Richard Hartley Smith Abbott, company director, was born, probably in Bendigo, Victoria, around 1859, the son of Richard Hartley Abbott, also a company director, and Ann, née Smith. The young Richard was educated at Bendigo High School and then at St Andrews, Scotland. Returning to Australia, he became proprietor of the Abbott Supply Company, a director of the Sandhurst Building Society, the Bendigo Gas Company, and several local mining enterprises. He owned farms at Lyell, Mandurang and Eppalock, and was a pioneer of lucerne cultivation and tanning. In 1887, Abbott became a councillor for Strathfieldsaye Shire, a position he held for fifteen years. He was shire president (1901–02) and a Bendigo City councillor (1904–09; 1913–19), serving as Mayor of Bendigo between 1917 and 1918. Richard died in 1940. https://biography.senate.gov.au/richard-hartley-smith-abbott/ 'Preston Vale' was a property in Sedgewick. A sepia photo taken at Preston Vale of the Abbott family in 1895 including Richard Hartley Smith Abbott (Snr.) Mary Hannah (Gibbs) Abbott and their five oldest children, Richard Hartley Abbott born 1885, Inez Marie Abbott born 1886, William Norman Abbott born 1888, Harold Athelstone Abbott born 1889, and Kenneth Cyril Abbott born 1890. Two of the boys are wearing long sleeved striped collared shirts, one a scouting style coat and the youngest a collared shirt and all boys are in short pants with socks or stockings. Inez, is in a long sleeved dress with white smock with white bonnet. She is wearing boots. All others are wearing hats, Mrs Abbott's hat has a scrunched/folded ribbon on the brim. She is wearing a long sleeved light coloured blouse fastened at the neck The group is seated on an outcrop of granite rocks with parts of a buggy and horse tackle showing behind them. A lidded billy and scattered cups are on the ground in front. Mr Abbott, in shirt and long pants, is carrying a shot gun as is one of the boys. Both photos have 'Preston Vale Dec 26/95' written in ink on the reverse.abbott family, preston vale

Three children in fancy dress (Abbott Family Concert about 1915stawell entertainment

Abbott collection old leather bound Bible with brass corners & clasp, family Bible of Alexander Tamlyn Roberts & Elizabeth Ann (Abbott) Contains family history & colour prints. Inscription reads Alexander Tamlyn Roberts born Newlyn Cornwall February 15th 1839, wife Elizabeth Ann London June 3rd 1847 married April 18th 1866 at St.Peters church Eaglehawk Bendigo.personal effects, religious, bible

Letter from Agnes Hay to James Staines Abbott 4th January 1904.communication, postal, letters

Letter sent from Shepparton by Elizabeth Abbott to her husband James Staines Abbott on 15th April 1897. Short note scribbled in black ink on scrap paper, one side only.communication, postal, letters

Abbott collection, very old leather bound bible given to James Staines Abbott by his wife & daughters upon his 47th birthday. Contains many notations & newpaper cuttings, 2 pencil drawings by J.S.Abbott & 2 photos of his wife. James Staines Abbott was librarian for 18 years at the Eaglehawk Mechanics Institute.Inscription reads James Stainies Abbott the gift of his affectionate wife and daughters, Elizabeth Abbott, Elizabeth Ann Abbott, Caroline Esther Abbott June 1st 1862 Eaglehawk Gully Bendigo Australia.personal effects, religious, bible

Part of the family tree of Harold Athelstane Abbott, showing parents and siblingsPhil Wilkinperson, individual, harold athelstane abbott, richard hartley smith abbott, harold athelstane abbott

Pressed flowers from the Abbott family bible.ephemera, mementoes, pressed flowers

Assorted cards found inside the Abbott family Bible.ephemera, mementoes, cards

Notes written in shorthand found inside the Abbott family Bible.document, memo, shorthand

Richard Hartley Smith Abbott and Mary Hannah Gibbs had eight children. This family album contained photos of them and two of their children - Harold Athelstane Abbott (Born 1889. Died 1979) and Kenneth Cyril Abbott (Born 1890). Photos catalogued individually.A dark brown leather-bound photograph album belonging to the family of Richard Hartley Smith Abbott. The covers have decorative embossed geometric and floral patterns. Inside the covers is a brown floral-patterned paper lining. Fourteen heavy card double sided pages have cut out sections with openings for insertion of photographs. Seven of the pages have decorative borders of painted flowers. The pages have gold covered edges. The album has a silver metal clasp to secure the album. photo album, r h s abbott family

