This horse trough is the only survivor of the two troughs originally installed in Raglan Parade, Warrnambool, in 1932. It was later moved to the Pony Club at Albert Part, near the north corner of Coulstock and Craig Streets. Over the time there its purpose was changed from a horse watering trough to a colourful garden bed of agapanthus plants. By February 2013 the horse trough had been transferred to Flagstaff Hill for display in the Maritime Village’s grounds. This trough is one of hundreds provided by the Annis and George Bills Estate Trust since 1927 for the welfare of working horses and dogs. The original concrete cap over the small compartment is still retained. There are also markings on the right side of the trough where it probably had a birdbath, tap or a dish for the horseman’s dog, similar to other troughs donated elsewhere by the Trust. Less than half of the troughs produced for the Annis and George Bills Trust still survive. In 2017 Felicity Watson, National Trust Victoria’s advocacy manager, said that the troughs were treasures and becoming rare, with more than a dozen across Victoria now being heritage protected. ABOUT ANNIS AND GEORGE BILLS The 1927 Will of George Bills included setting up the Annis and George Bills Estate Trust, which provided for hundreds of horse troughs to be supplied and installed throughout Australia, Britain, USA and other parts of the world for the welfare of horses. Town and city councils could apply to the Trustees for a horse trough for their communities. George “Joe” Bills was born in Brighton, England, in 1859. The family migrated first to New Zealand then to Australia in 1873, settling in the Echuca-Moama district. George moved to Brisbane in 1882 where he met Annis Swann, formerly from Sheffield. Both were animal lovers. George and Annis married 1885 and moved to Sydney to join George’s brother Henry in his mattress wire weaving business, later known as the Bills Brothers. They patented their own machine in 1893 and the business became very profitable. George was able to donate to charities that supported his passion to improve animal welfare. He and Annis joined the Victorian Society for the Protection of Animals and in 1924 George received a Life Membership with the RSPCA. George retired in 1908. The couple moved to Hawthorn, Victoria, in 1910, where they donated troughs for the work horses of Melbourne. During a visit to England Annis passed away. In 1927 George moved from Hawthorn to Camberwell, where he passed away at the end of that year. George had requested in his Will that a trust fund be set up from his estate "…construct and erect and pay for horse troughs wherever they may be of the opinion that such horse troughs are desirable for the relief of horses and other dumb animals either in Australasia, in the British Islands or in any other part of the world subject to the consent of the proper authorities being obtained." The troughs were to bear a plaque inscribed “Donated by Annis and George Bills, Australia”. In 1927 the cost to make a trough was about £13 (which converts to about $1079 in 2020 ), plus transport and installation costs. Most of the troughs were installed between 1930 and 1939 in Victoria and New South Wales. It is estimated that over that time around 500-700 Bills Horse Troughs were installed in Australia and another 50 overseas. Most of the troughs made in Victoria had three moulded front panels like this trough, and no panels moulded on the rear, whereas troughs made in NSW had four panels on the front and five on the back. Victorian troughs were made by a Bills’ relative, J H Phillips. Later, other manufactures for the Trust’s troughs included Rocla Concrete Pipes Ltd, in Auburn Road, Hawthorn, Victoria, who produced to the same original design. No further troughs produced after the end of World War II. A memorial to Annis and George Bills was first erected in Hawthorn in 1929. It included a drinking fountain and a dog dish. Its current location is unknown. In 1964 the George Bills RSPCA Resource Centre opened in Burwood East. This Bills horse trough is nationally significant as one of the surviving examples of the standard Bills memorial horse troughs that still has its compartment cap and evidence of it once having had attached fittings, possibly for a birdbath or dog dish. This trough has State historical significance for being produced in the early 1930s by a business in Hawthorn, Victoria. This example of a Bills horse trough is significant for being in comparatively good condition. The trough is locally significant for being the sole survivor of the two Bills horse troughs installed in the City of Warrnambool in 1932, originally installed on Raglan Parade and continued to be used in the community at the Pony Club, then finally transferred to its current location at Flagstaff Hill by early 2013. It is culturally significant as it represents the community’s dependence on horses for travel and transportation previous to motorised vehicles. It is morally significant as a generous gift from a couple concerned with the welfare of animals.Horse trough; a long narrow rectangular container used for storing water. Trough is made from pre-cast concrete with one large open compartment and a small covered compartment. The base of the small compartment is raised slightly above the base of the trough and is covered by a removable concrete cap. The design of the front of the trough includes three panels moulded into it that align with the shape of the back pediment (panel). The pediment is shaped with side arcs that step up to a wide centre arc. A rectangular concrete plaque is cast into the centre of the pediment and is engraved with the names of the original donors, Annis and George Bills. The trough was made in Hawthorn, Victoria, by J H Phillips circa 1932. “DONATED BY / ANNIS & GEORGE BILLS / AUSTRALIA”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, annis and george bills, bills trust, j h phillips, rocla concrete pipes ltd, hawthorn, water trough, watering trough, horse trough, animal welfare, bills horse trough

