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The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Gwen and Jack Scott, 24th February 2000
... Zwar Brother's Beechworth Tannery... with the Zwar Brothers' Beechworth Tannery to transport all goods... with the Zwar Brothers' Beechworth Tannery to transport all goods ...Jack Scott was born in Beechworth on the 24th January 1919 into a third generation Beechworth family who had migrated from Scotland, Cornwall and Ireland during the 1860s. Also present during the oral history recording is Jack’s wife, Gwen Scott. In 1878 Jack’s grandfather established the carrier business - R. Scott Carriers. Jack’s grandfather secured a contract with the Zwar Brothers' Beechworth Tannery to transport all goods between the tannery and train station via horse and cart. Jack’s father and uncle carried on the family business, before Jack and his brother eventually joined after the Second World War. The company expanded from a single horse and cart short route to multiple trucks operating interstate routes. Prior to joining the family carrier business, Jack on leaving school started work at the tannery and served in the air force during the Second World War. When asked about the working conditions at the tannery, Jack recalls while they did have union representatives, it was not particularly effectual. The union representatives were often placated by sharing multiple whiskies with the Zwar brothers when in their offices to discuss workers’ issues. Gwen’s father also worked for the tannery for a period of time, and she enjoyed the annual picnics the tannery provided for employee families. Both Jack and Gwen’s connections to the tannery reinforces the tannery’s role as a major employer and presence in the Beechworth community. Prior to marrying Jack, Gwen worked in a range of roles including at the Ovens and Murray Hospital for the Aged, managing the family home when her parents both worked during the Second World War, and apprenticed with her sister as a hairdresser. Jack and Gwen provide some insight into maternal health issues in brief discussions of hospital birthing trends and awareness of contraception and family planning. Both Jack and Gwen recalled attending the open-air cinema at ‘The Rock’ in their childhoods. Gwen remembers that the ‘elites’ would sit on chairs at the front, and Gwen’s family sat on a rug at the back, while Jack would jump the fence and get in for nothing. Jack and Gwen discuss attitudes towards both Chinese Australians and Italian migrants in Beechworth. They did not notice any racism and from their perspective felt they were accepted in the town. Jack did note that Italian employees lost their jobs at the tannery during the Second World War, but believed they all stayed within the area and found stonemason and concrete work in the interim. Jack socialised with members of the Italian community and joyfully recalled attending their homes for music nights with lots of drinking and instruments being played. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke. Gwen and Jack Scott’s account of their lives in Beechworth is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. Gwen and Jack in reflecting on their everyday experiences of operating a family business, availability of work, leisure opportunities, interaction with migrants, and access to maternal health care provide essential economic, social, and healthcare insights. Gwen and Jack Scott’s oral history recording is part of a larger collection of oral histories recorded by Jennifer Williams in 2000, collectively they provide invaluable insights into Beechworth during the 20th century, much of the information in these oral histories would be lost if not documented and missed in the interpretation of tangible objects. This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mrs Gwen and Mr Jack Scott jack scott, gwen scott, r. scott carriers, scott brothers, zwar brother's beechworth tannery, zwar tannery, beechworth tannery, ovens and murray hospital for the aged, benevolent asylum, open-air cinema, the rock cinema, italians beechworth, hospital births 1920s, wang tech, wangaratta tech, nell scott, jennifer williams, oral history, listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century beechworth, tannery union -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Mrs Pam Croswaite, 2000
... beechworth tannery... was one of the Zwar brothers who co-owned the Beechworth Tannery... of the Zwar brothers who co-owned the Beechworth Tannery until ...Mrs Pam Croswaite was born 1928 in Beechworth. Her father was one of the Zwar brothers who co-owned the Beechworth Tannery until it was sold in the 1950s. Her grandfather was the founder of the Zwar Bros. Tannery and one of the first car owners in Beechworth. Pam went to university to become a pharmacist, studying in Beechworth and Melbourne. She returned to Beechworth to raise her family after quitting her work and travelling with her navy husband to England twice. In 1984 she returned to work as a pharmacist at Mayday Hills psychiatric facility, the former 'Beechworth Lunatic Asylum'. Her grandfather, on her mother's side, was the former superintendent of the psychiatric facility. She retired in 1993, but remained active in the community in the choir and book clubs. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Pam's story is significant because of her familial links to the Zwar Bros, who owned the tannery and employed a large percentage of the township and her work as a pharmacist in the Mayday Hills facility. She was the granddaughter of the tannery's founder and daughter of one of the three brothers who owned it until the 1950s. She become a pharmacist after studying in Melbourne and via correspondence from home, which demonstrates how university study was conducted in the 1940s. She worked in the psychiatric facility Mayday Hills, the former 'lunatic asylum', as a pharmacist after her separation form her husband from 1984 to 1993. Pam's story also demonstrated the expectation of women to leave their work to raise their families and the general expectations of women during the 1930s,40s and 50s. The project is significant because it records locally important stories and memories of the township in the 1900s. By recording the memories of some of the older members of the community, information on Beechworth's evolution as a township can be preserved. This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.beechworth, burke museum, beechworth lunatic asylum, mayday hills, zwar bros. tannery, beechworth tannery, pharmacist -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Desmond (Bill) Thomas, 25th May 2000
