Six men, some with tools stand on or beside a very large tree which has been recently felled. Pat Ryan identified at front left. In 1920 the Hurstbridge Sawmill operated as part of a local logging industry where among other things large logs were used for bridge building and railway construction. This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book, "Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imageWritten on photocopy: "Pat Ryan (front)" with arrow pointing to him "Timber felling for railway construction Diamond Creek - REF 1050"sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, hurstbridge, logging, lumber trade, felled tree, railway construction, diamond creek, pat ryan

Ballarat School of Mines Staff, Industry and Training Divisionballarat school of mines, industry and training, mal vallance, linette penhall, lauren malone, dough sarah, donna agnew, martin hill, janette pearson, jane auchettl

Beech Forest was the principal despatch centre for split timber and mining laths in 1906, most of which was carried to the railway yards by bullock wagons, or a horse-hauled wooden tramline along the Olangolah Road to the east of the town. At the yards it awaited trans-shipment by rail.B/w. 190mm x 265mm. Timber stacked in the Beech Forest railway yard. Four roads passing. A goods shed in the background. beech forest; railways;

This is a special issue of the annual Orbost High School magazine. It revisits the decade 1960-1970. The name Croajingolong derives from the Australian Aboriginal Krauatungalung words galung, meaning "belonging to" and kraua, meaning "east". 2218.1 belonged to Mary Gilbert, a former teacher at the school.This magazine is a useful reference tool.Two copies of a magazine with a dark blue cover. It is titled Croajingolong Document of a Decade. On the front cover the print 1960-1970 Vol.2 No. 3 is in yellow/gold and the Orbost High School crest is on the left hand side in yellow. 2218.2 has autographs inside the covers. 2218.1 has the Orbost Historical Society stamp on the inside back cover.croajingolong orbost-high-school

Fence yard with piles of timber. Weatherboard building in background. This is one of 7 B/W 8x10 inch photos with notes on obverse by Dick Crichton. Accompanying letter from Florence Chrichton 2013 : "Originally sent to Shire of Eltham Engineer, Mr. McDonald. [These photographs were part of their campaign to the Shire of Eltham in 1975] claiming that the zoning regulations were being breached by the occupants of various factories in the nearby light industrial zone [Brougham Street, Eltham] - to the detriment of those living in adjoining residential zones, and that, despite .. earlier objections and complaints, nothing was done about it." 1 black and white photograph printed with white borderInscribed on back: "Ryans Yard, Susan Street, (part owned by Tillings) showing Tillings surplus baulk timber (at extreme right and left) before milling. This timber is often also stored in Peel Street. Majority of baulks are stored at rear or side of Tillings main premises. Eltham High School object to transportation of this timber along Bell and Susan Streets in large semi-trailers. Trucks backing in and out of Tillings cause frequent traffic jams in Bridge Street (often around 8am)." industrial estate, brougham street, eltham, 1975, bolton street, dick crichton, n.j. tillings, timber factory, shire of eltham, susan street, bell street, eltham high school

This is a photograph of Mr Clem Heather, band leader. Clem Heather was a Forestry employee in Orbost, The Orbost Workers' Band was started in 1889 by Donald and Archie Munro. The band folded after the town was devastated by floods in 1893. Charles Spink reformed the group in 1905. It split in 1908 and the breakaway band was named the Orbost Workers Band. The two bands, The Orbost Workers and Orbost Town Band would often compete against each other. Eventually, in 1913, the two bands amalgamated to form the Orbost Municipal band. The old Orbost Municipal Band recorded its last meeting in 1941 -a lack of effort and membership. The new Orbost Municipal Band was restarted by Clem Heather (a previous member) on Wednesday 20th September, 1961 and continued into the late 1980s when lack of interest caused it to become defunct.This is a pictorial record associated with the Orbost Brass Band. The various Orbost bands over the years played a major role in community activities providing entertainment and musical experiences for the many membersA black / white photograph of a man in a brass band uniform. He is holding a brass instrument (French horn?). It is under glass in a white wooden frame.on front -????????? Orbostheather-clem orbost-brass-band music recreation

