The Australasian swamphen is a visually striking and socially complex bird found across Oceania. It can be found in eastern Indonesia (specifically the Moluccas, Aru, and Kai Islands), Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Australia. As a member of the rail family (Rallidae), it belongs to the diverse order Gruiformes, which also includes cranes and other rail species. Like other rails, it possesses relatively short wings and a strong, elongated bill, both adaptations suited to its semi-aquatic wetland habitat. This swamphen is easily identified by its deep blue-purple plumage, prominent red frontal shield, and sturdy red legs. It primarily inhabits swamps, marshes, and other wet lowland areas, though its range has expanded to include pastures, roadsides, and farmland due to significant landscape modifications over the past 150 years. Unlike many wetland birds, it is highly adaptable and thrives in both natural and human-altered environments. Its diet is similarly flexible, consisting mostly of plant material such as grass stems, shoots, and leaves, but also including invertebrates and, on occasion, the young of other bird species. This specimen was misidentified as a Purple Swamphen in original catalogue records and is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This taxidermy specimen is of a Australasian swamphen which is mounted standing on a wooden platform and has a paper identification tag tied to its upper left leg. The specimen has dark colouring on its back and head with a purple-blue coloured neck, breast and belly. The bill is oversized and is orange/red which is the same colour as the frontal shield on the bird's face. The eyes are made from a red and black glass and the legs of this specimen are orange. The legs are elongated and the toes also long and unwebbed. 17e. / Purple Gallinule / Catalogue Page 35 / taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, australian birds, swamphen, moorhen, purple bird, hen, purple swamphen, water bird

Silk ceremonial collar of Mr A. Burke St Arnaud who was a member of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society (HACBS).hibernian, australasian, hacbs, st arnaud, victoria, burke, ceremonial, collar.

At the conclusion of their term of office, former deans of the Faculty of Anaesthetists at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons would have their portrait taken.lennard travers

Black and white photograph (2 copies)Typed cutting on back of photograph: 'Australasian' 29/3/05. Later Howship's flower farm, subdivided, name retained in street name. Miss. Elvie Hill.

8 page soft cover booklet, 'Journal of Australasian Mining History, Volume 3 September 2005.(extract) James Lerk writes about Robert Gray Ford an inventor of mine machinery. B&W photo of Robert Gray Ford with his rock drill 1868James A Lerk

Framed newspaper page titled "Foster South Gippsland" from the Australasian newspaper dated 16 February 1907. page 392. Features eight black and white images on white background. Grey card window mount. Black/Brown painted wood frame with gold trim.

Colour slide, Kodak, white cardboard of tram SW6 918, in Burke Road, Gardiner after turning from Malvern Road, route 7, Camberwell. In the background are the shops since removed advertising Robur tea and the Herald and the Australasian Post. Slide dated 5-4-60.Hand writing on rear in ink "5-4-60 tram 918 Burke Road Gardiner Victoria"trams, tramways, sw6 class, camberwell, burke rd, route 7, gardiner, tram 918

Slide folder originally containing 9 slides of Merino and Australasian breeds of sheep. It has an information page inside printed with text about the slides.Slide folder. White cardboard folder printed in red, orange and black on the cover. Contains plastic slide pockets and information about the slides. Originally contained 12 slides.12 COLOUR SLIDES / BRITISH BREEDS OF SHEEPsheep - australian merino sheep, sheep - australian, merino sheep

Journal of Australasian Mining History, Volume 7, September 2009. Suicide on the Bendigo Goldfields 1860-1880 by James Lerk and Sandra Kippen Published by the Australian Mining History Association Booklet format Volume 7 includes pages 60- 73, with one black and white photograph on cover.James Lerk & Sandra Kippenbendigo, history, city history. the goldfields., bendigo-history-goldfields-suicide

Image on newspaper. Top third of the page contains the title - Australasian Sketcher / With Pen and Pencil . Under this is a black and white drawn image of a large octopus in the water. There are also rocks and cliffs. Under the image are the words: An Octopus seen in Portland Bay. From a sketch by Mr H. Butler, Portland.No. 41 - VOL IV / Melbourne, Saturday, May 13 1876 / Price 6doctopus, marine, sealife, portland bay, newspaper, drawing