... beechworth tannery... as a leather tanner. His first job was in the Tannery in Beechworth... as a leather tanner. His first job was in the Tannery in Beechworth ...Desmond (Bill) Thomas moved to Beechworth when he was one year old. He was born in 1923 and his family moved to Beechworth in 1924. His father was offered a job in Beechworth as a leather tanner. His first job was in the Tannery in Beechworth. However, in 1938 he was involved in a accident at the Tannery that resulted in him losing his arm. The Zwar Brothers acquired the Tannery in 1877 and it operated until 1961. His interests included bushwalking and nature. When he was younger he would often go ferreting instead of going to school. His favorite place to visit was near Stanley. This included Zwar's paddock and Eldorado. One of his first memories was when he went to Sunday School at the Methodist Church. He remembered Miss Peach as the Methodist Superintendent. He eventually had to leave that Sunday School because of his behavior. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Desmond (Bill) Thomas' oral history has important historical significance for the local Beechworth region. The Zwar Brother's Tannery was a large part of Beechworth and had a long history. Both Mr Thomas and his father has contributed to this history because they both worked there. Mr Thomas' both of the bush and nature demonstrates the history of ferreting and bushwalking in this region. Desmond (Bill) Thomas has made many contributions to his community but also the history of Beechworth. This life tells us many things about the struggles and joys of living in and around Beechworth. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Desmond (Bill) Thomasleather tanner, leather, beechworth tannery, tannery, tannery accident, bushwalking, bushland, nature, ferreting, school, sunday school, beechworth methodist church, church, baptist church, beechworth, oral history, recording, 1924, listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century beechworth, listen to what they say, jennifer williams, burke museum, zwar brother's beechworth tannery, zwar bros. tannery -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Mrs May Sewell, 23rd November 2000
... Zwar Brother's Beechworth Tannery...' Beechworth Tannery. Her father and then her three brothers worked...' Beechworth Tannery. Her father and then her three brothers worked ...May Sewell was born in Beechworth in 1917, her paternal grandparents had come to Beechworth from Ireland and her maternal grandparents from Scotland. She was the youngest of five siblings and the only one to be born in a hospital rather than at home. May loved growing up and living in Beechworth, and fondly recalls knowing all her neighbours, meeting friends at the pictures, attending girl guides, picking wildflowers around the gorge, participating keenly in the Church of England choir and dances, and the big Easter festivals. May worked various jobs before getting married. After leaving school at fifteen, May learnt dressmaking with Lal Anderson (and was delighted with her wage of two and six pence a week) and then went on to learn tailoring with Mr Charles. May then worked in the dining rooms at the Commercial Hotel and Hotel Nicholas. May was at the Hotel Nicholas for seven years but stopped when she got married as female employees were not asked to stay once they were married. May married her husband in 1944 and had known him since school. They went on to have six children, sadly three did not live past infancy. Her first children were twin girls who died six hours after birth. May briefly discusses the difficulty in grieving her twin daughters, the lack of available support, and the expectancy to carry on. Her next child, a son named Ian James, died when he was only ten months old from a tumour. May described Ian James as a lovely boy. May had multiple connections to the Zwar Brothers' Beechworth Tannery. Her father and then her three brothers worked there, and also her husband for a short period of time. The tannery was a major employer in Beechworth, and May having multiple family members employed by the tannery underlines the significant role of the tannery in Beechworth. May described her husband as very hardworking, he worked as a cleaner overnight at the Ovens and Murray Hospital for the Aged while during the day tended his cattle and sheep farm. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke. Miss May Sewell’s account of her life in Beechworth is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. May in reflecting on her experiences of leisure opportunities, town festivals, work available for women, leaving the workforce once married, the tannery, post-natal care, grief and child mortality provide essential historic, economic, social, and healthcare insights. May’s oral history recording is part of a larger collection of oral histories recorded by Jennifer Williams in 2000, collectively they provide invaluable insights into Beechworth during the 20th century, much of the information in these oral histories would be lost if not documented and missed in the interpretation of tangible objects. This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mrs May Sewellmay sewell, oral history, jennifer williams, listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century beechworth, beechworth church of england, easter festival, beechworth girl guides, hospital birth 1917, lal anderson, tailor beechworth, commercial hotel, hotel nicholas, zwar brother's beechworth tannery, ovens and murray hospital for the aged, dressmaking beechworth, beechworth cinemas, paul voglis -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Mr Desmond Zwar, 19 October 2000
