Eric Holloway began spot milling timber at age of 17. He borrowed fifty pound from an uncle in 1934 to purchase a McCormick Deering tractor and saw bench. He went from farm to farm cutting timber for farmers. For a time, he worked on Shelley Station spot milling with WS Walker and Son. In approximately 1946 Arthur and Eric Holloway established a saw mill at Shelley. Another brother Ernie, a builder and returned soldier, worked with them from time to time. Using timber sawn in the mill he built eight basic houses for the mill workers. The brothers employed many migrants: - Yugoslav, Czechs, Russians, Ukrainians, Serbs as well as other hardworking people. This meant there were families, so Ernie also built and furnished a school at Shelley. Application was made for a teacher from the Education Department. At the Shelley mill the workers used ex-army blitzes, GM trucks (for carting logs) army ducks and a centurion tank for parts. The timber from the mill was trucked to Albury and Wodonga, customers being FA Stowe and Mates Timber. The army was also a big customer with Holloways supplying timber for the army huts that were built at Bandiana. A timber mill that had been built at Tallangatta by State Rivers and Water for the purpose of establishing New Tallangatta, was purchased by Holloway Brothers as an extension of their Shelley operation. In 1954 a new mill was built at Granite Flat on the Omeo Highway and the Shelley operation closed. Ernie Holloway was involved in the building of the mill and accommodation houses in Mitta Mitta. The mill workers travelled from Mitta to work each day. Holloways Building Supplies was established at 49 Tallangatta Rd Wodonga at this time. It was established on four house blocks with a little shed, with more land being acquired as the operation expanded. The brothers realized that it would be more profitable to set up their own timber outlet to supply their customers. Arthur Holloway continued to run the sawmills while Eric Holloway concentrated on the Wodonga business. A hardware store, offices and joinery were built as demand continued for building materials. All the timber arriving in the yard from the mill was hand sorted, providing employment for many. With the milling and timber outlets Holloways provided employment for approximately forty staff. The next generation of the Holloway family became involved. A Hyster forklift was purchased which allowed for bulk handling of the timber. Land was purchased in Sanyo Drive where timber was cleated and dried. Select grade timber, F17 dry framing, builders hardware and tools were sold. Holloways endeavoured to be a one stop shop for framing and fitting out of houses. In 1989 the business was sold to Mt Beauty Timbers who later on sold to Dahlsens. The timber mill was decommissioned. The Holloway family retained the ownership of the premises of 49 Thomas Mitchell Drive leasing to Dahlsens until that operation was moved to Albury in 2013. In 2014 the lease land was sold to two local businesses. Leigh Martin Marine purchased the parcel of land adjoining their business. Lester and Son purchased the remaining block and demolished the premises. A funeral parlour was built on that site.These photos are significant because they document the story of an important Wodonga business.A series of coloured photographs depicting aspects of Holloways Building Supplies business in Wodonga.holloways wodonga, wodonga businesses, timber industry

An advertisement for Hutchinsons Building and Garden Supplies, 16 Sherbourne Road, Briar HillNewspaper clipping, black, red, green and white text.hutchinsons building and garden supplies, sherbourne road briar hill

EIG School - Ralph Birrell Collection. - Construction of Latrobe Uni. C1967. Bendigo Institute of Technology, Engineering School, Applied Science. Construction appears completed, site has been cleared of building supplies etc. Markings: MAY69M8.Kodakeducation, tertiary, latrobe university bendigo, eig school - ralph birrell collection. - construction of latrobe uni. c1967. bendigo institute of technology, engineering school, applied science. construction appears completed, site cleared building supplies

EIG School - Ralph Birrell Collection. - Construction of Latrobe Uni. C1967. Bendigo Institute of Technology, Engineering School, Applied Science. Building appears to be complete, site has been cleared of building supplies and construction equipment. Markings: MAY69M, Made in Australia.Kodakeducation, tertiary, latrobe university bendigo, eig school - ralph birrell collection. - construction of latrobe uni. c1967. bendigo institute of technology, engineering school, applied science. building appears to be complete, site cleared building supplies construction equipment. markings: may69m

EIG School - Ralph Birrell Collection. - Construction of Latrobe Uni. C1966. Bendigo Institute of Technology, Engineering School, Applied Science. Its full steam ahead, workmen everywhere, building supplies on the ground and a cement mixer just leaving the site. Markings: May 69M5.Kodakeducation, tertiary, latrobe university bendigo, eig school - ralph birrell collection. - construction of latrobe uni. c1966. bendigo institute of technology, engineering school, applied science. its full steam ahead workmen building supplies the ground cement mixer the site

