The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.In this very long letter, Gavan Reilly seeks membership of the Society, and urges the Society in preserving the 'absorbingly exciting stories of a vanishing past.' He was postmaster at Creswick at the time, an amateur poet, and an enthusiast for local history.

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Excerpt of George Russell's Manuscript Diary copied by William Lewis. George Russell, from Scotland joined his brother Philip in 1831 in Tasmania, and farmed there for five years under his supervision. He then followed John Batman's exploratory lead to Port Phillip in March 1836. George Russell later established Golf Hill Station at Shelford. These memoirs describe first visits by Europeans to Lal Lal falls (which weren't running) and Mt Buninyong. These records must have been sought out by the AHRS as Russell had died before the Society was established.

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.Reminiscences narrated before the AHRS in the City hall, Ballarat, August 25th, 1899, by John P. Murray, from the Orkney Islands, who arrived in Melbourne as a 15 year old in 1849. He served as President of the Ballarat Shire Council 1871-72. In these reminiscences he recalls a time before the goldrush.

The Australian Historical Records Society existed in Ballarat between 1896 and 1906. They were one of Australia's first historical societies, and were in the position to still be able to talk to early pioneers. They invited such pioneers to either submit letters or memoirs, or to address the Society's meetings, where their reminiscences were taken down in shorthand and later typed up. The Society also attempted to preserve memorabilia from Ballarat's early days, but on the disbanding of the group in 1906, materials were stored at the Ballarat Town Hall and were later lost. It is not known how the papers made their way to the then Ballarat Municipal Library, but they have been part of the Library's collection for many years.John Hood was originally from London, and arrived in Melbourne from Tasmania in 1842. He first dug for gold in Little Bendigo / Nerrina, in 1852. He died in 1909, a very old man, at the Ballarat Benevolent Asylum.

This photograph of John Pascoe Fawkner was commissioned by artist William Strutt in 1857. In 1907 Strutt gave the photograph to Victoria's London agent, Mr. Lake, to be presented to the Victorian Parliamentary Library. In a letter to Mr. Lake now in the library's archives, Strutt describes how he had planned to make use of the photograph in his artistic practice, and when finished with it, had promised to give the photograph to the Victorian Parliamentary Librarian Charles Ridgway (c.1801-1865). "That time then has come, late it is true, but alas Mr. Ridgeway [sic] is dead, so is Fawkner, but the old patriot will ever live in this portrait".Framed ambrotype portrait photograph of John Pascoe Fawkner seated and wearing a smoking cap. Note from William Strutt adhered verso. The ambrotype is a positive photographic image on a glass plate mounted inside a glazed frame with a gold-coloured inner-frame/preserver (possibly celluloid) and black velvet-covered backing board. Handwritten black ink verso: "John Pasco [sic] Fawkner/ This admirable portrait/ of the Founder of Melbourne is now presented in/ fulfilment of my/ promise (made years/ ago to the late Mr/ Ridgeway) to present it/ to the Parliament House/ Library of Melbourne./ William Strutt./ Wedsmnt [?] Dec' 18.1007."strutt, william, 1825-1915, fawkner, john pascoe, 1792-1869, ridgway, charles c.1801-1865, victorian parliamentary library

Robert Logan selected Lot 28 of the Village Settlement in 1896 and lived there until his death in 1936. Historian John Lundy-Clarke tells how Logan planted his land with plums, peaches and apples and also grew raspberries, beans, cabbages and lettuces. He also planted a small patch of oats that he harvested to feed his horse. This photograph was taken c1920 and shows the view over Logan's property of Harmony Vale, taken from Barber's Road.Black and white photograph showing lines of crops and orchard trees with rooftops in foreground and larger trees and cleared areas in background.robert logan, logan, orchard, crops, raspberries, harmony vale, barbers road