... beechworth tannery... brothers who owned the Tannery in Beechworth. He worked there when... zwar beechworth burke museum raymond zwar Zwar Tannery ...Desmond was born in 1931 in Beechworth but left at age 11 (in 1944) to be educated in Melbourne at Scotch College but returned to the town for holidays and when he was finished with school. Desmond is the son of Raymond Zwar who was 1 of the 3 brothers who owned the Tannery in Beechworth. He worked there when he was 19 for a year in 1950, when the first Baltic migrants came to town. In 1951, Desmond left Beechworth to work in Albury for a newspaper called the "Border Mail" before moving to Melbourne to write for the "Melbourne Herald". He was later known for becoming a writer, having produced 17 books under his name at the time of the interview. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Mr Desmond Zwar's account of his life in Beechworth during the 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. He details important historical events and hardships in the region's history that had a lasting local, regional and national impact, including Australia during war time, economic struggles, and the relationships of different social groups in the town. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mr Desmond Zwardesmond zwar, zwar, beechworth, burke museum, raymond zwar, zwar tannery, the tannery, zwar brothers tannery, beechworth tannery, listen to what they say, jennifer williams -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Fred and Bette Wyatt, 27 April 2000
... beechworth tannery... beechworth tannery beechworth brewery fred and bette wyatt wyatt ...Fred was born on the 1st of March 1928 and Bette in 1934, in Beechworth. Both of their families immigrated from England on convict ships in the 1800s. Fred and Bette both had large families of 9 and 5 siblings respectively, with 2 of Fred's siblings suffering from muscular dystrophy both dying at 20 years old which affected the family. Bette originally worked in multiple cafes and kitchens in Beechworth before working in "Ennals Store" which was a grocery store, for over 30 years. Fred worked as a milkman during the war before becoming an engineer at the tannery and the brewery in Beechworth. He rebuilt the factory at the brewery during the 1970s and worked there until he retired. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Fred and Bette Wyatt's account of their lives in Beechworth and the local area during the 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. They both mention important historical events and hardships in the region's history that had a lasting local, regional and national impact, including Australia during wartime, economic struggles, and the development of Beechworth town. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Fred and Bette Wyattbeechworth, beechworth tannery, beechworth brewery, fred and bette wyatt, wyatt, wyatt beechworth, ennals store, ennals beechworth, listen to what they say, burke museum -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Mr Allan Parkinson, 22nd June 2000
... beechworth tannery... beechworth tannery Jennifer Williams Rabbit Trapping New Australians ...Allan Parkinson was born in Beechworth in 1924. The eldest of eight children, his mother provided laundry services to the people of Beechworth whilst his father worked for the local tannery, trapping rabbits. Allan fondly remembers times spent during his childhood catching rabbits with his father. As his younger years were set amidst the experiences of World War Two and the Great Depression, Allan recalls a feeling of solidarity amongst the residents of Beechworth that was present during this time(for instance, sharing food with neighbours in wartime), as well as the disassociation he felt as a returning soldier after the war. Allan talks of the great number of 'New Australians' who arrived in Beechworth in the post-war years, many of them coming from war-torn countries in Europe. Before being integrated into Australian society, these 'New Australians' would often first spend time at the Migrant Reception and Training Centre in Bonegilla, Northern Victoria. They were taught English and learnt about Australian life before being billeted out across the country to fill labor shortages. Following time spent up in Queensland, Allan worked in the forestry industry, clearing thousands of acres across Victoria which were needed to plant pines. The interview ends with discussions of the famous Wheelbarrow Push from Beechworth to Mt Buffalo in 1935, of which Allan's Uncle Tom was a central participant; this is an event which has since become an annual fundraising tradition in Beechworth. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: Voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke. Mr Allan Parkinson's account of his life in Beechworth and the local area during the twentieth century is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. He details important historical events and hardships that had lasting local, regional and national impacts, including Australia during wartime, post-war migration and economic struggles. This oral history account is historically and socially significant as it is part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth'. While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the twentieth century, many of which would have been lost if they had not been preserved. This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white stripe and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up to forty minutes of recordings on each side. Mr Allan Parkinson / allan parkinson, oral history, beechworth forestry, forestry industry, beechworth tannery, jennifer williams, rabbit trapping, new australians, australian depression, rabbiting, bonegilla, bonegilla migrant camp, 20th century beechworth, wheelbarrow push beechworth to mt buffalo, barrowthon, wheelbarrow push 1935, listen to what they say, listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century beechworth, world war two, wartime, wartime solidarity, burke museum -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Mr Tom Carey, 3/08/2000
... tannery beechworth council kelly gang Bridge Road Price’s Store ...Mr Tom Carey was born in 1940 in Beechworth to family from Beechworth and Woolshed. His family had strong associations with Australia's Gold Rush, with grandparents having followed the rush from town to town, and parents in Beechworth. Tom has strong associations with Beechworth and its surrounds, with his family having some connection to the Kelly Gang. Tom worked in many industries in Beechworth, from the Bridge Road, Price’s Store, tannery, post office, the Kiewa Murray Water Authority, and the Beechworth Council. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke. Mr Tom Carey account of his life in Beechworth and the local area during the 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. He details important historical events and hardships in the region's history that had a lasting local, regional and national impact, including Australia during war time, economic struggles, and women's and men’s societal roles in a rural area. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved. This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each sideMr Tom Carey/ beechworth, oral history, burke museum, tannery, beechworth council, kelly gang, bridge road, price’s store, post office, the kiewa murray water authority, woolshed, gold rush, carey, tom carey, listen to what they say -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Linda Peacock, Ernie Warner, 2000