Richard Hartley Smith Abbott and Mary Hannah Gibbs had eight children. This family albums contained photos of them and two of their children - Harold Athelstane Abbott (Born 1889. Died 1979) and Kenneth Cyril Abbott (Born 1890). Photos catalogued individually.A dark brown leather-bound photograph album belonging to the family of Richard Hartley Smith Abbott. The front cover has decorative embossed floral patterns, the back cover has an embossed geometric pattern. Inside the covers is a green and gold floral-patterned paper lining. Twelve heavy card double sided pages have cut out sections with openings for insertion of photographs. Six of the pages have decorative borders of painted flowers. The pages have gold covered edges. The album has a silver metal clasp to secure the album. photo album, r h s abbott family

Four pages handwritten from Willathorne Co. dated 14th April, 1877 detailing a list of items relating to the stock of the Abbott Company sent to Sandhurst as samples on credit because Mr. Willathorne (?) was unable to get up there. The sender address is stated as Lonsdale Street East.business letter, commercial, abbott family, shoe manufacturing, commercial enterprise.

Photographs of Elizabeth Abbott (nee Steer) wife of James Staines Abbott pasted inside the Abbott family Bible. Born 16.10.1818, Married 1.9.1846, Died Wanalta 6.11.1900person, individual, elizabeth abbott

Found inside the Abbott family Bible, a small leaflet titled 'Welcome to the land of the Anzacs' in aid of the Anzac Memorial Fund. Issued by Victorian Branch Returned Soldiers League.societies, order of .., returned soldiers league

Black and white photograph. Image shows man standing beside vehicle - possibly 1930's 'tourer'. Man is wearing hat, long coat. Possibly member of Abbott family.bendigo, industry, abbott supply, abbott, car

Two pages of typewritten notes entitled 'Anti Tank Barbed Wire, another Australian Invention'. It describes the manufacture of Barblok barbed wire. There is also mention of two other inventions by members of the Abbott family, the 'Scalebuoy' and PIV gear. There are 2 copies of these notes.topic, barblok barbed wire, h.a. abbott, r.h.s. abbott, barblok, barbed wire, scalebuoy, piv gear

From Abbott Family album (Box 892). Mary Hannah Abbott was child of J.H. Abbott and Ann Abbott (previously Ann Smith)A Mendelssohn, View St. Bendigo, sepia head and shoulders photo of Mary Hannah Abbott in a lace shouldered dress beaded down central front and attached with pins at throat. Two copies.In ink on reverse 'Mary Hannah Abbott born May 11th 1862 taken Dec 1895. For Harold with Mothers love'.abbott, mendelssohn

From Abbott Family album (Box 892). Richard.Hartley Smith Abbott was the stepson of J.H. Abbott and son of Ann Smith and Richard Hartley Smith (Record 5847) A Bartlett Bros Bendigo sepia head and shoulders photo of Richard H.S. Abbott dated 1899 wearing a checked vest and jacket- two copies.In ink on reverse 'Richard H.S. Abbott 1899'r h s abbott, bartlett bros.

From Abbott Family album (Box 892). Harold Athelstone Abbott was the fourth child and third son of Mary Hannah Gibbs and Richard Hartley Smith AbbottA Bartlett Bros Sandhurst sepia full body studio photo probably of Harold Athelstane Abbott born 7th April 1889 and taken December 1990 in a knee length dress with broderie anglaise frill and black strapped shoes.In gold on reverse 'Yahen?, Dec 90, Born April 7th 89'r h s abbott, bartlett bros.

From Abbott Family album (Box 892). Kenneth Cyril Abbott was the 5th child and fourth son of Mary Hannah Gibbs and Richard Hartley Smith Abbott.A Bartlett Bros Sandhurst sepia sitting studio photo of Kenneth Cyril Abbott in a striped frilled smock with bows at shoulders. aged 9 months.In gold on reverse is written ' born August 90, taken May 91, aged 9 months.bartlett bros., k.c abbott

From Abbott Family album (Box 892). Kenneth Cyril Abbott was the 5th child and fourth son of Mary Hannah Gibbs and Richard Hartley Smith Abbott.A Bartlett Bros Bendigo sepia standing studio photo of Kenneth Cyril Abbott in sailor suit with arms crossed and cricket bat and cap to the sideIn pen on reverse is written 'Taken July 1st 97, Cyril Kenneth Abbott born Aug 28th 1890bartlett bros., k.c abbott

From Abbott Family album (Box 892). Harold Athelstone Abbott was the fourth child and third son of Mary Hannah Gibbs and Richard Hartley Smith AbbottA Bartlett Bros Bendigo sepia standing studio portrait of Harold Athelstane Abbott in a sailor suit with racquet by his sideIn in written on reverse is 'Taken July 1st 97, Harold Athelstane Abbott born April 7th 1889r h s abbott, bartlett bros.

