Peter McGennan (1839-1920) arrived in Warrnambool in the 1870s and established a cooperage in Kepler Street and a boating business on the Hopkins River. He rebuilt the boating establishment after a fire in 1876. In 1896 McGennan established a Box and Case Factory in Davis Street (Merrivale Drive), importing timber from New Zealand, using chartered vessels and his own ships which included the ‘Speculant’. The box factory was a successful venture employing over 30 men until it was destroyed by fire in 1923. Peter McGennan was involved in the establishment of the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory at Allansford and the Warrnambool Woollen Mill. He was a Director of the latter company until his death. Members of the McGennan family were also important business people in Warrnambool, being involved in the hotel business and civic affairs for many years. The tin box may have been used to house family papers or business documents during Peter McGennan’s life and it was used to house his estate papers after his death. Many of these documents are in the collection of the Warrnambool &District Historical Society.This box is of some importance as it belonged to a prominent Warrnambool businessman and his family. It has social significance as an example of the type of storage items used early in the 20th century to hold documents etc.This is a rectangular tin box with the black paint on the outside peeling and yellow paint inside. There is a metal lock which has no key. There is a small handle on the top added to the tin surface. The name ‘P.J.McGennan’ is painted on the front side in yellow paint.‘P.J.McGennan’ A typed label on faded yellow adhesive tape ‘Estate P.J.McGennan’ peter mcgennan, p j mcgennan, peter mcgennan metal box, mcgennan box factory, mcgennan warrnambool

This file contains two items: 1/Twelve photographs of the Glen Huntly, Neerim Road hand-operated railway gates, dated 1983 and November 1985, photographer unknown, and two black and white copies of two of the original photographs. Four photographs are in black and white and eight are in colour, all picturing the Gatekeeper’s shelter and/or the railway gates. Six photographs dated 1985 include the Gatekeeper, unidentified, in some photos operating the gates. 2/A three-page pamphlet dated 03/05/1979 promoting a public meeting at the Caulfield Town Hall to debate Road Grade Separation proposals for the Neerim Road and Glenhuntly Road railway crossings. Document details the proposed VicRail improvement and four alternative improvements as we as a blank questionnaire for the submission of ideas regarding the proposals to the Caulfield City Council Urban Planner. A short summary of other concerns held by two councillors and an engineer regarding the proposal is also included, as is a Railway Noise Level. Railway Pamphlet also includes a map of the area surrounding the railway crossings under discussion 1977.glenhuntly road, neerim road, caulfield, railway gates, gates, hand-operated railway gates, railways, roads and streets, railway crossings, architectural features, town halls, official buildings, vicrail, meetings, public meetings, caulfield town hall, gatekeepers, caulfield city council, elsternwick, glen huntly, caulfield park, caulfield racecourse, normanby road, dandenong road, railway buildings, railway stations, land transport, transport establishments, hordern a.g., dunstan don, hordern bill, needham j.g., advertisements, graphics, advertising, advertising signs, signs, estate agents, business people, stockdale and leggo, buildings structures and establishments, occupations, united signs, signs, communication devices, motor vehicles, glenhuntly railway station, town planning, civic and landscape art, engineers, professionals, traffic, road transport, transport, maps, documents, plans