... not been preserved. zwar brothers tannery beechworth gold ...Ernie Warner was a local of Beechworth, a third generation inhabitant of the town. His grandfather arrived as a prospector, and his parents married there and established a sheep/wool farm, which passed to his brother. Ernie was the owner of the hardware store in Camp street, which was the former Post Office Hotel, from 1955 to 1979, having previously worked there as a teenager in the 1930s/1940s. He did not go to war due to injury, but during the wartime was employed in the hardware, at Zwar Bros. Tannery and by bookkeeping for his father. Ernie married in 1948 and had 6 children. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams (and Linda Peacock) in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Ernie Warner's oral history recording has social and interpretive significance due to his discussion on life in Beechworth during the Depression, War and post-war eras. He discusses his work in the hardware shop on Camp Street and his work in the Zwar Bros. tannery during the wartime, when it supplied leather to the army. His recording also has social significance because he discusses his family; his grandfather had arrived in Beechworth from England to prospect for gold and his father and brother were sheep farmers. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Ernie Warnerzwar brothers tannery, beechworth, gold prospecting, world war two, hardware store, sheep farming -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Maxwell Pemberton, 23 June 2000
... in Beechworth to support his seven children. The store, which competed ...Mr Maxwell Pemberton was born in Goulburn, NSW in 1923 and moved to Beechworth as a child just before the Great Depression. Mr Pemberton's father was a baker who opened a grocery store in Beechworth to support his seven children. The store, which competed with eight other grocery traders in Beechworth for finite local business, delivered goods by horse and cart to customers all over the district, including the hamlet of Stanley. Mr Pemberton's oral history testifies to the sorts of economic struggles faced by the majority of Beechworth's residents during the depression years. Mr Pemberton worked in many different industries in and around Beechworth, including in his father's grocery store, which he later took over with his brother; the Zwar Tannery, where he served as a union representative; and at the Ovens and Murray Hospital for the Aged, formally the Ovens Benovolent Asylum, established in 1862 for care of the district's destitute, disabled and aged people from Euroa to the Murray, among them, homeless people Mr Pemberton referred to as 'river-bankers'. The hospital's founding in the 1860s was driven by a committee headed by the notable figure, G.B Kerford. Beechworth's institutions were a major source of local employment in the twentieth century. Mr Pemberton joined the Australian Navy during WWII and served at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. During his period of service, he received an honorary award from the Royal Humane Society of Australia for aiding and saving a drowning civilian at risk to his own life. Mr Pemberton's oral history also touches on the complex relationship between Australian forces and local Papuan people during the war. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Mr Maxwell Pemberton's oral history recalls many aspects of life in Beechworth and the Oven's district during the twentieth century and enriches our understanding of the effects of the periods of socio-economic decline and renewal that unfolded as the century progressed. His singular account of his various jobs and colourful memories of life as a youth and young man in Beechworth, and abroad as a serviceman, contributes to our understanding of society's attitudes and expectations regarding ideals of masculinity and Australian national identity. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which would have been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mr Max Pemberton /twentieth century beechworth, benevolent asylums, wwii, beechworth's institutions, local employment, government institutions, listen to what they say, oral history, burke museum, maxwell pemberton, ovens and murray hospital for the aged, zwar tannery, beechworth grocers, australian navy, port morseby, papua new guinea, trade unions, welfare services, homelessness, 'river bankers', aged care, g.b kerford, ovens benevolent asylum, ovens benevolent home -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Mr. Vincent Makaravicius, July 2000
... , working at the local tannery and the Beechworth Asylum, as well... eventually settled in Beechworth, working at the local tannery ...Vincent Makaravicius was born on the 23rd of January, 1922 in a small Lithuanian village. He was the youngest of six children and after completing his primary education he went on to study horticulture at Kaunas and Vilnius. During WWII, under the threat of Soviet occupation and conscription, Vincent travelled to Germany, before coming to Australia as a refugee after his wife in 1949 on the ship 'Victory.' Vincent eventually settled in Beechworth, working at the local tannery and the Beechworth Asylum, as well as taking on boarders in the tannery boarding house in which his wife and he lived for a number of years. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Vincent Makaravicius' story is historically and socially significant as it provides a unique insight into the trials, tribulations, hopes, and dreams of Australian immigrants during the mid 20th century. Mr Makaravicius references the turbulent political situation and lack of food in Europe as being the reason for the mass exodus from Europe that saw an influx of refugees and migrants to Australia. His personal account highlights the spirit of survival and perseverance that is quintessential of Australian settler history. His contributions to the township of Beechworth gave him a detailed understanding of the social and historical significance of the township and the people, institutions, and local businesses on which it was built, namely the Beechworth Asylum, the local tannery, and relations between migrants and the established community. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mr. Vincent Makaravicius /listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, vincent makaravicius, wwii, lithuania, kaunas, vilnius, soviet, germany, australia, victory, tannery, beechworth asylum, refugee, jennifer williams -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Mr Braz Borschman, 3-1-2000