This item was widely available in shops during the early to mid 20th Century. The flake cut tobacco was used for hand-rolled cigarettes and some pipes.This item is significant for social and historical reasons. This type of packaging is no longer found and the use of this type of tobacco is diminishing. We only have a few of these tins in our collection and its use is mainly for interpertive purposes. green, hinged-lid tinHavelock Flake Cut Tobacco, 2oz net weight when packed,(on lid) Side "The British -Australasian Tobacco Co. Pty Ltd Aromatic Flake Cut (on side)tobacco, tin, smoking, personal, accessories, effects

A digest of Australasian mining cases as decided in the Supreme Courts of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and New Zealand, and on appeal therefrom to the Privy Council.Blue cloth-bound hardcover book, cover stained, corners worn. Gold lettering on spine. Gold crest on front cover containing words, 'CROWN LAW DEPARTMENT/VICTORIA/ POLICE/ MAGISTRATE /KILMORE'. Both hinges broken but not detached. 547 pp plus appendix.Fair condition.Nil.australasian, mining, kilmore court house library

Black and white photograph of drawing . Male with beard and moustache, bust length. At left, drawing of foliage. At top, drawing of dog, lower portion of woman's skirt and child. At bottom drawing of portion of verandah roof. On back in ball point pen ' from Australasian, 23rd May 1891. P 1000 'person, individual, lachlan maclachlan

Photograph, W.D.Mason Collection, Photograph of Bendigo, on page 1, showing the football ground, swimming baths, central state school, Bendigo Gaol, Over the page to page 11, is Melbourne verses St.Kilda in the VFL in year June 2, 1923, and golfing at Riversdale, Melbourne, Handicap Day.The Australasian paper.business, retail, w d mason

The Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society was formed at Ballarat in 18 and William Taffe was Ballarat President in 1940 when presented with this mounted and framed photograph and photo-lithographic certificate.Thornton Richards & Co Ballarat inscribed on mounting board. Details of the subject, W.J.Taffe written in on the certificate.

Crib Pail owned by John Tom Clifton. His mother Frances Clifton re-married after his death to Thomas Harvey and it was held by the Harvey family It was loaned by Leonard Harvey to the organisers of the Great Australasia Mining Disaster Centenary Committee 1982 but then presented by his family to the museum in his memory.It is the only known article from the New Australasian No.2 Gold Mining Disaster. It was reported that three were removed from the mine at the time of the disaster. The Bellingham Billy rusted when left in a shed. Manley's was believed to have been lostThe round crib pail is made of tin and is badly rusted. A crib pail was used by miners to carry their food down the mines. The lid is missing. This pail was taken down the mine by John Tom Clifton and he wrote a message on it before he died in the New Australasian No.2 Gold Mining Disaster 1882. It was known to have the following inscription "Goodbye dear mother, sisters and brothers: Philippa my dear girl. John Tom Clifton" but is not readable .clifton billy, miner's pail, crib pail, new australasian no.2, gold mining disaster, creswick

Black and white photograph of a busy Chapel St with a Carlton to Prahran tram set. Trailer No. 202. From the Australasian 1903. Has Maples and other stores with many horse drawn vehicles. On the underside of the photograph written in black ink "Chapel Street - Prahran - Christmas and New Year shopping in the suburbs of Melbourne"On rear is "Australian" and "`1903" in bottom corners and image dimensions.trams, tramways, chapel st, cable trams, horse drawn vehicle, tram 202

1) The Australasian Centenary Number 1834-1934. October 18, 1934, 2) Bendigo's Centenary 1851-1951 (2 copies in poor condition one missing cover). Folder 116 now in Box 417. AV 03/11/2022 Bendigo Advertiser Centenary 1851-1951 index of advertisers.bendigo advertiser, centenary of bendigo