View of the settlement of Harmony Vale taken in 1913 with the guest house Kia Ora, built by George Barber in 1909, in the foreground. This photograph has a detailed inscription on the back handwritten by John Lundy-Clarke.The settlement of Harmony Vale 1913. The large home in foreground is the Guest House “Kia Ora” owned by George Barber on Lot 25 of the Village Settlement. The house above it to the left was Richardson’s house. The home of Jeanie who had left it when the picture was taken.The buildings furthest to the right of “Kia Ora” were the homestead of Isaac Jeeves of 1863 – 1871 the building furthest right with the black opening in it was the house with the tree fern floor. The flat ground above and left of Isaac’s pointed roof barn is where the creek changed its course in the 1934 flood and destroyed £4000 worth of the Rowse family’s tulip bulbs. Above the flat is Francis Matthew Child’s homestead, in the creek to the right of which can be seen the horizontal structure of the swing bridge to the sawmill of the Childs Bros which cannot be seen but in the forest to the right of the mill (bridge) can be seen a number of logs in the mill yard. The two cleared strips immediately behind Childs home were the Richardson’s original holdings and the house in the gully at the far side of the great clearing is that of the guest house “Glenrivers” belonging to W Lucas and his wife Catherine nee Child. The Richardson homestead “Harmony Vale” is behind the forest trees in the right centre. The picture gives a full view of how the settlement was cut into the centre of the great forest. george barber, kia ora, harmony vale, barber, jeanie richardson, richardson, child, matthew child, kia-ora guest house, guest house, glenrivers

Yields information about tram 39 following its disposal and how it was sheltered.Set of 8 AGFA blue and white plastic mount 27mm square slides of Tram No. 39 at the Lions Pa rk, Lismore c1973, after the roof has been built over it. See also Reg Item 6545 for photographs of the tram prior to the roof being built over it. .1 - 39 at the park with the shelter looking newly built. .2 - ditto with D3 671 in the background. .3 - end view of the tram, with the highway in the background. .4 - as for .2 .5 - interior view of one end with the controller and brake valves removed. .6 - interior view of the pink paintwork! .7 - ditto .8 - ditto Various notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, disposal, lismore, preserved trams, tram 39

Yields information about tram 24 following its disposal and how it appeared c1973.Set of 2 Kodachrome white cardboard mount 27mm square slides of former SEC tram 24 at a farm property near Ballarat c1973. Location unknown Advised by Graham Jordan on 21/8/18 by email that the photo was his and that a copy slide was given to John Theodore. Record updated. Various notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, tram disposal, scrapped trams, accidents, tram 24

Yields information about tram 35 following its disposal and how it was sheltered.Set of 6 Kodachrome white cardboard mount 27mm square slides of former bogie tram 35 at the Ballarat College junior school, c1973. .1 - tram at the school. .2 - ditto .3 - interior .4 - interior .5 - interior 6 - interior See btm3929 for details of disposal.Various notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, ballarat, closure, tramcars, disposal, tram 35

Yields information about tram 18 following its disposal and how it was sheltered.Agfa blue and white plastic mount - 27mm square slides of single truck tram 18 at Sebastopol in Victory Park, c1973 See btm3929 for details of disposal.Various notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, ballarat, closure, tramcars, disposal, sebastopol, victory park, tram 18

Yields information about tram 42 following its disposal and how it was sheltered.Set of 2 Agfa blue and white plastic mounts - 27mm square slides of single truck tram 42, at the Zion Congregational Church Kindergarten, c1973. Has "Zion Kindertram" in the destination box. See btm3929 for details of disposal.Various notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, ballarat, closure, tramcars, disposal, zion congregational church, tram 42

Yields information about tram 16 following its disposal and how it appeared c1973.Set of 4 Agfa blue and white plastic mounts - 27mm square slides of Ballarat No. 16, SEC, in a garden setting - Allendale area, c1972/3. Tram body sold by the SEC in 1956. See also Reg Item 3535 for other photographs. Address details check 27/8/2020 - 155 Henders Road. See btm3929 for details of disposal.Various notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, tramcars, disposal, tramcar bodies, sale of trams, allendale, tram 16