Two catalogues of goods to sell, from Ringwood Timber & TradingEditorial of 15201b includes a short history of the company. In 1937, Mr S Coopersmith and son, Frank (the present Managing Director) started a fruit case manufacturing business in North Melbourne under the name of The Cooper Case Co. The business flourished, and in 1940, recognising the possibilities in and around Ringwood, an old bush sawmill and an area of land on the Maroondah Highway, were secured. Subsequent purchases have since increased this area to approximately 15 acres. It was decided to widen the activities and scope of the business and two new firms were formed. Cooper Sawmilling Co., which operated a modern sawmill, and Ringwood Timber & Trading Co., which handled the output of the sawmill and introduced builders' and general hardware lines to meet the demands of this rapidly expanding area. As Ringwood grew, so too did the organisation which was created to serve it. The principals studied timber and hardware merchandising trends overseas, and after considerable investigation the new building on Maroondah Highway was completed in 1956. Today, acclaimed as one of the most modern mills and hardware stores in the Southern Hemisphere, combining up to date machinery and handling equipment together with unique drive-in facilities and a self-selection centre. Ringwood Timber & Trading Co. are proud to offer a service unparallelled to home builders. In conformity with modern commercial practice the various firms have since been incorporated under the Victorian Companies Act and the latest accounting methods and office equipment have been installed to provide an efficient and virile administration to control the entire manufacturing and trading activities. We have a staff of over 220 personnel, each trained in their particular field to provide you, our valued client, with expert advice, quality merchandise and second-to-none service to enable you to fulfil every need in and around your home.

These photographs are pictorial record of Orbost in 1961.They enable us o observe the objects in their spatial context and in detail. They are useful for reference.Four black / white aerial photographs. there are spare copies of each. 3276.1 is an aerial photograph of the Orbost Show with Lochiel Park in the foreground. 3276.2 is an aerial photograph taken over a township. 3276.3 shows the Orbost High School on the left. 3276,4 shows the high school in the foreground.on the back of each is "March 10th 1961 Aerial of Orbost"photographs-aerial-orbost-1961 orbost-1961 lochiel-park

Written on back of photographs: V0122: "Ringwood Timber & Trading being demolished". and V0121: "Ringwood Timber being wrecked 1984"

This is a photograph of the settlement of Orbost on the banks of the Snowy River,. In the foreground in the paddock there is a water trough (Bills?) and the B Drain can be seen on the far left. D.S. Campbell had a stationery store in Nicholson Street Orbost and published several black and white postcards of Orbost.This is a pictorial record o The township of Orbost in the late 19th century.A black / white photograph / postcard. There is a river in the foreground with houses and shops in the background behind a cleared paddock.on front - Orbostorbost-19th-century snowy-river

Published book (processed, comb bound) "The Beet Sugar Industry 1894 to 1948"sugarbeet, harvesting methods, maffra

Softwood Timber rack with Bonny the Horse Alfred Pickering and Norm Gray 1926. T Barker Tank Maker and Timber Merchantstawell

This item was used as a seal (stamp) on official Shire Council documents. The coat of arms of the Shire of Orbost was designed in the form of a cross in which five stars are depicted on a shield. A small crown above the cross indicates the loyalty of the president,councillors and ratepayers to the reigning monarch. The inner section of the shield contains 4 figures, a sheaf of wheat, a factory, a co and a ship - all representing the activities of agriculture, fishing,industry and dairying undertaken in the shire. Originally part of the Bairnsdale district, Orbost split away as part of the Tambo Shire in 1882, and became a shire in its own right as the Shire of Croajingolong on 30th May,1892. The name was changed to the Shire of Orbost on 17th February, 1893. The Orbost Shire Council was abolished on 2nd December, 1994 as part of a state-wide program of local government reform to become part of the newly constituted East Gippsland Shire council.Local governments play an important role in the lives of citizens in Australia. Local government authorities exist to provide services and amenities to local communities, and are also responsible for regulating and providing services for land and property in their district. This item is representative of a time when Orbost had its own Shire Council.The former Orbost Shire Council Seal (stamp) depicting the coat of arms. The circular seal is brass and has a wooden handle with a bulb shaped top.President, Councillors and Ratepayers of the Shire of Orbost-1892orbost orbost-shire-council government history seal

Owen 'Doc' Matthews is remembered for his spectacular Grand Prix dressage exhibitions with his horse Aintree Boy, performed to music under spotlights at Melbourne Royal Show from 1965-1975. He also performed at smaller country shows. Doc Matthews was born in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy in 1923, during the Great Depression. He and his brother Paddy were placed in a foster home and then in a Geelong orphanage before being put to work at a dairy farm. Doc was given an elderly piebald mare to ride, which ignited his passion for horses. When he was 16, he enlisted in World War 2 but captured by the Japanese and ended up working on the Burma Railway, spending years as a prisoner of war in the notorious Changi Prison. Doc joined Victoria Police in 1952 and by 1962 was chief horse master and riding instructor in the mounted branch. He drilled teams to perform musical rides and horses and riders were always turned out to perfection. Doc and Aintree Boy became a partnership after the horse had been used in the mounted branch for four years. Doc decided to try his hand at dressage and as there were few instructors, trained Aintree Boy with nothing to go by but a couple of books and film of a single dressage competition. Owen 'Doc' Matthews was truly a pioneer of Grand Prix dressage in Australia. ( ref. TOPHORSE )Agricultural shows are an important part of cultural life in small country towns and the Orbost Show is an integral part of Orbost 's agricultural history.A square shaped ticket for Orbost Show - Monday, March 10th 1975. It is on white card with blue print.Orbost Wonder Horse "Aintree Boy". Monday, March 10th 1975aintree-boy dressage equestrian matthews-owen

