A Rifle Association was formed in Bacchus Marsh in April 1868. In 1882 this Association was reformed as the Bacchus Marsh Rifle Club and given the number 4. This photograph was taken at the first range used by the club which was near the old Woolpack Inn on the Melbourne to Ballarat Road. Rifle Club members in this image are known to include, W. H. McFarlane, F. Lewin, W. Marshall, T. Heath, E. A. Jones, W. Meikle, J. Dodemaide, D. Murray, W. H. McFarlane Jnr., J. Young, W. Mahoney, W, Rae. The Bacchus Marsh Express newspaper of 6 October 1883 reported that this image was taken during a married versus single match on the 3rd October, 1883. The match was interrupted to allow the photograph to be taken. This resulted in the match finishing in the dusk with the win going to the married team. This image is one of a series of photographs taken by Melbourne based photographers Stevenson and McNicoll who visited Bacchus Marsh and its nearby districts between September and November 1883. Black and white photographic print copy of original sepia 'carte de visite' style unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Part of the original inscription can be seen on the front left side of the photograph, which is one of a set of images taken in and around Bacchus Marsh in 1883 by the photographers Stevenson and McNicoll. The image shows a group of nineteen men holding rifles standing on either side of a white target board, the central bullseye showing a number of hits. All are posed against a backdrop of hills.Printed On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, bacchus marsh rifle club, rifle clubs

A printed book published in paperback edition. 21 pages, with illustrations and portraits. BMDHS Location: AR/SU5 Pamphlets Box 4non-fictionA brief history of the Bacchus Marsh Rifle Club written to celebrate its 125th anniversary. The club was preceded by an association which formed in 1868 with 14 initial members. It later formed into a club. According to this book rifle shooting is the oldest organised sporting activity in the district of Bacchus Marsh and this work documents this long history up to 1993. The club continues to exist in 2024. Citation: Club Number 4: A Short History of the Bacchus Marsh Rifle Club. Written by John Tidey with additional research by C.D. (Doug) Watson. Published by Bacchus Marsh Rifle Club, Bacchus Marsh, Vic., 1993.bacchus marsh rifle club, rifle clubs, shooting

This image is one of several family or group portraits taken by the photographers Stevenson and McNicoll in Bacchus Marsh and nearby districts in 1883. The identity of this group and the location where the image was taken has not been identified. The presence of the guns in the picture suggests it might have been a group of men who gathered together as part of a shooting or hunting group. They may also have been members of Bacchus Marsh Rifle Club which was already in existence when this photograph was taken in 1883.Small sepia unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the album, 'Photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by Stevenson and McNicoll'. The image shows a group of eight men in front of a house. Five of the men are holding rifles. Six of the men are standing. Two are squatting. They are in front of a single storey timber house. The house has a shingled roof and two chimneys and a front verandah. On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, shooting, firearms