Alan Marshall AM, (2 May 1902 – 21 January 1984) was an Australian writer, story teller, humanist and social documenter. Personal correspondence between Gwenda Sanderson and Alan Marshall, dated between 1979 and 1983. There are 21 letters in all, the last 3 of which were dictated from the Hurlingham Nursing Home in Brighton. Background information for the letters (daugher Merrilyn Sanderson 10 October 2025): My mother, Gwenda Sanderson ( nee White ) grew up in the western district and knew Alan Marshall's sister. Gwenda was an aspiring author, and reached out to Alan for support and advice regarding her writing. Alan proved to be a generous and inspiring mentor and as you will see, they established a rapport. In 1966 Gwenda moved from Mortlake to Montmorency (quite a culture shock!) and around 1983 she and her husband, Stan moved to Diamond Creek. Letters: 1. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 15 August 1979 2. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 22 August 1979 3. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 28 August 1979 4. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 7 September 1979 5. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 19 September 1979 6. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 11 October 1979 7. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 18 October 1979 8. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 1 November 1979 9. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 10 January 1980 10. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 24 January 1980 11. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 15 February 1980 12. Gwen Hardisty on behalf of Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 27 May 1980 13. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 17 June 1980 14. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 29 July 1980 15. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 4 August 1980 16. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 22 August 1980 17. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 5 February 1981 18. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 5 August 1981 19. Gwen Hardisty on behalf of Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 11 May 1982 20. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 27 Octopber 1982 21. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 21 February 1983 alan marshall, gwenda sanderson, gurrawilla, elsie louise mcconnell, black rock (vic.), korny kenna, folk tales, australian folk tales, davie carson, tommy stratton, neil black, black emily, noorat, purnim encampment, pompey austin, aboriginal characters, john manifold, john hooker, collins publishers, eltham history, alan marshall (pioneers and painters), james bonwick, mount shadwell, mount noorat, john smith, blacksmith, mary turner-shaw, on mount emu creek (book), wooiwyrite, western district victoria, merrilyn sanderson, mortlake, the land (poem), collected verse (book), austin family, hammers over the anvil (book), eeyeuk, dennis family, peg dennis, noorat church, jim smith, miss dennis, mrs polly, mrs angus gillies, mental health, frank smith, country life (english paper), field (english paper), peter mcleod, bill beechey, angus gillies, mag dennis, east driscoll, camperdown, bill white, alec irvine, jack irvine, staughton's stable, cumming family, jallalabad, miss baird, private catholic school, jack peoples, shaw's, weatherley, miss ann gordon, ballangeich, writer, author, sun (newspaper), william collins (aust.) ltd, chatsworth homestead, russia, i can jump puddles (book), nat gould, race horses, ethell dell, gertrude page, geoffrey farnell, east driscoll (story), shamrock smith, the catholic ball (story), lance skuthorpe, the blood of johnny meagher (story), winter-irving, sarah midgeley, richard skilbeck, miss edith (story), sun competition, mandeville hall, hampden council, alan marshall commemorative plaque noorat, russian theatrical troupe, noorat show, eliza sturgess, sam johnson the baker, elsie johnson, crupper, martingale, a.j. black, shaw women, miss laura, squatter, duke of edinburgh, royal family, 'texas' green, member for kalgoorlie, duke of gloucestor, the girl in pink, prince of wales, may creedie (story), mrs scott of mortlake, smouldering fires (book), lindsay russell, mary murray of our valley (book), the fellowship of australian writers, jim hamilton, journey to aboriginal victoria (book), mary gilmore, peter mcallum institute, may creedie (book), gwen hardisty, heart attack, bulletin (magazine), stephenson, gloria swanson, jennifer marshall, daniel (grandson), cathy (daughter), sandringham hospithal, east brighton nursing home, alan marshall writes alone (review)

Letter sent to Black Rock address via first airmail flight Nhill to Melbourne 7.9.1948Envelope with 2 stamps .1X 5d and 1X 1/2dFirst Flight Airmail Service...Nhill to Melbourne 7 Sep 1948 Mr G.Maynard, 6 Woodall St., Black Rock Vic

Model of ship from Crimean War. She now rests at a breakwater near Black Rock Vic.Model of H..M.V.S.Cerberus.H.M.V.S. Cerberus. On separate plaque. HMVS CERBERUS helped to protect Melbourne from attack by the Russians during the Crimean War. She now rests as a breakwater near Black Rock.