J.H.Burchett's manuscript was created in 1957, as the knowledge of the school's history.J.H.Burchett had met Mr F.J.Rose, the founder of the Victorian Deaf and Dumb Institution.Cardboard bound book containing: 1. a list of teachers and students of the Princess Elizabeth Kindergarten for the Deaf, for 1950-1957 and 1958 - ? 2. A typed manuscript of the history of the Victorian School for Deaf Children, written in 1957 (?) by J.H.BurchettFront Cover: "Utmost for the Highest" "Manuscript" in pen and inkdeaf children australia, deaf education, manuscript

B&W negative of the pupils in front of the VDDI building on St. Kilda Rd., in 1914 On label on packet "Pupils 1914, Black & White/Copied by Beverley Crosby & Peter King/1989" deaf children australia, the bluestone building, vddi, victorian deaf and dumb institution, st. kilda road, pupils

B&W negative of the Bluestone school building on St. Kilda rd. with the school grounds in front deaf children australia, the bluestone building, vddi, victorian deaf and dumb institution

B&W slide negative portrait of Henry Brougham Loch, Governor of Victoria and on the Board of VDDI deaf children australia, portrait, vddi, victorian deaf and dumb institution, henry brougham loch, governor of victoria

B&W negative of the Boys Physical Drill Classes On label on packet "Boys' and Girls' Physical Drill Classes/1893/Photorestorations & copies, Beverley/ Crosby and Peter King, 1989" deaf children australia, vddi, victorian deaf and dumb institution, pupils, education, physical drill classes

B&W negative of a Past pupils picnic. (?) Rose is present as are some other pupils. On label on packet "Past pupils picnic ?/Circa 1910/Rose is present as other some other pupils./Copy by Bev. Crosby & Peter King. 1989" deaf children australia, vddi, victorian deaf and dumb institution, picnic, past pupils, f. j. rose

The Annual General Meetings are the official report of the VSDC to the public. These are the supporting documents that go with the Annual General Meeting report and provide further information on the Administration of the VSDC The brown foolscap size book is made with cardboard covers and masking tape spine and contains the documents tabled at the Annual General Meetings from 1955-1963. Includes the Minutes of the 100th AGM. Documents include: nomination letters, speakers notes, agendas, etc. Corrections are handwritten. Front Cover: "ANNUAL MEETING/from/1955 to 1963" in handwriting, in biro deaf children australia, victorian deaf and dumb institution, annual general meeting, minutes of meeting

The Annual General Meetings are the official report of the VSDC to the public. These are the supporting documents that go with the Annual General Meeting report and provide further information on the Administration of the VSDC The brown foolscap size book is made with cardboard covers and masking tape spine and contains the documents tabled at the Annual General Meetings from 1964-1970. Documents include: nomination letters, speakers notes, agendas, etc. Corrections are handwritten. Front Cover: "ANNUAL MEETING/from/1964 to 1970" in handwriting, in biro deaf children australia, victorian deaf and dumb institution, annual general meeting, minutes of meeting

B&W negative of girls in their physical drill classes deaf children australia, dca, victorian deaf & dumb institution, vddi, education, physical drill classes, girls, sport