This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. 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 its 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 percent of the reading population. The collection of books was made up of around 60 percent reference and 40 percent 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 1950’s 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. The Pattison Collection, along with other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, was originally part of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, and to reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. As with many Mechanics' Institutes in Australia, the one which operated in Warrnambool was established and overseen for many years by key individuals associated with the development of the city itself. The WMI publication collection is historically significant because of its association with local people, places and the key historical themes in the development of Warrnambool of rural development, industry, farming, education, and community. The collection documents and illustrates the changing interests, focus and tastes of Victorians, especially those in regional cities. Generally the individual items in the collection are not particularly rare, as examples of all probably exist in other public collections in Victoria. It is primarily because there are so very few surviving Mechanics' Institute collections in Victoria, which lends this overall collection its significance. Many items in the WMI Collection have the potential to support further research, both as individual objects and through the collection in its entirety. This material is significant for its ability to assist in the interpretation of the history of the area and adds to the general understanding of the development of the township. Many components of the WMI publication collection complement and reinforce the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum Collection, the Warrnambool Art Gallery Collection, and that in the Warrnambool Historical Society, and also contribute to a clearer understanding of the original Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute collections. This will greatly enhance the appreciation of the few surviving Mechanics' Institute collections across Victoria, and also in New South Wales. The similarities and differences between the small number of collections that have survived can provide further insights into how the people of Victoria in general, and Warrnambool in particular, constructed a civic culture of adult learning to foster an informed citizenry. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute publication collection is of both local and state significance. Men of Invention and Industry Author: Samuel Smiles Publisher: John Murray Date: 1884Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 920 SMI Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Public Library Front loose endpaper has a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, great ocean road, men of invention and industry, samuel smiles

This photograph shows the pile drivers at work in the construction of the viaduct across the Snowy River flats. The Snowy River Floodplain Railway Bridges, two sequential and exceptionally long and low timber railway bridges on the Snowy River floodplain just west of Orbost, were built in 1916, and provided the original terminus point for the Bairnsdale-Orbost railway. The bridges are 770 metres and 183 metres long respectively. The shorter bridge is of uniformly 4.57 metre timber-beam construction, and has a sweeping curve in its deck. The longer bridge has a combination of 4.57 metre and 6.1 metrespans, and two 3.66 metre spans. The bridges are constructed from 'Southern Mahogany', Eucalyptus Botryoides, which grew along the coast east of Bairnsdale. The Snowy floodplain bridges were initially built in the context of an early twentieth-century interest in American-style 'Developmental Railways', designed to open remote areas to closer settlement, even if that meant running at a loss. The line was closed in August 1987. (information from Victorian Heritage Database)This item is associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost.A black / white photograph of the farming flats at Orbost during the construction of the East Gippsland railway.orbost-railway east-gippsland-railway viaduct-orbost transport railway

This glass was produced as a souvenir following the name change from Orbost High School to Orbost Secondary College in 1990.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 souvenir drinking glassis representative of its history.A clear drinking glass with a stem and base stand produced as a souvenir of Orbost Secondary College. Tt has a gold rim and the school badge is pirinted in gold on the outside of the glass.Orbost Secondary Collegesouvenir orbost-secondary-college

This postcard is addressed to Tom Lloyd from Uncle Frank c/o F. Lloyd Esq, Bairnsdale.This item is a pictorial record associated with the agricultural history of Orbost. .The extensive Snowy river flood plain was swampy, but by the 1880s the river flats were being drained. The Orbost flats are very fertile and crops were planted on the rich deep soil, with maize rapidly becoming widespread.A black / white photograph of the Orbost farming flats. The sky is very cloudy. There are paddocks of crops in the foreground.on front - "Orbost Flats" on back - "How are you enjoying your holiday.......Uncle Frank"orbost-flats-farming lloyd-frank

Used to wrap half pound packs of butter made at the Orbost Butter Factory.The Orbost Butter and Produce Co. Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893 and was an important source of income to the Orbost district. .1 is a bundle of twenty wrappers for Orbost Choicest Butter -Half Pound Nett Weight. They are white, rectangular with yellow,red ang green print . .2 is two blank letter heads for Orbost Butter and Produce Co LtdManufactured and Packed by C.M. -L/FD Orbost Butter & Produce Co Ltd in bottom Orbost Victoria R.H. cornerorbost-butter-factory agriculture farming letter-head wrappers butter

These are photos of the second Orbost Butter Factory built in 1916 in Forest Road Orbost.These photos are pictorial records of the Orbsot Butter Factory.Two b/w postcards of the Orbost Butter Factory. Both are copies of the originals.2627.1 on back ; John Scouller and Jo Cross standing behind grave of Dan the Cookorbost-butter-factory