbost-exhibition-centre

This is a 2nd edition of an earlier print, 1978. It has been revised and edited by John Phillips for the Orbost & District Historical Society in 2010. Harry Grosvenor was the headmaster at Newmerella School from 1962 to 1972. Harry was deeply involved in the 1978 publication by the Newmerella Progress Association called: Newmerella - Valley of Plenty. The book is a pictorial history of the early Newmerella district ( west of the Snowy River ).This is a local history book written by Harry Grosvenor a local author.A paperback book, titled Newmerella Valley of Plenty. The front cover is brown with white text and has three b/w photographs of the Snowy River flats as sen from the Newmerella hill. One is a photograph of the railway line with a steam train on the rail viaduct. newmerella-history

Letter on back to Miss Evans Lima East via BenallaCorrespondence on a postcard with view of Snowy River at Dickens Knob Victoriawaterways, topography, correspondence

These are photographs of students at the Orbost Higher Elementary School in 1923. They were taken at the Snaggers Lane end of the Snowy River. with the students is teacher, Miss Wyatt. In the photograph, bottom right, from L-R are Miss Gwen Hobson from the Orbost state School who started hockey in Orbost; Miss Bessie Goudie from the Higher Elementary School, Pen Gilbert, school captain, Miss Jean Wyatt an exchange teacher from England. the swimmers include Muriel Grose; Vera Swan; Annie and Myra Malcolm, Alice and Florrie Boucher and Mollie and Alice Hammil. During 1910-11 the first approaches were made to the Department for the establishment of a HES in Orbost and this became a reality in 1912. Orbost HES supplied post-primary education in the district until a high school was built in 1948.Orbost High School / Orbost Secondary College has played a significant part in the education of senior students in the Orbost district . It is the sole senior educational institution. This item is representative of its history. Four black / white photographs pasted onto grey cardboard. each is labelled - had-written in black print. A label is attached to the bottom of the card. Two of the photographs are of groups of students wearing swimming costumes sitting on a river bank A teacher is with them holding an open umbrella. Another photograph is of a group of students in swimming costumed standing in water. The other is of four women sitting on a large tree log in front of a wooden building.at top - "SCHOOL SWIMMING SNOWY RIVER" There are hand-written labels under the photographs and a list of names attached to the bottom with metal paper clips.education-orbost orbost-higher-elementary-school swimming-carnival

A new bridge over the Snowy River at Orbost was opened for traffic on June 20th 1922. It was designed for future joint use by road and railway traffic, but it was only used for road traffic. During the last few years the condition of an old suspension bridge [the 1893 bridge] which was the only vehicular crossing between the town of Orbost and the railway station, caused much concern. The structure was of timber, except for the wire suspension cables of its central span of about 100 feet. A design was prepared in 1914 for a permanent bridge with five spans of 85 feet composed of plate girders on concrete piers. With great increase in the price of steel work during the war, the cost of this design became prohibitive, and the need for a new structure becoming urgent, alternative proposals were investigated. As a result the present design was adopted as providing a sem-permanent bridge at moderate cost. The new bridge spans the river about 160 feet upstream from the old bridge on a slight skew, the piers being at an angle of 80 degrees with the centre line of the bridge. It has a camber of about 2 feet 5 inches in its total length of 527 feet. ( information from Newsletter March 2014 - Lois Crisp) The photograph shows Mrs James Cameron cutting the ribbon at the opening of the Orbost Pile Bridge in 1922. This second bridge, was built by the Victorian Railways and the Country Roads Board. Constructed at a cost of 35,000 pounds and used second-hand girders from the Flinders Street- Spencer Street viaduct. On July 4 1922 it was officially opened by Mrs James Cameron. Unfortunately, her husband, who had long championed the building of the bridge so that it would be ready for the railway to continue to the border, was too ill to attend the ceremony. In fact, James Cameron died on July 13 after a long and severe illness (ref. S.R.M. 20.7.1922). There is a section of this ribbon in the collection - Registration No. 366. This is a pictorial record of a significant event in Orbost's history.A black / white photograph of a pile bridge with a suspension bridge behind it. There are many people standing on the bridge.on back - "Opening of Pile Bridge - 1922"snowy-river-bridge ceremonies cameron-mrs

These photographs are pictorial records of the signs at the Orbost town entry points.Three black / white photographs. 3277.1 is a sign on stone pillars at the top of a hill - "WELCOME TO SNOWY RIVER COUNTRY ORBOST TURN LEFT". 3277.2 shows a road leading into a town. There is a sign on the left - "ORBOST" and a service station on the right. 3277.3 shows a row of newly planted trees between a road and a school.3277.1 on back - "WELCOME TO SNOWY RIVER COUNTRY - ORBOST sign - Princes Highway - Newmerella" 3277.2 on back - "East Gippsland Shire Sign on eastern approach to ORBOST., in Salisbury Street, near Orbost Secondary College" 3277.3 on back - "Tree planting in Salisbury St, Orbost in front of Orbost High School looking west towards Orbost township"photographs-orbost orbost-township-entry salisbury-street-trees town-entry road-signs-orbost

Photographic proof on light cardBlack and white photograph of Snowy River from top of Turnback Mountain VictoriaValley of the Snowywaterways

This was presented to Mrs Norma Crowe for Best Period Costume in 1988.This item is associated with an event in Orbost from the second half of the 20th century.A sash made of white material with blue flock printing glued on. It has a red fringe.SNOWY RIVER MARLO CUP BEST PERIOD COSTUME 1988sash marlo-cup