B&W oval photograph pasted on cardboard and cut out from original board and a negative copy. The picture is of the Reverend J.G.Mackie who was on the Board in 1888. He was a Reverend at St. Georges Presbyterian Church, East St. Kilda, from 1884. deaf children australia, dca, victorian deaf & dumb institution, board member, john gordon mackie

A sepia coloured portrait of a man on card. On back 'DAVIES & CO/Photographers/5 Collins St. West/ (3 doors from/Elizabeth St.)/MELBOURNE' / 'COPIES MAY BE HAD ON APPLICATION' deaf children australia, victorian deaf and dumb institution, vddi, portrait

A sepia coloured portrait of a man on card. On back 'BATCHELDER & O'NEILL/ARTIST PHOTOGRAPHERS/41 COLLINS ST. EAST,/MELBOURNE/Est 1854' deaf children australia, victorian deaf & dumb institution, vddi, portrait

A sepia coloured portrait of a woman on card. On back 'KEMP, PERRY & CO/Artists and Photographers./81 BOURKE ST. EAST./2 doors East of/THEATRE ROYAL/MELBOURNE' / 'PHOTOGRAPHIC COPIES & PORTRAITS IN OILS & WATER COLORS/CAN BE HAD FROM THIS CARD.' deaf children australia, victorian deaf & dumb institution

B&W oval photograph pasted on cardboard and cut out from original board and a negative copy. The picture is of William Moss. He was a Congregational minister and philanthropist. deaf children australia, vddi, victorian deaf & dumb institution, board member, william moss

Information pamphlet re history of Blackburn Lake. Visitors guide sheet and brochure advertising 'Bush Tucker Walkabout'. Open Day, including leaflet about local Wurundjeri tribe and plants they used.Information pamphlet re history of Blackburn Lake. blackburn lake sanctuary, city of nunawading, adult deaf and dumb society, native plants, wildlife, bush tucker walkabout, wurundjeri aboriginal tribe

Photocopied extract from Robin Da Costa's 'Blackburn: a picturesque history' pp 92 -94.Extract from Robin Da Costa's 'Blackburn: a picturesque history' blackburn lake sanctuary, adult deaf and dumb society, blackburn swimming club, melbourne and metropolitan board of works, walling, edna, stones, ellis

Pamphlet issued by the City of Nunawading on Blackburn Lake Sanctuary, its history and development.Pamphlet issued by the City of Nunawading on Blackburn Lake Sanctuary, its history and development.blackburn lake sanctuary, woods, john, gardiners creek, lake road, blackburn, adult deaf and dumb society, herald learn to swim drive, blackburn swimming club, city of nunawading. parks and recreation department

An article from 'Victoria's Resources' Dec 1970 - Feb 1971 - 'Blackburn Lake: a unique natural sanctuary and field study centre - author Jean F. Field. History and description of the lake including bird lists. 'Victoria's Resources' Dec 1970 - Feb 1971 - 'Blackburn Lake: a unique natural sanctuary and field study centre - author Jean F. Field.parks and reserves, blackburn lake sanctuary, adult deaf and dumb society, melbourne and metropolitan board of works, walling, edna, sheddon, (mrs), (mr), bourke, nola

Black and white Postcard entitled 'Lake, Deaf Mutes' Home, Blackburn'.Printed in Saxonyblackburn lake sanctuary, adult deaf and dumb society

Deaf Mutes Flower Farm, Blackburn.adult deaf and dumb society, flower growing

Black and white postcard titled 'Lake - Deaf Mutes Home, Blackburn'. Scene shows two boats on Blackburn Lake.blackburn lake sanctuary, hooke, janet emily, adult deaf and dumb society, albert arthur

Used by Robin Da Costa in 'Blackburn: a picturesque history'Black & white photo of Adult Deaf Society home for the Superintendent and Men's Wing. Built 1909, demolished 1972.|Note the two Charabancs in front (c1909)adult deaf and dumb society, blackburn, flower farm

Used by donor in 'Blackburn - a picturesque history'Black & white photo of men picking flowers at Adult Deaf Society Flower Farm. Page 29.daffodils, mclellan, archie, nelson, t, swain, p, buse, s, abraham, e. d. j., hull, a., adult deaf and dumb society