Bob (Herman) Hymans (a former member of the Royal Netherlands Navy) was born in Bloemendaal, Holland on 30th September 1922. During World War II he fought against the Japanese in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and was imprisoned in Changi and on the Burma Railway. After gaining qualifications as a Ski Instructor, Bob arrived in Falls Creek in July 1950. Working as an Instructor and Supervisor at Bogong Lodge, Bob decided his future was in accommodation. He was successful in negotiating an indenture for land from the State Electricity Commission (SEC). It took Bob two years to build his Grand Coeur Chalet but, tragically, it was burned down in August 1961. Bob also built the first Chairlift in Australia. This was a single chairlift and the structure was built from wooden electricity poles. He was constantly full of new ideas and proposals for the village. Bob Hymans die on 7th July 2007. This Collection of documents and letters tells the story of Bob's endeavours to develop Falls Creek into the ski village it is today.This item is significant because it documents proposals put forward by Bob Hymans to develop facilities in the Falls Creek Tourist Area.A handwritten letter from Bob Hymans to the Management Committee requesting a hearing to discuss his future plans.TRANSCRIPT Dear Sirs, I am taking the liberty herewith to make an application to get a hearing from your committee for the establishment of a ski hire and repair centre and a year-round operating restaurant-general store and postal facilities at Falls Creek. I would like to get the opportunity to have my representations heard by your Committee and remain Yours faithfullyfalls creek tourist area management committee, falls creek administration, bob hymans

"The Mechanics Institute movement flourished in Victoria from 1839 to 1950. It was based on the development of Mechanics’ Institutes in Scotland and England from the 1820s, which were intended to educate and enlighten the working classes. The term ‘mechanic’ in those days meant an artisan, craftsman or working man, especially those who had moved from rural areas to work in new city factories during the Industrial Revolution. The early Institutes were usually equipped with a reading room, a library and a lecture room. Although enjoying mixed success in Britain, they contributed to the development of public education and library services. The movement was adopted more enthusiastically in the colonies. It began slowly in Victoria but its expansion after the gold rushes population influx was rapid, especially in rural areas. Every suburb and town wanted to have a Mechanics’ Institute. During the 1850s approximately forty Institutes were established, with even greater growth in the period 1860 to 1900. By 1900 there were 400 Institutes in Victoria. The establishment of a Mechanics’ Institute was often a great achievement for a local community, requiring organising committees to raise substantial funds for a building site (where this had not been granted by the Government), and the building. Once built, the committee then had to purchase books, provide a caretaker or librarian, and finance the ongoing use of and improvements to the building. ‘The history of many Institutes is a story of tremendous community effort, and often, financial difficulties’. In addition to being monuments to local enterprise and community life, the Mechanics’ Institutes played a vital role as an intellectual forum, and in contributing to an informed and participatory democracy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They provided journals and other reading matter on local, state, national and international issues, and hosted of lectures and held debates about wider issues such as Federation, colonial nationalism, defence, female suffrage, the price of land and labour. With the development of the school and technical education in the latter part of the nineteenth century, the need for community technical and adult education declined. As a result of the introduction of government library grants in 1867, many Mechanics’ Institutes incorporated a free library in their buildings to finance collection of their books. By 1884-85, there were 257 free libraries in Victoria. However, government support and library grants dropped off in the 1890s depression. Entertainment took on a greater role in the 1890s, with the introduction of moving pictures, billiards rooms, games rooms (chess), concerts and dances. The First World War had a devastating impact on many rural communities, and some Mechanics’ Institutes were no longer viable. On the other hand the early twentieth century was also a time of agricultural development, and many country towns were growing in this period. The 1930s depression further limited growth of many libraries and reduced grants substantially. In response many Mechanics’ Institutes were renamed, for example as memorial halls, in order to retain and attract more patrons (eg at nearby Sunbury). The diminishing role for Mechanics’ Institutes and the preference for larger and better appointed halls (with supper rooms, cloak rooms etc) resulted in demolition of some small Institutes. The advent of cars, radios, and television also provided other opportunities for recreation, learning and entertainment. The greater role of municipalities in providing library services also eroded the need for free libraries. While over 500 Mechanics’ Institutes or halls are extant, very few of these retain their original role as ‘diffusers of useful knowledge’. Most are still available for community purposes, as venues for meetings, socials, civic occasions etc, while others are employed as museums, shops and theatres. Most buildings are on Crown land, and managed by a delegated committee of management, who are responsible for raising revenue to maintain aging buildings. Many of those which were originally established on private land, such as Melton, have since reverted back to the Crown, and municipal Councils. The most common Mechanics Institute building form is the simple weatherboard gable building with iron roofs, notable for their ‘honest simplicity’ rather than as ‘monuments of the ancients’. At the other extreme there are some magnificent two storeyed brick and stucco structures with elaborate ornamentation (as was apparently envisaged by some in Melton in 1905-10)". The future of Melton Mechanic Institute Gazette articlelocal architecture