46 page book produced by the women of the Shire of Eltham as a fundraising project for the construction of the WW2 Eltham War Memorial. Contents: I. Fish, II. Meat, III. Puddings and desserts, IV. Bread and scones, V. Cakes and biscuits, VI. Jams, marmalades and chutneys, VII. Salads, dressings and sauces, VIII. Drinks. 47 p. : ill., b&​w., ; 19 cm. a. & s. davis pty ltd, a. boyd-graham, a. lyon, a. mezner, a. uglow, a.m. lynes, b. clark, b. rothwell, b. thomas, b.j. brinkkotter, b.m. gresford, b.w. morrison, betty p. metcalfe, briar hill timber & trading, c. may, c. pelling, c. smith, cold comfort farm, commercial bank of australia, cook-book, cooking, d. garratt, d. richards, d. warner, d.g. wills, draffin bros pty ltd, e. egan, e. hoppner, e.i. rains, e.s. rothwell, eltham home supplies, eltham hotel, eltham motor garage, eltham real estate & business agency, eltham war memorial trust, f.j. burgoyne, g.b. gresford, gas and fuel corporation of victoria, george lovitt & co pty ltd, guest's biscuits, h.w. downing, heidelberg district bakery, i. putnam, j. & j. burgoyne, j. kimber, j.m. attiwill, jack burgoyne, kraft cheddar, l. carter, lyon bros garage, m. banks, m. battye, m. black, m. erswell, m. foletta, m. johnson, m. roletta, m.h. bucknell, m.j. loosli, millett's foodland, n.h. baxter estate agent, n.h. baxter, new bridge building supplies, m. banks, m. battye, m. black, m. erswell, m. foletta, m. johnson, m. roletta, m.h. bucknell, m.j. loosli, millett's foodland, n.h. baxter estate agent, n.h. baxter, new bridge building supplies, o. holland, o.a. brown, p. moore, p. pease, p. peel, p. reece, presswell's eltham east auto service, r.j. scully, rains, recipes, research meat supply, research post office and general store, s. littlehales, stanley s addison, t. sawyer, t.e. & e.m. moran, v. addison, v. hughes, valley furniture, women's auxiliary, cookery, fundraising

A civic campaign for new public offices developed in Kew in the 1880s. After much deliberation, the location chosen was the junction of Bulleen and Cotham Roads. The buildings were designed by George Watson and John Henry Harvey, architects within the Department of Public Works (Victoria). Building was commenced in 1887, and after one year, the buildings were opened. The Post Office was transferred to the new Commonwealth Government in 1901. The Police Station and Court House, sold by the Victorian Government to the City of Boroondara in 2007, are now a community cultural centre and performing arts venue.The buildings were listed on the Victorian Heritage Register Register (HO885) in 1991. They are historically and architecturally significant to the State of Victoria because Watson and Harvey's designs exhibit diversity in integrating civil offices, they accommodate the apex of road junctions, and they demonstrate a departure from the contemporaneously favoured High Victorian Classical to the Queen Anne style in the design of civic buildings.Pair of handmade iron nails replaced during the renovations to the Kew Court Housekew police station, nails, building supplies

A photograph of the progress of the building of St Pauls Home, the bricks were in place. Photo showing the arches of the 2 storey brick construction.Building progressed to the brick construction. Sepia photograph of the 2 storey building. Photo showing the arches of the 2 storey brick construction with scaffolding and building supplies.local history, photography, photographs, slides, film, st pauls training school, schools, phillip island, sepia photograph, ken pound

Glass front, wood framed collage. 13 small b/w & colour photos surrounding large painting/print of buildings & supplies; tanks;, boxes; containers etc.2nd advanced ordnance depot - vung tau.

EIG School - Ralph Birrell Collection. - Construction of Latrobe Uni. C1966, 1972. Bendigo Institute of Technology, Engineering School, Applied Science. Building appears complete, tower has been erected, site needs to be cleaned up of building supplies. Markings: OCT72M2Kodakeducation, tertiary, latrobe university bendigo, eig school - ralph birrell collection. - construction of latrobe uni. c1966, 1972. bendigo institute of technology, engineering school, applied science. building complete, tower erected, site needs cleaned up

Drays were used to transport heavy materials such as farm products, building supplies, food. They were pulled by horses or bullocks. Drays were important for transportation in the Kiewa Valley.Made of timber and steel. The piece of wood contacts the axle hub to brake the dray. Part of a brake for a dray. It is missing the actuator that is needed for tightening the band to operate as a brake.drays, horses, bullocks

