Martini-Henry Artillery Carbin rifles were made by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, Britain, from 1877 until 1900. Many were distributed to the British Colonies, including this pair, which was allocated to the Woodford Police, Victoria Police District of Warrnambool, Southwest Victoria. The Carbine model rifles were shorter than the standard rifles and more suited to mounted police and troopers. It is likely that in the early 20th century, Victoria Police replaced the two carbines with more modern firearms, and the outdated guns were stored in the stables. The rifles were left there and likely forgotten about due to changes in police staff. In 1915, police authorities announced that they would be replacing patrol horses with bicycles and would also close some smaller police stations. This affected Woodford Police Station, which closed in 1917. The forgotten firearms remained in the stables and were noticed by schoolboy Robert Jellie in 1940 and seen again in 1946. In 1995, the property was sold by the Education Department to a private owner. The Woodford Community donated the pair of Martini-Henry Carbines to the Victoria Police Museum in the late 1990s for mounting and display, which was funded by the Victoria Police Historical Society Inc. The decorative wood and glass display case and frame were designed to preserve the significant history of the guns. On November 1st 1999, the display was presented to Warrnambool Police and the local community due to the historical significance of the Woodford Police Station. In 2025, these items were formally deaccessioned by the Victoria Police Museum, and ownership was transferred to the Warrnambool Police Station. On March 10th, 2025, the display was transferred to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village, where the historical story of the Martini-Henry Carbines could continue to be preserved and accessed by local families, the community, visitors to the area, and online visitors. WOODFORD POLICE: - The small settlement at Woodford was established in the 1840s around the Merri River where there was a ford across the water and a bridge from 1848 to 1851. The area was settled very early in Victoria’s history, and the river crossing provided travellers with access to the early route between Port Fairy (named Belfast at that time), Warrnambool and Melbourne. Occasionally, a Warrnambool police trooper would ride through Woodford and the district. In December 1854, Woodford Police barracks and stables were built on the hill by the Merri River on Bridge Road east, where Jubilee Park now stands. A local mounted trooper kept law and order in the area. In 1856, a lock-up was installed, and the first Woodford Police Station was in action in 1857. By 1871, the police station had been moved from the hill to land across the Merri River bridge, on the southern side of Bridge Road west, near Mill Street. In 1890, the police residence there was replaced by a stone Edwardian-style building with the stables and lock-up behind it and the old police station at the rear. The police continued to have a presence in Woodford until it was closed by the Police Commissioner in July 1917 for economic reasons. The residence was used for government housing until 1923, when it was taken over by the Education Department for the school teacher’s home. In 1995, it became privately owned. THE MARTINI-HENRY ARTILLERY CARBINE: - The Martini-Henry rifles were made in Britain from 1871 at the Royal Small Arms factory at Enfield and were stamped with the symbol of the Royal Cipher (Crown over VR) over ENFIELD to identify their origin. They were named after two of several people who helped design this method: Swiss Friederich von Martini and Scotsman Alexander Henry. The design was breech-loaded, and the inner barrel was rifled. A thumb rest was incorporated into the top right of the bullet receiver’s chamber. The small teardrop lever on the right side of the rifle showed whether the rifle was ready to be shot. In 1877, the shorter, lighter-weight Carbine version of the firearm was produced for mounted troops and artillery. Its official name was “Carbine, B.L., Rifled, Martini-Henry.” The bullets were slightly lighter in weight than those used for the longer rifle. The sight position was adjusted for the shorter gun, and wings were added to the sight on the tip, making it easier to slide the rifle back into a saddle bag. Some of the later Carbines also had leather sight covers screwed to the stock to prevent them from catching on the