In the minutes of the 21st meeting of the Victoria Mission to Seamen, held at the Harbour Trust Board Room on Thursday, 8th October 1925 , the Treasurer, Mr Perry reported that he had obtained a fresh lease of land of the Central Institute with an extra piece of land to be used for the future tennis court. The lease started on the 1st of January 1926 and was for 21 years. The tennis court was funded by the Hawtorn branch of Ladies Harbour Lights Guild.The tennis court was a feature of other missions overseas and it seems seamen were asking for one in Melbourne. It was in use until the mid fifties.Small silvertone photograph depicting four men working with horses are preparing the ground of the future tennis court. Behind is the Mission to Seafarers (chapel side) and the docks on the Australian Wharf. The photograph is glued to the photographic album with the caution belowBelow in white ink: Making the tennis courttennis court, weller album, 1926, garden, trees, horses, flinders street

The edition of the Ballarat Courier announcing Geoffrey Blainey as the first Chancellor of the University of Ballarat (now Federation University Australia). It also includes facts and dates relating to the University of Ballarat from 1869 to 1994. 3 copies of supplement 20 page University of Ballarat supplementSpecial Edition - University City: A glorious future milivoj micich, geoffrey blainey, university of ballaray, mount helen campus, ballarat university college, ken hawkins, pat prevett, koalas, bill pryor, zelman cowen, international students, dennis els, food technology, koori education unit, aboriginal education unit, ziaoli jiang, student enrolment, timeline, ferdinand krause, alfred mica smith, lord casey, john sharpham, human movement, occupational health and safety, e.j. barker library, mount helen library, founders hall, chancellor

Felt rectangle with printed text, stapled to wooden dowelChildren's Hospital. The future is a child. 1870 - 1970

Article on future use of Box Hill Town Hall.Article on future use of Box Hill Town Hallbox hill town hall, future use

"A weatherboard cottage built in 1911 and known as Mac’s Cottage was also relocated to the park in 1977, and converted into a caretaker’s residence". Newspaper articles about the future of Mac Hotel and Cottagelocal architecture

Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) badge promoting Enrolled Nurses (also known as Division 2 Nurses, ENs). ENs are registered health practitioners who have completed, at a minimum, a diploma qualification in order to practice. ENs typically work under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse to provide support and care for patients in a range of healthcare settings. This badge was possibly distributed to ANF EN members attending the 1999 Annual ANF Division 2 Conference that focused on pathways to the future for this group of nurses. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation became the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) in 1989, and then became the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2013, further suggesting this badge is from the 1990s or early 2000s.Circular green and purple badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Button printed with 'A.N.F. [Australian Nursing Federation] securing a future for Enrolled Nurses'.nursing, enrolled nurses, division 2 nurses, nurses, badges, buttons, pins, trade unions, labour history, patient care, australian nursing federation, victoria

Romance and appeal of roads and a look at the future of Australian roads and transport

Express Telegraph article about the Future Project for the Toolern Employment Nodelandscapes of significance

Document. Spot on the Future. The Bendigo Trust. Big Gold Mountain, that was Bendigo in the past.document, memo, the bendigo trust

Newspaper. Bendigo Advertiser,Friday, 23, 1993 Schools Searching for Future. Drummartin.

Newspaper. Bendigo Advertiser July 21, 1993. Harcourt. A Town with A Rosy Future.