Churchill Island Heritage Farm has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series of photographs was taken at a Farm in Kyneton and shows a similar historic farm to Churchill IslandPhotograph of a historical wooden house with building and painting supplies visible in the frameCatalogue number written on reverse in pencil.churchill island, photograph, kyneton

Churchill Island Heritage Farm has a large photographic collection dating from the nineteenth century. This series of photographs was taken at a Farm in Kyneton and shows a similar historic farm to Churchill IslandPhotograph of a historical wooden house painted white with building and painting supplies visible in the frameCatalogue number written on reverse in pencil.churchill island, photograph, kyneton

Black and white photo of Eastern Office Supplies building, Railway Parade, Blackburn formerly RSL Meeting Place.railway parade, blackburn, nos. 93-97, eastern office supplies, exservice organisations

Miss Olive Codling was a Foundation Member and a Life Member of the Wodonga Historical Society. Many of her prize-winning photos are held in the Society Collection. She also held a range of roles and committee positions in a wide range of Wodonga community organisations. These included the Horticultural Society, the Wodonga Arts Council, the Wodonga Camera Club and the Wodonga Lapidary Club. This photo collection is significant as it documents how the businesses and buildings in Wodonga have evolved and contributed to community throughout the 20th century.J. Mann and Sons was first established as a farm produce store in 1921. The range of products was extended in the 1930s and included groceries and hardware, as well as the first petrol bowser in Wodonga outside the store. After WWII, the premises were extended and the range of products continued to increase. In the 1960s the Mann Family opened a new supermarket in Wodonga, in addition to the hardware business, providing steel, plumbing and industrial supplies, and employed over 100 people. This site has since been redeveloped and is now the Mann Centre. Signs on the edge of the verandah advertise Garden Centre, Rural & Building Supplies, Footwear and a Hairstylistwodonga businesses, high st wodonga, mann wodonga

Bullock teams and bullockies were common sights in Australia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Bullock teams were used for the transport of heavy goods such as wool, wheat, timber, sugar cane, farm equipment, building supplies etc. and their presence and that of their colourful bullock drivers in the countryside have become part of Australia bush folklore. Bullocks were often favoured over horses as they could pull heavy loads over rough surfaces and were less expensive to maintain. As the bullock teams frequently varied in size (up to 40 bullocks have been recorded in the one team) the whip was always a very long one. This item is of considerable significance as a memento of the days (19th century and early 20th century) when bullock teams were the common form of transport for heavy goods. As in other parts of Australia, bullock teams were a feature of the area around Warrnambool and created much interest when they arrived in the smaller towns. This is a wooden stick, slightly tapered to the top, with a leather binding at the top with a small knob. Attached to the top of the stick is a whip made of plaited leather. The leather is brown and stained and slightly worn. At the end of the whip is a strip of plain leather with a knot at the end. bullocks and bullockies in the western district, warrnambool, history of warrnambool

A document that was part of a folder about the running of the President's Fund that was created in 1932 "to help temporarily embarrassed Melbourne Legatees" towards the end of The Great Depression. The document summarises the history of a fund that allowed President's to make discretionary payments to worthy causes without need to have it approved. It was written by Legatee Kemsley, a long standing legatee. The second page of the letter was located and added later which shows he wrote it in 1985 (02728). The fund was credited to the late Legatee Walter Berry of the domestic and building supplies firm, Henry Berry and Co. from his late father's estate. This one page document seems incomplete as it doesn't fully explain the fund's creation. From other documents it is shown the Howard and Georgina Berry Trust made annual donations of up to £1,000 to Legacy for use in the Fund. See also item 01527 for another summary of the fund's history. The folder and document were marked with H40 which is part of an early archive project from the late 1960s and early 1970s.A record of the President's fund which was a private fund that allowed the President to help fellow legatees with discretion.White A4 paper with black type with a summary of the history of the President's Fund.Handwritten 'Box 1 H40' in blue pen.financial help, presidents fund, kem kemsley