Nillumbik Shire Council transferred to the former Diamond Valley Shire Offices in Greensborough after municipal restructuing. The offices became the official Nillumbik Shire Council Offices on 16 October 1995. The former Shire of Diamond Valley Civic Centre or Shire Office building was officially opened on 26th February 1972. Archtiects were A.K. Lines, McFarlane & Marshall and it was built by L.U. Simon Pty Ltd, The Diamond Valley Shire had been created in 1964 from part of the City of Heidelberg. On December 15, 1994 the Shire of Nillumbik was established. Under the Council amalgamations imposed by the Kennett government, the Shire of Eltham, Shire of Diamond Valley and City of Heidelberg ceased to exist with the establishment of Nillumbik Shire Council and the City of Banyule.The new Nillumbik shire surrended the west riding from Eltham to Banyule but in place gained parts of the former Diamond Valley Shire which itself had been created in 1964 from parts of the City of Heidelberg. Three unelected and non-local Commissioners were put in place by the government bringing democracy into question by many members of the local community. The Commissioners determined to abandon the former Shire of Eltham offices located in Main Road, Eltham and in turn occupy the former Shire of Diamond Valley offices located at the boundary of the new shire with Banyule, in Civic Drive, Greensborough. In July 1996 the Commissioners sold the former Eltham Shire Offices and had them bulldozed leading to many years of communiity protest over the process and future development applications. The site has remained vacant ever since. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p43 It was the need for roads that led to this district’s first council. In 1853 a committee was formed to improve the rough roads, some in Kangaroo Ground being almost impassable in winter.1 The committee fundraised by voluntary levies and grants to improve in particular, the main road between Kangaroo Ground and the Plenty River. From this committee arose the Eltham District Road Board, in 1856, which was the precursor to the Eltham Shire Council. The Board’s first chairman was Kangaroo Ground farmer, John Barr. Secretary was the former committee’s secretary, Andrew Ross, Kangaroo Ground’s first school teacher, and founder of the district newspaper, The Evelyn Observer.2 Most of the board’s income came from a toll-house north of the Lower Plenty Bridge, which funded such projects as a road from Kangaroo Ground to the Caledonia Diggings. In 1871 the Shire of Eltham was proclaimed, with its boundaries the same as those of the Road Board, and Councillor A Donaldson of Kangaroo Ground was the first president. Eltham was at the southern tip of the shire, which extended north to Kinglake and east beyond Yarra Glen. In 1878, part of Kinglake was added to the shire, while the area east of Watts River, near Healesville was removed. In 1912, then again in 1958, the shire was further reduced. Yarra Glen, Steels Creek, Tarrawarra, parts of Healesville and Christmas Hills, were transferred to the Shire of Healesville. In 1972 a smaller area, at Kinglake, was transferred to the Shire of Yea, leaving 277 square kilometres in the Eltham Shire. Perhaps no other Victorian municipality has had so many meeting places. Although from 1858 to 1904, the council convened at the office in the home of Secretary Charles Wingrove, the board, and later the council, also met at other more central locations.3 The board moved from the Fountain of Friendship Hotel to the Eltham Courthouse, to the Kangaroo Ground schoolhouse. It then met at the Kangaroo Ground Hotel, which some considered put it in danger of interruptions by people ‘the worse for liquor’.4 In 1885 the council met at the hall on Mr J Donaldson’s land at Kangaroo Ground. After Wingrove’s retirement, the council rented space at the Kangaroo Ground General Store and Post Office. Then, in 1917, the council bought the former office of The Evelyn Observer, after its printing works transferred to Hurstbridge. In 1934, fire destroyed the shire office, which was temporarily relocated to the Kangaroo Ground home of Shire Secretary, Mr P J McMahon. In 1941, the shire office moved to a new building (which included a public hall) in Eltham, at the corner of Arthur Street and Main Road, where the Eltham Village Shopping Centre was eventually built. Growth required new offices, which opened in 1965, on the former Shillinglaw property in Main Road.5 In 1994, as part of municipal restructuring under the Jeff Kennett Liberal Government, most of the Eltham Shire formed part of the new Shire of Nillumbik. It joined with the north section of the Diamond Valley Shire and parts of the Healesville and Whittlesea municipalities. The Diamond Valley Shire had been created in 1964, from part of the City of Heidelberg. Turbulence followed Nillumbik Shire’s formation. Under the Commissioners the council transferred to the former Diamond Valley Shire offices in Greensborough, and the Eltham council offices were demolished. In March 1997 the first five-member Nillumbik Council was elected. But, in October 1998, the government suspended the council and appointed an administrator . Early in 1999, shire residents voted to increase councillors to nine: comprising five ward councillors and four shire-wide councillors. Elections were held in March 1999. Then, before the March 2002 elections, nine new wards were created.6 In 2008 these were reduced to seven. Today [2008] the council governs a varied population of more than 60,000 people living in townships and on bush properties in the green wedge.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, greensborough, nillumbik shire council offices, civic drive

