Entrance to Apex ArboretumColour photograph of APEX Arboretum stawell

A trail travels through the Arboretum where you may see resting kangaroos and wallabies, crosses a creek that holds a vulnerable colony of frogs commonly known as Victorian Smooth Froglet (Geocrinia victoriana), and admire the grass trees (Xanthorrhea australis) that grow on the campus behind accommodation. In 2018 2000 native trees planted by State Library Victoria and Federation University in the Arboretum .Planted with the help of locals, students, and kindergarten children as part of the joint project the plantings included indigenous trees, shrubs and grasses native to Ballarat. Federation University student Clancy Meaney is managing the tree planting project as part of her studies. “The arboretum is a fantastic resource that is used extensively by Federation University students as an outdoor classroom,” Ms Meaney said. “Being situated in between two main forests, our campus is also an important connection for native animals. These new trees will help migrating wildlife to move from one forest to the other.” State Library Victoria Project Management Office Director, Sarah Slade said the project was a wonderful opportunity to work with Mount Helen residents and the University to help protect the native landscape. “We’re thrilled to be able to give back to students, local residents and native flora and fauna through this valuable environmental initiative,” Ms Slade said. The tree planting project is a result of State Library Victoria’s ongoing partnership with Federation University. Construction of the Library’s second state-of-the-art storage facility, BOSS2 (Ballarat off-site store 2), is currently underway on the Federation University site. The existing storage facility at the Mount Helen Campus already holds more than half of the State Library’s collection, including newspapers, books, journals, textiles, paintings, architectural drawings, furniture and photographic glass plate negatives. In addition to State Library collection, BOSS2 will also provide two dedicated storage areas for the University’s collection. When completed, BOSS2 will provide additional storage of 25-30 linear kilometres, the equivalent of driving from Ballarat to Clunes or running 175 lengths of the MCG. The Mount Helen Campus Arboretum was established c1992.arboretum, mt helen campus arboretum, graeme ambrose, mt helen campus

2 Colour slides showin the Apex Arboretum

Apex Arboretum Looking toward Big Hill showing the Rotunda

In 1913 Edgar Dower took a photograph from this spot on Ridge Road that became known as Point Clear showing the Mt Dandenong township behind a stand of tall, dead trees. John Lundy-Clarke took this photograph from a similar spot at the Mt Dandenong Arboretum in 1975.Black and white photograph showing a cleared area in the foreground with young tress in the centre and hills in the distance. Several rooftops can be seen mid photo on the right. Reverse of photograph has handwritten description by John Lundy-Clarke.1975 View from the Arboretum over Mt D'nong township at the spot where Edgar Dower took the 1913 photo. The Falls gully is in the middle distance. Peter Damman's fence running downhill right foreground.edgar dower, point clear, mt dandenong, john lundy-clarke, peter damman, arboretum

Colourd slide showing the apex Arboretum looking toward Big Hill

Photographs of Community Activities. Restoration of the Arboretum. Workers. Scouts. Lion Club Activities The last poster in a permanent series was to be titled "Caring and Sharing - Connecting the Community". Unfortunately insufficient material was offered to present organisations at work and at play in the community.community. arboretum. lions club. scouts.

Collaboration between ATCV, the local university and corporate and resource manager partners.The arboretum is well grown but is now poorly signed and appears neglected.Large sign-written board next to Ballarat regional Arboretum which is on the slopes above the campus of the University of Ballarat.See photograph attached

Entrance to Apex Arboretumstawell

Gold Quartz Memorial Big Hill at entrance to Arboretum marking the spot where the First Quartz Gold was found.Black & White photograph of Gold Quartz Memorial Big Hill, plus 4 Colour photographs of monument stawell

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium in a cardboard box with a glass lid (Notes shows it was collected by Charles Sprague Sargent)Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University. Near St. Petersburg C.S. Sargent, July 1903

Colour Photograph of the Monument at Stawell Arboretum Marking where the First Quartz Gold was found in Stawell. On the Right Side Showin an Embossed Miner kneeling with a pick, on the left of the plaque a kneeelin miner with a hammer anc chisel.Erected by the Stawell Progress Association to mark the spot where the first Quartz Gold was found by Dane and Party in 1866 First Crushing ( Unclear in photograph)monuments, gold

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea morrisonicola. Formosa. Note inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University. No. 9789. E.H Wilson 1918

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lid and note.Larix Mastersian, Eastern Szechuan, China. Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University. No. 906, E.H. Wilson 1907-1909

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea hirtella. Western Szechuan, China.Inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University, E.H. Wilson 1907-09

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea orientalis. Caucasus. Note inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University. Caucasus. Picea orientalis C.S. Sargent

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Larix potaninii Batal, Western Szechuan, China. Note inside:Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University. No. 910. E.H Wilson 1907-1909

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea asperata Western Szechuan, China. Note inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University. No. 2080. E.H Wilson 1907-1909

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - sedds in a carboard box with a glass lidOn box: Picea likiangensis, Western Szechuan, China. Note inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, No. 2061 E.H. Wilson 1907-09

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea Jezoensis. Korea. Note inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University. Korea. Picea Jezoensis Carr.No. 8964. E.H Wilson Aug. 26, 1917

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lid.On Box: Picea brachytyla, Western Hupeh, China. Note inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvrad University. Western hupeh China.No. 2052, E.H. Wilson 1907-09

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea bicolor. Cultivated Hayes Estate, Lexington Mass. Note inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University. Picea bicolor mayr. (collector) C.E.Faxton Nov. 1, 1909

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lidBox: Picea monitggena. Western Szechuan, China. Note inside: Note inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University. Picea montigena (Most pic. aspuata?) No. 2056. E.H Wilson 1907-1909

Plant Specimen from the VSF Herbarium - seeds in a cardboard box with a glass lid including a small seed packet.Box: Picea Maximoweczii. Tokyo. Japan. Note inside: Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum Harvard University. No. 7526. E.H Wilson Sept, 18, 1914. On Seed packet: Seeds from Forest Experiment Station. Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Meguro, Tokyo, Japan.

1947 The SEC created an Arboretum and Nursery on the bank of the West Kiewa River. Householder could collect free plants, trees and topsoil for their gardens. It was not long before there was very keen competition amongst the families to create the best garden. 1948 A Mount Beauty Garden competition started with a first prize of 15 pounds, second 7 pounds and third 3 pounds. As the oldest garden in the competition was only 25 months old and most were younger a handicap system of 4 points per month was devised. Tom Mitchell MLA was the donor and judge. 1965 This sash was possibility worn by Jean McCullough in 1965 when the Mt Beauty & District Progress Association Auxiliary ran the completion.An example of the social life at Mt Beauty during the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme.Royal blue sateen sash with gold fringe. Mt. BEAUTY & DIST. PROGRESS ASSN. AUXILIARY/CHAMPION GARDEN/1965textiles, arboretum, mount beauty, garden competition, kiewa hydro electric scheme