... life at the Beechworth Tannery. His interview contains lots... at the Beechworth Tannery. His interview contains lots of information about ...Mr. Braz Borschman was born in Beechworth on the 1st of July 1914 at his parents home. He played for many years in the Towns volunteer Brass Band, a popular local band of about 30 members. Braz played the coronet and later the trombone. His first job was for the post office, but he spend most of his working life at the Beechworth Tannery. His interview contains lots of information about the tanning processes, including the story of 'Young Thomas', who lost his arm in a tannery accident. Braz recalls the open-air picture theatres of Beechworth, the many dances and balls, and distinct lack of cars. His testimony is rich with detail and filled with many other side-stories, including 'Blind Tommy', a self-sufficient, opium-smoking blind man of Chinese descent. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Braz' interview is significant for the many historical details it provides about life, work, and leisure in Beechworth, particularly in relation to the period of the depression and after, which is the context which Braz' interview focuses on. His detail about the Beechworth tannery and the many open-air picture gardens is particularly rare and insightful to any social history of Beechworth. The oral history project more broadly is significant for its capture of the lives of ordinary Beechworth residents from incredibly divergent backgrounds, which has led to a rich, nuanced and diverse range of accounts of Beechworth.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, braz borschman, brass band -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Mrs Hedwig Bruckner, 2 July 2000
... . After emigrating, Hedwig worked at the Beechworth tannery... worked at the Beechworth tannery, but worked for the majority (20 ...Mrs. Hedwig Bruckner was born in Answar, Germany, in 1920. She emigrated to Beechworth in 1955 at age 32 with her two children. Her husband was a prisoner of war in Russia for 6 years. After emigrating, Hedwig worked at the Beechworth tannery, but worked for the majority (20+) of her working years as a housekeeper for Doctor Collins. Her husband worked the nightshift at the Forestry Commission. Hedwig's testimony paints the picture of a life that was "very hard". When they moved into their house in 1956, they had no money for doors. Their two eldest children were pulled out of the convent school due to lack of funds, and their son worked as a milkman from a young age to supplement the family's income. Hedwig's testimony notes language difficulties and the number of European emigrant families in Beechworth, with which the Bruckners formed community bonds. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Mrs. Hedwig Bruckner's oral history is significant for its insight into the perspectives and experiences of European emigrant families to Beechworth, noting their unique experiences and hardships of language, food, work, forging community bonds, and adjusting to country Australian life. The oral history project more broadly is significant for its capture of the lives of ordinary Beechworth residents from incredibly divergent backgrounds, which has led to a rich, nuanced and diverse range of accounts of Beechworth.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, hedwig bruckner -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Mr Ray Stone, 8th June 2000
... working at the Beechworth Tannery with his father, he joined... working at the Beechworth Tannery with his father, he joined ...Ray Stone was born in 1927, growing up in Beechworth as the oldest of eight children, but spent much of his life travelling, which he recalls in this oral history. Although he started working at the Beechworth Tannery with his father, he joined the Navy before he was of age in 1944 to support the war effort, and upon returning to Beechworth gave up on the Tannery after half a day to continue working jobs across Victoria instead. He talks extensively about watching Beechworth's famous Wheelbarrow race, where Tony Evans bet Tom Parkinson that the latter would not be able to push the former in a wheelbarrow from the Beechworth Post Office to Mt Buffalo in eight days. Calling himself a "helper all [his] life", he discusses the way many towns he worked in would come together to support struggling families, especially widows. In comparison, he suggests that the Beechworth of 2000 is much less community-orientated. He also discusses the economic changes he's witnessed around Beechworth, from the difficulties during the Depression while he was a child, to business improvements at the Tannery and Brewery, to the tourism boom. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Ray Stone's account of his life is historically and socially significant to the region of Beechworth for the way it describes changes in the town over the twentieth century. It covers themes including community relationships, business development, and cultural life. It makes this commentary in comparison to nearby regions such as the Snowy Mountains. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mr Ray Stone /listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, stone, ray stone, tannery, tanneries, finch street, navy, the great depression, poverty, wheelbarrow race, cars, gift footrace, marriage, travel -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Mr John Clemens, 2000