These items contributes to an understanding of an understanding of the experience of family and friends of those who serviced in the war in Vietnam.2 letters via Airmail from Vietnam to Australia. To Miss S. Richards from J. Hartwell - 3794001.Air Mail/Australian Force/Vietnam/Free/Miss S Richards/9 Seaview Cres/ Black Rock/3193/Vicletters, j hartwell, 3794001

Tatting is a form of knotted lace making using thread and a small shuttle. Twisted threads are tied around or through small, pointed shuttles that can be made of bone, mother of pearl, tortoise shell, steel or plastic. This produces a stable, strong lace using simple knots of two half hitches to make rings and chains embellished with picots. The origins of tatting are not clear but early versions of decorative knotting were used by the Egyptians on their ceremonial dress. Tatting also has elements of fishermen's net making techniques and the decorative knotting that was practiced by aristocratic women from the 15th century. Tatting, as we know it today, emerged in the first half of the 19th century. The new availability of mercerised thread from 1835 encouraged a burgeoning of lace crafts of all sorts. It was known in Italy as "occhi" and in France as "la frivolite". Tatting looks fragile but is both strong and durable. An article in a column named "Wives and Daughters" published in the Star newspaper in May 1910 describes the durability of tatting lace - "there is edging and insertion still in existence that have outworn two sets of pillow slips." In the 19th century and well into the 20th century, tatting was used like crochet and knitted lace for decorative edgings, collars, doilies, tray cloths etc. At first, different tatting patterns were passed along by word of mouth from person to person, however in time, patterns regularly appeared in newspapers and magazines well into the 1950's. This book has photographs and detailed instructions for a wide range of tatted edgings and insertions suitable for household linens such as towels, doilies and tablecloths as well as patterns for whole mats. Stanley E. Mullen (a businessman) developed Semco Pty Ltd which began as a Melbourne based importation company in 1907. The first three letters of Semco's name were his initials. In 1915 it began manufacturing women's apparel, whitework and transfer patterns. In 1924 the company moved to Black Rock, Victoria and continued to produce an extensive range of needlework patterns and handcraft instruction booklets, threads etc. up until the late 1970's. Semco had a staff that included many young women. It was noted by E.J. Trait (editor of the local newspaper "Standard News") that the firm provided them with good working conditions and the correct rate of pay for women in a time of war - the starting rate for 15 year olds, mainly girls at Semco was 25 shillings per week. During World War 2, Manpower Regulations could be used to coerce workers to move into jobs that supported the war effort, but Trait argued that being employed at Semco could make this unlikely as the firm made some goods essential for the war effort. He even suggested that women be encouraged to produce needlework items (and play a part in the war effort) by sending them as presents, to the troops up north. He also heaped praise on the Semco workplace - noting that no Saturday work was the norm, allowing employees to shop and have "hair-do's" before enjoying a relaxing weekend! Semco also had a female cricket side in the women's Saturday association. After the war the firm stayed in production until the early 1990's when it was taken over by Coates-Paton Pty Ltd. Norma Benporath (1900 - 1998) was an expert in tatting techniques and taught and published extensively on the subject. She was born in New Zealand with impaired sight but cataract surgery restored 50% vision to one eye. She was inspired to learn tatting whilst watching her aunt tat and being told that tatting did not require as much sharp vision as embroidery. She quickly learnt to design her own patterns and published over 1000 tatted lace patterns between 1929 and 1952. She became a regular contributor to magazines (such as Home Beautiful) and newspapers across Australia. Her designs were also published in New Zealand, South Africa as well as the U.K. and U.S.A. When Semco, a thread manufacturer, noticed a rise in the sale of fine crochet threads, they realized they had an untapped market to explore. Norma designed a collection of tatting patterns for Semco that were used to help promote their threads. Norma also worked with Semco to produce a line of threads and shuttles specifically suited to tatting. In 1997, Norma was inducted into the "Order of Australia" for "Service to the craft of tatting as a designer and through the international publication of her patterns".This item is an excellent example of the needle work being enjoyed by women in the 1940's in Australia and the skills of the Australian designer, Norma Benporath. It is also an example of the trend that emerged for craft companies such as Semco to publish pattern books in order to advertise their own materials.A 32 page soft cover instruction book with green front and back covers showing two tatted doily designs. The book includes black and white photographs and written patterns by Norma Benporath.Front cover - "TATTING" "For / EXPERTS/ and / BEGINNERS" "By/Semco" "SEMCO INSTRUCTION BOOK" "No. 16" "WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS" "9" Back cover - "FOR INSTRUCTIONS FOR WORKING SEE PAGE 22" "Published by Semco Pty. Ltd." "BLACK ROCK, 29, VIC"flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, tatting, tatting instruction book, tatting patterns, tatting shuttle, semco, semco pty ltd, norma benporath, needlework, handcrafts, household linen, craftwork

