Bendigo followed much the same pattern as Ballarat, and was not ready for an up-to-date studio until 1880 when the Bartlett Bros. (Francis and Henry) who bad conducted a successful business in Melbourne for many years opened a small studio there. It was such a success that they decided to build large modern premises, and Francis made two trips to England and the Continent for the latest ideas. In 1884 Henry died, and to replace him, Francis secured the services of Robert W. Bugg, then employed by Foster & Martin (both pupils of Batchelder's) in Collins Street, Melbourne. In that studio Bugg made some fine portraits of Anthony Trollope during the novelist's long tour of Australia. Francis Bartlett was a keen business man, and Robert Bugg was a great operator and a fine painter. Together, their success was quite outstanding. Fifteen years later Bartlett retired with a fortune, and Bugg took over the studio. Robert William Bugg, one of our leading Painter-Photographers, was born in London in 1853, and came to Melbourne when he was five years old. He became a pupil of Louis Buvelot and, in 1879, a member of the Victorian Academy of Arts. In Bendigo he gave annual exhibitions of his oils and water colours, a number of his exhibitions being officially opened by his friend Alfred Deakin. There are a number of Bugg's Paintings in the Bendigo Art Gallery. All the portraits, landscapes, buildings, and city views illustrated in "Bendigo and Vicinity, 1897", are from photographs taken by Robert Bugg. He was a clever, genial and popular soul, and his influence on the cultural life of his adopted city was considerable. He retired in 1932 and died in his early eighties.Eleven Photos of Bendigo from Glass Plate Negatives, Campaspe River at Axedale, Axe Creek, Lake Weroona, White Hills Botanical Gardens, Conseratory Gardens, Bendigo Fernery. Slides are ex Bartlett Brother Bendigo. history, bendigo, bendigo conservatory gardens, campaspe river axedale, axe creek victoria, lake weroona bendigo, white hills botanical gardens bendigo, bartlett brothers bendigo, rosalind park bendigo

Photograph.View of dry river bed, probably Campaspe River, Axedale, with open land with bridge crossing, at ''Marydale'', Axedale.axedale, history, marydale property

Bendigo Advertiser "the way we were" from 1999. Flood: a train crosses the flooded Campaspe river at Axedale in the 1930s.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Axedale is well known for its Bluestone. Early on the quarries employed a large number of people. In the 1860’s Napthali Ingham selected land in Axedale and opened a bluestone quarry beside the river later known as Ingham Hill. The quarry produced dressed curbing and pitchers for use in Bendigo and Melbourne. This bluestone can be seen throughout Axedale in the churches, the bridge over the Campaspe River and guttering in the township. The quarry also supplied bluestone products further afield, for example road metal. Napthali Ingham, the owner of one of the first quarries in Axedale, arrived in Victoria from Lancashire, England, some time before 1860, and settled in Brunswick, Victoria. He may have been building his home in Ewen[sic] Street in 1860, at approximately 31 years of age, when he placed two advertisements in The Argus, October 10. One called for tenders for carting "upwards of 100 perches of rubbish to Sandridge." The other calls for tenders to supply "800 bushels of Geelong Roche Lime." His address, given for the purpose of the advertisements, is Ewen Street, Brunswick. There were a number of quarries and clay pits in Brunswick at this time and by July 9, 1861, Ingham was operating a quarry and contracting services to local councils and boroughs for road works, including Sydney Road. He also operated the True Briton Hotel in Ewen Street. Ingham continued his quarry works and business dealings in the Brunswick area for a few years and, around 1872, was contracting for the City of Bendigo. He eventually moved to Axedale, between Bendigo and Heathcote, where he took up land and opened a bluestone quarry on the east bank of the Campaspe River. As he had difficulty transporting bluestone to Bendigo, he wrote a letter to The Bendigo Advertiser, suggesting a tramway be laid between Sandhurst (Bendigo) and Axedale. Over the next ten years or so, he modified this suggestion to a rail line connecting Sandhurst, Axedale and Heathcote to the North East line at Seymour. This suggestion did not materialise in its entirety, but it eventually resulted in what became the Wandong, Heathcote and Sandhurst Rail Line, the first sections, Bendigo-Heathcote and Wandong-Kilmore, opening October 1, 1888. In the 1870s, Ingham built the Quarry Hotel which is now the crumbling ruins adjoining Ingham Road on the east side of the Campaspe River.. Its condition is worsening as time passes. Ingham intended to have a tramline constructed from his Axedale bluestone quarry to the new rail line. This also did not happen but he was successful in getting a wood siding provided at the location that is today's Hanson's Quarry. Evidence of the rail siding are still evident at the site in 2025. Ingham's quarry is now owned by Hansen Quarries Ingham died in 1909 and the rail line that grew out of his suggestion lasted until 1958 when it was closed from Bendigo to Heathcote. The Heathcote Junction section was closed in 1968. Another quarry was owned and operated by Brasier, Riley and Nelson. 'This well known firm of contractors have a most extensive plant and all the latest improved machinery required for the supply of kerbstone, pitchers, monumental work and dressed bluestone metal for road making. ('Bendigo & District, 1902') 1. One page typed poem, written by W.G. O'Neill, titled 'The Pitcher Dressers, (Quarrymen). The poem tells the story of three Rowan brothers who came to the Axedale Quarry: 'They came to work on Axedale stone, Big contracts came that way, As pitcher dressers they could earn, Their thirty bob a day.' 2. Three copies of newspaper articles relating to quarry work and employees attached to poem: information regarding Brasier, Riley and Nelson, contractors (Bendigo and District 1902); 'The Stone Quarry Grievance' (Bendigo Advertiser, 15 June, 1959, p2); 'A Restriction Upon Industry' (Bendigo Advertiser, 2 June, 1859). Article 'A Restriction Upon Industry" details the anomalies that exist between working the quartz reefs for gold and quarrying for building stone. The cost of obtaining a license to 'quarry stone is 50 pounds sterling which must be paid down in order to merely prospect the ground. Some people who took out a lease to work a reef were actually 'looking for building stone'. On bottom of poem, W.G. O'Neill, Bendigo. Pupil of Axedale School, 1908-1917.axedale, quarry, napthali ingham, pitchers, pitcher dressers, bluestone, campaspe river, quarry hotel, rowan brothers