William Grant Junior was President of the Shire of Bacchus Marsh in 1901 when the Australian Colonies federated to become a federal nation state. Grant was a member of a prominent local family and was active in public affairs throughout his life. The federation of the Australian Colonies was a turning point in Australian history and as such its achievement was celebrated in a range of ways. A major step towards achieving Federation was the referendum of July 1899 which saw five of the six Australian colonies vote in favor of Federation, with Western Australia later voting in favor in 1900.Printed poster sized document certifying that William Grant of Bacchus Marsh voted in a referendum of Victorian electors on 27th the July 1899 on the question of an Australian Federal Constitution. The body of the certificate text is surrounded on three sides by captioned photographic portraits of the Premiers of the six Australian Colonies. A British coat of arms is at the top of the certificate and at the bottom is an image of Parliament House in Melbourne, which includes a Dome, which was a projected feature of the building which was never actually added to the Victorian Parliament building.Across the top of the certificate: 'Australasian Federal Referendum July 1899'. In the centre: 'This is to certify that the question of an Australian Federal Constitution was submitted to the Electors of Victoria on the 27th day of July 1899 and that out of a Poll of 103,783 votes 152,653 were cast in favor of such Australasian Federal Constitution and further that William Grant, voted at the said election'. Signed, [George Turner], Premier. At bottom: 'Robt. S. Brian, Government Printer, Melbourne'.william grant 1850-1924, federation (1901), referendums, illuminated certificates

Large red cover book (dust jacket missing)non-fictionDescription of passengers liners with photographs, funnel colours.passengers liners, passengers ships, mission to seafarers, seamen, seafarers

This book is part of a collection of books, photos and memorabilia donated from the Chatham-Holmes family collection. Ivanhoe was written by Sir Walter Scott and this Victoria Edition was called the Australasian Issue.This red cloth covered book has a front cover imprinted with a Scottish thistle and leaf design and a crest. The spine is impressed with a design and Victoria Edition and is also has printed in gold 'Ivanhoe', 'Scott' and G.Robertson & Co.'. The book is 484 pages long.On inside cover in pen - To Edith from Hautric? West, Xmas 1917 On leaf in pen - To W.H.West Esq. You have Ivanhoe so haven't a notion? 1902 (There is a verse and a signiture which is difficult to read)chatham-holmes family collection, ivanhoe, sir walter scott, victoria edition australasian issue

Brown cloth covered book titled Australasian Edition Universal List of Extra Parts for Repairs for Massey-Harris Implements. Published in 1923. Massey-Harris Co., Limited Toronto, Canada, Melbourne, Australia. Book contains engravings of parts, an illustration of the various implements and the part numbers. The pages are indexed with the name of the implements.john bovaird collection - massey-harris implements

Two photocopied articles, including 3 original prints of photographs, all unattributed, about the house and property known as Cantala, owned by Septimus Miller. 1/The first article is from the Australasian newspaper, dated 18/03/1893, including two original prints (from 6 photographs in the article). The article is accompanied by one page of handwritten notes, undated and unattributed, detailing and summarising the Australasian article. 2/The second article (2 copies) is from Punch, dated 29/10/1903 and includes one original print (from 7 photographs in the article).miller septimus, salway mr, miller mrs, lauderdale mr, redleap (horse), echo (sculpture), sleeping ariadne (sculpture), cantala, caulfield, caulfield north, dandenong road, kooyong road, wiora, australasian, punch, victoria racing club, photographs, towers, italianate style, mansions, balconies, stairs, drawing rooms, bay windows, architectural features, architecutral styles, gates, gardens, stables, art, sculpture, statutes, racehorses, horses, horseracing, business people, commerce, miller helen, miller damien, garden parties, social life and customs

Graduate of the Ballarat Teachers' College Phil Law was Leader of the Australasian National Antarctic Research Expeditions 1949-1966. He was foundatin president of the Victoria Institute of Colleges from April 1966 to December 1977.Photographic portrait.phil law, ballarat teachers' college, alumni, victoria institute of colleges, phillip law