The original replica Fire Station at Flagstaff Hill was constructed in 2006 by members of the CVA Warrnambool Fire Brigade. It was rebuilt in 2015, ironically due to damage from fire in the adjacent building, and now includes a locked display. The fire station faithfully replicates the designs of the late 1800s fire stations found across Victoria. Every detail, including the type of nails used, adheres to period-correct specifications. The objects on display are on loan from the CFA. They provide a glimpse into the history and evolution of firefighting in Victoria, preserving the heritage and legacy of the brave men and women who have served their communities. Fire Brigade Collection highlights: . Hose reels and equipment: essential firefighting equipment used during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. . Brass helmets: symbolic headgear worn by firefighters for protection and identification. . Photographs: historical images capturing the evolution of firefighting in the region. . Certificates: awards highlighting the skill and dedication of firefighters. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WARRNAMBOOL FIRE BRIGADE - [Ref: Quarrell, A, 2013, The Warrnambool Fire Brigade: 1863-2013, Amazon Printing, Warrnambool]: “Since the township of Warrnambool was established in the 1840s, there were several attempts at forming a Fire Brigade. However, many issues hindered progress. Firstly, minimal fires were recorded. Secondly, the town had no money to purchase expensive equipment, including a fire engine, and thirdly and most importantly, there was no infrastructure for accessible running water from pipes, as we know today. But after the expansion and growth of the township, it was time for action. The Warrnambool Fire Brigade was formed in 1863. The Brigade has served Warrnambool on a daily basis ever since. The volunteers of the Brigade were required to fill their water carts each evening from a spring on Cannon Hill and be on standby to deliver water to fire scenes. In 1889, the Warrnambool Council built a new Fire Station at 25 Liebig Street. Today, the Civic Centre is located on this site.” The objects on loan from the Warrnambool Fire Brigade are significant to local history since its establishment in 1863. They tell the story of the Brigade’s history, which is part of Warrnambool and the district’s history.Warrnambool Fire Brigade Collection: a variety of historic objects and equipment used by the firemen of the brigade since 1863. The items are kindly on loan from the Warrnambool Fire Brigade in a building originally erected in the Village by the Fire Brigade to house their historic collection. The items include: EQUIPMENT: 2 fire reels, 3 leather buckets, 1 wooden ladder, 2 old pumps, 2 fire extinguishers, 1 foam nozzle, 2 hydrants, 1 red chest with breathing apparatus, 1 large grey chest, 1 red metal thread gauges box, 2 copper and brass extinguishers, 3 copper and brass branches, 1 canvas bucket, assorted reels of hose, assorted couplings and branches, PHOTOGRAPHS/CERTIFICATES: 3 Discipline Certificates dated 1894, 1893, 1911, Mounted photo of members of the Warrnambool Fire Brigade Football Club, Mounted photos of members of the Warrnambool Fire Brigade in uniform, framed photo of LC Marshall UNIFORMS: 1 Officer’s jacket, 1 blazer, 1 turnout jacket, 1 harness belt, 1 leather helmet, 1 pair of boots, 1 brass helmet, 1 axe belt with axe and plug spanner TROPHIES: 1 clock flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, cfa, fire brigade, warrnambool fire brigade, fire reel, leather bucket, wooden ladder, pump, fire extinguisher, foam nozzle, fireman’s hydrant, breathing apparatus, copper and brass extinguishers, copper and brass branches, canvas bucket, discipline certificates, warrnambool fire brigade football club, l c marshall, officer’s jacket, blazer, turnout jacket, harness belt, leather helmet, pair of boots, brass helmet, axe belt with axe and plug spanner, clock, mantle clock

Photograph of Red Cross display boards witha motorcycle ans side car in front."No. V / Australian / (Australilan Red Cross Society insignia) / Red Cross / Society" / "A.I.F. Hospital / Ingres Abbey / Kent "red cross, welfare establishments, hospitals, motorcycles, world war 1, george evans collection

This black and white photograph shows members of the Sunbury Swimming Club standing on the diving board at the swimming pool at The Nook. Identified in the photograph are Eric Boardman (second male from right) and Hilda Balfour (female in white dress).sunbury swimming club, the nook, sunbury swimming pool, boardman, eric, balfour, hilda, martin, w. (mrs), tweedle, a., a. f., chubb, percy, sport, sports and recreation establishments, george evans collection