Axedale is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is located on the McIvor Highway, in the City of Greater Bendigo, east of Bendigo. It was surveyed and proclaimed in 1861. At the 2021 census, Axedale had a population of 984. The town is nestled alongside the Campaspe River which feeds out of Lake Eppalock. It has a golf course, tennis courts, a school, a pub and a convenience store/petrol station. It lies between Heathcote and Bendigo.Forty Photos taken on the walking tour of Axedale by the Bendigo Historical society. Places visited included the Protestant and Catholic Cemeteries, the "Blue Stone House", the 150-year-old bridge over the Axe Creek on the Sugerloaf Road, the old Cobb and Co Stables, St Andrews Church and the Campaspe River Bridge.axedale, bendigo historical society walking tour, st andrews church axedale, axedale cemetery, axe creek bridge, campaspe, cobb and co stables axedale, blue stone house axedale

Although Presbyterians held religious services prior to 1854 it, was not till that year that Dr Nish arrived in Bendigo. It is known that Dr Nish preached to the shepherds in Axedale, long before the church was built, but where is not known. The foundation stone for the church was lain on September 30th, 1868. Axedale is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is located on the McIvor Highway, in the City of Greater Bendigo, east of Bendigo. It was surveyed and proclaimed in 1861. At the 2021 census, Axedale had a population of 984. The town is nestled alongside the Campaspe River which feeds out of Lake Eppalock. It has a golf course, tennis courts, a school, a pub and a convenience store/petrol station. It lies between Heathcote and Bendigo.Historical Notes on St Andrews Axedale 1868-1968 and the 150th Anniversary Church booklet March 2019.axedale, st andrews church axedale, dr nish

Handwritten coloured certificate presented to Mr. John Ellison expressing gratitude for his work in establishing a Water Trust for the town of Axedale. Signed by John A Colvin and W J Burns on behalf of the Axedale Progress Association. Includes illustrations of Axedale and the bridge over the Campaspe River. Undated. removed from frame for storage. Certificate enclosed in a cardboard frame (3 cm) Aileen and John Ellison Collection.john ellison, axedale progress association, axedale water trust