saddle bags. The Carbines had accessories available, such as barrel extensions with bayonets and swivels for adding slings. The Martini-Henry Carbine designs were later modified to fire the British .303 ammunition. Eventually, by 1900, the Martini-Henry Carbines were replaced by the Lee Enfield gun design. The pair of Martini-Henry Carbine firearms represents policing in the early pre-1900 days of colonial settlement; Woodford was one of the first townships settled in Victoria, and it had a police presence from 1854 until 1917. The rifles and display provide a historic connection between the location of Woodford and relatives and associates. The carbine rifles show a stage in the evolution of weapon design, adapted to suit mounted troops, and adding features to streamline use and storage. The ammunition was also improved during this progression. The carbines are important for their connection to policing law and order in a remote area. They are significant for their association with the township of Woodford, which was important to travel in the southwest Victoria district, providing access across a river for a road between Port Fairy and Melbourne, and later Warrnambool, and supplying food, goods and accommodation for the travellers. A pair of mounted rifles is mounted behind glass in a timer case, accompanied by a framed display of two photographs and an account of the rifles’ history. The case and display each have a horizontal board with a gently curved edge and carved decorations added. The identical firearms are British-made Martini Henry Carbine breach-loaded rifled guns, supplied by Britain to its Colonial troops from around 1877. The rifles are lever-action, single-shot .500 calibre weapons. They have a teardrop lever on their right side. They were used by Victoria Police mounted troops at the Woodford Police Station, Victoria. The black and white photographs were taken in 1946. The left photograph has a circled area; the right photograph is an enlarged view of the circled area, showing the Woodford Police Station in detail. The printed text is on textured paper with the Victoria Police watermark. It gives a summary of the rifle’s history. There is an inscription on the left photograph. Left photograph, handwritten in white pen: “WOODFORD” Document’s print: “During the late 1840s the small town of Woodford grew around the crossing of the Merri River on the Melbourne/Port Fairy Rad. Woodford was proclaimed a township in 1854 and a police quarters was established there in 1857. The police station remained until 1917 when it was closed and police service from then on was provided from Warrnambool. The building was then used as a school residence and is now privately owned. In !940 Robert JELLIE, then a schoolboy, observed two rifles mounted on the wall of the disused stable at the rear of the old police building. Following the devastating flood of 1946 (see photograph above) the rifles were again seen in the room next to the stable but were not seen again until the building was sold by the Education Department many years later. It was a recognition of the historical value of the rifles which led to their donation to the Warrnambool Police Complex. The rifles have been authenticated by the Victoria Police Armoury as being Victoria Police issue some time before 1900. The rifles are an identical pair of the famous British-made Martini Henry, a .500 inch calibre military weapon widely used by British Colonial troops. Victoria Police and the wider community of Warrnambool are indebted to the members of the Woodford community for their fine gesture in donating the rifles for mounting so that their historical importance can be preserved and they can be displayed for generations to come. This display was funded by the Victoria Police Historical Society Incorporated, and presented on the first day of November, 1999.”flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, martini henry, victoria police, woodford police station, rifle, carbine, display case, british, martini henry carbine, breech-loaded, rifled, colonial, single-shot, .500 calibre, weapon, gun, 1877, troops, mounted troops, merri river, victoria police woodford, victoria police warrnambool, victoria police melbourne, police quarters, robert jellie, school residence, stable, 1946 flood, victoria police armoury, identical pair, british colonial troops, victoria police historical society incorporated, woodford, bicycles, found by a schoolboy, edwardian-style building, victoria police museum, warrnambool police station