This postcard is part of an album of postcards which date from late 19th century to mid 20th century. It depicts Hanging Rock, a large rock formation sacred to First Nations people for thousands of years prior to European settlement. Hanging Rock became a recreational place for settlers during the 19th century and then became famous through the novel 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' (1967) and the subsequent movie (1975) of the same name. The photograph appears to be c1900s-1920s.This postcard is in an album of postcards dating from the late 19th century to mid 20th century. It reflects the popularity of collecting postcards in Australia which reached a height in the early 1900s until around 1920. Photographic black and white postcard of Hanging Rock c1900s-1920sOn front, printed: 'THE ROSE SERIES, P.1558 THE HANGING ROCK NEAR KYNETON, VICTORIA / Copyright' On back, printed: 'Post Card / The "Rose" Series De Luxe Produced in Australia On extreme left side of back, printed:'[unclear word] By "THE ROSE STENOGRAPHS" / Armadale, Victoria'postcard, photography, 1900s, hanging rock, 1920s, "green postcard album"

This specimen was found in Cape Patterson, Vic. Cape Paterson is a cape and seaside village located near the town of Wonthaggi, 132 kilometres southeast of Melbourne, in the Bass Coast Shire of Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. These dark, fossiliferous Mudstones were deposited in slow-moving water associated with sedimentary basins & continental shelves. They are rich in carbon which makes them almost black. This is typical of an anoxic, reducing environment such as deep water or stagnant conditions where carbon-rich material would remain unoxidised during subsequent deposition & diagenesis. it has an imprint of a leaf in the rock itself, displaying the fossil of the plant. This specimen is unique due to the leaf impression within the stone itself. Imprint fossils are formed from an organism moving in some way, leaving behind a trace or track. These tracks are preserved when the clay/silt dries slowly and is covered by other sediment. Plants can also leave imprint fossils when they are covered by sediment. The leaf tissue degrades, leaving an imprint of where the leaf once was. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.These dark, fossiliferous Mudstones were deposited in slow moving water associated with sedimentary basins & continental shelves. They are rich in carbon which makes them almost black. This is typical of an anoxic, reducing environment such as deep water or stagnant conditions where carbon rich material would remain unoxidised during subsequent deposition & diagenesis. FOSSILIFEROUS MUDSTONE / Locality: Cape Patterson, Victoria | Descriptive catalogue / Pg 27 No 95 / "Grey Clay, / Cape Paterson with leaf impressions' / 15/4/21 C. William /mudstone, cape patterson, leaf imprint, fossilised leaf, fossiliferous mudstone

Coastal view of The Nobbies area depicting platform rocks, surf, pounding behind them. Rock and calmer water in the foreground.Coastal scene at The Nobbies, Phillip IslandMurray Views No. 45. Coastal Scene The Nobbies, Phillip Island, Vic.local history, photographs, the nobbies, coastline, phillip island, black & white photograph, mona condrick