Mr John Clemens was born in 1913 to Australian parents. His father worked in building roads which led to the family's move from Sunnyside Gen Willis to Beechworth. His father was part of the road making team on the Buffalo River Road between Myrtleford and Beechworth. John worked as a motor mechanic in his early years, having left school in sixth grade. He later worked carting wood (independently) and drinks for Murray Breweries/Billson's Breweries. He delivered drinks and wood to the Old Hospital after its relocation in 1940, to Bonegilla Migrants Camp and got to know most of the townspeople. He recounts his interactions with various members of the community, highlighting the importance of the Zwar Tannery, which John recounts as employing approximately 200 people (dating this recollection to approximately 1938). This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.John's interview demonstrates the dynamics of the Beechworth township in the 1920s-1940s, showing the important industries and connections of the town which he was involved in. His mention of the Model T Ford, produced 1908-1927, shows his experience with early cars in the town, which were owned by the richer people. He talks about the dominance of the Zwar Bros. Tannery over the town, by employing hundreds of people (dating John's recollection to approximately 1938). John's interview shows the changed that the town has gone through through his experiences as a driver for wood and drinks. It can be interpreted as historically significant to the Beechworth local area but also to a wider audience; Zwar Tannery supplies leather to General Motors Holden, the brewery was one of the largest in the country, and the Bonegilla Migrants Camp was the largest and longest running migrant camp in Australia. John's everyday interactions with all of these places and people within makes his story significant. The project is significant for its recording of stories from members of the local Beechworth community before they are lost. It tells of the everyday stories of the people and their memories of the town. The recordings were done in 2000, with interviewees such as John being in their 80s when interviewed. The interviews were recorded to cassette, before being digitised in 2021. This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side. john clemens, burke museum, beechworth, bonegilla migrants camp, beechworth hospital, murray breweries, billson's breweries, zwar bros. tannery -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Mr Ken Howe, 23rd September 2000
Ken Howe was born on the 9th February 1941 in Beechworth. His parents came from Everton. His mothers parents were from Northern Island and his fathers parents from Everton. They were farmers and did not come to Beechworth for gold. Ken left school when he was 13 and a half and worked at the Zwar brothers Tannery for four years. He then went on to work at with the Forest Commission. Ken discusses his job's, family, the arrival of Baltic immigrants after world war 2, The impact of the story of Kelly's in his life and just life in general at Beechworth. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Ken Howe's story offers an insight into life in Beechworth from the 1940's onwards, he details the various jobs that occurred in the Zwar brothers tannery factory, the tasks that occurred for the forest commission. He also provides insight into the role the Kelly story played in their lives and the significant places were incidents occurred. His story also offers a look into everyday Beechworth life and how the baltic immigrants after World War 2 integrated into the Australian lifestyle by working at the Zwar brothers tannery. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mr Ken Howe /listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, ken howe, howe, everton, northern island, farmers, zwar brothers tannery, glue, forest commission, family -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Mr Herbert McFeeters, 4 May 2000
Herbert McFeeters as born in Wooragee Creek in 11th July 1905. Mr McFeeters would walk to school in Beechworth by foot, about 3.5 miles through the hills. It would take him and his siblings one hour to get to school. Mr McFeeters worked at the local tannery from the age of 14 for 11 years. After which he worked for himself, farming cattle and selling milk around the region. Mr McFeeters bought land from the Crown, who were selling lands after many miners had left the region. Mr McFeeters recalls the Chinese community that remained the Beechworth area and the social activities in the town, including the pictures, football games and Harvest Festivals. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke. Mr McFeeters oral history provides detail of life in rural Victoria during the early 20th Century. Mr McFeeters describes his early childhood and working life, including details of the social activities This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke. This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mr Herbert McFeeters /listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, herbert mcfeeters, wooragee creek, reid's creek -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Mr and Mrs Don Hayes, 20th May 2000
In this interview we hear from Don and Bobbie Hayes who met and were married in Beechworth. Mrs Hayes was born in Beechworth to a blacksmith and a teacher who had moved to the area not long before she was born in 1925. She discusses her family and the struggle her mother had being a city woman relocated to the bush and into a family who didn't accept her for her Methodist religious beliefs as they were a staunch Catholic family. After working in the Tannery when they first moved to Beechworth from Melbourne, Don got a job in the 1950's at the Beechworth Mental hospital known as Mayday Hills (est. 1862) and continued working there for the next thirty six years. Starting as a nurse Don would be one of three or four staff known then as attendants, who would oversee up to forty patients in a ward taking them out to work the land and gardens or chop wood on the grounds. Mrs Hayes also worked in the Hospital and discusses the need at the time to be earning to pay for large medical bills that came from two of their children, one having a congenital heart problem which was not covered by hospital benefits and the other displaced hips that required surgery. By the end of his time working at the hospital, Don was in charge of the patient training centre where those destined for discharge would be trained on how to cope in the world outside of the hospital grounds they were so used to. Both talk openly and with heartfelt candour, recalling their years spent among the patients of the hospital community, their sense of humour and compassion are evident and although the times and the jobs were definitely hard and the wages low, this couple cared deeply about the people they worked with and sit among those people from the local area who established Beechworth as a significant social welfare region. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.The significance of this oral history lies in the firsthand accounts from two people who were directly involved in the significant nursing work undertaken at Mayday Hills Mental hospital from the 1950's. Hearing the stories from those who were there and had lived experience, adds depth and we gain valuable insight into how and what the asylum was like for those who worked there and colourful details about the kinds of patients they encountered too, it adds human and personal context to what could otherwise become statistic and abstract information about a historic site. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, mayday hills hospital, may day hills, beechworth mental asylum, mental hospital, asylum, nursing, hospital, patient training centre, patients, social welfare -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph
... . beechworth albert road zwar tannery spring creek burke musuem ...Taken in Beechworth, this photograph was taken from Albert road with a view of the bridge over spring creek. In the foreground, there appears three brothers who worked for Zwar tannery.Black and white rectangular photograph. The image is printed on matte photographic paper. Obverse: NO INSCRIPTION Reverse: 7591 Albert Rd. Italian family, 3 brothers worked for the tannery Copied from the albums of Sergio Santori, Wangaratta. beechworth, albert road, zwar, tannery, spring creek, burke musuem, photograph, black and white -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph
This rectangle black and white photograph shows a bush scene with part of a suspension rope and wooden plank bridge visible in the middle of the image. It is likely this suspension bridge was used by the Tannery workers to move between the town and the Ovens Tannery located South-West of Beechworth due to its secluded bush location, the bridge likely spanned the gorge across Spring creek. The tannery itself was located alongside Gimlet Creek, about three kilometres from town, down what is now known as Malakoff and Old Tannery Road but which at the time was remote and accessed through bushland. The Ovens tannery was stablished in 1858 by Matthew Dodd and Hallahan and later Matthew and his brother Thomas Dodd in 1866 who developed it over the years. According to Doyle, 'we have little information about its early operations except the tannery itself comprised four small buildings' by 1870 ‘a small village with gardens of vines and fruit trees surrounded the tannery’ (Woods, 121), and by 1887 the Tannery employed fifteen men. The Ovens tannery was among several new businesses establishing themselves such as a foundry that brought industrial manufacturing alongside the developing township and which strengthened the economic stability of Beechworth after the receding mining surge. According to Woods (p. 121) in the 1860’s the government spent considerable sums to establish several public buildings such as the Benevolent Asylum, the Hospital and Insane Asylum to support those in need of care in the area directly after the Indigo gold rush which had left Beechworth, a fairly remote regional and newly formed township (Gold was first discovered in Beechworth in 1852) with a number of infirm and destitute people in its wake and which due to the support and establishment of these facilities ‘made Beechworth a significant social welfare centre in Victoria’ (Woods, p. 121). The tannery provided employment and connected the regional centre with other parts of Victoria and the wider colonial outposts and would have been a welcome opportunity for those seeking work after gold was no longer a source of income.A good example of the ingenuity of regional settlers to achieve what would have been a difficult and remote construction of a bridge as a means of access. This bridge is evidence of planning and forethought and shows dedication to establishing a life in a remote landscape.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on paperreverse: / 2983 / / BMM2983 /black and white photograph, bush, suspension bridge, rope bridge, tannery, spring creek, ovens tannery, bushland, gimlet creek, matthew dodd, beechworth -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Mrs Alma Ashcroft, 15th June 2000
Alma Isabell Ashcroft was born on the 11th of July 1920 in Newtown, Beechworth. Her father and four of her brothers worked at the Tannery, her mother was recognised as the ‘district nurse’ in the area and the family were well known and at the heart of the local community. Alma joined the Beechworth branch of the R.S.L. and at the time of the interview in 2000, had been with the R.S.L for 40-50 years. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Alma Ashcroft’s story is significant because of her personal and familial connections with Beechworth. Her family were at the heart of the community, and Alma’s association with the RSL in Beechworth spanned 4-5 decades. During the interview with Jennifer Williams, Alma also provided a rich history of the town, the locals and her extensive family.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, jennifer williams, twentieth century, ashcroft, alma ashcroft, r.s.l, community -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Audio - Oral History, Jennifer Williams, Mr Alfred Spencer, 17th February 2000
Alfred 'Alf' Spencer grew up on a dairy farm run by his mother, west south west of Beechworth 'down Robertson Road', and was very well connected to the wider Beechworth area. In this oral history, he recalls his time driving the milk cart around Beechworth as well as the time he spent buying lollies and seeing the pictures. He talks extensively about working as a butcher at his brother's store, including how the butchers interacted with the rest of the town and the staff, as well as his time constructing roads and the pipe network of Beechworth. He discusses the dynamics of other workplaces around Beechworth, describing issues with how the local tannery treated its workers as well as how post-war migrants integrated across the town. He briefly discusses racial tensions between Chinese migrants and other miners on the goldfields. He also discusses the experience of health care in a rural area during his childhood. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Alfred Spencer's oral history of his life around Beechworth during the 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural history of the region and Victoria. There is a lot of detail about workplaces, their staff, and how the resources of the town interacted. He explores themes that are important to Victorian history, such as migration. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up to 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mr Alfred Spencer /listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, spencer, alfred spencer, migration, post-war migration, goldfields, health care, farm, farming, dairy farm, black springs, butchers, meat processing, butcher, road, road network, labour relations -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph, unknown