This building was demolished in 1975 when the extension to the existing Shire Offices were completed later in 1975.Prior to the Sunbury Waterworks Rust occupying this building, a hotel was built on this site in the 1870s and was known as Brown's Hotel. At some stage John McMahon's grandfather owned the hotel.A black and white photograph of a weatherboard house with a tin roof, verandah and paling fence was the home of the Sewerage Authority and Waterworks Trust at the front of the Shire Offices.sunbury sewerage authority, sunbury waterworks trust, shire of bulla, mcmahon, john, burgess, geyer, ronald, sewerage establishments, george evans collection, brown's hotel, john mcmahon

The Starkie drinking fountain was erected to commemorate the work done by Joseph Starkie to formation of the Sunbury Waterworks Trust in 1905. This later led to the establishment of a water supply system in Sunbury. Originally the fountain was at the intersection of O'Shanassy and Brook Streets. As the shopping centre expanded, the fountain was moved to a reserve in the Village Green. The establishment of a town water supply system in Sunbury in the early years of the nineteenth century was quite an achievement.A coloured photograph of a drinking fountain set in a grassed area. Parked cars can be seen in the background.sunbury waterworks trust, joseph starkie

WADE, Ivan Mayor 1969-70, 1970-71 Ivan Wade grew up in Bendigo and Brunswick, one of eight children. After his marriage, he moved with his wife and young family to Kew in 1951. In 1959, he took a year’s sabbatical in 1959 to build a new family home for his wife and four children at 222 Cotham Road, Kew. He worked professionally in the Meat Industry, successfully building a small chain of retail butcher shops, and a meat exporting business. He worked for improvements in the Trade through involvement in the Meat and Allied Trades Federation, of which he was the first State, and then Federal President. He was to be awarded an OBE for his services to the Meat Industry in 1979. Having been a long-time member of Melbourne Lions Club, he helped start Chadstone Lions’ Club as an inaugural tenant of the Chadstone Shopping Centre in 1979. He was also a tireless worker for charity, making his home available for functions raising funds for local groups. His passion for the community led him to stand for Kew Council as a representative of College Ward. As a councillor, he was elected mayor for two terms. During his term of office, new Kew Municipal Offices were constructed in Cotham Road. An active worker for the Kew Elder Citizens Association, he was involved in the establishment of an Opportunity Shop in Walpole Street to raise funds for the development of a new Centre in High Street. The Opportunity Shop was used to train locally unemployed youth skills such as furniture repair. (GW)Silver presentation trowel associated with the opening of significant civic projects in the former City of Kew.Commemorative, inscribed silver-plated presentation trowel given by the City of Kew to the Mayor, Cr Ivan Wade, on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the new Kew Civic Centre on the corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street, now part of Trinity Grammar School. The silver trowel was presented in a black leather case lined with blue velvet. The trowel was to be used a second time in 1982 when Cr Wade and his wife laid the foundation stone of Hamer Court. The trowel was later donated to Kew Historical Society Inc by Gwlad Wade, the wife of Cr Ivan Wade, on 20 August 2000. Front: "Presented to Cr Wade J.P. / Mayor of / the City of Kew / at the laying of the / foundation stone / of the / Kew Civic Centre /20-8-1971." Reverse: This trowel was also used / by / Cr Ivan Wade OBE JP & Mrs Gwlad Wade / at the laying / of the foundation stone / of / "Hamer Court" / Hostel for the Aged / 22nd August 1982"cr ivan wade, hamer court, commemorative trowels, kew civic offices, city of kew 1860-1993

The former Baptist Church, at 8-12 Woodlands Avenue, Kew East, was nominated by the Society for protection as part of the Kew East Heritage Gap Study. W D Vaughan in his 'Kew's Civic History' (1960 writes that: "With the development of East Kew, local Baptists considered the establishment of a church was necessary. A block of land was purchased in Woodlands Avenue and the foundation stone of a new church was laid on August 8, 1931. A fine Sunday school has since been erected, and special emphasis has been given to providing activities for the young people of the church"Three colour photographs of the former Baptist Church in Woodlands Avenue, Kew East. The photographs are of the front and side of the clinker brick building. One of the photographs shows the foundation stone, laid by AH Lewis Esq, 8 August 1931.churches - kew (vic), baptist church - woodlands avenue - kew (vic)