From Abbott Family album (Box 892). Kenneth Cyril Abbott was the 5th child and fourth son of Mary Hannah Gibbs and Richard Hartley Smith Abbott.A single sheet Christmas card with nativity scene on front, angels at top with open trellis section at left and base with flowered vine. Reverse of card has a phrase from St.Matt 2. 11 and a poem. Produced by Raphael, Tuck and Sons, London, Paris New YorklIn ink on reverse of card is written 'Harold from Bella'christmas card, nativity

Four copies of an article reprinted from Smith's Weekly, November 30, 1940 titled Magic Mercury Bulb Does Many Marvellous Things. It mentions the inventor, Hartley Abbott, the use of the scalebuoy by the Victorian Railways. There is a brief explanation of how the scalebuoy works. It was used to treat hard water and was claimed to have certain health benefits. The inventiveness of the Abbott family is also mentioned.sciences, instruments-general, scalebuoy, bill ashman collection, magic mercury bulb, hartley abbott, scalebuoy, victorian railways department, buckingham palace, auckland general hospital, melbourne university, mr n brearley, glamis castle, lancet, crown hotel, smith's weekly

Invented by a member of the Abbott family of Bendigo, scalebuoys came in various sizes and had a variety of uses such as the mining industry to prevent scale build up in boilers, automotive for car radiators and domestic for water purification. Its essential part is a sealed glass bulb containing a small amount of mercury and a combination of gases.This particular variety was made to be connected to a water tap with a screw attachment and a small outlet pipe. Scalebuoy sent to Alan Cowling from work colleague, Pat Curran in Tasmania. Pat Curran was working as the CEO of a retirement village and found the scalebuoys in the equipment there. Noting the Bendigo manufacturing logo, he decided to send it to Alan. The original owner of the scalebuoys is unknown.sciences, instruments - general, scalebuoy

The share certificates were issued after the purchase of shares in the two mining companies. The owner of the shares was Robert Hartley Smith Abbott, the stepson of Joseph Henry Abbott. Robert Abbott inherited the family businesses, including Abbott Supply Co. He served on the council of the Shire of Strathfieldsaye and served as Major of Bendigo 1917 to 1918. He also served in the Victorian Legislative Council.Two share certificates issued to R.H.S. Abbott from The Central Nell Gwynne Mining Company in 1906 and The State Reef Gold mining Company in 1896. The Central Nell Gwynne Mine operated from 1906 until the 1940s with major works during the 1930s. The poppet head is still intact on Happy Valley Road. Slate Reef Gold Mining Company had operations at Wilson's Hill in Marong. A road has been named after Wilson's Hill.robert abbott, share certificates, mining companies, nell gwynne, slate reef, \

Richard Hartley Smith Abbott was the step son of Joseph Henry Abbott and inherited his families business interests, building successful commercial enterprises such as Abbott Supply Co. 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 a member of the legislative Council of Victoria. He was Secretary of the Bendigo Art Gallery for over 20 years.Small envelope with RHS Abbott address printed on front. Open at back. R. H. S. Abbott, / Market Square, / Bendigo.mayor rhs abbott, shire of strathfieldsaye, bendigo art gallery, city of greater bendigo commerce

This photograph is of Toby Nixon (Percival Charles Nixon) and Lexie Nixon, his sister. It was taken at the Roll Call for the "Back To Orbost" celebrations in 1937. Toby Nixon was born on 27.3.1902. He was the of George and Emily Nixon. Married to Grace Forbes, he farmed maize at Jarrahmond as well as wheat at Buchan. He was an active member of the Maize Growers Association, helping to create the Maize Board. He was also a director of the Seed Bean Board for many years. His sister, Lexie, married Edward Fortescue Abbott. (more information in "From White Knowle to Pumpkin Point" by Peter Nixon.) This photograph is associated with the Nixon family which contributed greatly to the history of the Orbost district. Toby Nixon was a well-respected Orbost identity.A black / white photograph of a man and a woman on a horse. Behind them is a foal.