Yields information about tram 11 following its disposal and how it was placed at the Daylesford Museum.Set of 1 Kodachrome cardboard slides and 5 AGFA blue and white plastic mount 27mm sq slides of former Ballarat tram 11 at the Daylesford Historical Society yard. .1 - view from the roadway .2 - late view with other farm machinery placed around it. .3 - interior view .4 - interior view .5 - view showing how the tram was placed. .6 - interior viewed.Various notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, closure, tramcars, disposal, daylesford, tram 11

Yields information about the BTPS constructing No. 1 road and moving wheel sets around and how easy it was to derail them!Set of 3 digital images scanned from 35mm slides of depot activities during late 1973 or early 1974. .1 - moving one of the spare sets of wheels around, it has become derailed on 1 road. .2 - ditto - 26 and 27 on the depot fan - person in uniform?? .3 - 26 on the depot fan - note the gauge bar on the track. Could be photographed prior to power being connected.trams, tramways, btps, trackwork, depot, tramcars, tram 26, tram 27

Yields information about the relocation of the bogie trams from the old SEC depot to the new BTPS depot in the gardens and partly how it was done.Newspaper cutting from The Courier, Ballarat, titled "Trams roll again", Wednesday 19/7/1972 of tram 40 in Wendouree Parade behind John Withers Land Rover and tram 38 on the temporary access track the previous day, while being moved into the new depot. A "Warning Oncoming Trams" lies against a tree near 40. Was on the front page of the newspaper. See Reg. item 1788, 1789 and 1790 for further references. See Reg Item 3820 for a print of the actual photograph and Information for Members (BTPS) - June-July 1972 and Sept. 1972.btps, moving trams, depot junction

110 page A4 sized bound document - "Proceedings of the Fourteenth Conference of the Council of Tramway Museums of Australasia in conjunction with the Annual Conference of the National Federation of Rail Societies Inc. 29 May to 4 June 1998." Has plastic cover, green inside cover with title and white back cover. Is wire bound. Front page has the title details. Edited by Douglas Johns. Front page gives title of conference logo and theme "Conference '98 The Way Ahead", details of the Conference Hosts, (Tramway Historical Society Inc.), venue, convenor and conference management. Page 3 has colour photograph of the delegates assembled in front of Kitson Steam No. 7 and double decker trailers Nos. 10 and 74 at Ferrymead. (14th Conference) Contents: 1. Papers Opening address by Clive Peter, Chief Executive of Christchurch Transport Ltd. Key Note address - Phil A'vard Recording and preserving today for tomorrow Steam Engine Driver's Report Adding value to your product Internet help for the voluntary society What to do until the Coroner comes Computer cataloguing your collection The role of the regulator in rail transport safety Victorian electric train preservation History is more than rolling stock - remember the infrastructure Heritage fundraising in the public sector The Christchurch Tramway - 3 1/2 years on Museum trams on commercial tramways Remember the Society in your will The future of Tramway topics How to increase revenue for your museum Transport deregulation - a personal view Acquiring tram parts from Calcutta Model tramway clinic. 2. Annual Reports 3. Trip Reports 4. programme, attendees, NRFS Reports. Photograph of participants added 22/3/2021. For a scan of the actual proceedings see the cotma.org.au/proceedings.Page 1 has BTM Received stamp, date (17 Oct. 2000) and item No. 9639.trams, tramways, cotma, christchurch, proceedings, conferences

Yields information about the demolition or removal of the track along the Sturt St and how it was done.Newspaper clipping from The Courier, Ballarat, undated, assumed late Jan. 1972 based on Reg. Items 2214.2 and 2215 showing a photo of tram track demolition on the southern side of Sturt St around Doveton / Armstrong St. Has Myers and Town Hall in the background. Loose rail and sleepers in the picture. Courier photograph taken 25/1/1972. One of a large group of newspaper cuttings from John Bainbridge, 7/4/02. See Reg Item 3780 for a print of the Courier Photograph.track removal, tram track removal, crb, sturt st