Medal commemorating the centenary of the establishment of a settlement on Bendigo Creek. Stokes & Sonsobverse; 1851 / City of Bendigo Centenary / 1951. Reverse: In centre: Coat of arms (Bendigo), Below Progresscity of greater bendigo medals

The Bendigo School of Mines was opened in 1873 following the first report of the Technological Commission in 1869 which recommended the establishment of schools of design and science to meet the scientific and technical needs of the mining industry on the local gold fields. Initially mining, chemistry, geology, metallurgy and art were taught while a separate school of design was established in c. 1870 but incorporated into the School of Mines around 1883 when it was renamed as the School of Mines and Industry. In 1904 The Mechanics Institute was liquidated and its assets and buildings acquired by the School of Mines. Around 1907 a Junior Technical School commenced to operate at the School of Mines and Industry but ceased operating in 1961 with that function being transferred to the White Hills and Kangaroo Flat Technical Schools. The Bendigo School of Mines and Industry became known as the Bendigo Technical College from the 1st July 1959. It operated under that name until February 1967 when it became the Bendigo Institute of Technology (B.I.T.). Construction work commenced in c.1965 which saw the Institute progressively re-locate to new buildings at Flora Hill. (Fn: https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VA3091) Richard Hartley Smith Abbott was the step son of Joseph Henry Abbott and continued on in the family tradition of entering into business. He was elected a representative in the Mandurang riding in the Shire of Strathfieldsaye in 1887, served as Mayor of the City of Bendigo from 1917 - 1918 and was Secretary of the Bendigo Art Gallery for over 20 years. His father Joseph Abbot had been a member of the School of Mines Administrative Council and RH Abbott served as President of the School of Mines for two years and was a highly regarded business man within the local community. The School of Mines and Industries would have written to him asking him to intervene to ensure that their reputation remained intact.Handwritten letter by the registrar from the School of Mines to R H S Abbott on lightly lined writing paper.city of greater bendigo education, city of greater bendigo mining, mayor rhs abbott, shire of strathfieldsaye, bendigo art gallery

The Bendigo School of Mines was opened in 1873 following the first report of the Technological Commission in 1869 which recommended the establishment of schools of design and science to meet the scientific and technical needs of the mining industry on the local gold fields. Initially mining, chemistry, geology, metallurgy and art were taught while a separate school of design was established in c. 1870 but incorporated into the School of Mines around 1883 when it was renamed as the School of Mines and Industry. In 1904 The Mechanics Institute was liquidated and its assets and buildings acquired by the School of Mines. Around 1907 a Junior Technical School commenced to operate at the School of Mines and Industry but ceased operating in 1961 with that function being transferred to the White Hills and Kangaroo Flat Technical Schools.Obverse; Ornate relief design made up of a coat of arms with mining icons in each quarter flanked by flags on either side. Per varios usus artem experientia fecit written in scroll underneath. Translation: Practice has brought skill through different exercises. (Manilius) Reverse; Outer wheel Bendigo School of Mines and Industries. Inner; 1873 /Jubilee /1923Obverse; Per varios usus artem experientia fecit Reverse; Outer wheel Bendigo School of Mines and Industries. Inner; 1873 /Jubilee /1923city of greater bendigo education, bendigo school of mines

Medal commemorating the centenary of the establishment of a settlement on Bendigo Creek. (.1) Small, circular, gold pin with blue and green enamel. below. (.2) Seventeen numbered paper envelopes containing single pin.Face of pin has the City of Bendigo Coat of Arms in relief with 'City of Bendigo' above and 'Centenary 1851 - 1961' city of greater bendigo medals

Medal commemorating the centenary of the establishment of a settlement on Bendigo Creek. Stokes & Sons pressed medal with gold finish to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Bendigo. obverse; 1851 / City of Bendigo Centenary / 1951. Reverse: In centre: Coat of arms (Bendigo), Below Progresscity of greater bendigo medals