evidence of the 1946 floods in Bank Street outside the Keats house in Port Fairy Black and white photograph of Male walking a bicycle on footpathflood, river, bank street, 1946, keats

This small shoe (or boot) was found at Rosebrook, a small settlement between Warrnambool and Port Fairy, after the 1946 Western District floods. These floods are regarded as the worst in the history of European settlement in the Western District. At least five lives were lost, many small settlements and towns were isolated resulting in food shortages, onion and potato crops were ruined, 20 bridges were destroyed or damaged, roads were swept away, hundreds of farm animals perished and road and rail services were disrupted. The floods were the result of a very high rainfall in five successive days (658 points of rain in one 24 hours) and there was more flooding a week after the first major impact of the rains. A link to a major weather event in the South west.This is a small child’s brown shoe made of leather with a lace-up upper part (no laces) and a leather sole. The sides of the upper part of the shoe have broken away at the edges. As the shoe has been water-logged (it was found after the 1946 Western District floods) it has become hard and brittle. warrnambool, rosebrook western district floods, 1946, 1940's shoe

The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Black and white photograph of a path through the Botanical GardensIn the Gardens Port Fairygardens, botanical, path, griffith street, trees

Gardens in winter. The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Bare trees In theBotanical Gardensgardens, botanical, griffith street, winter, autumn

The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Black and white Photograph of the path running along the river side of the gardens with trees overhanging the walkThe Rose Series P 1139 The Lovers Walk in the Gardens, Port Fairy, Vic.lovers walk - gardens, path, botanical, trees

The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Black and white Photograph of the main path through the botanical Gardens with the arbour to the left and mature trees and lawn on the rightEntrance to the Gardens Port Fairy Victoriagardens - entrance, path, arbour, trees, griffith street

The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. hand tinted photograph of two men working in the Botanical Gardens at the fork in the pathThe Gardens, Port Fairygardens, botanical, gardener

The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. PhotographThe Gardens, Port Fairygardens, botanical

circa 1930. The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Black and white Photograph of the botanical gardensIn The Gardens Port Fairybotanical, gardens, 1930, path, trees, hedge, griffith street

The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Bless keep and white photograph of a circular flower gardengarden, flowers, paths, trees

Gardens, Port Fairy - flowers & lawns panoramic view. The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Black and white Photograph of Port Fairy Gardens glued to cardboard as a mountThe Gardens Port Fairy—- A.C.Aberline, 26 Faversham Road, Canterbury gardens, botanical

Gardens, Port Fairy panoramic view. The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Black and white panoramic photograph of the bare limbed trees in the botanical gardensGardens, Port Fairy- A.C.Aberline, 26 Faversham Road, Canterburygardens, winter, trees, botanical

Pedestrian entrance to the Botanical Gardens. The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Black and white photograph of the pedestrian entrance to the Botanical Gardens gradens, botanical, path, gates, entrance

Entrance to Gardens - Port Fairy. The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Hand painted photograph of winding path in Botanical GardensGardens Port Fairythe gardens, gates, botanical, griffith street

Entrance to Gardens (1926) The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Photographgardens - entrance, botanical, gipps street

Port Fairy Gardens - 1904. (showing family group). Christmas. The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. PhotographReverse- Colin Robinson- front Christmas 1904gardens, botanical, family, group, people

Gardens, Port Fairy- (showing family group) The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Photographgardens - 1904, botanical, christmas, group, family, children

Gardens Port Fairy - showing family group at the entrance to the botanical gardens. The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Photographgardens, family, group, people, gates, entrance, botanical

Gardens Port Fairy, showing groups of people. The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Photograph of People picnicing in the Botanical Gardensgardens, group, family, people, botanical

Port Fairy Botanical Gardens -1908 postmark. The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Hand tinted Photograph of Garden bed beyond which a grassed area surround by treesGardens Port Fairy Published by Bishop and Graygardens, (1908 postmark), botanical, grass, trees

"The Mound" Gardens, Port Fairy. Showing children. The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Black and white photograph of Several groups of adults and children sitting on the mound in the gardens"The Mound" Gardens, Port Fairy Victoria Real photo Series M 1994 back; Valentines postcardmound, gardens, botanical, children

Entrance to gardens Port Fairy. The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. PhotographEntrance to Gardens Port Fairybotanical gardens, gate, path, dunes

The curved path through the Botanical Gardens at Port Fairy. The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Black & white panoramic landscape of the paths and garden beds of the Botanical GardensPort Fairy Gardens W. Scottbotanical, garden, paths, trees

Entrance to Port Fairy Botanical Gardens. The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Sepia landscape of the gates to the Botanical Gardens (taken on a slant)Post card - correspondence-Addressbotanical, garden, park, griffith street, gates