Colour panoramic photographs of drystoen sheep yards at Bessiebelle, Victoria.bessiebell, drystone, sheep, sheep race, sheep wash, sheep yard, farm, agriculture

Squattleseamere BessiebelleBlack and white Photograph of weatherboard house with wrap around verandahsquattleseamere, bessiebelle, station, brown, rolf boldrewood

The Bessiebelle Sheepwashes and Yards complex is located on the former 14,000 acre Ardonachie Run, established in 1848 by pastoralist Samuel Gorrie, then carrying 6,000 sheep. In 1864 this run was subdivided into smaller runs, and the sheep washes were located within Mount Eccles and Lake Gorrie Run. The date of construction of the washes and walls is not known, although they were probably constructed within the period 1848-1864. The Bessiebelle Sheepwashes and Yards are probably the largest and most sophisticated surviving example of a traditional pastoral property sheepwash in Victoria. They clearly demonstrate the large network of races, yards and folds necessary for washing thousands of sheep over a short period of time. The Bessiebelle sheep washes apparently predate later technological changes and the necessity for hot water washing. The Bessiebelle sheepwashes and yards are of landscape significance as a cultural landscape which has been both modified by, and cleverly adapted to, an annual process that was of critical importance within the pastoral calendar. The drystone walls and races appear to evolve from the rocky terrain, and have a strong organic affinity with the prevailing harsh landscape. The drystone walls demonstrate a high level of craftsmanship and skill in their construction, and reflect the extensive scale of pastoral operations across the landscape. The Bessiebelle sheepwashes and yards are of archaeological significance to the State of Victoria. The site has not been fully surveyed but its complexity strongly suggests a potential to reveal more about the washing processes and associated pastoral occupation and activity in the area.(Heritage Victoria)drystone, bessibell, sheep race, sheep wash, agriculture

These three souvenir handkerchiefs were brought back to Australia after World War Two by James Godfrey. Flight Lieutenant James John Godfrey enlisted in World War Two in the Australian Air Force from Bessiebelle in western Victoria. He was attached to the British 8th Army under General Montgomery in North Africa and then took part in the landing in Sicily and the subsequent campaign through Italy. Before returning to Australia he travelled to Israel and Austria. These handkerchiefs are retained, firstly as examples of souvenirs brought back to Australia from returning military personnel after World War Two and secondly as souvenirs belonging to James Godfrey who had connections with the Warrnambool district. .1 This is a small pink silk handkerchief with a fluted edge and with some embroidery in one corner with flowers and wording in green, yellow and orange. .2 This is a small aqua-coloured silk handkerchief with a stitched edge and some stitched wording in one corner. Much of the edge stitching has been lost. .3 This is a white silk handkerchief with a stitched edge and a stencilled image in one corner. .1 Till we meet again .2 Bethlehem .3 Souvenir of Egypt world war two, history of warrnambool, james john godfrey

This DVD gives information about the Pye family. Thomas Pye came to Sydney as convict in 1837 and was assigned to work for Captain Sylvester Brown and came to the Port Philip district with his master. Sylvester's son, Thomas, travelled to the Western District in 1844 and took Thomas and his wife. Mary with him. Thomas Browne later wrote novels under the name of Rolf Boldrewood . In his book " Old Melbourne Memories " Thomas Pye is given the name Joe Burge. Thomas Browne established the property "Squattlesea Mere" and Thomas Pye and his family settled in Port Fairy and then in Bessiebelle. Today this little settlement has many Pye descendants. The other matter of interest is that Thomas Pye's son,Charles Pye, gained the Victoria Cross in India and is buried at Tower Hill. his DVD is of historical interest because it records the story of the Pye family in the Western District.This is a DVD with blue hand writing on the front and an accompanying sheet of paper showing an English country scene. It is enclosed in a plastic mesh envelope.TAPESTRY Our Pye Family history through all generations by Elizabeth Pye.pye family, warrnambool, captain sylvester brown, thomas browne, rolf boldrewood

This book about the New South Wales goldfields was written by Rolf Boldrewood in 1890. It is retained because the author played a significant part in Warrnambool’s history. Rolf Boldrewood, the pen name of Thomas Browne, first came to the Warrnambool district in 1842, visiting the Bolden brothers’ property, Grasmere. He camped on the banks of the Merri River for about six months and described the area, including Warrnambool Bay, some years later in his book Old Melbourne Memories. In 1844 Thomas Browne established the property, Squattleseamere near Bessiebelle, north west of Portland. He remained there for ten years then moved to New South Wales. The last forty years of his life were spent writing and he became well-known for the classic Australian novel, Robbery Under Arms. This book is retained because it is a 19th century example of the writings of Rolf Boldrewood. He is important in Warrnambool’s early history as he was in the area in the early 1840s. His account of the area at that time is the most important one we have of the area that was later to be the site of the new settlement of Warrnambool.This is a soft cover book of 188 pages. The cover is brown with red edging and lettering and is partly detached from the binding. The spine is partly missing. The pages are dog-eared and there is some foxing. The text is printed in two columns to a page. Frank J. Donovanrolf boldrewood (thomas browne), bolden brothers in the warrnambool area, warrnambool history, the miners right