This reproduced photograph is of Pennyweight Flat near Beechworth, a notable area of the 1850's gold rush in Victoria. Donald Fletcher, migrating to Beechworth from Scotland in 1855, had substantial claims at Pennyweight Flat and was amongst the first in the district to utilise hydraulic sluicing and water diverting methods.The flat is said to have seen a flurry of 200 miners to the area around 1857, and by 1861 when work commenced on extending Fletcher's tail race the census recorded 644 people residing there (European males, females and Chinese). Pennyweight Flat is also significant for the cemetery that resides on the hilltop and which noted approximately 200 burials from the gold rush period 1852-1857, known for a long period as a children's cemetery due to the number of children's graves present.The search for gold is ingrained into the history of Victoria and therefore, images like this one which portray an open cut sluicing site can reveal important information for society and technology for the date when the photograph was taken. This image is of important historical significance for its ability to convey information about sluicing and the methods used to find gold in 1910. It also shows a location where sluicing was undertaken which provides insight into the impact of sluicing on the environment at a time when it was done. This image is important for current research into the history of Beechworth and surrounding area including Victoria's North East. The Rocky Mountain Extended Gold Sluicing Company was a long running and very active mine that was one of the most successful and largest in the district. Therefore, this image has the capacity to be beneficial for research into society and the motivations of those living and working in this region during this period and therefore, has social significance. The Beechworth Burke Museum has additional images relating to gold sluicing which can be analysed and studied alongside images like this one. When the mine closed in 1921, in a liquidation sale, Zwar purchased the tunnel and clear water supply that ran under the town of Beechworth. He directed the water to his tannery and over time built a major industry in leather works that was a major employer in Beechworth. In growing his leather business, Zwar installed crude oil engines for electricity in his factory. He oversaw working with local council to introduce electricity to Beechworth via a sub-station on Albert Street. In 1927 Electric street lamps replaced gas lamps in the streets of Beechworth. Black and white rectangular reproduced photograph printed on glossy photographic paperObverse: Reverse: 84.222.5/ digital print/ rocky mountain extended gold sluicing company, gold, sluicing, gold sluicing, hydraulic sluicing, gold mine, open cut mining, mining, gold mining, north-east victoria, beechworth, burke museum -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph - Photograph - Reproduction, c.1870s
This photograph shows a piece of gold mining equipment identified as a mine winch, possibly an air winch cylinder of 1870s RG Ford's Patent design. Throughout the history of mining for gold and other precious materials, the windlass or winch (pictured) was used to bring up buckets full of soil from the bottom of a mine. This soil was then searched for gold/metals before being relocated to a different area. Due to the size and complexity of this particular piece of equipment, this winch may have been used to raise and lower mine carts to the entrance of the mine (often used in coal mining) and could have been used in raising cages up and down (acting as elevators) containing miners if the mine was particularly deep. The actual use of this particular item in the Beechworth locality is undocumented but these are some possibilities based on the use of these pieces of equipment in other mining locations. Mining can have a largely detrimental impact to the environment and therefore, the study of machinery like the one depicted in this photograph can help researches to reconstruct the methods and technologies used in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This particular item appears to have been removed from it's original site where it would have been used to assist with mining. It is possible that this photograph has been taken for recording purposes or as part of a machinery exhibition. Prior documentation records that this piece of equipment had connections to the Rocky Mountains Mining Company. Today, the Rocky Mountains Gold Mining company is famous in Beechworth for having been instrumental in the creation of the Rocky Mountain tunnel. Construction for this tunnel began in 1859 when a group of 12 men blasted a 400ft long tailrace though the rock beneath the town of Beechworth. Today, the 800ft tunnel, completed in 1871, is a popular tourist attraction but during the decades of gold mining, the purpose of this tunnel was to divert water away from the main sluicing operations so miners could better access gold and precious materials. The tunnel was used for this purpose for many years, later becoming useful for the Zwar Brother's tannery and currently as an outfall drain for Lake Sambell. This area continued to be mined until the early 1900s. The period when this item was in use is unclear but it is estimated to have been in the 1870s based on the design and appearance of the image. The gold works at the Rocky Mountain Tunnel closed in the early 1920s but the impact of mining remains in Beechworth today and therefore the study of photographs like this one which contain mining equipment can further understanding of mining in this region.This photograph has historic and research potential for study on the gold mining of the Beechworth region and types of equipment used to locate gold after the initial gold rush of 1853-1854 which resulted in the discovery of the surface gold and required miners to dig deeper to access precious metals. The clarity of the photo, and its good preserved condition, means it can continue to be used for research. This photo is part of a collection of six photos all within the Burke Museum Collection which depict mining equipment.Square black and white photograph on card.7793.1beechworth, mining, goldmining, goldmining equipment, beechworth burke museum