Souvenir history of Phillip Island.A collection of black & white photographs in a souvenir folder. Photographs include: Koalas, Penguins, Seals, The Suspension Bridge, Cowes Pier, Cowes Beach, The Race Track, The Nobbies, Pyramid Rock, The Pinnacles and Forrest Cave. On the front of the folder: Cowes, Phillip Island. Greetings from Cowes, P.I. Inside and description of Phillip Island as shown on Photograph 281-12. 281.01. Koalas, or Australian Native Bears. 281-02. "Come on, Hurry, Baby's waiting." 281-03. View of Suspension Bridge, looking from San Remo to Phillip Island. 281-04. View from the Pier, Cowes. 281-05. On the Seal Rocks, Phillip Island, Vic. 281-06. Western Beach, Cowes, Phillip Island. 281-07. The straight, Racing Circuit, Cowes, Phillip Island. 281-08. the Nobbies, Phillip Island. 281-09. The Pyramide, Back Beach, Phillip Island. 281-10. The Pinnacles, Cape Woolamai, Phillip Island. 281-11. Forest Cave, Phillip Island, Vic. wildlife - koala, wildlife - seals, wildlife - penguins, the nobbies, the pinnacles, forrest caves, pyramid rock, cowes foreshore - cowes pier - phillip island, cowes beach phillip island, phillip island suspension bridge, phillip island race track, stan harris

Colour photographactivities, brighton (vic.)

A postcard in a series produced by the Rose Stereograph Company in Victoria, Australia as a souvenir of Marysville.A black and white photograph of Steavenson Falls in Marysville in Victoria. The Steavenson Falls is named after the Victorian Assistant Commissioner of Roads and Bridges, John Steavenson, who arrived in Victoria in the early 1860s. At 84 metres high, Steavenson Falls is Victoria's tallest cascading waterfall. The falls are split into roughly five cascades, with the last of these plunging into a small, picturesque rock pool. This postcard was produced by the Rose Stereograph Company as a souvenir of Marysville.POST CARD The "Rose" Series/ De Luxe A Real Photograph/ Produced in Australia Published by the Rose Stereograph Co,/ Armadale, Victoria.marysville, victoria, waterfalls, p. 4990, stevenson falls, steavenson falls, rose series postcard, postcard, souvenir, john steavenson

A postcard in a series produced by the Rose Stereograph Company in Victoria, Australia as a souvenir of Marysville. The Steavenson Falls is named after the Victorian Assistant Commissioner of Roads and Bridges, John Steavenson, who arrived in Victoria in the early 1860s.A black and white photograph of Steavenson Falls, Marysville, Victoria. The Steavenson Falls is named after the Victorian Assistant Commissioner of Roads and Bridges, John Steavenson, who arrived in Victoria in the early 1860s. At 84 metres high, Steavenson Falls is Victoria's tallest cascading waterfall. The falls are split into roughly five cascades, with the last of these plunging into a small, picturesque rock pool. This postcard was produced by the Rose Stereograph Company as a souvenir of Marysville.THE ROSE SERIES P. 10200/ COPYRIGHT/ STEVENSON FALLS, MARYSVILLE, VIC. POST CARD The "Rose" Series/ De Luxe A Real Photograph/ Produced in Australia Published by the Rose Stereograph Co.,/ Sydney and Melbournestevenson falls, marysville, victoria, waterfalls, p. 10200, steavenson falls, rose series postcard, postcard, souvenir, john steavenson

A postcard in a series produced by the Rose Stereograph Company in Victoria, Australia.A black and white photograph of Steavenson Falls, Marysville, Victoria. The Steavenson Falls is named after the Victorian Assistant Commissioner of Roads and Bridges, John Steavenson, who arrived in Victoria in the early 1860s. At 84 metres high, Steavenson Falls is Victoria's tallest cascading waterfall. The falls are split into roughly five cascades, with the last of these plunging into a small, picturesque rock pool. This postcard was produced by the Rose Stereograph Company as a souvenir of Marysville.THE SOUTHERN CROSS SERIES 4990./ COPYRIGHT/ STEVENSON FALLS, MARYSVILLE, VIC. POST CARD. Correspondence/ Address Mt. Kitchener House/ Marysville Dear Dad,/ I'm having a/ great time up here,/ I don't suppose you/ remember, but we used/ to walk up to see these/ falls when you were up/ here with me. I hope you/ like being at No. 6./ However, it won't be/ much longer now - I'll/ be home on Saturday./ Love to you all,/ Marjoriemarysville, victoria, waterfalls, stevenson falls, steavenson falls, southern cross series, 4990, postcard, souvenir, john steavenson