The book was written by Deborah Hall in order to preserve the memories of Orbost locals as well as to record its early history. Local history tends to be less documented than other types, with fewer books and artifacts than that of a country or continent. Many local histories are recorded as oral tales or stories and so are more vulnerable than more well known issues. Because it records in a scholarly way the meories of local residents, Deborah Hall's book is a commonly used reference for the early history of Orbost and districtA 158 pp book titled In Times Gone By Orbost on the Snowy River. It is a photographic record of early Orbost and District. It has a dark green coverwith a photograph of the first pile bridge over the Snowy river at Orbost. The book was authored by Deborah Hall.orbost-history reminiscences hall-deborah

The photograph shows Mrs James Cameron cutting the ribbon at the opening of the Orbost Pile Bridge in 1922. The first bridge was officially opened in August, 1893 (ref. S.R.M. 12.8.1893) by Mrs W. Watt, the mother of Councillor Watt, who presided over the opening of the 1922 bridge. This bridge was extensively damaged when a herd of cattle allegedly stampeded over it causing the cable to snap. Even after repairs it became obvious that a new bridge was needed. This second bridge, was built by the Victorian Railways and the Country Roads Board. Constructed at a cost of 35,000 pounds and used second-hand girders from the Flinders Street- Spencer Street viaduct. On July 4 1922 it was officially opened by Mrs James Cameron. Unfortunately, her husband, who had long championed the building of the bridge so that it would be ready for the railway to continue to the border, was too ill to attend the ceremony. In fact, James Cameron died on July 13 after a long and severe illness (ref. S.R.M. 20.7.1922). There is a section of this ribbon in the collection - Registration No. 366.This item is a pictorial record of a significant event in Orbost's history.A black / white photograph of a lady standing up in a motor vehicle cutting a ceremonial ribbonsnowy-river-bridge-orbost cameron-mrs ceremonies

These photographs were taken just after the McKillop's Bridge was completed after the flood damage. The current McKillop’s Bridge was built by the Country Roads Board in two stages between 1931-36, during which its height was raised after the original bridge superstructure was washed away in record floods of January 1934, prior to its original official opening. In its reconstructed form the original concrete abutments were turned into additional piers and the welded-steel trusses were cantilevered back over them to meet the new higher road approaches. It is sited at McKillops Crossing, named after pioneer overlanding squatter George McKillop who crossed here in 1835. This was a stock crossing place for almost a century before the bridge was constructed. (info. from Victoria Heritage Register)This is a pictorial record of the history of McKillop's Bridge, in itself of historical significance for its association with Victoria's long and important pastoral history, its technicl significance and aesthetic significance.Three black / white photographs. 3133.1 shows the approach to a washed away bridge. 3133.2 is of a bridge over a river with men clearing debris. 3133.3 is a close-up showing the wreckage of the bridge.mckillop's-bridge snowy-river flood-damage-1934

This is a photograph of McKillop's Bridge probably taken just after its rebuilding. The current McKillop’s Bridge was built by the Country Roads Board in two stages between 1931-36, during which its height was raised after the original bridge superstructure was washed away in record floods of January 1934, prior to its original official opening. In its reconstructed form the original concrete abutments were turned into additional piers and the welded-steel trusses were cantilevered back over them to meet the new higher road approaches. "McKillops Bridge was Heritage listed due to its social and technological significance – the steel trusses' arc-welded construction technique was a pretty big deal in the 1930s. It was once an important route for cattlemen, who used the ford across the Snowy in the years preceding the bridge's existence"This is a pictorial record of McKillop's Bridge just after its construction.A black / white photograph of a wooden bridge across a river. At the bottom right is a man with his back to the camera. He is looking at flood debris on the bank. At the bottom left are two men near a pylon.on back - McKillops Bridgebridge-mckillop's snowy-river-bridge

These photographs were taken from Warren's property at Newmerella. They were taken looking to the north-west.These photographs form an interesting panoramic landscape of the Snowy River flats in Orbost. The method of photographing two scenes and placing them side-by-side was used if a specialist panoramic camera was unavailable.Two black / white photographs which are designed to fir together to make a panorama. They are of river flats with maize crops and houses in the background. The photographs have been taken from a high point.on back - "From Warrens to N.W."newmerella snowy-river-flats maize-crops photography

E.L. Bruce, born in Ireland on July 1,1854, came to Australia in 1854 and joined the Lands Department. He spent most of his service in Gippsland. The journey to Sale then was made by ship to Port Albert and thence on horseback. He began his service in Gippsland as assistant district surveyor and for the last 12 years before retirement he was district surveyor and land officer. His territory extended from the boundary of Victoria in east Gippsland down to Wilson's Promontory with his headquarters at sale.This map is a useful reference tool.A survey map - Sheet No 3 SnowyRiver Survey. This is a copy of the original survey. It shows the properties of W.J.T. Clarke - two in Orbost and one in Newmeralla (sic),. it has a faded, undecipherable red stamp in the bottom right corner.Gipps Land Rivers No 32B E.L. Brucesurvey bruce-e.l snowy-river-c19th

John Bulmer spent forty years of his life as missionary to Aboriginal people in Victoria, in 1855 devoting his activities to communities on the Murray, but most of his life was spent at Lake Tyers where he established a Church of England mission in 1862, In his later years he wrote a series of thirteen papers in which he recorded his observations on the life and times of the people to whom he ministered. Over a period of several years Alistair Campbell transliterated the manuscripts, altering a little but retaining the flavour of the original text.maps, b&w photograph, word lists, tablesgunai kurnai, gippsland, lake tyers, lakes entrance, king charley, snowy river, ellen hood, sarah moffat, lance mcdougall, kassie mcdougall, tom foster, alec mccrae, nellie blair, john bulmer, victorian history, indigenous social life, kinship, religion and mythology, bush foods