A document that was part of a folder about the running of the President's Fund, that was created in 1932 "to help temporarily embarrassed Melbourne Legatees" towards the end of The Great Depression. The aim of the fund was the give the President a way to help needy cases with discretion and without having to gain approval from committees. In many cases the money was repaid by the recipient. The document summarises the history of a fund that allowed President's to make discretionary payments to worthy causes without need to have it approved. It mentions that original and official papers about the fund have been lost so this was an attempt to record what was known. The fund was credited to the late Legatee Walter Berry of the domestic and building supplies firm, Henry Berry and Co. wth money from his late father's estate. An initial fund of £200 (?) was handed to the president with some of the following terms: 1) the funds existence was not to be published or made known, except from President to President 2) money could be loaned or granted in sums as determined by the President of the day, for the preservation of the independence of the recipient 3) The club treasurer must keep the money in a separate account 4) The only persons to be helped must be members of Legacy but no restriction on the reason (business or personal) 5) At the end of the presidential term records handed over may be 'closed' except the ones that loans were involved and the terms of the loans could be disclosed. It is known annual donations of up to £1,000 to Legacy were received from the Howard and Georgina Berry Trust for use in the Fund. See also item 01520 for another summary of the fund's history. Other pages show copies of the original letter, dated 24 February 1933, acknowledging receipt of £50 from the Howard and Georgina Berry Trust Fund to start the President's Fund with agreed terms of use. Also a proposal about payment structure outlined on 14 December 1966 by Legatee RS Isherwood, President and accepted by the Board of Management. Plus an extract of the minutes of the meeting. The folder and document were marked with H40 which is part of an early archive project from the late 1960s and early 1970s.A record of the President's fund which was a fund that allowed the President to help fellow legatees with discretion.White foolscap paper with black type x 5 pages with a summary of the history of the President's Fund.Handwritten 'Box 1 H40' in blue pen.financial help, presidents fund, walter berry

A supplement to celebrate 150 since the establishment of the Port Phillip Colony (Victoria).40 page newspaper published to celebrate the Sesquicentenary of Ballarat. Articles include: 1838-the pastoral period begins; First White Settlers arrive (Anderson, Winter, Yuille, Kirkland, Learmonth); Learmonths - Pioneer Settlers; The Rush to Ballarat; Last of the Aborigines; Eureka Affair Gains New Importance; Mining-After the rush; SMB - First Technical School; Clubs Play their Part; Ballarat Yuilles had Wealthy Ancestors; Town, Country Share a Close Relationship; Many Sides to Metals Industry; True Victorian City; Five Severe Recessions; Financiers to the Fore; Ready for War; City Rich in Sport Facilities; Visitors to most exciting place; No Place for a Nervous Lady; Theatres Provide Welcome Diversion for Mines; Might Achievers Among famous Citizens; Life Seemed Different After the War; Ballarat School of Mines Eastern Station Hotel; Memorial (Her Majesty's) Last of Many Theatres; Art Gallery at its Best; Pilgrimage to Yuille Cairn at Sebastopol Images include: Jelbart tractor; Sunshine Harvester; Bailey's Mansion; Pennyweight Hotel; Bridge Mall; Blue Riband Mine, Black Hill, Burrumbeet Shooting party; A wendouree rowing club; Motor Cycle Racing; Women bowlers, Queen Elizabeth; Gong Gong Methodist Church; Arbour day at Waterloo Farm, Smythes Rd; Gold panners (1890s); Ballarat Cricket Team (1902); William Peart; D'Angri's store; Sturt St Advertisements include: Rehfisch and Co.; UFS Dispensaries; Deutscher Mower Sales and Service; Haymes Paint; Cincotta's; Abraham's Sportscene; McK's; McKay Macleod; St John of God Hospital; Benjamins Real Estate; Ballarat Water Board; Cornell's Pharmacy; Laminex Industries; Coltman Mitre 10; Lal Lal Iron Mine; Heinz Bros; Crockers; Frank ford travel; S.J. Weir; Ludbrook Plumbing Service; Mars; Robert Sim Building Supplies, Frank Day; Sectrol Systems; Thornton Richardsballarat, anniversary, sydney abraham, cincotta, eureka, ballarat school of mines, mining, ballarat club, lal lal iron mine, ballarat rangers, victorian rifles, 3rd battalion victorian rifles, ballarat militia, white flat, celia scott, adelphi theatre, victoria theatre, montezuma theatre, charlie napier, juliamatthews, royal theatre, dick richards, henry sutton, eleanor lucus, martin hosking, newington estate, saleyards, g. gay & co, ballarat books, old benev' alleviated distress on goldfields