A group of beach revellers of all ages pose happily for the photographer against a timber boat, propped sideways on the sand. Iconic bayside bathing boxes line the familiar eroding cliff face and indigenous coastal vegetation of the sand belt. A group of beach revellers of all ages pose happily for the photographer against a timber boat, propped sideways on the sand. Iconic bayside bathing boxes line the familiar eroding cliff face and indigenous coastal vegetation of the sand belt. The story and exact location of this image remain a mystery. Perhaps they are city folk who have caught the train down to Sandringham or Brighton for a liberating day in the sun, sand and water. Featured in "Newsworthy: Melbourne in photographs 1933-1936" exhibition at East Melbourne Library, October to December 2023. Exhibition caption by Fiona Campbell. In August 2025 the image was found published in The Age with the following caption: "Five thousand Richmond district scholars had a day at the beach this week. It was not warm enough for them all to go in bathing." Again the location is not given though it very much resembles Half Moon Bay off Beach Road, Black Rock. It seems unlikely that 5000 individuals were present on the excursion! References: PYRAMIDS IN THE SUN--RICHMOND GOES TO THE BEACH--PALS--"FOUR"--MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN. (1934, March 23). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved August 8, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203840391Photographer notations on slide: "B19".beaches, 1930-1939

Sisters Rocks 1962 By Marion Mitchell-Robinson. The photo shows the graffiti on the north side of the rock. There is a dead tree to the right of the photo. This photo is of a well known land mark along the Western Highway. They take their name from 3 sisters named Levy, who camped there with their parents during the early days of Stawell.Black & White photo of Sister Rocks. "Sister's Rocks, Near Stawell" written on the front in biro. Inscribed on the back "Sisters Rocks Stawell Vic. May-June 1962 Taken c1962 by Marion Mitchell-Robinson".tourism

21 envelopes marked Department of Agriculture (Vic), 1 empty. Black and white photographs and most negatives. All labelled, mainly flowers and plants. (1) Neg. only, 'Lupinus'.' (2) 'Iris fulva B/G 23/10/61.' (3) 'Iris pseudacorus.' (4) 'Muscari plumosum B/G 23/10/61.' (5) 2 copies 'Erythrinum.' (6) 'Iris sibirica B.G. 23/10/61.' (7) 3 Neg. and 4 photographs 'Green, Variegated Agave.' 'Ref to Mr. Littlejohn.' (8) 'Pebble Mulch,' 'Rock Mulching Rock from Apollo Bay Mentone 23/10/61 ₤22.' (9) 'Gazania B.G. 23/10/61.' (10) Neg. only 'Grevillea hookeriana.' (11) Photograph only 'Hibiscus.' (12) 'Euphorbia Crown of Thorns BG 23/10/61.' 'Euphorbia splendens.' (13) 2 copies 'Greyia sutherlandii 23/10/61.' (14) 3 copies 'Aeonium Grouped with other succulents including Bryophyllum, Dickia, Echevera' 'Jan Jul '62 Photo E.G. Littlejohn.' (15) 'Agave Agave-variegated in tub.' (16) 'Lathyrus odoratus' '(Sweet Pea) on support B.G. 23/10/61.' (17) 'Pelargonium' B/G 23.10.61.' (18) 'Pelargonium.' (19) 'Callistemon coccineus.' 'Return to Mr. Littlejohn Burnley Gardens.' (20) 3 copies 'Aloe.' 'Return to Mr. Littlejohn Aloe.'flowers, plants, lupins, iris, agave, pebble mulch, rock mulch, grevillea, hibiscu, euphorbia, succulents, bryophyllum, dickia, echevera, e.g. littlejohn, pelargonium, burnley gardens, aloe

Although there is no caption on the back of the photo, the same people wearing the same clothing are identified being at Sorrento on 25 March 1923 on another photograph.Black and white photo of 3 men and 4 women sitting on a rock formation at Sorrento Beach in 1923.sorrento (vic.), sorrento beach

Also one similar images, 7 x 12.5, donated by Pam Cole, Lara VicBlack and white postcard of Bullock Island, and rock groynes, Reeves and Entrance Channels and Carpenter Town at the New Works, taken from Jemmys Point, dense vegetation in foreground. Lakes Entrance VictoriaThe Entrance Lakes Entrance waterways, topography, township