This image appears to show nurses at what is now the Mayday Hills Mental Asylum arriving for work in approximately 1900. These individuals are part of a long history of nursing in Beechworth. Three medical or social welfare facilities opened in the mid-1800s as part of a push by the township to become a regional centre for Government services. These were the Ovens District Hospital (opened in 1857), the Ovens Benevolent Asylum (opened in 1863), and the Beechworth Mental Hospital (opened in 1867 and renamed Mayday Hills Hospital at Centenary celebrations in 1967). It was recognised that the unsettled living conditions, poverty and relative isolation of the Goldfields environment could produce 'mental disturbances' which required local treatment facilities as services in Melbourne were too far away. Carole Woods' publication 'A Titan's Field' describes activities undertaken by patients at Beechworth Mental Hospital as including monthly balls and occasional concerts as well as work to make the facility self-supporting such as farm work and making clothes. She mentions a report in 1870 that the approximately 300 patients were clean and neat with 'no-one in restraint or seclusion' but that by 1905 the organisation had 623 patients which placed strain on building infrastructure such as heating and water supplies, leading to high turnover of nurses and other issues. A program of building works to extend and improve facilities followed over subsequent decades. Lantern slides, sometimes called 'magic lantern' slides, are glass plates on which an image has been secured for the purpose of projection. Glass slides were etched or hand-painted for this purpose from the Eighteenth Century but the process became more popular and accessible to the public with the development of photographic-emulsion slides used with a 'Magic Lantern' device in the mid-Nineteenth Century. Photographic lantern slides comprise a double-negative emulsion layer (forming a positive image) between thin glass plates that are bound together. A number of processes existed to form and bind the emulsion layer to the base plate, including the albumen, wet plate collodion, gelatine dry plate and Woodburytype techniques. Lantern slides and magic lantern technologies are seen as foundational precursors to the development of modern photography and film-making techniques This glass slide is significant because it provides insight into Beechworth's social and medical amenities in the early Twentieth Century, around the time of Australia's Federation into one nation. It is also an example of an early photographic and film-making technology in use in regional Victoria in the time period.Thin translucent sheet of glass with a rectangular image printed on the front and framed in a black backing. It is held together by metals strips to secure the edges of the slide.Obverse: i /burke museum, beechworth, lantern slide, slide, glass slide, plate, burke museum collection, photograph, monochrome, magic lantern, indigo shire, north-east victoria, nineteenth century, 1900s, twentieth century, emulsion slides, nursing, nurses, mental hospitals, lunatic asylums, asylums, social services, social welfare, insane asylums, mental health, infrastructure

This image appears to show nurses at what is now the Mayday Hills Mental Asylum in approximately 1900. These individuals are part of a long history of nursing in Beechworth. Three medical or social welfare facilities opened in the mid-1800s as part of a push by the township to become a regional centre for Government services. These were the Ovens District Hospital (opened in 1857), the Ovens Benevolent Asylum (opened in 1863), and the Beechworth Mental Hospital (opened in 1867 and renamed Mayday Hills Hospital at Centenary celebrations in 1967). It was recognised that the unsettled living conditions, poverty and relative isolation of the Goldfields environment could produce 'mental disturbances' which required local treatment facilities as services in Melbourne were too far away. Carole Woods' publication 'A Titan's Field' describes activities undertaken by patients at Beechworth Mental Hospital as including monthly balls and occasional concerts as well as work to make the facility self-supporting such as farm work and making clothes. She mentions a report in 1870 that the approximately 300 patients were clean and neat with 'no-one in restraint or seclusion' but that by 1905 the organisation had 623 patients which placed strain on building infrastructure such as heating and water supplies, leading to high turnover of nurses and other issues. A program of building works to extend and improve facilities followed over subsequent decades. Lantern slides, sometimes called 'magic lantern' slides, are glass plates on which an image has been secured for the purpose of projection. Glass slides were etched or hand-painted for this purpose from the Eighteenth Century but the process became more popular and accessible to the public with the development of photographic-emulsion slides used with a 'Magic Lantern' device in the mid-Nineteenth Century. Photographic lantern slides comprise a double-negative emulsion layer (forming a positive image) between thin glass plates that are bound together. A number of processes existed to form and bind the emulsion layer to the base plate, including the albumen, wet plate collodion, gelatine dry plate and Woodburytype techniques. Lantern slides and magic lantern technologies are seen as foundational precursors to the development of modern photography and film-making techniques.This glass slide is significant because it provides insight into Beechworth's social and medical amenities in the early Twentieth Century, around the time of Australia's Federation into one nation. It is also an example of an early photographic and film-making technology in use in regional Victoria in the time period.Thin translucent sheet of glass with a circular image printed on the front and framed in a black backing. It is held together by metals strips to secure the edges of the slide.burke museum, beechworth, lantern slide, slide, glass slide, plate, burke museum collection, photograph, monochrome, magic lantern, indigo shire, north-east victoria, nineteenth century, 1900s, twentieth century, emulsion slides, nursing, nurses, mental hospitals, lunatic asylums, asylums, social services, social welfare, insane asylums, mental health, infrastructure

Original owner - Stephen John PARISH Regiment number/ Unit 703, Enlisted 19-08-14 F.COY 8th Battalion Became an officer 2nd Lieutenant in 1st Machine Gun Battalion RTA 17-03-1919 See also Cat No. 5979.6.Original photograph - black and white on photographic paper. Scene depicts landing boats, beach scene, an encampment with tents and small buildings with background of ridges. Handwritten greeting and information on back of photograph. Panorama photograph.Handwritten in faded black ink - back of photograph "Clevedon/ 3/7/18/ Just a picture of Gallipoli/ if you show it to any of/ the boys that have been/ there they will explain it/ better than I can by writing/ best love/ Ste ? xx" Handwritten in mainly uppercase letters, blue ink. Left to Right - " MOST OF OUR/ SUPPLIES WERE/ LANDED HERE" " THE LAST OF/ THE AIF LEFT/ HERE 29-12-1915" " 1ST AIF DIVISION/ LANDID (sic) HERE/ 25-4-1915" " THIS PERE WAS/ RECKED (sic) SEVERAL/ TIMES BY STORMS" " 1ST AIF/ HOSPITAL TENTS " TURKS BEACHIE (sic) / FIRED SCHRAPNIL/ ALONG BEACH/ FROM HEARE (sic)" " 4th INF BGDE/ Faught (sic) have/ on 9-5-1915" . "photographs, ww1, gallipoli, s. j. parish, 8th battalion

This ledger contains entries which relate to waterworks and associated expenses: construction, pumping schemes, water from stand pipes, meter rent arrears, interest payments, pumping scheme. Early residents in Warrnambool relied on tanks and wells for their water supply and in 1880 the first water supply scheme was implemented from a well on Cannon Hill. Using a windmill the water was pumped up and stored in a small reservoir nearby then piped to the corner of Timor and Liebig Streets where a stand pipe allowed the filling of water carts. Similar supplies were also installed at Albert Park, the Botanic Gardens and the Cattle markets and from 1893 to 1939 water was drawn from the Merri River. Drainage works commenced with the building of the Japan Street tunnel in 1856. The Warrnambool Waterworks Trust was the body responsible for administering these works.The supply and storage of fresh water and drainage of the area was an important factor in the development and sustainability of the town. This ledger provides an insight into the daily operations of this organisation. Large suede covered journal. Tan in colour with pink, green and white on edge of pages. Faded black stylised border around front cover. Inside front covers are patterned in green and tan. Printed sheet with Warrnambool waterworks Trust is pasted inside front cover. Warrnambool Waterworks Trust stamp on sheet inside front cover.warrnambool water works, warrnambool water supply 1900, warrnambool water works ledger 1900, warrnambool waterworks trust

This sign points has two different messages. The first states Public Works Office, which was operational in Victoria between 1855 and 1987 dealt with many aspects of the states infrastructure. It had many different reponsibilities and roles from building government accommodation and fit out of buildings, licences for unused roads and water ways, main roads and bridges, ports and harbour,and water supplies. Much of this work was managed through local offices such as the one at Warrnambool. The sign on the reverse which states Witnesses Waiting Room relates to the court house which is where this sign originated.The Warrnambool court house was built in 1870-71 by the Victorian Public Works department and it is possible that this sign relates to that period.It is one of a number of public buildings built in the period 1870-1890 including the Police station and stables and police quarters, the Post Office and drill Hall , all in the same vicinity. This building reflects the growth of the town and also the importance it held at the time from a state level. The building while no longer used as a court house is a building of significance to Warrnambool as well as to the state of Victoria, being one of six around the state which were built in free classical style. This sign denotes the waiting room for witnesses which was situated on the western side of the building.A tangible link which provides historical and social significance to Warrnambool.Rectangular wooden sign with rounded corners. There is text on both sides painted in gold paint with shadow in black. One side is a darker brown stain . There are screw holes in each corner.and one hole on left middle of sign. Rounded edge on one side.Side 1:Witnesses Waiting Room Side 2:Public Works Office.warrnambool, warrnambool court house, public works department warrnambool